Chapter 4

At the foot of Qiyun Mountain, in the tent of the Fourth Prince.

"Bang!"

A teacup was smashed to the ground by the Fourth Prince.

In front of him, a man in black knelt, trembling and not daring to speak.

"Did you say it would be flawless? Why is Wang Xiong still alive? The last direct descendant of the Eastern Wang Family, is it so hard for him to die?" the Fourth Prince said coldly.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. We had already confirmed that Wang Xiong was dead! Who knew...!" the man in black knelt, trembling.

"Hmph, I don't want to hear your 'who knew'! Do you know how much risk I took this time? If we miss this chance, when will we get another?" the Fourth Prince glared.

"Your Highness, please rest assured. Once the Heavenly Malevolent Wind ends, I will find another opportunity!" the man in black gritted his teeth.

"Find another opportunity? Hmph, this time we've already alerted the snake. If the Eastern Wang Family almost loses its direct descendant, will the other three Wang Families sit idly by? Once they find out the reason, they will surely turn against the royal family. Who can bear the blame of the Human Emperor?" the Fourth Prince glared.

"Your subordinate, your subordinate...!" The man in black was drenched in cold sweat.

"Before the Heavenly Malevolent Wind ends, Wang Xiong must die inside!" the Fourth Prince said with icy eyes.

"But, the Heavenly Malevolent Wind covers the Divine Tomb Mountain Range, we can't get in!" the man in black said bitterly.

The Fourth Prince's face was unpredictable, and he finally said coldly, "Fortunately, Sheng'er is still inside, hmpf!"

"Grandson Little Highness? Your Highness is wise. The Little Highness is a prodigy in cultivation, with countless battles in the army, leading troops to victory in every battle. He was bestowed the title of Myriad Victories Marquis by the Human Emperor. If he knows Wang Xiong is still alive, he will definitely take action. Wang Xiong is doomed!" the man in black's face lit up with joy.

"This time, I sounded the retreat, which also kept Zhou Tianyin outside. Sheng'er has Zhou Tianyin's map and will surely reach the peak of the Divine Tomb Mountain, plucking the Divine Tomb Flower. That way, this flower won't have to be given to Zhou Tianyin! And it will also make up for your mistake this time, hmpf!" the Fourth Prince said coldly.

"Your subordinate is incompetent!" the man in black said bitterly.

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In Zhou Tianyin's tent.

"Sister, that tiger demon must have a connection with the Wang Family. Otherwise, how could that waste be allowed to ride it?" Zhou Chi said urgently to Zhou Tianyin.

"Tigers are the kings of all beasts, with great pride. I can't see any connection between the tiger demon and Wang Xiong. Zhou Chi, have you been deliberately telling me about Wang Xiong's shortcomings?" Zhou Tianyin asked Zhou Chi through her veil.

"Ah?" Zhou Chi's face stiffened.

"So, someone has been deliberately telling you to say these things to me? Hah, Zhou Chi, you dare to lie to me?" Zhou Tianyin stared at Zhou Chi.

"Sister, Sister, it's true. The Myriad Victories Marquis is my friend and asked me to speak on his behalf. But, the Myriad Victories Marquis is truly remarkable. At eighteen, he broke through to the Martial Ancestor realm a month ago. He leads troops to victory in every battle, and even the Human Emperor has praised him. Since he met you in the palace last time, he has been thinking of you constantly and has often spoken of his admiration for you after drinking. As for Wang Xiong, I'm not deliberately slandering him. After ten years of cultivation, he can't even open the Heavenly Apex Aperture, which was done by the Eastern Wang himself. Otherwise, how could he reach the first level of the Qi Sea Realm? But after so many years, he is still at the first level of the Qi Sea Realm. He has no hope, Sister, I'm not lying to you! He really doesn't deserve you!" Zhou Chi said urgently.

"I didn't say he deserves me. My husband must be at least a celestial being. Wang Xiong doesn't qualify, and neither does the Myriad Victories Marquis. I'm just angry that you dared to deceive me!" Zhou Tianyin said coldly to Zhou Chi.

"Sister, I, I... I'm sorry, Sister!" Zhou Chi lowered his head.

"Never mind, the engagement is dissolved, and I didn't care about it anyway. However, the Divine Tomb Flower is of great use to me! It cannot be lost!" Zhou Tianyin said solemnly.

"Yes! But, the Heavenly Malevolent Wind won't stop for some time, and the Fourth Prince has retreated, which...!" Zhou Chi said with some concern.

