Chapter 590 - 407: Blood Saber and Nightmare Tiger, Part 2

"Feather Ghost, have you notified everyone you were supposed to?"

The variegated giant tiger towering above opened its great maw and asked the Feather Ghost beside it. The bird-man before it looked identical to the one that had just died at Blood Saber’s place; they had the exact same face.

Hearing the giant tiger’s question, the Feather Ghost bowed respectfully and answered:

"I have now notified eight of them. The only issue was with Blood Saber—I lost an avatar there, so its memories didn’t return to me. I don’t know what Blood Saber is thinking."

As this Feather Ghost was speaking, another Feather Ghost flew in from the distance. It landed beside the giant tiger, and after just one glance at the first Feather Ghost, its face filled with horror. Then, in its stunned disbelief, it was swallowed whole by the first Feather Ghost.

As sharp teeth ground and tore, blood trickled from the Feather Ghost’s mouth. It savored the taste for a few moments before speaking again:

"The last one has been notified. The Evil Gu King has arrived."

After saying this, the Feather Ghost couldn’t help but vomit violently. The flesh and blood of the Feather Ghost it had just eaten suddenly transformed, taking on a form similar to Blood Saber—faceless, skinless, and entirely red. Upon seeing the variegated giant tiger, it bowed in salute:

"Evil Gu greets the Primordial Spirit Mountain Monarch!"

The variegated giant tiger slowly rose, shaking its long fur. Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, it began to speak:

"The number of human Cultivators has surged, throwing Awakening Lion Valley into turmoil. To avoid disturbing the Old Ancestor’s seclusion, hear my command! Nightmare Tiger, you will take Demon Tail, Long Beard, Dead Bone, and eight hundred demon beasts to sweep the eastern section of Tiger Roar Peak. Evil Gu, you will take Luanma, Yiling, Bone and Flesh Monk, and one thousand of the demon horde to sweep the western section. Attacking from east and west, you are to annihilate every last human Cultivator within the forward part of the Land Realm here in Awakening Lion Valley."

At the command, Nightmare Tiger, Evil Gu, and all the other beings of various shapes and sizes bowed their heads and answered in unison.

"Go! Bring me the flesh and blood of humans as an offering to the Old Ancestor!"

The variegated giant tiger threw back its head and roared, its aura wild and unrestrained, leading the thousands of demon beasts into a frenzy.

...

The variegated giant tiger had issued its command, so Nightmare Tiger took his assigned subordinates and headed for the area the tiger had specified.

"Commander Nightmare Tiger, what should we do now?"

The one who spoke was a tall human skeleton. He had once been a human Nascent Soul Cultivator who died in an accident. His bones were buried for a thousand years in a Land Realm rich with Dead Spirit Power, allowing him to gradually gain sentience and begin cultivating on his own.

However, the Great Zhou Academy did not tolerate the cultivation of the Ghost Dao and Corpse Dao. With no place for him in the human world, he could only travel to the distant Barbaric Wilderness and seek refuge under the variegated giant tiger’s protection.

A Ghost Cultivator transformed from the remains of a Nascent Soul expert, who had then cultivated for nearly two thousand years—his strength was undoubtedly at the peak of the Golden Core Realm. Yet, he still had to obey Nightmare Tiger’s commands. This showed that in the variegated giant tiger’s eyes, Nightmare Tiger’s strength was definitely greater than Dead Bone’s.

Flames flared from Nightmare Tiger’s nostrils as he said grimly, "Naturally, we’ll just charge in and slaughter them all. Don’t worry about running into Nascent Soul Cultivators. Human Nascent Soul Cultivators don’t dare set foot in Awakening Lion Valley. Just go on a killing spree without any worries."

Hearing Nightmare Tiger’s encouragement, the group of dim-witted demon beasts excitedly charged forward. But Dead Bone frowned and said:

"Humans have all sorts of strange methods. If we just rush in like this, we’ll likely suffer heavy casualties."

Nightmare Tiger grinned, baring his great maw, and then roared:

"Are you questioning my decision? Dead Bone, are you trying to defy my orders?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

"Hmph. You’ll be the vanguard. Demon Tail and Long Beard will be the central army... er, there is no central army. All of you, just charge in together."

Seeing Dead Bone get put in his place, the fox-like Demon Tail beast gave a mocking smile. It fawningly expressed its loyalty to Nightmare Tiger and then plunged ahead.

Long Beard was a Tree Demon. He could already pull his body out of the ground, but he still couldn’t overcome his slow movement. He showed no resistance to Nightmare Tiger’s command. Upon hearing the order, Long Beard slowly pulled up his massive roots and began to move forward.

Only after Long Beard’s hundred-meter-tall body had vanished from sight did Nightmare Tiger leap up and fly off in another direction.

A long time later, Nightmare Tiger’s figure suddenly appeared inside a hidden cave. He cautiously looked around, then pushed aside the vegetation obscuring the cave entrance and went inside.

