Chapter 32: I Am Not Tang Sanzang

Han Yang watched the comical sight of Zhu Ganglie crashing into a tree, his mind quietly calculating. While this dim-witted pig lacked sharpness, he possessed an extraordinary bloodline and had absorbed Han Yang's essence, making him a worthwhile investment. Although the flood dragon was formidable, it ultimately lacked a certain spark of spirit. If properly trained, both could become his right-hand men in the future.

With this in mind, Han Yang retrieved two jade slips from his storage ring and handed them to Zhu Ganglie and the dragon respectively. "This is the 'Myriad Beast Canon,' a powerful cultivation technique for the demon race. Practice diligently and do not let me down."

Zhu Ganglie took the jade slip, his thick, fleshy trotters trembling. "Big Brother, is this... is this really for me?" His eyes lit up, and drool nearly dripped from his snout. This was a cultivation technique! At his age, he only knew a few crude, amateur tricks; to receive such a precious manual now felt like his ancestors' graves were emitting auspicious smoke. The flood dragon bowed its head respectfully, gently touching the jade slip with its horn to express gratitude.

Once he possessed the Myriad Beast Canon, Zhu Ganglie could not wait to begin. He sat cross-legged, clumsily mimicking human meditation postures while chanting, "Heaven and Earth spiritual energy, enter my body quickly! I want to become stronger! Stronger! Stronger!" Because of his exceptional bloodline, combined with the essence he had absorbed from Han Yang and the venom of a Toxic Bog Lizard he had accidentally consumed earlier, his progress was astonishingly fast. Threads of pure energy circulated within him, continuously tempering his physical form. His coarse pigskin grew smoother, shimmering with a faint golden luster, and his tusks sharpened, emitting a subtle, chilling glint.

The flood dragon’s practice was more composed and introspective. It coiled within the swamp, silently absorbing the spiritual energy of the world. As the Myriad Beast Canon circulated, its mastery over the power of water became more refined; its body grew slightly larger, its scales hardened, and they shimmered with a dazzling cyan glow.

Han Yang observed their progress from the side, feeling quite satisfied. It seemed the Myriad Beast Canon was truly extraordinary; the speed of their advancement could only be described as leaps and bounds. "Not bad, not bad. However, the Myriad Beast Canon is vast and profound; do not be too eager for quick success. You may encounter bottlenecks and dangers during your practice, so proceed with caution."

"Don't worry, Big Brother! I have thick skin and sturdy flesh; I'm not afraid of any danger!" Zhu Ganglie boasted, patting his chest, completely forgetting how he had fled in terror from the Toxic Bog Lizard earlier. Han Yang shook his head helplessly; this idiot was truly beyond saving. "To help you better understand and practice the Myriad Beast Canon, I have decided to take you deeper into the Mist Swamp. We shall seek out more powerful beasts for combat training, and perhaps find some medicinal herbs that will aid your cultivation."

"Deeper into the Mist Swamp?" Fear flickered across Zhu Ganglie’s face; he had experienced the dangers there firsthand. "Big Brother, there are many terrifying creatures in there. Perhaps we should be more careful."

Han Yang sneered. "What are you afraid of? With me here, do you think I would let you come to harm? Besides, how can you grow quickly without experiencing danger? Or do you wish to remain a dim-witted pig your whole life?"

"Who... who said I wanted to be a dim-witted pig forever!" Zhu Ganglie’s face flushed red, and he stood his ground. "I, Old Zhu, want to take human form and marry a beautiful wife!"

Han Yang’s lips curled. "Then show me what you are capable of! Don't disappoint me."

With that, Han Yang led Zhu Ganglie and the dragon toward the depths of the Mist Swamp. As they ventured further, the surrounding fog grew thicker. In the depths of the swamp, the dense mist felt like heavy cotton wool, enveloping everything and rendering it impossible to see one's own hands. The trio struggled forward.

"Big Brother, this ghost of a place is too eerie. Let’s go back." Zhu Ganglie’s massive body clung tightly to Han Yang, his voice trembling like a frightened hog.

"Shut up! You call yourself a descendant of Marshal Tianpeng while being as cowardly as a mouse?" Han Yang pushed him away with disdain. "Follow my lead and learn something; stop thinking only about food!"

The flood dragon kept a vigilant watch, occasionally letting out a low, draconic hum as if sensing the dangers lurking nearby. Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from the depths of the mist, and the ground trembled violently as if something colossal were approaching. Terrified, Zhu Ganglie’s fat rippled as he scrambled behind Han Yang, whispering, "Bodhisattva protect me, Bodhisattva protect me..." The flood dragon tensed its body, preparing for battle.

From the thick fog, a massive figure slowly emerged—a giant ape, several dozen feet tall! Its body was a mass of bulging muscles, its fur stood on end like steel needles, and its pair of crimson eyes radiated a murderous light, like a demon crawled straight out of hell.

Han Yang stared at the giant ape, stunned, silently grumbling to himself, "A dragon, a pig, and a monkey—the Journey to the West troupe is only missing a river demon. I am not taking this monkey in; just looking at him is annoying!"

The giant ape roared at the sky, swinging its massive fists and creating a foul-smelling gust as it charged at Han Yang. "Overestimating yourself!"

Han Yang sneered. Without dodging, he flared his wings and transformed into a streak of golden light, instantly appearing before the ape. "Boom!" The golden fist-strike collided with the ape’s fist, producing a thunderous explosion. The giant ape’s massive body was sent reeling backward. Han Yang didn't give it a moment to catch its breath; he flapped his wings, and countless golden sword auras poured down like a torrential rain, enveloping the beast.

"Roar!" The giant ape let out a series of miserable howls before its massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Is that all you have? To be so embarrassing?" Han Yang curled his lip in contempt. Just as he turned to leave, he sensed a powerful aura emanating from where the ape had fallen. "Hmm?"

As the dust settled, the giant ape’s body began to swell. Its fur turned blood-red, its size doubled, and its crimson eyes were filled with a violent, berserk energy. "It can actually transform? Am I fighting a Saiyan?" Han Yang was slightly surprised; the fact that this ape could evolve a second time suggested the depths of the Mist Swamp held many secrets.

"Roar!" The mutated ape let out another earth-shaking roar and swung its massive fists at Han Yang again. This time, its strength and speed had increased several times over, the wind of its fists whistling through the air.

Han Yang flared his wings, turning into golden light to dodge the attack. "Interesting. Zhu Ganglie, go! Let me see what you've learned these past few days besides eating!"

Han Yang crossed his arms, watching with a playful expression as Zhu Ganglie shook like a leaf. Zhu Ganglie’s face was a mask of misery, his fat quivering, "Big Brother, this thing is tougher than the pork knuckles my mother used to make. I... I don't think I can bite through that..."

"Enough nonsense! With that attitude, how dare you call yourself a descendant of Marshal Tianpeng? Get in there!" Han Yang kicked Zhu Ganglie’s massive backside, sending him hurtling toward the mutated giant ape.

"Oh, mother of mine!" Zhu Ganglie let out a miserable shriek, his fat body tracing a graceful arc through the air as he plummeted straight toward the berserk beast.