Chapter 435 ·Battle the Demon Ape Again
Chapter 435: Battle the Demon Ape Again
Heavenly Evolution True Realm.
“嘤！”（Be careful!）
The instant Chen Beiwu appeared, Zhi Ling on his shoulder let out an urgent cry, warning him of the incoming danger.
Golden Egg, Iron Egg, and Xue Le, however, were already accustomed to this. Together with Chen Beiwu, they turned their heads to look at the pitch-black figure slowly emerging ahead.
It stood half a zhang tall, its eyes deeply sunken, its face covered by a shattered Buddhist Mask Armor, and the aura it emitted was like that of a god or demon, making one shudder with fear.
“So strong!”
The three heads of Golden Egg swallowed.
Even though it had already become a Fourth-Realm Demon King, it still felt an indescribable pressure when facing the Battle Demon Ape directly.
That was the bloodline suppression of a Fifth-Tier Creation Origin Beast over a Heavenly Dipper Mystical Beast, and even suppression in terms of status!
Under this status suppression, the combat strength it could unleash from its profound cultivation was reduced by at least a quarter.
“The stronger, the better, isn’t that right?”
Iron Egg slightly lowered its body, looking at the Battle Demon Ape with eager anticipation.
At this moment, even without the connection of the Companion Contract, it could sense the surging battle intent in Beiwu’s heart.
Indeed, as a combat opponent, the stronger the Battle Demon Ape was, the better. Only then would it live up to its entire Creation bloodline.
If possible, it wanted to help its master subdue this demon ape and assist its master in opening the broad road toward becoming a Divine Transformation True Venerable!
“呐。”（Long time no see）
Xue Le raised its hand in greeting, then patted Zhi Ling’s head, indicating that everything was fine and this demon ape was not an enemy.
It had completely forgotten its dark history of nearly wetting itself from fright the first time it saw the Battle Demon Ape.
“You’ve become stronger!”
There was a trace of excitement in the Battle Demon Ape’s voice, no longer as calm as before.
Its decision back then had indeed been correct. After only several decades apart, that Foundation Establishment prodigy had already grown into a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
‘Late-stage Nascent Soul? No, that’s not right, an early-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch!’
The Battle Demon Ape’s spiritual perception stirred, and the corners of its mouth slightly curled upward.
Good, good, good!
The threat perception brought to it by an early-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch could actually rival that of Heavenly Evolution True Monarch at the late-stage Nascent Soul realm, only slightly weaker.
If Chen Beiwu successfully reached Nascent Soul Perfection in the future, he might indeed allow it to taste defeat and thereby break through the shackles of its bloodline and attain the Dao as a Fifth-Realm Demon Venerable.
At the instant the Battle Demon Ape’s battle intent arose, Chen Beiwu also felt somewhat emotional.
As expected of the Battle Demon Ape, naturally born and earth-nurtured, born amid tribulations, and possessing the dual authorities of ‘Battle Destruction’ and ‘Calamity-Sealing Power’.
No matter how rapidly his cultivation realm soared, every time he saw the Battle Demon Ape, he experienced a spiritual warning like a firefly gazing upon the sun.
This meant that even though he had now attained the Dao as a True Monarch, he was still not the Battle Demon Ape’s match.
‘Who knows how much strength I can make the Battle Demon Ape display now?’ Chen Beiwu thought inwardly.
To speak honestly, the Battle Demon Ape was a powerful Origin Beast ranked third on the Creation Origin Beast Ranking, and also a rare Companion Beast that even Immortal Alliance cultivation giants would be tempted by.
If he had an opportunity to subdue and contract the Battle Demon Ape, then in the future, setting aside attaining the Dao as a Divine Transformation True Venerable, even crossing realms to fight a Divine Transformation True Venerable might not be difficult.
However, the Battle Demon Ape race had always fought Heaven and Earth and absolutely refused to submit. Even if a cultivation giant personally acted, they might not necessarily be able to suppress it, let alone Chen Beiwu now.
‘Interesting!’
The Battle Demon Ape’s spiritual perception stirred, seeing through the thought in Chen Beiwu’s heart.
But unlike the covetous greed it saw in the eyes of other cultivators, what it saw in Chen Beiwu’s eyes was mostly praise and appreciation.
