Chapter 186 Demonstration of Strength

Just as I was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, the bulky brute walked in through the doorway, dragging a tiger along behind him.

"Hey, hey, hey! What do you think you're doing?"

Startled by the sudden bellow, I quickly stood up to face the big man, my gaze immediately drawn to the beast he held on the leash.

This tiger was clearly far more ferocious than the one in the adjacent room. Although both possessed the strength of the First Grade Spirit Flower realm, the combat prowess of this one was noticeably superior.

"Your task today is to kill this tiger. As before, there is no time limit. Begin."

True to form, the hulking fellow was a man of few words. After issuing this brief instruction, he simply released the chain binding the tiger.

In the next instant, the beast bolted toward the two of us like a wild horse breaking free from its reins. I nudged Chen Chen lightly, and he immediately caught my meaning.

Drawing my Miao saber with practiced swiftness, I shifted my weight slightly to evade its initial charge.

The king of beasts was indeed not to be trifled with. Had it possessed my level of cultivation—the Fourth Grade Spirit Lotus realm—I might have struggled to defeat it.

Yet for now, all I needed to do was act. I feigned panic and helplessness, then leveled my Miao saber horizontally across my chest to brace for its secondary assault.

In appearance and coloration, the tiger resembled an ordinary big cat, save for its colossal build and the glossy sheen of its fur, which radiated a faint aura of spiritual energy.

I couldn't help but wonder how they had managed to capture such a creature. Although there were mountains nearby, they were mostly barren peaks entirely devoid of wildlife. Could it have been bred in captivity?

There was no time to ponder that now. As the tiger launched its next onslaught, I retreated step by step while brandishing my blade.

To any observer, every slash I delivered appeared desperate and heavy-handed, but in truth, I merely grazed the air to avoid blowing my cover.

Over on his side, Chen Chen had drawn his twin swords, darting around the tiger’s blind spots and striking whenever an opening presented itself.

Yet, because we were forced to play the part of greenhorns stuck in the Third Grade Spirit Leaf realm, none of our attacks made any impression on the beast.

Consequently, just as I had done in the past, I had to search for the tiger's vital weakness so that its eventual demise would appear entirely natural.

This was no easy feat. I had to convince everyone I was on the defensive while simultaneously scouting for a fatal flaw—a task where my ambitions far outstripped my practical bandwidth.

Yet, for the sake of my undercover mission, I gritted my teeth and persevered!

To heighten the illusion, I occasionally allowed myself to be knocked down or grazed by its claws. Although these were merely superficial wounds, I was soon covered in bloodstains.

Chen Chen had a much easier time of it. With the tiger's attention entirely focused on me, he merely needed to engage in hit-and-run tactics.

Even the bulky observer looked somewhat surprised, clearly astonished that two mere Spirit Leaf practitioners could hold their own against a Spirit Flower realm tiger for so long.

Her intellect was average at best; anyone more discerning would have seen right through our ruse long ago.

After yet another tumble to the ground, I spotted the tiger's neck—an area with sparse fur and seemingly thin skin.

This had to be its weak point. Springing swiftly to my feet, I leaped backward and shouted to Chen Chen at the top of my lungs:

"Its neck!"

Chen Chen gave a subtle nod and began circling around toward its front. The two of us now formed a pincer movement, pacing around the beast as we waited for the decisive moment.

Suddenly, the tiger’s eyes turned crimson, and it lunged furiously toward Chen Chen. I knew this was our only chance.

Panting heavily on purpose to feign exhaustion, I sprinted rapidly toward the tiger's flank.

Just as the beast leaped at Chen Chen, I surged forward with a single explosive bound, leveraging the superior reach of my Miao saber to strike upward from beneath, cleanly severing the tiger's head in one fluid motion.

The creature's body convulsed briefly in a final, futile struggle before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Maintaining the facade, I gripped the hilt with trembling arms, swaying as though on the verge of fainting. Coupled with the blood smeared across my body, it looked thoroughly convincing.

I really ought to win an award for this performance!

A fleeting glint of greed flashed through the big man's eyes, though it vanished almost immediately as he burst into lavish praise for the two of us.

It was the first time I had ever heard him string together so many words. Reaching into his spatial ring, he generously produced two medicinal pills and handed them over.

Although they were merely standard healing elixirs, the gesture clearly demonstrated his sincerity.

His intentions were transparent enough: he wanted to recruit us. After all, who wouldn't want subordinates with such raw talent and combat instincts?

Perhaps I was being a bit narcissistic, but those were the facts!

After exchanging a barrage of polite pleasantries, the bulky man hauled the tiger's carcass away.

According to him, we only needed to pass two or three more trials before officially becoming disciples of the Seven Colors Sect.

Our living quarters would be upgraded to the dormitories on the other side, and he even hinted at taking us on as his personal disciples, promising numerous benefits including a spacious private room without the hassle of roommates.

None of that mattered to me, of course. I had no intention of letting him become my master—after all, having a First Grade Spirit Lotus master take on a Fourth Grade Spirit Lotus disciple would be rather absurd.

Before departing, seeing that my clothes had been torn to shreds, he tossed me a fresh set of garments.

After healing my fabricated wounds, I changed into the new clothes. Chen Chen hadn't taken a single hit, having breezed through the entire ordeal without a scratch.

"Oof, I'm exhausted..."

Chen Chen arched an eyebrow and murmured as he gazed out the window.

The sky had grown overcast. Figuring it was a good opportunity to scout the surroundings and gather intelligence, I decided to leave Chen Chen behind this time.

He had already fallen asleep in the room, so venturing out alone made little difference.

Our quarters were situated near the edge of a small forest. Just as I was about to step out into the open, a group of figures suddenly darted out from the surrounding foliage.

There were five or six of them, and leading the pack was none other than Cao Xin, the braided girl who harbored a grudge against me.

It appeared I would finally have to resort to my true strength. Furthermore, if I didn't eliminate everyone present here and now, my undercover assignment would be compromised.

Drawing my Miao saber once more, I cast a chilling glare at Cao Xin and demanded, "What do you want?"

"Oh, little brother, don't be so fierce. Let's have a chat."

Cao Xin put on her usual affected demeanor, which revolted me so deeply that I wanted to tear her apart on the spot.

"If you submit to me, big sister won't beat you up. Otherwise... big sister's blade isn't blind!"

As if seized by some mental affliction, Cao Xin grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, radiating a wave of hostile murderous intent from her body.

"So I take it we have nothing to talk about."

I shrugged, then finally unleashed my long-suppressed spiritual energy. The sudden surge instantly stunned everyone surrounding me.

"You... exactly who are you?"

Cao Xin’s arrogance vanished in a fraction of a second, her voice trembling as she posed the question. Since everyone present was destined to die anyway, there was no longer any need for concealment.

"Lin Yang!"

The moment the name left my lips, my body flashed forward. I materialized instantly before the nearest person, raising my blade and letting it fall—a clean decapitation.

Moving like an assassin, I dispatched each subsequent target in under two seconds. In the span of a single breath, the group of half a dozen individuals was utterly eradicated.