Ape-type Demon Beasts were famed for their strength and agility. Any movement humans could make, apes could make as well; even movements humans could not make, they could still perform. Coupled with their immense strength and ability to wield weapons, ape-type Demon Beasts could be called Invincible in the Same Rank in close combat.
Among cultivators, there had always been a saying: "One would rather wrestle a tiger than let an ape demon get close."
Yet Wang Daoxing, with Qi Refining Layer Eight cultivation, was engaging a Qi Refining Layer Nine Black Ape in hand-to-hand combat. Though protected by a Golden Armor Talisman, he was not sent flying by a single punch and could even occasionally force the Black Ape back. This showed just how formidable his physical body strength was.
The Black Ape and the tiger could still be said to be fighting, but the Black Panther was being thoroughly gang-beaten. The six old hooligans wore Golden Armor Talismans and did not use any spells. With swords in hand, they targeted nothing but its lower regions. One sword after another stabbed in, leaving no good flesh on the Black Panther's hindquarters.
The Li family's onlookers nearby all watched the six old hooligans with disdain. Even Wang Daoyuan felt embarrassed for them, yet they did not care in the slightest and continued stabbing away with immense delight. The thickness of their skins truly inspired admiration.
The Black Panther was still bound by the fire python, unable to move. More than half its fur had been burned away, and it had no power to resist, able only to let out miserable roars. Seizing the moment when it opened its mouth to roar, Wang Daoyuan thrust his sword into its mouth. The Black Panther died on the spot.
With the Black Panther completely out of the battle, the six old hooligans turned their eyes toward the tiger. Wang Daoxing was at a disadvantage against the Black Ape, and the ape's close-combat ability was too strong for them to interfere.
The tiger's situation, however, was much better. The water dragon had pinned it to the ground and was beating it down. Though it had not entirely lost its ability to move, it was still severely restricted.
When it saw six smiling old men walking toward it with swords in hand, the tiger actually revealed a look of fear and panic. It was as though a young girl had been cornered against a wall by six old hooligans wearing lecherous grins.
Wang Daoyuan shook his head, scattering the image his mind had conjured. Wang Shouye also wore an awkward expression, and presumably some classic scenes had appeared in his mind as well.
The six old hooligans paid no heed to the strange looks directed at them. The eldest even shouted, "Brothers, be careful! Tiger hide is valuable, so don't damage it. Aim for places without fur. And tiger whips are good stuff—great for nourishing the body! Don't hurt that either."
Wang Daoyuan was too embarrassed to admit they were his family elders. Wang Shouye's face was flushed red, while Wang Daoxing did not care at all.
Though the tiger's intelligence was low and it could not understand human speech, it could tell from the wicked grins of the six old hooligans as they stared at its unspeakable parts exactly what they intended.
With seven people gang-beating the tiger, Wang Daoyuan did not join in. Instead, he chose to lend Wang Daoxing a hand. He took a thick stack of Talismans from a storage bag, moistened his right finger with a little saliva, and began counting them before the Black Ape as though counting money in his previous life.
Ape-type Demon Beasts possessed relatively high intelligence. A first-order demon ape had the intelligence of a child around ten years old and already understood numbers. Seeing the thick stack of Talismans in Wang Daoyuan's hand, it imagined that if they were thrown at it, it would likely be blown apart without even scraps remaining.
The Black Ape felt its heart pound with fear. The instant it was distracted, Wang Daoxing seized the chance and struck it several times on the head.
Ashamed and enraged, the Black Ape swung both fists and charged desperately at Wang Daoxing. From the corner of its eye, it saw that Wang Daoyuan had finished counting the Talismans. He took out a fresh Talisman and flicked it several times with his finger, as though he had just received a brand-new banknote in his previous life.
Naturally, the Black Ape did not understand what Wang Daoyuan's gesture meant. Even the onlookers did not know.
Wang Daoyuan extended his hand with the Talisman, about to throw it. The Black Ape hurriedly dodged aside. Wang Daoxing took the opportunity to close in, landing another two punches on the Black Ape's belly.
