Nine Revolutions Divine Ape Transformation, Golden Ape Battles Heaven

After returning to the mountain, Ye Kong and the Four Apes found Lu Hou's great-grandfather and reported what had happened in the valley, especially embellishing the brave and tenacious battle fought by Lu Hou and the others. They received his wholehearted praise.

Although Lu Hou's great-grandfather was as gaunt and skinny as Lu Hou himself, looking like a frail old man in his twilight years, he was in fact an Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign—the Eighth Elder of the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe.

"Based on what you've described, along with my own senses, I can roughly conclude that this Bodhi Tree began absorbing the energy of that Demon Corpse a long time ago."

Lu Changling narrowed his eyes and circled the Bodhi Demon Tree, tapping it as he reached his conclusion.

"On the surface, this tree is brimming with spiritual energy, but its interior has long been eroded by demonic energy. Its veins have completely mutated, and these Bodhi seeds are thoroughly demonic medicine.

Anything below the third grade of Supreme would die without exception after consuming one! You really were lucky to survive."

The old ape plucked a glittering Bodhi seed from the tree and crushed it into powder. A mass of pitch-black flame appeared in his cracked palm.

The black flames flickered constantly, radiating an exceedingly dangerous aura, as though they could devour souls.

The moment Ye Kong saw it, his heartbeat quickened, and every muscle in his body involuntarily tensed.

"The Great Thousand World truly contains all sorts of wonders. I thought I'd seen quite a lot, but this is the first time I've encountered something like this."

After confirming that none of the books in his memory contained any record of such a Demon Tree, Ye Kong shook his head ruefully, feeling that he was still a frog at the bottom of a well.

"Hehe, little friend Ye, there is no need to belittle yourself. Such demonic creatures are rare even among rare things, and their growth process is extraordinarily difficult. Before they mature, they must absorb enough demonic energy as nourishment, while also resisting the erosion of the Great Thousand World's spiritual energy."

"That is why, unless someone deliberately cultivates one, even scattering tens of millions of Bodhi saplings may not produce a single Demon Tree like this."

"I've lived for tens of thousands of years, yet I've only ever seen a few such demonic creatures in my life."

Lu Changling stroked his snowy white beard and patiently explained things to Ye Kong.

Given his cultivation and status, he naturally knew the truth behind the upheaval at Spiritual Mountain. Ye Kong's character was beyond doubt, and his talent had even been recognized by the Spiritual Mountain Lord. In the future, he might very well reach Saint Grade.

The Young Clan Leader thought highly of him, and Lu Hou was also close to him. Having grown wise with age, Lu Changling naturally did not mind showing goodwill.

If Lu Hou could become close friends with a future Saint grade Heavenly Sovereign, it would naturally bring countless benefits.

Moreover, their clan had always been the most open-minded and friendly toward humans among the Divine Beast races.

Thinking back, he too had made several human friends in his youth, and they had gotten along splendidly.

Unfortunately, none of them had outlived him. The Beast Tribe's advantage in lifespan was simply too great.

Ye Kong stared at the Demon Tree, stroking his chin in thought. Suddenly, a flash of insight like lightning streaked through his mind. His eyes widened instantly, shocked and even horrified by his own thought.

"What is it, little friend Ye? Did you remember something unpleasant?"

Sensing the violent turmoil in Ye Kong's heart, Lu Changling asked with concern.

"It's nothing. I simply never expected that a Bodhi Tree, which has such deep ties to the Buddhist Sect, could become something like this.

After hearing your explanation, sir, I remembered some things I saw four years ago. The scene stirred up old feelings."

Ye Kong suppressed the horror in his heart and forced a smile.

No matter what, before he became a Heavenly Sovereign, it was best not to verify this speculation. Otherwise, it would inevitably bring a great deal of unnecessary trouble.

"I know a little about your past, little friend.

The Sacred Buddha Continent is already in complete chaos. Your future is bright, so you must never act on impulse."

"With your talent, you should become one of the strongest experts of this era in a few hundred years. By then, you can naturally reclaim everything.

No one knows how long this disaster within the Buddhist Sect has been going on. It is already good enough that it has been exposed. You need not trouble your mind over it too much."

Although Lu Changling did not know what Ye Kong was thinking, he was still worried that Ye Kong's youthful hotheadedness would get him into trouble if he could not endure this momentary indignation.

"That's right, Brother Ye. Even Flame Emperor and Martial Ancestor needed several hundred years after ascending from the Lower Plane before becoming peerless experts. You mustn't act rashly."

Though Lu Hou looked rough, he was actually thoughtful. He did not call Ye Kong "commander" or "boss" in front of his great-grandfather, fearing it might make his great-grandfather dislike Ye Kong.

"Thank you, Senior, and Brother Lu. I naturally understand the stakes involved.

But perhaps I won't even need to wait for my turn. After Senior Brother returned, Ape King took him into seclusion. Once he emerges, he will surely be completely transformed!"

