"Senior! I was wrong!"
"I didn't recognize Mount Tai when I saw you! Please be merciful!"
"Spare me—!"
Within a dozen breaths, a massive shadow was sent flying through the air.
The ground shook as it crashed down, sending dirt and leaves scattering in all directions.
It was the same black tiger that had been so imposing just moments ago.
Now?
It looked pitiful.
Its body was covered in dust and debris, its ears drooped lifelessly, and its once-mighty aura had turned chaotic and weak.
The mighty paws that had once struck fear into others?
Now, they were pressed against its own head, giving it a ridiculous, almost comical appearance.
It had tried to land a single blow.
Just one.
Yet, from start to finish, it had been utterly dominated.
Deep in its heart, the black tiger was filled with regret.
If the human could effortlessly crush it like this, then his strength had to be at least at the level of Eminence—and not just any Eminence, but one far stronger than most.
With such power, why was he walking through the trees like an ordinary traveler?
Wouldn't it have been easier to just fly?
Why did he have to act like easy prey?!
And yet, fate had played its cruel joke.
What was meant to be a simple robbery had turned into an absolute disaster.
The black tiger wanted to cry but had no tears to shed.
Still, it didn't dare voice its complaints.
It knew one thing for certain:
Its life was now in this man's hands.
"Thank you, Senior, for sparing my life!" it said cautiously.
Unlike many monsters that prided themselves on their unyielding nature, this black tiger had a different philosophy.
Survival came first.
Luo Chuan remained silent.
The black tiger's nerves tensed.
Then, in a calm, almost indifferent voice, Luo Chuan finally spoke.
"I'm still lacking a mount."
The words were simple, yet they carried a weight that made the tiger freeze.
It took a moment for the meaning to sink in.
When it did, a wave of fury surged in its heart.
A Pathseeker-level beast like itself?
Becoming a human's mount?!
Unacceptable!
Even if it feared death, there were limits to what it could endure!
The humiliation was too much!
It opened its mouth to refuse, but before it could speak—
"Don't be so hasty to reject," Luo Chuan interrupted.
He reached into his sleeve, and in his hand appeared a small, neatly wrapped package.
The black tiger frowned.
What was this human doing?
Luo Chuan casually tore open the package.
Instantly—
A rich, intoxicating aroma spread through the air.
The black tiger's nostrils flared, its ears perking up involuntarily.
Something about that scent…
It swallowed reflexively.
But it quickly forced itself to remain still.
Did this human really think he could bribe it with food?
What a joke!
Luo Chuan remained unfazed.
With a flick of his wrist, he produced something else—a bottle of mineral water.
The black tiger blinked.
Now it was really confused.
What was this man doing?
"This," Luo Chuan said casually, "can improve your aptitude."
Temptation
The black tiger's entire body stiffened.
It stared at Luo Chuan, eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
Improve… my aptitude?
It had never heard of such a thing!
To a monster, talent and bloodline determined everything.
If it could truly enhance its innate abilities, the value of such an item was beyond measure!
The black tiger felt its breathing grow heavy.
There was no need to question if Luo Chuan was lying.
The power difference between them was too vast—this human had no reason to deceive it.
"Senior… are you serious?" the black tiger asked, its voice trembling.
"You'll know if you try it," Luo Chuan replied, tossing the bottle over.
The black tiger instinctively caught it in its mouth, then—
Crack!
It bit straight through the bottle, swallowing the contents in one gulp.
Luo Chuan's eye twitched slightly.
That was… an incredibly crude way to drink.
But he said nothing.
Because—
The effects began immediately.
A surge of pure spiritual energy erupted from the black tiger's body.
Its aura rose explosively, far more powerful than before.
Even its appearance changed.
Dark golden patterns began forming across its jet-black fur, adding a sense of dignity and majesty.
The transformation was undeniable.
It was the same kind of inherent nobility that Yao Ziyan possessed—her purple hair and violet eyes, marking her as unique.
Luo Chuan's gaze lingered on the black tiger for a moment.
Then, unexpectedly, he found himself thinking of Yao Ziyan.
For some reason, her distinctive presence came to mind.
Strange.
But that was a thought for another time.