Wang Daoyuan then withdrew the Talisman he had been about to fling, pinched it with his fingers, and placed it at the very bottom of the stack of Talismans. He muttered, "No, this one's too new."
Wang Daoyuan had not deliberately lowered his voice. Whether cultivators or Demon Beasts, their hearing far surpassed that of ordinary people, so naturally they heard his words.
The Black Ape was not particularly angry at being struck, but Wang Daoyuan nearly enraged it to death. The Li family's onlookers could not help bursting into laughter as well.
The Black Ape was furious beyond measure and wished it could rush over at once and beat that detestable brat to death with a barrage of fists. But Wang Daoxing stood in its way, so it could only think about it and continue tangling with Wang Daoxing.
With someone beside them holding a stack of Talismans and poised to deal with it, the Black Ape did not dare focus entirely on Wang Daoxing. It kept part of its attention on guarding against Wang Daoyuan.
After man and beast exchanged only two or three moves, Wang Daoyuan took out another Talisman and flung it toward the Black Ape. The Black Ape immediately dodged, and Wang Daoxing took the chance to punch it several times. Just as before, Wang Daoyuan withdrew the Talisman again.
After this back-and-forth happened five or six times, the Black Ape had taken five or six solid beatings. It resolved that it would no longer care about that fellow who only knew how to scare apes. It would first deal with the person before it who dared fight it bare-handed.
Wang Daoyuan tested it twice more. When the Black Ape ignored him completely, he decisively took out a Golden Sword Talisman. Metal Attribute spells generally possessed sharp, piercing properties, making them well suited for breaking defenses.
This Black Ape's body was powerful. Things like Fireball Talismans and fire python Talismans found it difficult to cause it any real harm. But the Golden Sword Talisman was different. A Golden Sword Technique might not grievously wound the Black Ape, but it could certainly make it bleed.
The Golden Sword Talisman was activated, and a three-inch-long little sword flew out. Wang Daoyuan aimed at the hollow behind the Black Ape's right knee. If it hit, the power of the Golden Sword Technique would definitely cripple the Black Ape's right leg.
The Black Ape was fully focused on battling Wang Daoxing and no longer paid any attention to Wang Daoyuan's movements. It did not notice the little golden sword until it was less than a zhang away, but by then it was too late.
Before it could dodge, the golden sword pierced its right knee joint. The Golden Sword Technique's full force remained inside the joint. One tendon was severed outright, leaving the knee unable to move and the lower leg completely beyond its control.
At that moment, Wang Daoxing threw a punch. The Black Ape instinctively raised both hands to block, sending the force down into its right leg. But that leg was practically ruined. It was already difficult enough for it to support its body without collapsing—how could it endure Wang Daoxing's punch? It was knocked straight to the ground.
Wang Daoxing followed the momentum and mounted the Black Ape, raining punches down on its head from both sides. In less than twenty breaths, he struck it more than a hundred times.
After taking so many punches to the head from an opponent of similar strength, even the strongest physical body could not withstand it. The Black Ape died outright.
Wang Daoxing was somewhat displeased because he had not defeated his opponent entirely through his own strength. But he also understood that this was a fight to the death, not a sparring match. Surviving meant victory.
The Black Ape had been beaten to death alive, which could still be called a tragic and heroic death. The tiger, on the other hand, died in a terribly stifled manner. Crushed by the water dragon, it suffered many internal injuries and could barely move, while the six old hooligans exclusively targeted its lower regions.
Before long, the tiger collapsed. One unspeakable part had been stabbed more than a dozen times, and blood covered the ground. Only after the tiger breathed its last did the blood finally stop spurting.
It had to be said that the six old hooligans' swordsmanship was exceptionally good. After more than a dozen thrusts, they had somehow not damaged a single bit of fur. Wang Daoyuan admired them greatly in his heart. Of course, he admired only their swordsmanship; as for their conduct, he still utterly despised it.
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