The others scattered to search, but the mechanism was well-hidden. After a long search, Zhou Yan felt that only this stone tablet was suspicious.
Zhou Yan stepped forward, observed the stone tablet, and found that it could be moved. He turned it.
"Ka ka ka!!!"
A staircase leading underground appeared on the ground, and immediately, a monstrous, savage aura struck, as if plunging them into the deepest abyss.
"Hmph!"
Li Chungang erupted with a sharp energy, transforming into a soaring sword energy that cleaved away this aura. The Sword God's strike repelled all evil, and all oppressive energies immediately receded, as if sensing immense danger.
They descended, finding themselves in an underground passage.
Not the slightest trace of energy could be felt, as if the fierce aura from before had suddenly withdrawn.
They walked forward and discovered a square object.
"Huh? No way, could this be the Pseudo-Artifact we were looking for?" Zhao Min was speechless.
"It looks like a brick," Xiao Zhao added.
"This is a divine artifact, perfect for hitting people," Zhou Yan exclaimed upon seeing it, immediately liking it.
"Where's the ferocious beast? Why don't we see any sign of it?" Ning Shuiqing looked around; besides this brick, they saw nothing.
"That ferocious beast is sealed inside. However, in about another thousand years, this Pseudo-Artifact won't be able to contain it anymore," Li Chungang said.
"A Pseudo-Artifact, plus a pet. This is quite a good deal," Zhou Yan chuckled.
Ning Shuiqing was shocked. "You, you, you actually want to take this ferocious beast as a pet? Don't you want to live!"
"It's just a mere ferocious beast. My territory already has Qiongqi, Baihu, and even Shenlong. This Zhuyan doesn't even rank," Zhou Yan replied.
"But it's so powerful, can you subdue it?" Ning Shuiqing was stunned by Zhou Yan's idea.
"No, no, no, I don't need to act. Isn't he here?" Zhou Yan glanced at Li Chungang.
"In your words, I'm just a hired hand," Li Chungang pouted.
"How can this be considered working? I don't see you as an employee; I'm taking good care of you with delicious food and drinks," Zhou Yan quickly said.
Zhou Yan picked up the "brick." Immediately, a terrifying black energy emanated from it.
Zhou Yan was not to be outdone. "Hmph, you're still arrogant even when sealed."
Waves of Yin Yang Hun Yuan spiritual energy were continuously released onto the brick. The black energy was quickly eradicated by Zhou Yan.
"Let's go, we'll deal with it on the surface!" Zhou Yan declared.
As he said this, another wave of black energy emerged from the brick, as if the Zhuyan inside was enraged.
But as Zhou Yan released his energy, he suppressed it once more.
"Come on, if you dare, keep going! You're still far from being able to be arrogant with me!" Zhou Yan provocatively said.
A wisp of black energy reappeared, and Zhou Yan destroyed it again. It appeared, was destroyed, and after several repetitions, the black energy ceased to appear. Zhou Yan had successfully suppressed it.
Walking into the palace, Zhou Yan found another passage leading outside.
"You all stay back. This Zhuyan can be handled by Li Chungang," Zhou Yan instructed.
Everyone quickly retreated. Zhou Yan then said to Li Chungang, "Just beat it half to death. It'd be a waste to kill it."
"You kid, you really dare to want anything," Li Chungang shook his head.
"No matter what it is, once it's in my territory, it will behave," Zhou Yan declared.
Yin Yang Hun Yuan energy was released towards the brick. The entire Pseudo-Artifact floated in the air, protected by powerful formations. However, after so much time, the Zhuyan had already damaged many of the formations from within.
Now, Zhou Yan began to completely destroy the formations from the outside. A terrifying aura erupted from the brick once more, and the heavens and earth changed drastically, as if disaster was imminent.
An eerie wind swept through, and the wind howled. The world felt immensely oppressive, as if a peerless ferocious beast was about to appear.
"Break!"
As the formations on the brick were completely destroyed, a colossal black shadow surged out and landed on the ground.
"Hahahaha!!!!"
An excited voice rang out. The Zhuyan appeared. It resembled an ape, covered in white fur as pure as snow, with sharp fangs.
The Zhuyan was tens of meters tall, immense in size, with colossal, powerful-looking palms.
As the Zhuyan emerged, dark thunderbolts filled the sky, as if heralding great changes in the world.
Finally, the Zhuyan looked at Zhou Yan ferociously and said, "Kid, to thank you for releasing me, I've decided to eat you."
"A reasonable request. If it were me, I'd do the same," Zhou Yan said nonchalantly, then shook his head. "Unfortunately, your opponent isn't me."
The Zhuyan naturally noticed Li Chungang, who stood there like a peerless sword, sharp and unyielding, calm yet like a dormant volcano ready to erupt.
"I'll eat all of you!" the Zhuyan roared at Li Chungang, raising its hooves and bringing them down fiercely towards him.
"Boom!" The earth cracked open.
Li Chungang had already moved, now standing high in the sky. With his left hand behind his back and his right hand extended, two fingers raised, sword energy surged, and light blazed. A heavenly sword emanated the aura of creation.
As Li Chungang waved his right hand, the heavenly sword descended, the world froze, as if the earth was about to split open. Terrifying sword energy spread for hundreds of kilometers, startling the surrounding birds and beasts, who fled in panic.
"Roar!" The Zhuyan raised its hands, struggling to grasp the giant sword, roaring repeatedly.
Although the Zhuyan had been suppressed for countless years and its strength had greatly diminished, its inherent power was still formidable. Even for Li Chungang, it would not be possible to defeat it quickly.
"Wow! I didn't expect Li Chungang to be so strong!" Ning Shuiqing exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"He's in the Demi-God realm, so of course his strength is immense. Although that Zhuyan has also reached this realm, it has been suppressed for too long, and its power is not at its peak. Defeat is only a matter of time," Zhou Yan commented.
"Can he really do it alone? My ancestor, with the help of so many powerful individuals, could only seal it," Ning Shuiqing was still a little worried.
"People are not comparable. Compared to me and my wives, you have no comparison. No figure, no looks, no butt, and don't even get me started on the front," Zhou Yan began to make comparisons.
"You scoundrel! I'm only twelve, how can you compare me like this!" Ning Shuiqing was furious.