Tongtian inwardly cursed,
"Was I managing them? It's because you two made me worry!"
Despite his inner grumbles, Tongtian could only let the matter drop since he didn't have the support of Taishang and Yuanshi.
Taishang did not expose Tongtian's little thoughts. Taishang himself didn't know what was happening to him. Perhaps it was the influence of the Way of Non-Action, or perhaps it was because he was a shut-in in his past life. In any case, Taishang had no intention of getting married!
Tongtian remained dejected without the support of his two elder brothers. Taishang, seeing the unhappy Tongtian, suddenly remembered the Creation Whip was still in Tongtian's possession.
"Right, Third Brother, the Creation Whip formed from the Innate Gourd Vine is still with you, isn't it!"
Although Tongtian was unhappy, upon hearing Taishang's words, he took out the Creation Whip and asked with a hint of confusion,
"Yes, Elder Brother. Do you want this Creation Whip?"
Taishang nodded,
"This Creation Whip has another use for me, so give it to me!"
Upon hearing this, Tongtian handed the Creation Whip to Taishang without hesitation!
"Since Elder Brother has a use for it, take it! It's of no use to me!"
Taishang took the Creation Whip and looked at the Youxiong tribe in silence.
Yuanshi and Tongtian looked at Taishang.
"What? Does Elder Brother have something on his mind?"
Within the Youxiong tribe of the Human Race, Xuanyuan had not slacked off his cultivation since Taishang's departure. Instead, he diligently reviewed the knowledge Taishang had imparted to him every day.
One day, with nothing else to do, Xuanyuan entered the great mountains to clear his mind. As he walked, he pondered the affairs of the Youxiong tribe.
Although Xuanyuan was not the chieftain of the Youxiong tribe, he was aware that their chieftain intended to entrust the tribe to him.
Xuanyuan walked on, lost in thought, completely unaware that he had ventured deep into the mountains.
Suddenly, a tiger's roar reached Xuanyuan's ears. He snapped back to reality, turned his head, and looked around, realizing he had no idea where he was.
Xuanyuan looked around with a grave expression. The tiger's roar had not been far. He hadn't expected to be so unlucky as to encounter the formidable beast that his tribesmen avoided at all costs.
Even when tribesmen ventured out for hunts, they tried their best not to provoke this beast. Yet here he was, alone and vulnerable.
Xuanyuan picked up a wooden stick from the ground, his gaze wary as he scanned his surroundings.
Suddenly, Xuanyuan saw the bushes to his right rustling. He immediately turned his head, looking intently at the spot, and quietly began to back away.
Indeed, not long after Xuanyuan turned, a majestic striped beast slowly emerged from the bushes, its eyes fixed on Xuanyuan, occasionally emitting a low growl.
Xuanyuan knew that although he was a disciple of Saint Father Taishang, his master had not taught him cultivation methods, only the art of warfare and formations.
Xuanyuan maintained eye contact with the striped beast while cautiously retreating.
Seeing Xuanyuan slowly backing away, the striped beast slowly advanced, ensuring the distance between them did not widen.
Xuanyuan noticed that when he stood still, the striped beast also stood still. When he retreated, the beast followed, closing the gap. Despite his retreat, the distance hadn't increased.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan realized that although the beast was still mortal, it must have gained some spiritual awareness through an opportunity.
While retreating, Xuanyuan's peripheral vision scanned for a tree. When he was near one, he secretly gathered his strength and with a powerful push, his body shot forward like an arrow from a bow.
The great tiger, seeing Xuanyuan suddenly accelerate, lunged after him.
Just as the glinting claws were about to strike Xuanyuan's back, Xuanyuan suddenly kicked off the trunk of the tree. Using the phản lực (recoil) from his foot, he leaped into the air, grabbed a branch, and flipped himself onto the branch, standing there.
The striped beast, seeing its pounce miss, roared to the sky and charged forward. As it neared the tree, it leaped with all its might!
Xuanyuan remained calm and unfazed. He simply tightened his grip on the wooden staff, narrowed his eyes, and watched the beast as it lunged at him.
As the beast reached mid-air, Xuanyuan's eyes lit up! He leaped upwards, raising the wooden staff above his head. Using his downward momentum and the force of his arms, he brought the staff down with all his might onto the beast's head.
"Crack!"
The moment the wooden staff made contact with the beast's head, it snapped!
Xuanyuan, still in mid-air, immediately grabbed the broken piece of the staff flying towards his head.
As Xuanyuan landed, he rolled to absorb the impact and cushion his fall. Just as he hit the ground, Xuanyuan heard a "whoosh" and an arrow flew towards the beast, striking its left eye.
The beast let out a deafening roar and then stared intently at a woman on a nearby hill.
The beast abandoned Xuanyuan and rapidly charged towards the woman.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan, holding both broken staffs, struck at the beast's hind legs as it ran past him.
Another "crack!" and one wooden staff was broken into four pieces by Xuanyuan.
The beast's hind legs, struck by this blow, lost their strength and it was sent flying.
The woman, seeing this, did not miss the opportune moment and shot another arrow, hitting the beast's right eye.
Xuanyuan saw that the striped beast's eyes were blinded. He immediately sprinted towards the beast, leaped into the air, and thrust the broken staffs in his hands fiercely towards the beast's neck.
The beast cried out in pain and flailed its front paws wildly.
Xuanyuan, unable to dodge, was struck by a paw and sent flying far away.
Although Xuanyuan was knocked flying by the beast's blow, he also managed to pull out the two wooden staffs that had been inserted into the beast's neck.
As the wooden staffs were pulled out, the beast's blood erupted.
The striped beast, blind in both eyes and unable to see anything, staggered a few steps before collapsing and falling to the ground.
Xuanyuan, however, had been knocked unconscious by the beast's blow.
The woman walked over to Xuanyuan's side, looking at the unconscious Xuanyuan and then at the beast's corpse, her brow furrowed.
The strong scent of the beast's blood would undoubtedly attract other wild animals, which would devour Xuanyuan if he was left here.
The woman sighed, then picked up Xuanyuan and carried him towards her own tribe.
Within the Xiling tribe, the unconscious Xuanyuan slowly regained consciousness. He looked at the unfamiliar surroundings and suddenly jumped up!
Xuanyuan scanned the area and then saw the woman sitting not far away. She was his savior. He immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying,
"Xuanyuan thanks the maiden for saving my life! May I know your honorable surname and given name!"
The woman glanced at Xuanyuan and said calmly,
"Xuanyuan, a very pleasant name. I am Leizu!"