The once-great Vajra Sect, a major Buddhist Sect where incense perpetually curled and faint sutras chanted, now resembled a ruined garden ravaged by a storm, its former glory utterly gone.
Its halls had collapsed and its walls had cracked. Large patches of dark red bloodstains congealed on the bluestone slabs, amidst scattered limbs and broken blades. The blood had already pooled into small rivers.
The surviving Low Tier Monks had long since fled, leaving only the night wind to keen through the empty corridors and shattered windows. It kicked up paper ash and dust from the ground, creating a whimpering sound, as if mourning the demise of the Vajra Sect.
Xia Wuyang stood atop the half-collapsed eaves of the Grand Hall, his black Cloak fluttering gently in the rising morning breeze.
He held the crimson, fire-like Dragon Blood Fruit. Inside the fruit, lava seemed to flow slowly, emitting a vast Essence Qi and a searing draconic might that was truly tempting.
Even through the special Sealing Jade Box, it made the Dragon and Tiger Spirit Blood in his body simmer, creating an intense desire to devour it immediately.
The goal of his trip was achieved. His enemies were slain, the treasure was in hand, and the gains were far more bountiful than he had imagined.
’It’s time to head back, then.’ He gave the ruins one last glance. With a slight shift of his body, he was about to transform into a stream of light and escape back to Wenhua Hall.
However, just as the tip of his toe was about to leave the corner of the eave, a terrifying pressure—heavy, brutish, and filled with the wild aura of a primeval forest—crashed down from the sky like an invisible mountain, instantly enveloping the entire peak of Little Sumeru Mountain.
This pressure was different from the True Qi suppression of a human Martial Artist. It was closer to the pure Intimidation of Power and flesh, as if a prehistoric behemoth had awakened from its slumber and opened its fanged maw, ready to devour everything around it.
Xia Wuyang’s figure froze. He snapped his head up to look at the source of the pressure.
In the eastern sky, just before the faint white of dawn, a shadow deeper than the night itself was tearing through the air at an astonishing speed—a speed so incredible it was far beyond mortal imagination.
The shadow was initially just a small dot, but in the blink of an eye, it swelled into a mountain-like silhouette. It brought with it a dull, thunderous sonic boom and a heart-pounding, foul wind as it swept madly forward.
Closer, and closer!
It was a gigantic Ape Demon, its body as black as ink and its muscles gnarled like the tangled roots of an old tree. The aura it radiated was enough to terrify a Celestial Human.
This Black Ape was over a hundred meters tall, towering over even ordinary large trees.
Its body was covered in black fur that stood on end like steel needles, glistening with an oily sheen in the growing daylight. Every single strand conveyed a sense of formidable strength.
Its arms were unnaturally long, reaching past its knees, and its fists hung like two massive millstones. Its knuckles were immense, and its nails were curved and as sharp as hooks.
On its savage, ape-like face, a pair of crimson, bell-sized eyes burned with the undisguised flames of violence and greed, fixed intently on the Dragon Blood Fruit in Xia Wuyang’s hand.
Most striking of all, there was no fluctuation of True Qi around the Black Ape. However, the terrifying Qi and Blood Power radiating from its body was like a blazing furnace. It warped the surrounding air, forming visible ripples of faint red heat waves that could scorch ordinary Martial Artists.
Every step it took through the void produced a dull THUD, as if it were treading on a giant leather drum. Its might was absolutely terrifying.
A Level 12 Demon Beast, the Black Ape Demon Monarch. It was equivalent to a Two Spirits True Monarch of the Human Race, but it practiced the Body Refining Dao.
Demon Beasts are born with tyrannical physiques. Among those of the same level, their Body Refining strength often surpasses that of a Human Race True Monarch. Even Ghost Spirits and Anomalies who practice the Refining God Dao would have to give them a wide berth, not daring to face their might head-on.
"ROAR..."
A deafening roar erupted from the Black Ape’s mouth, completely unrestrained.
Like a sudden clap of thunder on a clear day, it instantly dispersed the lingering morning mist in the mountains. It also shook the already dilapidated halls below, causing dust to rain down. Several teetering walls collapsed with a crash, sending up clouds of dust.
"Leave the Dragon Blood Fruit and everything else on you. This Monarch will spare your life!"
The Black Ape Demon Monarch’s voice was like two giant rocks grinding together—dull, hoarse, and filled with an unquestionable tyranny. It clearly paid Xia Wuyang no mind.
It spoke in human tongue, a clear sign that it had gained sentience and possessed profound Cultivation.
Xia Wuyang had, of course, heard of the Black Ape Demon Monarch. It was one of the most renowned Extraordinary beings within the Great Xia Dynasty, and even across the world, it was considered an Overlord Level existence.
However, this knowledge was mainly circulated among the upper echelons. Ordinary people were unaware of the existence of the Extraordinary, believing that Celestial Humans were the strongest beings in the world.
Xia Wuyang stood on the corner of the eave, his face beneath the Cloak remaining as calm and placid as still water.
Only his eyes lit up with a stunning brilliance the moment he heard the Black Ape’s roar.
It was the gleam of a hunter thrilled by the chase, the excitement of finally encountering a worthy opponent.
The Body Refining Dao was inherently a path of courageous advancement—a struggle against heaven, earth, and oneself. He was already a Body Refining True Monarch, and his Dragon and Tiger Golden Bell Body was a terrifying Body Refining Technique tailored specifically for him.
Secluded Cultivation was certainly important, but a no-holds-barred clash with a powerful expert—especially a Demon Beast renowned for its tyrannical physique—was the best way to temper his own body, stimulate his potential, and validate his Martial Dao. Now that he had encountered one, how could he possibly let it go?
’This Black Ape Demon Monarch before me must have learned of the Dragon Blood Fruit’s existence through some channel and came here specifically to find it.’
It hadn’t expected Xia Wuyang to get the Dragon Blood Fruit first. Seeing that he was about to leave with it, the Black Ape Demon Monarch could no longer hold back and suddenly attacked.
Its Qi Blood was as vast as the sea, its flesh as hard as iron, and its Power was utterly terrifying. It was the perfect whetstone, allowing him to go all out and test his current strength.
"Spare my life?" Xia Wuyang spoke slowly, his voice emerging from under the Cloak with a trace of cold mockery. "You think a mere beast like you is qualified to spare my life?"
"You’re courting death!" The Black Ape Demon Monarch roared in fury, its fur standing on end.
As a Level 12 Demon Monarch that ruled over an entire mountain range, when had it ever been so disdained by a human whose aura didn’t even seem particularly strong?
In its perception, the other party’s Cultivation Power was only at the Super Grade Level.
The Black Ape True Monarch paid no mind to such a Mortal Martial Artist. He was nothing more than an ant. Normally, it wouldn’t even have given him a second glance. If not for the Dragon Blood Fruit, it wouldn’t have wasted a single word.
It wasted no more words. Its massive body lunged forward. Seemingly clumsy, it was actually as fast as lightning, far beyond what an ordinary person could imagine.
A gigantic, millstone-sized black fist, wrapped in a boundless aura and carrying the terrifying Power to shatter mountains, tore through the air with a piercing shriek as it smashed down toward the hall where Xia Wuyang stood.
It intended to pulverize both man and hall into dust with a single punch, leaving nothing behind.

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