But even that was not enough to make it regard Chen Beiwu differently.
The one thing the Battle Demon Ape truly cared about was Chen Beiwu’s potential—whether he could let it fight to its heart’s content in the future.
“Fight?”
The Battle Demon Ape directly issued an invitation.
“Sure.”
Chen Beiwu readily agreed.
“Very good, don’t hold back!”
As soon as the words fell, the Battle Demon Ape stepped forward. The earth beneath its feet instantly exploded, sending up vast clouds of dust.
‘So fast!’
Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted slightly. In an instant, the Battle Demon Ape had already appeared before him.
“Roar!”
Golden Egg refused to be outdone, activating the Mystical Ability Three-Aspects Indestructible and raising its dragon claw to meet the Battle Demon Ape’s fist head-on.
“Boom!!!”
After a moment of stalemate, a faint trembling sound came from the bones within Golden Egg’s body, and its enormous dragon body uncontrollably retreated.
The Battle Demon Ape, which held the upper hand, continued forward without diminishing its momentum, changing its fist into a finger and pointing toward Chen Beiwu.
This finger seemed ordinary, but in Chen Beiwu’s Divine Sense perception, it carried a great terror capable of crushing everything.
Hum!
The light of the Guarding One Mirror flickered, suppressing the distracting thoughts in his heart. Chen Beiwu formed a seal with one hand, and a seemingly illusory yet seemingly tangible Azure Radiance Myriad Spirits Barrier immediately stretched across the space before him.
“嘤!”
At this moment, Xue Le, whose mind was connected with Chen Beiwu, reacted.
It brought its hands together, gathering the incomparably vast Five Elements Mystical Qi within its body and casting the Mystical Ability Thousand Transformations and Ten Thousand Changes to help conceal their aura.
“汪!”
Iron Egg’s entire body ignited with Crimson-Golden flames, transforming into one strand after another of Parting Flame Ember Silk. They split into countless strands, interweaving into a net and attacking the Battle Demon Ape.
The Battle Demon Ape did not change its movements. It neither dodged nor evaded, completely ignoring the Parting Flame Ember Annihilation coming toward it.
One finger!
Only one finger!
The Azure Radiance Myriad Spirits Barrier, which could withstand a strike from a late-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch, was as fragile as thin paper and instantly collapsed.
Seeing this scene, surprise flashed through Chen Beiwu’s eyes.
Was this the Battle Demon Ape without its cultivation suppressed?
It had not activated any bloodline Mystical Ability, nor had it circulated its magical power or true qi. Merely relying on its naturally formidable physical body, it could crush everything with overwhelming force.
“Pfft!”
Before he could use a Mystical Ability to respond, the Demon Ape’s finger descended, piercing straight through Chen Beiwu’s forehead and leaving a bloody hole.
The Battle Demon Ape’s expression remained unchanged. Its eyes moved, and what entered its view behind it was Chen Beiwu launching a sudden attack, while the Chen Beiwu in front of it transformed into a Five-Qi Puppet and slowly dissipated.
‘Break!’
Chen Beiwu gave a low roar. The Primordial Origin True Qi within his body erupted at full force, and he unleashed the Grotto-Truth Calamity-Heaven Finger, pointing heavily at the Battle Demon Ape’s back.
In an instant, the Demon-Sealing Chains trembled, emitting metallic wails, while even the fur covering the Battle Demon Ape’s body exploded outward.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
One finger! Two fingers! Three fingers!
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Beiwu consecutively thrust out six fingers in an instant.
Every time he unleashed the Grotto-Truth Calamity-Heaven Finger, incomparably pure Primordial Origin True Qi would blast into his opponent’s body, frantically stacking the Mystical Ability’s power, forcing the Battle Demon Ape to retreat step by step while visible shockwaves erupted from its back.
As the price, Chen Beiwu’s body also trembled, his chest slightly caving in as blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
“How does it feel?”
The completely unharmed Battle Demon Ape halted its steps, standing still as it looked up at Chen Beiwu.
“Your Battle Demon Physique is truly troublesome!”
Chen Beiwu reached out and wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth.
The Grotto-Truth Calamity-Heaven Finger possessed formidable might. Even a late-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch who forcibly endured six of his fingers would meet a fatal end.
Yet when they landed on the Battle Demon Ape, he felt as though he were shaking an insurmountable mountain.
