This Inner Core Is For You

The trio had barely walked a hundred meters when a wave of heat surged toward them, followed by a continuous, ear-piercing screeching that erupted all around.

"What's happening?"

Hu Liena covered her ears, trying to shut out the shrill noise.

However, her voice was swallowed by the screeching, failing to reach the two men beside her.

Ling Chen looked up slightly, only to see thousands of blood-colored bats swooping down upon them. They moved with such speed that they were upon them in the blink of an eye.

"So fast!"

Before Ling Chen could finish his sentence, the Green Steel Sword in his hand had already slashed out. Tang San had activated his Blue Silver Domain, which could weaken the speed of enemies within its range, yet even so, the blood-colored bats remained incredibly swift.

In an instant, several blood-colored bats were sliced in two by Ling Chen, while Tang San and Hu Liena also unleashed their own methods to hunt the creatures.

"Move! Don't waste time with these bats!"

Ling Chen knew these blood-colored bats were merely an appetizer; the truly troublesome foe was the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King lurking behind them.

It was a ten-thousand-year soul beast that, having been tainted by the Yellow Spring Dew, possessed strength far exceeding that of an ordinary ten-thousand-year beast. Coupled with its ability to regenerate indefinitely within the Hell Road, the situation would become dire if they were dragged into a prolonged fight.

However, Ling Chen wanted to attempt to kill it to see if the bat would still regenerate after he stripped away its Martial Soul Origin and Soul Ring.

Ling Chen had to keep this thought to himself for now; he only wanted to leave this place and awaken his martial soul in the outside world. After three enhancements, each brief manifestation of his martial soul cost 1,000 points of Martial Soul Origin, a consumption rate that was terrifying for him.

Perhaps this was one of the reasons he had wanted to slaughter the city. Now that he had a chance to leave, he had to seize it; a bright future was beckoning to him.

Moving with agility, the three pushed forward another hundred meters, the dead bats falling one after another into the Yellow Spring Dew.

Ling Chen felt an intense killing intent surging toward them, and the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King appeared above their heads before they even realized it.

The moment Tang San's Blue Silver Domain touched the Bat King, his expression turned grave; he, too, sensed that this creature was no ordinary beast.

"Bad news! Scatter!"

No sooner had Tang San spoken than he and Hu Liena scrambled to run forward.

Ling Chen, sensing the Bat King's intent, leaped into the air instead, pointing his sword at the beast.

The Bat King dove down, charging straight at Ling Chen. Its three heads opened their blood-red maws, intending to bite down simultaneously and drain a fresh morsel like Ling Chen into a husk.

Ling Chen was not afraid, sweeping his Green Steel Sword horizontally across the air.

"Slash!"

The three bat heads fell in response, and Ling Chen immediately grabbed the Bat King's torso.

"No Soul Ring! And no Origin!"

Ling Chen was shocked, and as soon as he landed, he bolted toward Tang San. The body of the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King fell into the Yellow Spring Dew and vanished.

Looking at the endless swarm of bats overhead, Ling Chen deduced the answer after a moment of thought. As long as the blood-colored bats remained above, the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King would never truly die; its Martial Soul Origin was dispersed among these smaller creatures.

"What a monster! It should regenerate quickly; we must pick up the pace!"

Ling Chen couldn't help but marvel. It was fortunate he had struck when he did; otherwise, if its massive body had crashed down, this narrow Hell Road would likely have been shattered to pieces.

After all, the path was composed of narrow pillars stuck into the magma; breaking even one would destroy the balance. If that happened, they would be facing a real-life "Temple Run"!

Catching up to Tang San, the three moved forward for another stretch, but something seemed to be stirring beneath their feet.

"It's here!"

Ling Chen's killing intent perception instantly sensed the behemoth beneath them, and a Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent, with ten fleshy tumors on its back, suddenly burst out, attacking Ling Chen first.

Ling Chen: "Seriously, man? What the hell! Why is everyone picking on me?!"

As Ling Chen dodged, he still brushed against its body, and a searing, burning sensation swept through him. His unhealed wounds began to hiss, the pain making his face contort.

Silently, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer descended upon the fleshy tumors of the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent, smashing down with force.

The immense power not only exploded the tumor but also drove the serpent's body to sink significantly. Hu Liena did not stand idly by; with a flash of her blade, another tumor was sliced open.

Ling Chen roared, leaping onto the serpent's head and driving his Green Steel Sword into the first tumor. Using his body weight to slide down the serpent's back, he ruthlessly sliced open each tumor, causing the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent to roar in agony.

With a flick of its tail, the serpent flung Ling Chen away, but Tang San immediately stepped forward to catch him, turning to smash the final tumor.

Unexpectedly, the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent unleashed its internal core. This core was its ultimate trump card, containing energy that Tang San and the others could not contend with. It seemed the serpent intended to take them down with it.

Seeing this, Ling Chen felt an irrepressible excitement. However, they were all temporarily suppressed by the energy of the core, unable to move.

Opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared. Ling Chen knew this was his chance; his desire to slaughter the city had been for this very moment.

The Green Steel Sword in his hand trembled violently as he poured a continuous stream of Martial Soul Origin into it. The sword emitted an invisible force, temporarily restoring their ability to move.

"Brother Silver, do it! Break its connection to the core!"

Ling Chen threw his trembling Green Steel Sword, and Tang San, knowing the terror of the core, gathered all his strength to execute the final strike of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, slamming it directly onto the core.

In an instant, a powerful shockwave swept through the area. The Green Steel Sword pierced through the skull of the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent, while Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer severed the connection between the serpent and its core.

Ling Chen was blown away by the shockwave, but Hu Liena lunged to catch him. As the dust settled, the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent lay dead on the Hell Road.

"Many thanks!"

Setting Ling Chen back on the ground, the two walked behind Tang San.

"This core... I'll leave it to you!"

Before Tang San could even open his mouth, Ling Chen had already spoken first.

"This..."

Tang San was momentarily speechless, while Ling Chen pointed toward the Green Steel Sword embedded in the ceiling.

"Whatever you have to say, we can discuss it once we're out. First, retrieve my sword."

The two looked up to see only the hilt of the Green Steel Sword remaining exposed, and they couldn't help but click their tongues in secret. To throw a sword with enough force to embed it that deeply—just how much strength did a child like Ling Chen possess? The key question was, where did that power even come from?

Tang San threw the Clear Sky Hammer, shattering the rocks surrounding the Green Steel Sword, which then fell down accordingly.

Ling Chen first reached out to touch the corpse of the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent, which was on the verge of sliding into the Yellow Spring Dew, before leaping up to catch the Green Steel Sword.