Lin Jichen roamed through the Beast Forest, searching every beast's lair he could find. If only he had learned geomancy, he could have pinpointed their locations directly.
After a day's effort, Lin Jichen had barely scouted the outskirts of the forest, finding numerous pet eggs and young beasts. The Beast Forest was vast; it would take months to explore it all.
Not being greedy, he started with the outskirts, where the beasts generally had lower cultivation, making them easier to track and deal with.
Like a lurking hunter, he followed various beasts, using Panda Xiong to scare them back to their nests. He would then follow, looking for pet eggs or young ones, and if he found any, he would take them and run.
He didn't retaliate against the beasts' attacks, instead noting the locations of their nests for future visits.
In one day, Lin Jichen captured over two hundred pet eggs and young beasts, most of which were at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Among them were a Red-Eyed Horned Eagle, an Ice Armored Python, a Three-Eyed Spirit Fox, a Giant Scythe-Toed Rat, an Ironback Turtle, and more.
These Foundation Establishment pets would be valuable in the future.
Additionally, Lin Jichen collected many herbs. With his Earth Grade herb-picking skill, he could gather herbs without wasting any.
As night approached, Lin Jichen prepared to leave the Beast Forest temporarily.
Just then, a penetrating roar echoed from the depths of the forest.
Lin Jichen, an experienced wanderer, immediately recognized it as a tiger's roar!
At the sound of the roar, a massive creature leaped out of the jungle, pouncing on the napping Panda Xiong.
Startled, Panda Xiong reflexively activated Absolute Defense, but the giant creature still managed to bite its neck.
Fortunately, Panda Xiong's defense was high.
But Panda Xiong roared in pain, angrily swiping its paw in an attempt to counterattack.
To its surprise, the opponent's strength far surpassed its own. Panda Xiong's efforts were futile, and it could only swat the creature away.
Both sides stood ready, cautiously probing each other.
Lin Jichen and Panda Xiong finally saw their attacker clearly: a majestic white tiger.
The white tiger was enormous, standing three to four meters tall and over seven meters long, with muscular limbs and paws like giant hooves. Its body was covered in purple streaks, resembling bolts of lightning, exuding an imposing aura.
Such a creature couldn't exist in reality.
In reality, the largest tigers were only about three meters long and a little over a meter tall.
Lin Jichen's eyes lit up at the sight of the tiger.
He hadn't expected to encounter a Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger!
The Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger was a rare beast in the Beast Forest, with very few in existence.
Moreover, the Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger had a trace of the ancient exotic beast Lu Wu's bloodline, though it was a distant relation.
Still, it was a noble species, with adult Silver Moon Tigers reaching at least the Crystal Realm, and at their peak, possessing Golden Core Realm strength.
The Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger before him was clearly at its peak, with Golden Core Realm strength.
This was the first Golden Core Realm beast Lin Jichen had encountered since his rebirth.
The Kai Ming Beast and Hell Boar God he encountered in Thunder Marsh were exotic beasts, different from regular beasts.
In "Tale of Immortal," beasts were generally classified into four types: wild beasts, beasts, spirit beasts, and exotic beasts.
Wild beasts were the most common, beast could rival cultivators.
Spirit beasts were bloodthirsty, possessing powerful cultivation like human cultivators, and would attack humans without hesitation, being deadly and ferocious.
Spirit beasts, like Panda Xiong, were a level above, with noble bloodlines, immense potential, and a certain benevolence, not killing indiscriminately.
Exotic beasts were natural bosses, possessing intelligence and sometimes the ability to transform into human form, commanding spirit beasts. The Hell Boar God was a prime example.
The Kai Ming Beast and Hell Boar God were relatively ordinary exotic beasts.
In his previous life, Lin Jichen had encountered many terrifyingly powerful exotic beasts.
For instance, the Taowu, Zhen, Emperor Jiang, Kui Niu, and others.
After the world merged, a regional official in China often issued strange orders, such as withdrawing troops from defensive fortresses, encouraging civilians to venture out, and even luring cultivators into the army, only for them to disappear.
An investigation revealed that the official was being manipulated by a Nine-tailed Fox in human form!
The Nine-tailed Fox, a highly advanced exotic beast, could easily charm and transform into human form.
It had bewitched the official, causing a disaster by leading beasts to attack the city, resulting in heavy losses for China.
Three grand elders were eventually summoned to kill it.
Lin Jichen had also encountered the most powerful exotic beast, the Illuminating Dragon, before his death, against which he had no chance of victory.
Exotic beasts in "Tale of Immortal" were formidable, capable of commanding spirit beasts as their kings.
The Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger before Lin Jichen was a Golden Core Realm beast.
But it shouldn't be underestimated; at its peak, the Silver Moon Tiger was on par with Golden Core Realm cultivators.
The Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger was out hunting and drooled at the sight of the plump Panda Xiong.
Although Panda Xiong's bloodline suppressed and intimidated it, Panda Xiong's cultivation was only at the Crystal Realm.
This incited the Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger's killing intent, wanting to devour Panda Xiong.
Panda Xiong, unlucky as ever, was attacked even while napping. Its bear temper flared, and it charged at the Silver Moon Tiger, heedless of its Golden Core Realm strength!
A fierce battle ensued between the spirit beast and the exotic beast, causing other beasts in the forest to flee in terror.
Lin Jichen seized the opportunity to check the Silver Moon Tiger's attributes.
[Spirit Beast: Thunder-striped Silver Moon Tiger]
[Strength: Mid-Golden Core]
[Vitality: 30850/32000]
[Heart Protection: 20]
Indeed, it had Golden Core strength, no wonder it dared to attack Panda Xiong.
Panda Xiong's realm was far lower, suffering continuous losses.
Lin Jichen knew it was time for him, the master, to step in.
You should think about the owner before hitting the pet!
Lin Jichen summoned his sword, Dark Night, and moved like lightning, appearing in the battlefield in an instant.
Seeing the Silver Moon Tiger about to strike Panda Xiong again, Lin Jichen swung his sword!
A flash of sword light struck the Silver Moon Tiger's back!
The casual strike caused the Silver Moon Tiger immense pain.
Lin Jichen was very pleased with his damage; despite being only at the early Crystal Realm, his attributes already surpassed those of a Golden Core Realm spirit beast.
The Silver Moon Tiger hadn't expected such strength from a mere human, and with the Beast Slayer present, its hatred immediately shifted to Lin Jichen.