Yang Kai had just been preparing to leave when a terrifying surge of energy suddenly erupted from within the Transformation Pool. With a sharp hissing sound, the entire pool seemed to boil over in an instant, bubbles rising ceaselessly from below.
At the same time, the spiritual energy throughout the entire mountain hollow grew chaotic. Around the Transformation Pool, a colossal and intricate formation diagram flickered into view before vanishing.
Yang Kai's eyes lit up, and the steps he had been about to take came to an abrupt halt. His gaze burned as he fixed it on the Transformation Pool, and a torrent of Divine Sense surged outward, penetrating deep into the ground.
The sudden turn of events seemed to drain Cai Die of any desire to continue pestering Yang Kai. She and the cat-eared girl both stood watching the Transformation Pool and the White Jade Deer thrashing and howling in the water, worry etched deeply across their brows.
The Demon Beast Sovereign standing beside the Transformation Pool wore an even graver expression than before. The demon essence surging from his body grew increasingly fierce and turbulent, spreading outward around the pool—but as before, it had little effect.
Even as powerful as the Sovereign was, he could not suppress the violent eruption of energy within the Transformation Pool.
The White Jade Deer soaking in the pool water tried to leap out, but it was as though invisible hands held it fast—no matter how it struggled, it could not break free. Frantic howls spilled from its mouth, and the eyes gazing toward the Sovereign pleaded desperately, filled with a deep love of life.
Every Demon Beast watching this scene couldn't help but feel a pang of grief—as though mourning the loss of their own kind. The atmosphere turned oppressively heavy.
To the naked eye, streams of mysterious power rampaged through the White Jade Deer's body, like countless invisible worms burrowing through its flesh and blood. Blisters swelled up here and there without warning, a horrifying sight.
Bright crimson blood streamed from the White Jade Deer's seven orifices. The seventh-rank demon beast—one that had already earned the right to take human form—was on the verge of exploding and dying.
The demon essence pouring from the Sovereign's body slowed considerably. His expression grew complicated as he looked at the White Jade Deer, his face revealing a look of helpless resignation.
Everyone realized that their clansman would likely be dead in moments. They stood rooted in place, silently mourning. Many of the Demon Beasts even shed tears.
"Sister Cai Die, can you think of a way to save it…?" The cat-eared girl sobbed softly, pleading with Cai Die.
Cai Die forced a bitter smile, stroked the girl's head, and shook her head helplessly.
Even the Sovereign was powerless—what could she possibly do?
"Could you let me try? Perhaps I can save its life." Yang Kai, who had been quietly observing the Transformation Pool, suddenly spoke up.
Cai Die was stunned. She shot him a suspicious look, a flash of anger crossing her lovely face. "You? A mere human?"
Yang Kai met her gaze without flinching, his eyes burning with conviction.
Cai Die frowned, unable to fathom where this human's confidence came from. She said with contempt, "What ability could you possibly have to save it? Don't think that just because the Sovereign granted you a few conditions, you can do whatever you please. This is the demon domain—not your human territory. If you irritate me, I can kill you at any moment."
"If you've got time to stand here lecturing me, you'd be better off asking the Sovereign for his judgment," Yang Kai retorted coldly. Ever since Cai Die had first laid eyes on him, she had shown nothing but open disgust—which left Yang Kai baffled, having no idea where he might have offended her.
"Perhaps I can save it, perhaps it will still die. But if you keep blathering on, your clansman is doomed for certain. We humans have a saying—'treat a dead horse as if it were still alive.' I wonder if you've heard of it."
Cai Die's beautiful face turned cold, and she was about to fire back when the cat-eared girl cut in hurriedly, nodding quickly: "I'll go ask the Sovereign!"
With that, her petite body darted with astonishing agility to the Transformation Pool's edge, where she spoke rapidly to the Sovereign.
Cai Die watched with furrowed brows, then cast an icy glance at Yang Kai and hissed, "What exactly are you scheming? Are you trying to destroy our demon race's foundation, ruin the Transformation Pool?"
Yang Kai chuckled. "Why are you so paranoid by nature? And I get the impression you're extremely hostile toward humans. Did someone do something to you in the past?"
The moment those words left his lips, Cai Die's beautiful eyes erupted with bone-chilling killing intent—as though Yang Kai had struck a nerve, touching upon a painful memory buried deep in her heart that she refused to revisit. Her delicate features twisted with fury.
Before she could erupt, Yang Kai said, "I have no interest in your Demon Race's Transformation Pool—rest assured about that. What interests me is the thing hidden beneath it."
"The thing hidden beneath it?" Cai Die's delicate brows knitted together. Before she could press for details, the cat-eared girl came bounding back and, without a word of explanation, seized Yang Kai's arm and dragged him at full speed toward the pool, calling urgently: "The Sovereign wants you over there!"
Yang Kai gave a slight nod and, under Cai Die's watchful, wary eyes, followed the cat-eared girl to the edge of the Transformation Pool.
"Fine—let's see what trick you're trying to pull!" Cai Die snorted and hurried after them.
The gathered demon beast powerhouses watched this unfold with curiosity, wondering what the Sovereign could possibly want with that human at such a critical juncture.
Moments later, Yang Kai arrived at the poolside. Up close, he could feel the horrifying magnitude of the energy churning within the Transformation Pool even more acutely.
"The cat girl says you have a way?" The Sovereign's piercing, authoritative eyes fixed on Yang Kai as he asked in a deep voice.
"I can try." Yang Kai nodded slightly, careful not to sound too certain.
"Just try?" The Sovereign's brows furrowed, a hint of displeasure in his voice.
"At the rate things are going, it's going to die regardless, isn't it? If you let me try, it might just pull through." Yang Kai smiled calmly.