"Second Senior Sister, how far has your cultivation reached? Could you tell me? If it's inconvenient, just pretend I never asked."
On the road, Jiang Hao looked at Second Senior Sister and asked.
Second Senior Sister Wen Xiang had a very poetic name, but the real Second Senior Sister was broad-built and ordinary-looking, truly having nothing to do with "beauty."
However, Second Senior Sister was kind-hearted, humorous, and witty.
Among the many Inner Disciples in the martial hall, Jiang Hao had the best relationship with Second Senior Sister.
Wen Xiang glanced at Jiang Hao and said with a smile, "There's nothing I can't say. I'm currently at the peak of Hidden Force."
"The peak of Hidden Force? Doesn't that mean you're about to step into Transforming Force? Once you reach Transforming Force, wouldn't you be able to enter the Huangtian Sect and become an Inner Disciple too?"
"How could it be that easy? Leaving aside how difficult it is to go from the peak of Hidden Force to Transforming Force, even if I reached Transforming Force, I still couldn't become an Inner Disciple of the Huangtian Sect. To become an Inner Disciple of the Huangtian Sect, you must be under thirty, while I'm already over thirty."
Jiang Hao froze slightly.
Second Senior Sister was over thirty?
Jiang Hao vaguely knew that Second Senior Sister had never married.
Even for a martial artist, thirty was definitely considered old.
However, this was Second Senior Sister's privacy, so it was inconvenient for Jiang Hao to ask.
The two of them soon arrived at Flying Eagle Mountain.
Big Tiger seemed rather excited to return to Flying Eagle Mountain, letting out low growls one after another.
Jiang Hao patted Big Tiger on the head and soothed him. "Don't be impatient. You'll have plenty to do later."
Big Tiger quieted down.
Jiang Hao jumped down from Big Tiger's back.
Big Tiger needed to hunt later, and riding on his back would affect his movements.
Wen Xiang tied her horse outside the forest, and the two humans and one tiger entered Flying Eagle Mountain.
"Big Tiger, lead the way to wherever there's prey. We'll follow you."
Jiang Hao spoke to Big Tiger.
Big Tiger gave an excited low growl, then sprang forward and raced toward the depths of Flying Eagle Mountain.
Jiang Hao's Blood Qi was now abundant, and his stamina was even more terrifying than Big Tiger's.
Thus, he kept close behind Big Tiger.
There was even less need to mention Second Senior Sister Wen Xiang. No matter how fast Big Tiger ran, she could keep up.
At last, Big Tiger gradually came to a stop.
His tiger eyes locked tightly onto a distant elk.
Big Tiger silently approached the elk, one step at a time.
His movements were exceedingly graceful, and utterly soundless.
That was how tigers were.
They were extraordinarily cautious when hunting. If they did not strike, so be it—but once they struck, it was a killing blow!
Jiang Hao stared intently at Big Tiger.
He watched every movement Big Tiger made.
In his mind, all manner of insights into Tiger Form began to emerge faintly.
It was as though he had suddenly overlapped with Big Tiger.
After all, Jiang Hao's Fierce Tiger Fist had already comprehended Tiger Form and reached Minor Accomplishment.
He merely lacked an opportunity and a flash of inspiration, leaving him unable to reach Major Accomplishment.
But he observed Big Tiger every day.
And now Big Tiger was giving him a "live" demonstration of how to hunt.
Inspiration surged into Jiang Hao's mind like spring water gushing forth.
Very soon, Big Tiger made his move.
Although Big Tiger had grown somewhat plumper, his body was still as agile as ever.
With a single pounce, the elk panicked and had no way to evade. Big Tiger knocked it down at once, then bit directly into its throat.
The elk struggled violently.
Before long, the elk lost all signs of life.
It was dead!
Such a huge elk had been killed by Big Tiger just like that.
There had been no unnecessary struggle throughout the entire process.
It had been very simple.
A single strike, a certain kill!
That was how tigers hunted.
Inspiration continued to surge through Jiang Hao's mind like spring water.
His Comprehension had now surpassed 4. Compared to several months ago, his Comprehension was stronger, so his understanding was also deeper.
