Tiger Leaping Gorge!

Since the Flying Tiger Venerable achieved the status of Demon Venerable a thousand years ago, this place has been the territory of the Flying Tiger Race. For years, not even the Demon Fiend, let alone the Human Race’s Demon Suppression Bureau, dared to invade this area.

In the mountains, young flying tigers not yet able to transform play in the forest, holding severed limbs and gnawing on them. There are also powerful flying tigers that have transformed, sitting on giant stones, absorbing the Power of Heaven and Earth for cultivation.

If not for the visible white bones and the nauseating demonic wind that makes one want to vomit, this place would be like a paradise.

"On the day I achieve Great Success and become the Demon King, my Flying Tiger Race will be able to enter the bloodline of the Royal Family, overlook the Wilderness, and by then, the young ones won’t go hungry anymore!"

In the temple made of piled-up giant stones, the Flying Tiger Venerable sits cross-legged on the divine platform, gazing at the scene before him with satisfaction.

Although the Demon Suppression Bureau cannot deal with the Flying Tiger Race, the Flying Tiger Race cannot be too wanton. Aside from the humans they raise themselves, they can only occasionally go to Yunzhou to catch the autumn wind.

In the past, it was fine. When he took action, he could plunder many blood meals for the young ones in the tribe. But ever since he colluded with Zhong Zhenyu, for the Martial King’s great endeavor, he began controlling the young ones in the tribe to avoid troubling Yunzhou.

As a result, many young ones had to rely on themselves to absorb the Power of Heaven and Earth for cultivation, delaying their training progress, and some of the little ones have gotten thinner.

"How much longer do we have to wait, Grand Elder? The young ones may go without meat, but they cannot let their hunting skills fall behind. This month, thirty more little ones have come of age, but they have yet to personally hunt the Human Race. If this goes on, I’m worried the young ones will forget their innate hunting skills."

An elder with a head full of white hair walks in.

In Tiger Leaping Gorge, any flying tiger that can transform must take human form, because the Grand Elder dislikes seeing the young ones remain as mere beasts, believing that transforming into human form is a noble display.

The Grand Elder loves watching the young ones eat in human form.

The Flying Tiger Venerable frowns slightly. The young ones’ blood meals can be solved by intensifying the captive breeding or exchanging with other clans, but honing the hunting skills is a bit tricky.

In the Flying Tiger Race, a young tiger only counts as of age if they’ve successfully hunted a martial artist from the Human Race.

For countless years, the Flying Tiger Race has developed and grown to its current size by adhering to this rule.

Back in the day, during his own coming-of-age hunting rite, he was fortunate enough to snatch and consume a uniquely gifted human, thus standing out among his peers and becoming the Grand Elder of the Flying Tiger Race today.

But he cannot speak of the collusion with Zhong Zhenyu, as constantly suppressing it is not beneficial to the Flying Tiger Race either.

"Yunzhou cannot be disturbed. Grand Elder, I have significant plans. Try not to start a war with Yunzhou’s Demon Suppression Bureau. Here’s what we’ll do: when young ones come of age, elders will take the lead in rotation and have them complete their coming-of-age hunting exercises in other provinces..."

Train!

The word "train" was not spoken by the Flying Tiger Venerable, when suddenly there was a surge in the Power of Heaven and Earth, and the fluctuations of a Martial Venerable spread through Tiger Leaping Gorge.

"Who dares to be wanton in the land of my Flying Tiger Race!"

The Flying Tiger Venerable roared, his Heart Spirit instantly enveloping the heavens and earth, seeing a great halberd like one that splits the sky and earth falling from the firmament, aimed directly at the temple where he was.

Time seemed to freeze, and countless flying tigers in the mountains looked up to the firmament, where the great halberd descended.

"Roar..."

The Flying Tiger Venerable let out a roar, and dazzling golden light burst forth, sending his disheveled hair into a wild dance.

Boom!

His tiger body trembled, and the terrifying wave swept in all directions, collapsing the temple and scattering tribe members serving within.

He could care less at this point; if the great halberd were allowed to fall, who knows how many young ones of the Flying Tiger Race would perish.

Crashing through the collapsing temple roof, the Flying Tiger Venerable hurtled skyward, roaring, "Zhong Zhenyu, what the hell are you doing? Coming to attack my Flying Tiger Race territory!"

He recognized the energy fluctuations of the great halberd; over the years, he had faced this great halberd countless times, knowing it to be the Martial Venerate Divine Soldier of Zhong Zhenyu, the General of Yunzhou.

In the past, it was tolerable, as Zhong Zhenyu had already allied with him; why would he still come to attack the Flying Tiger Race?

Moreover, even before the alliance, Zhong Zhenyu didn’t have the gall to invade the Flying Tiger Race territory.

But at this moment, the Flying Tiger Venerable couldn’t afford to ponder too deeply. Amidst his furious roar, he didn’t even have time to summon his Demon Venerable Divine Soldiers, sending a punch as big as a meditation mat to clash with the great halberd.

Bang...

As the punch collided with the great halberd, it instantly let out a deafening sound, causing countless young flying tigers in the mountains to burst into a spray of blood mist.

In just an instant, who knows how many flying tigers were shaken to death, their skeletons nowhere to be found.

"Roar, Zhong Zhenyu, you’re damned!"

The Flying Tiger Venerable’s eyes widened in anger.

He had acted quickly, even going all out to fend off the attack, but the power of the Martial Venerate Divine Soldier was too terrifying, and he hadn’t managed to channel all his strength skyward.

Golden blood scattered, each drop impacting the ground and creating large pits, but the Flying Tiger Venerable paid no heed.

His fist was already marred with deep wounds down to the bone, even his Golden Bone was cleaved open with cracks, yet he focused solely on killing Zhong Zhenyu, this treacherous scoundrel.

As True Essence frantically surged to heal his wounds, the Flying Tiger Venerable’s brow emitted radiance, a gargantuan divine axe appearing in his hand, emanating a wave not weaker than that of the great halberd.

Without a second thought, he swung the axe toward the direction the great halberd had fallen, a crescent moon-like blade rushing to the heavens.

Following that, his body shot up like a cannonball, flying up alongside it.