Rumble, rumble…
The ground trembled. Countless footsteps sounded in the distance, drawing closer and louder with every moment.
Xu Ziqing did not even need to investigate. He immediately turned around, filled with shock.
The Wang family cultivators reacted extremely quickly. With danger bearing down on them, how could they still have the leisure to let the Young Master slowly temper himself? They raised their swords together and killed the demon beasts in front of them. Wang Xing lunged forward in a single stride, directly cut off the head of the beast facing Wang Yingwu, then pulled him behind himself and protected him tightly.
Very quickly, Wang Yingwu was surrounded by three Wang family cultivators. Wang Xing called out, “Three Fellow Daoists, get ready. Danger is coming!”
There was no need for him to say it. Xu Ziqing, Nian Hongzhi, and Wang Jun were already fully on guard.
Wang Jun stood shoulder to shoulder with Nian Hongzhi. “Big Brother, be careful.”
Nian Hongzhi said, “Don’t worry. You and I can act according to the situation. It won’t be difficult for us to escape later.”
The other cultivators were badly shaken, but the two brothers were almost excited. Once this battle was over, the great hidden danger in their hearts would be gone, and their states of mind would be able to advance another step.
At that moment, the thunder of footsteps reached them.
Only then did everyone see a mass of powerful dark-gray figures charging toward them, some high and some low. Any trees blocking their path were ripped apart by pairs of long arms as though they were rotten wood.
Among the gray figures was one blazing gold silhouette. Its radiance was dazzling, and as it ran, the rocks beneath its feet groaned and were crushed into powder.
Terrifying killing intent erupted from the golden figure. Its pressure was overwhelming, and its demonic qi was so dense it seemed almost tangible.
A third-rank demon beast, the Adamantine Giant Ape!
Wang Xing was shocked. “Why is an entire ape troop coming here?”
Could killing a single ordinary Iron-Hide Giant Ape truly provoke the whole troop into such a reaction?
Demon-beast clans were large. Under ordinary circumstances, killing one member outside their territory would not bring the entire clan seeking revenge. Survival of the fittest governed such creatures. Unless the slain beast possessed extraordinary potential or a particularly noble status, this would never happen.
When they killed the Iron-Hide Giant Ape yesterday, Wang Xing had seen that its aptitude and appearance were both ordinary, so he had thought nothing of it. Now, seeing so many giant apes, panic finally seized him, and he blamed himself inwardly. Perhaps he had judged wrongly and brought this calamity upon them.
He had not judged wrongly at all. The Iron-Hide Giant Ape from yesterday truly had been ordinary, and the troop would never have mobilized its entire strength to avenge it. The real cause was that several malicious cultivators hired by the Wang family had killed the clan leader’s child for the sake of a private grudge.
That was what had brought this disaster.
The Adamantine Giant Ape’s eyes glowed blood-red, and chaotic demonic qi churned around its body. Nearly mad with fury, it shrieked, “Immortal cultivators… die!”
The Iron-Hide Giant Apes thundered forward under the Adamantine Giant Ape’s command. More than ten long furry tails turned into countless whip shadows, all lashing toward the cultivators at once.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The ground split into long fissures, trees snapped, and sand and stones flew everywhere.
The ape troop attacked like a raging tide, carrying unstoppable momentum and hatred without fear or hesitation.
If there had been only one Iron-Hide Giant Ape, none of the cultivators present would have been afraid. But this was not one beast. It was a maddened troop of ten or more. Under such an assault, how could anyone remain calm?
The cultivators were utterly bewildered. Why did the Adamantine Giant Ape hate them so much? But this was no time to search for answers. The Iron-Hide Giant Apes had already swung their arms like great wheels and came rolling forward.
Green light flashed in Xu Ziqing’s palm, and the thousand-year Steelwood appeared in his hand. A long tail happened to sweep toward him, and he raised the Steelwood to block it. Clang! Clang! The impacts numbed his palm.
