Chapter 75: Xiao Hong’s First Battle, Saving Yin Caidie

As Zhou Chen left Luo City, the mountain scenery receded rapidly, but he was in no mood to appreciate it.

"I've delayed too much time at the Zhou Family. I definitely won't be able to intercept Ye Chen's Return Soul Pill and Pure Yuan Pill anymore, but it doesn't matter. At most, it'll let him reach the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. However, in two months, I must not let him get the Medicinal Pill from Yin Caidie of the Yinshan Sect."

Zhou Chen's goal was clear, and he had plenty of time.

Restraining his aura and pushing 'White Rainbow Pierces the Sun' to its limit, Zhou Chen was like a bolt of white lightning, heading toward the Qianfeng Mountains.

His spiritual sense also continuously probed outward, focusing his search on areas where Red-Scaled Yao Snakes frequented.

A month later, south of the Qianfeng Mountains, a pungent sulfur-like smell permeated the depths of a rift valley.

"Swoosh!"

A giant tail covered in dark red scales tore through the air, fiercely whipping toward a woman fleeing in distress.

It was none other than the Yinshan Sect's Core Disciple, Yin Caidie.

At this moment, her clothes were torn, and her face was extremely pale.

Although her movement technique was agile, she appeared quite strained under the attacks of two tenth-level Foundation Establishment Red-Scaled Yao Pythons.

Boom!

The giant python's body smashed through a boulder. Yin Caidie barely managed to dodge, the fierce wind stinging her cheeks. The Qi within her surged, and she felt a sweet, metallic taste in her throat.

"Damned beast!"

Clang, clang, clang!

Yin Caidie's fingertips flickered with black light as over a dozen Poison-tipped Bone Needles shot toward the python's eyes, only to be deflected by its scales, sparking a series of flashes.

The other python opened its bloody maw, its foul stench almost making Yin Caidie faint.

"I can't dodge it!"

Despair surged in her heart, and Yin Caidie instinctively condensed a thin Yin Fiend Spirit Shield above her head.

At this critical moment—

"Roar—!"

A red, tiger-shaped Yao Beast filled with a primal aura descended from the sky, its massive form shielding Yin Caidie.

Clang, clang, clang!

The two pythons' attacks slammed into the tiger's body without reservation, leaving only a few white marks.

The next moment.

The Flame Totem on the Yao tiger's forehead glowed brightly, and the pressure of the Core Formation realm was released without reservation. All the Yao Beasts in the valley immediately trembled in fear; it was indeed Zhou Chen's Red Flame Crystal Tiger.

Feeling this terrifying aura of an ancient Vicious Beast, the two Red-Scaled Yao Pythons that had been frantically attacking Yin Caidie felt as if they had been struck heavily. Their vertical pupils were filled with terror as they trembled violently.

Before they could react, a red shadow flashed past, bringing with it a scorching, fierce wind.

A massive tiger claw easily crushed the raised head of one of the pythons.

Crack!

The sound of shattering bones rang out.

The other python instinctively turned to flee, but it was still too slow.

A hint of disdain flashed in the Red Flame Crystal Tiger's eyes.

In the next moment, its sharp claws easily tore through the python's red scales. The python's massive body was slammed down by a colossal force, smashing a large crater into the ground.

The shield above Yin Caidie's head was shattered by the sudden aftershock. Her mind reeled as she staggered backward, on the verge of collapsing.

A gentle yet powerful force supported her back, holding her steady.

Still shaken, Yin Caidie abruptly looked up.

In the air ahead, a green-robed man stood suspended quietly. The terrifying giant tiger now stood obediently by his side, the Flame Totem on its forehead slowly dimming; one might have mistaken it for a harmless kitten.

"This is an ancient exotic beast, the Red… Red Flame Crystal Tiger?" Yin Caidie blurted out.

She had seen scant descriptions in the ancient records of the Yinshan Sect. The Red Flame Crystal Tiger was an ancient exotic species that commanded all beasts, a descendant branch of the Sacred Beast Vermilion Bird and the White Tiger of the West.

But such a being only existed in legends; how could it appear here?

The newcomer was indeed Zhou Chen.

