Two days later, everyone was packed and ready, once again setting foot on the mountain where the tiger demon resided.
This time, they rented a carriage. Wang Zhiya and Ye Qing also changed into plain, simple clothes, especially Wang Zhiya, who double-checked the road signs repeatedly during the journey, afraid of making a major mistake again.
Lin Shuyin suppressed his aura and played the role of an ordinary coachman, while the others held a meeting in the carriage’s back compartment.
“Let’s all share what we’re good at. This time the enemy is at the Foundation Establishment stage—if we few at the Qi Refining stage don’t cooperate, it’ll be hard to win,” Wang Zhiya said.
“My Wanfa Immortal Sect focuses on spell cultivation, and I have a fire spiritual root, so I can provide long-range fire-type spell support. Of course, I also know a bit about alchemy and refining weapons.”
The Wanfa Immortal Sect, a top-tier sect, collected a vast number of techniques. It also had deep research into Array Arts, Pill Arts, and talismans. For every rare spiritual root, there was a matching cultivation method. To keep research active, all disciples had to submit a self-created technique upon reaching a certain realm, which would be stored in the Wanfa Pavilion.
“I’m a sword spiritual root, Innate Sword Bone! Also…” Ye Qing casually pointed to her own eyes. “I’m practicing the ‘Reverse Flow Method’ from the Treading Cloud Immortal Sect. My master says that, once mastered, this art will let me sever the river of time!”
Only then did everyone notice that beneath Ye Qing’s thick glasses, her pupils were a deep blue.
That was a distinctive trait gained after training in the ‘Reverse Flow Method’ of Treading Cloud Immortal Sect. It was said to grant the ability to briefly foresee the future in battle and anticipate the enemy’s moves.
“As for me, I’m pretty average. Duan Yao Mountain doesn’t have any special features, but my Wanling Immortal Body is kind of useful!” Tong Yao smiled.
Wang Zhiya and Ye Qing were both startled when they heard this. Even Lin Shu outside the carriage was a little surprised—only Lu Zhiyun seemed unconcerned.
Playing it down! That Immortal Body alone could crush everyone here, yet she pretended to be so “modest.”
“Sister Tong Yao, your Immortal Body is no small matter!”
As expected, Wang Zhiya and Ye Qing immediately began to praise her.
The Wanling Immortal Body—a physique with affinity for all things. Put simply, it was a natural “Nangong Wenya”—whoever she touched would go dumb.
This was Lin Shu’s first time seeing such a body. It was said to be highly prized in the Yushou Sect, but in a place like Duan Yao Mountain that focused on “fusing beast powers,” it was perhaps even more suitable.
“What about Sister Lu?” Tong Yao asked, turning to Lu Zhiyun.
“Three spiritual roots, currently practicing swordsmanship with my senior brother!” Lu Zhiyun introduced herself briefly.
This brought a moment of silence to the carriage, but Lin Shu couldn’t help chuckling.
His little junior sister had a good temperament—she wasn’t arrogant despite her talent, just spoke simply, which might lead others to look down on her.
And as Lin Shu suspected, the disciples from the three great sects had just such thoughts.
Three spiritual roots? Forget it. No matter how skilled Lu Zhiyun was at swordsmanship, could she match Ye Qing, who had a sword spiritual root and Innate Sword Bone?
Even at the Qi Refining stage, Lu Zhiyun’s combat power could probably be ignored, right?
Maybe they’d even need to assign someone to protect her.
“Ahem! Well, it’s fine! Sister Lu can be my guard and protect me!”
Still embarrassed from leading everyone the wrong way earlier, Wang Zhiya didn’t want to criticize her, so he seriously assigned Lu Zhiyun the role of guard.
“Later, Brother Ye will take the lead, Sister Tong Yao will assist, and I’ll provide long-range support!”
The discussion in the carriage gradually ended, and everyone began to rest with their eyes closed, except…
“Oh, right! Sister Lu, can I ask your senior brother for some advice?” Tong Yao suddenly asked.
“You can ask him!” Lu Zhiyun waved her hand.
“Really? You won’t get mad, right?”
Tong Yao grabbed Lu Zhiyun’s sleeve, shaking it. Lu Zhiyun remained indifferent. “No!”
Why is this woman so annoying? Does she think everyone is obsessed with that demonic cultivator’s looks?
I, Lu Zhiyun, care only about eradicating demonic cultivators and upholding the Righteous Path!
“Eh~ It feels like you don’t really like your senior brother?” Tong Yao pressed on.
Lu Zhiyun’s eyes went wide with tension. “Who—who—who said that! Senior brother treats me very well! Don’t say nonsense!”
