Half-Fairy Mount, Part One
Seeing Zhuge Xiang blocking his way, a fierce glint flashed in Man Kui's eyes. Zhuge Xiang should have the right to decide how to deal with the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, that's true. However, with the other two Hall Master blocking his way, a deep displeasure welled up in Man Kui's heart.
Who is Man Kui? He's the War Hall Master. Although Zhuge Xiang is quite strong, he's just Man Kui's subordinate. If Man Kui wants to stop him, he can simply say so. But why is he standing in front of him? What does that mean?
Luo Xue and Xiao Xiao were both quite familiar with Man Kui's personality. They also saw the fierce glint in his eyes. Zhuge Xiang's actions were somewhat ill-considered, but if it were someone else, they might not have taken it to heart. However, Man Kui was very sensitive to this.
Luo Xue and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance, and then Xiao Xiao stepped forward, speaking before Man Kui could, saying, "This Phoenix Winged Black Tiger is One-Star Mid-Grade demon spirit. You defeated it, fine, but you actually managed to take it as your Mount? Tigers are proud beings, how could it possibly agree to that?"
"Yeah, I'd like to know too. It would be great to have a demon Mount someday," Luo Xue said, looking quite interested.
The tiger, king of beasts, naturally has a dignity that cannot be trampled upon, let alone Tiger Demon whose cultivation has reached the level of a demon spirit and has broken free from the shackles of a mortal body. How could Zhuge Xiang actually have a way to tame it as a pet? To be honest, even Man Kui, who was very dissatisfied with Zhuge Xiang, did not rush to speak after hearing Xiao Xiao's words. He secretly pricked up his ears, waiting for Zhuge Xiang's answer.
He glanced at the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, which stared at him nervously. The intelligence of demons was no less than that of humans. Regarding the method of subduing the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, Zhuge Xiang smiled but remained silent, offering no answer. Although he had used somewhat underhanded means to make the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger his Mount, since it was his Mount, Zhuge Xiang should also consider its feelings, shouldn't he?
Seeing that Zhuge Xiang only smiled and remained silent, Xiao Xiao knew that he did not want to say more, so she did not press him further. Instead, she asked Zhuge Xiang in a consultative manner, "This Phoenix Winged Black Tiger was probably released by the enemy to deal with you. Even though you have now subdued it, we can still use this to annoy them."
"That's good," Xiao Xiao said. Zhuge Xiang understood what she meant, and after a moment's thought, he nodded. Xiao Xiao spoke to Zhuge Xiang as an equal, without any airs of superiority. Clearly, the strength Zhuge Xiang had demonstrated had earned the Hall Master's respect.
"Ding, Mount loyalty is 2. Note: Mount loyalty is below 10, it may run away at any time."
A system notification sounded in Zhuge Xiang's mind. Hearing this, Zhuge Xiang was slightly taken aback, but then he understood. It seemed that he had just concealed his methods and had not exposed Phoenix Winged Black Tiger's shortcomings, so Phoenix Winged Black Tiger actually felt a little grateful to him.
After administering several Healing Pill to the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, temporarily stabilizing its injuries, Zhuge Xiang unfurled his phoenix Phoenix Feather Wings and, carrying the heavily wounded Phoenix Winged Black Tiger, followed behind the three Hall Masters, flying towards the local camp...
As they flew through the air, the three Hall Master unleashed their full power, making no attempt to conceal it. The auras of the three Nascent Deity Transformation Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator exploded, filled with intense anger, like thunderbolts streaking across the sky, locking onto the enemy camp.
"What's going on? Have the guys from the Asura Sect gone mad?" At this moment, in the camps of the Many Factions Alliance, everyone felt the terrifying aura of Man Kui and the three Deity Transformation Stage Cultivators, and they all looked at each other in bewilderment.
Assassinating Asura Sect Disciples would indeed provoke the Asura Sect's wrath, but this was, after all, a battle between Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. Why did their three Hall Master rush over? Did they disregard the rules of the Cultivation World?
"Regardless, let's go and see what's going on," said True Man Qing Feng of the Tiandao Sect, his eyes filled with a hint of solemnity. As he spoke, he glanced at Master Ku Mu beside him, and as if he had thought of something, his face then lit up with joy. "Could it be? Your Weituo Temple has succeeded? That's why the three Hall Masters of the Asura Sect are so angry and embarrassed?"
"Huh? That's possible!" Upon hearing True Man Qing Feng's words, True Man Ming Jian's eyes lit up.
Indeed, if Genius Disciple like Zhuge Xiang was killed by the Weituo Temple, then the anger of the three Hall Masters of the Asura Sect would be understandable, and their coming to demand an explanation would be understandable.
Master Ku Mu, who always looked distressed, looked much better after hearing True Man Qing Feng's words. When Jie Nu returned, he recounted the situation. Kumu was very confident that the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger could kill Zhuge Xiang, especially in the territory of the Ancient Qin Battlefield.
However, after a long time, Phoenix Winged Black Tiger still hadn't returned, which made Kumu's heart pound with anxiety. Had something happened? Now, hearing True Man Qing Feng's words, Kumu's tightly furrowed brows relaxed considerably.
