Between the Demon-Slaying Gale and the Night Rain

Chapter 3: Slaying the Demon Amid Howling Wind and Driving Rain

"HAHAHAHA!"

The tiger demon could not help bursting into wild laughter. Its roar boomed like thunder, startling the birds and beasts in the forest into fleeing in all directions.

"HAHAHAHA! Daoist, your own life is hanging by a thread, yet you still dream of taking mine?"

"Die for me!"

Dozens of tiger ghosts surged forward one after another. No matter how formidable that Foundation Establishment realm Daoist was, how long could he possibly hold out?

It was not as though no cultivators had come before, seeking to slay the demon and make a name for themselves. Yet was it not still reigning supreme over Qingping Mountain?

Yin winds swept through the air as ghosts wailed and wolves howled!

The ghostly aura formed by dozens of tiger ghosts was simply overwhelming, blotting out the sky and covering the earth!

That grim, twisted ghostly aura shrouded an area over a hundred zhang wide. The tiger ghosts concealed within it revealed only scattered scales and claws, casting the surroundings of the mountain god temple into a realm of ghosts.

Seeing Jiang Sheng surrounded by so many tiger ghosts, the old man's spirit completely drained away. He slumped to the ground, utterly powerless.

"It's over, it's all over! The Daoist is dead, and the two of us are going to die too!"

The little grandson had gone pale with fright. His entire body trembled, and he could not utter a single word.

The tiger demon turned to look at the grandfather and grandson inside the ruined mountain god temple. Splitting its bloody maw in a savage grin, it said, "You two human beasts, do not be in such a hurry. Once this king has eaten that tender-skinned Daoist, I'll eat your grandson. Then, at last, it will be your turn!"

Hearing this, the old man wept bitter tears, sobbing until he could barely speak. "It's all my fault! Grandson! It's all Grandpa's fault! If only Grandpa had listened to the Daoist!"

The old man truly regretted it. If he had believed Jiang Sheng earlier, he could have taken his little grandson away safely long ago. They would not have ended up trapped here now, unable to escape death.

Just as the old man beat his chest and stamped his feet in regret, tears streaming down his face, Jiang Sheng's voice suddenly rang out from within that ghostly realm. "If Mountain Lord thinks these tiger ghosts can wear this poor Daoist to death, then I fear you have been overthinking it."

The tiger demon whipped around in astonishment, only to see that the sinister ghostly realm, which had been perfectly intact moments ago, was now like a glass sphere riddled with glowing cracks!

"Crack, crack, crack—"

As though glass were shattering, the grim ghostly realm split apart in an instant!

The tiger demon saw Jiang Sheng standing where he had been, rooted in place like a green pine, his hand sending slash after slash of azure sword qi from his longsword!

The sword qi pierced through the ghostly realm, ripping the tiger ghosts apart outright. They gave agonized shrieks before dissipating without a trace.

As one tiger ghost after another was erased by the sword qi, more and more turned into ghostly aura and returned to heaven and earth.

The tiger demon's heart bled as it watched!

Those were all its tiger ghosts—its capital, the foundation upon which it ruled Qingping Mountain!

The tiger demon could not stand by and watch Jiang Sheng continue clearing out its tiger ghosts like this.

It threw back its head and roared. Its furious howl shook the mountains and forest, and rolling waves of sound tore through the air like an air cannon, charging straight at Jiang Sheng.

"Kill!"

With that roar, the demon tiger leaped into the air. Its three-zhang body lunged at Jiang Sheng like a small mountain, a starving tiger pouncing on its prey!

"Daoist, be careful!"

Seeing that Jiang Sheng was still alive, the old man was overjoyed. But when he saw the demon tiger attack, he hurriedly cried out a warning.

Jiang Sheng wore an untroubled expression, utterly unconcerned by the tiger demon's assault. With a twist of his body, he rose lightly into the air like a cloud swallow, effortlessly evading the demon tiger's pounce.

When the tiger demon missed and turned to search for Jiang Sheng, it saw that Jiang Sheng was already standing atop its mountain god altar!

That was its place!

"You damned Daoist!"

The tiger demon flew into a rage from shame. Opening its mouth, it gathered strength as boundless demonic power converged within its jaws.

With the tiger demon's roar, that demonic power transformed into a pillar of wind that blasted from its mouth. In a single burst, it shredded the night rain and wild wind, piercing through the curtain of rain with the force to grind everything apart as it shot straight toward Jiang Sheng.

