Chapter 116: Bronze Statue, See Yun Wan Again

Mermen who grow scales on their bodies and horns on their heads are very strong!

Four such mermen could once fight Feather Mountain Tianyi and two Ascension Society disciples head‑on; although they were eventually slain by Feather Mountain Tianyi and his companions, the mermen also managed to kill one Ascension Society disciple.

At this moment, although there were still more than twenty martial lords and a large number of martial masters in the arena, the mermen outnumbered them!

Moreover, the strength of these martial masters and lords pales in comparison to that of Feather Mountain Tianyi and the two Ascension Society disciples—these heaven‑chosen prodigies—and the chaos in the arena gives the mermen an even greater chance.

The melee quickly drew to a close; large numbers of martial‑master realm fighters were slain, leaving only a dozen or so martial lords still struggling to hold on.

But at this moment a large number of mermen have already surrounded them, and those dozen or so martial lords probably cannot hold out much longer.

Fang Xu's side, the broken‑horn merman, seeing that the battle was practically decided, let out a roar, summoned another large batch of mermen from the various passageways, directed them to clear the corpses scattered across the square, then signaled Fang Xu to follow him to the pile of bone powder formed from the bone stele.

'Roar…'

The broken‑horn merman clenched his fist, tapped the ground beneath the bone powder, then gestured to Fang Xu.

Fang Xu frowned, uncertain, and said, "You want me to help you smash this ground?"

The cave is deep; sliding slowly down the vines, Fang Xu felt he had descended at least a hundred meters before seeing a glimmer of light below.

At that time Yun Wan walked ahead; a breeze blew toward him, and Fang Xu had once smelled this fragrance.

This is……

The broken‑horn merman immediately nodded, then signaled his clansmen to retreat.

Some mermen who failed to dodge were blown backward repeatedly by this wave of air!

The mermen who had desperately smashed the ground fell with the rubble; by now they were all smashed to death, their corpses scattered all around.

I don't know what material the ground ahead is made of; after taking Fang Xu's punch it did not collapse immediately, but fine cracks appeared centered on the fist.

The broken‑horn merman nodded, let out two low growls to the mermen behind him, and immediately a group of mermen carried thick vines to the cave entrance.

After the dust settled, Fang Xu and the mermen came to the cave mouth and poked their heads inside.

'Roar! Roar!'

Realizing this, he dared not delay; he immediately raised his fist and smashed it down onto the ground before him!

Behind him, the magic ape phantom perfectly followed his movements, its huge fist raised and slammed directly into the ground ahead!

Seeing this, Fang Xu frowned slightly, then abruptly stamped his foot, raising the huge fist once more and delivering another punch to the ground below!

Boom!

This punch's might is even greater than the previous one!

With one punch, the tiny cracks on the ground spread rapidly, as if they might collapse at any moment!

Boom!

The power of a single punch is terrifying indeed!

When the ground was struck by the fist, it erupted with a tremendous roar, followed by a massive wave of air radiating outward from the point of impact!

Sniffing that faint, elusive scent, Fang Xu searched hard in his memory.

Crack!

I must have smelled this fragrance before……

Seeing this, Fang Xu immediately adjusted his posture and then unleashed the Magic Ape Three Transformations!

A scarlet magic ape phantom ten zhang tall suddenly appeared behind him, and a terrifying, brutal aura instantly filled the entire square!

At this moment, the martial lords being besieged by the mermen finally saw the first‑rank martial technique they had longed for, but they were destined never to be able to take this secret out with them.

Bang!

Below, the broken‑horn merman seemed impatient; when it was still ten or so meters above the ground, it let go of the vines and dropped straight down.

Frowning slightly, he seemed to detect a faint, familiar scent amid the rotting vapors.

Seeing this, Fang Xu likewise imitated him and let go of the vines.

Seeing this, Fang Xu hastily retracted the magic ape phantom and leapt out of the collapse zone.

Judging by the current consumption rate of Blood Qi Power, I fear I can maintain only the first transformation of the Magic Ape for about one minute.

After the magic ape phantom appeared, Fang Xu felt his Blood Qi Power draining rapidly!

Previously, in that shattered land, he had unleashed the Magic Ape Three Transformations from his sea of consciousness and felt nothing; now, after performing it with his true body, he finally realized how terrifying the Magic Ape Three Transformations truly are!

After using the Magic Ape Three Transformations, his strength surges several‑fold, but the cost is enormous.

Boom!

Finally, the cracked ground, under repeated blows from dozens of mermen, shattered and collapsed; many mermen unable to dodge fell with the rubble into the deep, dark cave mouth below.

Then, those mermen rushed forward one after another, delivering a furious barrage of blows to the already precarious ground!