Nian Hongzhi wielded his saber and Wang Jun his sword as they joined the battle against the troop. Wang Yingwu had completely lost his earlier high spirits. His face was pale as he remained protected in the middle by three Wang family cultivators.
The ape troop’s assault was fierce, and Wang Yingwu was nothing but a burden. Before long, one of the weaker Wang cultivators was seized by a giant ape and smashed heavily onto the ground. Two more apes stamped down together, landing squarely on his chest. His ribs shattered in an instant, and he vomited a mouthful of blood in agony.
Another giant ape lunged over, seized the cultivator’s neck with both hands, and violently twisted his head off. It raised the severed head high, baring its teeth and jeering without stop.
The heavy smell of blood filled Xu Ziqing’s nose. Naturally, he had seen the savage scene, and a trace of pity immediately entered his eyes. Unfortunately, he was already surrounded by three giant apes and had no strength to spare. He simply could not go to the man’s aid.
Xu Ziqing sighed, sprang into the air, then raised one finger and pointed at the swaggering giant ape. “Break!”
The Iron-Hide Giant Ape was still holding the cultivator’s severed head when a streak of green light struck it squarely between the brows. The Wood Essence Finger pierced straight through. The ape’s arm jerked, and its entire body crashed to the ground.
It died on the spot.
The Wood Essence Finger consumed a great deal of spiritual power and could not be used often. But that giant ape had been so vicious that killing it was the least he could do for the dead cultivator.
Xu Ziqing landed, raised the thousand-year Steelwood, and continued fighting the giant apes in front of him.
He hardened his heart and thought, Brother Yun once said, “When demon beasts harm people, those that should be killed should be killed. There is no need for pity.” Looking at things now, he was indeed right.
The hatred between demon beasts and humans ran as deep as the sea. This had already become a struggle where only one side could live.
Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun also used many methods. Both were at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement, so killing Iron-Hide Giant Apes with lower cultivation was not difficult for them.
This was not yet the right moment to make their move against Xu Ziqing, but as the two fought the apes, they slowly shifted closer to his position.
There had been three Wang family cultivators, and one was already dead. The weaker of the remaining two became even more cautious. Wang Xing’s brows were tightly furrowed. It would not matter if these old bones of his died here, but the Young Master had a bright future. How could he be buried in this place?
Yet they were now surrounded by the ape troop. What could he do? He carefully shielded Wang Yingwu while searching in every direction for a path of escape. But the giant apes were ferocious, each one close to his own cultivation. Despite all his efforts, Wang Yingwu still accumulated injury after injury.
Everyone was already struggling to hold on, but the next moment made matters even worse.
The Adamantine Giant Ape, which had been watching from the side, suddenly roared, leaped into the air, and entered the battle itself.
It had not been holding back before. It had been scenting for its own bloodline, searching for the culprit who had killed its child.
The battlefield was chaotic, but demon beasts possessed extraordinarily keen senses. They could even trace kin through blood. After only a short while, the Adamantine Giant Ape finally detected the scent of its child’s blood on one of the immortal cultivators.
Its blood instantly boiled, hatred filling its chest.
The one who severed my bloodline…
Kill! Kill! Kill!
The person the Adamantine Giant Ape fixed upon was none other than Xu Ziqing.
With a push of its legs, it appeared before the green-robed youth and faced him head-on. Ferocity rolled through its eyes. One huge hand reached out and seized the Steelwood in Xu Ziqing’s hands.
“Immortal cultivator, give me your life!” it roared, throwing a punch.
Xu Ziqing hurriedly retreated. He had no idea why the giant ape held such intense malice toward him, but he could hardly wait for death. The Adamantine Giant Ape possessed tremendous strength. It could seize the Steelwood with one hand without suffering the slightest injury, showing that its golden hide was as hard as a magical artifact. If that fist landed squarely on him, he would probably die instantly.
Seeing this, Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun were secretly delighted.
The Adamantine Giant Ape truly had taken Xu Ziqing for its enemy. All their painstaking calculations had not gone to waste.
