"Cough, cough, cough..."
Suddenly, Yuan Shen began coughing up blood uncontrollably where he lay. His chest heaved violently, and an ashen pallor crept over his face.
"Is this... Dao Collapse?!"
The Divine Ape Emperor furrowed his brow, then pressed a finger to Yuan Shen's forehead, forcibly sealing what remained of his consciousness. Only after extending his will throughout Yuan Shen's body did he halt the Dao Collapse.
Yuan Shen fell into a deep sleep.
Looking at the sleeping Yuan Shen, the Divine Ape Emperor frowned. Yuan Shen had always been his pride and joy. Seeing him reduced to this left a bitter taste in his heart.
Perhaps defeat itself had not caused this. Yuan Shen was not so fragile.
It must have been the way he had lost.
Anyone who cultivated diligently for years and finally reached the pinnacle of their life, only to be subdued by a single finger from a cultivator at the same level, would feel an immense gulf between their expectations and reality.
Yuan Shen's Dao Collapse had stemmed from self-doubt.
He had never imagined he could be defeated in a single move. This crushing defeat had scattered all the pride he had ever held to the winds.
"Progenitor, sixty percent of our resources are ready."
The Divine Ape Clan's Great Elder approached and spoke respectfully.
"Deliver them. Don't keep them waiting. Send them on their way as soon as possible." The Divine Ape Emperor waved a hand.
"Progenitor, I have a plan," the Divine Ape Clan's Great Elder said with a sinister smile.
"You have a plan too?" The Divine Ape Emperor looked at him.
"Although your cultivation now rivals the World Lord's, Progenitor, this is still the Divine Turtle Heavens. Even with his chronic affliction, the World Lord can wield Heaven-Earth Power. That will