Even when the scale armor on their fists was smashed and blood spattered everywhere, these mermen never paused, all of them frantically pounding away!

If the loss of Blood Qi Power exceeds one minute, it will damage the foundation and cause irreversible harm to the body.

Crack!

Seeing this, Fang Xu also followed suit, grabbing the vines and entering the cave.

Fang Xu was about to retreat when he suddenly froze.

After the two jumped down, they landed on a pile of rubble.

The broken‑horn merman ignored his companions' corpses and led Fang Xu forward along the passageway.

But how could Yun Wan have appeared inside this cave?

The other mermen in the square, after confirming that no martial artists remained alive nearby, successively grabbed the vines and entered the cave.

Could this cave have another entrance?

Is she…… still alive now?

A surge of curiosity rose in his heart; Fang Xu glanced at the broken‑horn merman beside him and asked, "Do you want to go down?"

After skillfully tying the vines to a nearby stone pillar, the broken‑horn merman immediately seized the vines and headed toward the cave.

Standing at the cave mouth, Fang Xu could feel a strong wind blowing up from below, the wind mixed with a large amount of rotten aura.

A flash of spiritual light, and a figure instantly appeared in his mind!

It was Yun Wan!

The faint fragrance mixed in the strong wind blowing up from the cave before him was exactly the scent unique to Yun Wan!

That night, when Yun Wan decided to come to the Ti Lan Mountain Relics, the two had once strolled along the streets of Maple Forest Town.

It was…

The cave mouth was very deep; at least with the dim light inside the small plaza, one could not see what was below.

Seeing this, the Broken Horn River Goblin hurriedly let out two low growls at those river goblins that had just finished the battle.

In the strong wind blowing from the opposite passage, Fang Xu once again caught Yun Wan's scent.

After continuing forward for nearly a hundred meters, the dim passage ahead suddenly opened up; exiting the passage, Fang Xu suddenly discovered he was in a huge plaza identical to the one before the second-stage entrance of the relics.

The plaza was empty except for four huge stone statues, and there was a clear pond; the mountain spring water flowing in from somewhere made a tinkling sound.

Fang Xu turned his head and, to his surprise, saw a familiar figure beside that pond.

A woman in purple robes lay motionless on the large rock beside the pond—it was Yun Wan, whom he had not seen for many days.

"Miss Yun?"

Fang Xu tried calling out, but discovered Yun Wan showed no reaction at all.

Seeing this, his expression changed slightly; he hurried to the pond's edge and gently helped Yun Wan up.

Placing his palm on Yun Wan's wrist, he felt a faint pulse, and Fang Xu let out a slight sigh of relief.

"Huh?"

Seeing Fang Xu holding the unconscious Yun Wan, the Broken Horn River Goblin let out a confused roar.

"She is my friend," Fang Xu said.

Hearing this, the Broken Horn River Goblin extended its nose to lightly sniff Yun Wan, then turned its head to the tribesmen arriving one after another, let out two low growls, and pointed at Yun Wan in Fang Xu's arms.

It seemed to be saying, "This is the big brother's woman; make sure you all recognize her clearly."

Regarding the Broken Horn River Goblin's actions, Fang Xu paid no further attention; he only wanted to know what had happened to Yun Wan, why she had fallen into a coma, and why she appeared here.

"Where are your tribesmen?"

Fang Xu looked at the Broken Horn River Goblin and said.

The Broken Horn River Goblin looked around, pointed to an inconspicuous corner of the plaza, then ran there on hands and feet.

Fang Xu held Yun Wan and followed it to the plaza's corner, but found nothing there.

"Roar!"

The Broken Horn River Goblin pointed at a protruding stone wall ahead, indicating Fang Xu should move aside.

After glancing at the stone wall, Fang Xu stepped back a few paces.

Seeing this, the Broken Horn River Goblin directly punched the stone wall!

Boom!

Crack!

The stone wall was shattered by its punch!

Boom!

The Broken Horn River Goblin threw another punch, directly blasting open a large hole!

With the hole's appearance, the Broken Horn River Goblin roughly cleared the surrounding debris with both hands, then took out a half-meter-tall bronze sculpture from inside.

It was a miniature river goblin sculpture, cast entirely of bronze, covered in dust.

Carefully cradling the sculpture, the Broken Horn River Goblin slowly turned around and lifted the bronze statue high above its head.

The next moment!

All the river goblins that had rushed over behind it prostrated themselves devoutly on the ground, daring not to make the slightest movement.

After holding the bronze sculpture for a moment, the Broken Horn River Goblin then slowly lowered it, turned to face Fang Xu, and made a series of gestures.

