Second-Order Demonic Bird

After a few moments of idle chatter, Xu Lei brought up the main business: "We discovered a Purple Apricot Fruit tree, but it's being guarded by a late-stage first-rank Great Strength Ape."

"Purple Apricot Fruit? How many are there?"

Qin Qing asked with excitement.

The Purple Apricot Fruit had the effect of refining mana, making it suitable for Qi Refining cultivators to consume.

"When we first found the tree, there were over twenty, but it's unclear now."

Xu Lei explained; with a Great Strength Ape guarding the tree, there was no guarantee they hadn't eaten some during this time.

"There's no time to lose, let's set off immediately! As long as Fairy Ye sets up a formation and we lure them into it, we'll surely be able to capture it with ease."

Xu Wu urged.

Shen Long had no objections; it was better to get his hands on the Purple Apricot Fruit sooner rather than later.

"Then let's depart! I hope everything goes smoothly."

Xu Lei said, and the group left the Green Bamboo Courtyard.

After exiting the Marketplace, Xu Lei summoned the Azure Cloud Boat and stepped onto it, followed by Shen Long and the other six.

Xu Lei pinched a spell seal, and the Azure Cloud Boat slowly rose into the air, flying toward the high heavens.

Five days later, the Azure Cloud Boat landed in an open area, not far from a forest of green bamboo.

Shen Long and the other seven stepped off the boat. Xu Lei put it away, cast a defensive spell on himself, and walked toward the bamboo forest.

Shen Long's mind stirred, and a water-blue light screen emerged, shielding his entire body as he followed.

Ye Yutang and the other five each cast their own defensive spells and followed along.

They moved at a measured pace, their eyes scanning the surroundings with faces full of vigilance.

Half a quarter of an hour later, they stood at the foot of a steep mountain peak. Halfway up the slope was a cave several yards wide, and the mountain was covered in dense vegetation.

"The Great Strength Ape is in that cave," Xu Lei said, pointing to the cave halfway up the mountain.

Ye Yuqing and Ye Yutang took out their formation flags and formation disks to set up the array, and the others waited for them to finish.

Qin Qing's feet glowed with intense green light as he dashed up the mountain.

Ye Yuqing took out a green command flag and infused it with mana. The flag surface lit up with a dazzling green glow, pouring out a large expanse of green mist that enveloped the seven of them.

As the green mist dissipated, they vanished from sight.

Not long after, a loud beast roar erupted from the cave, causing the entire peak to tremble slightly. Qin Qing rushed out from the cave, his expression filled with panic.

He was wearing a suit of yellow armor, which was the manifestation of the Earth Armor technique.

Qin Qing sprinted toward the foot of the mountain. Before he had run very far, a massive, entirely yellow ape charged out of the cave. The ape stood over a yard tall, baring its fangs and claws, its body covered in yellow bristles.

The Great Strength Ape possessed immense power and was not easy to deal with.

The Great Strength Ape lifted its right foot and stomped hard on the ground. The earth shook slightly, and over a dozen thick, yellow earth spikes erupted from the ground, heading straight for Qin Qing.

The yellow earth spikes struck the yellow armor with a dull thud. The armor remained unscathed, but Qin Qing's speed slowed down.

He hurriedly summoned a green flying blade to cut through the earth spikes. By this time, the Great Strength Ape had caught up, closing the distance to within a yard of Qin Qing.

A green vine as thick as an adult's arm burst from the ground and wrapped around the Great Strength Ape's right leg. The ape tore at it with all its might and snapped the vine, but soon, another vine of similar thickness erupted from the ground and coiled around its left leg.

It snapped the green vine with ease, but yet another thick green vine burst forth to bind its right leg.

The green vines were no match for the Great Strength Ape, but taking advantage of this opportunity, Qin Qing managed to escape to the foot of the mountain.

