The teleportation array from Liuxian Town to the Southern Tiger City was about to activate.
The array was crowded with over fifty people in total.
Shanhai Sect, Baihua Sect, Qingshui Sect, and Danqi Sect were all with Lin Shuang.
Other sects were still debating where to head in the Demon Realm.
The Western Sea Domain was home to the Baifeng Clan, where cooperation could be negotiated.
The Southern Region, besides Tiger City, had other neutral demon clan territories where the disappearance of young demons could be investigated.
Some sects even began arguing.
Some wanted to follow Lin Shuang’s approach, while others firmly refused.
Others, learning from her mid-to-low-tier battles, aimed to first seek collaboration with the Annihilation Pavilion.
“This mission was commissioned by the Annihilation Pavilion. Theoretically, we, a group of Spirit Refining disciples, are only assisting their assassins,” said the chief Spirit Refining disciple of Yunyang Sect.
Beside him was the Ningyuan chief, whose talisman homework had been “collected” by Lin Shuang.
He wasn’t here as a Spirit Refining or high-tier Ningyuan disciple but was recruited by the Spirit Refining senior brother as a teammate, much like Zhao Keran’s role.
Because he had lost to Lin Shuang, he knew her best.
“What do you think, Homework?”
“???”
The Ningyuan chief, whose talismans were taken, no longer had a name.
His “homework” incident was more famous than his real name, earning him a nickname.
“Homework” Chief rolled his eyes, hesitating. “Senior Brother, I suggest you don’t overanalyze. Just now, Lin Shuang went straight to the teleportation array, heading for Southern Tiger City.”
“We should just follow her…”
Before he could finish, the Spirit Refining senior brother interrupted, displeased.
“Follow Lin Shuang? That’s just setting ourselves up to lose to her.”
“Trailing behind will always leave us a step behind. We need to get ahead of her!”
“Homework” Chief: “…”
I admire your confidence.
But it’s unnecessary.
Yet Yunyang Sect’s Spirit Refining disciples were full of pride.
Having never lost to Lin Shuang personally, they refused to believe in her invincibility.
“Baihua Sect, Shanhai Sect, and Danqi Sect all followed Lin Shuang,” he continued, not entirely acting on impulse. His reasoning was clear.
“They’re likely thinking the same as you—following Lin Shuang to learn from her, hoping to seize first place or at least snag second or third.”
The Spirit Refining chief shook his head. “If Yunyang Sect follows, we’d be fifth at best.”
His logic was sound, and other Yunyang Sect Spirit Refining and high-tier Ningyuan disciples nodded in agreement.
Even the nearby Wanseng Sect disciples silently agreed.
Baihua Sect was stronger than them, and Shanhai Sect wasn’t weak either.
Danqi Sect was resilient and tough, especially in large-scale battles, where their control of supplies made them highly valued.
If they followed Lin Shuang now, it’d be hard to surpass Baihua Sect or Danqi Sect!
They needed another path!
“Let’s go to the Annihilation Pavilion for help!”
Yunyang Sect made their decision.
Wanseng Sect agreed.
However, just as they abandoned the teleportation array to head to the Annihilation Pavilion’s outpost at a general store, Lin Shuang’s teleportation array was about to activate.
“Dear cultivators, please sit on the meditation cushions and avoid standing or flying during transit.”
“The teleportation will take half a day. If you stand or move outside the array’s outer circle, you may fall into a spiritual energy vortex.”
“For your safety, please remain seated and still.”
“We are about to start—ten breaths, nine breaths…”
“Please prepare your spirit stones. Upon arrival at Tiger City, a transit fee of 5,000 spirit stones per person or 2,000 per demon is required.”
“Wishing you a pleasant journey.”
As the announcement sounded, Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow.
A visa fee of 5,000 per person?
Outrageous.
This Tiger City had a sharp business sense.
“It’s a sign they don’t welcome outsiders or demons,” said the colorful-braided dog beside her, coldly raising its “dark-circle” eyes to glance at her.
“Those who don’t pay will be deported.”
If identity verification failed, they’d also be escorted back.
Deportation teleportation fees were self-paid.
Without spirit stones, one would be forced to reclaim spiritual fields as labor.
“Why… is my face fur… this color?”
As the braided dog spoke, it saw its “dark-circle” face reflected in Lin Shuang’s dark eyes.