Fang Xu somewhat didn't understand what it was trying to express.

The Broken Horn River Goblin grew anxious, one hand clutching the bronze statue while the other prepared to grab Fang Xu's palm.

Seeing this, Fang Xu roughly understood its meaning; he immediately placed the unconscious Yun Wan aside and lightly pressed his palm against the bronze statue.

A miraculous scene appeared!

As Fang Xu's palm pressed against the bronze statue, the statue before him actually began to emit a faint glow!

The glow grew stronger, eventually separating from the bronze statue and forming a clear light-shadow before it!

At the moment the light-shadow appeared, all the river goblins present became overwrought, each sobbing as they lay prostrate on the ground, like a group of children long separated from their parents who had finally found their father.

"Successor of the Divine Extension, we meet again."

After the light-shadow gradually solidified, it actually emitted a voice that rang in Fang Xu's ears.

"We meet again?"

Gazing at the light-shadow before him, Fang Xu slightly furrowed his brow.

"Being able to comprehend the Magic Ape Three Transformations is enough to prove you are a qualified successor." Seeing Fang Xu's doubt, the light-shadow spoke again.

"Magic Ape Three Transformations!?"

Could this light-shadow be the illusion that previously taught me the Magic Ape Three Transformations in that shattered land?

What does his phrase "Divine Extension successor" mean?

Could it be that by cultivating the Divine Extension Canon I have become the successor of the Divine Extension?

"Successor, you surely have many doubts in your heart, but my soul power is now too weak to answer them all."

"The things I will tell you next, you must remember clearly." The illusion's voice sounded urgent; without waiting for Fang Xu to speak, it continued: "The Divine Extension Canon you have obtained is only part of the inheritance; the remaining inheritance of the Divine Extension lies within the relics, but with your current strength, it probably won't be easy to obtain."

Fang Xu heard and his brows furrowed tightly.

This Divine Extension is really interesting, hiding its inheritance so deep and making it so dangerous—doesn't it fear playing the inheritor to death?

It seemed to have seen through Fang Xu's thoughts, and the Light Shadow said: "The ruins became this way not because of the Divine Extension Lord's original intention; you only need to know that all this is related to the Divine Extension Sect."

"They are a group of traitors; if you encounter them in the future, absolutely do not show mercy."

Hearing this, Fang Xu's heart jolted!

The Divine Extension Sect is indeed related to this ruin!

According to what the Light Shadow said, the Divine Extension Sect is a group of traitors; I suppose I have received the orthodox Divine Extension inheritance—no wonder those guys have repeatedly tried to capture me, they must be after the Divine Extension inheritance.

Thinking of this, he also thought of that strange beast skin recording the Divine Extension Canon, and immediately reached into his bosom to feel for it.

But upon touching, he discovered to his shock that the beast skin recording the Divine Extension Canon in his bosom had vanished!

Could it have been lost during the previous fierce battles?

"Hehe... Inheritor, the first part of the inheritance has already merged with your body.' Seeing Fang Xu anxiously searching, the Light Shadow chuckled and spoke.

Merged into one?

Fang Xu quickly pulled open his chest clothing, and indeed saw a rather strange pattern appear on his chest.

This pattern seems to be merely a part of a complete inscription.

Recalling the feeling when facing the bone stele before, he understood that the molten iron-like surge that had rushed into his meridians earlier must have been the beast skin recording the Divine Extension Canon.

"'The Wild Man tribe was one of the Divine Extension Lord's former servants; besides them, the Divine Extension Lord had other servants, but they may have all been altered by those Divine Extension Sect folks—if you encounter them in the future, be careful.'

After saying that, the Light Shadow actually trembled slightly a few times, becoming noticeably more transparent.

"'Inheritor, the Divine Extension Lord's path is not wrong; I hope you can fulfill his unfulfilled wish. One day, when you take that step, you may return here and tell us.'

"'Please take care of the Wild Man tribe.'

After saying that, the Light Shadow turned into specks of starlight and finally returned once more to the bronze sculpture.

"'Roar! Roar!'

The Broken Horn Wild Man witnessed this scene, a flicker of sorrow passing through its eyes, let out two unwilling roars, and then gazed pleadingly at Fang Xu.

Meeting its gaze, Fang Xu pondered for a moment and said: 'Your horn is broken; from now on I will call you Broken Horn.'

The Broken Horn Wild Man heard this, blinked slightly, then nodded repeatedly.

"'Broken Horn, is this plaza the passage to the third stage of the ruin?' Fang Xu asked, looking around.

Broken Horn nodded, pointed to a nearby passage, then pointed to himself and the group of Wild Men behind him, waving his hand.

