The Nine-Headed Ape Demons, with their formidable physiques, now radiated a dark glow, their bodies becoming crystalline. They had pursued the path of extreme body refinement, exuding a terrifying aura.
Whoosh!
In an instant, they lunged forward, their physical techniques astonishing as they sought to crush Shi Hao.
The next moment, Shi Hao moved, stowing Yun Xi into a purple-glowing bone cauldron to eliminate any distractions before fully engaging his opponents.
Boom!
A violent tremor erupted as his fist collided with the palm of an ape demon. A tempest of energy surged, shaking the ancient battlefield.
This was a Divine Flame-level ape demon, specializing in body refinement—its physical strength was unimaginable!
Yet, Shi Hao withstood the blow without faltering, his hair whipping in the wind, eyes gleaming, and his blood qi erupting from within.
“So strong!” the ape demon roared, finding this inconceivable.
The next moment, demonic energy surged as the other eight ape demons arrived, unleashing their full might to suppress him. This was a bloody battle.
Even someone as powerful as Shi Hao found himself in peril. Though this wasn’t a contest of magical power, it was still a life-and-death struggle.
His physique was indeed terrifying, having reached an extreme state. In terms of pure physicality, he could face Divine Flame-level experts without fear. But these nine ape demons were extraordinary—they too had pursued the path of ultimate body refinement.
Nine Divine Flame-level ape demons with monstrous physiques would be an absolute nightmare for anyone else, an insurmountable challenge.
Shi Hao was also in grave danger.
After just one exchange, his blood qi churned violently. With all nine ape demons attacking simultaneously, even his speed couldn’t fully counter them—he took a punch!
This wasn’t like a battle of magical power, where runes could block waves of attacks. This was pure physical combat.
Given his lower cultivation level, being able to hold out like this was already a miracle!
“Kill!”
Shi Hao’s speed increased as he employed the “Shrinking the Earth to an Inch” divine ability. Though his runes couldn’t affect the ape demons—they were immune—he could still enhance his own speed.
In this life-or-death struggle, he held nothing back. His blood qi surged, boiling with killing intent.
Boom!
After a hundred exchanges, Shi Hao’s eyes blazed with light as he threw a punch, pushing his speed to the limit, chasing down an elder ape demon.
Among the battles with the Golden Crow, Fire Cloud Sparrow, and other fierce birds, this elder ape demon had suffered the worst injuries, its combat power drastically reduced. Now, it became Shi Hao’s target.
Boom!
Shi Hao endured strikes from the other ape demons—a palm, two fists, and three claws—blood splattering from his body. Yet, he pressed forward relentlessly, closing in on the elder ape demon.
His fist glowed, crystalline and nearly transparent, tinged with a faint gold. He unleashed his full strength.
Crack!
The elder ape demon’s arm fractured as it blocked, sent flying by the punch.
Shi Hao leaped after it, stretching his limbs, his right arm descending like a blade. With a wet thud, the elder ape demon’s head was severed, black blood spurting high.
“Awooo…”
The remaining eight ape demons howled, their attacks growing even more frenzied and terrifying.
“Kill!”
By the 150th exchange, Shi Hao let out a sharp cry, his fist piercing through another ape demon’s chest, sending a shower of blood as he killed it outright. Yet, he himself suffered two claw strikes, leaving him drenched in blood.
…
By the 300th exchange, Shi Hao swung his leg like a whip, kicking an ape demon’s head, which exploded like a watermelon.
This was a brutal battle. Shi Hao was covered in blood, suffering wounds for every strong foe he killed.
Relatively speaking, the first ape demon he encountered upon entering this ancient battlefield was the weakest—the other eight were clearly far stronger.
Evidently, that one had already been slain earlier.
By the end, Shi Hao was drenched in blood, grievously wounded but never falling. The remaining ape demons were terrified.
…
Time passed indeterminably until Yun Xi felt a jolt, freed from the purple-glowing bone cauldron.
When she saw the scene before her, she gasped. Six ape demon corpses lay on the ground, black blood pooling—slain by someone. The other three were nowhere to be seen.
Not far away, a young man lay covered in blood, severely injured.
“What happened to you?” She rushed over, lifting Shi Hao. The sight shocked her—had he done all this alone?
“I’m fine. I just need to rest.” Shi Hao was exhausted. He hadn’t expected to encounter such powerful ape demons in this ancient battlefield—it was beyond his expectations.
In terms of pure physicality, these nine ape demons were rare and formidable adversaries.
“You killed six ape demons alone?” Yun Xi was stunned. If this feat spread, it would cause a sensation—a Supreme Being killing six Divine Flame-level ape demons who had pursued the path of extreme body refinement was like a myth!
“Barely managed it. Unfortunately, three escaped—I ran out of strength.” Shi Hao shook his head as she helped him up.
“This… is unbelievable. Even a Chosen One might not achieve such a feat—they’d likely perish.” Yun Xi was at a loss for words. This was too savage.
Her lashes trembled, her large eyes filled with disbelief. Her flawless, jade-like face was etched with shock—this achievement was too glorious.
“I also walk the path of body refinement, so I have some tricks. They were strong, but couldn’t defeat me.” Shi Hao feigned nonchalance.
He didn’t dare delay, quickly sitting cross-legged. His body glowed as he began healing, sacred runes enveloping him.
Two hours later, Shi Hao reopened his eyes, his blood qi robust and vigorous. Though his injuries couldn’t heal instantly, his combat power was nearly restored.
Yun Xi had also used this time to heal, swallowing a precious pill that greatly improved her condition.
