Chapter 60: Bai Ze

He and Black Wind traded blows, every single movement intended to be fatal.

Though Black Wind's massive black saber was sharp, it could not inflict the slightest injury upon Han Yang.

"Roc's Golden Wings Slash!"

Seizing an opening, Han Yang unleashed the Roc's Golden Wings Slash.

A flash of golden light swept across, and the heavy saber in Black Wind's grasp snapped in half instantly.

Sticken with utter terror, Black Wind whirled around to flee, but Han Yang struck him squarely in the back with a palm strike.

Spouting a mouthful of fresh blood, he flew backward through the air, crashing heavily onto the ground, his life or death entirely unknown.

"Chieftain!"

Seeing this, the remaining underlings fell into immediate chaos, dropping their weapons one by one and scattering in all directions.

Han Yang did not pursue them. He walked over to Black Wind and looked down at him from above.

"Speak, who sent you?"

Black Wind coughed up another mouthful of blood, his eyes brimming with terror.

"It was... it was..."

Before he could utter the name of the mastermind behind the scenes, his eyes rolled back, and he died with blood bleeding from all seven of his facial orifices.

Han Yang furrowed his brow; it seemed an even greater conspiracy lurked behind all this.

He turned his head to look at the White Ape.

"How are your preparations for the Human-Form Tribulation coming along?"

Startled by the question, the White Ape scratched its head and smiled with honest simplicity:

"Reporting to the benefactor, I... I haven't prepared yet."

Han Yang dealt the White Ape a resounding slap on the head.

"When do you think this is, and you're still dawdling over human transformation! Hurry up, I'm going to give you a hand!"

With that, he grabbed the White Ape and strode toward the back mountain, with Zhu Ganglie trotting cheerfully right behind them.

The back mountain of Black Wind Stronghold was filled with towering ancient trees and shrouded in rich spiritual mist, resembling a fairy realm.

Han Yang narrowed his eyes, sensing the dense spiritual energy hanging thick in the air, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Mm, this place is not bad at all. A fine location for cultivation."

Scratching its ears and cheeks, the White Ape looked at Han Yang with unease:

"Benefactor, can... can I really transform into human form?"

Han Yang slapped the White Ape on the head once more, laughing and cursing:

"You blockhead, would I lie to you? Get inside right now and don't waste my time."

Zhu Ganglie chuckled merrily to the side; he was long accustomed to the dynamic between this man and the ape.

Han Yang retrieved various materials from his storage ring and began setting up the tribulation-crossing array.

Array flags, array disks, spirit stones... treasure after treasure was placed with practiced familiarity into precise locations, emitting a dazzling radiance.

"Little Zhu, stand guard for me. Do not let any idlers approach."

Han Yang instructed.

"You got it, Brother Yang!"

Zhu Ganglie patted his chest in reassurance, then hoisted his nine-toothed rake onto his shoulder, patrolling the surroundings with a vigilant eye.

The array formation was fully set up, and Han Yang crooked a finger at the White Ape:

"Get inside, you fool, and prepare to welcome your rebirth!"

The White Ape drew a deep breath and stepped gingerly into the center of the array.

Han Yang formed hand seals and chanted incantations, channeling the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth into a frantic torrent rushing into the White Ape's body.

The White Ape's body began to tremble violently, its stature gradually shrinking.

Its dense fur fell away in clumps, exposing the fair skin beneath.

"Ah... ah..."

The White Ape let out groans of agony as beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down its forehead.

At that exact moment, the wind and clouds in the sky shifted abruptly, dark clouds gathered, and thunder rumbled.

Thick bolts of lightning tore across the firmament, as if attempting to rip the entire world apart.

"The Human-Form Tribulation is here!"

With a grave expression, Han Yang immediately activated the array, enclosing the White Ape within its protective shield.

The first bolt of heavenly lightning crashed down violently, striking the array and stirring up a dazzling flare of light.

The array shook intensely, but ultimately withstood the blow.

"The second one!"

Clenching his teeth, Han Yang continuously poured spiritual power into the array.

