The Beast Hunt ( part II)

As the middle-aged man was looking back toward the source of the attack.

Hua! Hua!

Two figures drew from deep within the forest. The man watched carefully, and soon he was able to see them clearly. One was a black-robed middle-aged man with a magic staff in his right hand whereas the other was a sturdily built middle-aged man with a huge broadsword in his right hand. He dressed in warrior's clothes, most of his shirt was torn off which made it possible to see his perfect musculature, on his bare upper body, there were countless of knife scars, sword scars, claw scars and dozens of other wounds. He looked like a ferocious beast while following the black-robed middle-aged man behind like a faithful and loyal servant.

" Uh..." seeing the two people coming toward him, he was still awestruck even though he knew their identities.

" This old man pay his respect to the esteem City lord." The middle-aged walked toward his savior and respectfully cupped his fist as he greeted the man in front of him.

The two men were none other than Jin Shawn the city lord of Red Cloud city and his most trusted subordinates Commander Tian. It's been a day since they arrived a little deeper within the magical beast forest. Along the way, the met quite a number of powerful magical beasts from the 4th rank to 6th rank. They even encountered the ambush of a large pack of wolves at one point. Luckily the city lord and his personal guards were powerful enough to kill all the magical and ferocious beasts that blocked their way. However, when they finally managed to clear out all the powerful magical beasts that have been lurking around the area, they didn't find any high-level magical beast which worried them. Six years ago, In their previous beast hunt, a peak 6th rank white-winged tiger had managed to escape amidst of the bloody battle that caused the death of Jin Shawn's most powerful subordinate. He was killed by that same white-winged tiger before he escaped. Also, that man was commander Tian's older brother. According to their calculations, that beast should have broken through the 7th rank by now, which is why Jin Shawn and commander Tian came looking around by themselves to see if they can find that beast in the surrounding. The city lord left his wife, son and his personal guards in a safe zone within the magical beast forest after having clear out all the magical beasts in the surrounding.

" Thank you for saving this old man's poor life City lord, I'm afraid if you had come a second later, I would have been a goner by now." He said with a hint of relief in his voice while smiling awkwardly.

" Hahaha, brother Fei there's no need be so polite. Also, I couldn't bear to lose a good citizen such as yourself. By the way, what brings you here, deep within the forest." Said the city lord with a curious gaze. Obviously, he was kinda surprised to see that man here.

" My Lord, the Magical Beast ." Before the man called Fei could even answer, commander Tian who is the other sturdily built middle-aged man interrupted them by pointing his sword towards the woods where the white-winged tiger had crashed down with a solemn expression on his face.

The city lord looked at the location where the white-winged tiger fell down from the sky, and then he turned his head and glanced at commander Tian. His expression turned grim and solemn.

" Do you really want to go head-on with that beast without my help." He said with a hint of worried in his voice.

Six years ago, he had witnessed the power of the white-winged tiger when he was still at the 6th rank, at that time he gave his subordinates a hard time, especially commander Tian's older brother because they couldn't even break through his defense. When they've managed to pierce through his tough skin, he flapped his enormous wings and flew up to the sky. At that time, his hands were tied up with an early 7th rank Flame Lion, he didn't have time to help them out which is why commander Tian's brother died under the claws of that damn tiger before He flew away.

Just like warriors and mages, where between a warrior of the 6th rank to the 7th rank was a huge gap of power, Magical and ferocious beast of the 6th rank had a huge gap in power compared to a magical beast of the 7th rank. In another word, the city's lord worried about commander Tian's decision to fight alone against the white-winged tiger wasn't groundless. Not to mention, a 7th rank magical beast has an advantage over a 7th rank human warrior because they are more tenacious and possess strong physical power. Also, their regenerative ability is stronger as well.

" why don't we gang up on that damn beast and finish it up. Of course, the magical beast core will belong to the city lord."