Its black pupils twitched.
“It’s called a panda, um, an iron-eating beast dog. Majestic, right, Erbao?”
“…”
Just then, with three breaths left in the teleportation countdown, two tall figures in black robes and shields appeared in the distance.
Each step covered ten miles.
At the final breath, as the array was about to close, they slammed a fist into it, forcing a one-breath delay to reopen it.
Two black shields, holding two black-masked figures, appeared before Lin Shuang.
“Annihilation Pavilion!”
Kong Miaoke’s eyelids twitched.
Lin Shuang, sitting on her cushion, glanced up at the two leaders.
The black masks and floor-dragging black shields, concealing their entire forms, were all too familiar.
Lin Shuang speechlessly pressed her forehead.
Here we go again.
The bold “I’m afraid you’ll recognize me” signal practically slapped her in the face.
She couldn’t bear to look at these two obviously familiar Tribulation-Crossing assassins.
One was the same one who had interrogated her about joining the Annihilation Pavilion last time.
Now, they held a Spirit Refining disciple and a Ningyuan disciple, one in each hand.
The Spirit Refining disciple seemed to be the one who went to the Northern Region to complete the persuasion task for her.
He had broken through, previously only at Ningyuan Peak.
Lin Shuang’s eyes flickered.
Zhao Xi, the breakthrough disciple, and Zhao Yi, meeting Lin Shuang’s gaze, guiltily looked away.
Zhao Ming, the Ningyuan disciple, sighed in relief when Lin Shuang didn’t look at her.
“Huh?”
Zhao Keran looked up at them, puzzled.
The four imposing Annihilation Pavilion assassins froze in the teleportation array.
The leading Tribulation-Crossing couple, Zhao Mingde and his wife, cautiously peeked from behind their shield walls, eyeing their daughter, Zhao Keran, dressed in Qingshui Sect’s inner disciple robes.
Did our daughter notice?
Has she recognized us?
Tense!
Though they knew she’d eventually learn the truth, they weren’t sure if she’d understand.
A hundred years ago, the Zhao Clan discovered high-level traitors in Qingshui Sect and Shanhai Sect.
The Heavenly Mechanism grew rapidly, infiltrating the twelve sects of the Eastern Region.
The Zhao Clan found themselves surrounded, unable to advance or retreat.
At the peak of the storm, they withdrew into seclusion.
The clan’s patriarch led over a hundred Zhao descendants into hiding, developing in secret.
But for a century, the Zhao Clan never truly evaded.
They fought evil cultivators and the Heavenly Mechanism in another way—under black masks, in the cover of night, until the end.
Zhao Mingde and his wife looked at Zhao Keran with bitterness.
The patriarch’s rule forbade proactively revealing the Zhao Clan’s hidden truth or their covert operations to their children.
They had to discover it themselves.
Upon discovery, each could choose: live a carefree life in the secluded valley, raising silkworms, or join the Annihilation Pavilion, bearing the dangers of the night to fight the Heavenly Mechanism to the end.
Fighting might mean death.
Hiding might mean survival.
Those in the valley, unaware of the Annihilation Pavilion’s truth or uninvolved, could become the next Zhao Clan leader.
If those outside died, those in the valley would carry on the bloodline, raising silkworms, fishing, and farming.
Zhao Mingde sighed, sneaking a glance at his daughter.
Little Ran, what will you choose when you learn the truth?
Will you preserve the Zhao Clan or become another spark in the dark?
Mingxi, Zhao Keran’s mother, stood behind the shield, her worried gaze lingering.
With other sect disciples in the array, what if Little Ran impulsively revealed their identities?
Should she use divine sense to communicate with her first?
Would Little Ran resent her for hiding the truth all these years?
“Hmm?”
Zhao Keran, sitting beside Lin Shuang in the array, blinked. “Annihilation Pavilion seniors, as expected, you came yourselves, just as my Senior Sister predicted.”
“Senior Sister is amazing!”
But her starry eyes turned to disappointment.
“That assassin ‘Diao’ didn’t come?”
Meng Zhi: “…”
Which Diao? The Diao from Two Birds (Shuang Diao)?
Lin Shuang’s mouth twitched, pretending not to hear.
