Chapter 534: Chapter 534: Tiger Prison, Slaying the Tiger (Part 1)
Regarding the matter of becoming a Dao General, Zhang Yuan naturally has some expectations, but he does not place too much importance on it.
After all, his identity determines his position in the Upper Scenic Celestial. Wanting to break convention and enter the sect system, especially in a form of a rapid ascension, will inevitably come with many difficulties and obstacles.
Zhang Yuan does not feel the need to laboriously maneuver for this status.
Success is certainly pleasing, but failure is also enjoyable. Keeping a balanced mindset prevents being swayed by desire and ambition!
However, while Zhang Yuan maintains a good attitude, Mo Huai’an is far from calm.
He is shocked by Zhang Yuan’s "small token of thought."
Mo Huai’an, being a true disciple of the Upper Scenic Celestial, grew up at Spiritual Halberd Peak, and everything he has seen and learned is extraordinary. Not only is his cultivation realm very high, but his vision is also exceptionally keen.
Although he cannot immediately identify the Blood Orchid within the Jade Box, his intuition provides an accurate judgment.
This is definitely an extremely rare spiritual treasure, its value immeasurable.
Mo Huai’an merely smells the fragrance of the Blood Orchid and feels a strong fluctuation in the mana consolidated within his body.
He can no longer sit still and immediately rises to say, "Senior Brother Zhang, your gift is too precious. I must return right away to let Master take a look to avoid ruining the spiritual object."
"Let’s meet again later!"
Zhang Yuan didn’t expect Mo Huai’an’s reaction to be so intense, nods and replies, "Alright."
Mo Huai’an hurriedly bids farewell and leaves; Zhang Yuan, after finishing his tea, also returns to his residence.
The next morning, he left the Upper Scenic Celestial once more.
Heading to Hulao Mountain hundreds of miles away.
This sect mission poses no difficulty for Zhang Yuan.
A fierce beast suspected to have strange traits, even if it reached Tier Six, would be like offering a meal when facing him.
Zhang Yuan rode the Gray-toothed Lynx swiftly, arriving at Hulao Pass by the afternoon.
Hulao Mountain stretches for eight hundred miles, forming the boundary between two prefectures, crisscrossed by several mountain roads, serving as an essential thoroughfare for merchant caravans traveling north and south—its importance indisputable.
Hulao Pass, a small strategic pass, guards the northern gateway, with Leqing County stationing several hundred soldiers here.
To avoid alarming the local populace, Zhang Yuan preemptively stores the Gray-toothed Lynx back in the Divine Nest.
He proceeds on foot to the gateway, presenting his identity token to the guards.
He then smoothly meets the Huolao Pass Commander.
"Thank heavens, you finally arrived!"
The Huolao Pass Commander, surnamed Li, holds the rank of captain and appears to be in his thirties or forties. Upon seeing Zhang Yuan, the guest from the Upper Scenic Celestial, he looks at him as though meeting a savior, nearly tearing up.
This burly man respectfully invites Zhang Yuan to rest at the official residence, then recounts the current situation at Hulao Mountain thoroughly.
Turns out a month ago, a tiger beast suddenly appeared in the Hulao Mountain area, attacking passing merchant caravans.
This resulted in numerous casualties, with significant losses for the caravans.
Upon receiving the news, Captain Li immediately organized a force to enter the mountains and hunt down the beast.
He, a Tier Four expert, leads courageous soldiers equipped with spears and bows, yet they were utterly defeated by the fierce tiger, nearly sacrificing his own life.
Had Captain Li not used a protective talisman to save his life, Zhang Yuan would now be meeting Li’s successor.
Helpless, Captain Li had to seek aid from Leqing County.
Leqing County took this matter very seriously, immediately mobilizing a skilled team to scour the mountains and eliminate the tiger.
However, the fierce tiger proved both aggressive and cunning.
After intense battles, it only suffered slight injuries.
While Leqing County’s "Tiger Hunting Team" suffered losses and withdrew from Hulao Mountain in utter disarray.
This disastrous defeat left the Leqing County Magistrate extremely alarmed, urgently seeking support from the Prefecture City.
However, with mischief rampant across Daqian and frequent natural and man-made disasters, Prefecture City faced numerous troubles and could not spare resources to support the county.
Eventually, a Tier Five martial artist was dispatched.
Yet this Tier Five expert entered Hulao Mountain but never returned, neither alive nor deceased.
Furthermore, the tiger beast became even more ferocious, annihilating entire merchant caravans.
This led to no one daring to enter or exit Hulao Mountain for the past ten days.
Everyone is terrified.
Currently, inside Hulao Pass, more than a dozen merchant caravans are stranded, nearly overwhelming this small strategic pass!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan finally understood why there were so many people, vehicles, and horses at the gate when he arrived.
As Leqing County’s request for help from the Prefecture City proved fruitless, it had to seek assistance from the Upper Scenic Celestial through Daoist Merit once more.
After all, the road through Hulao Mountain is a vital thoroughfare between the two prefectures, affecting material trade exchanges between dozens of counties and the Prefecture City.
Including two Dao Cities!
Having learned the situation of Hulao Mountain from Captain Li, Zhang Yuan nodded and said, "I see. Without further delay, I’ll deal with this fierce beast now to restore traffic through the mountain paths."
Captain Li was instantly startled and hurriedly said, "Lord Guardian, it’s nearly dark; perhaps it’s better to enter the mountain tomorrow morning."
He genuinely worried for Zhang Yuan and felt Zhang Yuan underestimated the situation.
If this fierce tiger were easy to handle, Leqing County wouldn’t be at a loss.
Even if Zhang Yuan is a high expert from the Upper Scenic Celestial, venturing into the mountains at night greatly increases the risk.
Without finding the fierce tiger, how could one eliminate it?
However, Zhang Yuan completely disregarded Captain Li’s well-intended advice and stubbornly left the residence.
Captain Li was helpless but could only accompany him out of the pass.
Watching Zhang Yuan’s silhouette disappear at the mountain path’s end, the Huolao Pass Commander couldn’t help sighing.
His brows furrowed, wearing a gloomy expression of helplessness.
Yet Zhang Yuan, entering the mountain, is unaware of Captain Li’s doubts about him.
He strides along the mountain path at a measured pace, quickly leaving Hulao Pass far behind.
By now the sun has just set, the sky is gradually darkening, the dense forests flanking the mountain path are hauntingly silent, and virtually no sounds of birds or beasts could be heard, creating an eerie and terrifying atmosphere.
A timid person might already be trembling with fear by now, unable to venture further.
Zhang Yuan strides fearlessly, as if traversing an idyllic courtyard, constantly delving deeper into the mountains.
Simultaneously, he employs the Divine Concealment Technique, suppressing his aura to the Tier Four peak level.
The Divine Concealment Technique originates from the Divine Weapon Map; this secret technique excels at concealing the aura of divine soldiers, preventing detection by experts and strong individuals.
Moreover, it enables Zhang Yuan to mask his true cultivation.
This way, should the fierce tiger possess acute spiritual senses, it would not easily be scared off.
Perhaps it might even regard Zhang Yuan as a delicious prey!
In essence, Zhang Yuan is on a mission to bait and defeat.
But by the time night falls completely and the mountain path turns pitch-dark, Zhang Yuan has yet to catch sight of the fierce tiger.
The surrounding silence is terrifying!
