Legendary Beast Cultivator

The thunderous sound still echoed loudly throughout the vast underground cave. The thick clouds of dust settled sluggishly under the air.

"Lin Yuan!" Chen Ming shouted, his face spasming under disdain.

"L-Lin Yuan!" Lian Nichang yelled, his voice cracking as he took a hurried step toward the cloud of dust.

But the massive rank four white tiger didn’t even look at Lin Yuan’s side. Its golden, shimmering eyes darted toward the two remaining disciples.

A loud, rumbling growl reverberated from its broad chest as it slowly lowered its massive shoulders to rush forward again to attack. Its gaze locked onto Chen Ming and Lian Nichang with raging anger.

"Is it ignoring Lin Yuan?" Chen Ming muttered, his heart heaving against his ribs.

"It doesn’t even care whether he’s alive or dead..." Lian Nichang whispered, clenching his trembling fists until his knuckles turned white. "Why the hell master Qin Yuze didn’t come for Lin Yuan’s aid?"

The dark cave where Lin Yuan had been blasted remained deathly silent. The white tiger took one slow, precise step forward. Each step echoed ominously throughout the cave.

Chen Ming gulped once, his voice cracking under the fear. "We have to hold it."

"I think Lin Yuan was just unconscious and alive, that’s the reason the master still didn’t hop in," Lian Nichang slowly nodded, his jaw clenched tightly. "We need to fight the tiger beast until Lin Yuan joins again."

Both disciples concentrated their beast essence to attack again. The wind falcon flew into the cave’s high roof with a sharp, piercing screech. The wolf beast lowered its body beside Lian Nichang, letting out a desperate growl.

"Now!" Lian Nichang yelled, waving his hand.

The two disciples rushed forward together into the tiger’s guard. The falcon descended like a falling arrow from above, its wings slicing through the chilly air to launch a barrage of wind blades. At the same moment, the wolf beast darted low along the ground, attempting to force the tiger to change its attention.

The white tiger reacted instantly with terrifying grace. Its enormous tail whipped across the area vehemently.

The wind falcon narrowly escaped the slashing whip, a few feathers scattering through the air, and before Lian Nichang could even attack, the tiger twisted. Its raspy shoulder slammed straight into the lunging wolf beast.

The silver wolf was violently blasted backward, tumbling a few meters across the jagged stone ground before desperately regaining its balance.

"It was too strong!" Chen Ming gritted his teeth, dodging a flying fragment of stone. "Again!"

The two disciples refused to retreat.

For a few agonizing blows, they coordinated perfectly, their exhausted bodies would allow. But every brutal clash reminded them of one terrifying truth — the white tiger wasn’t even using its full strength. It merely refused to let them take a single step closer to the smaller cave where Lin Yuan also crashed into.

Several minutes passed on, thick beads of sweat dripped down continuously down their foreheads, obscuring their eyes. Their breathing became ragged and frenzy.

But the white tiger remained still as an unshakeable mountain. Suddenly, the beast lunged forward. Its tremendous speed caught Lian Nichang off guard.

"No!" Lian Nichang instinctively raised both arms in a desperate attempt to defend himself.

The White Tiger’s broad shoulder crashed into his chest.

Lian Nichang was thrown backward like a leaf in a wind storm, plunging violently across the rocky ground before slamming into a stone boulder with a loud thud.

"Nichang!" Chen Ming screamed, abandoning his defensive posture to sprint toward his fallen friend.

Lian Nichang coughed frantically, clutching his chest as he struggled to stand. But before he could even recover his balance, the white tiger appeared before him. Its massive body casted a shadow on Lian Nichang which swallowed the young disciple whole.

Slowly... it raised one slashing paw. The sharp, shiny claws gleamed terrifyingly under the crystal light.

Chen Ming’s eyes widened in pure horror. "NICHANG!!"

Without a second thought for his own safety, Chen Ming sprinted forward at Lian Nichang. At the edge of the battlefield, high atop a stone boulder, the assistant master Qin Yuze’s expression twitched suddenly.

"Enough..." Qin Yuze muttered, nodding his head. The weary, oppressive blue beast essence erupted around his body. His ice wolf appeared instantly, its aura freezing the moisture in the air.

Qin Yuze bent his knees, his muscles tightening as he prepared to leap down and pulverize the tiger to save his disciples.

But before anyone could move another inch, a faint, gentle growl echoed from deep within the smaller cave.

The massive white tiger froze mid-strike. Its raised, lethal paw remained motionless in the air. And then another soft growl followed it. It was gentle, and weak.

The enormous male tiger immediately lowered its paw, its ears twitching sharply toward the sound. It darted its gaze away from the bruised Chen Ming or the terrified Lian Nichang, and slowly turned around.

Everyone’s stunned gaze followed the mighty tiger’s movements. A frantic, slow footsteps echoed gently from within the dark, narrow cave.

