Gift Bamboo and Withdraw? Kill!

The mist churned, as though some colossal creature was walking within it.

Bang! Bang!

Now and then, several impacts rang out, as if something were ramming against walls of bronze and iron.

Then rolling black smoke emerged, carrying a fierce Sha Qi and a corrosive stench. It ate through the boundless mist, revealing the scene beyond.

A mass of black Cloud Qi hung in midair. Upon it stood three Water Apes over ten feet tall, their bodies covered in azure scales as they coldly stared at Lu Xuan and the others.

Though the auras of these three Water Apes were impure, their eyes gleamed with sharp light. They were clearly at the Qi Refining Second Layer.

Beneath the Cloud Qi, another twelve Water Apes at the Qi Refining First Layer crouched in wait, their Sha Qi rolling forth.

This lineup immediately invigorated the Water Ape surrounded by Lu Xuan and the others. He snatched back the bamboo basket he had pushed out, his eyes full of savagery.

"Humans, you dared provoke your Water Ape grandfathers. You're finished!"

"If you kneel and beg for mercy now, I may still consider sparing you—"

"Shut up!"

Before he could finish, one of the Qi Refining Second Layer Water Apes atop the black cloud cut him off.

Sharp light flashed in the Water Ape's eyes. Seeing Lu Xuan and the others' brilliantly radiant, utterly pure Cloud Qi, his expression turned grave.

"What exquisite Water-Calming Method. What exceptionally pure Cloud Qi."

"May I ask where you profound masters have come from? Whose clan or sect's disciples are you? What Qi have you gathered?"

"What brings you to Lockmist Ferry? Could there perhaps be some misunderstanding?"

First respect the robes, then respect the person; first observe the Cloud Qi, then examine the aura.

This was a common principle in cultivation.

When ordinary cultivators met, the first thing they did was inspect one another's Cloud Qi.

If there was no Cloud Qi, but a fishy stench clung to their body and they relied solely on artifacts to fly through the air, there was no need to ask. They were certainly Turbid Qi cultivators. One merely needed to sneer at them a few times before killing them.

If their Cloud Qi was impure but no fishy stench surrounded them, they were most likely cultivators who had gathered Mixed Qi. One would first inquire into their origins and observe their aura before deciding whether to kill them.

If their Cloud Qi was pure, without the slightest trace of Mixed Qi, then they were undoubtedly Clear Qi cultivators. When facing such people, one not only had to observe their aura but also cautiously inquire into their background before deciding whether to fight or flee.

If one encountered Cloud Qi of an even higher grade that could not be discerned, then there was no need to look or ask. More likely than not, the other party had already seen through you and was considering whether to kill you.

The Water Ape spoke now because he had seen that Lu Xuan and the others' Cloud Qi was pure, without the slightest impurity, and thus asked these questions.

Yet he did not feel much fear.

Though he could not tell what Qi Lu Xuan and the others had gathered, he already knew their cultivation level.

Qi Refining First Layer.

He himself was at the Qi Refining Second Layer, with two other apes beside him and thirteen Qi Refining First Layer clansmen below. With such a lineup, even Clear Qi cultivators—or even disciples of great sects who gathered True Qi—could be fought.

But disciples of such great sects were like divine dragons whose heads were seen but whose tails remained hidden, precious beyond measure. Unless they had cultivated to at least the Qi Refining Fourth Layer within their mountain gates, they should not leave their sects, much less come to this tiny Lockmist Ferry.

Thus, he had essentially concluded that Lu Xuan and the others had gathered Clear Qi. He simply did not know which family's disciples they were.

But Lu Xuan and the others did not answer. Their gazes merely swept across the gathered Water Apes before Lu Xuan asked,

"Are all you Water Apes here? Will any more come later?"

The question made no sense, leaving the leading Water Ape baffled. Yet Lu Xuan's indifferent tone stirred fury in his heart.

"Boy, I saw that your Cloud Qi was pure, so I gave you some face."

"You are merely a Qi Refining First Layer cultivator. Not only do you refuse to kneel and pay respects upon seeing a superior cultivator, you even dare act so arrogantly. Do you truly think Lockmist Ferry is your home?!"