Inside the cave was a pale-faced human Cultivator. Upon seeing the ferocious, inhuman-looking Nightmare Tiger, he surprisingly relaxed his guard.

"Brother Hu, what are you doing here?"

A flash of concern crossed Nightmare Tiger’s eyes, but he then said coldly:

"Came to see if you were dead yet. Huo Bai, I am no longer the Huo Hu I once was. We are strangers now. Once you’re healed, go back to the Beast Taming General Mountain. Don’t come here again. This is no place for you."

After speaking, Nightmare Tiger pulled three alluring Blood Soul Stones that radiated pure Life Essence Qi from a fold in his flesh and tossed them to Huo Bai.

"That bastard Blood Saber was hoarding these. I’ve been craving them for a long time, and today I finally got my hands on them. These three should be enough to make up for the toll the forbidden technique took on you. Things aren’t safe here right now. Just focus on healing, and then I’ll get you out of here. Huo Bai, the Huo Family can’t lose you."

Huo Bai accepted the three Blood Soul Stones and said:

"I’ll take these. But once a member of the Huo Family, always a member of the Huo Family. I’ve thought it through. What the Huo Family needs right now isn’t me, a Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator. It needs a pillar of strength, a Nascent Soul Battle Power. I’m willing to transform into a Demon Cultivator and join forces with you to subdue a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast for the family. We can give the Huo Family another lifeline."

"You?"

Anger flashed in Huo Hu’s crimson eyes. He looked at Huo Bai, trapped in his own stubborn obsession, his voice filled with disappointment. "You have a chance at reaching the Nascent Soul Realm. Why make such a pointless sacrifice? Or... after all this time with me, have you fallen to the demonic path as well?"

At these words, Huo Bai’s face filled with helplessness:

"I’m almost three hundred years old and still just Mid-stage Golden Core. How can you say I have a chance at reaching the Nascent Soul Realm? It doesn’t matter if the Huo Family has one less Golden Core Cultivator. Together, brother, our bond is strong enough to shatter metal! We can definitely subdue a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast! Brother Hu, I can tell that your current battle power isn’t much different from an ordinary Nascent Soul Ancient Beast. I’ve even picked out a target. There’s a Black Sacrificial Wild Boar King in the forward section of Awakening Lion Valley. It’s smart and knows when to advance or retreat. I’m confident I can persuade it..."

Huo Bai’s face was flushed with excitement, the Blood Soul Stones in his hand trembling. But Huo Hu’s expression was as cold as ice. He turned and said:

"Blood Saber, you little shit, since when did you grow a brain?"

A streak of blood shot into the cave, transforming into a rather handsome Cultivator with a sinister aura. He was pale and androgynous, stark naked, with a well-proportioned body and waist-length black hair. As his demonic red eyes scanned the area, they revealed a hint of the characteristic viciousness of a White Mountain Loose Cultivator.

"Hahaha! To think that the Demon Cultivator known to the world as ’Nightmare Tiger’ actually has a human brother. This is truly an eye-opener."

Blood Saber laughed long and loud, revealing his unchanging green fangs. He paid no mind to Huo Hu’s grim expression or Huo Bai’s shock at their relationship being exposed. He strolled casually before the two of them, looked at the human-form Huo Bai, and upon seeing his delicate skin, a trace of nostalgia flickered in his red eyes, followed by endless greed.

"Ah, what sweet, fragrant blood qi. It must taste countless times better than that stinking Feather Ghost. What do you say, Huo Hu? Hand this human Cultivator over to me, and I guarantee I won’t report this to the Primordial Spirit Mountain Monarch."

The only response he received was a fiery claw thundering toward him.

"Five Tigers Seizing the Void!"

The familiar Huo Family Divine Technique once again unleashed its astonishing power. Under the tearing force of Huo Hu’s palm, Blood Saber’s body slowed to a crawl. Just as he was about to be caught in Huo Hu’s claw, Blood Saber’s body abruptly exploded, turning into a bloody mist on the spot.

At the same time, outside the cave, the body of a small beast with crimson eyes also exploded. Amidst the fine spray of blood, Blood Saber’s body used the blood as a bridge and instantly reformed.

"Ohoho, Nightmare Tiger, you’re finished! Finished!"

Having easily escaped Huo Hu’s Five Tigers Seizing the Void Divine Technique, Blood Saber laughed triumphantly, his body once again transforming into a thin red streak of light and shooting away.

"The Blood Attraction Escape!?"

Huo Bai cried out in alarm, but Huo Hu’s expression remained unchanged. His body suddenly expanded, and a pair of bloody bone wings sprouted from his ribs. He too transformed into a bolt of lightning, shooting out in pursuit of Blood Saber. As he left, Huo Hu sent a telepathic message:

"Ah Bai, go home!"