Chapter 1000

The bone-corroding poison lizard dragon let out a triumphant hiss, moving with heavy steps, step by step approaching the fallen Han Wuxian. In its three pairs of compound eyes flickered cruel amusement, as if enjoying the dying prey's struggle. Dark green saliva dripped continuously, corroding small pits in the rock.

Severe pain and dizziness struck Han Wuxian's consciousness. He struggled to rise, but his arms felt tearing pain, barely able to lift. His vision blurred somewhat, the massive form of the poison lizard dragon wavered and overlapped in his sight.

At this desperate juncture of life and death, in his blurred vision he seemed to see again that resolutely departing silhouette. Outside the cave dwelling under piercing light, her final deep glance carried unspeakable sorrow and resolve……

"Xirou…" This name like a scorching brand suddenly blazed in his heart.

"No! I cannot die here!" A surge of unwillingness and anger from deep within his soul erupted explosively! Not for himself, but for that woman he had yet to find, to whom he had not yet asked the answer in person! He had promised to find her! How could he collapse in such a place?!

"Golden Yang Blazing Heaven Strength! Ignite!"

Han Wuxian's eyes burst forth with shocking golden light!

Some ancient power lying dormant within him was utterly ignited by this intense will to survive and his obsession with a certain person!

A stream of golden spiritual force, far purer, hotter, and overwhelmingly domineering than before, surged forth like a volcanic eruption from his dantian, instantly flowing through his limbs and bones! The excruciating pain in his arms was temporarily suppressed, a mighty, irresistible power filled his entire body!

If any cultivator above the Void Refinement stage were present, they could instantly see that the techniques Han Wuxian used, and even the sudden burst of power, were all pure power of the Light Dao principle!

It appeared to be metallic-gold qi, but in fact it was a Light Dao technique!

He slammed his palm on the ground, pushed off, and rose to his feet steadily. Golden spiritual force blazed across his body like a scorching golden flame armor, his long sword also rendered brilliant gold, humming with vibration, and a blazing sword aura about a chi long surged along its edge!

This sudden change and that pure, hot aura bearing an imperial majesty caused the originally step-by-step approaching bone-corroding poison lizard dragon to halt abruptly! In its three pairs of scarlet compound eyes, clear wariness and unease appeared for the first time! It instinctively sensed the threat!

"Monster! Die!" Han Wuxian's voice rang like metal striking metal, carrying the determination to burn the eight wastes!

He no longer dodged, but launched an offensive! Transforming into a blazing golden meteor, speed pushed to the limit, he charged straight at the poison lizard dragon!

The poison lizard dragon, shocked and enraged, spewed a thick stream of dark green toxic mist, attempting to corrode and block. Yet the golden spiritual force flames seemed a natural bane to this yin evil poison; upon contact with the golden fire, the mist hissed and swiftly dissolved like snow!

"Golden Yang·Evil-Slaying Slash!"

Han Wuxian roared, leapt high, gripping his flaming golden longsword with both hands, aimed at the poison lizard dragon's ferocious head, exerted all his strength, and struck down fiercely! The sword aura surged, transforming into a heaven-splitting, earth-shaking massive golden blade of light!

The poison lizard dragon sensed the deadly threat, let out a roar mixed with fear, desperately raised its forelimb covered in thick scales to block, while its head jerked sideways.

"Boom!!!"

The massive golden blade came down heavily!

Blinding golden light exploded instantly, illuminating the dim secret realm as if it were daytime! Terrifying energy shockwaves surged outward like a tsunami, kicking up clouds of debris!

"Crack!" A grating shatter sound rang out.

"Woo!!!" Immediately followed was the bone-corroding poison lizard dragon's miserable howl of extreme anguish!

The golden light receded.

Only see the poison lizard dragon's raised forelimb, from claw tip to shoulder blade, together with the hard scales covering it, was forcibly split and severed by that overbearing golden sword aura! The cut was pitch-black, emitting a smell like roasted meat! Dark green poison blood spurted out like a fountain! Although its head avoided the fatal blow, its neck was torn by the sword aura's aftershock into a deep wound down to the bone, flesh turned inside out, a gruesome sight!

The severe injury to the severed limb and the excruciating pain in its neck plunged this beast into madness and extreme agony. Its massive body rolled and twitched wildly on the ground, emitting earth-shaking howls and roars of destructive desire; its remaining three limbs flailed wildly against the ground and surrounding stone pillars, debris flying, the whole secret realm space seemed to tremble in its death throes.

Han Wuxian succeeded with one strike, but also expended greatly; the golden flames on his surface dimmed considerably, his face turned slightly pale as he leaned on his sword, panting. He had no hesitation, knowing well the principle of striking while the enemy is weak.

Summoning a breath of spiritual force, Han Wuxian's eyes flashed with cold light as he thrust his sword forward again! This time, his target was the poison lizard dragon's relatively soft abdomen exposed by its frantic rolling!

The sword light flashed like lightning, precise and merciless!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

Several strands of sword qi condensed with residual Golden Yang power, like a red-hot poker stabbing into butter, easily pierced the poison lizard dragon's relatively weak abdominal scales, leaving charred holes! Dark green organ fragments and poisonous blood mixed and gushed out, emitting a nauseating stench!

The poison lizard dragon's struggles grew weaker, its frantic roars turning into low whimpers; finally, its massive body convulsed violently a few times, its three pairs of scarlet compound eyes utterly losing their feral light, turning dim and hollow, then with a thunderous crash it collapsed heavily to the ground, raising clouds of dust. The ground seemed to tremble along with it.

Silence once again shrouded this ancient secret realm.

Han Wuxian leaned on his sword, gasping heavily, sweat mixed with blood trickling from his brow. The excruciating pain in his arms returned, his internal spiritual force nearly exhausted, the burning golden flames already extinguished. Yet he stood straight, his sharp gaze sweeping over the poison lizard dragon's corpse, confirming its death before slightly relaxing his tense nerves.

He approached the poison lizard dragon's huge head, suppressing his nausea, and with difficulty pried open its hard skull with his sword. Amid the foul-smelling brain matter, he found a walnut-sized crystal core, pitch-black as ink yet faintly flowing with a verdant glow.

This was precisely the poison lizard dragon's power core, containing pure dark and toxic energy; although its attribute clashed with his, it was absolutely a priceless treasure, perhaps useful in forging or certain special formations.

Having stored the crystal core, Han Wuxian surveyed this silent yet perilous secret realm, his gaze growing graver. He needed to find an exit quickly. Yan Xirou alone had lured away the pursuers; her situation must be far more perilous than his.

"Wait for me." He wiped the blood from his lips, his eyes burning with a light more persistent than the earlier golden flame: "No matter where you are, no matter what you face…… I will surely find you!"

He gauged the direction, endured the pain, and once again set out on the quest for an exit; his silhouette quickly vanished into the deep, jagged, bizarre stone forest.