Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, the bald-headed Tiger let out a ferocious roar. A bright yellow ring of light rose from his feet, slowly ascending his incredibly muscular legs. Immediately after, another yellow ring of light appeared at his feet, then another... a total of three rings of light appeared in succession!

After the three rings of light vanished, Tiger let out another furious roar. A tangible-looking yellow halo materialized around his enormous fist as he bellowed and charged toward Ling Xiao!

The air around his fist seemed to ignite, letting out a CRACKLING sound.

The surrounding Beastmen were fired up, and they began to roar madly in their beast tongue.

"Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

Lam, Mad Leopard, and a large group of Leopard People—men, women, and children—all stood there quietly, their faces filled with worry. They didn’t join the other Beastmen in their ferocious clamoring, because this young human was the benefactor of their Leopardman Race!

At that moment, the so-called beastly nature of the crowd was on full display. When they saw the slender human standing motionless before Clan Leader Tiger’s terrifying fist, they howled with laughter.

’Damn it, that weak little human... he’s scared stiff!’

HAHAHAHA!

The moment Ling Xiao had stepped into the ring, all the Spiritual Power in his body had begun to circulate wildly, boiling restlessly within him. Inside his ring, the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword began to tremble incessantly.

Just as Tiger’s enormous fist was about to smash into Ling Xiao’s face, Ling Xiao’s body suddenly shot high into the air. There was no warning, no preparatory movement; it was as if someone had simply yanked him off the ground!

In midair, a red light flashed in Ling Xiao’s hand. The Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword pulsed with a demonic, blood-red light as he brought it slashing down on Tiger’s head.

’Fleeting... Light... Skimming... Shadow!’

Ling Xiao roared in his mind. ’Against an expert like Tiger, holding back... that’s just asking to die!’

BOOM!

The Beastmen retreated in utter terror, falling back behind the giant, shadowy trees. Pairs of gleaming green eyes, filled with fear, stared at the shocking scene unfolding in the arena!

After the massive boom, a huge cloud of dust and smoke billowed up from the ground, filling the air and obscuring everyone’s vision!

From within the cloud of dust, what sounded like a short, furious roar from Tiger could be heard.

In a small wooden cabin among the distant giant trees, the High Priest’s body trembled slightly. He then stood up, his refined face filled with surprise. "What a powerful aura! It seems I’ve underestimated you!"

When the dust and smoke cleared, the hiding Beastmen discovered a large, deep crater in the middle of the field!

Their Clan Leader, Grand Commander Tiger, was gone, but the human was still standing motionless at the edge of the crater, sword in hand.

Mad Leopard, who was also hiding, plucked up his courage and poked his head out. His eyes, having returned to normal under the light of the Crystal Core Crystal Lamps, fixed on Ling Xiao as he asked, "Safe... expert?"

Ling Xiao didn’t answer him. He just slowly raised his head, then looked back down into the crater, which was a good seven or eight meters deep. After a long moment, a roar echoed from within, still sounding full of vigor.

Ling Xiao smiled wryly to himself. ’This Tiger... his strength is clearly approaching the level of a Sword Emperor! He took a full-power strike from me, someone at the Fusion Stage, and he isn’t even injured?’

Just then, with a WHOOSH, Tiger leaped up from the crater. His bald head was covered in blood and mud, a sight that terrified the surrounding Beastmen. They all held their breath, not daring to make the slightest sound.

When they looked at Ling Xiao again, their eyes were filled with fear and... submission!

That’s right. The Beast Race, far more than the Human Race, revered strength above all else! Even though Ling Xiao was a slender human, he had defeated Tiger! He had defeated the Clan Leader of the Beast Race, their Grand Commander. Therefore... Ling Xiao possessed the strength to command the respect of these Beastmen!

A smile spread across Lam’s furry old face, and the children of the Leopardman Race also began to laugh happily. Mad Leopard’s eyes were filled with mirth, but he was desperately trying to suppress it. He knew that if he seemed too happy, Tiger would get angry.

A fierce light shone in Tiger’s eyes as he stared intently at Ling Xiao. His chest heaved violently, and an angry, beast-like growl rumbled continuously in his throat.

"What, not ready to admit defeat? You want to go another round?"

Ling Xiao stood tall, his chest puffed out, and met Tiger’s cold gaze with a fierce one of his own. "If it weren’t for the High Priest, I would have killed you!"

THUD!

From the other side of the crater, which was over ten meters in diameter, Tiger’s massive body dropped to its knees before Ling Xiao. His head, caked with mud and blood, hung low. Even kneeling, he was still much taller than Ling Xiao.

"Powerful human, Tiger has lost. I am convinced of my defeat. You are the expert... Tiger is not your equal!"

The surrounding Beastmen were utterly silent, so quiet that every one of them could hear their own heartbeat!

Ling Xiao grinned and gave Tiger a thumbs-up. "You fought well! You’re very powerful, too! I only won by a stroke of luck!"

Tiger lowered his head even further, and much of the resentment in his eyes faded. Then, he looked up at Ling Xiao. "Respected human expert, Tiger is willing to follow you, to venture into the world of humans to gain experience. Please grant me your permission!"

"Ah!" A collective gasp rose from the surrounding Beastmen. The Grand Commander wanted to go to the human world? ’Is he abandoning us?’

The Beastmen instantly grew agitated and restless. Without Tiger, without the powerful Tigerman Race, they would not be able to survive for long in Penzes Swamp.