With that, he snorted coldly. The mist over the great river seemed to come alive, baring fangs and brandishing claws as it vaguely condensed into the shape of a Flood Dragon. It swam ceaselessly through the air, its tail sweeping across and shaking the river's surface for thousands of feet.

This technique was both intimidation and investigation.

Though the Water Ape was furious, he had not lost his reason. Fearing that Lu Xuan and the others might have more allies behind them, he condensed the mist into a Flood Dragon to search the river for thousands of feet around.

And that search truly did reveal "allies."

"So those are the allies? They are merely five Qi Refining First Layer cultivators!"

"Were they hired by that Mixed Qi cultivator to escort them?"

Though he spoke thus, the Water Ape felt somewhat grave.

Nine Qi Refining First Layer cultivators, several of whom had gathered Clear Qi, and they all looked young. Their origins were likely extraordinary.

He was not afraid, but he also felt that if he mishandled this, there could be great trouble later.

"Since you are escorts hired by that Mixed Qi cultivator, you must be here to conduct business. Now that I have occupied Lockmist Ferry, I can be considered the lord of this region. I will not make things difficult for you. Take some Yin-Congealing Wonder Bamboo and leave."

"If you wish to venture out for experience, nine hundred li north of Lockmist Ferry lies Blackwind Forest. Many lesser demons dwell there, feeding on human blood. The sight of them fills even me with loathing, but I have no time to deal with them. You may go slay them."

The Water Ape pondered briefly, then waved his arm. Several baskets of Yin-Congealing Wonder Bamboo flew from the black cloud and landed atop the river.

"Elder Brother!"

The Water Ape surrounded by Lu Xuan and the others froze when he saw this, unable to stop himself from calling out urgently, as though he could not understand.

"Shut up! Is there any place for you to speak here?!"

The Water Ape immediately snorted. Black Qi rolled around his body, vaguely condensing into the phantom of a Water Ape a hundred feet tall. Its Sha Qi was chilling, and amid the endless mist, it exuded overwhelming pressure.

He appeared to be berating the Water Ape below, but in truth he was using a technique to display his might and force Lu Xuan and the others back.

Seeing this, Zhan Qingyang could not help turning to Lu Xuan and the others with a sigh. "What a cunning demon, with such deep schemes."

"He could suppress both the rage and greed in his heart. Even now, he could offer us spirit bamboo to make us leave, and even reveal the whereabouts of other lesser demons."

There was naturally a reason Lu Xuan and the others had delayed their move.

The assessment for the eight of them required twenty-four demons in total.

The number before them was far from enough.

So they had intended to wait until all the Water Apes had gathered before striking at once.

But they had not expected this Water Ape to be so patient, so deeply calculating.

"Unfortunately, he feared the strong while bullying the weak, murdered and plundered, and ruined the prosperity of an entire land. He was destined to be evil!"

Lu Xuan's expression hardened. He waited no longer, driving his Cloud Qi as he charged toward the three Qi Refining Second Layer Water Apes in an instant.

Boom!

Wei Zhixing had long since grown impatient. His Cloud Qi blazed as he followed close behind, likewise charging at the three Qi Refining Second Layer Water Apes.

Two Qi Refining First Layer cultivators directly launched a killing attack against three Qi Refining Second Layer ape demons.

To outsiders, such a thing would have been sheer fantasy, fraught with extreme danger. But to Lu Xuan and Wei Zhixing, it was nothing at all.

They were merely ape demons with Mixed Qi. So what if they were at the Second Layer?

If they could not even slay such petty demons, what kind of disciples of a great sect would they be?

The preciousness of Heaven-Gazing Sect inner disciples lay not in their title, but in their genuine comprehension, potential, and combat strength.

Only those who could accomplish what ordinary people could not were worthy of honor.

Zhan Qingyang and Ning Wanqing felt no concern whatsoever upon seeing this. They immediately sent their Cloud Qi descending and charged at the thirteen Qi Refining First Layer Water Apes.