Kill the Tiger

"Though doing evil is easier than doing good, I should still do good."

Zhang Yunhao gave a wry smile. He had no desire to be some kind of good man, but neither could he slaughter innocent villagers just to increase his strength. So, he decided to go up the mountain and hunt fierce beasts. As for bandits and tyrants, he could only deal with them after becoming stronger.

The world's heaven and earth essence was abundant, making beasts comparatively powerful. Besides ordinary wild animals, there were also fierce beasts and savage beasts. Of course, this was no longer ancient times; at most, there were a few fierce beasts in the mountains outside the city. Savage beasts were basically nowhere to be seen.

Fierce beasts were much stronger than ordinary animals. Rather than staying hidden, they often attacked people, so killing fierce beasts was doing good!

"According to the information on the notice board, several woodcutters on Ming Cui Mountain were devoured by a tiger, and there is also a pack of vicious wolves on the mountain that attacked the villages below. These should all be fierce beasts."

Zhang Yunhao silently considered this. Fierce beasts should originally have been dealt with by the authorities, but unfortunately, the authorities had grown weak, so they could only offer bounties to recruit experts.

Whether Zhang Yunhao's luck was good or bad, not long after entering the mountain, he encountered a tiger half again as large as an ordinary one. Every step it took brimmed with surging power, and the instant it saw Zhang Yunhao, a savage gleam appeared in its eyes.

"This tiger has eaten people."

Zhang Yunhao remained utterly fearless and assumed the stance of Tiger Form Fist. When members of the Zhang Clan practiced Tiger Fist, they would observe and imitate a tiger's demeanor and movements. At this moment, he carried quite the aura of a fierce tiger himself!

Seeing Zhang Yunhao actually imitate it, the tiger flew into a rage. With a thunderous roar, it pounced fiercely through a gust of foul wind, sending fallen leaves on the ground swirling through the air.

But Zhang Yunhao already knew how tigers attacked. He sidestepped the charge, then circulated True Qi into his fist and smashed a heavy blow into the tiger's head. Even the tiger staggered back two steps. Just as Zhang Yunhao was about to press the attack, a tail like a steel whip lashed toward him.

Fortunately, Zhang Yunhao sprang away and dodged it. By then, the tiger had recovered and become even more enraged. It lunged again, its two claws flashing with cold light as they tore through the air and raked viciously at Zhang Yunhao in succession.

"Hand Crossbow!"

Zhang Yunhao sneered, leaping high into the air. He raised his left hand midair, and the hand crossbow beneath his sleeve shot out with a whoosh, striking the tiger squarely in its left eye.

The tiger let out a shrill, miserable cry, frightening the nearby birds into hurriedly flapping away.

"Chain Kicks!"

Immediately afterward, Zhang Yunhao spun rapidly in midair, his legs repeatedly kicking the tiger's head. The blows left the tiger dizzy and disoriented before it crashed to the ground, knocking over a small tree beside it with a rattling clatter!

Zhang Yunhao pressed his advantage without mercy, launching attack after attack. His fists fell like rain, and before long, he had beaten the tiger to death with his bare hands.

"Ha ha, a tiger-slaying hero. I really have become much stronger."

Looking at the tiger's corpse, Zhang Yunhao was deeply satisfied. He was far stronger now than before his breakthrough.

As for why Zhang Yunhao was so skilled at fighting tigers, on one hand, the Zhang Clan had given specialized instruction, since encountering fierce beasts in the wild was perfectly normal. On the other hand, he had secretly come to the mountains before to deal with fierce beasts in order to improve himself.

If he had not been confident, Zhang Yunhao would never have come hunting fierce beasts at such a crucial time!

After killing the tiger, the Good and Evil Bead within Zhang Yunhao suddenly began spinning rapidly. Then his Benevolent True Qi swelled sharply, and when it finally stabilized, it had grown by more than half!

"Isn't this far too terrifying?"

Sensing the condition of his dantian, Zhang Yunhao was dumbfounded. Killing just this one tiger was worth half a month of his own cultivation. This was too frightening—faster than cultivating with any medicinal pill!

