Chapter 12: The Tiger King, Supreme Commander
The Body Refinement Technique of Ten Transformations—each transformation a realm unto itself! Unless one has personally undergone the journey, one can never truly grasp the profound meaning and hidden truth behind these words.
Back when he first fell unconscious in the secluded village, Du Gu Bieli began cultivating the First Transformation. At first, his only wish was to strengthen his tendons and bones, to eliminate any future drawbacks when using the Arcane Nether Technique. Later, during his migration, he persisted with diligence and finally reached the pinnacle of the First Transformation. The changes to his body were only slightly enhanced, yet they brought considerable trouble. Every ordinary movement, every lift of the hand or step forward, required several times more strength to accomplish, as if a heavy, invisible shackle had been placed inside and out, binding him with a real and inescapable restraint.
Du Gu Bieli often found himself thinking it was nothing remarkable, profoundly disappointed—never expecting that this very shackle, while suppressing him, actually held another mysterious power!
A tiger is a sovereign, its battle strength dozens of times that of ordinary warriors; for someone with only several times the strength of a brave fighter, such power was an unbearable legend. Yet, precisely because of this "shackle," he bore it completely.
The final result was that he suffered only superficial injuries, nothing life-threatening. Moreover, the shackle itself was shattered, ground utterly to dust!
Though still within the arena, his entire body felt lighter than ever, as if he could soar. And soar he did.
He felt the wellspring of strength within him, not as it once was. Power surged and exploded with joyous abandon. Du Gu Bieli’s fighting spirit ignited; his blood burned.
He slowly raised his head. Facing the mighty tiger, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, his gaze growing sharp and brilliant. His voice was steady, his tone brooking no dispute. “You are strong—far beyond the realm of a mere brave. I do not know who you are or why you’re here, but I still wish to test myself against you.”
Boom!
A massive hand struck the stone floor—the arena could no longer withstand the onslaught and collapsed with a thunderous roar. Amidst flying debris and swirling dust, he shot skyward, soaring like an eagle, diving with predatory force. His fist, wrapped in fierce wind, thundered like cannon fire, capable of slicing and tearing all before it.
Faintly, the void seemed like an elastic cloth, denting under his force, forming a moving semicircle. This strange phenomenon made it seem as if Du Gu Bieli’s strength was unrivaled, pulling down the very heavens to cover the earth with overwhelming might.
The power of heaven and earth is unfathomable.
This punch was wild and unstoppable, carrying with it a momentum that brooked no resistance. The strength within was greater and purer than ever before, like a giant smith swinging a hammer with titanic force.
“Excellent!” the tiger praised, but did not slow. Nearly a third of its battle power surged forth. With a solemn expression, its right arm rose defiantly to the sky, fist clenched.
Holding up the heavens!
Even if the sky were to fall, I would lift it again.
In that instant, the tiger’s unyielding dominance and spirit were revealed in full, without reservation.
Crack!
But the anticipated collision of heaven and earth never came. Du Gu Bieli’s fist suddenly burst open, his five fingers splayed wide. In his palm, a strange vortex formed, exuding an eerie, otherworldly force. It seemed to manifest a bottomless abyss, greedily devouring all things, material and immaterial, indiscriminately and without end.
The Arcane Nether Technique—Absorb, Devour!
A roaring surge—like mighty rivers and seas, waves upon waves of pure, immense essence, as if long suppressed and finally finding an outlet, rushed into his body, eager and unrelenting. With a single breath, all his previous expenditure was replenished, with more to spare, circulating through his blood.
Catching his opponent off guard, Du Gu Bieli was not pleased, but alarmed. His heart trembled, his eyes widened in shock. “Just what level is this creature?”
Under normal circumstances, a Soldier has battle power of one, a Brave, five times that, and a General is said to possess ten times the strength. The differences are measurable, but not insurmountable. Yet faced with this gap, it was like comparing a firefly to the full moon.
Even the immense essence he had just absorbed—be it flesh, spirit, or energy—felt like a mere drop in the ocean. The tiger’s depth was unfathomable.
It was definitely not a General.
Which meant—at minimum, a Sovereign…
“How strange!” The tiger suddenly realized that the essence it had painstakingly refined over the years was leaking away, if only in trace amounts. Startled, it instantly erupted with its full strength—not to harm, but to send Du Gu Bieli flying, breaking their contact. “Du Gu, what a bizarre move! What secret art is that? Will you tell me, to ease my confusion?”
“Take another punch, and then we’ll talk!” For the first time, his Arcane Nether Technique was interrupted, so Du Gu Bieli immediately switched tactics. Tumbling through the air like a dragon rising from the sea, he soared higher, pierced the clouds, then descended like a god, his punch vast and unified, plummeting from above. His power burst forth, transforming into a giant hand that blotted out the sky, forming a hammer that struck down with indomitable force.
The tiger frowned, leapt lightly away, and hastily waved his hand, “I concede! Let’s not fight anymore. And congratulations—you’ve completed your ten consecutive victories.”
Wow—
Around the ruined arena, voices erupted in a clamor—some in awe, some envious, some questioning, every kind of reaction. Yet whatever the response, the outcome of the ten consecutive victories was already decided. The village elder and the men, who had been tense and worried the whole time, finally relaxed, waving with teary eyes to honor their guardian, expressing their joy, their hearts awash in happiness.
“Silence!”
Before Du Gu Bieli could react, the tiger’s powerful voice boomed, silencing the crowd. Then he announced loudly, “Some of you may have guessed already—I am not a Brave, but—a Sovereign!”
“Ah… so it’s true!”
“As expected.”
“The Battle Alliance has fallen…”
“At least he has the courage to admit it. Let’s hear what else he has to say, and afterward, we’ll seek justice from the Battle Alliance.”
“Yes, demand justice!”
“….”
“Everyone, please, hear me out.” The tiger raised his hand, waiting for the murmurs to die down before continuing, “To be honest, by the rules of the Battle Alliance, I have indeed erred. I apologize to you all. But there is a special reason why I broke the rules, not out of malice, though I cannot yet explain it. I ask for your understanding. As a gesture of my sincerity, today’s wagers—those who lost will have their stakes doubled back, those who won will receive ten times their winnings!”
“Who do you think you are? You think your word is law?”
“Yeah, such arrogance—do you take yourself for the emperor?”
“….”
Du Gu Bieli continued to circulate his energy, letting strength, essence, and spirit flow through his body, healing his wounds, and beginning the Second Transformation of the Body Refinement Technique, while watching the scene unfold with interest. He was quite curious about the tiger’s true identity, so he did nothing to interfere.
“Haha!” The tiger laughed aloud, taking a bold step forward, exuding dominance. “I am no ordinary tiger. My true title is Tiger King, commander of the Butterfly Branch in the Eastern Wilderness for the Primal Battle Alliance, overseeing all affairs. The officials of this arena can vouch for me. Do you still doubt me?”
At these words, the crowd fell silent, glancing uncertainly at one another.
“It seems you believe me now—saves me a lot of trouble.” The Tiger King swept his gaze over the crowd, then added with a sly smile, “If anyone remains dissatisfied and insists on reporting my rule-breaking, you may come to the Butterfly Branch and speak to me directly. I promise I’ll listen carefully and consider your complaint.”
“I’ll go!”
“You’re ruthless!”
“….”