“Maybe she didn’t join this Demon Realm mission or went to collaborate with other sects?” Zhao Keran’s big eyes fluttered.
Zhao Mingde and his wife: “…”
Zhao Xi and Zhao Ming, thinking they were exposed: “…”
Lin Shuang patted Zhao Keran to quiet her, glancing at the four Annihilation Pavilion assassins’ fluctuating divine senses.
[The Annihilation Pavilion is here! They accepted the mysterious commission to overthrow the Demon King, so they’d definitely join the sects’ 9000 trials!]
[Poor Yunyang Sect and Wanseng Sect… they went out of their way to the Annihilation Pavilion’s outpost.]
Indeed, at the Seven Stars Tower’s array, a few Tribulation-Crossing assassins stood bewildered, also clad in black shields and masks.
“Where are the other Eastern Region sects?”
“Did they not go to the Demon Realm?”
[…]
[…They went to find you.]
[What a mess!]
The Annihilation Pavilion came themselves.
Who could’ve predicted?
Nearly every Eastern Region sect had an Annihilation Pavilion assassin joining them.
Twelve assassins, all mobilized, arrived at the Seven Stars Tower’s array to meet the twelve sects’ disciples.
Lin Shuang’s eyes twitched.
The number of Tribulation-Crossing assassins in the Annihilation Pavilion far exceeded her expectations.
Twelve human Tribulation-Crossing cultivators—stronger than any single sect.
What other force in the Eastern Region was this powerful yet so afraid of being exposed?
The answer was obvious.
Lin Shuang’s gaze darted between her junior sister Zhao Keran and the two shield-wielding assassins.
Silence.
“Senior Sister, these two Tribulation-Crossing assassins seem to be looking at me,” Zhao Keran transmitted quietly, pretending nothing was amiss.
But she wasn’t as naive as she seemed!
She noticed something off.
Worthy of a junior sister who mastered Fastest Learning.
Lin Shuang patted her head.
“They might be someone you know?” Zhao Keran blinked at her Senior Sister.
“I only know a few Tribulation-Crossing cultivators. Could it be Elder Shui from our sect?”
Lin Shuang patted her head again, nearly smearing dye from the dog’s fur onto her bangs.
Everyone has a blind spot where they’re trapped by their assumptions.
People rarely doubt what’s familiar.
In Zhao Keran’s mind, the Zhao Clan was a secluded haven, requiring her immense effort to leave for five years.
She cried and struggled against its rules.
She even witnessed Lin Shuang’s elaborate efforts to bring her out.
The Zhao Clan avoids the world.
This ironclad belief was ingrained in Zhao Keran’s heart, never to be questioned.
Even after Lin Shuang fought for her, she vowed to prove the outside world was better than the valley.
So, how could her parents, aunts, uncles, or cousins be out here?
How could they be disguised as Annihilation Pavilion assassins before her?
Impossible.
Zhao Keran wouldn’t think that way.
She assumed they were sect elders’ avatars—Elder Qiantan and Elder Wushui.
Perfect match. Case closed!
Zhao Keran suppressed her twinkling eyes. “Senior Sister, the elders are joining our mission incognito. Let’s not expose them.”
Lin Shuang coughed lightly, nodding understandingly.
Junior Sister, you’ve done well to think this far.
She gave an approving pat, then, under the speechless gazes of Zhao Mingde, his wife, Zhao Xi, and Zhao Ming, handed them a questionnaire.
Zhao Mingde and his wife: “?”
“Annihilation Pavilion seniors, since we’re collaborating, please fill out your specialized techniques and the highest cultivation level you can unleash on this trip.”
“And,” Lin Shuang blinked, “how should I address you?”
The four Annihilation Pavilion members fell silent.
The dark-circle dog beside Lin Shuang raised its human-like black eyes, seemingly smirking, pressing a ball of white silk under its left paw as if toying with it or showing it off.
Zhao Mingde and his wife: “!”
Zhao Ming and Zhao Xi: “!!”
Even Lin Shuang’s dog noticed us!
Lin Shuang probably did too.
Their disguises were too obvious.
[Assassin, Mid-Tribulation: Codename Seventeen. Specializes in Zhao Clan techniques.]
[Assassin, Mid-Tribulation: Codename Stream. Specializes in water-based techniques.]
