After Firebird and Razor Wolf had left for a while, Firebird asked, "Wolf, how are you holding up?"
"I'm alright, but it'll take some time for me to recover. That kid is really nasty—his strength is terrifying, and that last move of his, what was that? He wiped out so many spirit beasts." Razor Wolf replied.
Firebird nodded. She was also shocked by Yang Han's final move; otherwise, she wouldn't have fled so quickly. But she said, "Wolf, that kid must be crazy, actually heading straight for the most dangerous part of the forbidden land."
"Yeah, it's really strange. What is he doing there? That's where the ancient spirit beast Drakehorn's head is sealed." Razor Wolf muttered curiously.
"No idea. Maybe he's like everyone else, wanting to subdue the ancient spirit beast Drakehorn." Firebird answered.
"Subdue? Ridiculous. Even Immortal Sovereigns couldn't subdue that ferocious Drakehorn. How could he? Have you forgotten how terrifying that war was ten thousand years ago?" Razor Wolf replied.
"Yeah, even a trace of Drakehorn's ancient power leaking out took many people to seal it again, and there were heavy casualties." Firebird said.
"Although I lost this hand, I'll be happiest if that kid gets devoured by the beast." Razor Wolf sneered.
Meanwhile, Yang Han had no idea what they were saying. He was walking through a gloomy cave, feeling a bone-chilling cold wind inside, and could hear breathing sounds—this was what baffled him most.
In the darkness of the cave, breathing echoed. What was going on? Yang Han's first instinct was that there must be some kind of creature in here—if not, maybe a person, but human breathing never sounded this strange.
So Yang Han suspected it must be some kind of creature. He kept moving forward, Night-Eye Technique active, and when he saw the walls around him, he was shocked: bones were embedded in the walls, and there were bloodstains everywhere.
At a glance, it looked like a great battle had taken place here; there were traces all around.
"Dragonhorn Grotto... Why did she come here back then?" Seeing these traces, Yang Han couldn't help but wonder if some great battle had happened when that woman visited long ago.
Curious, Yang Han carefully edged forward and finally saw an enormous, grotesque head ahead. The head was sealed in ice—ice that clearly wasn't ordinary, and after a close look, Yang Han realized he couldn't control it. Besides, a shining formation surrounded it, whose purpose was to trap the head.
Yang Han was puzzled: why was there only a head, with no other parts, and why was its breathing so clear, as if it were a sleeping giant?
"What is this?" Yang Han muttered.
"Despicable human, you actually dare to come here." The head suddenly opened its eyes and spoke.
Yang Han was startled. "You're actually awake?"
"Of course I'm awake. Don't think that just because I'm sealed you can come and mock me. If I go berserk, I'll destroy this place—then you won't be able to escape." the head said.
"If you really could, you'd have broken out long ago, right?" Yang Han smiled.
"It's obvious from the traces around you—so much dust means you haven't moved in ages, and the formation here isn't just for show. Do you really think you can break out?" Yang Han said.
"Hmph, so what? You can't touch me anyway." the head said arrogantly.
"True, I can't touch you, but we can talk." Yang Han smiled.
"Talk about what? There's nothing to talk about. All you humans are despicable." the head replied.
"Why do you keep saying humans are despicable?" Yang Han asked curiously.
"My head was chopped off by a human powerhouse. My head is here, but my body is elsewhere. You humans are afraid my head and body might reunite, so you went to great lengths to trap me here, right?" the head snorted coldly.
"You must have done something terrible, otherwise why would humans seal you? What's the point of sealing you if there's no benefit?" Yang Han replied.
"I don't want to talk to you anymore. You're just like them." the head said angrily.
"Enough about that. I do have a question for you, though. If you answer honestly, I can ease your pain." Yang Han noticed a thick iron pillar stabbed into a spot on the head, with some substance constantly flowing from it, clearly causing the head discomfort.
"Ease my pain? How?" the head asked.
"I'll help you by removing that iron pillar, but I'll leave the other restraints intact." Yang Han wasn't sure what would happen if he removed the others, but he guessed that touching them would cause unnecessary trouble.
"You really have a way to remove it?" Hearing this, the head was overjoyed. If that pillar was taken out, the pain would lessen, and then it could slowly recover and eventually break the surrounding formation.
"Yeah." Yang Han replied.
"Alright, deal. So, what do you want to ask?" the head said eagerly.
From the head's expression, Yang Han could tell the iron pillar was a big problem. But instead of mentioning it directly, he asked, "I'm asking about someone—did she ever come here, and where did she go afterward?"
