Chapter 333: Vessel

Chapter 333: The Vessel

The sacred artifact of the White Tiger remnants indeed possessed extraordinary power.

As for what it truly was, not only could the current Grand Priestess not explain it clearly, but even the ancestors of the White Tiger remnants who first discovered it could not provide a definitive answer.

They only knew that it could contain the inner power of their Emperor’s Heart Sutra, so it was passed down as a legacy artifact.

The reason each generation’s Grand Priestess could use this object to cultivate the Emperor’s Heart Sutra was actually due to inheriting the legacy of their predecessors, drawing upon the stored power and integrating it into themselves.

Then, at the end of their life, they would return this power to the artifact.

Over time, the accumulated inner energy within it could be described as bottomless and immense.

The secrets that were never recorded in writing were ultimately handed down through spoken tradition.

This was the case even when the four martial arts masters of the Great Xuan Dynasty forced their way in.

They uncovered the secrets of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra and realized that this martial art was profoundly different.

If disseminated, its consequences—whether fortune or calamity—were unpredictable.

However, the sacred artifact of their clan was remarkably powerful.

Thus, they abandoned the Emperor’s Heart Sutra and instead fixed their attention on the sacred artifact, seeking to seize it.

At the time, the Grand Priestess was outmatched by them.

Not to mention the foremost master who never made a move, even the one bearing the Nine Purple energy overwhelmed the Grand Priestess in prolonged combat.

The records that claimed they exchanged thousands of blows without a clear victor were merely face-saving exaggerations.

Left with no choice, the Grand Priestess was forced to activate the sacred artifact.

She unleashed the inner power of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra stored within.

Once awakened, the artifact truly possessed the power to reshape heaven and earth.

Finally, the one who had remained inactive all along finally took action.

Pooling their power with the other three martial arts masters, they barely managed to withstand the artifact’s might.

Yet, their fighting spirit waned thereafter.

The four martial arts masters had no guarantee whether they could block the artifact’s power if it were unleashed a second time.

The Grand Priestess of that era, too, was uncertain whether she could activate the artifact again.

Both sides were wary.

After this single strike, the sacred artifact fractured and lost a fragment.

In the end, they reached an accord and settled on a compromise.

The four martial arts masters took the detached fragment of the artifact, while the White Tiger remnants swore fealty to the Great Xuan Dynasty, and the Emperor’s Heart Sutra was renamed the Amber Scripture.

This way, the four martial arts masters came away with gains and could give account of their task to the Xuan Emperor.

The White Tiger remnants, meanwhile, retained their combat legacy and most of their sacred artifact.

This matter was finally settled.

However, for the White Tiger remnants, after going through such an ordeal, it was hard to rest easy.

Thus, they began seeking other ways to boost their clan's strength.

Among these, figuring out how to harness the power of the sacred artifact became their top priority.

Having the Grand Priestess unleash the artifact's might was doable.

But the problem was that this method was too hard on the Grand Priestess.

The Grand Priestess of that generation died days later from the backlash of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra's energy stored within the artifact shortly after the four martial arts masters withdrew.

In truth, had there been no such cost, they would have already activated the artifact the moment the four masters arrived, wiping them out in White Tiger City.

This was a one-time trick. In the past, they hadn’t worried because they never imagined anyone could withstand the artifact's power.

Now that the existence of the four masters was confirmed, they had no choice but to consider how to unleash the artifact's power without gambling the Grand Priestess's life.

They had a sudden idea—they thought of finding a "vessel."

It wasn’t for the purpose of creating the legendary Tiger Lord.

After all, in their legends, the Tiger Lord ascended to heaven, leaving them as the divine descendants on earth.

If the Tiger Lord were to appear, why wouldn’t he take them to heaven?

Thus, by both logic and tradition, the appearance of the Tiger Lord would undermine everything they stood for.

The true goal was simply to find another way to unleash the artifact's power.

If they succeeded, even if the Great Xuan Dynasty returned, they wouldn’t have to worry.

