Demon Monkey

[Hanguang Sword: Novice (798/800)]

Along the way, Luo Fuyi kept talking, yet Yu Xiu managed to deduce the Hanguang Sword she had demonstrated earlier, thanks to his astonishing comprehension.

However, it was a grueling process.

Because the sword technique Luo Fuyi demonstrated was far too abstract; had Yu Xiu not hailed from the Sword Sect, practiced dozens or hundreds of sword techniques, and possessed a Sword Heart, even with higher comprehension, he might not have been able to deduce this technique.

The main issue was the lack of mental cultivation methods and Qi Circulation techniques. Trying to reverse-engineer the technique from such abstract swordplay immediately spiked the difficulty.

Fortunately, after much trial, the sword technique was finally mastered.

20 points of comprehension and 20 years of lifespan were now halfway secured.

"Once we cross that mountain, we'll be at Cloud Mountain Cliff." Luo Fuyi, who had been in high spirits the entire journey, paused. "I heard a master from the first of the Four Great Passes, someone named Zhu Heng, has gathered quite a few demon-slaying heroes. They should be clashing with those monsters by now.

"We must hurry, or we might not make it in time."

Yu Xiu agreed.

Before long, Cloud Mountain Cliff came into view, and the crowd grew. A large group of wanderers was blocked at the foot of the cliff, seemingly in a standoff.

"On what grounds do you forbid us from ascending? You can slay demons, and so can we! Move aside!" A bearded man with a large blade strapped to his back shouted at the group blocking the mountain path.

"Are you really going there to slay demons?" The middle-aged man guarding the path sneered. "You're only after what's on Cloud Mountain Cliff. If we let you up, I fear you'll start fighting each other before you even face the monsters."

"Bullshit! Zhu Heng gathered all of you—was it just to slay demons? It's because he's afraid we'll snatch the treasures on the cliff and wants to hoard them for himself!

"Move aside, or don't blame us for being impolite!" The bearded man began to draw his blade.

"Move!"

Many wanderers at the foot of the mountain began to chime in, and the tension between the two sides reached a breaking point.

Luo Fuyi tugged at Yu Xiu and whispered, "These wandering martial artists will risk their lives for a pittance of resources. We don't need to get involved; let's go around."

"Good idea." Yu Xiu complimented her, as he felt the same way.

Luo Fuyi couldn't help but curl her lips, maintaining a reserved air. "I haven't spent a short time wandering the world; I have some experience."

They bypassed the guarded front and reached the back of Cloud Mountain Cliff, only to discover a sheer precipice rising over a hundred feet high.

Luo Fuyi was troubled. "With my lightness skill, climbing this cliff... it might be a bit difficult!"

It wasn't just difficult; it was impossible!

She considered her swordplay peerless and her blade techniques decent, and she possessed a fair amount of strength, but her lightness skill was truly her weak point.

Yu Xiu smiled. "My lightness skill is passable."

With that, he grabbed Luo Fuyi's arm and soared upward, moving with incredible speed.

Luo Fuyi was overjoyed. "Brother Yu, your lightness skill is so profound; it's almost approaching the realm of walking on air."

Within a few breaths, the two reached the cliff top, where they saw rolling demonic mist and the whistling of blades. Clearly, the monsters here were already engaged in battle with Zhu Heng and his group.

The long sword on Luo Fuyi's back hummed as she drew it. "I'm going to slay the demons."

Before she finished speaking, she had already vanished.

"It seems I don't need to intervene."

There were many cultivators gathered here, more than enough to kill a few monsters, especially with Luo Fuyi joining the fray.

Yu Xiu did not follow. Relying on his keen perception, he began searching for the place where the Cloud Mountain Cliff sect had left their archives.

If you like this book, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

He skirted around the areas where the monsters, Zhu Heng, and Luo Fuyi were fighting, searching everywhere, but found nothing.

During this time, he saw Luo Fuyi abandon her sword in favor of a heavy golden-backed blade. Her technique was heavy and powerful, surprisingly formidable; she slew a Life Spring realm demon monkey with a single strike.

Yu Xiu didn't linger. After a full circle with no results, he returned to the edge of the cliff.

According to the tropes of the novels from his past life, protagonists often find themselves at a dead end, fall off a cliff, and encounter a fortuitous opportunity.

'So, is the legacy of the Cloud Mountain Cliff sect hidden within this very cliff face?'

Using his Riding the Wind state, he briefly levitated and began searching the sheer rock face.

Sure enough, less than two hours later, Yu Xiu found a crack about a foot wide in a hidden spot.

Whether looking from the bottom of the cliff or the top, the angle made it impossible to see this fissure.

Only by hovering in mid-air directly in front of it could one spot it.

Yu Xiu stepped into the crack. The light dimmed, but having reached the realm of the Four Great Passes, he could see in the dark, so it didn't hinder him much.

The fissure was narrow at first but grew wider as he went deeper. After walking a hundred paces, he entered a natural stone cave. Inside, there were bookshelves, scattered stone platforms, weapons lined up on all sides, and stacks of large chests.

More importantly, standing before a row of bookshelves was a figure.

It was... an old white ape wearing a long robe!

'A demon monkey!'

'Four Great Passes!'

Yu Xiu's gaze tightened. This was the demon monkey Luo Fuyi had mentioned, one that had reached the Five Viscera realm, the first of the Four Great Passes.

"You have come too late. The spiritual treasures, profound cultivation techniques, secret manuals, and gold and silver here have all been cleared out. What remains are merely some manuals that don't even qualify for the Four Great Passes." The Old Ape was holding a book in one hand, reading it carefully; only then did he toss the book aside and cast his gaze toward Yu Xiu.

Those were eyes glowing with a faint green light, appearing deep and profound, yet hidden in their depths was a bloodthirsty cruelty that was far from the gentle facade he presented.

Yu Xiu did not even glance at the surrounding texts and items, simply staring at the Old Ape and shaking his head: "I am not late."

The Old Ape grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp, yellow teeth: "Indeed, not late. A young martial artist with such vigorous blood and energy as you will surely be a great tonic when eaten."

"It is a pity that one escaped earlier and even found this place, clearing out the spiritual treasures and secret manuals within."

"This Cloud Mountain Cliff is mine, and everything here belongs to me. By what right did he dare to take them!"

By the end of his words, the Old Ape had lost his earlier mild-mannered tone, leaving only violent, bloodthirsty rage.

Demons are demons, fickle and devoid of any sense of character!

Yu Xiu remained calm in response, though he surmised that the person the demon monkey spoke of—the one who had escaped and emptied this place—was most likely the 'Jiang Han' that all the martial artists outside were talking about.

"Cloud Mountain Cliff is not yours, and neither is this place. Things belonging to the human race should naturally be taken by the human race. As a demon, why would you ever think these things belong to you?"

Yu Xiu stood composed, completely unbothered by the demon monkey's fury.

"I just love youngsters with sharp tongues like yours; you'll be much chewier to eat." The Old Ape's mouth stretched wide, his aged face turning hideous and brutal.

His demonic aura surged, and in a flash, he clawed toward Yu Xiu's forehead with immense speed and even greater momentum!

"Clang!" A sword hummed, and a sweep of sword light erupted, instantly crashing into the rolling demonic aura.

Whatever momentum or demonic frenzy there was, the moment it met the sword radiance, it was shredded to pieces, evaporating instantly like snowflakes meeting a scorching sun.

"You... Sword Intent..." The Old Ape's voice changed abruptly, emitting a sharp, piercing shriek of alarm.

But no sooner had the cry begun than it came to an abrupt halt, and immediately following, a monkey head flew into the air and dropped to the ground.

It was dead!