Chapter 2: A Wicked Tiger in the Temple Devours Human Hearts

A cold, chilling voice echoed from all directions, as if countless ghosts were encircling the Mountain God Temple.

The grandfather and granddaughter, witnessing this scene, were already trembling so violently that their legs gave way, cowering in the corner, unable to move.

Jiang Sheng, however, ignored the five ghost thralls. He looked calmly at the Mountain God statue, which, though dilapidated, still retained a sense of majesty: "Is the Mountain Lord not going to show himself?"

The sound of sharp claws scraping against stone slowly emanated from the statue. Immediately after, the two stone-carved eyes abruptly transformed into a pair of emerald-green beastly pupils.

The tall, broken statue shuddered, and the once faded, lifeless figure suddenly jolted.

Those beastly eyes cast their gaze downward from on high, followed by a wave of demonic aura that rushed forward!

In an instant, the statue had completely come to life, transforming from a tall, majestic Mountain God into a three-zhang-long ferocious tiger.

The variegated tiger demon crouched upon the pedestal, its massive shadow enveloping the entire temple.

The tangible demonic aura pressed down upon the surrounding hundred zhang. Wherever those emerald tiger eyes turned, the fierce ghosts trembled and prostrated themselves, unable to rise. With one opening of the tiger's maw, a foul wind surged, and the demonic aura soared to the heavens.

"How did you discover me?"

The tiger demon spoke in human tongue. Within its deep green eyes, a faint red light flickered. Its expression held a hint of cunning and a touch of curiosity, as if a living person resided within that tiger skin.

The demonic malice radiating from the tiger demon was so potent that an ordinary person, catching a glimpse from afar, would feel as if they were staring at a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, their courage shattered and their hearts withered in terror.

The grandfather and granddaughter were on the verge of fainting under the pressure of such demonic aura. Jiang Sheng flicked a strand of clear light to shield them, allowing them to catch their breath from the suffocating, drowning sensation.

"In front of this King, you still have the leisure to care for those two mortals?"

The tiger demon’s expression was more vivid than a human's. It thrust its massive head toward Jiang Sheng, exhaling a stench of blood that would have terrified an ordinary cultivator!

The tiger is the lord of all beasts; the tiger's malice can suppress all spirits.

Yet, even with the tiger demon’s head inches away and the bloody stench practically hitting his face, Jiang Sheng remained calm and composed: "Though they are but two mortals, they provided me with firewood for warmth. How could I allow the Mountain Lord to take their lives?"

"You Taoist, you are truly interesting!"

The demon tiger laughed heartily, its voice like a thunderclap, the rolling sound waves kicking up clouds of dust in the surroundings.

Yet, within a three-foot radius of Jiang Sheng, not a single ripple stirred, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with this space.

Ignoring the tangible demonic and ghostly aura, and ignoring the five ghost thralls clawing and snarling, Jiang Sheng simply looked up at the towering tiger demon and said softly: "The Mountain Lord dwells in Qingping Mountain, born of heaven and earth—a rare creature indeed."

"Originally, the Mountain Lord had the potential to attain the status of a local Mountain God and protect this corner of the world. It is a pity that the Mountain Lord should not have—must not have—chosen this Qingping Mountain as a foundation."

As he spoke, Jiang Sheng sighed lightly: "If the Mountain Lord possessed a kind heart, it would be easy to discuss; I am currently lacking a mount. But since the Mountain Lord has clearly fallen into the ranks of demons, I truly cannot spare you."

The tiger demon was stunned for a moment by Jiang Sheng’s words, but then it roared: "Regardless of who you are, in this Qingping Mountain, I am the Mountain God!"

A mere little Taoist, daring to dream of slaying demons and defending the Way?!

The tiger demon had seen enough of the act; it wanted to swallow this Taoist alive!

A Taoist who cultivates the clear, spiritual energy of heaven and earth—tender skin and succulent meat—what an excellent blood-meal!

The tiger roared in the mountains and forests!

Suddenly, a gale arose, the demonic aura billowed, and the tiger’s roar, carrying the power to shatter souls and suppress spirits, erupted, blowing away the temple doors and even the walls.

With that single roar, the rain within a hundred zhang was dispersed!

As the tiger roared, Jiang Sheng moved, agile as a swallow.