Yet, to their shock, before this plan could be realized, Da Xuan collapsed first.

By all rights, since Da Xuan had already perished, there was no need for them to sacrifice their mountain tigers by persisting in this endeavor.

But the problem was that during the battle between the four masters and the Grand Priestess, their sacred artifact had indeed got badly damaged.

Apart from the shattered fragment, cracks had also appeared on the artifact. At first, they were hardly visible, but over time, these cracks grew clearer and spread further.

Moreover, the Emperor’s Heart Sutra's energy stored within the artifact was gradually dissipating as the cracks expanded.

If it were merely physical damage, they might have reluctantly accepted it.

But the artifact losing its power was more than they could take.

It was only at this point that they really started to panic.

Thus, they began gathering the smartest clan members to study how to repair the artifact.

They tried everything, scouring old texts.

Finally, they discovered two methods.

The first was to work rare metals into the artifact to fix the cracks.

Ordinary materials just wouldn’t cut it.

It couldn't even merge with the sacred artifact.

They could only seek exceptional materials.

This, however, put the White Tiger remnants in a tough spot.

They had lived here for generations and were unwilling to leave unless their backs were against the wall.

Moreover, their lineage had always relied on myths and legends to bolster the beliefs of the White Tiger remnants.

They made them believe that leaving White Tiger City would turn them into ordinary people, cursed by the tiger deity, and destined to die miserable deaths far from home.

Now, they couldn’t possibly look their disciples in the eye and say that these were all lies made up by their forebears, could they?

But if they didn’t leave, how could they find the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron?

A lie maintained for hundreds or even thousands of years couldn’t be undone with a snap of the fingers.

Thus, most of those ancient texts had been locked away.

Apart from the Grand Priestess, only the Chief Attendant of the Imperial Court could get limited access with her permission.

Over the past century, the Grand Priestess had also been quietly diminishing this influence.

Yet, the legends were too deeply ingrained, and change couldn’t happen overnight.

One wrong move might lead to the collapse of the White Tiger remnants' faith and their eventual disintegration.

Therefore, they had to proceed cautiously.

Not long ago, when Su Mo passed through White Tiger City with the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron, the city, which had kept to themselves for a millennium, suddenly took an interest in it—this was the reason.

The second method was to merge the sacred artifact into a tiger's body.

They would use the tiger’s flesh and blood to stabilize the sacred artifact.

No one could quite explain why this worked.

They discovered this when testing tigers while searching for a "vessel."

They found that tigers were actually the best match for the sacred artifact.

Later, they also realized that the artifact’s damage held steady under such conditions.

However, this was only a band-aid solution.

Not only did the artifact’s damage persist, but more critically, ordinary tigers couldn’t withstand the power of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra leaking from the artifact.

They would howl in constant agony before eventually meeting an agonizing end.

Thus, over the years, the White Tiger remnants had focused on two fronts.

First, slowly phasing out and ultimately altering the legends of the White Tiger remnants.

Second, using the sacred artifact to raise special tigers.

If a tiger was raised alongside the sacred artifact from birth,

the leaking Emperor’s Heart Sutra energy would gradually transform the tiger’s physique.

They can gradually accept the sacred artifact.

However, this is also a lengthy process.

The White Tiger remnants are powerless to change this.

They can only race against the sacred artifact’s crumbling over these long years.

The white tiger now appearing before the Tiger Lord’s Hall is actually the product of several generations.

Both its parents were ‘vessels’ for the sacred artifact of the previous generation.

Whether from the Emperor’s Heart Sutra’s influence or the sacred artifact’s own power,

these tigers grow far larger than ordinary ones.

This one, in particular, is the strongest and best fused with the sacred artifact in nearly a century.

For some unknown reason, its fur also turned from its original color to snow-white.

After becoming ‘vessels,’ its parents lasted only two or three years before their deaths.

Yet, the Grand Priestess pins her greatest hopes on this one.

After the failed plan to seize the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron from Su Mo, they began preparing to transfer the sacred artifact into a ‘vessel.’

