Attack

"The number of low-level demon monkeys has increased?"

Zhang Qingyuan frowned slightly.

The mission description had originally stated there were around twenty to thirty low-level demon monkeys, but now the number had doubled to sixty!

Coupled with the explosive increase in ordinary monkeys,

what exactly had happened that allowed this pack of demon monkeys to grow so rapidly in such a short time?

And besides,

the strength of the entire demon monkey population had rapidly increased.

Had that Fifth Layer of the Spirit Essence Realm Monkey King improved as well?

There were too many possible accidents.

For a moment,

Zhang Qingyuan hesitated.

Having gone through that brush with death in Azure Mountain Town, Zhang Qingyuan had become especially cautious about missions.

Though he had narrowly survived that battle,

he had also gained enormously from it,

his strength had soared by more than double in one leap.

Yet Zhang Qingyuan still deeply disliked such accidents. If he could do it again, he would rather never have faced one.

Resources

could be earned again.

But once a person was gone, they were truly gone.

"Esteemed Immortal, we truly have no other way! You must help us! Several days have already passed. Those demon monkeys must have finished resting and recuperating by now, and their next attack is probably coming soon!"

Seeing that Zhang Qingyuan seemed inclined to withdraw,

Patriarch Zheng's face took on a pleading expression.

During the last battle when the Demon Monkey Pack attacked,

relying on the formation in the Spirit Fruit Grove, their several families had only then managed to keep the Demon Monkey Pack outside the century-old Spirit Peach Tree at the heart of the grove.

But the price had been that the strongest patriarchs had all been injured,

and several low-level spirit farmers had been lost.

The growing strength of the Demon Monkey Pack

had already exceeded what their several Cultivation Families could withstand.

If Zhang Qingyuan left now,

then for their several families,

it would be little different from a disaster of extinction.

"Esteemed Immortal, how about this? The demon monkeys will likely attack again tonight or tomorrow night. We will pour out the strength of all our families and set an ambush around the core of the Spirit Fruit Grove. Then, even if something unexpected happens, we will be able to retreat with our whole bodies intact. What do you think?"

Patriarch Zheng pleaded with a grief-stricken face.

With matters having reached this point,

Zhang Qingyuan ultimately agreed.

However,

he had already made it clear to Patriarch Zheng that because this mission had undergone a sudden change, if the attacking demon monkeys exceeded the range of what he could handle,

then Zhang Qingyuan would leave without the slightest hesitation and have them seek someone more capable.

To this,

the leaders of the local small Cultivation Families not only had no objections, but instead thanked him profusely.

This was both the result of the gap in cultivation and the gap in status.

Though they were local powers in the mortal world,

and Zhang Qingyuan was a noble disciple of an immortal sect,

in the Cultivation World, these small families and Small Factions made up of only a handful of cultivators were merely the very bottom layer of the bottom layer. Only by relying on the protection of the Cloud Water Sect could they peacefully occupy this Spirit Fruit Grove.

Of course,

the price was that they had to hand over more than half of their yearly harvest of Spirit Items.

If the Cloud Water Sect's rule were compared to that of a feudal imperial dynasty, then these small Cultivation Family powers were like wealthy farmers and minor landlords in one region, paying taxes to the imperial court.

And Zhang Qingyuan was like a constable from the Government Offices.

These bottom-tier small cultivation powers were simply nothing before the colossal Cloud Water Sect.

This mission had undergone a change.

Even if Zhang Qingyuan turned around and left right now, there would be nothing anyone could say.

Thus, the leaders of these small Cultivation Families were not displeased with Zhang Qingyuan's conduct. On the contrary, they were extremely grateful.

"Right. With my current strength, I can barely be considered an Inner Sect seed. I wonder whether contacting the Lineage will earn me a greater allocation of resources."

Receiving the fawning treatment of several local small family powers,

Zhang Qingyuan felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Yet this thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

However,

the thought vanished in an instant.

As the saying went, rights and duties were equal.

Some things were not so easily taken.

Remaining outside the core of the Lineage like this, without the burden of a family behind him,

was actually quite good.

There was no further delay.