That person outside had another identity—as a demonic cultivator! Don’t ask random questions and get me in trouble!!!
With Lin Shu’s cultivation, he could definitely hear their conversation. If he learned she was complaining behind his back, or if she let slip too much, Lu Zhiyun felt she’d be even closer to death.
Tong Yao only gave a sly smile at Lu Zhiyun’s reaction, then dragged Lin Shu inside.
“Senior Brother Lin, could you tell us about your first adventure?”
Everyone looked at him curiously. Lin Shu hadn’t expected to be called in for the meeting, but it wouldn’t affect the mission, so he didn’t mind sharing.
“Ahem! My first mission was hunting a demonic cultivator. My little martial uncle protected me.”
Demonic cultivator hunting a demonic cultivator? Lu Zhiyun thought this was interesting.
“At the time, that demonic cultivator was hiding in a small town. To get close, I disguised myself as a storyteller and observed him every day, occasionally chatting with him.”
“Thanks to my efforts, finally, one day, he came to invite me for drinks…”
Wang Zhiya interrupted, “Then, Senior Brother Lin, did you reveal your identity after a few rounds and draw your sword to eliminate the demonic cultivator on the spot?”
Lin Shu shook his head.
Ye Qing pondered, “Did you ambush him ahead of time, setting up an array at the drinking spot?”
Lin Shu still shook his head.
Tong Yao said nothing, but Lu Zhiyun had a guess. With Lin Shu’s approach, he’d probably report the demonic cultivator to the authorities, so he wouldn’t have to reveal his identity and would gain recognition as a righteous cultivator in the Great Qian.
Lin Shu continued, “Actually, it was an accident. He asked me to buy some snacks to go with the wine, but I was broke, so I didn’t buy any. I had my little martial uncle make some…”
How vicious!
Lu Zhiyun realized she’d underestimated Lin Shu’s viciousness as a demonic cultivator!
No one else understood what this had to do with anything, and Lin Shu didn’t want to disparage his little martial uncle. He simply invited them to Tianque Sect someday for a proper meal.
While they chatted, spiritual energy in the surroundings began to ripple. The four disciples instantly became alert.
“They’re here!”
Lin Shu naturally sensed the tiger demon’s presence. At this point, he just needed to sit in the carriage and watch them perform.
Lu Zhiyun was the first to draw her sword and charge, with the other three right behind her. On a slope, a striped tiger crouched, watching them hungrily from above.
Early Foundation Establishment?
Wang Zhiya was pleased. The four of them at the late Qi Refining stage against an early Foundation Establishment demon beast—shouldn’t be too hard.
Soon, the four arranged themselves as planned and began the assault.
“Duan Character Formula! Slash!”
Ye Qing lunged, sword striking at the tiger’s flank. But a beast’s sense for danger was sharper than any human’s. Facing such a deadly thrust, the tiger demon simply swept it aside with a paw.
But Ye Qing wasn’t the only one attacking. Tong Yao had already taken position on the other side, waiting for her chance. When the tiger swiped its paw, its left side was exposed.
Tong Yao channeled her spiritual energy, activating the Wanling Immortal Body and merging it with the demon power within her. In an instant, her form shrank several times but her movements grew much quicker.
With a nimble slide, Tong Yao slashed the tiger’s belly with her dagger, blood spraying at once.
Roaring in pain, the tiger reared up with both paws—only to meet a massive fireball head-on.
“Fireball!”
The fire spell hit the tiger’s head dead on—a perfect strike.
With the beast unable to fight back, smiles broke out on everyone’s faces. Was this task too easy?
The coordinated attack only needed three people. As Lu Zhiyun was protecting the spellcaster, she hadn’t really done anything.
It was as if her presence made no difference at all.
There was hardly any suspense in the battle. The tiger demon soon collapsed under their joint assault.
“Reporting to Senior Brother Lin! We’ve completed the mission!” Wang Zhiya said, panting.
He’d just used up too many spells in one go and nearly exhausted his spiritual energy. The others were in much the same state.
Lin Shu ignored him, leisurely reading the letter in his hand. His eyes paused on one line, and he muttered to himself:
“On the mountain there is a tiger demon. It eats human flesh and speaks human words; among the mountains, there are those who assist the tiger…”
“Speaks human words, huh…” Lin Shu stroked his chin, pondering. “If I recall correctly, only Foundation Establishment late-stage demon beasts have that skill!”
As soon as he finished, a furious gale swept through the forest, followed by a thunderous tiger’s roar that shook the mountains.
A beast even larger and fiercer than before leaped before them, eyes blazing as it stared at the fallen tiger, its gaze bloody and fierce.
“I’ll kill you all!”