"Minor Accomplishment in Fierce Tiger Fist is only an initial understanding of 'Tiger Form,' not a true fierce tiger. When a fierce tiger hunts, it approaches with the utmost caution, then when it strikes, its force is like thunder shaking ten thousand junctures, aimed straight at the vital point..."
Jiang Hao suddenly understood.
Sparks of inspiration burst through his mind, granting him profound insight.
He could clearly feel that his understanding of Tiger Form had deepened.
This also proved that he had made the right choice in coming here.
Simply observing Big Tiger up close every day was not enough. He had to properly watch how Big Tiger hunted.
Only then could Jiang Hao's Fierce Tiger Fist reach Major Accomplishment.
Big Tiger dragged the elk over to Jiang Hao as though claiming credit.
Jiang Hao smiled and said, "Second Senior Sister, you must be hungry. We're in for a treat today."
"Big Tiger may have put on some weight, but his skills haven't slipped. Not bad."
Second Senior Sister Wen Xiang nodded.
The two of them cut off a portion of the venison and began roasting it.
They gave all the rest to Big Tiger.
"Second Senior Sister, you practice Fierce Tiger Fist too, right?"
"Yes."
"Then has your Fierce Tiger Fist reached Major Accomplishment?"
Wen Xiang took a fierce bite of venison and answered indistinctly, "Minor Accomplishment."
"Minor Accomplishment? Then after observing Big Tiger hunt, Second Senior Sister should have gained some insight too, right? How about we compare our understandings?"
"Just now, when I watched Big Tiger hunt, inspiration surged through my mind like spring water, and my understanding of 'Tiger Form' deepened..."
Jiang Hao spoke endlessly about his understanding of Tiger Form.
Yet he utterly failed to notice the blank look in Second Senior Sister Wen Xiang's eyes.
What?
Insight?
Wen Xiang had indeed watched Big Tiger hunt from beginning to end.
But that was all there was to it.
If she had acted, she would have done better than Big Tiger.
As for insight?
Who could gain insight merely by watching a tiger hunt?
Seeing Jiang Hao's delighted expression, Wen Xiang's feelings became somewhat complicated.
Apparently, there really was someone.
Jiang Hao had taken one look at Big Tiger hunting and somehow gained a deeper understanding of Tiger Form.
Was this what a genius was?
Wen Xiang fell silent.
Her master had told her to watch over Jiang Hao, to escort and protect him so that nothing unexpected happened.
He had never said that she should gain insight into Fierce Tiger Fist alongside him.
Those who could comprehend a fist technique by watching a tiger hunt were no ordinary people.
Previously, Wen Xiang had never had any intuitive sense of Jiang Hao's "genius."
But now, she did.
Thus, Wen Xiang continued silently gnawing on venison. As for Jiang Hao's so-called "exchange of insights," she gave no response whatsoever.
"Roar..."
Big Tiger let out several more low growls.
There was a faint note of impatience in them.
"Junior Brother, what's wrong with Big Tiger?"
Wen Xiang asked curiously.
She knew Big Tiger could understand people, and only Jiang Hao could understand what Big Tiger meant.
Jiang Hao said somewhat embarrassedly, "Big Tiger has returned to the forest, and his old habit is acting up. He wants to urinate and mark out his territory."
Wen Xiang suddenly understood.
Although Big Tiger possessed Tiger Demon Bloodline, he was not a Tiger Demon in the end, and still retained certain traits of a wild beast.
Marking territory with urine was an instinct carved into tigers' bones.
Having returned to the forest, Big Tiger was influenced by that instinct and naturally wanted to mark out his territory, which was why he had been so restless.
"Let him go. He still can't overcome the habits in his bones."
Wen Xiang said.
Jiang Hao nodded. He understood this as well.
"Big Tiger, go quickly and come back quickly."
Jiang Hao patted Big Tiger on the head. Big Tiger gave an excited low growl, then raced off at once to mark out his territory around the forest.
Big Tiger darted through the forest.
He felt utterly exhilarated.
Although he had meat to eat every day at Jiang Manor, he was the king of beasts in the end. The forest was where he belonged.
Big Tiger's territory was very large.
He urinated along its borders, then continuously patrolled within it.
Any wild beast that stepped into his territory would be driven away or killed by Big Tiger.