The punch carried violent astral wind and scorching demonic qi, shooting forward like a blazing meteor with astonishing speed.
Xu Ziqing could not block it head-on. Two green leaves appeared beneath his feet and spun rapidly as he moved, retreating diagonally nearly one zhang and barely avoiding the strike.
Even so, every blade of grass touched by the passing force of the fist was scorched black, showing just how fierce the demonic power within it was.
Seeing the Adamantine Giant Ape completely focused on Xu Ziqing, Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun immediately attacked together. Their saber and sword fell, cutting off the heads of the two Iron-Hide Giant Apes surrounding them.
Because the Adamantine Giant Ape was locked in battle with Xu Ziqing, the remaining apes turned on the other cultivators. After the brothers killed two, another two came at them, and those were killed as well.
The two then hurried over to Wang Yingwu. Because the Wang group was the weakest, they had drawn the heaviest attack, and five giant apes had surrounded them. Wang Xing and the other Wang cultivator were both seriously wounded. The ruyi in Wang Yingwu’s hand blazed with light, but he could do little more than knock an ape back a few steps from time to time. Killing one as he had before was completely impossible.
Wang Xing was only holding on through sheer will to protect Wang Yingwu and had already begun to despair. He never expected Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun to come to their aid at this moment, and he was immediately overjoyed.
Nian Hongzhi said, “Young Master Wang’s safety is most important. These few giant apes cannot do much to us. Steward Wang, take the Young Master and leave first. We’ll cover your retreat!”
Wang Jun added, “We’ll follow shortly!”
With that, the two drew the five demon beasts away so they could no longer entangle the Wang cultivators.
Wang Xing was overwhelmed with joy. He had never expected these hired cultivators to offer such help. After all, they had merely been paid to guard the field. At a moment of life and death, they had no obligation to be this righteous. He could not help shouting, “Three Fellow Daoists, the Wang family will remember this kindness! Please visit the Wang residence afterward. You will certainly be richly rewarded!”
Then he moved in a flash, tucked Wang Yingwu under one arm, and fled at great speed with the remaining Wang cultivator.
Only five Iron-Hide Giant Apes, one Adamantine Giant Ape, and three immortal cultivators remained on the battlefield, all still fighting.
The Iron-Hide Giant Apes were ultimately lower in cultivation. Their numbers had forced Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun to spend some effort, but once the Wang family cultivators were far away, the brothers could truly unleash their abilities and became even more ruthless.
Wang Jun gripped his flying sword, transformed into a streak of golden light, and spun forward. He bored straight through the heart of one giant ape, leaving a huge hole in its chest before it collapsed.
Nian Hongzhi’s moves were broad and forceful. He raised his long saber high and leaped into a downward slash. The blade light fell and split one giant ape open by sheer force. Its intestines spilled out and its demon core rolled free. Then he swept the saber sideways and cut another ape across the waist, severing it into two pieces.
Only two giant apes remained. Seeing how ferocious the brothers were, they did not retreat. Instead, their savagery was provoked further. One lunged forward while the other leaped high. Four heavy fists crossed and struck so quickly that countless fist shadows seemed to fill the space before the brothers.
The force of the punches was extremely sharp, but the difference in cultivation could not be overcome, especially with two excellent magical artifacts assisting the brothers. Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun worked together skillfully. One spun his long saber into an impenetrable screen before them, while the other bent low and slashed hard at the apes’ lower legs. Once both apes’ legs were severed, they screamed in pain. Nian Hongzhi swept his saber and cut off both their heads.
All ten Iron-Hide Giant Apes were now dead. Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun immediately rushed together toward Xu Ziqing.
They shouted, “Fellow Daoist Xu, we’re here to help you!”
Xu Ziqing was locked in a fierce battle with the Adamantine Giant Ape. Its cultivation exceeded his and its temperament was savage, leaving him at a disadvantage. Hearing the brothers’ voices, he relaxed slightly and began to answer, “Many…”
Before the word “thanks” could leave his mouth, he felt a vicious saber wind behind him, carrying unmistakable killing intent.