After answering this question, both the tiger outside the temple and its ghostly servant were filled with anxiety, while the people inside were paralyzed with fear for a long moment, resulting in a period of silence.

Ji Yuan once again calmed his emotions, racking his brains on how to peacefully communicate with this man-eating tiger demon.

As the tiger outside grew impatient, a drawn-out voice finally emerged from the temple:

"Mountain Lord Lu shows remarkable courage. Were our positions reversed, most demons would have lied about their kill count. You haven't disappointed me!"

The scholar-ghost involuntarily clenched his fists inside his sleeves, while the tiger demon Lu Shanjun secretly rejoiced.

"Humans are the pinnacle of creation. Some demons consider consuming them most nourishing. What is Mountain Lord Lu's view?"

Without waiting for the tiger's response, Ji Yuan pressed on. Beyond discouraging cannibalism, he needed to buy time to formulate proper answers. If his ruse failed, they'd all perish.

This simple question threw the tiger and ghost into panic again.

Lu Shanjun's massive head turned toward the ghostly advisor. He had no idea how to answer - admitting agreement would be wrong, denying it too simplistic. What if the temple dweller asked "why not"?

The scholar-ghost paced frantically, resembling a student grilled by a strict teacher during exams.

"Have you thought of it? Have you?"

"Don't panic, Mountain Lord! I've got it!"

"Speak! Quickly!!"

The scholar instinctively raised his sleeve to wipe nonexistent sweat while whispering:

"Naturally we can't agree with the premise. The key is to refute it without contradicting your earlier confession about fifty-three kills. You should say..."

Lu Shanjun's expression shifted from frustration to enlightenment.

"You mean any answer would be wrong unless it aligns with my true nature?"

"Exactly! Trust me!"

The tiger nodded slightly before addressing the temple:

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"I've pondered deeply on your question, Master. Since gaining sentience in Niu Kui Mountain, I've had little contact with other demons. While human flesh nourishes me, your inquiry reveals flaws in this path. Please enlighten me!"

He threw the question back. Perfect.

As someone who'd surfed the internet age's information tsunami, Ji Yuan knew crafting profound-sounding answers wasn't hard when calm. Even motivational quotes could work wonders.

This time, he didn't keep the tiger waiting:

"Humans attract elemental essences as spiritual beings, yet harbor the most complex emotions. The karmic resentment from consumed victims accumulates, creating addiction. Demons mistake this corruption for cultivation progress. Over time, rage accumulates, breakthroughs stall, until madness consumes them. This is the path to self-annihilation."

The tiger swallowed hard, fur bristling. No one had ever explained why his cultivation stagnated despite growing power. The scholar-ghost's moralizing texts seemed laughable compared to this revelation.

"Master! Any remedy?!"

Ji Yuan exhaled discreetly. The hook's set.

"Your self-restraint - sparing the weak, avoiding gluttony - is rare among demons. Perhaps..." He paused dramatically. "...abstain completely."

"Your wisdom humbles me!"

Seizing momentum, Ji Yuan quoted Daoist scripture:

"The Dao of Heaven reduces excess to supplement deficiency; the Dao of Man reduces deficiency to serve excess. Your questions about enlightenment and remedy share this truth. Our fates intertwine, Mountain Lord Lu. I've said enough!"

For three excruciating minutes, silence reigned. The tiger's claws flexed in contemplation.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Each approaching footstep hammered Ji Yuan's heart. Overplayed! I'm dead! Dead! Dead!!!

The merchants, convinced of their companion's divinity, remained relatively calm.

Through the broken doors emerged a four-meter-long behemoth - golden fur rippling with black stripes, the character "王" (king) emblazoned on its forehead. Its mere presence made weapons clatter to the floor.

The tiger reared up, crossed its forelimbs in a human-style bow, and kowtowed thrice toward Ji Yuan. "This unworthy disciple will never forget Master's guidance!"

Turning to the scholar-ghost, it inhaled sharply. White mist flowed from the specter into the tiger's jaws. "I promised freedom if you helped. Depart!"

The scholar-ghost kowtowed frantically to all present before dissolving into smoke. Wang Dong's spirit received similar release, fleeing into the dawn.

Ji Yuan managed a stiff smile. Alive. By some miracle, alive.

"Disturbing Master no longer, this humble Lu Shanjun takes his leave."

As the tiger retreated, the unnatural winds stilled. Dawn's first light revealed eight trembling merchants and one sweat-drenched "immortal" clinging to the broken deity's plinth.

Zhang Shilin's whisper broke the silence: "Celestial Master... what now?"

Ji Yuan's milky eyes tracked the disappearing predator. "We walk. Slowly. And pray my bluff lasts beyond sunrise."