Chapter 35: Where do you get the nerve? How dare you bark at your Grandpa Hu!

He was the rarest cultivation genius in the Northern Ji Kingdom in a century, his cultivation level second only to the Medical Immortal despite his youth. Yet, ten years ago, he hit a bottleneck and had not made a shred of progress since. Back then, everyone believed that Yun Qing of the Seeking Immortal Sect would surpass his master, the Medical Immortal, and become the only Medical God in the Northern Ji Kingdom.

"Who would have thought... that we would stumble upon such a windfall." The Holy Master of Green Wood Mountain wore a wicked grin. "Brother, we've struck gold this time."

Hu Bai also bared his yellow teeth, eyeing Yun Qing as if he were a monk’s flesh to a demon. "Devouring him will surely boost my cultivation significantly. It might even provide me with the breakthrough I’ve been seeking."

"Brother, I..." The Holy Master of Green Wood Mountain gritted his teeth, terrified that his brother might swallow Yun Qing all by himself. Though he knew his brother was meant to be helping him, the man before them was a once-in-a-lifetime genius in the cultivation world. Even consuming a fraction of Yun Qing’s cultivation would yield immense benefits.

Hu Bai could easily read his junior brother’s thoughts. "Don't be so anxious, brother... Such a fine tonic, I will certainly leave some for you."

Hearing this, the Holy Master of Green Wood Mountain finally let out a sigh of relief. He hungered for such a potent cultivator. At the thought, he swallowed hard, itching to strike immediately. "Brother, let’s hurry. Kill the deposed Emperor first, then we’ll seize Yun Qing’s cultivation."

"Good—I'm with you!"

Hu Bai barked an order for his subordinates to deal with the hidden guards. A mere mortal, why would a King like him need to lift a finger? "Go! Kill them all!" He paused. "Wait... don't kill that little beauty yet. Let me take her back to the Tiger Clan to have some fun for a while."

Hu Bai’s burning gaze locked onto Li Qingyan. She gripped her sword tighter. The three maidservants by her side stood protectively around her and Empress Dowager Dou. Listening to the filth spewing from Hu Bai’s mouth, Li Muchen’s eyes ignited with murderous intent. *Damn it!* To think these vile monsters dared to covet his own sister. Even if he died today, he would never let these bastards get away with it! With a sharp *shing*, Li Muchen drew his sword, pointing the blade directly at Hu Bai and his kin.

"Damn you!" Li Muchen roared. "I am standing right here—let’s see if you have the skill to kill me!"

Li Muchen’s arrogant tone sent a flicker of malice through Hu Bai’s eyes. "Bah! A mortal piece of trash, and you dare act cocky in front of your Grandfather Tiger? Today, I won't just slaughter you, boy—I’ll chop off your head and use it as a footstool!"

Hu Bai spat on the ground and snarled a vicious threat. With a powerful spring, he leaped into the air, hovering as he glared down at Li Muchen and the others. In a flash, he dove toward Li Muchen, his jaws agape in a terrifying, bloodthirsty maw. As he plummeted, his form expanded, transforming into a massive, predatory tiger. His four sharp claws were lethal, the front two reaching straight for Li Muchen’s head.

Li Muchen’s legs began to tremble. He hadn't expected this monster to transform—and into such a colossal beast! Forget fighting; just the sheer size of this tiger demon was enough to crush him to death. The beast was fast, reaching him in mere seconds.

Just as the tiger’s claws were about to seize Li Muchen’s shoulders, a sudden impact slammed into the beast, sending it crashing to the ground. *BOOM!* The earth shook as the tiger demon tumbled and bounced off the impact.

Standing before Li Muchen was now a White Tiger. A second later, the other three divine beasts—the Vermillion Bird, the Black Tortoise, and the Azure Dragon—descended, flanking Li Muchen to guard him.

The tiger demon’s eyes were filled with venom as he locked them onto the White Tiger. "Heh! So the deposed Emperor has a tiger demon of his own. No wonder he was talking so big."

This was the first time the tiger demon had seen the true forms of the four beasts surrounding Li Muchen. A tiger demon, a bird demon? Wait... what in the world was that hybrid, looking like a cross between a turtle and a snake? Did such a creature even exist in the Demon Realm? He glanced at the Azure Dragon and mocked internally, "Tch! This snake demon is even more ridiculous. I don't know where he learned his magic, but he’s actually trying to imitate the legendary Ancient Divine Dragon by sticking two horns on his head."

The tiger demon felt no fear as he looked at the four beasts. He could sense that they were currently injured. If he were alone, he might not be able to take on all four, but with his own tiger subordinates, the Holy Master of Green Wood Mountain, and the elders, these four beasts were no match for them. If he hadn't been so impatient and careless, he wouldn't have missed the sudden appearance of the White Tiger and been knocked down.

Now... *heh.* Hu Bai scrambled to his feet, digging his claws into the dirt, staring fiercely at Li Muchen and his guardians.

"Deposed Emperor," Hu Bai sneered. "You don't actually think... that with just these four beasts... you can beat your grandfather here?! What a joke! With one hand, I could grind all of you into dust!" With a massive army of helpers at his back, Hu Bai had all the confidence in the world to posture.

Li Muchen stared at him like he was looking at an idiot and retorted, "You utter moron! Talk that big, and you might just trip over your own tongue."

Hu Bai was so enraged he was gasping for air. *Damn it!* If it weren't for these four beasts, he would have swallowed the deposed Emperor’s head by now. Where did he get the gall to keep barking at him?

Li Muchen ignored the imbecile. He was busy calculating the time in his mind. *Yun Qing should be on the verge of a breakthrough, right?* If he could just hold on a little longer until Yun Qing successfully ascended, he would make sure every last one of these tiger demons and the mongrels from Green Wood Mountain died right here.

Li Muchen sent a mental command to his four divine beasts: "Vermillion Bird, Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, White Tiger... do your best to stall them. As long as we hold out until Yun Qing breaks through, we won't have to die."

"Master, the Vermillion Bird will definitely hold them off."
"Understood, Master."
"Rest assured, we won't die."
"Hmph! Don't look down on this Dragon."