Exterminating the Demon

After walking for over a hundred paces, they stopped. Not far ahead was a cave entrance several feet wide, pitch-black and impossible to see into.

"Changying, it's up to you."

Han Debiao spoke to a young girl dressed in a yellow ru skirt. Since Qi Refining cultivators could not yet project their divine sense, rushing in blindly would easily lead to an ambush by demon beasts.

Han Changying was the fifth in the "Chang" generation, a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator and a first-tier mid-grade puppet master.

Han Changying nodded with a smile, flipped her palm, and a pale cyan metal sphere appeared in her hand.

The metal sphere lit up with countless cyan spirit patterns. With a muffled "click," it transformed into a cyan puppy Puppet Beast about a foot long. Under Han Changying's command, the puppy puppet walked into the cave.

"Eighth brother, you stay at the back. Changming, follow behind Changying."

Han Debiao gave his instructions and was the first to walk inside.

The cave was somewhat damp, and the stone walls on both sides were covered in moss.

After walking another hundred paces, a fork appeared, splitting into two tunnels.

"Take the tunnel on the left."

The puppy puppet headed toward the left tunnel, and Han Debiao and the others hurried to follow.

After turning left and walking for another hundred paces, a stone grotto about a hundred feet wide appeared before them.

The ceiling of the grotto was covered in stalactites. In the bottom left corner stood a cyan fruit tree about a foot tall with diamond-shaped leaves. Three pale cyan fruits hung from the branches; judging by their age, they had been growing for over thirty years.

Beneath the fruit tree were two yellow giant apes, each about a foot tall. They had wide mouths, sharp fangs, and were covered in thick yellow fur.

As soon as the seven members of the Han family appeared at the entrance of the grotto, they immediately caught the attention of the two yellow giant apes.

The apes let out strange roars, beat their chests, and lunged toward the seven of them.

"I'll handle one myself; you all deal with the other," Han Debiao said. He drew a glowing red iron staff patterned with several crimson fire clouds and strode toward one of the yellow giant apes.

He moved with extreme speed, reaching the yellow giant ape in an instant. The red iron staff in his hand blurred, sending a flurry of red staff shadows flying toward the beast.

A dazzling yellow light erupted from the surface of the yellow giant ape as a thick layer of earthen armor suddenly manifested on its body.

With several "clang" sounds, the barrage of staff shadows struck the yellow giant ape but failed to inflict any injury.

This only fueled Han Debiao's fighting spirit. The red iron staff flared with intense light, and a wave of crimson flames emerged, crashing down toward the yellow giant ape once more.

Before the red iron staff could even land, an unbearable heatwave washed over them.

Rumble!

A massive roar echoed as rolling flames engulfed the body of the yellow giant ape.

Roar, roar, roar!

An angry howl erupted. The crimson flames quickly extinguished, leaving the yellow giant ape looking somewhat singed and disheveled. Han Debiao's move had thoroughly annoyed it.

The yellow giant ape beat its chest with both hands and charged toward Han Debiao with heavy strides.

"Well done, let me see what you're made of!" Han Debiao was not angry but delighted, and he swung the red iron staff at the yellow giant ape again.

On the other side, Han Changming and the other five were locked in a struggle with the second yellow giant ape.

Han Changying released two puppy puppets. They lunged at the yellow giant ape, baring rows of sharp teeth to bite at its legs, but the ape's defense was too strong; the puppets failed to pierce the yellow earthen armor on its body.

Han Changming cast two yellow flying knives to slash at the yellow giant ape, though he spent more time observing the battle to learn how to deal with demon beasts.

The other four also unleashed their magical artifacts to attack the yellow giant ape.

The yellow giant ape was a first-tier high-grade demon beast, naturally thick-skinned and capable of defensive spells. Han Changming and the others could not take it down in a short time by working together. Of course, this was because the six of them were not using their full strength; they were relying on artifacts and puppets to attack, consuming only their spiritual power, and had not yet used any talismans.

Since they had the advantage in numbers, there was no need to use talismans if they didn't have to.

Roar, roar!

The yellow giant ape let out an angry roar, kicked the two puppy puppets away, and lunged toward Han Debiao.

"Not good, stop it!"

Han Changming raised his hand, and two beams of yellow light flew out, appearing before the yellow giant ape in an instant.

The two beams transformed into two yellow earthen walls, each over two feet high and a foot thick, blocking the yellow giant ape's path.

The yellow giant ape clenched its right fist and smashed it into the earthen wall.

Boom!

The wall was smashed open, leaving a large hole. It shattered the earthen wall with a few more punches, and Han Changming was secretly shocked by its immense strength.

Just then, the ground beneath the ape's feet suddenly lit up with yellow light, turning into soft mud and sand as its body began to sink rapidly.

Quicksand Technique, turning earth into sand.

Han Changming cast the Mountain-Shaking Seal, which instantly expanded in size, flew above the yellow giant ape's head, and slammed down rapidly.

The yellow giant ape realized something was wrong and raised both hands to block, holding up the Mountain-Shaking Seal.

A look of surprise flashed in Han Changming's eyes; this Demon Ape's strength was simply too great!

Several glowing magical artifacts struck the yellow giant ape, producing a series of muffled thuds.

Two faint, flickering green lights flew forward, aiming directly for the yellow giant ape's eyes.

A miserable shriek rang out as crimson blood flowed from the eyes of the giant yellow ape; its eyes were the weakest point in its defense.

Seizing this opportunity, Han Changming cast a spell onto the Mountain-Shaking Seal, causing its light to flare as it smashed toward the giant yellow ape.

The giant yellow ape struggled desperately to hold up the Mountain-Shaking Seal, but Han Changying and the other five cultivators drove their magical artifacts to attack it.

Two fists were no match for twelve hands; before long, the giant yellow ape could no longer hold on, and the Mountain-Shaking Seal crushed it into a pulp.

Having dealt with this giant yellow ape, Han Changming breathed a sigh of relief; if he had faced this Demon Ape alone, he certainly would have been no match for it.

He looked toward Han Debiao and was left dumbfounded.

Han Debiao held a red iron rod, raining blows down upon another giant yellow ape. The beast dodged his attacks repeatedly, completely unable to fight back.

The surface of the giant yellow ape's body was charred black, its aura was withered, and its left arm hung limp, appearing to have suffered a severe injury.

Han Changming had already witnessed the immense strength of the giant yellow ape.

He swallowed hard, his gaze toward Han Debiao filled with awe; as expected of a body cultivator, even a peak first-rank Demon Ape was no match for him.

The red iron rod in Han Debiao's hand flared with light, wrapped in a layer of crimson flames, and smashed down onto the head of the giant yellow ape.

With a shrill cry, the red iron rod shattered the giant yellow ape's skull, and the beast collapsed to the ground, blood and brains spilling everywhere.

"Dead so quickly? It couldn't even take a beating." Han Debiao shook his head, looking somewhat disappointed.

Han Changming and the other five exchanged a smile upon hearing this; only Han Debiao would dare to say such a thing, as who else would dare to engage in close-quarters combat with a demonic beast?

"Changming, Changying, dig out the fruit tree. Be careful and try not to damage the roots so we can transplant it back to HLD," Han Debiao commanded as he put away his red iron rod.

"Yes, Fifth Uncle."

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