This was the only pill he could take right now. Qi Gathering Pills were meant for Qi Condensation disciples.
Looking at the pill in his hand, Su Twelve hesitated, then closed his eyes and swallowed it.
As soon as the pill went down, a warm current spread through Su Twelve’s body, as comforting as basking in the sun.
This state lasted for a full hour.
When the warm current disappeared, Su Twelve opened his eyes and saw a thick, black layer of foul impurities oozing out over his skin.
He quickly went to the courtyard and washed off the impurities. Then, he took a few deep breaths. Not only did he feel no discomfort, but his entire body brimmed with strength.
Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief, his anxious heart finally settling.
“It seems these pills really are fine. Just like the books say, they can expel impurities from the body and improve one’s constitution.”
“With so many Essence-Nourishing Pills, if I take them all, my body will grow incredibly strong.”
“By then, if I run into that fierce tiger again, I won’t need to be afraid!”
Su Twelve settled into life at the Waste Pill Room, eating an Essence-Nourishing Pill every day.
He had no idea how extravagant this was. Eating Essence-Nourishing Pills like rice was unheard of—not just in the Cangshan Mountains, but across the entire Zhao State.
If other disciples found out, they would absolutely die of envy!
In the cultivation world, pill refinement had a very low success rate. Cloudsong Sect’s novice disciples might receive as few as three Essence-Nourishing Pills a month, and never more than ten.
For ten consecutive days, Su Twelve lived on edge.
Each night, the tiger appeared. Knowing he was no match for it, Su Twelve hid among the waste pills to mask his scent.
One morning, Su Twelve swallowed three Essence-Nourishing Pills.
But this time, almost no impurities were expelled from his body. Aside from no longer feeling hungry, there were no other obvious changes.
This situation immediately caused Su Twelve to frown.
“It seems Essence-Nourishing Pills can’t improve my constitution forever. That’s a problem. The tiger is still a threat. If I run into it unprepared, I’ll be dead for sure.”
“I must think of another way. Even if it’s risky, I have to get rid of it as soon as possible!”
“My physique is already as strong as an adult’s. If I set another trap…”
A gleam came into Su Twelve’s eyes. His stronger physique had boosted his confidence, but unless there was no other choice, he would avoid fighting the tiger at close quarters.
The biggest difference between humans and beasts was that humans could think!
Acting on his thoughts without wasting any time, he got to work.
He checked the rooms one by one and soon found a pile of farming tools.
He spent the entire day digging a pit five or six meters deep in the courtyard. Then he chopped down several arm-thick logs, sharpened them into stakes, and planted them point-up along the bottom and sides of the pit.
By evening, a carefully crafted trap sat in the courtyard.
After concealing the trap, Su Twelve crouched in the corner of the courtyard with the axe, waiting patiently.
He was determined to hunt down that fierce tiger tonight.
Pressing his ear against the wall, he began to listen intently.
After taking so many Essence-Nourishing Pills, not only had his physique improved, but his senses had grown sharper too. He could now clearly hear many sounds from a hundred meters away.
Based on his experience over the past few days, the fierce tiger should be arriving right about now.
Soon, the rustling sound of footsteps drifted over from the distance.
Hearing the movement, he instinctively tightened his grip on the axe, pressed his back against the wall, and stared unblinking at the courtyard.
Thud!
With a muffled sound, the fierce tiger leapt over the wall, acting as casually as if it were returning home.
Seeing the tiger appear, Su Twelve shuddered. He quickly raised the axe, stood up, and braced himself.
Though prepared, he had never faced an opponent like this before. His heart still seized with fear, and his limbs weakened.
The beast’s sheer size made it clear that he could not easily overpower it.
At the same time, the fierce tiger noticed Su Twelve in the corner. Catching the scent of a living human in the air, its feral ferocity flared.
“Roar!”
The tiger let out a roar, opening its bloody maw as it charged straight at Su Twelve.
Its sharp claws and fangs glinted in the moonlight, and the stench of its breath was enough to make his blood run cold.
Its massive body caused the very ground to tremble.
Seeing the tiger drawing closer and closer, Su Twelve’s heart leapt into his throat, cold sweat drenching his back!
His gaze fell on the trap just a short distance in front of him, and only then did he feel a sliver of reassurance.
But in the very next second, the unexpected occurred.
Just as the tiger was about to step onto the trap, it suddenly leapt, clearing the pit and heading straight for Su Twelve.
Su Twelve panicked. If the trap failed, he would be left to face the tiger alone.
“Ah!”
With a shout, he cast fear aside, summoned all his strength, and hurled the axe at the airborne tiger.
Bang!
The axe slammed into the tiger’s head with a dull thud, splitting the skin and drawing blood.
The tiger had barely leapt when the axe struck its head. It faltered midair and hit the ground before clearing the pit.
It landed with a pained snarl, eyes wide and roaring savagely as it prepared to charge Su Twelve again.
But just as it moved, the earth beneath its paws suddenly gave way. Caught completely off guard, it plummeted straight down.
Squelch!
A spray of hot, bright-red blood burst up from the pit. As the tiger fell, the sharpened stakes pierced its body, drawing an earth-shaking roar from it.
But after a few more cries, it fell deathly still.
When the tiger fell silent, Su Twelve grabbed his axe, hurried to the edge of the pit, and peered down.
A dark shape suddenly flashed past as the tiger, enduring its wounds, sprang back out of the pit.
Caught off guard, Su Twelve was knocked flying, the axe slipping from his grasp.
He hit the ground aching all over. Had the Essence-Nourishing Pills not greatly strengthened his physique, that impact would have left him badly injured.
“Not good!”
Crying out inwardly, he ignored his injuries and scrambled to his feet.
The bloodied tiger pinned him to the ground, its round eyes fixed on him with murderous fury. It gaped its jaws, teeth flashing as it lunged for his throat.
Desperate, Su Twelve flung a handful of dirt into the tiger’s face. As it squeezed its eyes shut, he kicked hard at its wounded flank.
His strength now far surpassed an ordinary person’s. The forceful kick made the wounded tiger stagger, nearly toppling it.
Su Twelve seized the opening, rolled clear, and reached the fallen axe. He snatched it up and swung at the tiger with all his might.
The fight had brought Su Twelve’s anger to a boil, and he had plenty of rage to vent. Blood in his eyes, he no longer cared about the trap; he simply attacked.
Already wounded, the tiger had lost much of its speed and agility.
It could barely defend itself against Su Twelve’s attacks.
Half an hour later, Su Twelve had several new cuts. The tiger, meanwhile, lay drenched in blood, unable to rise.
“I… I really killed a tiger with my own strength?! These cultivator pills are incredible.”
Once he had calmed down, Su Twelve stood beside the tiger’s body, overwhelmed with excitement.
Killing a tiger on his own had given him a tremendous boost in confidence. The sense of accomplishment was hard to put into words.
But immediately after, waves of lingering dread washed over him.
“That was close. I thought the trap was foolproof, but I never expected the tiger to play dead. I nearly died because I let my guard down. I have to be more careful from now on!”
The tiger’s feigned death and sudden counterattack left a deep impression on him. He realized he must never underestimate an opponent.
That night, Su Twelve slept exceptionally soundly.