Beat this old bastard to a pulp

The coiling dragon spoke with a human voice, its resonance echoing through the valley like a bronze bell.

"Wherefore must Your Excellency deal such a ruthless blow unto two juniors?"

The expression of the elder in black robes shifted slightly, for he recognized this dragon as a supreme overlord from the depths of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, a formidable entity whose might could not be underestimated. Yet, putting up a stern front, he retorted:

"These two little beasts brazenly trespassed into the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and even slew my beloved pet, the Black Fiend Centipede. Their crimes are unpardonable!"

A flash of disdain crossed the dragon's enormous golden pupils.

"The Black Fiend Centipede committed countless atrocities and reaped what it sowed! These two juniors merely fought in self-defense. What crime have they committed?"

The elder in black robes laughed out of sheer fury.

"Self-defense, you say? Are my pets meant to be slaughtered at their whim? Today, I shall exact vengeance for its death!"

"That shall depend on whether you possess the capability to do so!"

Without a shred of fear, the dragon coiled its massive body upward, preparing for battle.

At that very moment, a clear, frosty female voice echoed from afar: "Cease this at once!"

A white figure descended from the heavens, alighting gracefully beside the dragon.

It was none blooming other than Bai Suzhen. Enveloped in white spiritual energy, she likewise emanated the formidable aura of the Void-Refining Realm.

"Brother Dragon, it has been a long time."

Bai Suzhen nodded slightly toward the dragon before turning her gaze upon the elder in black robes, her tone freezing.

"Does Your Excellency feel no shame in using your might to oppress the young?"

The elder's expression turned gloomy; he had not anticipated the emergence of yet another Void-Refining Realm expert. What on earth was the background of these two juniors to command such powerful assistance?

"Hmph! Merely two juniors of the Void-Refining Realm, yet you dare behave so presumptuously before me!"

Though harboring some inward apprehension, the elder refused to show weakness in words.

Bai Suzhen let out a cold laugh. "Whether we are presumptuous or not, we shall see after a bout!"

Realizing a fierce battle was imminent, the dragon abruptly inquired:

"Fairy Suzhen, was this old codger's pet, the Black Fiend Centipede, slain by you?"

Bai Suzhen paused slightly, then comprehended the dragon's intent and smiled radiantly.

"Brother Dragon is truly perceptive. That beast committed countless heinous acts, so I simply swept it away on the side, which can be considered eliminating a pest for the common folk."

"Splendid!"

The dragon burst into hearty laughter.

"In that case, let us join forces and teach this old fellow a lesson!"

The elder's face turned livid. He had never expected that these two Void-Refining experts would be acquainted, let alone share a common grievance. He had truly lifted a rock only to drop it on his own feet.

Just as the tension reached its breaking point, Han Yang suddenly coughed, speaking in a weak and frail voice:

"Cough, cough... Suzhen, Brother Dragon... pay no heed to me, flee quickly... This old fellow is in the Tribulation-Crossing Realm... You are no match for him..."

"Boss!"

Zhu Ganglie awoke at some unknown moment, and upon hearing Han Yang's words, he instantly grew frantic.

"Even if this old pig dies, I shall protect the boss!"

The dragon and Bai Suzhen exchanged a glance, and the dragon declared:

"Little brother, rest assured. With us here today, no one shall lay a finger upon you!"

Bai Suzhen also said in a tender voice: "Young Master Han, set your mind at ease and tend to your wounds. Leave the rest to us."

Observing the alliance between the dragon and Bai Suzhen, the elder inwardly cursed his ill fortune, yet maintained his bluster:

"Two juniors of the Void-Refining Realm, and yet you dare bare your fangs before this seat? Utterly overreaching yourselves!"

With a cold sneer, he summoned a blood-red saber. Thick baleful energy coiled around the blade, as if it could devour all vitality.

"Let you witness what true power is!"

The dragon emitted a cold hum.

"You merely rely on a magical treasure to flaunt your might! I would like to see what your broken blade can do to me!"

A flash of golden light later, a dragon pearl flew forth from its mouth, radiating a dazzling brilliance.

Bai Suzhen did not lag behind. With a light wave of her delicate hand, a white jade Ruyi materialized in her palm. A pure and translucent radiance flowed across it, emitting wave after wave of freezing intent.

"You stubborn old fogy, today I shall teach you why the flowers bloom so red!"

Roaring with fury, the elder in black robes swung his blood-red saber viciously. Wave upon wave of bloody blade Qi swept outward, directly pressing toward the dragon and Bai Suzhen.

"Well-struck!"

The dragon bellowed. The dragon pearl's golden light flared intensely, forming a golden barrier that intercepted the blade Qi entirely.

Bai Suzhen gently tapped with her jade Ruyi, sending streaks of white splendor dancing like spiritual serpents to entwine with the blade Qi and neutralize it strand by strand.