Ye Kong smiled and changed the subject.

"Haha, of course! Perhaps after he emerges from seclusion, even these old bones of mine won't be able to defeat him."

At the mention of Lu Shengjun, Lu Changling's expectations rose considerably.

Throughout the generations, the Young Clan Leaders of the Heaven-Reaching Ape Tribe would enter seclusion in the Ancestral Land Space after breaking through to the Heavenly Sovereign realm, before formally becoming Super Divine Beasts. Every one of them emerged with greatly improved cultivation; even the weakest would become Late Spirit grade Heavenly Sovereigns.

Among the outstanding ones, the current Clan Leader, Great Ape King, had broken through the shackles of the Immortal Grade Heavenly Sovereign realm in one stroke upon emerging from seclusion. He had truly soared into the sky!

Lu Shengjun's talent was no weaker than his grandfather's, and his combat strength was exceptionally formidable. Once he emerged from seclusion, Lu Changling truly was not confident that his own Mid Immortal Grade cultivation could defeat Lu Shengjun.

Just then, a black arc of light streaked across the sky, and rolling muffled thunder resounded between heaven and earth.

Ecstasy flashed across Lu Changling's aged face. He was all too familiar with that aura—it was a Thunder Tribulation! And it was the Thunder Tribulation that a Divine Beast had to undergo before becoming a Super Divine Beast!

"Speak of the devil, and he appears, haha! I'll take you little ones along to broaden your horizons!"

Lu Changling swept Ye Kong and the Four Apes up, riding clouds and mist as they passed countless jade mountains and verdant peaks. They flew into the core region of Primordial Divine Mountain and landed atop a towering cliff.

Dense, violent black clouds covered heaven and earth, as though they would crush and destroy the divine mountains within a million miles. Lightning serpents bared their fangs and claws, displaying terrifying might toward Lu Shengjun, who sat cross-legged atop a lonely crimson peak.

Ye Kong looked around and saw powerful streams of spiritual light flying in from every direction. Great Ape King sat not far from the solitary peak, standing guard for Lu Shengjun.

At that moment, an incomparably dense blood cloud enveloped Lu Shengjun, spanning ten thousand zhang. Its might far surpassed anything from before.

Four enormous divine apes formed from crimson blood energy crouched around him. They seemed to have emerged from ancient times, savage and terrifying.

"To condense four Blood God War Apes... it seems Sheng Jun has cultivated the Nine Revolutions Divine Ape Transformation to a considerable level. His will is even stronger than the Clan Leader's was back then. What a blessing for our clan!"

"Great-Grandfather, is this the clan-protecting divine ability of our tribe, the Nine Revolutions Divine Ape Transformation, one of the thirty-six Peerless Divine Abilities?"

Lu Hou was incomparably excited at the sight. This was the number one divine ability of their clan, one of the very finest even in the entire Great Thousand World!

"That's right.

Haha, I imagine little friend Ye should know something about this divine ability as well?"

Lu Changling was all smiles, clearly in an excellent mood.

Ye Kong nodded and said,

"I was fortunate enough to witness it once. In the battle four years ago, Senior Brother used this divine ability with all his strength against that Heavenly Sovereign.

At the time, Senior Brother had only condensed three divine apes, but his physical strength had already surged to an extraordinarily terrifying level. Even when that Heavenly Sovereign summoned his Heavenly Venerate spirit body, he was unable to suppress Senior Brother and was ultimately defeated!"

"Now, it seems Senior Brother's mastery of this divine ability has improved even further. If he were to fight that Heavenly Sovereign again, it definitely would not take two days and one night!"

Lu Hou leaned closer and whispered to Lu Changling,

"When I secretly looked through your books, I saw records saying that when the Clan Leader emerged from seclusion back then, he had only grasped the outline of the fourth revolution. Does that mean the Young Clan Leader's talent is even greater than the Clan Leader's?"

"That's still hard to say, but it is true that the Clan Leader at this cultivation level back then could not defeat Sheng Jun..."

"Hey? Wait, when did you sneak into my books again, you brat? You're asking for a beating!"

Only then did Lu Changling realize what Lu Hou had said. A dangerous gleam flashed in his aged eyes, frightening Lu Hou into fleeing at top speed.

Boom!

Just as this little family drama of "kind grandfather and smiling grandson" was playing out, the long-gathering Thunder Tribulation finally crashed down. Lu Shengjun's aura rapidly rose as he transformed into a golden Heaven-Reaching Ape over ten thousand zhang tall. He revealed a gigantic violet-gold iron staff and swept it toward the heavens.

The four blood-colored divine apes let out long roars and rose into the sky together, guarding the four directions.

At this moment, the Golden Ape Battles Heaven!

Thanks to Meteor Streaks Across Life and Jiangcun Remnant Night for the recommendation votes.

You two are far too enthusiastic. This Little Meng Xin will kowtow to you here.