"The Fourth Prince has his own plans. We have withdrawn, but his people haven't all left!" Zhou Tianyin said with a cold laugh.

"Sister, are you saying the Fourth Prince deliberately held us back and sent people to secretly take the Divine Tomb Flower?" Zhou Chi said in surprise.

Zhou Tianyin nodded.

"The Human Emperor asked the Fourth Prince to lead troops to assist us. How... how...?" Zhou Chi said in shock and anger.

"The Divine Tomb Flower isn't easy to obtain. Even with my map, it might not be possible. Don't worry!" Zhou Tianyin's voice was filled with confidence.

"Uh? Alright!"

"However, this Wang Xiong is somewhat strange. First level of the Qi Sea Realm? Subduing a Martial Ancestor-level tiger demon? Strange...?" Zhou Tianyin showed a hint of curiosity.

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At the entrance of a large lake in the Divine Tomb Mountain Range.

Wang Xiong had washed the blood off his clothes and was now sitting cross-legged on a large rock in the center of the lake, eyes closed, meditating.

On the shore, the tiger demon Jüe Quan looked at Wang Xiong with a strange expression.

Earlier, when Wang Xiong used the Heavenly Tiger Divine Sound, it truly frightened Jüe Quan, making him dare not think of anything else. Even though Wang Xiong seemed weak, as long as he could use the Heavenly Tiger Divine Sound, the remaining power was not something Jüe Quan could match. He didn't dare to resist.

But after a day, Wang Xiong looked like a weak mortal, which made Jüe Quan doubt again. Was it just an illusion earlier?

"Whine, whine, whine!"

The Wolf King approached and whispered something to Jüe Quan. Although the Wolf King couldn't speak human language, the whining sounds made Jüe Quan understand.

"Was he like this when you saw him? Except for that malevolent aura?" Jüe Quan narrowed his eyes.

The Wolf King nodded cautiously.

Jüe Quan's eyes suddenly changed intensely. Wang Xiong's strength today was only at the first level of the Qi Sea Realm, yet he had such malevolent aura?

"Could it be, could it be some treasure of the tiger clan?"

Jüe Quan's previous fear instantly turned into a mix of anticipation and greed.

He stared intently at Wang Xiong in the center of the lake, as if trying to see through him.

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Wang Xiong's mind sank into his dantian.

The dantian was empty, with only a thread of true qi.

"Cultivators ultimately cultivate their 'three channels and seven wheels.' Even at my peak in my previous life, I didn't fully cultivate them. The early foundation in my previous life was somewhat unstable, making later cultivation increasingly difficult. In this rebirth, I must solidify the foundation!" Wang Xiong thought to himself.

"Three channels and seven wheels? The seven wheels correspond to the seven apertures. With my current cultivation, I can only use one channel and two apertures: the dantian aperture, the Heavenly Apex Aperture, and the central channel connecting the two.

The dantian aperture is innate, a place to store true qi, the source of power. Having true qi means reaching the Qi Sea Realm. Unfortunately, my dantian true qi is too weak, but having it is better than nothing.

The Heavenly Apex Aperture is a large aperture above the head. This large aperture is the gateway for absorbing the elemental energy of heaven and earth, refining it, and sending it through the central 'central channel' to the dantian aperture, transforming it into true qi and the power of the entire body.

It seems that in this life, I have indeed been too dull. The Heavenly Apex Aperture was only opened with the help of my father in this life."

Wang Xiong's mind withdrew from the vast dantian and entered the top of his head, where there was a small hole the size of a fingertip, absorbing the elemental energy of heaven and earth into his body.

"Heavenly Apex Aperture? Hah, it's really small. With such a small Heavenly Apex Aperture, absorbing the elemental energy of heaven and earth is indeed slow. In the Heavenly Apex Aperture, I need to activate the 'Heavenly Apex Wheel.' This will increase the speed of absorbing the elemental energy of heaven and earth by a hundred or a thousand times. However, since I need to solidify the foundation in this life, I can't activate the Heavenly Apex Wheel casually. If I do, I'll use the best. This trip almost cost me my life, all for the 'Divine Tomb Flower.' The Divine Tomb Flower purifies all kinds of energy, making it the best choice to activate the Heavenly Apex Wheel!" Wang Xiong thought with determination.

The dantian aperture was empty, and the Heavenly Apex Aperture was weak. Wang Xiong didn't rush into cultivation, focusing on solidifying the foundation.

Wang Xiong's mind entered the center of his forehead.