The trio instantly devolved into a chaotic melee. Saber lights and sword shadows flashed as turbulent energies surged. Sand and stones flew across the valley, and trees collapsed, plunging the scene into absolute turmoil.

Han Yang and Zhu Ganglie watched from the sidelines, burning with anxiety.

"Boss, will they be alright?"

Zhu Ganglie's plump body wriggled restlessly as his trotters scraped back and forth against the ground.

Han Yang's face was pale, his lips chapped, yet he forced himself to say:

"Trust them. Both Brother Dragon and Suzhen are experts of the Void-Refining Realm; they will not be easily defeated."

Though he spoke thus, he felt entirely unconfident inside, for the elder was, after all, in the Tribulation-Crossing Realm, far superior in strength to the dragon and Bai Suzhen. He diligently circulated his cultivation technique, hoping to recover a fraction of his strength as swiftly as possible so that he might render assistance at a critical juncture.

"Brother Dragon, put your back into it! Beat the shell off this old turtle!" Zhu Ganglie holstered at the top of his lungs. "Fairy Suzhen, add oil! You are the most beautiful!"

Amidst the fierce battle, the elder gradually gained the upper hand, the might of his blood-red saber terrifying to behold. Despite their combined forces, the dragon and Bai Suzhen slowly found themselves hard-pressed to withstand him.

"Hahaha! How laughable!"

The elder laughed triumphantly, his offensive growing increasingly ferocious. "Prepare to meet your doom!"

Just as the dragon and Bai Suzhen reached their limit, Han Yang suddenly felt a surge of immensely powerful energy welling up within his body, instantly sweeping through his entire frame. The injuries upon his person miraculously healed in an instant!

"This... what is happening?"

Han Yang was inwardly astounded. Feeling the overflowing strength within his body, an unprecedented sensation of might spontaneously arose.

Simultaneously, the system's voice resounded in his mind:

[Level: Level 9]
[Beast Power Value: 50,000,000 / 70,000,000]
[Current Cultivation: 12,000 Years]
[Cultivation Growth Rate: 0.03 Years/s]
[Talents: Piercing-Illusion Golden Eyes, Golden-Winged Peng Wings, Demon Lord's Body, Taotie's Soul, Miraculous Shadow Avatars, Dragon Breath, Great Peng Golden Slash]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for acquiring a new talent: With a single wind the roc shall rise, soaring ninety thousand miles straight up into the skies!]

Han Yang was ecstatic. What manner of ability was this new talent? The name alone was wildly霸气 (overbearing)!

He felt his entire body throbbing with power, itching to immediately rush forward and fight for three hundred rounds.

"Old bastard, your grandfather is here!"

With a ferocious roar, Han Yang's figure flashed as he instantly materialized behind the elder in black robes, unleashing a punch.

Caught completely off guard, the elder took the full force of Han Yang's sudden blow. His entire body was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, coughing up a torrent of crimson blood that stained his lapels.

"Cough, cough..."

Struggling to climb back to his feet, he found that his internal organs had been displaced; the excruciating pain left him barely able to move.

Seeing this, the dragon and Bai Suzhen experienced a massive surge of high spirits. The dragon opened its gaping maw, spewing forth a crimson wave of dragon breath. The scorching heat seemed capable of melting everything in its path, surging straight toward the elder.

"Old thing, taste the might of Lord Dragon!"

Bai Suzhen was equally unyielding. With a wave of her delicate hand, her white jade Ruyi blazed with brilliant light, and streams of white splendor coiled around the elder like spiritual serpents, restricting his movements.

Pressing his advantage without mercy, Han Yang spread his Golden-Winged Peng Wings wide. Moving with lightning speed, he instantly appeared before the elder.

With a low shout, he activated the Great Peng Golden Slash.

A blinding stream of golden blade Qi tore through the void, carrying a heaven-destroying, earth-shattering momentum as it viciously slashed down upon the elder.

"Ah!"

The elder emitted a miserable, piercing shriek. He barely managed to raise his blood-red saber in a hurried parry, but was nonetheless struck by the blade Qi. A deep, bone-revealing gash opened across his body, blood gushing forth in streams.

His eyes widened in terror as he felt the chilling grasp of death. Had he known this youth was so troublesome, he never would have provoked him!

Realizing he was outmatched, the elder dared not linger and turned to flee.

A cold sneer escaped Han Yang's lips.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!"

Spreading his Golden-Winged Peng Wings once more, his speed skyrocketed to new heights. In a flash, he overtook the elder, blocking his path of retreat.

"Old thing, today you have grown wings and yet you cannot escape!"

Murderous intent blazed in Han Yang's eyes as he activated his newly acquired talent: "With a single wind the roc shall rise, soaring ninety thousand miles straight up into the skies!"