The meaning was likely that they could not proceed to the third stage of the ruin.

Seeing this, Fang Xu felt a bit disappointed.

The third stage of the ruin was undoubtedly more perilous than the second; he had intended to rely on the Wild Man tribe's strength to explore the third stage, but he hadn't expected the Wild Man tribe to be unable to enter the third stage.

It seemed he could only venture forth alone.

"'Besides the exit above, are there other passages here that can lead out of the ruin?' Fang Xu pondered and then asked.

Just now up above, I killed so many martial artists, and coupled with the news of having comprehended a 'first-rate martial technique' that has surely spread, now many martial artist forces are likely waiting at the ruin's entrance for me to come out.

My strength is strong, but that is based on the ruin's restriction suppressing things.

Once the ruin's restriction's suppression is lost, not to mention Martial Venerables, even Martial Master Seventh Level and above martial artists could wear me down.

After all, my true strength right now is only Martial Apprentice Sixth Level.

Broken Horn tilted its head, thought for a while, then suddenly excitedly pointed to a nearby pond.

"'You mean this pond can lead outside?' Fang Xu asked doubtfully.

Broken Horn nodded, then shook its head, seeming not entirely sure either.

Fang Xu, seeing this, felt a bit disappointed, turned to look at the unconscious Yun Wan; perhaps only by figuring out how to wake her could he then ask her how she came here.

"'Do you have any way to save her?' he said, pointing to Yun Wan before him.

As soon as he said that, Broken Horn and the other Wild Men were dumbfounded.

They are professional at killing, but saving people is inevitably a tall order for them.

After asking that question, Fang Xu also felt a bit foolish.

How could I expect a bunch that can't even speak human language to save people?

Forget it, let's just take a look first.

Approaching Yun Wan, Fang Xu again placed his hand on her pulse to feel it carefully.

He doesn't understand medicine, but through Yun Wan's pulse beating he could somewhat sense something.

After a thorough check, he then took off the Cosmic Pouch at his waist.

The Cosmic Pouch was obtained from Yushan Tianyi; as the foremost inner disciple of the Ascendant Immortal Society, Yushan Tianyi should be carrying some healing, detoxifying pills and the like, right?

He took out everything from the Cosmic Pouch, and Fang Xu simply sorted them.

A small whip…… a candle…… and a strange jade pestle……

What the heck are these things!?

Looking at these things, Fang Xu's mind not only conjured up Yushan Tianyi's alluring figure.

He shook his head, tossed aside these little trinkets, and from a pile of miscellaneous items found a few bottles of pills.

Fourth-grade Blood Qi Pill, Fourth-grade Foundation Yuan Pill, Fourth-grade Essence Yuan Pill, Fifth-grade Breaking Calamity Pill……

After examining each one, he held two bottles of pills in his hand and fell into contemplation.

From the pulse, Yun Wan's body is very weak, seeming due to deficient blood and qi; a fourth-grade Blood Qi Pill should help.

But he wasn't sure whether Yun Wan had been poisoned or suffered some internal injury, so he didn't know whether to give her a Foundation Yuan Pill.

The choice was difficult, so he simply decided not to choose.

Gritting his teeth, Fang Xu directly poured out one Blood Qi Pill from the bottle containing the fourth-grade Blood Qi Pill, and likewise poured out one Foundation Yuan Pill from another bottle.

He pinched the two pills, slowly pried open Yun Wan's small mouth, and threw both pills inside.

The Blood Qi Pill and Nourishing Origin Pill melted upon entry, and their medicinal power flowed down her throat into Yun Wan's abdomen.

After feeding her the two pills, seeing that Yun Wan wouldn't wake up any time soon, he went to the water's edge and washed the blood from his body.

Soon, half an hour passed, and the unconscious Yun Wan let out a groan, slowly opening her eyes.

"Roar!"

"Roar roar!"

The Broken Horn, which had been watching Yun Wan, saw her open her eyes and quickly let out two excited roars at Fang Xu.

At that moment, Yun Wan, just waking up, vaguely saw a huge man ogre before her, her face drastically changed, and she was about to strike out with a palm.

The Broken Horn hadn't expected Yun Wan to attack as soon as she woke up; it took a palm strike squarely, frightened, and hastily retreated.

Yun Wan forced herself to stand, only to see countless man ogres surrounding her, and she instantly fell into despair.

However, those man ogres did not launch an attack; they simply stared at her in silence.

By the water's edge, Fang Xu, hearing the commotion, walked over slowly, and the man ogres voluntarily made way for him.

"Fang Xu?" Yun Wan rubbed her eyes, looking at the figure before her in disbelief.

(End of chapter)