The second and third bolts... the heavenly lightning followed one after another, growing increasingly formidable until cracks began to fracture across the array.

"Brother Yang, th-this array is about to give out!"

Zhu Ganglie shouted in panic.

Han Yang's face was deathly pale, yet he refused to yield, maintaining his output of spiritual power while reassuring the White Ape: "Hold on, you fool, we're almost there!"

As the eighth bolt of heavenly lightning struck, the array shattered with a deafening crash, and the shockwave sent Han Yang stumbling backward as he spat a mouthful of blood.

"It's over..."

Zhu Ganglie closed his eyes in despair.

Yet, just as the ninth bolt of heavenly lightning was about to descend, the White Ape's transformation was finally complete!

A handsome young man stood naked in the exact same spot, his skin fair and flawless.

With delicate facial features and a cascade of long, raven-dark hair draped loosely over his shoulders, he looked like an immortal celestial descending to the mortal realm.

Sensing something amiss, the ninth bolt of heavenly lightning hesitated briefly in mid-air before ultimately dissipating into nothingness.

"I... I succeeded?"

The young man stared at his own hands in disbelief.

"You succeeded! You did it!"

Han Yang smiled weakly.

The young man dropped to his knees before Han Yang with a thud, tears of gratitude streaming down his face:

"Benefactor, thank you for saving my life! From this day forth, I am willing to follow you forever, and I will brave boiling water and tread through fire without the slightest hesitation!"

"Get up. From now on, we are brothers, traversing the world together!"

Han Yang smiled and patted his shoulder.

The young man rose to his feet and bowed deeply to Han Yang:

"My name is Bai Ze. Please bestow your guidance upon me, benefactor!"

Han Yang nodded, just about to speak, when his expression suddenly shifted. He jerked his head up to stare at the sky.

"Not good, someone is coming!"

Han Yang's gaze turned razor-sharp; the newcomers were hostile!

This dreadful aura was far more powerful than any enemy he had ever encountered before.

Without a second thought, the Roc's Golden Wings on his back flapped fiercely, transforming him into a streak of golden light that vanished from the spot in an instant.

"What the hell! Brother Yang is really going all out!"

Ganglie hoisted his nine-toothed rake, staring in gaping astonishment.

Bai Ze, having just completed his transformation and still standing entirely bare, wore a look of utter bewilderment:

"What is happening?"

Meanwhile, Bai Suzhen's lovely eyes flickered as she gazed anxiously into the sky:

"This aura... I fear it will not be easily handled."

Han Yang's speed was astonishingly fast, bringing him before the intruder in the blink of an eye.

The newcomer was an elderly man clad in black robes with a sinister, gloomy expression. Clearly, he had not anticipated Han Yang launching a sudden ambush, and surprise flashed through his eyes.

"Junior, you are courting death!"

The black-robed elder roared in fury, hastily summoning a black shield to block the attack.

However, Han Yang's assault was far faster!

Roc's Golden Wings Slash!

A brilliant beam of golden sword qi, resembling lightning tearing through the night sky, slashed ruthlessly down onto the black shield.

"Crack!"

The shield shattered on impact, and the black-robed elder was driven back several steps, blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth.

"Old fogey, is that the extent of your skills?"

Han Yang sneered coldly, flapping the Roc's Golden Wings once more to close in on the elder.

The black-robed elder's face darkened completely. He had never expected this avian cultivator to be so formidable, realizing he had gravely underestimated his opponent's strength.

"Little bastard, how dare you launch a sneak attack on this old man!"

The elder thundered in rage as a black saber materialized in his grip, its blade wreathed in black flames.

"Sneak attack? This is what I call striking first to gain the advantage!"

Han Yang curled his lip in utter disdain. Behind him, the soul of the gluttonous beast Taotie manifested, opening its massive maw to madly devour the surrounding spiritual energy.

"What kind of sorcery is this!"

Shock rippled through the black-robed elder as he felt Han Yang's aura climbing continuously.

"Old thing, go to hell!"

Launching his attack anew, Han Yang swept his Roc's Golden Wings, unleashing countless torrents of golden sword qi that poured down like a torrential rainstorm.