Chapter 37: Qiongqi, the Ancient Ferocious Beast

The Flood Dragon navigated the palace ruins with extreme caution. From time to time, gargantuan crocodiles would thrust their heads from the water, letting out deafening roars that made his scales stand on end.

"This godforsaken place is truly wicked!"

He cursed under his breath and quickened his pace. Deep within the palace, a massive altar came into view. Intricate runes were carved into its center, radiating an ancient and mysterious aura. The Flood Dragon sensed a formidable power contained within the altar, yet he also perceived an underlying sense of danger.

"This... this isn't some kind of trap, is it?"

He felt uneasy, yet his curiosity was piqued. Recalling Han Yang, he decided it would be best to find him before making any further plans.

"I must find Big Brother first and discuss a strategy."

The Flood Dragon searched for an exit along the passages surrounding the altar, hoping to locate Han Yang quickly. After all, he knew that if he were left to wander this place alone, he wouldn't even know how he met his demise.

...

The radiance of the orb dimmed entirely, replaced by a suffocating pressure. A massive figure slowly emerged, blotting out the sky. It resembled a tiger with wings, its entire body covered in black scales, and a pair of scarlet eyes flickering with bloodthirsty intent.

It was the ancient primordial beast—Qiongqi!

"Hahahaha! This sovereign has finally returned to the light of day!"

Qiongqi let out a roar that shook the heavens, its thunderous sound echoing through the space and stirring up ripples of energy. Han Yang and Bai Suzhen were pinned down by this sudden, overwhelming pressure, unable to move.

Han Yang cursed inwardly: "Damn it, I just improved my cultivation and now I run into something even more vicious! This wretched place is truly cursed!"

Bai Suzhen was in no better state; her face was pale, and her delicate frame trembled slightly. Qiongqi’s scarlet eyes swept over Han Yang and Bai Suzhen, a flash of greed crossing its gaze.

"Tsk tsk, two little ones with such pure bloodlines—just the thing to replenish this sovereign's strength!"

Upon hearing this, Han Yang’s rage flared. "You beast! You want to eat your grandfather? Why don't you go find a puddle and look at your own pathetic reflection!"

He forcibly channeled the power of his Chaos Golden Peng bloodline, golden light erupting as he attempted to break free from Qiongqi’s suppression. Bai Suzhen also reacted, letting out a sharp cry as the power of the Soaring Serpent burst forth, manifesting as a giant silver python that coiled around her, hissing a warning.

"Overestimating yourselves!"

Qiongqi snorted in disdain. With a flap of its massive wings, a gale swept through, sending Han Yang and Bai Suzhen reeling.

"Damn! This beast is strong!" Han Yang stabilized himself, feeling a jolt of alarm. He realized that a head-on collision was not the solution; he had to outwit it.

"Little White, keep it distracted for me, I'll find an opening!" Han Yang shouted to Bai Suzhen, then flashed away, turning into a streak of golden light as he circled behind Qiongqi.

Bai Suzhen gritted her teeth, controlling the phantom of the Soaring Serpent as she engaged in a fierce struggle with Qiongqi. For a time, the space was filled with flashing lights and clashing energies, the scene descending into absolute chaos.

...

Elsewhere, Zhu Ganglie felt his body brimming with power after swallowing the spirit fungus, his flab tightening considerably.

"Heh, this stuff is actually pretty good! I feel like I could kill a cow with a single punch now!"

He continued deeper into the cavern and discovered a hot spring emitting steam. The water was crystal clear, radiating a rich spiritual energy that was refreshing to the soul.

"Oh my! Now this is the good stuff!"

Zhu Ganglie’s eyes lit up. He couldn't wait to shed the grass skirt he had just fashioned and leaped into the spring.

"Refreshing! Truly damn refreshing!"

The spiritual energy in the spring surged into his body, and his cultivation began to skyrocket. He groaned in comfort, feeling as though he were in paradise.

