The Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, nine bolts of lightning, was something no cultivator dared even contemplate, yet Zhang Yang had withstood it, safely ascending to the fifth layer.

It was worth remembering that even the most powerful spirit beasts faced a maximum of only seven bolts during their tribulations.

Nobody knew just how terrifyingly powerful a practitioner of internal energy who successfully endured the nine bolts would become.

But Park Tae-eun was certain of one thing now: if Zhang Yang were given time to replenish the depleted spiritual energy within his body, even if Park Tae-eun temporarily bypassed his physical restraints by obtaining the Rootless Water and became a true fifth-layer expert, he would stand no chance against Zhang Yang.

Park Tae-eun felt a pang of regret.

He had indeed delayed for far too long.

Had he known that the fifth-layer expert from Huaxia was currently absent, he should have appeared in Kunlun much earlier to either take Zhang Yang away or eliminate him on the spot.

It could be said that Zhang Yang was continuously delivering greater and greater shocks to him.

And the more powerful Zhang Yang became, the more a subtle shift occurred within Park Tae-eun’s heart.

He no longer wished to take Zhang Yang away; even if Zhang Yang truly were Korean, Park Tae-eun would not want him appearing in Korea.

One mountain cannot harbor two tigers; similarly, Park Tae-eun did not want a future fifth-layer expert far surpassing him in Korea.

Park Tae-eun subtly flicked his hand.

He had not undergone the Heavenly Tribulation, and his body had not received the corresponding reinforcement.

Despite possessing the strength of a fifth-layer expert, he was still constrained by his physical form.

Engaging Zhang Yang with overconfidence had suddenly exposed the gap between their bodies.

At the very least, Zhang Yang had only shattered the ice sword condensed from Heaven and Earth energy, whereas his own body had developed minor issues.

Killing intent surged violently.

Park Tae-eun’s eyes turned completely cold.

He had decided to abandon any plan of taking Zhang Yang back to Korea, resolving instead to utterly slay him, extinguishing this dangerous element who was destined to become the pinnacle expert of Huaxia.

Zhang Yang’s existence would inevitably cause a stir throughout the world of internal energy cultivation.

Park Tae-eun still could not fathom which cultivator, other than the most powerful spirit beasts, could match Zhang Yang.

Huaxia has an old saying: "It is not too late to mend the pen after the sheep is lost." Park Tae-eun was now trying to rectify the mistake of underestimating Zhang Yang.

He drew the narrow blade he carried. "Roar!" That Fallen Three-Eyed Demonic Beast spewed forth a cloud of black mist.

This toxic, inky vapor instantly solidified onto the narrow blade in Park Tae-eun’s hand, seemingly coating it with a layer of black luster.

As Park Tae-eun’s killing intent swelled, the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast also stepped forward, the man and the beast fixing their gaze tightly upon Zhang Yang.

Killing intent permeated the air! Deep within the Savage Man Mountain, the two parrots had long ceased their frolicking.

They flapped their wings, hesitated for only a moment, and then shot skyward.

In the air, they looked toward the foot of the mountain.

They appeared extremely anxious, beating their wings incessantly, as if urging Zhang Yang to arrive quickly.

However, Zhang Yang, fully engaged in confrontation with Park Tae-eun, had no capacity to notice what was happening here.

Otherwise, he would have certainly felt the two parrots continuously summoning him to come over immediately.

They seemed to possess a means to deal with both Park Tae-eun and that Fallen Fifth-Layer Three-Eyed Demonic Beast.

At Yinlong Mountain, a sky-shaking dragon’s roar echoed out.

From the sound of the roar, one could gauge its immense anger.

Now that Park Tae-eun was no longer concealing his aura, his presence and that of the Fallen Three-Eyed Demonic Beast could not escape the perception of the fifth-layer spirit beast, the Illusory Mouse.

Upon sensing the bizarre aura of the fifth-layer Three-Eyed Demonic Beast, its rage intensified.

Yet, echoing Yinlong Mountain in response was the rumbling thunder from Changbai Mountain.

In the Tianchi Lake of Changbai Mountain, Hua Feitian of the Hua family, having reached Great Perfection, had already submerged himself in the lake, reaching the cavern formed by the Rootless Water.

He stood at the edge of the water-filled grotto, a layer of Rootless Water floating above his head like a suspended small lake.

The temperature here was extremely high.

Hua Feitian had to exhaust nearly all his internal energy just to resist the intense heat to remain here.

The most fatal threat to him, however, was not the heat of the cavern, but the colossal body lurking in its depths.

The Twelve-Crowned Golden Python coiled in the recesses of the cavern; in the gloom, only the occasional flash of its scarlet tongue offered a glimpse.

Hua Feitian had been here for a considerable time.

In fact, after separating from Park Tae-eun, he had immediately slipped into this location.

However, Hua Feitian had not, as Park Tae-eun might have suspected, stealthily infiltrated to seek an opportunity to establish contact with the fifth-layer spirit beast, the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python.

He had concealed nothing from the python; he had relayed everything Park Tae-eun had said to the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python.

This was precisely why he was still permitted to remain there.

Hua Feitian was acutely aware of how formidable this Twelve-Crowned Golden Python was.

From the very beginning, he never believed he could find an opportunity to "steal" fifth-layer power from it.

Unexpectedly, after hearing the news, the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python showed no reaction.

It merely instructed Hua Feitian to remain within the cavern formed by the Rootless Water and enter secluded meditation.

It suddenly raised its head, gazing toward the sky above.

