Chapter 201
by post_apiChapter 201: There Are Five More as Strong as Me
The Tiger-Chasing Dynasty’s unstoppable momentum gradually slowed three months later.
This occurred when the two princes of the Eastern Wilderness finally recognized the urgency on the western front, hastily recalling troops and cultivators from the eastern region for defense. They were stunned by Tiger-Chasing’s swift eastern advance and bewildered by the remarkable performances of Tiger-Chasing extraordinary talents like Yang Lingrui.
Like the Four Sects of the Northwest that had previously visited Tiger-Chasing territory, the princes’ knowledge of their enemy remained frozen decades in the past. Back then, the Zhuhu Dynasty had relied entirely on a single True Intent Realm national master. Beyond this supreme combat strength, both the numbers and quality of their cultivators lagged far behind the Eastern Wilderness. Even an average lower-tier Eastern Wilderness cultivator could rank mid-tier in Tiger-Chasing—the disparity was undeniable.
Thus, the princes had dismissed the western conflicts as minor border skirmishes, never deploying their main forces. After declaring themselves kings, their focus remained solely on battling their elder brother, who controlled half the Eastern Wilderness.
Unbeknownst to them, Tiger-Chasing had spent decades preparing relentlessly. Through the dragon vein fire method, they cultivated core talents and young geniuses rivaling major sect disciples. Nearly bankrupting their treasury, they repeatedly opened secret treasure sites over the years, boosting their cultivators’ overall strength.
These efforts bore fruit. Tiger-Chasing now matched major sects in both quantity and quality of cultivators. They even produced a genuine prodigy—Shen Yue. Across northwest Canglan, only the Lanyue Sect’s Immortal Fairy of Bi Hua could challenge him.
While impressive, this success came at immense risk. As Yang Lingrui and his companions had privately discussed, Tiger-Chasing had staked everything on this gamble. Had the Eastern Wilderness remained stable, the dynasty would have crumbled within two decades. They’d sacrificed royal bloodlines to ignite dragon veins and emptied their coffers on secret treasure sites and cave heavens. Failure to replenish these losses would bring catastrophic collapse.
Most rulers would have balked at such peril. Yet decades earlier, Tiger-Chasing’s emperor had boldly seized this path. He’d foreseen the Eastern Wilderness’ inevitable turmoil—a golden opportunity mirroring his own rise to power amidst wolves. His ambition stretched far beyond ruling a petty kingdom.
Preparation met opportunity when the great Eastern Wilderness fractured. Years of planning finally bore fruit as Yang Lingrui’s group reached the border. Shedding all pretense, Tiger-Chasing began devouring Eastern Wilderness territory.
The princes, engrossed in their sibling rivalry, only awoke to reality when battle reports revealed two thousand miles of lost land. As their main forces hurried west, the Eastern Expedition battlefield erupted into full-scale war.
“Friend,” one observer remarked, “your water-wood techniques amaze us all.”
“So you’re the Tiger-Chasing guy who destroyed an entire Eastern Wilderness army alone?”
“Hey there, Friend, no need to be scared. The prince highly values talent. Come with us and you’ll still have a bright future.”
In the southern region of the eastern line, three Eastern Wilderness cultivators cornered Xiao Yize in a valley dead-end.
All three possessed twelfth-level Gathering Qi cultivation, their bodies radiating spiritual resonance – clear proof they’d mastered the Way of Spiritual Manipulation.
Xiao Yize’s eyes swept over them without surprise.
After causing so much trouble in the south, being targeted by Eastern Wilderness was inevitable. He’d expected this.
“Well, Friend? Made your decision yet?”
Seeing his stillness, they assumed he was considering their offer.
Xiao Yize laughed softly. “Heh… Afraid I’ll disappoint you. I’m a lazy homebody. Eastern Wilderness is too far – I’ll pass.”
“What a pity.”
One cultivator shook his head dramatically. “Then we’ll have to kill you.”
“Swallow’s Return!”
“White Tiger’s Tomb!”
“Mountain’s Might!”
Jade swallows swirled, a white tiger roared, mountain shadows loomed. As they shouted, three Spirit Projections materialized, making the valley’s spiritual energy erupt into chaos.
“Tch… Wanted to save this for Qiu Ran.”
Facing the projections, Xiao Yize showed no fear, only mild regret as he shook his head.
“Die!”
The trio attacked simultaneously, surrounding him. Trapped. Three against one. Certain death.
Then time seemed to freeze. The ground beneath Xiao Yize became a clear pool. A dark shape moved beneath the water’s surface.
As Xiao Yize murmured, his eyes turned ink-black. Scale-like blue spell scripts crawled up his neck and cheeks. The valley’s energy went berserk.
“Spirit Projection.”
“Wood Dragon’s Roam!”
WHOOSH!
The black wooden roaming dragon exploded from the water, shredding the white tiger projection instantly. Its coiled body birthed a black waterspout, scattering the jade swallows like leaves.
Only the mountain projection remained. Xiao Yize snorted: “Not even a green mountain. Crush it.”
CRACK! CRASH! BOOM!
The black dragon’s triple tail strikes shattered the mountain illusion.
“GACK!”
Like Yu Tingzhi during the tournament, all three cultivators collapsed, blood spraying as their Qi meridians ruptured. They stared at Xiao Yize in horrified disbelief.
“Impossible…”
WHOOSH!
The wooden dragon flashed. Two heads rolled. The last cultivator stood frozen as it turned to him.
“You… Tiger-Chasing’s greatest genius?”
He numbly stared at his comrades’ headless corpses.
“Greatest? Pfft.”
Xiao Yize dismissed the projection. Strolling forward, he pointed at himself. “Without counting Tiger-Chasing’s green mountain? There’s at least five stronger than me.”
A finger flick. The dragon’s tail sent the final head spinning through the air.