True Man Qing Feng's words make sense. It must be that Zhuge Xiang met with misfortune, which is why the three Hall Masters of the Asura Sect were so enraged. As for the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger? It seems that he was killed by the three Hall Masters of the Asura Sect in anger, but that is not important.
"No matter what, I'll just deny it to the death." Understanding that the three Hall Masters were perhaps enraged by Zhuge Xiang's death, Master Ku Mu made up his mind and, together with True Man Qing Feng and True Man Ming Jian, flew in mid- Artifact Flight.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
Three figures, like shooting stars, streaked across the night sky. They were the three Hall Masters of the Asura Sect, radiating an overwhelming aura. The faces of the three Hall Masters were all grim, revealing expressions of anger.
"Amitābha Buddha, may I ask what brings you three benefactors here so late at night?" Master Ku Mu greeted them, bowed, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and asked, pretending not to know the reason for their visit.
"You bald monk, how dare you ask? You disregard the rules of the Cultivation World, using demonic creatures to attack my Qi Refining Stage disciples. Your crime deserves death! Today, I will kill you on the spot and let others know that my Asura Sect is not to be trifled with."
With intense anger on his face, Man Kui flipped his hand, and a massive axe-shaped Axe Treasure Artifact appeared. The terrifying aura emanating from the axe blade sent chills down the spines of the three Deity Transformation Stage Cultivators.
"Hahaha, how ridiculous! Your disciples were killed by demons, and you're blaming us? Do you have Evidence?" True Man Ming Jian laughed loudly, as if he had heard something amusing.
Man Kui's words made the three Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator realize that Zhuge Xiang had been killed. They were secretly delighted, though they were also somewhat shocked by Master Ku Mu's methods. He had actually managed to send out a demonic creature; it was truly a remarkable feat.
"Evidence? When our two armies clash, if someone deliberately releases demons to attack my disciples, who else could it be but us? What Evidence do we need?" His anger intensified, and as Man Kui spoke, he raised his large Battleaxe, looking as if he wanted nothing more than to kill everyone in front of him immediately.
"Buddha of Longevity..." At this moment, True Man Qing Feng stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Hall Master Man Kui's words are ill-considered. Your suspicion, though reasonable, is just that—suspicion. Ultimately, there is no Evidence. Perhaps that demon spirit went to the Ancient Qin Battlefield on its own and fought with your disciples? We truly know nothing about the demon spirit Xiren."
Adopting a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor, True Man Qing Feng claimed that he truly knew nothing about it. True Man Qing Feng was not wrong; although he had assigned Master Ku Mu the task of dealing with Zhuge Xiang, Master Ku Mu had created a demon, something True Man Qing Feng genuinely was unaware of.
"...", Man Kui's face flushed red with rage, but True Man Qing Feng's words left him speechless. Clearly, there was nothing he could do against the Asura Sect's refusal to admit guilt and their inability to produce substantial Evidence. This was precisely the reason why Master Ku Mu dared to use the demonic weapon.
Seeing the three men, Man Kui and his companions, their faces filled with anger but unable to utter a word, and having no excuse for them to lash out, Master Ku Mu and the Human Heart secretly rejoiced. Although there was no real physical harm, it was still quite a cause for celebration that these Hall Masters of the Asura Sect Inner Sect had suffered a setback.
"Amitābha Buddha, I sincerely lament the misfortune of your esteemed sect's Genius Disciple being attacked by a demon. However, if you insist on accusing us of releasing the demon, that would be asking too much..." With his hands clasped together, the Master Ku Mu was secretly laughing, but on his face he feigned regret.
"Hmph, I only said you filmed a demon attacking my disciples, but I didn't say my disciples were already dead," Man Kui sneered, looking at the three men's hypocritical expressions.
"Huh? Zhuge Xiang isn't dead?" Man Kui's words were like a bolt from the blue for Master Ku Mu and the other two, as if they had been thrown into an abyss.
"Gentlemen, I'm truly sorry, but I, Zhuge Xiang, am quite lucky to have survived," Zhuge Xiang said with a grin as he flew out of the night with fluttering Phoenix Feather Wings.
As they spoke, Zhuge Xiang's gaze fell upon Master Ku Mu, and he said, "That Phoenix Winged Black Tiger is a rare and exotic species. Although its attack on me failed, I am a magnanimous man and let it go back. Master Ku Mu, won't you take it back with you?"
Zhuge Xiang pointed to the heavily injured Phoenix Winged Black Tiger that had landed on the Asura Warship beside him.
The Phoenix Winged Black Tiger looked at the Master Ku Mu with a complicated expression. Having such a demonic creature would make things much easier in many situations. However, he had just said that the demonic creature Xiren had nothing to do with him. If he were to take the Black Tiger back now, wouldn't that be contradicting himself? And wouldn't it give the Asura Sect an excuse to attack?
Therefore, Master Ku Mu firmly shook his head, ignoring the Phoenix Winged Black Tiger's gaze, and loudly proclaimed, "Benefactor Zhuge is mistaken. This Phoenix Winged Black Tiger has no connection whatsoever with this temple. You may dispose of it as you see fit." (To be continued...)