Chapter 12: Divine Abilities

The silver cast-iron figures offered no response. Simultaneously, they raised their stationery tools and swung them toward Vanguard Tiger.

In the next instant, everything around Vanguard Tiger solidified. He realized he could no longer sense the spiritual energy of the outside world. This ignited a profound fury within him; a burning rage welled up, accompanied by an urge to destroy everything in sight.

Vanguard Tiger lunged forward, charging directly at the silver figure wielding the seal. He had already sensed that these beings were made of metal, rendering his "Heaven-Swallowing Technique" useless. Thus, he unleashed his "Tiger Pounce" skill, intending to shatter the eight-man formation. He realized that while these eight were weak individually, together they formed a magical array capable of isolating the world and severing his connection to it. They had to be defeated.

But just as Vanguard Tiger pounced, the eight figures shifted their feet, adjusting their positions. Simultaneously, eight black cast-iron figures erupted from the shadows beneath them. Unlike the silver ones armed with stationery, these black figures wielded actual weapons. They burst from the shadows, attacking Vanguard Tiger from six different directions.

A veteran of many battles, Vanguard Tiger swung his great blade horizontally, intending to cut down the nearest foe. However, he realized too late that these eight were merely a distraction. As he struck, a voice echoed in his ears: "Freeze!"

Vanguard Tiger, mid-swing, suddenly stalled. An arrow and a bolt pierced his eyes. Long swords slashed his arms, while a spear and a halberd drove into his chest, pinning his arms wide open.

At that moment, a figure charged in from behind—it was Wang Liang. He rode a bronze warhorse, racing toward Vanguard Tiger at breakneck speed. His left hand was balled into a fist, glowing with a small axe formed of blood energy, while his right hand held his Life-Severing Blade, which crackled with faint lightning.

Only then did Vanguard Tiger notice Wang Liang, and he realized with a jolt that Wang Liang was the mastermind behind this ambush. Looking at the bronze horse and the thick, noble purple aura radiating from Wang Liang, Vanguard Tiger couldn't help but inwardly exclaim: "A spirit born of purple gold?"

He instantly understood: someone had hired Wang Liang specifically to exact revenge. As for who, he didn't need to guess—it was that family of goat spirits. He regretted not devouring them all in one go when he had the chance.

Furious, Vanguard Tiger’s eyes turned blood-red as he let out a thunderous roar at Wang Liang. Wang Liang had calculated his attack perfectly; the moment Vanguard Tiger opened his mouth, he anticipated the use of the Heaven-Swallowing Technique. He raised his left hand, and the Tiger-Slaughtering Axe Rune flew out, transforming into a streak of red light that shot into the tiger’s maw. Before Vanguard Tiger could roar, the object slid down his throat. He tried to spit it out, but it had already descended into his belly.

Vanguard Tiger coughed up a spray of blood, mixed with what appeared to be shredded internal organs. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Liang surged forward, his blade slicing from Vanguard Tiger's neck down to his groin. Then, a hammer and an axe smashed into the tiger from behind, sending him flying. Wang Liang’s bronze horse galloped forward, its hooves coming down squarely on the tiger’s head.

Under this relentless barrage, Vanguard Tiger had no chance to react; he was reduced to a corpse. Strangely, as he was knocked away, his tiger skin shed automatically, revealing a mass of raw flesh beneath. Had it not been for Wang Liang’s initial strike and the internal damage caused by the Axe Rune, he might have escaped.

Wang Liang approached the carcass, clutching his Life-Severing Blade. He stared at the mangled remains with a peculiar expression as the system prompt appeared before him.

[Temporary Mission: Tiger Slaughter 2 Complete. Obtained: Tiger-Skin Chair Blueprint, Obtained Divine Ability: Tiger-Slaughtering Axe Rune.]
[Temporary Mission: Blood Revenge Complete. Reward: Goat Treasure (Centennial) has been placed in your inventory.]

As these messages faded, Wang Liang felt a heat on the back of his left hand. A unique rune materialized there, so distinct that even his "Silver Light" gloves could not conceal it. At first glance, it looked like an axe striking a tiger's head, but a closer look revealed it to be a character formed by the pattern: "Sever!"

[Tiger-Slaughtering Axe Rune (Grade 7, Divine Ability)]
[Effect 1: Tiger Blood Nourishment. The rune can be nourished with tiger blood. Each liter increases damage against tiger-type entities by 1% (Cap: 1000%).]
[Effect 2: Tiger Soul Feedback. Killing a tiger-type entity provides a feedback of health, strength, and constitution based on the target's level (Must inflict at least 30% of the target's total damage).]
[Description: Originally a tiger-killing technique of the Xiao family in Gannan, it evolved into a divine ability through the sheer number of tigers slain.]

Looking at the Level 1 ability, Wang Liang knew he was destined to earn a title like "Tiger Slayer." He decided he should seek out more such work in the future. He then brought out the blueprint for the tiger-skin chair. Much like the tiger-bone ornament blueprint he had obtained earlier, it taught only the fundamentals. Beyond the skin, it required specialized auxiliary materials. To craft the chair, the skin had to be tanned, and the wood selected specifically to complement the hide. This wasn't just throwing a skin over a chair; it was a craft where the chair was built around the skin itself.

[Ding! You have discovered the Tiger-Skin Chair Blueprint. Do you wish to learn the craft of making a tiger-skin chair by reading this blueprint?]

Wang Liang didn't hesitate; he chose "No." He turned his gaze to the tiger skin on the ground, noticing it looked perfectly tanned, devoid of a single drop of blood. It was remarkably intact, which surprised him. Just as he stepped forward to collect it, a voice rang out from nearby:

"Don't move, or we will open fire."