Chapter 66 - Arc 6: Pinglan County Wang Family | Chapter 66: Xuangang Giant Ape
Translator: Lynn
Nian Hongzhi and the others, who had previously mocked Xu Ziqing and attempted to cause his demise, ultimately met their own demise instead. Their malevolent intentions led to their own retribution, leaving no trace of their bodies. Their grand ambitions of immortality ended in failure, showcasing the irony of their misguided cleverness.
In a matter of seconds, from the confrontation between Bloodthirsty Demon Vine and Ruan Yuan to the point where the three of them were completely drained, the Gui Yin-Yang sisters stood in shock, unable to react in time.
The once lively trio transformed into bloody skeletons in an instant, their skeletal remains scattering on impact, leaving behind an eerie and terrifying scene.
The two blood vines were extracted and swayed in the air.
At that moment, the two sisters felt their Qi being locked, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of danger that gripped their hearts.
Could it be that the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine intended to feast on them as well?
Regret began to seep into Guiyin and Guiyang’s minds for staying behind.
While they genuinely wanted to aid Xu Ziqing, risking their lives was never part of their plan. The two sisters immediately became cautious, their yin and yang spiders on their faces appearing as if they were on the verge of unleashing their power at any moment.
The two blood vines did not rush toward them immediately; instead, they seemed to hesitate.
One of the vines leaped forward, as if preparing to strike, but halted midway, seemingly struggling with an internal conflict. The other vine appeared patient, extending and retracting without haste.
The Gui Yin-Yang sisters exchanged glances, maintaining their vigilance while the unsettling feeling within them intensified.
What was happening with these two Bloodthirsty Demon Vines?
They glanced at the blood-stained young man in the green shirt once again, noticing that he remained motionless. They couldn’t help but wonder if he had been affected by a backlash.
Since the blood vine originated from Xu Ziqing’s palm, it must be his technique. However, such a terrifying method could not be easily controlled.
What they didn’t anticipate was that a gentle and polite young man, possessing the benevolent attribute of wood, would be accompanied by such a peculiar plant. It was truly surprising.
If these sanctimonious individuals were to witness the act of bloodsucking, regardless of Xu Ziqing’s true character, they would undoubtedly condemn him as a practitioner of demonic arts.
Just as these thoughts raced through their minds, the sisters contemplated using the power of the sun spider to halt the situation and escape as quickly as possible.
In the next moment, it seemed that the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine could no longer contain itself and lunged forward. The sun spider swiftly detached from the sisters’ faces and dashed towards the approaching vine.
However, the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine abruptly halted, reluctantly retracting itself in slow motion.
At that moment, a gentle voice of a young man resonated.
“Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your assistance.”
The two sisters hastily scanned their surroundings, only to discover that the young man in the green shirt had awakened and was looking at them with kindness.
“Xu Ziqing?” Guiyang called out.
The young man in the green shirt smiled faintly. “Yes, it’s me.”
During Xu Ziqing’s brush with death, he instinctively triggered the bloodthirsty Bloodthirsty Demon Vine. However, due to his earlier emotional turmoil and severe injuries, the bloodthirsty intent of the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine merged with his own anger, momentarily influencing his consciousness.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine had just finished devouring its prey in Chenghuang country and had been dormant for an entire year. Once it emerged, it behaved recklessly, like a wild horse set free.
It delighted in sucking the blood essence of a third-tier monster when a few ignorant individuals disrupted its feast. Furthermore, the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine grew even more displeased as their murderous intentions were directed toward its mother plant.
As the killing intent drew near, the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine was about to reveal itself, but Xu Ziqing’s consciousness momentarily awakened upon hearing Chonghua’s painful cry.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine sensed this and suppressed its urge.
Xu Ziqing, driven by Chonghua’s anguish, acted out of anger, depleting his newly gathered spiritual power, and once again, the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine suppressed his consciousness.
This time, there were no restraints on the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine. It immediately absorbed Ruan Yuanliang, the initial offender, and easily dealt with the remaining two malicious individuals, Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun, returning them to their human forms effortlessly.
Afterward, there were still two “meals” present.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine faced a dilemma. Although these two females possessed rich blood that could satisfy its hunger, they harbored no ill will toward its mother. In fact, the mother was grateful to them.
So, should it devour them or not?
While Bloodthirsty Demon Vine had the fortune of escaping due to the mother’s body being in a slumber, his greed got the better of him. He desired to consume him before the mother’s body awoke, hoping it would forgive him after expressing its anger.
Unexpectedly, just as this thought arose, the mother’s body awakened.
It seemed to have subconsciously communicated with the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine’s consciousness. When the vine began to suck the three despicable individuals, Xu Ziqing’s mind was hazy. Although he was still influenced by the bloodthirsty intent, he was not completely unaware, just unable to act.
The three offenders were devoured, and Xu Ziqing’s consciousness gradually cleared. As the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine prepared to suck the Guiyin-Yang sisters once again, his mind stirred, unsure of how to use his strength to suppress the vine.
Witnessing the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine about to attack Guiyang, Xu Ziqing immediately commanded, “Retreat!”
The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine hesitated and wavered.
Xu Ziqing furrowed his brow slightly.
Bloodthirsty Demon Vine noticed his displeasure and reluctantly withdrew.
Xu Ziqing gazed at the Gui Yin-Yang sisters, and with a thought, two leaf bags appeared in his hands. He offered them to the Gui Yin-Yang sisters, saying, “Xu Ziqing has nothing to repay the kindness of the two fellow cultivators. However, a few days ago, I obtained two spiritual herbs that might be of some use to you. Consider them tokens of my gratitude.”