Suddenly, Big Tiger faintly caught a familiar scent.
It was the scent of another beast.
Big Tiger followed the scent and, sure enough, spotted a wild boar.
This wild boar was enormous.
It charged wildly through the forest, exceedingly arrogant.
It had paid no heed whatsoever to the territorial markings Big Tiger had left behind.
Big Tiger was furious.
He was the king of beasts. This was his territory—how could he allow a wild boar to run rampant here?
Thus, Big Tiger silently approached.
Whoosh.
The next instant, Big Tiger moved.
Although the wild boar was also powerful, especially its terrifying brute strength, which was not inferior to Big Tiger's at all.
However, Big Tiger was extremely nimble.
With one pounce, though the wild boar struggled violently, Big Tiger's sharp claws left wound after wound across its body.
Upon seeing Big Tiger, the wild boar seemed somewhat afraid as well. It made snorting sounds and continuously backed away.
Big Tiger closed in step by step, then pounced again, his jaws clamping tightly onto the wild boar.
The wild boar struggled violently.
The two beasts grappled and rolled about endlessly on the ground.
The wild boar was indeed immensely strong, and it broke free from Big Tiger's restraint once more.
Big Tiger was even rammed by the wild boar, but it was not a major problem.
The wild boar began fleeing backward, while Big Tiger pursued relentlessly.
The wild boar was injured, and blood kept flowing from its wounds.
Big Tiger remained behind the wild boar the entire time. As time passed, the wild boar slowly became unable to run any farther.
Splat.
At last, Big Tiger bit open a huge wound in the wild boar's throat.
Blood spurted forth, and the wild boar let out a mournful cry before crashing heavily to the ground.
"Quick, over here."
Several young martial artists sprang out from the forest, immediately spotting the wild boar and Big Tiger on the ground.
"Damn it, the wild boar is almost dead."
"This wild boar has Demon Bloodline. According to the mission, we need to capture it alive. But it looks like it won't survive."
"The wild boar was killed by this tiger."
"Huh? This tiger is no ordinary creature either. It has Demon Bloodline too."
"Since the wild boar is dead, capturing this tiger alive still counts as completing the mission."
There were three martial artists in total, slowly approaching Big Tiger.
Big Tiger seemed to sense danger.
He edged backward, step by step.
"Whoosh."
The three martial artists moved at once.
All of them lunged fiercely at Big Tiger.
Big Tiger raised a paw and slashed at one of the martial artists.
But that martial artist was even faster. He actually seized Big Tiger's paw with his bare hands, then exerted force with both arms and shouted, "Up!"
The martial artist lifted Big Tiger straight up and smashed him viciously into the ground.
"Bang!"
Big Tiger was left so dizzy he could barely tell east from west.
What was more, the three martial artists pressed down on him, their terrifying strength leaving Big Tiger completely unable to move.
Clearly, all three martial artists had developed inner force, and their strength was terrifying.
"Got him! Tie him up, quick!"
The three hurriedly took out ropes, preparing to bind Big Tiger.
"What are you doing? Let Big Tiger go!"
Just then, Jiang Hao arrived.
Jiang Hao had actually been searching for Big Tiger for quite a while.
After so much time had passed, he had thought Big Tiger had run off by himself.
So Big Tiger had been captured.
Jiang Hao was both shocked and furious. Thankfully, he had found Big Tiger; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
"A child?"
"Where did this child come from? Did he get separated from the adults?"
"Come, tell me—which Household are you from? These mountains and forests are very dangerous."
The three martial artists were all somewhat surprised when they saw Jiang Hao.
They had not expected there to be a child in these mountains.
Jiang Hao had just split up with Second Senior Sister Wen Xiang to search for Big Tiger.
Second Senior Sister was still behind him now.
The three martial artists mistook him for a child who had gotten separated from the adults.
"I'm this tiger's owner. Please let Big Tiger go."
Jiang Hao calmed down as well.
Judging by their clothes, they did not seem to be hunters, yet they could subdue Big Tiger so easily. They were most likely martial artists.
However, Jiang Hao's words surprised the three even more.
The owner?
This tiger had an owner?
And that owner was a child under ten years old. Was that even possible?
Before you continue