The Great Strength Ape had no intention of continuing the chase and turned to head back to its cave. A Crimson Fireball the size of a water vat descended from the sky, slamming into its body and engulfing the ape in rolling flames.

The Great Strength Ape let out an angry roar, turned around, and glared with murderous intent.

Qin Qing controlled the green flying blade to strike at the Great Strength Ape, but the ape showed no fear, meeting the attack with its right fist.

The green flying blade struck the ape's right fist with a dull metallic clang and was sent spinning backward.

Qin Qing summoned a Fireball Talisman, which transformed into a millstone-sized Crimson Fireball and smashed toward the Great Strength Ape.

Sensing the intense heat radiating from the Crimson Fireball, the Great Strength Ape dared not take it head-on and tried to dodge. A thick green vine burst from the ground and coiled around its left leg. Just as it snapped the vine, the Crimson Fireball slammed into its body.

Most of the Great Strength Ape's fur was burned away, which thoroughly enraged it, and it charged down the mountain in long strides.

Qin Qing's feet glowed with green light as he sprinted into the distance. The Great Strength Ape followed closely behind. When it reached the foot of the mountain, thick green vines erupted from the ground and bound its feet.

The Great Strength Ape struggled with all its might, but it was to no avail.

Shen Long and the other seven revealed themselves, either summoning magic tools or casting spells to attack the Great Strength Ape.

Ye Yutang released her Li Fire Falcon, and Ye Yuqing released her Green Wind Tiger.

Even the strongest fists cannot overcome a multitude of hands. Trapped by the formation, the Great Strength Ape became a living target and was no match for the eight of them. In less than half a quarter of an hour, the Great Strength Ape's head was severed by a short green sword.

"It's finally resolved."

Xu Wen's face lit up with joy.

They collected the Great Strength Ape's carcass, dismantled the formation, and headed up the mountain.

They walked into the cave, which was dark and damp.

Sun Yang took out a Moonlight Stone to provide light, and before long, they reached the end of the cave, emerging into a cavern about an acre in size.

In the bottom left corner stood a purple fruit tree about a zhang tall, with nineteen oval-shaped purple fruits hanging from its branches.

"Purple Apricot Fruit!"

Qin Qing's face lit up with joy.

"It has eaten quite a few, but there are still nineteen left."

Sun Yang said with a frown.

They picked all the Purple Apricot Fruit, with Xu Lei, Ye Yutang, Ye Yuqing, and Sun Yang each taking three, Shen Long, Qin Qing, and Xu Wen each taking two, and Xu Wu taking one.

The Purple Apricot Fruit tree was also worth a fair amount of spirit stones, but their storage bags did not have enough space to carry it conveniently, so they could use the Azure Cloud Boat to transport it.

They carefully dug out the Purple Apricot Fruit tree, and Xu Lei summoned the Azure Cloud Boat, placing the tree onto it.

They boarded the Azure Cloud Boat one after another, and as Xu Lei pinched a spell seal, the boat suddenly shone with brilliant green light and flew toward the exit.

After flying out of the cave, the Azure Cloud Boat soared toward the high sky.

A piercing bird cry rang out, and a massive Green Eagle appeared in the high sky, rushing toward them at high speed.

"Oh no, it's a Tier 2 demonic bird."

Ye Yuqing's face changed drastically, and she hurriedly activated over a dozen Fire Snake Talismans, which transformed into more than a dozen red fire snakes a zhang long, heading straight for the giant green eagle.

Xu Lei pinched a spell seal, and the Azure Cloud Boat descended rapidly, landing on the ground.

A series of piercing whistling sounds rang out as dozens of green wind blades descended from the sky, slashing toward them.

Shen Long's mind stirred, and a blue water screen appeared close to his body; he also summoned the Black Tortoise Shield, which spun continuously around him.

He took out an Earth Escape Talisman and slapped it onto his body; a flash of yellow light appeared, and a yellow light screen enveloped him, allowing him to dive into the ground and escape.