Outside Black Tower Martial Arts School in Cang City, Jiang Hao jumped down from Big Tiger's back.
"Little Junior Brother, is this Big Tiger? How did he grow so large?"
Third Senior Brother came forward to greet him.
He had seen Big Tiger before.
But Big Tiger had not been anywhere near this massive before.
Big Tiger was now half again as large, and Third Senior Brother had nearly failed to recognize him.
"Big Tiger has Tiger Demon Bloodline. Perhaps he was affected by it."
Jiang Hao was not particularly familiar with Third Senior Brother, so he could only offer a vague explanation.
"Where is Master?"
"In the Meditation Room."
Jiang Hao nodded and headed straight for the Meditation Room.
Jiang Hao had actually hesitated before.
The mysterious Stone Hall, as well as the terrifying Tiger Demon Corpse and Bear Demon Corpse, were simply too strange and too mysterious.
Jiang Hao had hesitated over whether he should tell his master.
After weighing it for a long time, Jiang Hao still decided to tell his master.
First, after spending the past few years with his master, he trusted him completely.
Second, Jiang Hao knew that even if the mysterious Stone Hall truly contained some great opportunity, his master would likely still give it to him. After all, his master had already regarded him as the inheritor of his mantle and devoted himself to helping him practice martial arts.
Third, Jiang Hao had absolute confidence. What opportunity could compare to the Martial Arts Divine Hall deep within his consciousness?
Thus, Jiang Hao went straight to the Meditation Room and met his master, Zhao Heita.
"Master, this disciple has something to report."
"What is it?"
"A few hours ago, this disciple went to Flying Eagle Mountain to bid Big Tiger farewell, but Big Tiger brought me to a mysterious Stone Hall..."
Jiang Hao recounted everything about the mysterious Stone Hall, the Tiger Demon Corpse, and the Bear Demon Corpse in full detail.
"What did you say? A Stone Hall? And there were even a Tiger Demon Corpse and a Bear Demon Corpse?"
Zhao Heita's expression changed abruptly.
"Where exactly is it?"
Jiang Hao gave him the exact location.
"Wait here. Your master will first go to Flying Eagle Mountain and take a look."
"Remember, do not tell anyone else about this."
"Yes, Master."
Zhao Heita left in great haste.
After all, Flying Eagle Mountain was only about an hour away by riding at full speed.
It was not too far.
Jiang Hao waited for several more hours, until deep into the night.
Just as Jiang Hao wondered whether he ought to return to Jiang Manor, Zhao Heita came back.
Zhao Heita emerged from the night.
He looked as though he had traveled through wind and dust.
Yet his eyes were incomparably bright, gleaming with divine radiance.
"Jiang Hao, that Stone Hall was most likely left behind by an expert above Entering Dao. Even when your master used all his strength, I could not push open its doors, because they involve the power of the 'Dao.' Only an Entering Dao expert can push open those doors and enter the Stone Hall."
Jiang Hao was slightly disappointed.
His master was a Transforming Force expert, yet even he could not enter the Stone Hall.
If Jiang Hao wanted to learn the secrets within the Stone Hall, he would likely have to wait a very long time.
"Jiang Hao, do not be disappointed. This is actually an enormous opportunity."
"Countless hunters and martial artists have entered Flying Eagle Mountain, but who among them discovered that Stone Hall? Only you did! Fortune has singled you out, and your blessings run deep. Any martial artist who achieves something possesses great fortune to some extent."
"Do not dwell too much on the Stone Hall. Your own strength is the foundation. Besides, it is still hard to say whether the Stone Hall contains an opportunity or a dangerous realm."
"Even if it is an opportunity, you need sufficient strength to be worthy of it. If your strength is lacking, then your virtue does not match your position, and that opportunity may instead become a calamity."
Jiang Hao nodded to himself.
He understood what his master meant.
Everyone wanted opportunities, but one needed the corresponding strength to obtain them.
If someone without strength obtained an enormous opportunity, then should news leak out or should they fail to protect it, it would instead bring endless danger upon them.
"Remember, no matter how great an opportunity is, you must be able to seize it yourself. You must even swiftly turn it into strength. Only then is it a true opportunity!"
"For you, the opportunity within that Stone Hall is too great. It may be an opportunity for your future self, but it does not suit you now."
"The opportunity you need most right now—is it not that Tiger Demon Corpse?"
"In truth, your opportunity is already in your hands..."
Jiang Hao's heart stirred.
The Tiger Demon Corpse?