Zhang Qingyuan had Patriarch Zheng directly take him to inspect the area around the Spirit Fruit Grove and find suitable terrain.

At the same time,

the several Cultivation Families of River Pond Town mobilized all the force within their clans. Even mortal guards were conscripted. More than a hundred young and strong guards, led by the families' low-level cultivators, set up layer upon layer of tight defenses around the Spirit Fruit Grove.

They patrolled day and night.

Zhang Qingyuan remained hidden in the shadows.

Once the Demon Monkey Pack attacked,

and battle began,

and the Monkey King appeared,

he would be the main force responsible for killing it.

Time flew by.

Late at night,

the silver moon hung high in the starry sky.

Near the Spirit Fruit Grove,

teams of well-equipped guards held torches as they patrolled without pause, winding through the dark forest like Fire Snakes.

Suddenly,

a fishy wind came from somewhere unknown.

Here it comes!

Shrill chittering rang through the night sky.

One Black Shadow after another

leapt nimbly through the forest in the darkness, charging toward the Spirit Fruit Grove

with astonishing speed!

Before these Black Shadows, the rugged mountain woods were as flat ground beneath their feet!

It was terrifying beyond measure!

"Here it comes! Be careful!"

A Guard Captain roared.

A flash of terror crossed his face before vanishing. He stared fixedly toward the mountain forest in the distant darkness.

Under the silver moonlight,

the monkey pack rushed out from the woods. In a short time, they charged to the front, some clutching logs and others stones, colliding with the patrolling guards around them.

They had gone mad!

This monkey pack was actually charging straight at the human guards!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

This ambush had come too quickly, too swiftly!

In just a few breaths, monkeys leapt down from mid-air one after another, pouncing upon the torch-bearing patrols.

The guards raised their shields, while sharp blades and swords flashed coldly through the air, hacking at the descending monkeys.

A brutal slaughter erupted in an instant.

"Kill these beasts!"

For a time,

the battle of several hundred figures threw the surrounding Spirit Fruit Grove into utter chaos.

Chitter! Chitter! Chitter!!!

Cries of battle filled the air everywhere.

The monkeys shrieked.

The low-level demon monkeys mixed among the pack relied on their nimble movements. With several leaps, they evaded the cleaving blades. Their wooden clubs swept around iron shields and smashed viciously into their opponents' heads.

The immense force immediately split those heads open like watermelons.

But even more monkeys,

unable to evade the dense, sharp weapons of the human guards working together, were cut in half at the waist.

The battlefield was utterly chaotic!

Overall,

the human guards held the upper hand with their intelligence and weapons. However, there were simply too many monkeys.

They packed the area thick as hemp.

Black Shadows continued to leap from the pitch-black forest without end.

"Kill! Protect yourselves!"

"Damn beasts!"

Among the guards,

Patriarch Zheng, standing within the crowd, watched his clansmen suffer losses. His eyes split with rage.

"Flame Burst Technique!"

His hands rapidly formed a Hand Seal. Spirit Essence surged through his Whole Body, gathering before him into a foot-wide fireball that emitted a scorching radiance!

"Go!"

He pointed forward.

Flames scorched the void as the fireball shot through the air in a Flowing Light, illuminating mid-air before crashing into the monkey pack in an instant!

Boom!!!

The flames exploded.

Fierce energy swept outward. The bursting Air Wave transformed into a torrent, carrying scattered, exploding flames that became a roaring Sea of Fire, surging upward in reverse.

Within a radius of several zhang, the air itself faintly twisted beneath the incomparably scorching blaze.

Within the monkey pack,

more than a dozen monkeys were caught in the unprepared firestorm and turned to charcoal in an instant!

Those farther away

were also blasted apart and Flung Away by the surrounding explosion's Shockwave, tumbling to the ground not far away.

Half their bodies were charred black. It was clear that they had more breath leaving them than entering them!

The battlefield fell still.

The smell of scorched fur

and burnt flesh spread through the air!

"Good!"

"Long live the Patriarch!"

For a time,

all the guards present erupted into cheers, their voices rising and shaking the heavens.

Their morale surged!

The monkey pack's attack also stalled!