The rolling demonic aura acted like a gust of wind, helping Jiang Sheng glide until the aura dissipated, at which point he landed gracefully a hundred zhang away.

"Truly a fine beast, what a pity."

Jiang Sheng felt a bit regretful. He had originally intended to subdue this tiger demon as a mount, but it seemed the creature was hopelessly stubborn.

"Mountain Lord, I once thought of giving you a way out. It is the Mountain Lord who sought a path to death; I have no choice but to see you off."

As Jiang Sheng spoke, the oil-paper umbrella in his hand shuddered, abruptly transforming into a long, green-edged sword.

The sword was three feet and six inches long, pitch black, yet covered in green lotus patterns. As the blade vibrated, it emitted a series of light hums, like the cry of a dragon.

The moment the sword appeared, the tiger demon sensed something amiss. This was actually a spiritual artifact!

A spiritual artifact—that was a treasure only a Purple Mansion Master could wield!

Could this Taoist before him actually be a Purple Mansion Master?!

"Little Taoist, playing god with a mere magical tool, you are truly courting death! You little ghosts, kill this Taoist for me!"

With a roar, the tiger demon drove its ghost thralls to swarm forward while it remained seated high upon the incense table, clearly intending to let the thralls test the waters.

Driven by the tiger demon, the five ghost thralls’ emerald eyes gradually turned blood-red. With no other thoughts left, they grinned hideously and charged at Jiang Sheng one after another.

Outside the Mountain God Temple, where the night wind howled, the rain poured, and dark clouds obscured the moon, the demonic aura rolled. As the five ghost thralls attacked together, the ghostly energy they carried shrouded a ten-zhang radius, adding a grim, chilling atmosphere.

The grandfather and granddaughter, shielded by the clear light inside the temple, cried out: "Taoist Priest, be careful!"

"Mere ghost thralls—the Mountain Lord underestimates me."

Jiang Sheng said, flicking his three-foot green blade. A streak of cyan sword light whistled out, instantly shattering the rain and mist before him, as well as the grim ghostly aura that had shrouded the ten-zhang area.

Before the five ghost thralls could reach Jiang Sheng, they were swept away by the sword energy. In the blink of an eye, their ghostly bodies shattered, turning into masterless energy that returned to the heavens and earth.

Seeing Jiang Sheng wipe out his thralls with a single strike, the tiger demon let out another roar.

As the rolling demonic aura spread, ghostly energy continuously spawned. From all directions around Jiang Sheng, ghost thralls began to appear one after another.

One, two, three...

In just a few breaths, dozens of ghost thralls emerged from all sides, surrounding Jiang Sheng.

The tiger demon cracked its blood-stained maw. It was now certain that this Taoist was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage!

Looking at the surrounded Jiang Sheng, the tiger demon laughed hideously: "Taoist, it is true you have some skill, but surrounded by so many of my thralls, what can you do? I can wear you down until you die!"

In the pouring night rain and howling demonic wind, Jiang Sheng looked at the dozens of ghost thralls surrounding him and shook his head gently: "Mountain Lord, do you still not understand? Since I could reach this place, it means I can slay you."

"I am the Mountain God of this Qingping Mountain! Every living thing within these twelve hundred li belongs to me! A mere Taoist, wanting to snatch my Qingping Mountain?"

Amidst the gale and rain, the demon tiger grinned, a red light flashing in its emerald eyes: "Kill this Taoist!"

Receiving the tiger demon’s command, the dozens of ghost thralls, driven by a craving for flesh and blood and a hideous malice toward the living, howled as they charged at Jiang Sheng.

The grandfather and granddaughter watched helplessly as so many ghost thralls swarmed toward Jiang Sheng, their hearts burning with anxiety.

This Taoist priest was the only hope they had left for survival!

"Taoist Priest, the monster is powerful, please be careful!"

The old man watched with bated breath, terrified that Jiang Sheng might fall.

But Jiang Sheng stood calmly, his eyes as indifferent as a deep pool: "You two may simply watch."

"This fine tiger skin is waiting for me to claim it."

This is a slow-burn Xianxia novel. I, Linyuan, am trying my best to use my meager ink to write something with a true Xianxia spirit. I hope you gentlemen enjoy it.

(End of chapter)