As he spoke, he slightly opened the leaf bags, and immediately a strong spiritual energy filled the air, accompanied by a lingering sweet fragrance.
Before the Gui Yin-Yang sisters could react, they caught a whiff of the scent and were astounded. “Thousand-Year Blue Frost Grass!”
The cauldron physique was superior to that of ordinary cultivators, and despite being harvested, they could still cultivate due to their yin attribute roots.
Cyan Frost Grass was an extremely rare and precious Water Spirit Herb. Whether refined into a panacea or consumed directly, it could purify impurities and enhance one’s spiritual power.
Not to mention, this particular Blue Frost Grass was not only high in quality but also had a lifespan of a thousand years!
The Gui Yin-Yang sisters couldn’t conceal their shock.
Considering their casual intervention earlier, even if they hadn’t acted, Xu Ziqing wouldn’t have perished under the influence of that peculiar monster vine.
If they were to take this spiritual herb now, wouldn’t it be a tremendous advantage? They were momentarily undecided.
However, Xu Ziqing didn’t see it that way. The previous situation was extremely dangerous. He was being suppressed by the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine’s consciousness, and a slight misstep could have cost him his life.
The sisters had no obligation to help him, yet they willingly did so, displaying uncommon kindness.
Having witnessed Nian Hongzhi and the others’ sinister calculations and encountering the infamous Gui Yin-Yang sisters, Xu Ziqing felt differently. The Blue Frost Grass held no value to him, but for the Gui Yin-Yang sisters, it was an extraordinary treasure. How could he not offer it as a token of appreciation?
Seeing the sisters hesitate, Xu Ziqing said, “You need not refuse. If you reject it, it would make me seem too humble. Moreover, please let me know if you find this item beneath you. I will do my utmost to fulfill my gratitude.” He smiled warmly, his eyes filled with sincerity.
The Gui Yin-Yang sisters exchanged glances and found themselves contemplating Xu Ziqing’s character. They realized that he was genuinely kind-hearted, and if someone treated him with kindness, he would undoubtedly repay it. He wasn’t the type to be petty, greedy, or cruel.
No longer pretending, they discussed among themselves. If they rejected Xu Ziqing’s offering, they would truly be seen as lacking in ambition. So they accepted and said, “Thank you very much.”
Guiyin suggested, “Daoist Xu, you are not severely injured. If you don’t mind, you can leave with my sister.”
Guiyang also smiled and added, “Please don’t refuse.”
Sighing, Xu Ziqing looked into the distance and spoke quickly, “It’s not that I want to reject your kindness, but those people used some means to make the Vajra giant ape consider me its mortal enemy. The ape met a miserable end, and I fear that even now…”
Perhaps due to the influence of the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine’s consciousness, Xu Ziqing had a sense that the matter was far from over.
As if confirming his intuition, a fierce roar suddenly erupted from the distant forest!
It was the cry of the ape!
Having received the Blue Frost Grass from Xu Ziqing, the Gui Yinyang sisters were now unwilling to leave in this precarious situation. Guiyang spoke, “My spider might be of some use, friend Xu Daoist…” But before she could finish, Xu Ziqing interrupted, “Let’s split up and save our lives. Xu Ziqing will always remember the kindness of the two fellow cultivators.”
This time, he didn’t wait for the sisters’ response. His figure flickered, and he swiftly vanished into the forest.
Realizing his departure, the Gui Yin-Yang sisters attempted to track his whereabouts, but he eluded their search effortlessly. No matter how diligently they examined the area, there was no trace of him.
At that moment, a gust of wind infused with monstrous energy rushed towards them—a raging monster ape! Its presence was so overwhelming that even the surrounding trees bowed in reverence, and weaker monsters prostrated themselves on the ground, unwilling to challenge its dominance!
Unable to stand still, the Gui Yin-Yang sisters, with their exceptional evasion skills, swiftly disappeared without a trace.
Just moments after the sisters departed, a colossal monster ape standing five feet tall appeared on the scene.
It possessed a single black horn on its head, its entire body golden and devoid of hair. Yet, the short fur tightly adhered to its ape skin, resembling a solid piece of pure gold—an unbreakable whole!
A fourth-tier monster, the Xuangang Giant Ape!
The monster ape’s eyes were crimson, and the aura emanating from its body was so potent that it seemed tangible.
Upon seeing the lifeless body of the Vajra giant ape, it rushed over and cradled it in its arms, crying out in anguish, “My grandson—”
For the Xuangang giant ape, this third-tier Vajra giant ape was its most outstanding descendant, capable of succeeding in its position and advancing to a fourth-tier monster. It was also recognized as the patriarch of the Iron Skin ape clan—an immensely important figure.
Thus, when the cub encountered danger, the Xuangang giant ape sensed it but didn’t pay it much heed, allowing the Vajra giant ape to lead the ape clan in condemning it. However, when the Vajra giant ape faced trouble, terror seized the Xuangang giant ape, and overwhelmed by intense emotions, its demonic energy ran amok, nearly driving it mad!
With an eruption of soaring killing intent, the Xuangang giant ape opened its mouth and devoured the Vajra giant ape’s corpse.
Bitterly, it vowed, “My dear grandson, Grandpa will make that immortal cultivator pay for taking your life!”
Narrowing its eyes, the Xuangang giant ape twitched its nose and carefully discerned the scent. It then dashed in the direction where Xu Ziqing had fled.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
Support me on ko-fi for faster releases ^^