This was an immortal-level cultivation art!

One could imagine that Zhang Yunhao's future rate of advancement would be as terrifying as a rocket!

"Excellent. At this rate, I will definitely complete the Lesser Heavenly Cycle within seven days and reach Minor True Qi Accomplishment. Even if my strength is still inferior to Zhang Yuntang's then, it will be more than enough to deal with him! I am no ordinary Martial Artist!"

Having personally verified the power of the divine art, Zhang Yunhao was brimming with confidence. Next, he took out the Blood Origin Pearl and absorbed part of the tiger's blood. He only took part because he wanted to cut off the other valuable materials and bring them back to the city to sell. Money was something one could not do without in any world.

Afterward, Zhang Yunhao continued deeper into the mountains, full of ambition. He would kill those fierce beasts that harmed people, do good and accumulate virtue, and improve himself as quickly as possible!

That night, at the Zhang Clan, Zhang Yuntang also learned that Zhang Yunhao had gone out. He could not help sneering. "He is truly courting death. Brother Zhiyan, I'll trouble you to handle it. I do not want to see him again."

Zhang Zhiyan smiled. "Rest assured, Fifth Young Master. I sent the brothers Black Eagle and Iron Eagle after him this afternoon. Don't worry, he is as good as dead."

Zhang Yuntang said nothing more. After all, he was merely a cripple who had just broken through. He was not worth spending too much thought on.

Just then, the Great Elder arrived. Zhang Zhiyan hurriedly took his leave, leaving only the father and son behind.

Zhang Yuntang explained what had happened that morning, then said, "Father, rest assured. Everyone else knows that brat is doomed, so no one else has signed up."

"Good. Zhang Yunhao? I have some impression of that boy. Hmph, his parents were restless back then, which was why they... I never expected him to be the same. Had I known, I would have gotten rid of him back then."

The Great Elder, somewhat plump and looking like a kindly old man but in truth ruthless and vicious, snorted. Thinking of something, he asked, "By the way, which mountain did he go to?"

Zhang Yuntang thought for a moment. "It seemed to be Ming Cui Mountain."

"Ming Cui Mountain?"

The Great Elder frowned and asked again, "When did your men enter the mountain?"

Zhang Yuntang said, "Brother Zhiyan sent them there in the afternoon. Father, there will not be any problem, will there?"

"There should not be. Something major happened in the city during the day. Someone from the Demon Sect infiltrated the city, seduced a young mistress of the Li Family, and then stole something from the Li Family."

The Great Elder said, "The Li Family and the Demon Extermination Alliance took a group of constables to pursue him. In the end, that fiend escaped into Ming Cui Mountain. The mountain has now been sealed off, and many people are searching for him."

Zhang Yuntang asked in surprise, "Even the Demon Extermination Alliance has mobilized? Father, what did the Li Family have stolen?"

"They did not say. Heh, they have truly lost face this time. I heard that young mistress was stuffed into a pig cage on the spot."

The Great Elder gave a mocking laugh, then said, "Though there has been a slight complication, your men should be fine since they already entered the mountain. Besides, Zhang Yunhao only just broke through to the True Qi Realm. He poses no threat at all, merely a tiny ant. There is no need to worry."

Zhang Yuntang smiled. "I am not worried. I simply fear others may follow suit. This time, I will definitely obtain the slot."

The Great Elder said with absolute certainty, "You will definitely obtain the slot. I have already arranged everything, ensuring nothing can possibly go wrong."

As he spoke, the Great Elder looked at Zhang Yuntang with paternal affection. "Your father will surely pave a golden road for you, so that you may rise above others. Do not end up like me, stuck at the Divine Sea Realm and unable to break through. Otherwise, I would have been Clan Leader back then!"

A father always hoped his son would become a dragon. Besides sincerely wishing the best for his child, he also placed his own unfulfilled dreams upon his son, letting his son achieve them in his stead!

Zhang Yuntang said gratefully, "Thank you, Father! Your son will never disappoint you!"