“Let’s go raid the ape demons’ lair while they’re still fleeing. Let’s see what we can find.” Shi Hao was eager.
The ancient battlefield was vast, shrouded in mist. They stopped before a stone cliff—the ape demons’ lair, with several caves in the broken cliff face.
Below the cliff grew blood-red herbs, resembling red coral, crystalline and translucent, exuding a rich fragrance.
“Blood Soul Grass!” Yun Xi exclaimed, astonished to find dozens at once. These precious herbs were incredibly rare, capable of enhancing soul power—a specialty of the Bloody Plains.
“How are these herbs used?” Shi Hao asked. He was here to uncover the secret behind the ape demons’ immunity to magical power.
“They must be brewed with many other spirit herbs to extract their essence. Consuming it nourishes the soul,” Yun Xi explained.
Shi Hao nodded, leaping into the caves on the cliff face to search thoroughly. Though there were artifacts, none were what he sought.
“Do you know why the ape demons are immune to magical power?” Shi Hao asked—this was his primary concern.
“It’s related to their long-term consumption of Blood Soul Grass and Golden Bodhi Fruit,” Yun Xi shared what she knew.
“These herbs?” Shi Hao’s eyes lit up as he examined them closely.
There were over fifty plants, each a foot tall, shimmering with crimson light, crystalline as if carved from jade.
Yun Xi elaborated, “For other races, these herbs aren’t as effective. Ape demons consume them directly, but we must brew them with other herbs to extract partial essence—80% of their properties are unsuitable for other races.”
“Is that so?” Shi Hao was surprised.
Ape demons had unique physiques, allowing them to consume Blood Soul Grass directly. Other races couldn’t absorb its full properties, only partial beneficial essences.
Yun Xi said, “The so-called ‘dross’—the remaining 80%—is lethal to us but nourishing to ape demons.”
The Upper Realm was vast, with countless races across three thousand provinces. Some were uniquely peculiar, standing apart.
Aside from ape demons, born in lands of death, only three or five races possessed true immunity to magical power.
“Limited by physique, humans can’t consume them? I don’t believe it—I’ll try,” Shi Hao muttered. In the past, to boost his strength, he’d even swallowed several pounds of the supposedly inedible Taiyi True Water.
“Don’t be reckless! Others have tried to gain the ape demons’ immunity by eating Blood Soul Grass directly—they all died, their bodies torn apart,” Yun Xi warned.
“No harm in trying.” Shi Hao was undeterred.
Yun Xi grew anxious. “No! Many geniuses like you refused to accept this, wanting that power. They all perished—no one succeeded.”
“All of them died?” Shi Hao’s expression turned grave.
“Almost all. Some were even Chosen Ones. After consuming hundreds, they met tragic ends,” Yun Xi said solemnly.
“Then it’s fine.” Shi Hao smiled. There were only dozens here—far from the legendary limit. He had nothing to fear.
The grass was fragrant, its crimson hue intoxicating. Shi Hao sat cross-legged, plucking one and eating it in a few bites.
“You can’t do this!” Yun Xi panicked, trying to stop him. This youth was too stubborn.
“I desperately need strength. If I can gain this ability, it’ll be invaluable.” Shi Hao grinned. “Tastes good—sweet and sour, like spirit berries.”
Yun Xi nearly collapsed. He’d eaten it so casually, even commenting on the flavor—how carefree could one be?
Soon, red light emanated from Shi Hao’s body, swirling as if to ignite him. He inspected internally, sensing a strange, secret force flowing within.
He consumed a second, then a third…
“Stop! Even those Chosen Ones spaced their consumption over days. You’re going too fast!” Yun Xi’s heart raced.
She couldn’t comprehend his audacity—this was tantamount to suicide.
Shi Hao ate twenty in one go, sensing the anomaly. The secret force on his skin threatened to tear him apart, seeping into his flesh and bones.
“Contain!”
Shi Hao sat firmly, activating his Sole True Dao Domain to encase himself, preventing his body from disintegrating. He continued eating.
“Heavens, what are you doing? You can’t eat so many!” Yun Xi was frantic. This youth had saved her—she couldn’t watch him die.
“Don’t worry. I feel it working.” Shi Hao ate another dozen.
“You…” Yun Xi was stunned. She tried to intervene but was restrained upon touching the domain.
What was this? A domain?
She was shocked, observing closely. After several attempts, she suspected it truly was a domain—but how was it so unique?
It resembled all domains exploding and merging into one colossal domain, exuding terrifying might.
She recalled Shi Hao from the Lower Realm—his domains were unusually large, and his ten domains could merge into a divine disk.
This youth was even more extraordinary, cultivating a mysterious Sole True Dao Domain—almost dreamlike.
She tested its nature with treasures and her own domain, trembling at the results.
“Is this really… a single domain?”
Each time she entered, she was restrained and reverted to her true form.
Instantly, her violet hair cascaded down, silky and radiant. Yun Xi revealed her peerless beauty—her forehead fair and flawless, lashes fluttering, eyes brimming with spirit, like a transcendent beauty from a painting.
Shi Hao opened his eyes, retracting his domain.
Yun Xi rushed over. “Stop eating Blood Soul Grass!” She grabbed his shoulders, shaking him, fearing he’d drop dead.
Her violet hair, smooth and fragrant, draped over Shi Hao.
Gazing at her flawless, jade-like features up close, Shi Hao recalled their tussle in Hundred Shattered Mountains—rolling on the ground, biting each other’s ears.
He gestured he was fine, his hand brushing her hair, inadvertently grazing her delicate earlobe.
“You!” Yun Xi recoiled, staring at him. The sensitive touch triggered memories of their past.
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