Chapter 126 Stop, Wang Baole! That Tiger Demon Isn't Yours to Touch!
Chu Feng jolted upright from the bed in a carp-flip motion. "Understood!"
After tidying up, he led the members of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute off the flying vessel.
The moment they disembarked, a stretch of majestic mountains and lush green forests came into view.
King Hengjiang stored the flying vessel into his storage ring, then swept his gaze over the gathered disciples. "There's still a month until the Taixu Secret Realm opens. During this one-and-a-half-month period, you are free to go out during the day, but at night you must return to camp for roll call. Anyone who fails to return will be punished according to academy rules. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
Over a hundred disciples responded in unison.
"Begin setting up camp!"
At King Hengjiang's command, the disciples began pitching tents and organizing the camp.
In less than an hour, Wendao Academy's encampment was fully established.
Each institute's tents were clearly divided and didn't interfere with one another.
Seeing that everything was in order, Chu Feng said calmly, "If you're going out, remember to move in groups. Don't wander off alone. If you encounter an enemy you can handle, fight. If you can't, run. And if you meet someone truly powerful, activate the sword jade I gave you."
"Yes!"
The disciples answered together.
Chu Feng then made his way to King Hengjiang's tent to ask about the next steps.
Cao Youqian glanced at the others. "Anyone want to take a stroll?"
Wang Baole scratched his head. "Senior Brother, I've already arranged to meet Miss Nangong."
"You've been waiting for this moment, haven't you?" Cao Youqian teased.
"Hehe."
Wang Baole chuckled. "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I'll take my leave first."
"Go on, go on."
Cao Youqian waved him off, then turned to the two standing beside him.
Qin Qin and Xiao Chen spoke in unison, "We're not planning to go out."
Sigh…
Cao Youqian sighed. "Guess I'll just head out with a few brothers from the Pill Dao Institute then."
...
"Miss Nangong."
From afar, Wang Baole spotted Nangong Yu and her group.
Nangong Yu's face lit up with joy when she heard the familiar voice. "Young Master Wang, you're here. Let's set off together."
"Alright."
Wang Baole quickly joined Nangong Yu's group.
As expected of someone from the royal family, Nangong Yu had, in just one year at Wendao Academy, gathered two talented cultivators from humble backgrounds—Zhang Heng of the Sword Dao Institute and Xiong Kui of the Body Refinement Institute.
They silently followed Nangong Yu, showing no unusual expressions toward Wang Baole.
Though both of them were more powerful than Wang Baole in terms of cultivation, they understood that their status was far beneath this prodigy from the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
Once they left the camp, the group headed into the mountains and forests, hoping to find a worthy hunting target.
Half an hour later, as they flew low on their artifacts, they spotted a tiger demon in the True Fate Realm.
This tiger demon stood over ten feet tall and was nearly thirty feet long. Its yellow fur was covered in black stripes, and the wind stirred at its feet. Standing there, it looked like a small mountain.
Even from a distance, the pressure emanating from the tiger demon made them feel uneasy.
Nangong Yu took one glance and said, "A mid-stage True Fate Realm tiger demon. If the four of us work together, we should be able to kill it."
Wang Baole smiled. "That thing looks delicious. Once we take it down, I'll cook everyone a spiritual meal."
At that, the others' eyes lit up.
A spiritual meal would help them absorb the essence of the tiger demon's flesh more efficiently—one feast would be better than dividing the kill among themselves.
Nangong Yu said, "We'll attack from four directions—north, south, east, and west. Don't let it escape."
"Got it."
The four answered in unison.
The black tiger demon was extremely sensitive. Even before Wang Baole's group finished surrounding it, it had already sensed their approach.
Rooaaar!!!
The black tiger demon let out a thunderous roar, releasing its domineering presence.
Within several dozen li, the surrounding demon beasts were so frightened by the roar that they retreated into their dens.
Many of them were puzzled—what was wrong with the tiger commander? Was it not well-fed?
"Attack!"
Seeing that they had been discovered, Nangong Yu shouted sharply.
Wang Baole and the other two immediately launched their attacks.
In an instant, blades and sword auras rained down from the sky toward the black tiger demon.
The tiger demon swung its massive paw in response. Though the motion seemed simple, it was laced with a gust of black demonic wind.
Boom—!
Against demon beasts, there was no need to probe—only full-force attacks. In just one exchange, the four of them were locked in battle with the tiger demon.
The mountaintop turned into a chaotic mess. The commotion caused by one beast and four cultivators instantly attracted the attention of nearby demon beasts and human cultivators.
Many of them began rushing toward the source of the noise.
Though the black tiger demon was the overlord of this mountain, it quickly fell into a disadvantage when facing prodigies from Wendao Academy.
After taking several heavy blows, the tiger demon suddenly swung its tail, forcing Wang Baole's group back, then turned into a gust of wind and fled deeper into the mountains.
Naturally, Wang Baole and the others were unwilling to let their prize escape, and immediately gave chase.
As they pursued, they also continued slashing with their weapons.
Nangong Yu pulled out a sword talisman from her robes. With a snap, she crushed it, and a bolt of sword qi shot out like lightning, flying straight toward the fleeing tiger demon.
Clang!
The sword light tore across the sky. Like slicing through paper, it effortlessly cut through the black wind. A black shadow plummeted from the sky.
Wang Baole's group rushed toward where the tiger demon had fallen.
When they landed, they saw a large crater with the black tiger demon lying motionless at the center.
"I'll go check first," Xiong Kui said.
"No, let me do it," Wang Baole insisted. "You three find a hidden spot to hold the perimeter and block off any escape routes."
Xiong Kui glanced at Nangong Yu.
She nodded slightly. "It's settled then. Be careful, Young Master Wang."
"Don't worry. I've got a treasure from my master. This tiger demon won't be able to hurt me."
With that, Wang Baole began walking toward the tiger demon.
The other three fell silent when they heard his confident words.
As Wang Baole slowly approached the tiger demon, once he was about three zhang away, he suddenly swung his machete.
The blade flashed like lightning. The tiger demon, which had been holding onto its last breath and planning a desperate counterattack, was instantly decapitated.
Watching from afar, the trio's expressions varied. Nangong Yu chuckled, "Young Master Wang is as cautious as ever. That tiger demon didn't stand a chance at ambushing him."
Xiong Kui: "…"
Zhang Heng: "…"
Wang Baole jumped beside the tiger demon's corpse and was about to hoist it up when a voice full of disdain echoed from the nearby forest.
"Stop! Wang Baole, that tiger demon is not yours to claim!!"
Wang Baole frowned slightly and instinctively turned toward the source of the voice.
From within the trees, a group of more than a dozen young men and women slowly emerged. But when Wang Baole saw one particular girl among them—his expression changed instantly…
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