A few days ago, they completed the painstakingly complex ritual, and everything seemed normal—the wound on the white tiger’s chest was nearly healed.

But for some reason, tonight, the tiger suddenly flew into a rage.

The Grand Priestess, taking the brunt of the attack, was caught off guard and sustained severe injuries.

It must be said that this white tiger fully justifies the Grand Priestess’s expectations.

It is indeed the best fused with the sacred artifact in centuries.

Thus, in its frenzy, each bite now carries the terrifying power of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra.

More critically, the sacred artifact within it contains the energy cultivated through the Emperor’s Heart Sutra’s core principles, which heavily suppresses ordinary White Tiger remnant disciples.

At first, the disciples hesitated to fight back hard, but later, they realized even their hardest blows couldn’t harm it.

The wound on its belly was actually caused by its own violent movements reopening the wound.

Now, with the Grand Priestess severely wounded and unable to suppress the tiger, and ordinary disciples no match for it,

Su Mo appeared at this critical juncture.

No wonder the Grand Priestess suddenly knelt and begged, hoping Su Mo would save the White Tiger remnants.

If this tiger escapes, the White Tiger remnants would face complete annihilation.

After all, their actions must never be revealed to outsiders.

With a tiger this enormous—even if they protested until hoarse it wasn’t the Tiger Lord—

who would possibly believe them?

As their plan collapsed before them, Su Mo’s arrival couldn’t have come at a better moment.

The Grand Priestess summarized the situation to Su Mo as briefly as possible.

Then she said:

"The power it can now unleash has surpassed all previous Vessels.

"My greatest concern is whether it can maintain this level of power indefinitely.

"Though the sacred artifact is damaged, the energy from the Emperor’s Heart Sutra it contains still surpasses imagination.

"If we cannot suppress it, unless the Emperor’s Heart Sutra's energy within the sacred artifact is entirely depleted, it will likely continue its killing spree.

"The life and death of our White Tiger remnants matter little, but if we unleash a scourge upon the world that harms innocents—

"then even in the netherworld, I would be ashamed to face our ancestors.

"Chief Escort Su, your martial prowess is unparalleled, Donghuang's foremost martial master.

"With your skills, you can surely slay this abomination. I beg you to help us.

"After this matter, whether you demand my head or any punishment, I will accept it without protest."

Having said her piece, there was little left to say.

As Su Mo pondered, the sound of a whoosh of air suddenly reached the Tiger Lord Hall.

A loud crash followed as someone crashed into the shrine, letting out a muffled groan.

It was the Chief Attendant of the Imperial Court.

Su Mo was amused. Leading Yang Xiaoyun and the others out, he saw the Chief Attendant lying on the ground, blood at the corner of his mouth, wincing as he struggled to rise.

When he looked up and saw Su Mo, rage consumed him:

"You... you...!"

Not only had these people violated the forbidden grounds, but now they had even come here.

The back chambers were a place even he couldn’t enter, yet Su Mo and his group had emerged from them.

Seething with rage and pain, he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

"Chief Attendant, calm down," Su Mo waved his hand. "I’ve already seen the Emperor’s Heart Sutra. Truly a divine technique—quite impressive."

"......"

Hearing this, the Chief Attendant nearly burst a blood vessel.

"Show some respect!"

The Grand Priestess emerged from the back chambers and, seeing the Chief Attendant’s reddened eyes, quickly interjected:

"Right now, the fate and honor of our White Tiger remnants rest solely in Chief Escort Su’s hands. I beg you, Chief Escort Su, to put aside our differences and help us...

"After this matter, we will accept any punishment without complaint."

Yet Su Mo remained unconvinced.

In his view, it was indeed time to take action.

The Grand Priestess and the Chief Attendant of the Imperial Court were not worth shedding tears over.

Even the White Tiger remnants seemed nothing special in Su Mo's eyes.

However, there were still others in White Tiger City. It would be wrong for them to die at the claws of this beast due to the sins of the White Tiger remnants.

