Chapter 12: The Group Assault on Zhao Tianba
Engraved upon the body of the Cauldron were the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers.
Han Yang’s devouring power struck the Cauldron of Heaven and Earth with a deafening roar.
The Cauldron trembled violently, the celestial engravings flickering uncertainly.
“Hmph, this Cauldron of Heaven and Earth is one of the sect’s top treasures. How could your mere devouring power possibly shake it?” Zhao Tianba shouted from within the cauldron, his voice fierce but his heart trembling.
Han Yang sneered coldly.
“An ancient divine artifact? I don’t see anything special!”
With that, Han Yang formed hand seals, murmuring incantations.
“Spirit of the Gluttonous Beast, devour heaven and earth!”
A spectral image of the Gluttonous Beast behind Han Yang howled toward the heavens. The devouring power surged abruptly, transforming into a colossal black vortex that engulfed the Cauldron of Heaven and Earth.
The sun, moon, and stars on the cauldron dimmed gradually, while the mountains and rivers began to collapse, as if about to be utterly consumed by this terrifying devouring force.
Inside the cauldron, Zhao Tianba was overwhelmed with terror, sensing his life force being rapidly drained away.
“No! Impossible! My Cauldron of Heaven and Earth…”
Zhao Tianba screamed in despair, powerless to prevent what was unfolding.
Ultimately, the Cauldron could not withstand the devouring power of the Gluttonous Beast’s soul. With a thunderous crash, it shattered into countless points of starlight that dispersed into the air.
Devoid of the Cauldron’s protection, Zhao Tianba was fully exposed to Han Yang’s devouring power.
“Ah…”
Zhao Tianba collapsed heavily onto the ground, spitting blood, barely clinging to life.
He looked at Han Yang in horror, his eyes brimming with despair.
Han Yang advanced step by step, looking down upon him as one would a mere ant.
“Xiao Tian, you never should have set your sights on me,” Han Yang said coldly.
He looked down upon Zhao Tianba like a puddle of filth, his gaze icy and unyielding.
Where was the arrogance and overbearing spirit he once wielded?
Han Yang sneered, then spat a glob of greenish saliva onto Zhao Tianba’s face.
“With such pitiful skill, you dare scheme against me? You should take a good look at yourself in the mirror!”
He slowly turned around, his eyes sweeping over Zhao Tianba’s few disciples.
These men, who usually bullied others by riding on Zhao Tianba’s power, now stood pale as death, trembling like leaves in the wind, wishing they could bury themselves alive.
“Do you want to live?” Han Yang’s voice was utterly devoid of warmth.
The disciples, grasping at this as a lifeline, nodded desperately, their eyes filled with a fervent desire to survive—no trace remained of their previous arrogance.
A cruel smile curled Han Yang’s lips as he pointed at the collapsed Zhao Tianba with a grim tone.
“Beat him to death! Whoever hits the hardest, I’ll spare their life!”
The sudden command stunned the disciples. They glanced at one another, hesitation flickering in their eyes.
To strike their own ‘big brother’—this was outright rebellion, a monstrous betrayal! Yet if they refused, the next to be beaten into pulp might be themselves…
Instinct for survival finally overcame their hesitation.
“Bang!”
One disciple led with a punch to Zhao Tianba’s face, blood spraying instantly. That first strike sparked a frenzy; the second followed, then the third...
Like madmen, they rained blows upon Zhao Tianba, as though he had wronged their wives.
The heavy thuds of fists and feet landing on his body sent chills down onlookers’ spines.
“Ah! Stop! Please stop!” Zhao Tianba groaned in agony, utterly powerless to resist.
Already grievously wounded, he was now utterly defenseless, helplessly allowing these former “underlings” to beat him mercilessly.
Time passed unknowingly, and Zhao Tianba’s cries grew faint until silence fell.
His face was unrecognizable, breath shallow, consciousness lost.
Han Yang waved his hand to signal the disciples to cease.
Relieved as if pardoned, they stopped immediately, panting heavily, their bodies stained with blood.
Han Yang glanced at them with disdain, snorted coldly, and turned away, no longer acknowledging these once complicit henchmen.
He strolled across the vibrant green marshland, his footsteps squelching like stepping on rotten melons.
Turning back, he looked at two trembling female disciples behind him, their tattered clothes soaked with mud, faces etched with terror.
These two were the only survivors among the ten disciples originally dispatched with him on this mission.
Han Yang suppressed the murderous aura around him, speaking as calmly as he could.
“What are your names?”
One tall and strikingly beautiful girl hurriedly replied.
“Disciple Liu Ruyan, greetings, Protector Han.”
The other, more petite, followed suit.
“Disciple Lin Wan’er, greetings, Protector Han.”
“And you two with Zhao Tianba’s group…”
Han Yang paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Liu Ruyan quickly understood his implication and hurried to explain.
“Protector Han, please see clearly—we are not allied with Zhao Tianba and his men. We only followed them under duress.”
“When they conspired against you, we tried to stop them but, powerless and insignificant, we failed to prevent their wrongdoings.”
Lin Wan’er nodded, tears welling in her eyes.
“Protector Han, we never intended harm upon you. Please believe us!”
Han Yang regarded their fearful expressions and understood.
These two female disciples were weak in cultivation and had genuinely been unable to resist Zhao Tianba’s tyranny.
He nodded slightly, accepting their explanation.
“In that case, come with me.”
Han Yang said calmly.
“Collect Zhao Tianba and his men’s storage pouches.”
The two girls responded gratefully.
“Yes, Protector Han!”
Liu Ruyan and Lin Wan’er efficiently gathered the storage bags and scattered weapons left on the ground.
With everything settled, they quickened their pace to follow Han Yang toward the mission’s destination—the outermost border of the Demon Sect, Wushan Mountain.
…
Meanwhile, the disciples left behind who had beaten Zhao Tianba to death were gripped by panic.
“What do we do now? We’re in deep trouble!”
One disciple paled, his voice trembling.
“Yeah, we killed Zhao Tianba. When his father finds out, he’ll kill us for sure!”
Another agreed nervously, stealing a glance at Zhao Tianba’s battered form and feeling a surge of dread.
“Let’s run! Who cares about Zhao Tianba’s fate now?”
One disciple’s eyes flickered as he suggested.
“Han Yang’s gone anyway. We need to escape for our lives!”
The others nodded in agreement, helping each other as they staggered away from the marsh.
Yet at that moment, Zhao Tianba, seemingly dead, suddenly let out a faint groan, his fingers twitching slightly…
Han Yang, accompanied by Liu Ruyan and Lin Wan’er, continued on their path, the two female disciples’ attitudes toward him having undergone a profound transformation.