Indeed, this was the opportunity most suitable for him.
After all, with the Tiger Demon Corpse, Jiang Hao's Fierce Tiger Fist had already broken through to the Major Accomplishment realm.
He had even comprehended the Tiger Demon Form, causing the power of Fierce Tiger Fist to soar.
What opportunity could be more tangible than the Tiger Demon Corpse?
"Master, this disciple understands."
Jiang Hao had already thought it through.
The opportunity was already in his hands. As for the Stone Hall?
He would investigate it after entering Dao in the future.
Seeing that Jiang Hao had understood his intentions, Zhao Heita revealed a satisfied smile.
A heavenly opportunity had descended, yet he could restrain his greed.
Neither arrogant nor impatient, always steady and composed.
Jiang Hao's future achievements would surely be great.
"By the way, Master, is there really no problem with the Tiger Demon Form?"
Jiang Hao asked.
Because he had comprehended the Tiger Demon Form, the power of Fierce Tiger Fist had surged dramatically, with an increase twice that of the normal Fierce Tiger Fist.
He felt somewhat uneasy.
"Of course there is no problem."
"Fierce Tiger Fist was originally created through observing fierce tigers, and its Tiger Form is of vital importance. The Tiger Form you comprehended is the Tiger Demon Form. Once you use Fierce Tiger Fist, it is perfectly normal for its power to surge."
"However, that is also because your Comprehension is very high, allowing you to comprehend the Tiger Demon Form. Your master also saw the Tiger Demon Corpse, yet I failed to comprehend the Tiger Demon Form."
Upon hearing that there was no problem with the Tiger Demon Form, Jiang Hao also breathed a sigh of relief.
Then this was excellent news.
Only with the tremendous increase in Fierce Tiger Fist's power would he have a better chance of passing the Ninth Floor of the Desolate Heaven Tower!
"Alright, it is late. Go back and rest first. Tomorrow, we depart for Huangtian Sect."
"Yes, Master."
Jiang Hao turned and left the Meditation Room, returning to Jiang Manor with Big Tiger.
The next day, Jiang Hao rose early and went to see his parents.
"While one's parents live, one should not travel far. This son is unfilial, for I am going far away to Huangtian Sect and cannot fulfill my filial duties before Father and Mother."
Jiang Hao respectfully kowtowed to his parents.
His mother's eyes brimmed with tears, her face filled with reluctance.
Though his father, Jiang Dahai, did not shed tears, he was holding them back. He too was deeply reluctant to part with him.
The maidservants Du Juan and Xi Que were likewise filled with reluctance.
Jiang Hao's mother had actually hoped that he would take Du Juan and Xi Que with him to Huangtian Sect.
But Jiang Hao refused.
He was going to Huangtian Sect to practice martial arts, not to enjoy a life of luxury. Why would he bring maidservants?
Besides, he was already nearly ten years old. He could do many things himself and had no need for maidservants to attend him.
"Big Tiger."
Jiang Hao called out, and Big Tiger leaped before him.
"Little Tiger, a poor household needs wealth for the road. Take more silver with you."
"Once you reach Huangtian Sect, spend silver when it needs spending. Our household lacks nothing but silver."
Jiang Dahai said grandly.
All he could give his son was gold, silver, and travel funds.
At this moment, Zhao Heita arrived as well.
"School Master Zhao, please take good care of my son along the way."
"Steward Jiang, Madam Jiang, please rest assured. Jiang Hao is also Zhao's disciple. Zhao will safely escort him all the way to Huangtian Sect. Just wait for Jiang Hao's good news."
"Then we will trouble School Master Zhao."
Jiang Dahai knew there was no point in saying more.
No matter how much they said, they still had to part.
Jiang Hao jumped onto Big Tiger's back. Together with his master Zhao Heita, he bid farewell to everyone at Jiang Manor, then left the city and headed toward Cang City.
Zhao Heita was also an old hand at wandering the martial world.
Neither of them was in a hurry, so they traveled by day and stayed at inns in towns and cities by night. They encountered no mishaps along the way.
After traveling for nearly a full month, the two finally arrived at Huangtian Sect!
Huangtian Sect had been built against the mountains, forming an enormous city.
It was also called Huangtian City!
Huangtian City was vast, and people came and went in an endless stream.
There were people in every sort of attire.
Yet Jiang Hao remained the most conspicuous one.
Jiang Hao rode a tiger into the city, immediately drawing the attention of many people.
Even merely riding a tiger was enough to attract attention.