That mountain had not been affected in the slightest. Instead, because of the connection between their auras, Chen Beiwu had nearly injured himself severely with his six Grotto-Truth Calamity-Heaven Fingers.
“呐!”
At the critical moment, Xue Le grabbed Chen Beiwu and activated its movement technique to retreat rapidly and open the distance, while simultaneously using Five-Qi Transformation and Generation to heal him.
“Since you’re so troublesome, then I won’t use aura linkage. Quickly, let me see that move from last time!”
The Battle Demon Ape moved its head slightly, and a trace of battle intent arose in its heart.
This time, it had not suppressed its cultivation realm because it wanted to experience that long-lost passion of battle.
Unfortunately, without suppressing its cultivation and Dao conduct, Chen Beiwu could not even break through the defenses of its Battle Demon Physique.
“Sure!”
Chen Beiwu slightly nodded. He reached his right hand behind him, and Golden Egg immediately transformed into a streak of golden light and fell into his palm.
“Step!”
Chen Beiwu took the first step. The golden light in his hand extended inch by inch, forming a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber with an overbearing aura.
He took the second step. Iron Egg leaped high into the air, transforming into a strand of violet qi that landed between Chen Beiwu’s brows, forming a mysterious pattern. The pattern then opened, revealing an extraordinary vertical eye.
He took the third step. Xue Le extended both hands and embraced Chen Beiwu, radiance flowing around its body as an incomparably luxurious Five-Qi Gilded Armor quietly emerged and enveloped him, making him look like an Overlord descended into the world.
In an instant, Chen Beiwu entered the Myriad Spirits Calamity Transformation state. His Divine Sense, magical power, physical body, and cultivation realm surged explosively, reaching a level comparable to a late-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch.
“Is this enough?”
In this state, Chen Beiwu only felt that the magical power within his body was as vast as the sea and endlessly replenishing itself. Even when facing a late-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch, he felt he might be able to attempt suppressing and killing them.
“Not bad, but it’s still somewhat lacking.”
The Battle Demon Ape’s eyes lit up as it walked toward Chen Beiwu.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
With every step it took, the Battle Demon Ape’s aura multiplied, as though a demon ape had escaped its cage, emitting a brutal and ferocious might that caused the entire world to tremble and completely suppressed Chen Beiwu.
‘This pressure! As expected, my guess was correct. This Battle Demon Ape is only one step away from becoming a Fifth-Realm Demon Venerable!’
Before Chen Beiwu even attacked, the mutual collision of their auras alone caused the Golden Core and Nascent Soul within his body to tremble slightly.
He could not drag this out any longer!
If he delayed any further, the Battle Demon Ape’s aura suppression would cause the Myriad Spirits Calamity Transformation state to completely fail.
With this thought, Chen Beiwu’s figure flashed, appearing above the Battle Demon Ape. He aimed the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber at the Demon Ape’s neck and heavily slashed down.
“Clang clang clang clang……!” Saber light surged and crazily intertwined.
Every slash Chen Beiwu unleashed contained vast Primordial Origin True Qi powerful enough to suppress and kill a mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Furthermore, every time the saber light flashed, Golden Egg’s Mystical Ability 【Great Evolution Truth Stabilization】 would erupt along with it, attempting to break through the Battle Demon Ape’s defenses from both the mind and physical body.
“Not bad. Have you fought enough?”
The Battle Demon Ape’s eyes remained calm. It allowed Chen Beiwu to attack, even watching with open eyes as the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber pierced into its pupil without dodging.
“Clang!”
The saber stabbed into the Demon Ape’s eyeball, but Chen Beiwu could not sense the slightest feeling of breaking through. Instead, a powerful countershock surged toward him, tearing the web between his thumb and forefinger as he gripped the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber and causing drops of blood to fall.
“Don’t hold back. You should still be able to become stronger!”
The Battle Demon Ape was somewhat dissatisfied.
Its intuition told it that Chen Beiwu was still holding back some methods.
“Forget it, I’m not fighting anymore. I’m not your match!”
Chen Beiwu exhaled a breath of turbid qi. With a thought, the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Saber in his hand, the vertical eye between his brows, and the armor on his body all dissipated, revealing the figures of Golden Egg, Iron Egg, and Xue Le.
