“Go back and report to Master, just say that the other party’s abilities are not inferior to mine—that will be enough to account for it.”

The tiger thought this to itself, cast a deep glance in the direction of Samuel Brooks, then turned its head and walked into the forested mountains.

Night had deepened, and the mountain wind was blowing.

The treetops swayed, rustling noisily.

The tiger could be seen running through the mountains.

Moonlight shone on its body, casting shifting shadows, giving off a chilling aura.

King of all beasts, awe-inspiring and majestic.

Jackals hunting at night, night owls perched in the trees, venomous snakes hiding below—all retreated, not daring to come near.

But just then, the moonlight suddenly brightened!

It was dazzling, its aura chilling and razor-sharp!

With a thunderous boom!

The tiger leapt abruptly, instantly landing over thirty feet away!

A sword aura flashed by in an instant!

Grass and dust flew everywhere!

A crack appeared on the ground where the demon tiger had just been!

The crack was over ten feet long, only three inches wide, and unfathomably deep!

“You dodged pretty fast.”

Not far to the side, from behind a large tree, a person stepped out.

The newcomer had a handsome face, appearing to be about twenty years old.

He wore a Daoist robe, a horsetail whisk in his left hand, and a ritual sword in his right.

He smiled gently, looking at the demon tiger, and said, “You played a trick on me and now want to leave? Isn’t that a bit dull?”

The tiger’s gaze was fierce, filled with an unspeakable majesty.

“A cultivator setting up an ambush and launching a sneak attack—doesn’t that diminish your status?”

George Parker suddenly opened its mouth and spoke in human language.

After advancing to the Qi Refining stage, demonkind can use their inner demon energy to refine the transverse bone in their throat and imitate human speech.

Samuel Brooks, having seen talking bears before, was not surprised. He simply smiled and said, “Isn’t hunting in the mountains all about lurking and ambushing? Since when do you monsters and demons care about being open and aboveboard?”

George Parker’s eyes flickered, taking a ready stance and revealing a fierce expression. “You think that just because you joined forces with a true disciple of the Jiuxiao Immortal Sect to kill my useless junior brother, you can now slay me alone?”

It felt a bit uncertain inside, as it couldn’t discern the depth of this young Daoist’s cultivation.

But one thing was certain: the other party was definitely not at the Spirit Refining stage.

“So you know that a true disciple of the Jiuxiao Immortal Sect was with me. Looks like you really did go to the Jinyang County yamen. The three constables’ resentful spirits earlier were sent by you to test me, weren’t they?”

Samuel Brooks raised his ritual sword and said slowly, “As a peak Qi Refining demon, after investigating, you chose not to seek revenge but to leave instead. I suppose you’re not confident you can defeat me… But I’d like to test the strength of a peak Qi Refining great demon like you!”

Chapter 007: The Li Command of the Nine Palaces Order

The night wind blew.

Dark clouds covered the bright moon.

The forested mountains were plunged into darkness.

The tiger hid in the moonlight and pounced!

The Daoist raised his sword, sword aura flashing like starlight!

“As expected, you’re no weakling—much stronger than that Autumn Wind demon Daoist.”

Samuel Brooks moved like the wind, his figure darting and flickering, his ritual sword sweeping out sword aura in all directions.

The tiger’s body was massive; with each pounce and leap, it was incredibly fast and powerful.

Under its claws, a dim light glimmered.

With a whoosh!

Man and tiger crossed paths in the night.

Samuel Brooks stopped, looking at his torn sleeve, raising his brows.

At the peak of Qi Refining, true energy can be projected outward, protecting the body like armor.

The tiger’s claws had dispersed his protective true energy.

But they hadn’t harmed his body.

However, his sword had also pierced George Parker’s protective demon aura.

His sword’s edge had cut across the tiger’s body.

Unfortunately, the tiger’s physical body was far tougher than a human’s, so the blade only sliced its flesh, not its tendons or bones.

“A great demon’s body is even tougher than mine.”

“But its true energy is nowhere near as refined as mine—much weaker.”

“Enough, let’s end it here.”

Samuel Brooks looked at the fierce tiger and said with a smile, “I’ve more or less understood the changes in power at the Qi Refining stage. Now, let me send you on your way!”

He raised his sword, his aura surging!

The energy swirling around his sword now carried an indescribable, mysterious quality!

The formless night wind blew in, but around the sword’s edge, it was suddenly severed!

“Sword Qi Severing the Flow?”

George Parker cried out in shock!

This was a mystical ability only those at the Spirit Refining stage could possess!

The Daoist who had fought it for so long at the Qi Refining stage was actually a true Spirit Refining master?

In an instant, the terror of life and death enveloped the giant tiger!

Usually the king of beasts, having hunted countless prey, the tiger demon now felt the chill and dread of imminent death!

With a thunderous boom!

Samuel Brooks struck down with his sword!

But at that moment!

The tiger demon spat something from its mouth!

A brilliant light burst forth!

The sword struck the light!

The radiance grew even more dazzling, like the blazing sun, impossible to look at directly!

“What kind of treasure is that?”

Samuel Brooks was slightly moved, channeling true energy to his eyes.

He saw that floating in the air was a command token!

The power on the token had already dissipated!

With a single stroke, he knocked the token to the ground!