"It seems that the Immortal Binding Rope protecting the soul in reincarnation has its benefits. At least, the forehead aperture can be opened so early! The forehead aperture is the place to store the soul and will! All the tiger's malevolent aura on my body comes from the depths of my soul! If the forehead aperture hadn't been opened early, I couldn't have intimidated this group of tigers and wolves!" Wang Xiong's mind looked at the forehead aperture.

It was a dark space.

In the space, there was a blue tiger-shaped soul, exuding a malevolent aura that was a thousand times stronger than before.

However, this tiger-shaped soul seemed extremely weak, faint and translucent.

"My soul was weakened countless times during reincarnation. But even if it's weak, it's still much stronger than ordinary people, and my memories are still intact. Enough. In my previous life, I was a tiger, and in this life, my soul will continue to resemble a tiger. Soul cultivation will still follow my strongest cultivation method from my previous life, the 'White Tiger Refining Yang Diagram'!" Wang Xiong said solemnly.

"Roar!"

The tiger-shaped soul roared, and as it took a step, the malevolent aura from all directions suddenly gathered towards the tiger soul. The tiger soul instantly became more solid.

For a moment, the wolves and Jüe Quan outside had the illusion that the malevolent aura around Wang Xiong suddenly disappeared, turning him into an ordinary teenager.

"Is it really a treasure of the tiger clan? Is this boy lying to me?" Jüe Quan's eyes widened with joy.

"Whine, whine, whine!" The Wolf King also bared his teeth and snarled, saying something.

"Go, test his strength!" Jüe Quan finally made up his mind.

Perhaps the so-called treasure of the tiger clan made Jüe Quan forget the previous malevolent aura. At this moment, he must possess the treasure of the tiger clan.

The Wolf King, not daring to defy Jüe Quan, let out a wolf howl, commanding the pack to pounce on Wang Xiong.

Wang Xiong's tiger soul trembled, sensing the danger. His eyes suddenly opened.

"Whine, whine, whine!"

The pack of wolves was startled and dared not advance.

"What are you afraid of? Go, or I'll eat you all!" Jüe Quan roared.

The Wolf King gritted his teeth and nodded.

On the other side, Wang Xiong slowly stood up, his eyes cold. "Jüe Quan? You really have a lot of nerve!"

"Go, roar!" Jüe Quan roared.

Since he had made up his mind, he wouldn't hesitate. Although Wang Xiong's malevolent aura was fierce earlier, the current cultivation of the 'White Tiger Refining Yang Diagram' had made the malevolent aura disappear, and his aura was extremely weak. Who would be afraid of him?

"Roar!"

The pack of wolves leaped, pouncing on Wang Xiong in the center of the lake.

At this moment, the wolves rushed forward without looking back, determined to kill Wang Xiong.

Wang Xiong, in order to cultivate the 'White Tiger Refining Yang Diagram' quickly, didn't release the malevolent aura, but he wasn't afraid at all. In his palm, there was a peach blossom mark.

It was the Immortal Binding Rope that accompanied him in reincarnation, previously imprinted on his forehead, now integrated into his palm. With a tremble of his palm, the peach blossom turned into a headband, which then transformed into a pink whip with a light flick.

Wang Xiong's eyes turned cold as he looked at the dozen green wolves leading the charge.

Although the wolves were fierce and even had higher cultivation than Wang Xiong, his eyesight was far superior to these ordinary wolves. To Wang Xiong, the wolves' attack was full of flaws, and they were all fatal.

"Hmph!" Wang Xiong coldly snorted, and the long whip shot out like a snake, forming a whip flower in the air.

"Snap, snap, snap, snap...!"

With twelve sounds of the whip hitting flesh, twelve green wolves were instantly cut open with bloody wounds.

"Thud, thud, thud, thud!"

The twelve green wolves were instantly whipped and fell into the lake, including the Wolf King at the front.

"Roar!"

The wolves continued to charge.

Wang Xiong's long whip danced again.

The whip seemed to extend according to Wang Xiong's will, lashing out. It was like a chain of order, causing the wolves to be cut open and fall into the lake with their cries of pain.

Wang Xiong leaped to the shore with a step.

"Jüe Quan? I let you be my mount because I respected you, but you dared to challenge my limits? Fine, if you want to test, I'll let you test!" Wang Xiong glared.

"Snap, snap, snap!"

The long whip lashed out, and the surrounding green wolves were all sent flying, like a shadowy snake, lashing towards Jüe Quan.