Chapter 1163

Tamara was deep in her ritual, performing mysterious hand signs and chanting strange incantations. She seemed to be trying to dispel some invisible karmic ties connected to the celestial lion's body. After all, tampering with the remains of a quasi-divine beast like a celestial lion wasn't without risk. Even in death, such creatures carried an overwhelming aura of majesty that demanded respect. Hidden in the shadows, Wyatt observed her closely, his spiritual sense picking up every move. He couldn't decipher her arcane gestures or the cryptic words she muttered, but his attention never wavered. Tamara focused on the celestial lion's treasure-laden corpse. She had no idea Wyatt was lurking nearby, watching her every move. After completing her ritual, she knelt before the lion's remains and bowed deeply three times. "Forgive my trespass, great one," she said solemnly. Wyatt struck as Tamara stood up and reached for the celestial lion's body. "This is my chance!" He burst from his hiding spot with lightning speed and launched a devastating blow. His fist imbued with roaring dragon-sword energy, streaked toward her like a bolt of light. The attack landed squarely on Tamara's back. Wyatt's eyes lit up with triumph—he hadn't expected his sneak attack to land so perfectly. But his confidence evaporated in an instant. Tamara's body shuddered, and a gleaming silver armor suddenly materialized around her slender figure. Wyatt's relentless strikes rained down, but the armor absorbed every ounce of his power. What should have been an earth-shattering assault capable of pulverizing the Nine-headed lion-tiger beast king felt like throwing punches into a bottomless pit. The silver armor only flickered briefly before returning to its pristine state. "What the hell is this?" Wyatt growled, his frustration boiling over. His carefully planned ambush had amounted to nothing. Not only was Tamara unharmed, but she didn't even look fazed. She turned to face him, her silver armor still gleaming. The armor wrapped around her body, accentuating her curves and radiating a cold, metallic beauty. The sight gave her an almost otherworldly presence. Wyatt's eyes narrowed. "What kind of treasure is that armor? Its defense is off the charts." It had to be a high-grade artifact. There was no other explanation. Tamara, on the other hand, looked just as surprised. "You're still alive?" she blurted out, disbelief coloring her voice. "Did you really think a little beast like the Nine-headed lion-tiger beast king could stop me?" Wyatt sneered, though his eyes remained icy. He hadn't missed the implication—Tamara had fully expected him to die out there. Her expression shifted from shock to fascination. The lion-tiger beast king was a true ancient relic, carrying a trace of celestial lion blood in its veins. Even she wouldn't dare face it head-on, yet Wyatt had survived and made it to the treasure cave. "What a monster," she thought, her admiration tempered by caution. Recovering quickly, Tamara's expression softened into a charming smile. Her silver armor disappeared with a flash, leaving her in her usual flowing dress. Her skin shimmered like crystal, her dark hair flowed like silk, and her eyes sparkled with a seductive brilliance. "Ryatt, you're truly extraordinary—on par with the likes of the Falcon King. I'm truly impressed," she said with a playful laugh. Wyatt didn't respond. He watched her carefully, his instincts screaming that this woman was hiding far more than she let on. Her beauty was disarming, but her actions told another story. That armor alone was proof enough—its defensive capabilities were beyond anything he'd seen. But what truly puzzled him was how she had known about the celestial lion's treasure body. None of the major sects, not even the four great clans, seemed aware of it. And then there was the army of Land of Blessings natives that had followed her commands. Was it really just her beauty that made them loyal? Wyatt didn't think so. He suspected Tamara was shrouded in layers of secrets. A deafening roar erupted from outside the cave, followed by the sound of pounding footsteps. The ground trembled as the Nine-headed lion-tiger beast king and what sounded like an entire stampede closed in. "The lion-tiger beast king is coming back," Tamara said, flashing Wyatt a sly smile. "It seems I must take my leave. Farewell, Ryatt." With that, she raised her delicate hand and unfurled an ancient scroll. The scroll radiated a brilliant light, displaying a series of fantastical images that seemed to ripple through the air. "Is that another artifact?" Wyatt muttered, his irritation growing. Tamara seemed to have no end of tricks.