Mingxi—Zhao Keran’s mother, a former Qingshui Sect disciple?
Lin Shuang nodded as she read.
“Elder Qiantan even learned my clan’s techniques to disguise himself!”
Zhao Keran glanced at the questionnaire, shocked, and began practicing vigorously in the array.
She couldn’t lose!
She had to master both Qingshui and Zhao Clan techniques!
“Together, we can directly enter one of the Tiger Clan’s four cities, the Lynx Demon Main City, and capture the Lynx King,” Zhao Mingde and his wife said, sitting cross-legged behind their towering shield walls, facing the other sect disciples.
Unlike sect elders, assassins had fewer scruples.
Abandoning their Zhao identity allowed them to act without restraint.
“Killing the Lynx King will cause chaos. The culprits kidnapping young demons will likely act in the turmoil.”
“You can use this chance to search for the missing demons in the city.”
Lin Shuang flipped through her sand table, finding the Lynx Demon’s profile among Huangfu Yuan’s notes on the Tiger Clan’s four cities:
- Tiger City: Tiger King, Peak Tribulation
- Lynx City: Lynx King, Late Tribulation; married to the Tiger King’s daughter
- Leopard City: Leopard King, Late Tribulation; son married to the Tiger King’s youngest daughter
- Lion City: Lion King, Mid-Tribulation; Tiger King’s father’s disciple
Zhao Mingde and his wife, two Mid-Tribulation cultivators with years of synergy, could handle a Late Tribulation Lynx or Leopard King.
But Lin Shuang stopped them. “Not yet.”
Zhao Mingde and his wife: “!”
[!]
Lin Shuang closed the sand table.
The “Huangfu Yuan” beside her, surrounded by flowing water, spoke.
“Human cultivators aim to sign a century-long cooperation contract with the demons.”
“It’s unlikely they’d want to collaborate with a demon realm left in ruins after a war.”
Zhao Mingde and his wife fell silent.
Doesn’t that mean we need to assassinate to cause chaos and avoid further conflict?
“No, assassination will only push the remaining Tiger Clan further away,” “Huangfu Yuan” said.
The colorful, dark-circle dog on the ground raised its head, gazing deeply toward the Southern Region.
“Human cultivators hiring assassins to kill our leader—despicable and shameless.”
Zhao Mingde and his wife coughed lightly.
“If not humans, then the Fox or Sea Clan,” “Huangfu Yuan” sighed. “The Tiger Clan’s four branches will fall into endless hatred…”
The dark-circle dog lowered its head, seemingly staring at its reflection in the water puddle Lin Shuang had created.
“Endless hatred means no peace.”
“Losing reason, losing judgment, assuming an entire clan is evil… controlled by vengeance…”
“Forgetting what they should do.”
“Forever stuck in place.”
Just like he once was.
Lin Shuang hesitated but reached out, pressing his furry paw in the water.
She nodded to Zhao Mingde and his wife. “We’re not here to destroy the demon clan. We want long-term cooperation.”
“The next Demon King…”
She looked at him, smiling.
“I hope his people can live as peacefully as before.”
The dog’s fluffy body seemed to pause.
“So, seniors, wait for now. We’ll call you when we need you.”
Lin Shuang turned to Baihua Sect’s Bian Bocai and Kong Miaoke.
“How’s The King and I coming?”
“What about My Love, You Betrayed Me?”
“And the progress on You Covet My Body, I Bear Three Treasures?”
Zhao Mingde and his wife: “!”
[…?]
[!??]
[What’s that?]
Bian Bocai, sitting in the array, his pen nearly forming a shadow in the air, said, “Based on Brother Huangfu’s detailed demon customs and Junior Sister Lin’s outline, I’ve written most of it, with a bit left!”
Kong Miaoke, sweating but flushed with excitement, kept writing, joined by several Baihua Sect seniors.
“Three Treasures—oh, I’m at the part where he returns with the kids five years later!”
Zhao Keran looked up, her hands and feet moving busily.
Time to coordinate schedules.
“The teleportation takes half a day. Everyone, the first volume must be done before we arrive.”
“Baihua Sect, it’s time to proofread the first volume’s draft—typos, extra words, awkward sentences, and most importantly, atmosphere and emotion!”
Prompted by Zhao Keran, Baihua Sect scrambled, stopping their pens as paper scrolls flew up.
