This vast plain stretches for hundreds of thousands of miles, dyed crimson with the blood of gods and demons.
Though some paths are smooth and well-trodden, many regions remain perpetually shrouded in blood-red mist, lingering since ancient times without dissipating.
“Roar—!”
Shi Hao, carrying Yun Xi on his back, had just dashed into the rolling dark fog when he immediately spotted a ferocious creature. It resembled a humanoid ape, but its body was covered in pitch-black scales, its eyes blood-red, exuding an aura of death.
“Whoosh!”
It lunged at him without hesitation, moving with terrifying speed. Its ten fingers splayed open, revealing curved, inch-long claws as sharp as iron hooks, glinting with dark light.
Shi Hao stood his ground, his right fist glowing faintly gold as he struck forward.
“Clang!”
The collision rang out like metal striking stone, piercingly sharp.
The creature howled as it was sent flying backward, leaving a streak of black light in the air. Its speed far surpassed that of an ordinary Venerable.
Yet now, its arm spasmed, its black claws half-shattered, dripping blood. It stared at Shi Hao with shock.
“That’s a Demon Ape!” Yun Xi gasped. In this ancient battlefield, all manner of savage creatures lurked, but Demon Apes were exceedingly rare—and exceptionally powerful.
Sometimes, even across a battlefield spanning thousands of miles, only a few could be found.
Their bodies were as unyielding as iron, impervious to damage. They could clash with weapons bare-handed, shatter treasures, and annihilate mighty divine techniques.
Yun Xi’s expression shifted. This Demon Ape’s physique matched that of a Divine Flame Realm expert—far beyond what a Venerable could handle. Yet the youth carrying her had wounded it with a single punch. Astonishing.
Boom!
Yin energy surged as the Demon Ape roared, spewing crimson mist. It blurred into an afterimage, charging again with claws that twisted space itself.
It was terrifyingly fast, its body arcing like lightning, far swifter than any Venerable. In an instant, it appeared behind Shi Hao, aiming for Yun Xi’s back.
Shi Hao’s instincts flared. Without turning, his right leg lashed backward like a scorpion’s tail, erupting in dazzling light as it met the Demon Ape’s claws.
The ape grunted, one arm now bleeding black. Broken claws littered the ground as it retreated swiftly, disbelief in its eyes.
“Your physique is truly shocking,” Yun Xi remarked, her gaze strange. This youth’s strength exceeded her expectations.
“Is this thing a god-level expert?” Shi Hao frowned. He feared no physical confrontation, but a divine technique assault would be dangerous.
“The ancient battlefield’s dense yin energy breeds bizarre creatures. This Demon Ape’s body is at Divine Flame Realm, but it doesn’t cultivate divine techniques,” Yun Xi explained.
“Such beings exist?” Shi Hao was stunned—then relaxed entirely. If that were the case, he had nothing to fear. In raw physicality, he feared not even the Immortal Palace’s disciples!
“However, it resists divine techniques, nearly immune. It follows the pure path of body refinement,” Yun Xi added.
“That’s incredible!” Shi Hao exclaimed.
Some body refiners abandoned divine techniques entirely, yet their physiques grew so formidable they became nearly impervious to runic attacks.
“Roar!”
The Demon Ape bellowed, mustering its full power. Its body faintly glowed, black scales flexing as it clenched a fist—now shimmering like crystal.
“Bam!”
Shi Hao countered. His fist tingled slightly, but the Demon Ape shrieked, its hand mangled, black blood gushing as it was sent flying.
Shi Hao moved to pursue, but the ape vanished into the battlefield with a few flashes, leaving only a trail of blood.
“Tch. Took a punch from me and didn’t even shatter,” he muttered, dissatisfied.
Yun Xi was speechless. Even a First-Generation genius wouldn’t dare claim they could slay such a powerful Demon Ape with certainty. This youth’s arrogance was staggering.
“Your feat is remarkable. Few creatures can match a Demon Ape’s physique on its extreme refinement path,” Yun Xi said, her eyes shimmering with divine light.
She suspected this youth might be an extraordinary First-Generation prodigy—how else could he possess such a monstrous body?
After all, the Demon Ape’s path was no ordinary refinement—it was a pinnacle of creation!
