15: Kill the tiger demon

The instant Lu Ming retreated, the tiger demon attacked, its claws almost grazing Lu Ming's neck.

Having narrowly avoided this fatal blow, Lu Ming's expression was calm, showing no surprise.

However, Luo Zhong and the other three were dumbfounded by this scene.

Seeing the tiger demon miss, they couldn't help but wipe a cold sweat for Lu Ming.

The speed of that strike just now was too fast; they could barely react. If Lu Ming had been in their position, their heads would likely have already flown from their shoulders.

"Is it just my imagination? Why do I feel like Young Master Lu's strength has grown so much?" Luo Zhong rubbed his eyes, muttering to himself.

Although he had seen him fight before, it wasn't as fluid as today. It was as if everything was under Lu Ming's control.

Suddenly, Luo Zhong remembered taking him to collect a Cultivation Technique that morning, and an incredible thought surfaced in his mind.

"Could it be... No, even if Young Master Lu is exceptionally talented, the Initial Realm isn't that easy to Breakthrough."

In the small courtyard, two figures intertwined.

After dodging the tiger demon's attack, Lu Ming immediately launched his own.

Several cold gleams burst forth from his long blade, and the rapidly advancing Blade Aura sealed off the tiger demon's retreat.

Having reached the Initial Realm, Lu Ming no longer needed to expend a large amount of physical strength to use Protective Aura as he did before. For him, it had gradually become a common attack method.

Roar!

The tiger demon let out an angry growl, and a ferocious aura surged from its body. It took a sudden step forward, and a bloody aura condensed on its tiger claws.

Just as the Blade Aura was about to strike, the tiger demon swung its arm. As its muscles rapidly swelled, the power contained in its palm also sharply increased.

Bang!

With that power, the foremost condensed Blade Aura was instantly shattered, and a gust of wind swept through the surroundings.

It was, after all, a powerful demon in the Late Stage of the Initial Realm, not comparable to the Huapi encountered earlier in the Lu Manor.

At this moment, the tiger demon had accumulated a blood-fiend Qi within its body through excessive slaughter. This was a power capable of contending with the True Qi cultivated by Martial Artists. Lu Ming's Blade Aura attack, however, was not so easily successful when the tiger demon was prepared.

After repelling one Blade Aura, the tiger demon's massive body flashed, and with this agile movement, it managed to evade the remaining attacks.

Just as the tiger demon stood firm, intending to mock him, a cold gleam flashed before its eyes. Sensing danger, its pupils contracted sharply.

Almost instantly, the tiger demon raised its arm, blocking forward with its tiger claws.

Clang!

The crisp sound of metal colliding echoed in the small courtyard. The incoming long blade was actually blocked by the tiger demon's claws.

"No, where is he?"

The tiger demon originally wanted to seize the opponent's weapon and then attack, but when it focused its eyes forward, Lu Ming's figure was nowhere to be seen.

This long blade had been thrown by Lu Ming, and the situation was urgent at the time, so the tiger demon hadn't thought much of it.

"I'm behind you!" A cold voice rang out, as if pronouncing a judgment on life.

As if startled by the voice, the tiger demon spun around abruptly, but in that instant, its neck was seized by five long, powerful fingers.

With a surge of abundant blood Qi injected into it, the palm was like an iron clamp. Lu Ming only exerted a slight force, and the sound of cracking bones gradually began.

Giving the tiger demon no time to react, Lu Ming suddenly pushed his arm, and the tiger demon seemed to lose control of its body. Its entire frame was violently slammed to the ground, crashing heavily onto the stone steps.

Bang!

The sound of its body hitting the ground rang out, accompanied by swirling dust. The terrifying force that erupted made the tiger demon feel as if its internal organs were about to be dislodged, and blood spewed from its mouth.

"It seems you're nothing more than this!" Lu Ming seized the long blade from the ground and spoke indifferently.

Feeling the threat of death, fear surged from the depths of its heart.

"Wait, I..." The tiger demon wanted to beg for mercy, filled with immense regret. If it had known this, it would have suppressed its impulse and not eaten that family.

However, Lu Ming would not give any demon a chance. He still wanted the demon's Lifespan to enhance himself. No matter what conditions the demon offered, it would not escape death today.

The blade cut through the air, making a buzzing sound.

The long blade directly pierced the tiger demon's chest, and the burning pain made it howl.

Lu Ming twisted forcefully, widening the wound, and blood gushed out uncontrollably.

Having done all this, Lu Ming retreated a few steps, watching the tiger demon's life ebb away with indifference.

He didn't kill it directly, because such a death was too easy. He wanted this tiger demon to experience the taste of life being stripped away little by little.

The tiger demon, sprawled in a pool of blood, twitched. It tried to struggle to its feet several times, but ultimately failed.

Finally, the tiger demon's pupils gradually became unfocused. Its head tilted, and it was no longer alive.

Exhaling a breath of stale Qi, Lu Ming's thoughts stirred, and he summoned his panel to check.

"Congratulations on killing a tiger demon in the Late Stage of the Initial Realm."

"Tiger demon Lifespan: 309 years. Obtained Lifespan: 103 years."

"Usable demon Lifespan: 132 years."

His demon Lifespan reserves were full again, but looking at the three mangled corpses in the small courtyard, Lu Ming couldn't bring himself to be happy.

In this chaotic world, demons ran rampant, and human lives were like grass. Without powerful protection, one could become livestock to be slaughtered by any demon at any time.

"I must become stronger, only then can I find peace in this chaotic world," Lu Ming thought to himself.

His gaze left the tiger demon's body and turned to Luo Zhong and the other three, who were still stunned behind him.

The moment Lu Ming's gaze fell upon them, the sharp intent that had just slain the tiger demon seemed not to have receded. Even the experienced Luo Zhong felt a chill run down his spine after being stared at by that gaze.

"Ahem, Young Master Lu, the rest can be handled by the constables outside. We don't need to trouble ourselves with the aftermath," Luo Zhong quickly said.

Lu Ming nodded slightly. He said nothing more and turned to leave.

Just then, his peripheral vision caught sight of the tiger demon's corpse, and he suddenly stopped.

"What's that?" Lu Ming looked with considerable confusion at the tiger demon he had disemboweled. Within its flesh, there seemed to be a round bead shimmering with a faint golden luster.

Lu Ming ignored the bloodstains and reached out to grab it.

It was an object no bigger than a lychee, smooth all over. Lu Ming merely wiped it, and the blood adhering to it vanished directly.

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but upon seeing this faint golden bead, he actually had the urge to swallow it whole.

"What exactly is this!" Lu Ming was astonished. He suppressed the strange urge to swallow it and casually put it into the cloth pouch of his clothes.

Unaware of its purpose, Lu Ming couldn't possibly eat it rashly. After all, if something unexpected truly happened, he would genuinely be beyond tears.