Meanwhile, the Flood Dragon wandered aimlessly through the palace ruins, having lost his sense of direction. "Damn it, why is this place like a maze!"

He cursed and continued along a passage. Suddenly, he stumbled into a secret chamber. In the center of the room, a massive mural caught his eye. It depicted a great war from the ancient past, with countless gods and demons slaughtering one another amidst a collapsing world—a scene of extreme carnage. Beneath the mural, ancient characters were etched into the stone.

As the Flood Dragon carefully deciphered them, he realized they recorded the origins of the palace and the cause of that great war.

"So that's it... this palace is actually..."

The Flood Dragon’s complexion shifted abruptly, his eyes filled with shock. He realized he had inadvertently stumbled into an incredibly dangerous place, a location hiding a earth-shattering secret.

The walls of the secret chamber began to shift with a thunderous rumble, and countless sharp blades extended from the masonry, lunging toward the Flood Dragon.

...

The golden light flickered behind Qiongqi. Like a maggot to a bone, Han Yang persistently harassed the beast. Every strike carried the violent power of the Chaos Golden Peng, yet it only left faint white marks on Qiongqi’s thick hide.

"Damn, this beast has thick skin!" Han Yang cursed, his attacks becoming even more frantic, like an irritated bee.

Qiongqi was becoming unbearably annoyed by Han Yang. Its massive body twisted clumsily, yet it could never catch the slippery brat. It roared in fury, spraying foul-smelling saliva all over Han Yang, nearly knocking him over from the stench.

"You little mongrel! If you have the guts, stop running!"

The situation on Bai Suzhen’s side was worsening. The Soaring Serpent phantom was teetering under Qiongqi’s violent onslaught, and she turned pale, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Young Master Han! Hurry up!"

Catching sight of Bai Suzhen’s predicament, Han Yang steeled his heart and intentionally exposed an opening. Qiongqi took the bait, its massive claw swiping at Han Yang with enough force to tear through space.

"Now is the time!"

A flash of brilliance ignited in Han Yang’s eyes. He dodged the attack by a hair’s breadth and simultaneously flicked a drop of his Chaos Golden Peng essence blood into Qiongqi’s maw.

"Swallow this and see if you can still act so arrogant!"

The moment the essence blood entered Qiongqi’s body, it clung like a parasite, frantically devouring the beast's own bloodline power. Qiongqi let out a piercing shriek, its massive frame trembling violently as its aura rapidly withered.

"Great chance!"

Having swallowed the essence blood, Qiongqi felt as though it had gulped down a red-hot iron ball; its internal organs felt as if they were being incinerated. It roared in agony, rolling and struggling on the ground, unable to escape the pain that had seeped into its very marrow.

Han Yang would never let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip. With a flash of golden light, he transformed into an afterimage, his hand coalescing into a sharp blade of chaotic energy that he drove fiercely into the center of Qiongqi’s brow.

"Awoo—"

Qiongqi let out one final, shrill cry before its massive body collapsed, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.

Han Yang gave a contemptuous smile and spat. "With only this much skill, you dare to act arrogant in front of this Demon King?"

He turned to look at Bai Suzhen. She was deathly pale, her breathing shallow, clearly having exhausted herself in the preceding battle. He hurried over to support her, only to find she had already lost consciousness, her body covered in gruesome wounds that had stained her clothes red with blood.

"Tsk, this little lady really is reckless."

Han Yang frowned, laying her gently on the ground. He sat cross-legged behind her, pressed his palms against her back, and began channeling pure chaotic internal energy into her.

As the chaotic energy surged in, the Soaring Serpent bloodline within Bai Suzhen began to stir, resonating with Han Yang’s Chaos Golden Peng bloodline. The two potent forces intertwined, forming a wondrous cycle that circulated through both their bodies.

Bai Suzhen found a blessing in disguise; under the nourishment of the chaotic energy and the stimulation of the bloodline resonance, her Soaring Serpent bloodline awakened further. Her cultivation advanced, and her wounds began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.