“Why aren’t you fighting anymore?”
The Battle Demon Ape was somewhat dissatisfied.
Although fighting with suppressed cultivation was not bad, it could only be used to pass the time.
Compared with suppressing its cultivation, it preferred directly fighting powerful opponents.
And the sparring just now had happened to slowly raise the battle intent in its heart.
“Because I can’t beat you.” Chen Beiwu answered frankly.
What were trump cards?
They were hidden ultimate Mystical Abilities unknown to outsiders that could be unleashed at a critical moment to reverse the course of battle.
It was merely a sparring match. Knowing that he was no match, Chen Beiwu would certainly not rashly use his trump cards during a sparring match. Using them instead would expose the secrets on his body.
The reason he had agreed to spar just now was not to win, but to draw closer to the Battle Demon Ape, determine roughly what level his own strength was at, and then find an opportunity to ask about information regarding the Tai Void Array Sect.
“How boring.”
The Battle Demon Ape glanced at Chen Beiwu but did not continue attacking.
In its eyes, Chen Beiwu was a rare piece of uncarved jade that could always bring surprises.
It could endure thousands of years of loneliness, so naturally it could patiently wait for Chen Beiwu’s strength to increase and for him to become a Nascent Soul Perfection True Monarch.
“There’s nothing I can do. Who asked me to be merely an early-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch? I simply can’t beat you.”
Chen Beiwu shrugged and said helplessly to the Battle Demon Ape：“A clever housewife cannot cook without rice. If you’re willing to provide the inheritance within the Heavenly Evolution True Realm, perhaps my cultivation progress as a Nascent Soul True Monarch can increase somewhat.”
“Roar.”
Golden Egg shook its head, indicating that the Battle Demon Ape would never take out its inheritance.
Because the Battle Demon Ape was afraid that its master would surpass it.
“I’m afraid?”
Hearing this, the Battle Demon Ape smiled calmly：“It’s only some inheritance. If you want it, then I’ll give it to you.”
It had refused to provide the inheritance before only because it was afraid Chen Beiwu would take the bait and run, never entering the Heavenly Evolution True Realm again and depriving it of some of its entertainment.
But now that Chen Beiwu had displayed sufficient talent, aptitude, and potential, it naturally did not mind personally taking action and even taking out some resources to cultivate a good opponent for itself.
Golden Egg and Xue Le exchanged glances, not expecting this provocation tactic to be so effective.
“Thank you, Senior.”
Chen Beiwu’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly bowed.
He was still lacking some Ritual resources for performing the One-Origin Dao Attainment. Perhaps he could use this opportunity to gather them all.
In addition, if he could thoroughly study the high-level formations of the Tai Void Array Sect, he would be somewhat safer when venturing into the Tai Void Array Sect ruins in the future.
“No need to thank me. I only have one requirement.” The Battle Demon Ape glanced at Chen Beiwu：“Every hundred years, you must spar with me once. If you have something to do or are entering seclusion to break through, you can postpone the sparring.”
“No problem.” Chen Beiwu readily agreed.
“Come with me.”
The Battle Demon Ape took a step and disappeared together with Chen Beiwu.
……
Heavenly Evolution True Realm, Inheritance Stone Stele.
Through the spatial rift, Chen Beiwu could vaguely see the rare treasures floating within the stone stele space. Among them was the 【Heavenly Evolution Star-Dipper Disc】 that he valued most.
A Fourth-Rank Supreme Grade Formation Dao Mystical Treasure was already extremely rare. Even in the Immortal Alliance, it was an extraordinary treasure. Even Zhi Ling’s dowry had nothing so precious.
Moreover, according to Chen Beiwu’s deduction, the aura of Heavenly Evolution True Monarch’s life-bound Mystical Treasure, the Heavenly Evolution Star-Dipper Disc, was extraordinary. Its grade might be extremely high, and it could possibly be a Heaven-Connecting Mystical Treasure passed down from the Tai Void Array Sect.
Following Chen Beiwu’s gaze, the Battle Demon Ape extended a finger and lightly poked.
“Rumble rumble!”
The spatial rift slowly disappeared, replaced by the gradually stabilizing stone stele space.
“Take whatever you want. It doesn’t matter if you take everything.” The Battle Demon Ape said casually.