Hum!
With a thought, Han Xuanji gently swung the blade.
A terrifying force erupted on the spot, piercing the void and cutting through space. It was exceedingly fearsome.
The Blade of the White Tiger possessed the ability to tear space apart, giving it tremendous penetrating and destructive power against Law Treasures, shields, formations, and the like.
"Not bad!"
Han Xuanji looked satisfied.
Of the many divine weapons and Law Treasures Han Xuanji had obtained so far, perhaps only the two Immortal Artifacts could barely compare.
The two immortal swords were much easier to wield, while the Blade of the White Tiger was so powerful that even he, its master, struggled to control it.
Of course, in the end, his cultivation was still a little too low.
This gives me another trump card.
Han Xuanji nodded slightly, turning the Blade of the White Tiger over in his hands as he thought.
Anyone else, even a Body Integration Realm expert, would have to use the Blade of the White Tiger with great care. Otherwise, they could easily fall under its influence.
After all, it was a demonic blade, capable of beguiling hearts and influencing its master's mind, causing them to fall into the demonic path.
But the system had naturally taken care of that. The weapon had already recognized Han Xuanji as its master and would not have any negative effect on him.
The little white tiger beside him had felt a little fear at the sight of the demonic blade, but that was only instinct, and it had suffered no other effects.
It was somewhat curious where its master had gotten so many treasures.
Could it be... Master is actually a descendant of some great figure in the immortal realm, who came to this spirit realm to temper himself?
The little white tiger let its imagination run wild, growing ever more convinced that its guess was right.
In that case, as long as I stick with Master, my future will be boundless!
Hehehe.
The little white tiger was laughing foolishly to itself, its whole body rolling over.
Han Xuanji glanced at it and said:
"Three years have passed. It's time to go."
The fortuitous opportunities here had been exhausted, and there was little point in staying any longer.
Not only was he unable to sign in, but the Sha Qi here had also thinned considerably and was no longer of any help to them. They might as well return to the Divine Profound Sect.
"Okay!"
Seeing its master rise, the little white tiger leaped nimbly onto his shoulder. Its fluffy tail curled naturally around his neck like a warm scarf.
Han Xuanji took a single step, and ripples spread through space. Man and tiger passed through the rift and returned to the secluded valley deep in the Heavenly Gloom Mountain Range.
The valley looked very different from three years ago.
The enormous crater blasted out by the tribulation lightning had been worn down by wind and rain, and tenacious black moss had grown around its edges.
But the Geng Metal Sha Qi permeating the air had not dispersed. Instead, it was even denser than before and had faintly stirred the earth veins, drawing all the Sha Qi within several hundred li toward the valley.
Outside the valley, the once deathly silent mountain forest now rang with all manner of roars. Nourished by the dense Sha Qi, some Demon Beasts had become especially vicious and savage, posing a major threat deep in the Heavenly Gloom Mountain Range.
"That was probably caused during Tribulation Transcendence..."
Han Xuanji paid it no mind and walked with the little white tiger toward the outskirts of the mountain range, as leisurely as if strolling through a courtyard.
The little white tiger lay on his shoulder and yawned contentedly, too lazy even to lift its eyelids, exposing its sharp, bone-white fangs. The surrounding baleful fiends were cowed by the terrifying pressure it unconsciously emitted and dared not approach.
However, after Han Xuanji subconsciously used the Void-Penetrating Divine Eye, it took only a moment for him to raise an eyebrow, a trace of displeasure appearing in his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
The little white tiger sensed that Han Xuanji seemed somewhat angry and asked.
Han Xuanji raised his head and looked into the distance, then sighed and said:
"There are always people trying to harm me, the emperor..."
Hearing Han Xuanji's words, the little white tiger also became alert, as if it too had caught the scent of danger.
"Let's see who these exalted figures are."
Han Xuanji might lie low, but he was no coward.
If they insisted on courting death, he would grant their wish.
At that moment, outside the Heavenly Gloom Mountain Range.
"Several years ago, that tiger demon was suspected of hiding in the Heavenly Gloom Mountain Range. Not long ago, its presence vanished after it stirred up a celestial phenomenon. It most likely encountered some extraordinary opportunity."
A man wearing a purple headscarf spoke.
"If we can subdue this demon and make it our sect's divine beast, it will surely take our Demon Taming Sect to the next level."
At those words, the others could not help but brighten:
"Vice sect master, with you here, we're sure to subdue this demon. When the time comes, the position of next sect master will be yours for the taking!"
"That tiger demon is quite formidable. If it escapes, things will get difficult."
