Chapter 92: Giant Statue

Jiang Feng cursed his wretched luck. Just moments ago, the area had seemed tranquil, but now it was swarming with Stonejaw Ravagers—these were no ordinary beasts. Their dense, rocky exteriors and sheer size far surpassed the typical Stonejaw Ravagers found in the outer wilderness, marking them as a far deadlier breed.

The pack's coordination was terrifying. Two lunged straight at him, their jaws snapping like stone grinders, while another attempted to flank from his blind side. Jiang Feng pivoted sharply, his movements fueled by instinct and adrenaline. He drove the Celestial Dagger into the nearest Ravager's snout, the runic lines flaring with ethereal light as the blade sank deep, shattering its rocky armor.

The creature howled in pain, a guttural sound that sent shivers through the air. Blood sprayed as Jiang Feng wrenched the dagger free and slashed upward in a fluid motion, severing the beast's jaw cleanly. It crumpled to the ground, twitching violently, as the remaining Ravagers closed in, their glowing eyes filled with a predatory hunger.

The second Ravager pounced immediately, aiming for his neck. Jiang Feng sidestepped, but not quickly enough. Claws raked across his left shoulder, tearing through fabric and flesh. Pain flared hot and sharp as blood seeped from the wound. Jiang Feng hissed, but there was no time to recover.

The Ravager came at him again, but this time he was ready. With a swift kick, he knocked the beast off balance, then lunged forward. The Celestial Dagger's blade plunged into the creature's eye, the runes glowing brighter as if feeding on its life force. The beast let out a final, shuddering growl before collapsing.

'Four down'. Jiang Feng stumbled back, clutching his bleeding shoulder as his breaths came in ragged gasps. His muscles screamed in protest, but he couldn't afford to falter. The remaining Ravagers growled, pacing around him like sharks scenting blood. Their alpha, a massive beast with darker scales and ominously glowing red eyes, stood back, watching with eerie intelligence.

Jiang Feng tightened his grip on the Celestial Dagger. "Come on, you bastards. Let's finish this."

Two more Ravagers charged, their jaws snapping. Jiang Feng ducked low, evading the first while slashing at the second. His dagger scraped against the rocky hide, sparks flying as it deflected off the tough scales. The first Ravager recovered quickly, swiping at him with razor-sharp claws. One claw caught his thigh, ripping through flesh and sending him stumbling back. The pain was excruciating, but Jiang Feng refused to fall.

He considered using his Skyforge Flame, but the risk was too great. Unleashing it could set the entire mountain ablaze and attract unwanted attention. In the unfamiliar Obsidian Waterfall Realm, who knew what stronger, more terrifying creatures might be lurking nearby? His flames could easily become his death sentence.

With a desperate burst of strength, he spun on his heel, using the momentum to drive the Celestial Dagger upward. The blade found its mark, piercing through a weak point near the Ravager's throat. Blood sprayed across the rocky terrain as the beast collapsed.

The second beast snarled, lunging at him again. Jiang Feng shifted his weight, dodging at the last second and delivering a brutal upward stab into its chest. The runes on the dagger flared brilliantly, the energy within the blade exploding outward as the beast let out a deafening roar. Its body convulsed before falling limp then exploded.

'Huh?' Jiang Feng dodge while wondering what just happened. 'Energy combustion' a subtle thought came across his mind from the Celestial Dagger.

Six bodies now littered the rocky slope, but Jiang Feng's victory was short-lived. The alpha let out a deep, resonating howl, its voice echoing across the jagged cliffs. From above, more howls answered. Jiang Feng's heart sank as he spotted additional shapes emerging from the shadows higher up the mountain.

"Reinforcements?!" he spat, his voice tinged with disbelief. His left arm hung limp, blood dripping steadily from his shoulder and thigh. Exhaustion clawed at him, but he couldn't give up now or he would be killed, and may very well be the first casualty. "I can't take them all, not like this."

The remaining six Ravagers began closing in again, emboldened by the approaching reinforcements. Jiang Feng clenched his jaw and made a split-second decision. He turned and bolted back down the mountain. The beasts howled in fury and gave chase, their claws scraping against stone as they pursued him relentlessly.

