Subduing the Black Tiger

Inside the Earth Prison cell, Fang Mu skillfully used the torture tools to separate the flesh from a rat demon's hide.

After stripping away some of its claws, fangs, and fur, the remaining flesh and blood were refined by the Demon Refining Mirror.

The intermediate-grade Essence Blood Pill had been made by refining the rat demon's blood essence. After consuming it, one's vital energy and blood would grow stronger, nourishing the body.

The high-grade Essence Pill could nurture the meridians and raise one's cultivation.

Fang Mu looked at the two pills now in his hand. He swallowed the Essence Blood Pill himself and handed the Essence Pill to his clone to refine.

For the past two days, he had stayed in the Earth Prison, slaying demons and devils to increase his strength.

Although he and Huihai were allies now, there was no guarantee Huihai would not suddenly get the urge to kill him.

Huihai had stopped before only because he was wary of the Zen staff's origins.

Once he learned the truth, there was no guarantee he would not strike with murderous intent.

Tu Shan had also remained completely silent these past two days, which made Fang Mu worry about what he was secretly plotting.

So he needed to raise his cultivation and strength as quickly as possible, so he could prepare for whatever came.

At present, first- and second-grade demons were no longer Fang Mu's match.

With the heavy Zen staff in his hands, he was like someone wielding a meteorite. Anyone struck by it would almost certainly end up dead or gravely injured.

It was just that swinging the Zen staff was exhausting. Even with Fang Mu's current strength, he could only swing it twice in succession with all his might.

After that, he would be spent and need to rest to recover his strength.

Soon, the clone finished refining the Essence Pill and advanced to the second-grade Martial Realm.

All the clone's Demonic Energy was absorbed by Fang Mu.

Although the Demonic Scripture was quite good—it could increase cultivation faster and absorb Demonic Energy for one's own use—there was no guarantee that this counterfeit Demonic Scripture had no problems.

Even taking a step back, supposing the Demonic Scripture had no problems at all, Fang Mu still did not want his clone to cultivate a body full of demonic energy.

If he went outside, wouldn't people mistake him for a great demon, capture him, and hack him to death?

As for having no cultivation method, that was not important.

His cultivation was still weak. Before reaching the Innate Realm, he was merely laying a foundation.

As long as the foundation was solid and his Vital Energy abundant, his cultivation would break through naturally, so he was not in a hurry.

There were not many demons imprisoned in the Earth Prison, and he had slain nearly all of them over the past two days.

Only the fierce tiger demon imprisoned in cell number twenty-six remained. It possessed half-step Innate Realm strength and was still at the peak of its combat power.

So Fang Mu had saved it for last. He planned to strengthen himself a little more before killing the tiger demon, which would give him greater confidence.

Collecting his thoughts, Fang Mu swung the Zen staff and began practicing inside the cell.

Although he would be drenched in sweat and need to stop and rest after only a few swings,

this was also a form of cultivation, allowing him to squeeze and temper his body more effectively.

Fang Mu had been using the Zen staff lately, and he discovered that when he picked up ordinary swords and blades, they felt as light as nothing in his hand.

With a casual swing, he could form one after another of blurred afterimages, moving so fast that only flashes of sword light could be seen.

Soon, the medicinal power of the Essence Blood Pill Fang Mu had swallowed was completely absorbed, merging into every part of his body.

Fang Mu could feel his body growing stronger yet again. The increase was slight, but a little more each day would eventually become a great deal.

Soon, Fang Mu left the cell and brought his clone, whose cultivation had stabilized, to cell number twenty-six of the Earth Prison.

"Roar!!"

Roar after roar of fury rang out. A vicious Black Tiger appeared before him, looking utterly berserk.

Its eyes were bloodshot with killing intent as it stared fixedly at Fang Mu, who had entered the cell.

"Clang! Clang!"

At that moment, repeated clanging rang out as the chains shook violently.

The fierce Black Tiger suddenly shrank its body, shattered the chains piercing through it, and pounced at Fang Mu with its jaws open.

Fang Mu seemed to have anticipated this. He sneered, then swung the Zen staff in his hand. Like a meteor hammer, it sent the Black Tiger flying.