Some from folding fans, some from embroidery racks, some from flowerpots…
They flew to Senior Sister Pear Blossom, a Spirit Refining cultivator.
“Senior Sister, please!”
“Help enhance the protagonist’s emotions!”
“My section’s emotions feel weak!”
“My climax setting—the palace—”
Pear Blossom took a deep breath, seemingly looking at the projection, nodding solemnly.
Her hands formed seals.
“Ten Thousand Flowers… heed my command…”
Instantly, layers of flowers bloomed at her fingertips.
“Go!”
The flowers swiftly merged into the flying papers and books.
In an instant, the ink-scented pages came alive with vivid emperors, lovers, and lifelike palaces.
The flowers imbued seasonal settings—blooming and falling, with fragrant breezes…
A sense of reality!
The final polish many authors lacked—complete!
Pear Blossom’s face paled, wilting, but two Baihua Sect Spirit Refining disciples took her place.
The lovers’ faces gained a floral blush in certain scenes.
Under moonlight, amid blooming osmanthus, their faces were half-hidden, half-revealed.
A beauty’s tears fell like pear blossoms in rain!
An emperor’s rage withered branches!
Emotions overflowed, drawing readers into the scene!
Lin Shuang, watching, couldn’t help but want to applaud, thinking Baihua Sect’s techniques were truly useful.
“What’s the name of Senior Sister Pear Blossom’s technique?”
Pear Blossom opened her eyes from meditation. “Pear Blossoms with Rain. It lets viewers see emotions and grievances as if carried by countless flowers.”
“!”
Impressive.
Lin Shuang felt a surge of awe.
No wonder she was addicted to novels—Baihua Sect’s vivid character portrayals and atmospheric buildup were irresistible!
“Alright, proofread.”
Baihua Sect’s finished scrolls flew to Bai Yu, Yu Gui, and the colorful dog.
They scanned them with divine sense, checking ten lines at a glance.
“This plot’s a bit off. Tigers are clean—revise it.”
“This map of Tiger City is wrong, missing a section.”
“The seasons are off. The Southern Region’s climate is opposite to the Northern.”
The dog worked fast, pawing back flawed pages for rework.
Baihua Sect stretched time, treating one hour as ten, frantically revising.
Finally, when the dog nodded, finding no more errors, Baihua Sect collapsed in relief.
Lin Shuang waved. “Good. Release all first volumes and flood the Demon Realm market.”
Pear Blossom nodded.
All Baihua Sect disciples, exhausted, sent messages instantly.
Baihua Sect, prolific in books and rankings, had a mature distribution system.
Lin Shuang only needed to provide outlines.
Key details came from Huangfu Yuan, Xiao Bai, and Yu Gui, ensuring demon clan authenticity.
Zhao Mingde and his wife were stunned.
Danqi Sect and Shanhai Sect were equally amazed.
[Wow… I’m seeing Baihua Sect’s book-making process for the first time.]
[Didn’t expect that. A novel goes through so many Baihua Sect seniors’ refinements. I used to think they were overpriced!]
[Starting to forget why they’re going to the Demon Realm.]
[…]
During the half-day teleportation, Lin Shuang soon immersed herself in her schedule.
Zhao Keran was equally busy.
The four Zhao Clan members, fearing she’d uncover their identities, were conflicted when she didn’t.
But they soon realized she had no time to notice them—she was swamped.
She practiced with hands and feet while overseeing everyone’s progress in the array.
“Second volume—written yet?”
“Junior Sister Zhao…” Kong Miaoke was near tears. “I’m drained.”
Zhao Keran, unconvinced, handed her an earphone talisman. “Listen to twelve breaths of music, relax, then keep going, Senior Sister.”
She knew how to manage rest!
Even farming oxen got more than twelve breaths!
Zhao Keran checked others. “Danqi Sect, how’s your divine sense?”
“…”
“Keep meditating. We’ve got half a day.”
“Oh, did you memorize the new artifact crafting process Senior Sister gave you?”
She coordinated like a conductor.
Lin Shuang and Huangfu Yuan rested and prepared.
Meng Zhi, meditating, absorbed Elder Yue’s lingering spiritual energy, preparing for a breakthrough.
The half-day passed quickly.
Spectators watching the projection noticed Lin Shuang’s group had quieted down.