“Let’s go. Now that we’re here, we must tread carefully. This battlefield is treacherous,” Shi Hao muttered.
“Thank you,” Yun Xi said softly. Her injuries were severe—without Shi Hao carrying her to safety, she wouldn’t have survived.
Even after millennia, the battlefield still bore rusted spears, shattered shields, and the bones of gods and demons, all veiled in eerie mist—a desolate, terrifying sight.
Suddenly, Shi Hao turned, hearing wingbeats. “They’ve caught up.”
He spoke of the pursuing avian predators, among them god-level experts. Only his mastery of the Earth-Shortening Great Technique and the terrain’s complexity had kept them at bay.
Shi Hao dashed forward, leaving a faint afterimage before vanishing into the battlefield’s depths.
“Escape is futile!”
The leader of the avian pack, a golden three-legged Golden Crow, blazed with flames, its divine aura repelling the yin energy. Beside it, a Crimson Cloud Sparrow burned just as fiercely, distorting space with its heat.
This flock belonged to the Hundred Wings Mercenary Corps, infamous in Demon Province for their speed and tracking prowess. Hired hands, they sought the Sky Human Clan’s descendants.
“Boom!”
A Thunderbird unleashed a lightning strike, obliterating a hill in a cloud of dust.
“This is bad. Shaking them won’t be easy,” Shi Hao frowned.
“Wait—that’s a Demon Ape’s howl,” Yun Xi gasped, paling.
“What’s wrong?” Shi Hao asked.
“Though few Demon Apes roam these lands, they’re fiercely territorial. It’s summoning others—against us,” she explained.
Enemies ahead, pursuers behind—their situation was dire.
Above, the avian flock circled.
“They went that way,” a hound-headed raptor declared, its supernatural nose detecting traces even through concealment.
Dozens of birds dove into the battlefield’s heart.
“Roar—!”
A Demon Ape roared, leaping from a cliff, its black-scaled body a blur as it tore into a Golden Eagle midair, ripping it apart in a spray of blood.
“Die!”
The Golden Crow leader spat fire runes, but the ape dodged, landing on another bird and crushing its skull with a single punch.
Brain matter and blood erupted as the ape vanished back into the mist.
Hidden, Shi Hao and Yun Xi watched, awed.
“That one’s even stronger—peak Divine Flame Realm, absurdly tough. Demon Apes despise intruders. This will be interesting,” Yun Xi smiled, relieved.
Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed. Before he could even pit enemies against each other, they’d clashed on their own.
“Kill it!” The enraged flock pursued.
“Whoosh!”
An elderly gray-furred ape shot up hundreds of feet, seizing and shredding another bird.
“Seeking death!” The Golden Crow dove, flames blazing.
Suddenly, eight more Demon Apes erupted from the ground like black lightning, their crystalline bodies radiating terrifying power.
Blood rained as seven birds died instantly. Even the Golden Crow’s flames only wounded one elder ape—proof that their immunity had limits.
“Roar—!”
A massive ape intercepted the Golden Crow, its sheer physique dispersing divine flames and runes.
The battle was brutal. The Hundred Wings Corps lost eleven, including two god-level beings, while the apes suffered only one severe and two minor injuries.
“Retreat!”
The Golden Crow and Crimson Sparrow fled, unnerved by these monsters’ near-immunity to divine techniques.
Silence returned.
Hidden, Shi Hao’s blood burned with excitement. This extreme refinement path—immunity to divine techniques, impervious to runes—was intoxicating.
“What kind of path is this?”
A shrill shriek shattered his thoughts. Nine Demon Apes surrounded him like black lightning.
“Run!” Yun Xi paled. Even a Divine Flame expert would struggle against such foes—their immunity made them nightmares.
Shi Hao’s expression hardened, but fear never touched him. If surrounded, he’d fight his way out.
Even against nine Divine Flame-level apes, his physique was their equal. Their immunity meant nothing to him.
“Leave me. Save yourself,” Yun Xi urged.
“Don’t worry. I won’t lose to anyone,” Shi Hao set her down, flashing a confident grin.
For a moment, Yun Xi’s heart trembled. That smile—so familiar. Once, in the lower realm, someone had always been this self-assured.
“I must uncover the secret of their immunity. For me, this is the ultimate path!” Shi Hao vowed.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage