Chapter Thirty-Three: The Furious White Tiger

“…Forget it,” Zhang Yang said, stepping aside after Qin Xiaochuan pulled him away. He calmed himself, then pointed his spiritual sword toward the sky. “Watch closely, everyone! Spiritual sword—extend!”

“Wow, it’s stretched out like a spear!” Qin Xiaochuan exclaimed in surprise as the spiritual sword in Zhang Yang’s hand quickly elongated. Near the tip of the blade, two crescent-shaped hooks appeared, making it resemble a spear.

“How about that? Not bad, right?” Zhang Yang boasted as he gradually shrank the sword back to its original size. “That monster we just encountered startled me, and I didn’t react fast enough, that’s why I was a bit off. But now I’m prepared. Leave the next opponent to me!” With the sword fully vanished, Zhang Yang clutched his head. “Ow, I used too much spiritual power just now. I’m feeling a bit drained…”

“And yet you’re still showing off? We’re about to fight, you idiot…”

As Qin Xiaochuan and Zhang Yang walked on, chatting, a thunderous roar suddenly echoed from afar. The sound resembled the cry of a tiger, shaking the entire castle. Fine dust fell from the ceiling of the corridor. The roar was so unnerving that it chilled their hearts, and no one could tell what kind of creature had made it.

“That… That roar just now didn’t sound like anything from this world. What sort of monster is that?”

“That’s the roar of the White Tiger,” Bai Ying said, shaking her head with a smile as she watched Zhang Yang’s bravado melt into fear. “Looks like the Black Tortoise was defeated, and this fellow is in a foul mood.”

Following the direction of the White Tiger’s roar, Qin Xiaochuan and his companions arrived at the second trial. They pushed open the door to find a narrow passage leading to another fortress. Below the passage lay a bottomless abyss. In the middle of the passage was a circular arena, clearly designed for opponents from both sides to meet and duel.

A gigantic white beast stood opposite them. True to its name, it was a massive White Tiger, clad in animal pelts. Its enormous body stood upright like a human, easily towering over three meters. Its entire body was covered in silvery-white fur, and two huge fangs curved upward from its mouth, making it look far more ferocious than any white tiger seen on television.

“You pests forced me to come here and deal with you myself,” the White Tiger snarled, clearly irritated by the sight of Qin Xiaochuan’s group. The death of the Black Tortoise had forced the Vermilion Bird to send him out. “Don’t think that just because you took down my errand boy, the Black Tortoise, you can show off in front of me. Without fresh meat, I can’t leave, and I thought the Spirit Realm would grant our request. But instead, they sent two humans and traitors. Absolutely intolerable! Listen well!” The White Tiger clenched a fist and shouted at Bai Ying and Fei Yan behind Qin Xiaochuan. “Bai Ying, Fei Yan, how dare you betray the monsters! I’ll skin you alive and let the corpse demons devour you whole! And you two humans won’t escape either—I'll swallow you both whole! Roar!”

“This guy…”

The White Tiger roared again, venting its fury. The force of its voice shook the ground where Qin Xiaochuan stood. Bits of stone crumbled and fell from fractured corners. The White Tiger seemed particularly enraged by Bai Ying and Fei Yan—former monsters now standing with humans. Its roar carried the threat of tearing its adversaries to pieces.

“What a terrifying sound… I can feel it vibrating in my stomach!”

“How dare you spout such nonsense! Watch how I deal with you!”

“Are you really planning to go up there?” Fei Yan asked, skeptical as he noticed Zhang Yang’s trembling legs. Clearly, he still remembered Zhang Yang’s earlier bravado. Facing a monster like the White Tiger would give anyone pause—even Fei Yan himself would hesitate, let alone a man whose only weapon was a spiritual sword. Fei Yan had never thought much of Zhang Yang’s boastful claims.

“Of course! One-on-one duels are the essence of combat, don’t you know?”

“So why are your legs shaking?”

“…That’s excitement, you little runt! You’re asking for trouble! Never mind, I won’t stoop to your level. Here I go.”

“Are you stuck between a tiger and a hard place?”

“Enough, shut up and just watch!”

Seeing that Qin Xiaochuan also doubted him, Zhang Yang’s pride couldn’t bear it. Even if it meant dying, he had to go up—it was a matter of a man’s word. Recalling his boast after Bai Ying defeated the Black Tortoise, Zhang Yang couldn’t stand lingering any longer. He clenched his fists, straightened his stiff body, and finally managed to still his trembling legs. He stepped into the narrow passage, heading toward the center of the arena.

“One person?” The White Tiger eyed Zhang Yang with disdain as he entered the arena. “You send a single man to face me? You, hmm, ah, I—ahahahahaha…” The White Tiger burst out laughing. “You fools have amused me!”

Standing on the opposite fortress, Zhang Yang pointed at the White Tiger. “Stop laughing, you oversized brute! If you’re so tough, come at me! Watch how I take you down!”

“Humph! Don’t be ridiculous,” the White Tiger snorted at Zhang Yang’s taunt. He plucked four white hairs from his body. “A fool like you isn’t even worth my time.” With that, he blew on the hairs, infusing them with demonic power. The four strands flew to the narrow passage below, where they transformed into four golden-eyed, white-furred tigers. They were about the size of tigers found in a zoo, but like the White Tiger himself, they were covered in white fur.

Sensing prey, the four white tigers rushed onto the arena, surrounding Zhang Yang. It seemed they’d never encountered a living human before, so they circled him warily, searching for the right moment to strike.

Being surrounded by four tigers was nothing to brag about. As he watched these beasts circle him, Zhang Yang broke out in a cold sweat. After all, these were real tigers—previously only seen behind cages in zoos, and now facing him directly with hungry eyes. It felt like he was a live offering. Zhang Yang was so nervous he could cry. Damn, how did I get so unlucky…

Just as Zhang Yang anxiously rotated with the tigers, one grew impatient and leapt at him with lightning speed. Hearing the rush of wind behind him, Zhang Yang spun and stabbed with his spiritual sword. The beast seemed aware of the sword’s power and dodged, leaping over Zhang Yang’s head. Its claws raked his shoulder, leaving a bloody gash. Blood streamed instantly from the wound.

The scent of fresh blood excited the remaining three tigers. They pounced, attacking Zhang Yang all at once. Overwhelmed by four simultaneous assaults, Zhang Yang struggled, frantically stabbing at them with his spiritual sword. The tigers were wary of the sword, weaving around its strikes and circling Zhang Yang, attacking from all sides. Despite the sword’s protection, Zhang Yang was soon overwhelmed; his clothes were torn to ribbons by their claws, and the tigers began to play a deadly game of cat and mouse.

As Zhang Yang faced the four white tigers, pondering his next move, he noticed the arena’s entry—a very narrow passage, barely wide enough for a single person. Suddenly inspired, he slashed fiercely at the tiger blocking the passage, feinted, and ran toward Qin Xiaochuan and the others.

Seeing the human flee, the White Tiger burst into laughter. “Running away so soon? Ahahahahaha! What a weakling!” He roared at the four transformed tigers, “Go kill them all, and eat the others too! Hurry!”

Obeying their master, the four white tigers followed, racing into the narrow passage. As they neared the end, Zhang Yang glanced back, confirming all four were inside. He grinned, turned, and thrust his spiritual sword at the lead tiger’s mouth. “Spiritual sword, extend!”

Placing his left hand atop his right, Zhang Yang poured his spiritual energy into the sword, which instantly extended, piercing through the lead tiger’s mouth and out its rear, skewering the three tigers behind it. In the cramped passage, the tigers couldn’t turn around. The sword’s hooked tip caught the last tiger’s haunch, and Zhang Yang, running toward Qin Xiaochuan, dragged the four skewered tigers with him. Spotting a cylindrical tower nearby, Zhang Yang looped around it, dragging the tigers in a circle, extending his sword as he went. Finally, he pulled the sword tip out from the last tiger and wrapped it around the tower, binding all four white-furred tigers together atop the spire.

Proud of his handiwork, Zhang Yang clapped his hands. “Done!”

Qin Xiaochuan and the others approached. Zhang Yang pointed at the still-running tigers atop the tower. “See? That’s the White Tiger Skewer Donut edition. What do you think?”

“What a pity,” Qin Xiaochuan said, stroking his chin as he eyed the four skewered tigers. “They look like they’d make a delicious roast, if only their fur didn’t turn out like this.”

“Managing to tie spiritual energy into a knot,” Fei Yan remarked, hands in his pockets as he gazed at the four tigers. “You really don’t play by the rules.”

For once, Zhang Yang didn’t mind Fei Yan’s comment. He pointed at the White Tiger standing on the opposite battlement and shouted, “Well, big guy, your little tigers are useless! Come on down and face your death! Get down here, you oversized brute!”