Just as they grew distracted, Baihua Sect’s “battlefield commentators”—four scholarly-dressed seniors—appeared.
Their backgrounds showed demons passing by: some in human robes with spotted leopard tails poking through, others with tiger tails swaying under scholarly robes.
Many had tiger or leopard ears, sharp teeth, or forehead markings.
Their surroundings resembled human cities, with inns, taverns, and constant street vendors.
“Greetings, everyone.”
“I’m a Baihua Sect disciple who came to Tiger City a century ago, managing the Southern Demon Branch’s novel and technique shop.”
The four seniors spoke in turn.
“I’m Mi Ge, in Leopard City for thirty years, selling human novels, from Baihua Sect.”
“I’m a merchant in Lion City, running a human technique stall, here for fifty years, from Baihua Sect.”
“Behind me is Lynx City’s largest market. I just earned a ten-year permit to sell human techniques and opened a small shop…”
[!]
[Danqi Sect and Baihua Sect have shops in demon territories, mostly managed by Spirit Refining disciples.]
[Mingzhong Sect’s arrays too… things demons find useful!]
[Impressive. This commentary covers both the Eastern Region and the Tiger Clan’s four cities!]
[Baihua Sect, I must praise your commentary this time!]
The four seniors soon displayed their novels and technique books.
The King and I, My Love, You Betrayed Me, You Covet My Body, I Bear Three Treasures… were prominently placed.
- Eastern Region Novel Sales Ranking #1
- Eastern Region’s Latest Novel
- Written by the Eastern Region’s Top Genius Disciple
[…]
[So fast.]
[I knew Baihua Sect’s sales slogans couldn’t be trusted.]
[All fake. Sales ranking #1? Has this book been out for an incense stick’s time?]
[Baihua Sect, is your dao heart really okay?]
“No problem,” the four merchant seniors smiled slyly. “After this, I believe their sales in the Eastern Region will hit #1.”
“Aren’t you curious about the novels co-authored by the Eastern Region’s top genius, Lin Shuang, and our Baihua Sect?”
“Aren’t you curious about their impact on the Demon Realm?”
[…]
[…]
The projection showed tiger demon youths entering novel shops.
Their faces were blurred by Baihua Sect’s projection processing.
They picked up the new books, flipping to the first page.
Soon, their reading pace quickened under the novels’ emotion-enhancing effects, their fists clenching in excitement…
“Good heavens, he fought tirelessly for the emperor, surviving a hundred battles, yet in the end, the bird is gone, the bow is stored! He was suspected by the emperor he loved!”
“Power’s ambition and suspicion buried love…”
Two tiger demon girls flipped pages, tears streaming.
The pages depicted a robust, handsome tiger demon, no longer young, suspected by his former lover, now emperor, forced to surrender his military power, aging overnight with white hair!
Falling petals blanketed him.
He fell, weeds cutting his face, the bleak night reflecting his betrayed, despairing vertical pupils.
Once, he was heroic, aiding his lord’s rise amid blooming flowers.
Now, with flowers withered, only weeds buried him!
“Sniff…”
The two tiger girls, under Baihua Sect’s atmospheric text effects, sobbed uncontrollably.
Then, the tiger youth in the novel’s weed effect stood, slashing his face with a blade, returning to the martial world!
As a bandit, he led troops into the court, slaying the tiger king who betrayed him!
“!”
The two girls clutched their chests, shocked.
The text transformed into vivid scenes—the emperor’s blood dripped onto vibrant red peony petals.
“Have you… ever loved me?”
“Never. You only wanted to use me for territory!”
“Hah, and you? Claiming love but refusing to surrender your army!”
Once brothers-in-arms, willing to die for each other, they succumbed to time, suspicion, and ambition.
The young demons wept before the shelves.
Baihua Sect’s shops in the four tiger cities saw soaring novel sales.
New stock nearly sold out.
- Guaranteed to make you cry on the spot!
- Tragic yet strong protagonist!
- Unforgettable ending…
Fast readers finished the first volume, leaving glowing reviews.
“Print another hundred!”
“Hurry!”
Baihua Sect’s shop disciples bustled.
More tiger city nobles brought these hot novels home.
Baihua Sect’s “effect” novels, pricier than standard ones, were mostly bought by wealthy demon nobles.