Tigers rode the wind!

The tiger demon was naturally aided by the wind, and after becoming a demon, it had become even more proficient in all manner of wind arts. This Wind Roar could turn surging demonic winds into a tornado that tore across the battlefield and shredded its enemies!

Yet Jiang Sheng remained calm as ever. He slowly raised the three-foot azure blade in his right hand toward the heavens. "A petty trick."

As the pillar of wind came roaring toward him, Jiang Sheng calmly swung down his sword. "Sever!"

The blooming azure lotuses entwined around the black sword blossomed, and pale blue sword qi surged forth, stretching a hundred zhang in every direction!

The azure sword qi collided with the tiger demon's Wind Roar, and the demonic wind tornado condensed from rolling demonic aura was pierced through in an instant!

That violent, roaring demonic wind dissolved into heaven and earth in the blink of an eye.

The old man and his little grandson both stared wide-eyed at the sight. This Daoist was actually so powerful?!

Could he be an immortal descended into the mortal world?!

Jiang Sheng looked at the tiger demon and smiled faintly. "Does Mountain Lord have any other abilities yet to display? If your tricks are spent, then it is time for you to die!"

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn human beast!" The tiger demon's face had become utterly twisted; it was impossible to tell whether it was enraged or afraid!

The Daoist before it was far too terrifying!

He had countless methods, formidable abilities, and an unfathomable origin!

Who knew when such a formidable Daoist had appeared in Qingshan County—and he even wanted to seize its territory!

Too terrifying!

The tiger demon was already afraid, but it knew even better that if it did not kill Jiang Sheng, it would never escape!

Suddenly, the tiger demon's eyes shifted as it came up with an idea: it could not defeat Jiang Sheng head-on, but what about a sneak attack?

If it first pretended to surrender, then struck while Jiang Sheng was off guard, with its abilities, could it not still devour this Daoist?

With that thought, the tiger demon suddenly sprawled on the ground. "Daoist Master, your divine might is unmatched. This little demon is willing to serve as your mount. Please spare this little demon's life!"

The grandfather and grandson were overjoyed. "The Daoist Master really subdued the tiger demon!"

The old man's eyes were too clouded with age to tell truth from falsehood, but Jiang Sheng saw it clearly. Though the tiger demon seemed to have lowered its head deeply in submission, the cunning and savagery in its eyes had not diminished in the slightest!

"Oh? Since that is the case, this poor Daoist will spare your life." As Jiang Sheng spoke, he sheathed his sword and deliberately took several steps forward.

An opportunity!

The tiger demon knew that the chance it had been waiting for had arrived. Jiang Sheng, who appeared utterly defenseless before it, had nowhere left to run!

"You mere human beast, die for this venerable one!"

With a roar, the tiger demon suddenly leapt up, its thirty-foot tiger body erupting with boundless strength!

Wrapped in surging demonic winds, the enormous tiger demon howled as it lunged straight at Jiang Sheng.

Those dark green beast eyes brimmed with ferocity and glee!

At the sight, the old man's heart nearly leapt out of his throat. This tiger demon had actually resorted to trickery!

The tiger demon charged with overwhelming force, a reeking wind slamming into their faces, its tiger's baleful aura crushing their souls!

The tiger demon had plainly gone all out to assassinate Jiang Sheng!

Yet Jiang Sheng's expression remained calm.

"I knew you would do this!"

"River Flow!"

The azure blade left its sheath, the sword like a river.

In a daze, they saw a full moon reflected in the sky, and river waters flowing from the east.

The tiger demon saw sword qi surging like a great river!

The grandfather and grandson widened their eyes. It seemed as though a vast river had truly appeared before them all, and they could even hear the roaring waters rushing eastward.

In an instant, wind and rain came to a halt, and all creation fell silent.

With a boom, the tiger demon's enormous body crashed down from midair, already devoid of life.

Just then, the rain thinned and the wind ceased. The dark clouds scattered, and cold moonlight poured down from the lofty heavens, illuminating everything within a hundred yards with crystal clarity.

The Daoist stood with sword in hand, his face like polished jade, handsome and refined.

Having watched the entire scene, the old man could not help muttering, "Daoist Master, you truly are an immortal descended into the mortal world!"

Sigh, there are really so many unearthed relics in the gay community.