Chapter 177: The Third Tomb

Her razor-sharp gaze turned to Wang Hu who faced her calmly and honestly as though nothing had happened.

It was true that nothing had even happened in the first place, too, so he wasn't guilty at all.

A long, drawn-out two seconds later; Di Baijun's cold, razor-sharp gaze landed on Su Ling.

Although Su Ling had lowered her head, it was as though she had sensed it nonetheless. She instinctively trembled, some fear arising in her.

"I'm asking you something. What is it that you can't pass?" asked Di Baijun aloofly.

Su Ling replied softly and reverently, "My Queen, I was saying that I'm afraid I can't pass the ten trials that the King has set."

"Hmph." Di Baijun let out a light snort. Yet, it was as though a thunderclap, causing Su Ling to tremble again.

"What an unambitious fellow. It's just a small trial, yet you're saying that you can't pass it when you haven't even tried. How useless. What's the point of having you here?" Di Baijun barked coldly without holding back at all.

Wang Hu, who was seated above, wasn't surprised at all. This was what the true Silly Girl was like—the high and mighty, cold and haughty, and domineering Paragon of Tigers.

As for the Silly Girl in front of him, that was his wife.

Su Ling hung her head even lower. The scene of a matriarch reprimanding a concubine couldn't help but surface in her mind.

Grievance filled her heart. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she became—especially because the demon lord didn't even have any intention to help her out at all.

She said timidly and fearfully, "My Queen, I was wrong."

"Since you know that you're in the wrong, then you have to change your behavior. If I ever see you being so unambitious again in the future, I definitely won't let you off so lightly." Di Baijun glared at her coldly.

"Yes, I understand," said Su Ling. Then, she quickly ran out of the hall with a heart full of grievance.

That vicious tigress.

How detestable!

Just you wait. Just you wait…

When Su Ling disappeared from sight, Wang Hu smiled and looked at Silly Girl. He said naturally, "That fox is still so timid. It's about time we really teach her a lesson."

Di Baijun reined in her cold haughtiness a little and rolled her eyes at Wang Hu. Then, she said calmly, "Teach her a lesson? Will you bear to do so?"

"What are you even saying, Baijun?" replied a smiling, unaffected Wang Hu.

"Hmph." Di Baijun snorted lightly, though she didn't say anything else. To be honest, she knew very well that the rascal didn't harbor any thoughts toward Su Ling.

Apart from unique circumstances, Divine Body Realm cultivators would never develop any interest in those weaker than the Divine Body Realm.

Nevertheless, she should still keep her guard up. After all, what if that fox broke through the Divine Body Realm?

She felt that certain things that she had recently seen on the Chinese Internet did make a little sense. For example, which man wouldn't cheat?

She should keep a tighter watch over him.

Also, which vixen wouldn't seduce men?

She should keep an eye on the fox all the more.

Of course, these weren't things that she could openly express. Otherwise, wouldn't that mean that she was jealous?

Of course, she wasn't jealous.

Su Ling was just an insignificant little vixen. She didn't take that fox to heart at all.

"Baijun, I've already told them everything. What comes next would be designating duties to the various species in the Lichi Continent.

"We don't need to worry about these. We'll just let Old Second and Jun Wen do the planning when the time comes.

"Prepare the things that you need. We'll likely be spending most of our time in the Lichi Continent after this. The spiritual energy density level is higher over there after all.

"Half of the animals under the Tiger King's Cave's command will also take turns to stay in the Lichi Continent," said Wang Hu.

"Okay." Di Baijun replied.

…

Two days later, after they were done with all the preparations and Wang Hu had settled everything; he brought Silly Girl, the two little fellows, and half the animals into the Lichi Continent.

By now, the area surrounding the world passage in the Lichi Continent was already vastly different from before.

A sizable palace had sprung up within a short while. It was the headquarters that Wang Hu had constructed in the Lichi Continent.

He would be governing the whole of the Lichi Continent there from now on. There, he could also return to the Tiger King's Cave anytime he wanted.

Another few days passed. After Wang Liang, Jun Wen, and the others got a good idea of the various species in the Lichi Continent; they designated the other animals their respective duties.

The various species were required to offer up different resources to the Tiger King's Cave every year according to how strong each species was.

A peaceful and stable transitional period followed thereafter. After setting all the new rules, they started to use the resources to groom the many animals in the Tiger King's Cave.

By the time everything went on track and stabilized, a month had already gone by.

Everything proceeded in a systematic and orderly manner.

Two months later, the number of Transformation Realm animals in the Tiger King's Cave reached over 180.

Jun Wen, Ling Shuang, Wang Liang, Wang Shan, and the others… each of them had their levels of combat power rapidly improve as well.

At the same time, Wang Hu's base strength also reached the Fifth Floor. His shoulder height when he was in his tiger form reached 40-meter-tall, and he also reached the limit of China's current spiritual energy density level.

Together with his three Extreme Dao Special Abilities, the first stage of the White Tiger Battle Art, and the first stage of the Wind-Riding Divine Art; Wang Hu's current level of combat power on Earth had reached a peak that he had imagined in the past.

Next, he would have to slowly cultivate over time. It would be hard for him to have another large-scale improvement.

As for the second stages of the White Tiger Battle Art and the Wind-Riding Divine Art, they weren't something that he could master within a short period.

Another five months went by in a flash.

On this day, Wang Liang suddenly hastily went to Wang Hu, who was in the midst of cultivating in the Lichi Continent.

Without bothering with civilities, he hastily said, "Big Brother, a large-scale increase in spiritual energy, as well as another round of spiritual energy nourishment, is taking place nationwide again."

Wang Hu's eyes flew open, and he jumped to his feet. Then, he said seriously, "Order everyone under the Tiger King's Cave's command to return to China immediately."