What was more, the tiger Jiang Hao rode was no ordinary tiger. Its enormous size alone was exceptionally eye-catching.
"Where did this person come from? He actually lets a child ride a tiger into the city. Truly imposing."
"And that is no ordinary tiger. It most likely has Demon Bloodline. It is so enormous that its Demon Bloodline must be very concentrated as well."
"This child is so young, yet he has come to Huangtian Sect too. Is he also being sent into the Outer Gate?"
For a time, discussions erupted everywhere.
Jiang Hao could not help asking softly, "Master, am I being too high-profile by riding a tiger into the city?"
Jiang Hao knew very well that Huangtian Sect had countless experts and was far beyond Cang City.
Not to mention him—even a Transforming Force expert was nothing remarkable in Huangtian Sect.
There was simply no qualification to act high-profile.
Yet Zhao Heita shook his head and said calmly, "Jiang Hao, your master brought you to Huangtian Sect so that you could directly enter the Inner Gate. Do you think we can still keep a low profile?"
Jiang Hao was slightly stunned.
That was right. He had come this time to directly enter the Inner Gate.
When the time came to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower, how could he possibly remain low-profile?
Zhao Heita seemed very familiar with the enormous Huangtian City and soon brought Jiang Hao to a great hall.
Inside the hall were many young martial artists like Jiang Hao.
They had all been brought by their elders to register.
Everyone who came here possessed a Huangtian Sect Recommendation Slot. Once they registered their information, they could directly enter Huangtian Sect as Outer Gate disciples.
"Brother, your child's tiger pet is quite magnificent. Are you selling it? I can offer a high price."
At this moment, an old man in gray robes approached.
He had clearly taken a fancy to Big Tiger and was willing to pay a great sum for him.
"Not for sale."
Jiang Hao refused directly.
The gray-robed old man did not get angry. Instead, he continued, "Do not refuse so quickly. You have come to Huangtian Sect as well, haven't you? You want to enter Huangtian Sect and become Outer Gate disciples?"
"It is not easy being an Outer Gate disciple. Many Outer Gate disciples are assigned miscellaneous chores and toil all day long, leaving them barely any time to practice martial arts."
"However, this old man has a son serving as a steward in the Outer Gate. He can assign your child somewhere better, at least somewhere he will not have to do so many miscellaneous chores..."
The implication could not have been clearer.
If Jiang Hao sold Big Tiger, the gray-robed old man could make things easier for him when he was assigned.
Jiang Hao said nothing.
He swept his gaze across the great hall, where there were many children around his age.
Even more of them were in their teens or twenties.
All of them would become Outer Gate disciples of Huangtian Sect.
This showed just how enormous the scale of Huangtian Sect's Outer Gate disciples was.
He had not even entered Huangtian Sect yet, but he had already glimpsed a trace of the "filth" within the Outer Gate.
By looking at a leopard through a tube, he could see the whole beast. If Huangtian Sect's Outer Gate disciples wished to practice martial arts in peace, it likely truly would not be easy.
It seemed his master had been telling the truth all along.
Huangtian Sect's Outer Gate was rather chaotic. For Outer Gate disciples to rise above the crowd was far too difficult.
Muddling around in the Outer Gate was truly worse than following his master to practice martial arts.
At the very least, Zhao Heita could teach him with care.
"Not for sale."
Zhao Heita was brief and to the point, too lazy to say more to the other man.
"Hehe, you'll only know regret after you go to the Outer Gate and suffer..."
The gray-robed old man was not angered.
He had seen this sort of thing many times.
They all thought that entering the Huangtian Sect meant they could soar into the sky in a single bound.
But in reality?
Most of them faded into the crowd, wasting away their years before slinking out of the Huangtian Sect in disgrace.
However, when he saw Zhao Heita leading Jiang Hao all the way toward the Inner Hall, his eyes suddenly widened.
"That's... the Inner Hall?"
"Only those with an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot can enter the Inner Hall. Could it be that he wants that child riding a tiger to ascend directly into the Inner Gate?"
Directly into the Inner Gate?
That was not common.
And Jiang Hao was clearly only a child.
At most, he was around ten years old.
It was impossible for him to have reached Transforming Force.
If he was not at Transforming Force yet still wanted to ascend directly into the Inner Gate, there was only one possibility.
Challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower!
The gray-robed old man sucked in a sharp breath.
How could anyone still dare to challenge the Desolate Heaven Tower?
Wasn't that simply wasting an Inner Gate Recommendation Slot for nothing?
Before you continue