Soon, they’d spread among tiger demon aristocracy.
Even love couldn’t overcome ambition.
How could the Tiger Clan’s four cities, reliant on marriage alliances, fare better?
[…]
[…Using novel plots to mirror the Tiger Clan’s four branches’ relationships??]
[Will this work? It’s just something young ladies read. Who’d take novels seriously, especially the powerful?]
“Baihua Sect, wrap up. Time for the second step.”
Lin Shuang’s voice sounded in the teleportation array.
She looked down at the panda dog beside her.
It raised its head, mirroring her smile, seemingly eager as it gazed toward Tiger City.
[Xiao Ai No. 2 (Huangfu): My subordinates have identified spies planted by the Tiger Clan’s four branches in each other’s cities and palaces.]
Lin Shuang nodded, smiling.
[Xiao Ai No. 2 (Huangfu): When needed, the spy lists will be delivered to their respective desks.]
Novels were just the first step—emotional priming.
The Tiger Clan’s four cities already lacked trust.
Relying on marriage alliances showed they never truly trusted each other.
Why was it the Tiger Clan, not the Lion, Leopard, or Lynx, that aimed to overthrow the Nine-Tailed Fox?
Lin Shuang looked at the exhausted Baihua Sect. “You made bookmark gifts, right?”
They nodded weakly. “Done.”
Baihua Sect’s deluxe books always came with gifts!
In the Southern Tiger Clan’s four cities:
“Ridiculous! Why are you always reading these human playthings that sap your will?”
In the Lynx King’s mansion, Leopard King’s mansion, and many noble households, elders’ scolding echoed.
A common scene.
Young demons hung their heads, some rebellious, some teary, some silent.
But as the novels were torn or thrown to the ground—
Bookmarks unfolded!
Vivid scenes of bloodied figures falling, unwilling voices soaring like falling snow as pages broke.
“We can share hardship but not joy. Why not leave!”
“The enemy is defeated, the strategist perishes! The world is settled, and I must be cooked!”
Tiger, Lion, Leopard, and Lynx nobles stepped back, stunned.
The floral scent they smelled was tinged with blood!
These brutal lines felt like history’s mournful cry, not mere entertainment novels.
More bookmarks followed:
“General Bai, slaying 200,000 enemy soldiers at Changping, yet his merit outshone his lord, ignorant of politics, forced to take his own life…”
“The scholar, after defeating the enemy, was suspected of rebellion due to his talent, sentenced to death and hung on the city wall…”
“…His household of over 130 was executed…”
Demon nobles recoiled.
The bloody, heart-wrenching roars were deafening!
[Book editor: Anonymous Baihua Sect Senior.]
[Reader feedback noted the plot as overly tragic and unrealistic. The anonymous senior reviewed ancient histories, finding such tragedies far more shocking than written. Thus, all plots remain unchanged. We hope readers understand.]
[See you in the next volume!]
Elders who tore the books were shaken.
Real events more shocking than written?
Founding generals repeatedly slaughtered?
Serving a lord is like serving a tiger…
Demons lacked human scholarly culture, but they weren’t fools.
They struggled to articulate the lord’s suspicion until these human bookmarks clarified it—when the rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked!
Young demons, expecting punishment, found their elders gazing at them thoughtfully.
“Hmm… buy more of these human novels in the future.”
Demon youths: “???”
Elders entered meeting halls with heavy expressions, activating soundproof arrays.
“Have our spies in the Tiger King’s camp noticed any unusual moves?”
“How does the Tiger King view our Leopard Clan? He hasn’t invited me hunting in a while…”
“Wait! First, thoroughly check for Tiger King spies in our Lion Clan, especially in our households!”
“Oh, buy ten more sets of these novels and send them to the clan leader! Tell him to tear them open for the bookmarks!”
Orders were issued.
Passing birds and servants quietly turned away.
Novel sales surged again!
Spies from the royal palace were uncovered in noble households across the four cities!
Roars of rage echoed within soundproof arrays!
“The Tiger King—he’s indeed wary of us!”
- In the teleportation array, Lin Shuang woke to find herself comfortably leaning on the warm, broad back of the fluffy dog, having slept soundly.
Pressing her head to sit up, she pinched its soft paw pads, quickly regaining clarity in her sea of consciousness.