"Understood," Wang Liang immediately replied.

As for Wang Hu, he got Silly Girl over, brought Big Treasure and Little Treasure with him, and exited the world passage in advance to return to Earth.

The moment he exited the world passage, his countenance darkened. Di Baijun also sensed something amiss.

She exclaimed in astonishment, "Why is the spiritual energy here rising even though we aren't in China?"

Wang Hu shook his head. He didn't know the reason why either. This place wasn't within China's borders, yet the spiritual energy density level here was indeed rising. It was just that there wasn't any spiritual energy nourishment taking place here.

Without saying much, he brought his family with him and quickly headed to China. The moment they stepped into China, the familiar feeling of spiritual energy nourishment rushed toward them.

They returned to the Tiger King's Cave. After getting the two little fellows to play by themselves, Wang Hu and Di Baijun arrived at a mountain peak, both wearing fairly grave looks on their countenances.

Golden light flickered in their eyes.

They activated Tiger's Spirit Golden Eyes to its limit and looked around them.

"The spiritual energy density level is experiencing a large-scale rise both inside and outside China," said Di Baijun first.

Wang Hu kept quiet and continued to look around in silence.

All of a sudden, he frowned and said with some uncertainty, "Baijun, look at this spiritual energy nourishment. Is there something odd about it?"

Di Baijun looked at Wang Hu. Despite being somewhat perplexed, she nevertheless immediately tried to sense it.

A few seconds later, she frowned and said definitively, "There is indeed something odd about the spiritual energy nourishment. It's actually vaguely rejecting us, resulting in a drastic reduction in effectiveness."

Wang Hu's pupils contracted, and he said in a deep voice, "Let's go and take a look at the tigers."

Di Baijun nodded, and they transformed into two streaks of light. A short while later, their frowns deepened even further.

"The spiritual energy nourishment is also rejecting the other tigers and even the other animal species. In other words, it's not because of our level of combat power," said a confused Di Baijun.

The next instant, Wang Hu looked toward the south.

"Baijun, wait for me here. I'll go over to the human cities and take a look," said Wang Hu rapidly.

Realization dawned upon Di Baijun, and she also thought of the same thing. She then nodded heavily.

Wang Hu immediately transformed into a streak of golden light that shot across the sky and vanished from sight.

Thanks to the Extreme Agility Movement of Dao, he arrived at one of the humans' cities in less than ten minutes.

A few minutes later, Wang Hu's brows locked into a tight frown as he watched the city that had become lively yet quiet because of the spiritual energy nourishment. Then, he turned into a streak of golden light again and left.

Upon returning to the Tiger King's Cave, he looked at Silly Girl and said seriously, "It doesn't reject humans."

A knowing look as though she had expected as much appeared on Di Baijun's face. Displeased, she said, "It must be China's forebears being petty. The first two rounds of spiritual energy nourishment had included everyone, yet it's rejecting us this time. How petty of them."

Wang Hu didn't care about whether they were being petty or not, though. Rather, he was concerned about something else.

"Baijun, this world is probably really going to fall into utter chaos soon."

Di Baijun's eyes flickered. After a moment of silence, she said haughtily and bossily, "No matter who it is, and no matter which world it is, I dare them to mess with us tigers!"

A smile formed Wang Hu's countenance as he gazed at Silly Girl, who refused to show any hint of weakness just like how she had always been. He nodded to show that he agreed very much with her.

It was just that he felt a rare great weight in his heart.

This time, the human countries…

Several seconds later, he suppressed his heavy thoughts and started to cultivate wholeheartedly with Silly Girl.

Although the spiritual energy nourishment was rejecting them this time, there was nevertheless still some effect and could still be considered an opportunity.

Wang Hu didn't want to let this opportunity slip by him. Neither could he afford to.

Meanwhile…

A heavy and repressed atmosphere filled the air among all the senior officials of various countries.

In the capital of China…

"This is the third time that spiritual energy is suddenly experiencing a large-scale increase. This is also the fourth round of spiritual energy nourishment.

"At the same time, the spiritual energy density level outside of China is also experiencing a large-scale rise. It's just that there isn't any spiritual energy nourishment outside of China.

"Additionally, another tomb has appeared in the central region as expected. This is the third tomb now. This time, it's Wang Yangming's tomb."

An elderly official spoke somberly in the cabinet meeting.

"What exactly is going on? Why is it different from the previous two times? Never mind that it's increasing here, but why is it also increasing outside our country?" An elderly official said somewhat anxiously with a frown.

There was no way he wouldn't be anxious. Anyone that understood the inner workings would be.

"Exactly. Putting aside our own crisis for now, how long has it only been since the spiritual energy density level outside of China reached the Third Realm? They didn't even get the three rounds of spiritual energy nourishment that we did, resulting in a foundation that's seriously lacking. Will they be able to resist the Grade A alternate worlds?" asked an elderly official worriedly.

He naturally wasn't really worried about the other countries' safety. Rather, he was worried about what they were going to do about the alternate worlds.

Once the other countries failed to stop them, Earth would truly fall into utter chaos.

"Alright, I think we should think about our own circumstances first. We can't do anything about the other countries for now anyway. How high exactly is the spiritual energy density level going to reach in China?" asked an elderly official somberly.

"It's still unclear as of now. The spiritual energy density level increase has only just started, so the research institute can't come up with an estimation yet," replied the elderly official who had spoken first.

Another few seconds of silence later, Dong Pingtao's calm and steady voice rang out. "Activate the first-level state of combat readiness at once. Monitor the whole country and the whole world.

"While ensuring China's safety and stability, we absolutely mustn't allow the alternate worlds to gain a foothold on Earth."

"Yes."