The Golden Ape's Treasure: A Familiar Face!

Entering Great Locust Mountain again made Qingyang Huan feel all the more that subduing the purple sable had been an incomparably wise decision. Apes ran wild throughout the mountain, their cries thundering, and these ape beasts could be seen almost everywhere.

Yet with the purple sable beside them, some mountain apes actually kept far away when they saw them. Even powerful vicious beasts were avoided well in advance under the purple sable's guidance!

This also left Qingyang Huan deeply suspicious of the little fellow's bloodline, though that would have to wait until later to investigate.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

At that moment, the purple sable crouched on Qingyang Huan's shoulder, gesturing incessantly with its two little paws and pointing toward the cliff where the Red-Eyed Apes lived.

"There's treasure there?"

They sheltered halfway up an ancient mountain, hidden among scattered rocks and vegetation, only five or six li from the Red-Eyed Apes' cliff. The troop of apes that had roared through the wilderness earlier had torn through the ancient forest, sweeping past the foot of their mountain.

The purple sable nodded, its little paws gesturing nonstop as though afraid Qingyang Huan would not understand.

Far from Qingyang Huan, the giant python landed atop a low mountain, and a thick reek of blood swept through the surrounding ancient forest.

"Of all the apes on Great Locust Mountain, only this old ape has the purest bloodline. It's also the most likely to possess the Golden Sacred Ape's bloodline. Even a trace would be of considerable help to you, junior sister."

Mo Wulang spoke as he watched the old servant take powdered beast medicine from his robes and scatter handfuls over the giant python's wounds.

"Roar!"

The giant python roared in pain, its eyes baring their ferocity.

"We've roamed the Great Wilderness for over half a year this time. No matter what, we have to contend for it. That old ape should be at the peak of the Divine Treasure Realm, perhaps even somewhat stronger, but it probably hasn't entered the Spirit Seizing Realm and developed beast consciousness. Otherwise, this troop of Red-Eyed Apes would have fought their way deep into La Mountain, rather than claiming this mountain as their kingdom!"

"But...?"

At that moment, Yun Caiyue hesitated. Leaving aside the old ape, those thousand-odd Red-Eyed Apes alone would be no small trouble. Moreover, these Red-Eyed Apes were unlike other vicious beasts. They were more like a fully functioning tribe, organized rather than a heap of loose sand.

"We'll find a way to lure that old ape away."

"Haha, Brother Mo, how about joining forces with my Jade Blood Family?"

Just then, water vapor swirled around them, spreading like rippling waves. An enormous Jade Blood Xuangui approached carrying an old man and a youth. Even climbing mountains and scaling rocks, the great tortoise moved as though walking on level ground.

"You're saying there are strong Bone Rune fluctuations, and the remains of a mighty beast inside the cave!" Watching the purple sable hop up and down before him, Qingyang Huan's eyes lit up.

But when he looked again at the overwhelmingly ferocious Red-Eyed Ape atop the cliff, he could only suppress the excitement in his heart.

"We have to lure that mountain ape away before we can get inside."

Yet the next moment, Qingyang Huan instinctively shook his head. He had already recognized the flying giant python that had swept away through the sky earlier. It was the very one he had glimpsed deep within Great Locust Mountain several days ago.

Back then, he had vaguely seen several figures standing atop the giant python. Since it was here, those people were clearly after this mountain ape too. Perhaps they had even been the ones who killed those Divine Treasure Realm giant apes earlier.

There was nothing wrong with fishing for benefits, but he at least had to ensure he did not become someone else's prize.

"I sensed it."

Just then, Jin Wei, who had remained silent all this time, actually revealed a burning light in his eyes. Even a faint savagery began to emanate from him.

"What?" Qingyang Huan could not help asking instinctively.

"There's something in that cave with the same bloodline presence as mine. No, it should be something similar."

At that moment, a faint bloody hue actually filled Jin Wei's eyes, with golden threads vaguely floating within it. That savage presence erupted uncontrollably.

"Stop!"

The next moment, however, Qingyang Huan barked under his breath, making Jin Wei halt his erupting presence. Yet he still felt this was unsafe, and the two quietly descended the mountain with the purple sable.

After roughly half an hour, they appeared on another ancient mountain. They even carefully hollowed out a cave and hid themselves inside.

Roar...

Just then, a roar pierced the forest and reverberated through the mountains, shaking them so fiercely that even the earth seemed to tremble. A savage presence surged outward, and in an instant, the ancient forest that had been filled with roaring apes fell silent.

What happened!

Even inside the cave, Qingyang Huan and Jin Wei could feel that savagery.

Below the cliff where the Red-Eyed Apes lived, their ape king threw back its head and roared. Its body promptly doubled in size, growing to ten zhang tall. Pale golden flames wreathed its entire body, igniting the surrounding air with explosive bursts as a ferocious, baleful presence ravaged the whole forest.

"Attack!"

The Red-Eyed Ape, transformed into a flaming giant ape, was surrounded by three figures. It swung the great white bone club in its hand down through the air, shattering rocks and sending boulders flying.

Three withered-yellow Divine Repositories instantly emerged behind an old man. An earth-yellow earth dragon rushed out of one, opening its huge jaws to bite down on the ape king.

From the other two Divine Repositories emerged a great winged tiger and a blood saber, respectively.

Not only this old man, but Mo Wulang and the old servant accompanying him also manifested their Divine Repositories. In an instant, it was as though violet lightning and silver radiance exploded with thunderous booms. Vicious beast Repository Sources, divine weapons, and Bone Runes struck toward the ape king!

Roar!

The ape king roared, and the flames wreathing its body swept straight down. The bone club in its hand swept across, and golden light instantly blazed over the entire cliff. Savage waves of force rippled outward with a howl.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Beneath the bone club, thunderclaps seemed to explode. The earth dragon, great tiger, gray wolf, and other Repository Sources shattered outright, while several divine weapons were sent flying.

"You beast! You actually learned our Human Race's combat arts!"

An aged voice bellowed. The shattered earth dragon manifested from the Divine Repository once more and charged toward the ape king.

Seeing this sudden battle from their hiding place in the cave, Qingyang Huan and Jin Wei immediately exchanged a glance.

"Our chance is here!"

The three figures attacked with overwhelming force, enraging the ape king guarding the cave. Meanwhile, the Red-Eyed Apes that had gone out in pursuit had yet to return.

Go!

Qingyang Huan and Jin Wei immediately slipped down the ancient mountain, heading toward the cliffside cave where the Red-Eyed Apes lived.

Meanwhile, as the three figures fought the ape king, they moved ever deeper into the ancient forest, giving Qingyang Huan and Jin Wei precisely the opportunity they needed.

The cave lay thirty zhang up the cliff. Fortunately, the cliff face was not smooth but densely riddled with caves of all sizes, making concealment very easy as the two reached its foot.

Seeing that the ape king was already several li away, they did not hesitate in the slightest. They leaped up, repeatedly stepping on stones jutting from the cliff face as they made for the cave.

"It's you!"

Yet at that very instant, a startled cry rang out.

At that moment, Qingyang Huan also saw the newcomer clearly. It was actually Yun Caiyue of the Wandering Cloud Tribe, whom he had not seen in a long time. He had never expected her to appear here too. He recalled that fleeting glimpse in the ancient forest earlier: one of the indistinct figures atop the giant python seemed to match Yun Caiyue.