Before commander Tian could even open his mouth, that sly looking fellow, Fei, interrupted him. Also, when he mentioned the magical beast core, there was a hint of greed in his eyes that he couldn't hide no matter how hard he tried. The beast core will solidify in the body of a magical or ferocious beast when the beast have reached the 3rd rank or higher. However, for a beast that has not reached the 6th and above, they beast core isn't as expensive compared the latter. As for a 7th rank beast core, not even money will be enough to buy one.

" Brother Fei, Commander Tian has a long history with that white-winged tiger. It's better if we let him handle it by himself." Said the city lord. Despite making the decision of letting commander Tian fight against that damn beast, he still couldn't hide the concern expression on his face.

" Thank you, my Lord." Said Commander Tian with a grateful voice.

" If you can't handle him by yourself, I'll have to jump into the fray. That bastard escaped once, there's no way I'll let him escape again." Said the city lord with a serious expression. There was a hint of hatred in his eyes this time. This damn beast took the life of his most powerful warrior six years ago, and he won't let him take another one again.

" Yes my Lord." Said Commander Tian while looking ahead where the beast fell down.

Commander Tian took a deep breath and concentrated.

Suddenly,

" Shhhhhhhhhh."

A huge amount of battle qi giving off a blue luster covered his whole body.

" Swish."

At the same time, the same energy also covered his broadsword.

" Battle qi manipulations." the man named Fei Blurted out unconsciously. He was shocked because this proves that Commander Tian has broken through the 7th rank warrior.

One of the reasons why most warriors stuck in the 6th rank is because they couldn't manipulate their battle qi properly. Battle qi manipulation is when one controls the battle qi flowing in his body and place it into his weapon. A 6th rank warrior can only channel his battle qi in his own body but they can't transfer it to their weapon because it is really hard and needs countless of training, enlightenment, and luck. With a proper battle qi control, even iron can be cut through like paper.

" Hahaha, no wonder you wanted to handle that tiger alone, you have broken through the 7th rank warrior already." Said the city lord with a surprised look as well as a big smile on his face. The aura around somebody who can properly manipulate his battle qi is different from those who don't. However, because the City Lord was so concentrated into fighting the magical beast within the forest as well protecting his family that he didn't even realize the change of commander Tian's aura.

" I just broke through during our last fight against the pack of wolves. It was pure luck." Said Commander Tian. His face was radiant with smiles.

Not to mention him, the city lord's heart was filled with boundless of joy. It should be known that, In reality, it is high-level warriors and mages which determine the rise and fall of a big city. A high-level mage can use destructive spell and destroy a thousand man army. In the eyes of ordinary people, high-level warrior and mage are like invincible experts.

" Ok then, go give that damn beast hell." Said the city lord with a look of anticipation in his eyes.

" Hua."

Without saying a word, commander Tian's feet moved, and then the sword began to flash brightly with a blue battle qi aura around it. In the blink of an eye, he had already disappeared from his initial position to the woods where the white-winged tiger fell down from the sky.

In terms of footwork and swordplay, commander Tian was one of the best, and he was extremely fast as well. This caused the man known as Fei to be terrified. commander Tian was moving at extreme speed with the sound of the wind, only his after images were left behind.

A few seconds later, Commander Tian arrived in front the white-winged tiger,

The white winged tiger fell down from the sky with such a high speed that it brought up waves of dust when its body touched the ground. It was as tough a Mountain had collapsed. Within the woods, The white tiger was trying to fly up the sky but couldn't because his right wing was pretty messed up. When it saw commander Tian appears in from of him, its eyes were filled with rage and resentment.

" growlllll."

It was growling at commander Tian like it was ready to slash its claws to his throat and butcher that bastard.

" Get ready to die, you bastard."

" swoosh." Commander Tian slashes his broadsword towards the white-winged tiger, which brightly flashed a blue color as it was coated with his wind battle qi.

" Roarrr." The white-winged tiger who had been growling at commander Tian charged toward commander Tian as well with his eyes filled with rage and viciousness.