The Relic of the Three Realms Ruler

Chapter 8

Several days passed, and Lin Jiang continued to practice the Death Staff Technique with unwavering dedication. It was one of the cultivation manuals he had discovered inside the treasure chests.

After days of relentless training, his palms had noticeably changed. They had become thicker and tougher, clear evidence that he was truly beginning to walk the path of a staff warrior.

His movements also became much steadier. Although he had yet to master the weapon completely, every thrust and every strike showed visible improvement.

The only technique he had not practiced was defense.

In his opinion, defensive techniques could only be perfected against a truly powerful opponent.

"Perhaps I should venture deeper into the forest. Maybe I'll encounter a wild beast," Lin Jiang muttered as he gazed toward the dense woods before him.

Having made up his mind, he entered the forest alone, with no one watching over him.

As he walked deeper into the woods, the silver-colored Demon Staff silently followed behind him once again.

"You're coming too?" Lin Jiang asked the staff with a faint smile.

Roaaar!!

The moment he passed a massive ancient tree, a deafening roar echoed through the forest.

It was the roar of a tiger.

Lin Jiang instantly became alert.

He had no intention of becoming prey to one of the spiritual beasts that roamed the Underworld.

Whoosh!!

Without warning, a gigantic tiger leaped from behind the trees and lunged straight toward him.

Whoosh!

Lin Jiang quickly sprang to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's deadly pounce.

"Come on!" he shouted, gripping the wooden staff he had prepared for training.

This was exactly what he had hoped for.

A fierce beast would allow him to practice the defensive techniques of the Death Staff Art.

"Hah!!"

Assuming a solid stance, Lin Jiang held the wooden staff firmly with both hands and waited for the tiger's next attack.

Boom!!

The tiger's powerful forelegs slammed into the staff.

A fierce contest of strength erupted as man and beast pushed against each other.

"Haaah!!"

With a powerful burst of strength, Lin Jiang forced the tiger backward.

Whoosh!!

The tiger immediately charged again.

Once more, Lin Jiang repeated the same defensive movement, blocking the attack before driving the beast back.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Only after repeating the exchange countless times did he feel that his defensive technique had become much more stable.

"It's time to attack."

"Hah!!"

Lin Jiang rushed forward and thrust his wooden staff toward the tiger's head with astonishing speed.

But the tiger was no ordinary beast.

It swiftly dodged to the side, causing the thrust to miss completely.

"I'm not done yet!"

Without hesitation, Lin Jiang changed his attack.

Instead of continuing the thrust, he spun the wooden staff and transformed the motion into a powerful horizontal strike.

Smack!!

However, the tiger caught the wooden staff between its massive jaws.

Its bite was unbelievably powerful.

Crack!!

With one tremendous snap, the tiger broke the wooden staff cleanly in half.

"So strong..."

Lin Jiang muttered in disbelief.

The tiger gave him no chance to recover.

As soon as the staff was broken, it swung its massive left paw toward him.

Its razor-sharp claws sliced through the air.

Lin Jiang threw himself aside and rolled across the ground, barely escaping the attack.

Grrr...

The tiger growled menacingly, exposing its razor-sharp fangs.

Lin Jiang had lost his weapon.

His eyes frantically searched for anything he could use to defend himself.

Unfortunately, there wasn't another suitable branch anywhere nearby.

Worse still, he had already been cornered.

Instinctively, his gaze shifted toward the Demon Staff standing beside him.

"If only I could use the Demon Staff... I wouldn't be trapped like this."

Roaaaar!!

The tiger roared again, as though mocking its now defenseless prey.

Whoosh!!

Then it lunged once more, both front claws extended toward Lin Jiang.

Lin Jiang desperately twisted and dodged, narrowly escaping each strike.

Again and again he evaded the tiger's relentless assaults.

The repeated failures only made the beast even angrier.

Eventually...

His luck ran out.

After being overwhelmed by the tiger's continuous attacks, Lin Jiang finally lost his footing.

Slash!!

The tiger's claws tore across his back.

Blood instantly flowed from the deep wound, and a burning pain spread throughout his body.

"Damn beast!"

Lin Jiang gritted his teeth as he prepared himself for another attack.

Roaaaar!!

With another earth-shaking roar, the tiger charged again, its enormous jaws opened wide to devour him.

Cornered with nowhere left to run...

Lin Jiang's hand instinctively reached toward the Demon Staff.

"Give me a chance to wield you!"

Boom!!

At that critical moment...

Lin Jiang successfully lifted the Demon Staff.

Without hesitation, he swung it with all his strength.

Crash!!

The enormous tiger was blasted backward, flying more than twenty meters through the air.

Such terrifying power came from a single strike of the Demon Staff.

"Did... did I really manage to wield it?"

Lin Jiang stared at the weapon in disbelief.

Whoosh... Whoosh...

He spun the Demon Staff in his hand several times, wanting to make sure it wasn't just an illusion.

Violent winds immediately gathered around the spinning staff, rushing straight toward the tiger.

"Let's finish this!"

"Hah!!"

Filled with confidence, Lin Jiang charged forward.

He completely ignored the wound on his back, focusing solely on defeating the beast before him.

The tiger, which had been overwhelmingly confident only moments ago, suddenly lost its courage upon seeing the Demon Staff in Lin Jiang's hands.

"Heaven-Shattering Strike!"

"Haaah!!"

Lin Jiang raised the Demon Staff high above his head before bringing it down with overwhelming force.

The tiger was shocked by his incredible speed.

Instead of facing the attack...

It turned and fled.

Boom!!

The Demon Staff slammed into the ground with tremendous force.

The earth exploded apart, leaving behind a massive crater.

Unfortunately, the tiger had already escaped before the blow landed.

"Tch... what a coward!"

Lin Jiang shouted after the fleeing beast.