A black pillar shot skyward from the spirit beast pouch, soaring straight into the clouds and instantly punching a vast black hole in the sky.
In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared.
Endless bolts of lightning burst from the spirit beast pouch and coiled around the black pillar, their dazzling white light nearly searing the eyes of everyone present.
Then a deafening ape's roar exploded in the air, its terrifying shock waves sweeping toward the Breeze Sect's ranks.
Almost all the Breeze Sect disciples were flung up by the shock waves and slammed hard into the ground, suffering grave injuries.
The other elders' faces flushed as they struggled to hold back mouthfuls of blood.
Zhao Heng and Zhao Si were not quite so disheveled. They merely retreated a few steps, their clothes and hair somewhat mussed.
Neither of them, however, showed the slightest concern for the Breeze Sect disciples. Their eyes brimmed with excitement and fervor.
The Ye Lineage's imperial artifact truly lived up to its reputation. It already possessed such power before even emerging, making them anticipate the Ye Lineage's remaining resources all the more.
As for that ape's roar, they simply ignored it.
Under their burning gazes, a black sphere wrapped in fierce white light shot out of the spirit beast pouch.
Then an enormous black ape appeared before everyone.
The giant ape stood a hundred zhang tall, with twin horns on its head and blinding lightning enveloping its entire body. It was none other than the Primordial Demon Lightning Ape.
The moment the demon ape appeared, an unimaginably vast, wildly violent power bore down on the entire field. Everyone's mind abruptly clenched, and they struggled to breathe, as though a mountain were pinning them down.
Zhao Heng and Zhao Si turned to stone on the spot at the sight of the demon ape.
"Wh... what is this?"
"Where's the imperial artifact? Where did the imperial artifact go?"
Neither had ever imagined that such a powerful demonic beast would emerge from what looked like a storage pouch.
Yet the imperial artifact they had been longing for had not appeared at all.
Could this also be part of the Ye Lineage's reserves?
At this thought, their hearts burned even hotter.
There was something here-something good!
The Ye Lineage had indeed left behind substantial reserves.
At this thought, they grew even more excited and thrilled.
Thinking of this, Zhao Si looked at Zhao Heng with admiration.
"Ancestor, you truly foresaw everything like a god, securing powerful reinforcements ahead of time. Otherwise, the Breeze Sect would definitely have crashed and burned this time."
"Now that we have your backup plan, Ancestor, the day we swallow up the Ye Lineage will be the day the Breeze Sect turns its fortunes around. Becoming the greatest force in Heavenly Profound Province someday won't be impossible!"
Meanwhile, the Breeze Sect disciples and elders were utterly terrified.
That demon ape was simply too powerful. A single roar had reduced them to such a sorry state.
They could not muster the slightest will to resist.
The Ye Lineage disciples stood frozen, their faces filled with shock.
Then one Ye Lineage disciple shouted excitedly, "The ancestor! It's the ancestor! He must have sent this demon ape!"
The other Ye Lineage disciples came to their senses, their faces filling with wild joy as their spirits soared.
"Yes, it must be the ancestor!"
"The ancestor would never send us to our deaths! I was muddleheaded for a moment and actually doubted him! I truly deserve to die!"
"Having the ancestor is truly the Ye Lineage's great fortune!"
"From now on, the ancestor is my father! Whatever he says, I'll do!"
"..."
Ye Xuan and the Ye Lineage's clan elders also turned to stone on the spot.
It was too shocking!
They had never imagined that such an ordinary storage pouch actually contained such a powerful demonic beast.
With this demonic beast helping them, destroying the Breeze Sect would take no more than the lift of a hand.
"We deserve to die for doubting the ancestor's decision!"
One clan elder came to his senses and wept bitter tears.
The others echoed him, filled with remorse.
They wished they could run straight to Ye Chen, kneel before him, and beg forgiveness.
They swore that they would never doubt the ancestor's decisions again.
Even if the ancestor ordered them to die, they would not hesitate.
Watching from the side, Ye Yan gave a knowing smile.
Truthfully, Ye Chen had long since become an omnipotent existence in his eyes, so although seeing the demon ape today had shocked him somewhat, it had not shocked him much.
Seeing the clan elders bitterly regret their earlier actions now also left him feeling thoroughly pleased.
Still, their most urgent task was to destroy the Breeze Sect and fulfill the ancestor's instructions.