"Who?" the head asked curiously.
Yang Han showed the head an image. When the head saw it, its eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why are you looking for her?"
"Why I'm looking for her is my business. Just tell me if she came here and where she went afterward." Yang Han said.
The head replied, "Alright, I'll tell you. She did come here back then, and she came to ask me something. If I'm not mistaken, she should have gone to that place afterward."
"What did she ask?" Yang Han asked.
"She was looking for a way to leave this place. The only way out is to pass through Netherdeep Gorge—only then can you leave and reach other spaces." the head said.
"Oh? How do you know about that? Netherdeep Gorge—are you sure you're not just making this up?" Yang Han frowned.
"Why would I lie? I passed through Netherdeep Gorge myself before and reached the outside—an Immortal Realm. She knew I had this secret, so she came to find me. Now that I've told you, it's time to remove the pillar." the head replied.
"Alright, you're honest enough. I'll help you, but what happens next is up to your own luck." Yang Han said.
After speaking, Yang Han walked over to the iron pillar and pulled it out with one hand. The ground shook briefly, then settled. Feeling the pain disappear, the head was overjoyed. "Thank you."
"Good luck." Yang Han smiled, tapped a few points at the wound, and then left the place.
Watching Yang Han's departing figure, the head laughed wildly. "Ha! What a fool. Removing that pillar means my revival is near. Just wait for me to break out!"
As Yang Han heard its laughter while leaving, he secretly chuckled, "I've sealed several key points on its head. I wonder what expression it'll have when it sees me again."
The head, completely unaware that Yang Han had tampered with it, was still delighted. Its true identity was Drakehorn, a powerful and terrifying spirit beast.
The tremor just now had attracted quite a few people to the cave entrance.
Firebird and Razor Wolf stood nearby. A man in front of Firebird asked, "Who are you? Why are you here?"
Yang Han didn't answer, but instead smiled at Firebird and Razor Wolf. "Thanks for guiding me. I'm leaving now." With that, Yang Han vanished in a flash.
The crowd was shocked—how could such a powerful person appear here? Their eyes turned to Firebird and Razor Wolf. After the two explained, everyone cursed Yang Han, then sent people to search for him while others guarded the cave entrance.
Inside Dragonhorn Grotto, Drakehorn was gathering strength to break the formation, while Yang Han, heading toward the Black Marsh, was intercepted by a group of people. All were peak Emperor-level experts, but before Yang Han, they were no match and quickly defeated.
Then someone appeared—an Immortal Sovereign. He frowned at Yang Han and said, "Who are you? Why did you kill so many of my sect's people?"
"I didn't kill them—they tried to kill me, but they were simply outmatched." Yang Han replied.
"Nonsense! If you hadn't come, why would they attack you? This is a forbidden land!" the Immortal Sovereign shouted angrily.
"Forbidden land? So what? If I have business here, I'll come, forbidden or not." Yang Han said.
"Arrogant! Today I'll make sure you die, then chop you to pieces and toss you into the Black Marsh!" the man roared.
"Oh? I'd like to see what you've got." Yang Han smiled.
The two then began a fierce battle. When the others arrived and saw the Immortal Sovereign fighting Yang Han, they were relieved they hadn't faced Yang Han alone—the consequences would have been dire.
This Immortal Sovereign had been at that level for a long time and had many techniques, and Yang Han had plenty of tricks as well. But since Yang Han was still at Emperor-level, it was impossible to overpower the Immortal Sovereign; a draw was possible, though.
As Yang Han considered how to shake off his opponent, a long howl echoed from Dragonhorn Grotto. The crowd was alarmed and hurried toward the grotto. The Immortal Sovereign fighting Yang Han was shocked and said, "No! We can't let it escape and merge with its body!"
With that, the Immortal Sovereign glared at Yang Han, then rushed toward Dragonhorn Grotto. Yang Han crossed the Black Marsh and left the area.
Outside Dragonhorn Grotto, crowds had gathered, but everyone still worried about what was happening inside. Strong breathing echoed from the cave, and remembering how many died sealing Drakehorn years ago, many began to fear for their own fate.
The Immortal Sovereign looked at the cave and asked, "What on earth happened here?"
Firebird and Razor Wolf hurried to explain to the Immortal Sovereign. After hearing everything, the Immortal Sovereign cursed, "Damn it! That brat—did he go in and remove the restraints from Drakehorn?"