A graceful, white figure appeared from the shadows. It was another White Tiger. Slightly smaller in stature, its snow-white fur shimmered under the crystal light like freshly fallen snow. The elegant black stripes ran across its body, and although its movements were somewhat sluggish and frenzy, its golden eyes carried a gentle, peaceful warmth.

A clean, meticulously tied bandage made of green medicinal leaves was wrapped carefully around her lower abdomen.

The female white tiger let out another quiet, soothing growl. The enormous, terrifying male tiger immediately walked toward her. The ruthless tiger from moments ago suddenly looked different; he gently lowered his head, rubbing it affectionately against her neck. The female tiger smiled happily, nudging on the male tiger’s head.

The abyssal cave fell into an eerie, petrifying silence.

"There is another white tiger..." Chen Ming stared frantically, his chest heaving vehemently.

"I guess, they’re... a mated pair..." Lian Nichang slowly smeared his bruised arms, leaning against the stone boulder.

Then, another pair of clicking footsteps echoed calmly from inside the smaller cave. A familiar figure calmly walked out, dusting off the dirt on his academy robes.

"Ouch!" Lin Yuan stretched his shoulders slightly, flexing his neck until it cracked. "That really hurts a lot."

"Lin Yuan!!!" Chen Ming and Lian Nichang shouted at the same time, rushing toward him simultaneously.

"Are you okay?!"

"Thanks to the heavens, you are alive!"

Lin Yuan rubbed the back of his neck with a small, weary smile. "The tiger hit insanely hard. My back will remain aching for a month."

He stared down toward the shimmering green turtle ring around his finger. "Fortunately... my turtle beast reacted in time and projected its essence shield behind me before I hit the wall."

"Hahaha! Naturally! A proper defense never fails its master!" The turtle beast chuckled boisterously, its voice lingering in his head.

Chen Ming released a long, weary breath. "I seriously thought you were dead back there."

"Me too," Lian Nichang nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"Humph~" Lin Yuan nodded his head softly. "When I was blasted through the dust into the small cave... I found out what it was guarding."

He looked gently toward the female white tiger. "She was lying on the stone floor. Her breathing was terribly weak, and she had a lethal, infected wound sliced across her abdomen. I guess it’s from a clash with another beast."

"Wait... so.." Chen Ming squinted, his eyes darting between Lin Yuan and the beasts.

"Yes, the male tiger wasn’t attacking us out of wild bloodlust or any greed. He was terrified that humans would harm his mate while she was defenseless," Lin Yuan grunted, a faint glint of warmth escaping from his lips.

The three disciples quietly watched the two white tigers. The male tiger never once left the female tiger’s side, shielding her body with his life.

"I took the rank three medicinal herbs we gathered over the past couple of days and crushed them into a concentrated mixture. I cleaned the wound, applied that herb mixture, and wrapped it with leaves," Lin Yuan continued, taking out a few leaves from his pouch.

He paused, letting out a warm sigh. "It isn’t fully healed... but it stopped the infection and will help her recover her strength soon."

As it was like the tiger understanding his words, the female white tiger slowly stepped toward Lin Yuan. The male tiger followed closely beside her, his terrifying aura suppressed and gone.

Both mighty beasts bowed their heads slightly in front of Lin Yuan. Their golden eyes no longer contained a shred of hostility; there was only a solemn gratitude.

Lin Yuan smiled warmly, reaching out to the beasts. "Haha... I only helped a little. The wound still needs rest. Take care for a few days."

He gently rubbed the thick, soft fur on both tigers’ foreheads. The two mighty beasts closed their eyes gracefully, leaning into his touch.

Watching the unbelievable scene, Qin Yuze slowly descended from the high rocky boulder above, his legs landing silently on the ground. His usually cold, unbothered face carried the slightest trace of a genuine smile.

"Haha..." Qin Yuze murmured, shaking his head. "You are far kinder to wild beasts than you are to people, boy."

Lin Yuan smeared his cheek sluggishly. "They were only protecting what was precious to them. I simply did what anyone should do in that situation."

Qin Yuze looked at him for a long moment before letting out a nod of respect. "Perhaps... But few in this world can do this."

Lin Yuan stood up straight, dusting off his knees and adjusting his robes. "Alright, the sun is moving. Let’s continue our path across the mountain."

He turned toward the cave entrance, slowly moving forward. Chen Ming and Lian Nichang quickly gathered their pouches to follow.

Just as Lin Yuan reached the exit, he suddenly stopped mid-step. Something had gently caught the edge of his sleeve.

He looked back, and the male white tiger had carefully caught the edge of Lin Yuan’s robe between its sharp teeth.

Almost... as though it were politely asking him to follow. Lin Yuan slowly turned back.

The male white tiger looked toward the shadows of the smaller cave... then looked straight back at Lin Yuan. Its shimmering eyes seemed to be silently communicating a request.

"What is it?" Lin Yuan whispered, his voice calm. "What are you trying to tell me?"