Chapter 50: Now We Are in Deep Trouble!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Han Yang's claws struck the blood-red statue repeatedly with the force of gold and iron.

Cracks spread across the surface of the statue like a spiderweb, yet it stubbornly refused to fall, as if mocking Han Yang's futility.

"This damn stone is quite tough!"

Han Yang spat, flapping his Golden-Winged Roc wings to ascend once more, preparing to unleash a more powerful strike.

However, at that very moment, the statue flared with brilliant crimson light. An irresistible suction force erupted suddenly, pulling Han Yang violently toward it!

"What the hell! What is going on?"

Han Yang's expression changed drastically. He flapped his Golden-Winged Roc wings frantically, but he felt as though he had fallen into a mire, completely unable to move.

He could feel the true essence within his body being rapidly drained, surging toward the statue like a breached flood embankment, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Boss!"

Zhu Ganglie and the Flood Dragon cried out in alarm at the sight.

"Young Master!"

Bai Suzhen's face turned deathly pale, her eyes filled with worry.

"Don't come over!"

Feeling the rate of his true essence draining accelerate rapidly, Han Yang hastily stopped the three of them from stepping forward.

Just as Han Yang felt he was about to be sucked dry, deep within his dantian, the long-dormant Soul of the Taotie suddenly awakened!

An even more tyrannical and greedy devouring force erupted fiercely, acting like an ancient fierce beast with its maw wide open, turning the tables to devour the statue's power frantically!

The two forces collided, instantly stirring up wind and clouds within the cave and forming a massive energy vortex.

The cave shook violently, rubble falling continuously as though it could collapse at any second.

Bai Suzhen, Zhu Ganglie, and the Flood Dragon were blown away by the shockwave of the energy vortex, slamming heavily against the cave walls.

"Boss!"

Zhu Ganglie struggled to rush forward, but was grabbed by the Flood Dragon just in time.

"Don't go! Going over now is just throwing your life away!"

Although the Flood Dragon was also burning with anxiety, his reason told him that rushing over now would only create trouble for Han Yang.

Enduring the searing pain in her body, Bai Suzhen formed seals with her hands, casting a pale purple radiance that enveloped the three of them to form a protective barrier.

In the center of the cave, Han Yang felt as if his body were a balloon on the verge of bursting.

The devouring power of the Taotie soul grew increasingly potent, and the statue's power poured endlessly into his body.

He roared in agony; bulging veins protruded across his skin, and cracks began to appear on his surface.

Just as Han Yang was reaching his limit, the blood-red statue finally failed to withstand the collision of the two forces.

With a deafening "boom," it shattered into pieces, and rubble scattered everywhere!

Deprived of the statue's control, the swarm of blood bats also dissipated, turning into wisps of blood mist that vanished without a trace.

The energy vortex gradually faded, and Han Yang collapsed limply to the ground, panting heavily.

He felt sore all over, as if every single bone in his body had been crushed once.

The Soul of the Taotie fell back into slumber once more, leaving behind a heavily bruised Han Yang.

"Young Master!"

Bai Suzhen hurried to Han Yang's side, helping him up with eyes full of distress.

"I'm fine..."

Han Yang smiled weakly, crossed his legs, and began to regulate his breathing to recover.

At that moment, deep within the cave, beneath the shattered base of the statue, a dark red box was revealed.

Han Yang sat cross-legged for about an hour before the churning blood and Qi in his body gradually calmed down.

He opened his eyes, a flash of bright light passing through them. The brief awakening of the Taotie soul had vaguely allowed him to sense an elevation in his own power, yet it simultaneously made him all the more wary of that tyrannical devouring force.

"Young Master, how do you feel?"

Bai Suzhen stepped forward quickly to support Han Yang.

"Not bad, won't die yet."

Han Yang grinned and stretched his limbs, which popped with a flurry of cracks.

"Just feels like my bones were scattered apart."

"It's all that damn statue's fault for draining so much of the Young Master's true essence!"

Bai Suzhen let out a soft huff, anger flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Han Yang waved a hand, his gaze falling upon the base of the shattered statue. A dark red box lay quietly there.

"Let's see what treasure this is."

Supported by Bai Suzhen, Han Yang walked up to the box.

The box felt icy to the touch. Its material was neither metal nor wood, possessing a peculiar texture when held.

Strange runes were carved onto the surface of the box, twisted and winding like some ancient script, not a single character of which Han Yang recognized.

He tried to open the box, only to find it remained completely unmoved, as if sealed by some kind of barrier.

"This thing is quite sturdy."

Bai Suzhen observed the runes on the box closely, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

"Young Master, this is a seal unique to the ancient demon race; it requires demonic energy to unlock it."

"Demonic energy? Then give it a try."

Han Yang handed the box to Bai Suzhen.

Bai Suzhen nodded, pressing her slender, jade-like hand against the box as a strand of pale purple demonic energy slowly flowed into it.

The runes on the box began to flicker with light, and the seal gradually loosened.

A clicking sound echoed, and finally, with a crisp snap, the box popped open.

Inside the box lay a demonic core quietly emitting a rich, bloody stench.

The surface of the demonic core shimmered with a bizarre radiance, as if possessing a life of its own, with faint crimson lights flowing through it.

Han Yang sensed a formidable power emanating from the demonic core, causing the Taotie soul within his body to stir restlessly.

This power was ferocious, malevolent, and full of aggression, instinctively making him feel uneasy.

"Young Master, the origin of this demonic core is unknown; absorbing and refining it must be done with caution,"

Bai Suzhen warned, her tone solemn.

Han Yang naturally understood this principle. This demonic core clearly meant no good; rashly absorbing and refining it might easily lead to a backlash.

"Store it away first and talk about it after returning to the Immortal Exalt Sect."

He put the demonic core away into his storage ring and prepared to call out to Zhu Ganglie and the Flood Dragon to leave.

Suddenly, a chaotic, unusual sound echoed from outside the cave, resembling the flapping of countless wings.

"What is going on?"

Han Yang's expression shifted.

"I'll go take a look."

Zhu Ganglie spoke in a deep, rumbling voice, hauling his muck-raking rake as he walked outward.

The Flood Dragon followed closely behind, its massive body blocking the cave entrance completely.

Before long, Zhu Ganglie and the Flood Dragon returned with grim expressions.

"Boss, it's bad! Those blood bats are back!"

Zhu Ganglie exclaimed, "There are even more of them than before, and..."

"And what?"

Han Yang pressed.

"And they seem to have gotten stronger!"

Han Yang's heart sank. Could it be that the aura of this demonic core had attracted them?

Bai Suzhen's expression also turned grave.

"Young Master, we must leave this place as quickly as possible!"

"Let's go!"

Han Yang made a decisive judgment. His Golden-Winged Roc wings spread wide abruptly, sending a violent gale sweeping outward that blew away the rubble at the cave entrance.

He grabbed Bai Suzhen and leaped into the air.

"Boss, wait for us!"

Zhu Ganglie and the Flood Dragon quickly followed suit.

The four of them rushed out of the cave, only to see the sky full of blood bats resembling a dark cloud that blotted out the sun, sweeping toward them.

The blood bats emitted piercing screeches, their sharp fangs gleaming with cold light.

Pairs of crimson eyes stared fixedly at the storage ring in Han Yang's hand—or more accurately, at the demonic core inside the storage ring!

Han Yang cursed inwardly. They were in big trouble now!