"Clan elders, now isn't the time for regret. Destroying the Breeze Sect and carrying out the ancestor's instructions is what matters!"
Ye Yan spoke with a smile.
"Yes, yes! We old fools have grown muddleheaded. Wiping out the Breeze Sect is what matters!"
"Exactly. Once this is settled, it won't be too late to beg the ancestor's forgiveness!"
"..."
With that, they regained their composure and prepared for battle.
The Ye Lineage disciples also stood ready, their spirits soaring and their hearts filled with boundless loyalty.
The Primordial Demon Lightning Ape looked at the Breeze Sect members below, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes.
His master was powerful. After subduing him, his master had signed a master-servant contract with him.
Just now, when his master had ordered him to help the Ye Lineage attack the Breeze Sect, he had been eager to try and rather excited.
After all, he had spent so long holed up in Black Mountain. Now that he was out, he had to stretch his limbs a little.
But he had not expected the Breeze Sect members to be so weak, utterly unable to withstand a single blow.
He could not understand how someone as incomparably terrifying as his master could have such weak enemies.
He shook his head. His brain had never worked particularly well, so he stopped making things difficult for himself.
He prepared to finish the job with one slap, then go home and sleep.
Right, the spirit beast pouch was his home now.
After all, who would not be happy with an immortal artifact for a home?
Moreover, even sleeping at home increased his cultivation, and even his bloodline power showed signs of returning to its ancestral state.
It simply felt too good!
At this thought, he felt ever greater respect, curiosity, and fear toward his master, Ye Chen.
Thinking no further, he swung his enormous palm down at the Breeze Sect members.
Just then, an angry roar came from the horizon, exploding like spring thunder.
"Vile beast, how dare you run wild here!"
Immediately afterward, a massive blade of spiritual power appeared before everyone and slashed viciously at the demon ape's huge hand.
Boom!!!
After the earth-shaking crash, the demon ape was forced back several steps.
Before long, an elder with white hair and a youthful face appeared in front of the Breeze Sect members.
He was Nan Fa, the elder from the Myriad Origins Holy Land.
His complexion was ruddy, his immortal bearing ethereal, and his presence seemed entirely absent, like that of an ordinary mortal.
Yet simply standing there, he gave the impression that the spring breeze knew his wishes and would follow him into the azure clouds, as though the countless living beings were merely a matter of a flick of his fingers.
Seeing Nan Fa, Zhao Heng and Zhao Si felt completely reassured.
They hurried forward, bowing and scraping. "Senior, thank you for lending us your aid!"
"You are Zhao Que's descendant?"
Nan Fa glanced sideways at the two and spoke indifferently.
Zhao Que was the founding patriarch of the Breeze Sect. He and Nan Fa had once ventured through a secret realm together and had some acquaintance.
However, he had died several hundred years ago after exhausting his lifespan.
Hearing Nan Fa name his forefather, Zhao Heng immediately smiled obsequiously. "You are absolutely right, esteemed senior. Zhao Que was indeed this junior's forefather!"
"Mm!"
Nan Fa looked toward the Ye Lineage. "Is that the Ye Lineage of the rumors?"
"That's right. That's the Ye Lineage!"
"Where is the imperial artifact?"
He did not want to waste time. He had eyes only for the imperial artifact.
"We haven't seen it."
"Hmm?"
"Perhaps they haven't brought it out yet. The Ye Lineage just released this demonic beast, which proves they must still have reserves!"
Seeing Nan Fa grow somewhat angry, Zhao Heng's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat, and he hurried to explain.
"Fine. I'll trust you this once. If you dare deceive me, hmph..."
With that, Nan Fa turned his gaze toward the demon ape, a hint of gravity in his eyes.
Others might not know, but as a holy land elder, he could tell at a glance that this was a Primordial Demon Lightning Ape that had awakened a trace of its bloodline power. Its strength had already reached the peak king level.
Before, he certainly would not have been its match.
Now, however, he had comprehended a little of the laws of the Saint Dao. Although his comprehension was still incomplete, he had at least touched the threshold of the Saint Realm. Together with the saint artifact he had obtained in exchange for his lifetime's savings, subduing this demon ape should not be a problem.
The demon ape also looked at Nan Fa, his fighting spirit surging.
In the flash of lightning and the strike of flint, a great battle was on the verge of erupting.