After walking a hundred or so steps, they stopped. Not far ahead was an opening several yards wide. It was pitch-black inside, and they couldn't make out what lay within.
"Changying, it's up to you."
Han Debiao spoke to a young woman in a yellow ruqun. Qi Refining cultivators couldn't yet project their spiritual sense, and going in rashly would make them easy targets for a demon beast.
Han Changying ranked fifth among the Chang generation. She was at the fifth level of Qi Refining and a first-tier middle-grade puppet maker.
Han Changying smiled and nodded. With a turn of her hand, a pale-green metal sphere appeared in her palm.
Countless green spirit patterns lit up across the sphere. With a muffled clank, it transformed into a green puppy puppet about a zhang long. At Han Changying's command, the little puppet headed into the cave.
"Eighth Brother, stay at the back. Changming, follow Changying."
Han Debiao gave the order, then led the way inside.
The cave was somewhat damp, and moss covered the stone walls on either side.
After walking a hundred or so steps, they reached a fork where two passages branched off.
"Take the passage on the left."
The puppy puppet headed down the left-hand passage, and Han Debiao and the others hurried after it.
After turning left and walking another hundred or so steps, they came upon a stone cavern more than a hundred zhang across.
A vast patch of stalactites hung from the ceiling. In the lower-left corner stood a green fruit tree about a zhang tall, its leaves diamond-shaped. Three pale-green fruits hung from its branches. Judging by their age, they had been growing for over thirty years.
Beneath the tree stood two yellow giant apes, each about a zhang tall. They had broad mouths and fangs, and their bodies were covered in yellow fuzz.
The moment Han Debiao and his six companions appeared at the cavern entrance, the two yellow giant apes spotted them.
They let out strange roars, pounded their chests, and charged at the seven.
"I'll take one. You deal with the other." As Han Debiao spoke, he drew a gleaming red iron staff. Several crimson fire-cloud patterns adorned its surface, and he strode toward one of the yellow giant apes.
He moved with incredible speed and quickly reached the ape. His red iron staff blurred, sending a flurry of red afterimages crashing toward it.
A dazzling yellow light flashed across the ape's body, and thick yellow earthen armor abruptly appeared around it.
A series of metallic clangs rang out as the staff's afterimages struck the ape, but they couldn't hurt it.
The failed attack only stoked Han Debiao's fighting spirit. The red iron staff in his hand shone brightly, and a vast mass of crimson flames burst forth as he swung it at the ape again.
The red iron staff hadn't even come down when an unbearable wave of heat hit them.
Rumble!
A tremendous roar shook the cavern as raging flames engulfed the yellow giant ape.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
The ape bellowed furiously. The crimson flames quickly died out, leaving it looking singed and bedraggled. Han Debiao's attack had enraged it.
The yellow giant ape pounded its chest with both hands, then charged at Han Debiao.
"Good! Let's see what you've got." Rather than taking offense, Han Debiao only grew more delighted. He swung his red iron staff at the ape again.
Meanwhile, Han Changming and the other five were locked in combat with the second yellow giant ape.
Han Changying released two puppy puppets. They pounced in front of the ape, baring rows of sharp teeth as they bit at its legs. But the ape's defenses were formidable, and the puppets couldn't pierce its yellow earthen armor.
Han Changming sent out two yellow flying daggers to slash at the ape. For the most part, though, he watched the fight, learning how to deal with demon beasts.
The other four also brought out their magical artifacts and attacked the ape.
The yellow giant ape was a first-tier upper-grade demon beast, naturally thick-skinned and strong, and it also knew defensive spells. The six of them couldn't get the better of it right away. Of course, that was because Han Changming and the others weren't fighting at full strength. They relied on magical artifacts and puppet beasts to attack, expending their magic power while holding back their talismans.
They had the advantage in numbers, so there was no need to use talismans unless absolutely necessary.
Roar! Roar!
The yellow giant ape let out an angry bellow, kicked the two puppy puppets away, and charged toward Han Debiao.
"Not good! Stop it!"
Han Changming raised a hand, sending out two streaks of yellow light that shot toward the ape.
The yellow lights transformed into two earthen walls, each over two zhang tall and a chi thick, blocking the ape's path.
The yellow giant ape clenched its right fist and punched the wall.
Boom!
Its punch blasted a gaping hole through the wall. A few more blows shattered it completely. Han Changming was secretly astonished by its strength.
Just then, the ground beneath the ape lit up with a flash of yellow light and turned into loose sand. Its body began to sink rapidly.
The Quicksand Technique—turning earth into sand.
Han Changming sent out the Mountain-Shaking Seal. It swelled in an instant, flew above the yellow giant ape, and came crashing down.
Sensing danger, the ape raised both hands to block the seal and held it aloft.
A flicker of astonishment crossed Han Changming's eyes. How could this Demon Ape be so strong?
Several gleaming magical artifacts flew in and struck the ape, producing a series of dull thuds.
Two barely visible streaks of green light shot toward it, aimed straight at its eyes.
A miserable shriek rang out. Blood poured from the ape's eyes, its weakest point of defense.
Seizing the opening, Han Changming struck the Mountain-Shaking Seal with a hand seal. It blazed brighter and slammed down at the ape.
The ape struggled to hold the Mountain-Shaking Seal aloft, but Han Changying and the other five kept attacking it with their magical artifacts.
Two fists were no match for four hands. Before long, the ape couldn't hold on, and the Mountain-Shaking Seal crushed it into a mass of flesh.
After killing the yellow giant ape, Han Changming let out a breath of relief. If he had faced it alone, he would never have stood a chance.
He looked over at Han Debiao, dumbfounded.
Han Debiao wielded the red iron staff, pounding the yellow giant ape again and again. The ape kept dodging his attacks, unable to strike back at all.
Its body was charred black, and its aura had weakened. Its left arm hung limp, seemingly badly injured.
Han Changming had already seen just how strong the yellow giant ape was.
He swallowed, looking at Han Debiao with awe. As expected of a body cultivator—not even a first-tier upper-grade Demon Ape could stand against him.
The red iron staff in Han Debiao's hand blazed brightly, wrapped in a layer of crimson flames as he brought it down on the ape's head.
With a scream, the red iron staff smashed the ape's head to pieces. It collapsed onto the ground, blood and brains spilling everywhere.
"It died that quickly? What a lousy punching bag." Han Debiao shook his head, looking disappointed.
Han Changming and the other five exchanged smiles at his words. Only Han Debiao would dare say something like that. Who else would dare go toe-to-toe with a demon beast?
"Changming, Changying, dig up the fruit tree. Be careful not to damage the roots. We want to transplant it back to Red Shrimp Island."
Han Debiao put away the red iron staff and gave them his instructions.
"Yes, Fifth Uncle."
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