Erbao: “…”
“We’re almost there, Senior Sister,” Zhao Keran’s voice chimed.
“The second volume is released.”
“Estimated twelve breaths until arrival.”
“Danqi Sect seniors, their divine sense and spiritual energy are at peak.”
Lin Shuang shook herself awake. “Good, start the third step—”
In the array, Baihua Sect was spent, their aura waning.
Rest.
They swapped their prime position with Danqi Sect.
As they switched, Baihua Sect took recovery pills from Danqi Sect’s alchemists, then began writing the third volume.
Danqi Sect stood at the forefront, beside Lin Shuang.
Meng Zhi, the “water figure,” and the dog quietly placed hands and paws on her shoulders.
Divine senses merged!
The trio’s Spirit Refining-plus divine senses combined for the first time, instantly reaching the Entering Void realm!
“Give me ten breaths,” Lin Shuang said, activating her Fire-Eye Golden Gaze, peering outside the array.
The teleportation was nearing its end.
Tiger City, the foremost of the Southern Region’s four cities, was close!
As Huangfu Yuan said, a Demon-Revealing Mirror, showing species and cultivation, and an Immortal-Revealing Mirror, showing human cultivation, awaited outside.
As they changed attire, Lin Shuang faintly saw the two mirrors.
One reflected half a ferocious South Mountain Tiger.
The other was blurry.
Her Fire-Eye Golden Gaze locked onto the blurry Immortal-Revealing Mirror, its edges sharpening, every pattern and glow clear.
She spoke, “Jade surface, three feet long, with peach blossom patterns…”
One of her 108 divine sense threads tapped a Danqi Sect Spirit Refining senior nearby.
The Danqi Sect disciple’s eyes widened. “Got it. Danqi Sect juniors, refine with me!”
[!]
As the array arrived, Danqi Sect disciples were exhausted.
Stumbling out, they fell.
In that instant, the projection clearly showed a thin film artifact swiftly applied to the Immortal-Revealing Mirror on the array’s right!
“I need a shrinking mirror artifact,” Lin Shuang had said moments earlier, heard clearly by spectators.
“One that reduces our true cultivation by 30% when reflected.”
[Human Cultivator—Late Entering Void]
When Zhao Mingde, a Mid-Tribulation assassin disguised as a middle-aged man, stepped out and stood before the altered mirror, his Mid-Tribulation strength appeared as Entering Void.
Paired with his concealed aura, he passed seamlessly before the Tiger Clan soldiers guarding the array.
The soldiers, clad in heavy iron armor, their powerful tails raised, vigilantly checked the mirrors.
Their own cultivation was only Ningyuan.
They couldn’t discern Zhao Mingde’s true strength or the falsified shrinking mirror artifact.
Zhao Mingde passed, followed by Baihua Sect, Shanhai Sect…
Finally, Lin Shuang, dispersing her hundred dantians to show a mundane Ningyuan strength, quickly tore off the shrinking mirror artifact and hid it in her sleeve as the soldiers noticed the colorful dog.
[! Success…]
[Concealed two Tribulation-Crossing cultivators…]
“You—”
The Tiger Clan soldier blocked her dog!
Staring at its braided fur and massive, floor-dragging tail woven into over twenty scorpion braids…
Colorful, eccentric fur.
“Any problem, sir?” Lin Shuang turned, calmly asking.
“This is my spiritual pet, Erbao.”
“I came to Tiger City to find a spiritual cat as Sanbao.”
Erbao: “!”
Tiger Clan soldier: “!”
He looked at the dark-circle dog with pity.
Reduced to a spiritual pet, with an owner of such bizarre taste.
Tsk tsk.
“Go register at the city gate.”
The soldier glanced at the Demon-Revealing Mirror, showing a similarly braided dog body.
Its fur obscured its species—wolf, dog, fox…
Only a lowly stray, lacking sufficient intelligence, would let a human turn it into this neither-dog-nor-wolf state.
A proud wolf would’ve committed suicide on the street!
The soldier shook his head, glaring at Lin Shuang with disdain.
“Leash it! Canine species aren’t allowed in Tiger City inns! No disturbing nobles, or you’ll be arrested! Understood?”
The colorful dog’s black pupils contracted.
Lin Shuang raised her eyebrows high.
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