"Roar!!!"

The Black Tiger struck at the Zen staff with one paw. Then it let out a miserable howl, spewed blood, and was sent crashing backward into the torture rack.

The clone slashed with the Golden Sword and rushed toward the Black Tiger, bringing the sword down at it.

The Black Tiger twisted aside to avoid the clone's sword. With a roar, the aura of a half-step Innate Realm expert erupted, and it charged the clone, engaging him in battle.

Although the clone relied on the Golden Sword's sharpness to leave numerous sword wounds on the Black Tiger,

the Black Tiger's paw had already been injured by the Zen staff, leaving it limping slightly and affecting its movements and combat strength.

But the Black Tiger was simply too powerful and too fast, while its claws were as sharp as blades. They left countless bloody marks across the clone's body.

Seeing that the clone could not do anything to the Black Tiger, Fang Mu hefted the Zen staff and charged into the fight, planning to surround and kill it together with his clone.

The Black Tiger roared, then unexpectedly leaped away and retreated to the side. It lowered its head and whimpered and growled at Fang Mu.

Fang Mu frowned. He could not understand what the Black Tiger was growling about, but judging from its appearance, it seemed to be begging for mercy.

"Master! It wants to submit to you and wants you to spare its life."

At that moment, Xixi ran out from Fang Mu's watermelon rune pattern and explained to him.

Fang Mu froze for a moment, then looked at Xixi curiously. "You can understand what it's saying?"

"Of course! I may be a plant, but I know beast speech."

"Uh." Fang Mu was genuinely surprised. He had not expected Xixi to be so impressive that it even understood beast speech.

"Can it form a contract voluntarily, like you?" Fang Mu asked curiously.

"No. Those capable of forming contracts voluntarily all possess their own innate divine abilities. They are beings favored by heaven and earth, and only those with inheritances can form contracts on their own."

"Ordinary demons and beasts do not possess the ability to form contracts voluntarily."

Hearing Xixi's words, Fang Mu regarded it seriously for the first time.

Somewhat astonished, he asked, "You mean you're a being favored by heaven and earth? Then what innate divine abilities do you have?"

"My inherited memories say so. As for my innate divine abilities, they are wood-element vines and understanding beast speech."

"..."

Fang Mu was speechless. Those innate divine abilities of yours seem a little weak!

The Green Snake seemed capable of forming contracts voluntarily too, making Fang Mu wonder whether it was also a being favored by heaven and earth.

There seem to be quite a lot of these beings favored by heaven and earth. They're like cabbages—easy to run into anywhere.

Collecting his thoughts, Fang Mu had Xixi communicate with the Black Tiger in beast speech.

Then he used Jade Faced Gentleman's soul-seed technique to plant a soul seed inside the Black Tiger's soul.

Condensing the soul seed consumed a great deal of Fang Mu's soul power.

He had expended a huge amount of soul power condensing the soul seed.

After condensing one soul seed, he was practically exhausted, dizzy and light-headed, with more than half his soul power consumed.

But obtaining a tiger demon at the half-step Innate Realm was worth it.

Fang Mu had the Demon Refining Mirror. As long as he could refine more demons, he would obtain pills.

By then, he could raise the tiger demon's strength and nurture it into a great demon of the Innate Realm.

He would then have another powerful helper. Even if he had the tiger demon protect Fang Jing, Fang Mu would feel more at ease.

As for killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, Fang Mu felt that he was not so short-sighted as to sacrifice a tiger demon.

After storing the Black Tiger in the demon-catching bag, then putting the bag into the Demon Refining Mirror's space, Fang Mu left the Earth Prison and headed outside.

When he left the County Office, the sky had already darkened. Fang Mu walked alone along the deserted streets. Looking at the empty road, his heart remained utterly calm.

Huihai had already left the County Office yesterday, leaving Fang Mu only a token and a way to find him.

That old schemer had not left Qingzhu County. At this moment, he might be hiding in some remote corner, watching and plotting.

So Fang Mu was highly vigilant. He did not head straight toward the Slums, instead taking several extra turns through the streets.

As Fang Mu passed a dark alley, a shadow flashed by and soundlessly approached him like a specter.