Ahead, he spotted the narrow cave opening, partially concealed by hanging roots and jagged rocks with the Crimson Vein fruit tree standing to the side. "If I can just make it inside... damnit it could be there hide away too"

He ran and dove through the entrance just as the Ravagers reached him. Their massive bodies slammed against the narrow opening, their jaws snapping wildly at the air. "Damn it, how come I didn't realized they were bigger than the cave open" Jiang Feng face palmed himself before a vengeful glint crossed his eyes.

Jiang Feng slashed at the nearest beast with the Celestial Dagger, the blade cutting deep and forcing them to retreat momentarily. Their snarls and growls filled the air, and the howls from above were growing closer.

Leaning against the damp cave wall, his chest heaving, Jiang Feng gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the dagger. His wounds throbbed, and blood pooled beneath him, but he steadied himself. "If they find another way in, I'm done for" he muttered, his voice had a tough of grim frustration to it.

The howls outside grew louder, and the shadows at the cave entrance shifted as more Ravagers arrived. Jiang Feng straightened, wincing as pain shot through his injured leg. Exhaustion warred with his will to survive, but he refused to falter. This fight isn't over yet.

He quickly found a dry patch inside the cave and sat down. From his spatial ring, he retrieved two 2nd-rank healing pills and a vial of detoxing liquid. Carefully, he applied the liquid to his wounds before swallowing the pills. As soon as they entered his stomach, the devouring diagram activated, rapidly breaking them down.

A cooling sensation washed over his body, soothing his injuries. With the power of his draconic and eternal bloodlines, the bleeding in his shoulder and leg stopped almost instantly. Jiang Feng exhaled deeply. His inexperience could have cost him dearly, but Lin Moyi's advice to stock up on healing pills had proven invaluable.

"That was dangerous... but also exhilarating. Fighting with my body instead of relying on my Skyforge Flame really gets the blood boiling" he murmured, a faint smile crossing his face as he leaned against the wall. The thick spiritual energy in the cave would speed up his recovery, and he'd be back to his peak in no time.

"I wonder if the others ran into as much bad luck as I did" he said to himself, pulling out several Crimson Vein Fruits from his ring. He bit into one, savoring its rich, sweet flavor. "Tasty."

One fruit after another disappeared as he rested, his thoughts drifting to the earlier encounter with the Stonejaw Ravagers. Despite his ability to hold his ground against those at the 8th stage of the Essence Condensation Realm, the pack had left him badly injured. Their strength was undeniable—and that wasn't even considering the Alpha.

"This place truly lives up to its reputation" Jiang Feng mused, inspecting the Crimson Vein Fruit in his hand. "Dangerous... but full of opportunities. This fruit is one such treasure."

After healing for some time, he stood and ventured deeper into the cave. The walls grew damper as he progressed, their surfaces cold and slick under his touch. Pressing a hand against one, he noticed how unnaturally sturdy they felt. The further he went, the larger the cave became. Though the entrance had seemed small, even after the Stonejaw Ravagers rammed against it, it hadn't given way.

"These walls seem to be naturally formed formations," Jiang Feng observed, his eyes following the intricate lines etched into the stone. The patterns were organic, untouched by human hands, yet they radiated an innate structure and power.

After nearly two hours of walking, he reached a massive opening. The darkness ahead was oppressive, but his sharp eyes allowed him to see faint outlines. Raising his hand, he conjured a small spark of blue flame, illuminating his surroundings.

In front of him stood a colossal statue. Its sheer size forced him to crane his neck to take it all in.

"Damn, this is enormous," Jiang Feng said aloud, awe filling his voice. He'd seen statues in Northern Moon, but none came close to this scale. The figure depicted a giant, miles tall, holding a spear with an air of unmatched ferocity. Its wild, untamed eyes seemed to pierce the heavens, radiating a suffocating presence.

"Who could have crafted something like this?" Jiang Feng marveled, his gaze fixed on the towering figure. Bulging muscles, thick legs and shoulders. 'If this person is still alive, God knows how strong he'll be after all this time!'

As he walked past the statue, he began noticing ruins—broken walls and dust-filled structures riddled with holes.

"Could this have been a sect built inside the mountain?" he wondered, his eyes scanning the ancient remains.

Every wall he passed bore similar natural formations, their lines perfectly aligned as if designed by the mountain itself.

"They all have naturally formed formations," Jiang Feng muttered, his curiosity piqued by the mystery of this hidden world.