Thus, the best moment to strike would be after the Grand Priestess and the Chief Attendant were devoured by the White Tiger, allowing him to put it down afterward.

Yet, just as he was considering this, a thunderous tiger's roar split the air.

The entire Tiger Lord Hall shook like it was about to crumble. Looking outside, the White Tiger had already arrived before the hall. With a lunge, its claws ignored the badly injured Chief Attendant and instead swiped straight at Su Mo.

"Now that’s just plain rude."

Su Mo shook his head lightly, then swiftly moved, taking Yang Xiaoyun and Xu Lu with him as he darted out of the Tiger Lord Hall.

The White Tiger's claws swiped at nothing, leaving it paused in confusion. It then turned its gaze toward Su Mo.

Having slaughtered relentlessly, its jaws were slick with blood, its eyes wild with bloodlust.

Suddenly encountering someone it couldn't kill immediately drew its focus. With a mighty spring, it lunged straight at Su Mo.

The White Tiger was enormous—its pounce alone blotted out the sky above them, as if a dark cloud had descended upon them.

Su Mo frowned.

"Give it a rest, will you?"

With a flicker of movement, he snapped out a kick, striking the White Tiger squarely under its jaw.

The Wind God Leg technique packed a serious punch.

The force of the kick sent the White Tiger flipping head over heels midair before it crashed backward.

Yet, in mid-descent, it twisted its body, landing with a heavy thud on all fours atop the Tiger Lord Hall's roof.

From above, its burning gaze fixed on Su Mo.

The killing intent grew even more intense, yet its gaze wasn't purely frenzied.

As it studied Su Mo, it was clearly calculating how to engage him in battle.

Su Mo, meanwhile, was surprised by its footing.

Excluding its tail, the White Tiger stretched a good thirty feet. Though Su Mo had never encountered other tigers in his travels, he knew this one was undoubtedly a true monster among tigers.

It must’ve weighed a ton.

Yet, despite its massive bulk, the White Tiger perched on the Tiger Lord Hall’s roof without caving it in.

That was downright unbelievable.

"Does this thing know qinggong or what?"

Su Mo shot Yang Xiaoyun and Xu Lu a baffled look.

The two were at a loss for words. What the hell had the White Tiger remnants cooked up by merging the sacred artifact with a tiger?

Yang Xiaoyun suddenly grinned:

"What if we made it Xiaoxiao's ride?"

Su Mo imagined a massive white tiger with a huge fatty sitting on top.

The fatty was even holding a 'kowtowing' one-legged bronze figure. (The one-legged bronze figure had been bent by Su Mo, resembling a bowing gesture.)

At first look, the scene seemed quite fierce, but upon closer thought, it became pretty ridiculous.

Xu Lu hesitated while looking at the tiger and suddenly asked:

"Shifu, Shiniang... who eats more, you think? Or who’s heavier?"

"..."

Both Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun got a headache just thinking about it.

One bottomless pit like Zhen Xiaoxiao was plenty.

Another would be too much to handle.

"Kill it! Just kill it!"

They spoke in unison.

In response came a furious roar, and the next moment, the tiger lunged at them.

Unfortunately, despite its massive size, it was a rookie when it came to fighting.

Raised near the Tiger Lord Hall, it had never had to scrap for survival.

Thus, its attacks relied solely on instinct.

Though naturally fierce, it didn't quite cut it.

Even with the inner power of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra enhancing its strength far beyond that of an ordinary tiger, Su Mo spotted a million weak points.

In the next instant, Su Mo straight-up disappeared.

The white tiger went still, then felt a crushing force pressing down on its head.

Turning back, it saw Su Mo standing atop its massive head, pressing down with crushing force, slamming it hard from midair.

With a thunderous crash, they hit the ground, making the ground tremble.

The valley made the noise echo, turning it into thunder.

Su Mo, keeping the tiger pinned, let out a booming laugh:

"Who'd have thought I'd get to be a tiger-taming hero today?!"

With that, a fist imbued with the power of the DragonElephant Prajna Art came down like a ton of bricks!