18: The tiger showed off his power and finally absorbed the energy

However, the idea of treating the tiger demon as an experience package lasted only an instant before Jiang Lan rejected it.

The reason was simple.

Tiger's Accomplice are made from dead people, not created out of thin air.

If he were to capture the tiger demon and mass-produce Tiger's Accomplice for him to kill, what difference would there be between Jiang Lan and a demon?

Although he was eager to become stronger, the bottom line he had to uphold was non-negotiable.

Watching all the Tiger's Accomplice disappear, the Centurion sighed softly, as if he had thought of something.

"It seems we are not far from that tiger demon's lair."

Jiang Lan surveyed his surroundings and shook his head.

"This place is not quite what that fox demon described."

The Centurion pouted.

"Alright, let's keep looking."

He had originally thought Jiang Lan could lead them to the tiger demon's hiding place, but now it seemed… it was in vain.

In the end, he still had to rely on himself.

But speaking of which, even though they hadn't found the way, this kid Jiang Lan was incredibly fierce.

He had seen clearly just now that Jiang Lan killed Tiger's Accomplice with a single strike, effortlessly.

And he clearly wasn't using his full strength just now.

Even so, the power Jiang Lan displayed just now was by no means comparable to an ordinary Bone Refinement Second Stage Cultivator.

The Centurion's eyes flickered.

He would have to thoroughly investigate this kid when they returned.

His father was an honest man, but Jiang Lan, clearly, did not inherit his father's honest and simple nature.

He was not only shrewd but also possessed a ruthless streak.

The group once again walked deeper into Black Wind Mountain.

But before they had taken a few steps, everyone heard a huge beast's roar.

"Awoo!"

The sound wave was almost tangible; wherever it passed, even the branches of dead trees began to tremble violently.

The moment Jiang Lan heard this sound, he felt a slight dizziness in his brain.

Behind him, two Demon Slayer Guards immediately knelt on the ground.

Jiang Lan turned his head and saw small traces of blood oozing from their noses and mouths.

The Centurion also noticed their abnormal state and hurried forward.

"Slayer Nineteen, Zhan Ershier, are you alright?"

One of them propped himself up with his saber, struggling to stand from the ground, and lightly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

"Centurion, this subordinate is fine..."

Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow.

Listening to the voice, Slayer Nineteen was a woman?

He hadn't noticed before; he didn't expect there to be women among the Demon Slayer Guards.

At this moment, the other one, Zhan Ershier, also stood up.

After wiping the blood from his face, he also said, "This subordinate is unharmed."

The Centurion pondered slightly.

"You two, don't go any further, stay here and wait."

Their eyes flashed, as if they wanted to say something, but the words caught in their throats, and they swallowed them back, saying in unison:

"This subordinate obeys!"

The Centurion stood in place, his eyes lowered.

Slayer Nineteen and Zhan Ershier were the two weakest in the team.

But even being the weakest, they possessed the strength of Bone Refinement Fifth Stage.

Yet, that tiger demon merely roared once and injured them both.

From this, it could be seen that the tiger demon was definitely not just Bone Refinement Sixth Stage.

Thinking of this, he looked at Jiang Lan.

"That fox demon bluffed you."

Jiang Lan's eyes flickered.

He had also realized that Hu Meier had definitely not told him the truth earlier.

That tiger demon absolutely could not be only Bone Refinement Sixth Stage.

That tiger roar just now had made him a little dazed.

So, the tiger demon's true strength had to be at least Bone Refinement Eighth Stage, or even Bone Refinement Ninth Stage was possible.

As for Qi Gathering Realm, that was probably not the case.

If that tiger demon was truly in the Qi Gathering Realm, one roar just now would have taken the lives of their entire group.

He who hunts geese all day ended up being pecked in the eye by a goose.

That Hu Meier, her death was not unjust... Seeing Jiang Lan remain silent for a long time, the Centurion just stared at him.

But suddenly, as if he realized something, he widened his eyes slightly.

"You're fine?"

"Huh?"

Jiang Lan was preoccupied with his thoughts and didn't react for a moment.

But immediately, he came to his senses.

With his mind racing, Jiang Lan didn't explain but said directly:

"This subordinate has entered the Bone Refinement Eighth Stage Realm."

Centurion: "?"

Why didn't you say so earlier?

I'm only at Bone Refinement Eighth Stage; if you had told me you were also at Eighth Stage, it would have been so much better if I had just brought you along!

Jiang Lan continued:

"This subordinate feels a Breakthrough is imminent, and hopes Centurion will help me as a Protector."

Centurion: "??"

What, you're having a Breakthrough already?

Actually, Jiang Lan had originally planned to make a Breakthrough after killing the tiger demon.

But now, the tiger demon's strength might be Bone Refinement Ninth Stage.

Although Jiang Lan was confident he could fight it, he wasn't sure if he could win.

And the Centurion's Realm was only Bone Refinement Eighth Stage.

As for the other Demon Slayer Guards, their Realms were at Bone Refinement Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Stages.

If the tiger demon's combat power exceeded expectations, their group might be completely wiped out.

So Jiang Lan couldn't worry about too much at this moment; he would make the Breakthrough first.

The Centurion first glanced in the direction of the tiger's roar, then looked at Jiang Lan.

From that tiger roar just now, the Centurion also knew that if they forced their way to find the tiger demon now, victory or defeat was still uncertain.

But if Jiang Lan wasn't lying to him and could make a Breakthrough to the Bone Refinement Ninth Stage Realm, their chances of winning would increase significantly.

Thinking of this, the Centurion gritted his teeth.

"This Centurion will believe you this once! You kid, hurry up. If that beast comes over, I'll risk my life to block it for you. If I die, remember to avenge me!"

With that, he shouted to all the Demon Slayer Guards:

"Demon Slayer Guards!"

"Here!"

"Protect Jiang Lan during his Breakthrough!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Lan was silent for a moment.

This Centurion... is quite passionate... "Centurion, just wait one minute for me."

The Centurion turned his head.

"???"

Jiang Lan didn't waste any more words, directly sat cross-legged on the ground, and silently thought:

"Three-Element True Qi Art, one hundred and eighty years."

The light screen in front of him flickered.

"Year 26: Through your diligent Cultivation, your Martial Dao Realm has advanced to Bone Refinement Ninth Stage."

"Year 60: Your Realm has reached the Peak of Bone Refinement Ninth Stage. You are only a True Qi away from filling the thirty-six primary acupoints around your body, and then you can enter the Qi Gathering Realm."

"Year 62: After two years of effort, you have filled three acupoints."

"Year 72: You have filled seventeen acupoints."

"Year 85: Your thirty-six major acupoints are filled with True Qi. With a single Breakthrough, your Martial Dao Realm has advanced to Qi Gathering First Stage!"

"Year 120: You have never been negligent in your Cultivation, but due to limited talent, it took thirty-five more years to successfully make a Breakthrough to Qi Gathering Second Stage."

"Year 165: Forty-five years have passed in a hurry, like water dripping through stone, your Martial Dao Realm has successfully made a Breakthrough to Qi Gathering Third Stage!"

"Year 180: You failed to make a Breakthrough to the next Realm."

Jiang Lan opened his eyes, and a divine light burst forth from them.

Qi Gathering Realm, achieved!

The Centurion stared with wide eyes.

"Achieved?"

"Achieved."

"Bone Refinement Ninth Stage?"

"Qi Gathering."