Someone could not help voicing his concern.
"Don't panic."
The man in the purple headscarf spoke unconcernedly.
"But I heard this tiger demon has a white tiger bloodline and is extremely powerful. Back then, the sect master and several elders joined forces but still failed to subdue it. No one even stopped it from escaping, and the sect master was badly injured in that battle... If it has broken through to another realm, I'm afraid we won't be able to take it down."
One person could not help saying.
The man in the purple headscarf remained confident and explained:
"Don't be afraid. I invited..."
Before he could finish, a jade token at his waist flashed.
"Hmph, found it."
Elsewhere.
The little white tiger also told Han Xuanji what had happened before it came to the Heavenly Gloom Mountain Range.
"Master, it might be because of me... I lost some fur before..."
"We were in another space before, so they couldn't track us. But as soon as we came out, we were exposed."
"In that case, these people will have to be dealt with..."
Han Xuanji spoke calmly, unconcerned.
With that thought, Han Xuanji stopped concealing his presence. Just as they were about to step out of the core region of the Heavenly Gloom Mountain Range, dozens of figures descended from the sky.
Every one of them wore the Demon Taming Sect's distinctive Myriad Beast Robes. The weakest among them was at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, and seven were Spirit Transformation elders with unfathomably deep presences!
The man at their head wore a purple headscarf, and his presence had reached the Spirit Transformation Peak. He was none other than the Demon Taming Sect's vice sect master, Qiu Qianli!
"Hahaha! You beast! You really were hiding here!"
Qiu Qianli laughed wildly, greed and ecstatic delight flashing in his eyes.
"This tiger demon has slaughtered living creatures and brought calamity to the region. Fellow Daoist, please leave."
A Demon Taming Sect elder saw the man and tiger, his eyes flickering as he immediately shouted.
"The Demon Taming Sect? Heh, what an impressive display of authority!"
A trace of disdain flashed through Han Xuanji's eyes.
He had heard of the Demon Taming Sect. It was the hegemonic sect of Youzhou, and its strength was naturally considerable.
But in Han Xuanji's eyes, it was merely considerable, far weaker than sects like the Divine Profound Sect and the Heavenly Devil Cult, whose legacies had endured for countless years.
After all, the Divine Profound Sect was renowned throughout the entire Eastern Cang Province, while the Demon Taming Sect was merely the hegemon of Youzhou in Great Xia. Its strongest cultivator was only at the Void Return Realm.
Han Xuanji had already entered the Void Return Realm himself, so he naturally had nothing to fear.
"I don't know where this tiger demon you're talking about is."
Han Xuanji sneered.
Seeing Han Xuanji meet him head-on, the Demon Taming Sect elder's gaze turned hostile. His cultivation surged at once, and he could not resist wanting to teach him a lesson.
But Qiu Qianli raised a hand to stop him. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he sized Han Xuanji up and down, then spoke with a smile that did not reach his eyes:
"I am Qiu Qianli, vice sect master of the Demon Taming Sect. May I ask how to address you?"
Han Xuanji spoke calmly:
"Who I am isn't important. What matters is that you should leave. This tiger demon isn't the one you're looking for."
A sharp glint flashed in Qiu Qianli's eyes, but he still said:
"Our Demon Taming Sect set its sights on this tiger demon long ago. Would you be willing to part with it?"
The little white tiger's heart skipped a beat at those words, and it hurriedly hissed:
"Fuck you! What do you mean, your Demon Taming Sect set its sights on me? How shameless! I've set my sights on your mother too. How about sending her over to wash your Grandpa Tiger's feet?"
"So there's no room for negotiation?"
Qiu Qianli forcibly suppressed his anger. He could not discern Han Xuanji's exact cultivation, and even the tiger demon's presence seemed much stronger than the rumors suggested.
He had said all that nonsense just now precisely to stall for time.
Now that the moment was ripe, he stopped pretending.
"I have to say, you have courage. I hope your strength is just as tough."
A smile appeared on Qiu Qianli's lips, and he clapped his hands.
"Hummm-!"
A deep hum suddenly rang out!
Nine pitch-black chains, each so thick that it would take several people with outstretched arms to encircle one, and engraved with densely packed blood-red runes, shot forth from every direction without warning!
The chains ended in sinister barbed hooks that emitted an eerie presence capable of imprisoning the soul and defiling Demon Power. Fast as lightning, they intertwined in an instant into a massive net that blotted out the sky and sun, descending on Han Xuanji and especially the little white tiger on his shoulder!
The Demon-Locking Chain!
One of the Demon Taming Sect's foundational Law Treasures!