The dark clouds above Changbai Mountain gathered densely once more, and suddenly, the thunder began to crackle incessantly… The last time the Twelve-Crowned Golden Python had intended to leave Changbai Mountain for Kunlun, it was the warning from Senior Illusory Mouse of Yinlong Mountain that forced it to consider the ramifications, ultimately preventing its departure.

But this time, the roles were reversed, with the python warning the Illusory Mouse of Yinlong Mountain, compelling the Mouse to remain at Yinlong Mountain.

Zhang Yang was fully occupied dealing with Park Tae-eun and the Fallen Three-Eyed Demonic Beast, completely oblivious to the external events.

Park Tae-eun was entirely different from before; the chilling killing intent radiating from him now unequivocally signaled to Zhang Yang that he was determined to see him killed today.

Zhang Yang was equally resolute.

The shattered ice sword reformed itself once more.

While staring intently at Park Tae-eun, the point of the ice sword now encompassed the Fallen Three-Eyed Demonic Beast within its targeting range.

Fighting Park Tae-eun alone was not enough; Zhang Yang was apparently preparing to simultaneously engage the genuine fifth-layer Three-Eyed Demonic Beast as well.

This Fallen Three-Eyed Demonic Beast was unlike Park Tae-eun.

Although it had only weathered one lightning tribulation, it was still a true fifth-layer spirit beast that had passed the Heavenly Tribulation, completely unhindered by physical limitations.

Its strength far surpassed the previous grey-white Great Perfection Three-Eyed Beast; even adding the newly breakthrough Great Perfection golden Three-Eyed Beast would not equal its might. "Chirp chirp chirp!" "Squeak squeak squeak!" The three spirit beasts—Shadowless, Lightning, and Wind Chaser—huddled anxiously behind Zhang Yang.

But they were utterly helpless.

The sheer pressure generated merely by the standoff between Zhang Yang, Park Tae-eun, and the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast was nearly unbearable for them, let alone intervening.

Even if the three of them joined the fray, they would only be instantly obliterated, serving no real purpose. "Rise!" Park Tae-eun raised one hand, thrusting it upward violently, followed by a forceful clench of his Rootless Fingers! Before him, a massive boulder was ripped from the earth, carrying countless clumps of soil and wild grass, shattering into innumerable small stones in mid-air.

These tiny stones instantly shot towards Zhang Yang like a volley of bullets.

Park Tae-eun had learned his lesson this time; he would no longer engage Zhang Yang directly but would use Heaven and Earth energy for ranged attacks.

Heaven-Shattering Sword, First Form! Zhang Yang spun his ice sword into a graceful flourish, unleashing countless pale white mists from the tip, which transformed into innumerable sword lights striking back! Bang! Bang! Bang! The sword lights collided with the small stones, erupting in massive explosions.

The space between Zhang Yang and Park Tae-eun instantly became obscured by a torrential downpour, dust raging chaotically. "Roar!" With a mighty roar, the pitch-black Three-Eyed Demonic Beast, acting on Park Tae-eun’s command, charged straight through the rain and dust, allowing the rampaging Heaven and Earth energy within the storm to batter its body.

Its sole target was Zhang Yang! Zhang Yang’s expression darkened.

He had no intention of confronting this Three-Eyed Demonic Beast head-on! He clearly understood the enemy's weakness.

This Three-Eyed Demonic Beast was a true fifth-layer spirit beast, and slaying it would be extremely difficult.

But Park Tae-eun was merely a pseudo fifth-layer expert, making him significantly easier to eliminate.

Boom! In a flash of lightning, the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast burst through the dusty storm and lunged onto Zhang Yang.

Its sharp fangs and claws instantly tore Zhang Yang to shreds, while the surrounding toxic black mist fully invaded Zhang Yang’s body! Poof! The Zhang Yang pinned and shredded by the Demonic Beast suddenly dissolved into a puff of white smoke that drifted away. "Roar!" The Three-Eyed Demonic Beast froze instantly.

It seemed utterly unprepared for this outcome, its body becoming somewhat sluggish.

It lifted its head, watching Zhang Yang suddenly appear suspended in the air above, completely bewildered as to why the body it should have shredded was now above it.

Energy Clone! An energy clone of a fifth-layer expert had reached a level of realism that was indistinguishable from the genuine article.

Although this Three-Eyed Demonic Beast had advanced to the fifth layer, its rudimentary intelligence meant it completely failed to discern the illusion.

Zhang Yang leaped upward.

The energy consumed in the previous exchange with Park Tae-eun and the final move to escape the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast via the clone was roughly equivalent to three Great Perfection experts exhausting their entire internal reserves in an instant.

Such massive expenditure left Zhang Yang feeling weary.

This was the first time he had felt fatigue since ascending to the fifth layer.

However, the performance of the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast made its weakness clear to Zhang Yang! A spirit beast without high intelligence, no matter how powerful its true form, was merely a brute relying on sheer force without Park Tae-eun’s direction.

Refining a spirit beast into a Fallen Demonic Beast inevitably resulted in the loss of its innate wisdom, much like that Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox from before, which possessed no intelligence whatsoever and didn't even attempt to evade the overwhelmingly powerful energy burst. "That's the real body, attack him quickly!" As expected, Park Tae-eun roared and pointed toward the Zhang Yang floating in the air.

Only then did the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast cease its hesitation, leaping up to continue its assault on Zhang Yang.

As Park Tae-eun pointed, countless tiny grains of sand, which had not yet settled from the previous dusty downpour, surged forth from the debris, instantly splitting into several streams that swept toward Zhang Yang! His objective was clear: to seal off Zhang Yang’s retreat routes, giving the Three-Eyed Demonic Beast the chance to lunge and tear Zhang Yang apart once more! (To be continued.) No Pop-up Novel Network