"Check Opportunity," Zhou Chen whispered in his heart.

[Name: Yin Caidie]

[Cultivation: Eighth level of Foundation Establishment]

[Fate: Slightly talented, daughter of Yinshan Sect Inner Sect Elder Yin Shan, eventually stopping at the seventh level of Nascent Soul.]

[Recent Opportunity: Obtains the Earth Rank peak-grade Spiritual Artifact, the Flowing Immortal Dress, in the Buddhist Holy Realm Secret Realm of the Qingman Mountains.]

He briefly looked over Yin Caidie. She had a lovely face and wore purple and black tight-fitting attire that outlined her slender figure. Her clothes were torn in several places, revealing wounds, and her face was as pale as paper, adding a touch of poignant beauty.

"I can't tell at all that she's from a Demonic Sect," Zhou Chen thought to himself.

However, Zhou Chen also realized he had some stereotypes. The Demonic Sects in the cultivation world were not necessarily all evil; it was just that their stances and paths to the Dao were different. Sometimes, the actions of famous righteous Sects could be even more excessive than those of the Demonic Sects.

As soon as Zhou Chen landed, Xiao Hong turned into a streak of light and entered the Spirit Beast Bag.

"Thank you, Senior, for saving my life!" Yin Caidie bowed in salute.

"I am Yin Caidie of the Yinshan Sect. Might I know Senior's honorable name? The Yinshan Sect and I will surely provide a generous reward!"

"You may address me as a peer. Zhou Chen of the Wenxian Sect," Zhou Chen said calmly.

"It was just a small matter, no need for such formality."

"Zhou Chen? The one who took first place in the Wenxian Sect's Core Disciple trial, known as the greatest Genius of the Wenxian Sect in a hundred years… is you?"

Yin Caidie's beautiful eyes lit up as she looked at Zhou Chen in surprise.

"I have a bit of a reputation, but I wouldn't dare claim to be the greatest Genius. You flatter me."

Zhou Chen rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward. He hadn't expected his information to have already spread to other Sects.

However, in Zhou Chen's view, this wasn't necessarily a good thing. A man fears fame as a pig fears fattening; it was better to keep a low profile.

"Senior Brother Zhou's life-saving grace is like a second birth! These Peiyuan Pills may not be of High Grade, but they were personally refined by my Master and are of extraordinary quality. I hope Senior Brother will not refuse them!"

Yin Caidie hurriedly took out a jade bottle from her storage ring and handed it to Zhou Chen with both hands.

"You are very kind."

Zhou Chen silently accepted the jade bottle.

In Yin Caidie's eyes, Zhou Chen lacked the hypocrisy of traditional Righteous Path Cultivators and did not repeatedly decline her gift. Her favorable impression of him grew even stronger.

[Ding! Successfully intercepted Ye Chen's Opportunity. Received 5 High Grade Earth Rank Peiyuan Pills from Yin Caidie! Triggered ten-thousand-fold return, received 5 High Grade Heaven Rank Peiyuan Pills!]

The System prompt sounded, and Zhou Chen placed the jade bottle into his storage ring.

Zhou Chen nodded slightly and said, "Junior Sister, this place is dangerous, and your injuries are not light. It's best to leave soon. I still have matters to attend to, so I'll be going now."

After saying that, before Yin Caidie could react, Zhou Chen turned into a streak of light and shot toward the Qingman Mountains.

Yin Caidie gazed blankly in the direction where Zhou Chen had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

The male Cultivators she usually met, whether inside or outside her Sect, always tried to please her subserviently.

Yin Caidie considered her own looks exceptional, and Zhou Chen's descent from the sky to save her, followed by his free and easy departure, left an indelible impression on her heart.

"Zhou Chen…" she whispered the name, feeling her cheeks grow slightly warm.

Suddenly, sensing the sound of Cultivators fighting ahead, Yin Caidie's expression changed. She quickly concealed her aura and left the area.

Little did she know that the newcomer was Ye Chen, who had just arrived at the Qianfeng Mountains.

"Master, there are too many Yao Beasts here. Which way should we go to be safer?" Ye Chen asked in his heart.