Chapter Forty-Four: Scheming for the Treasure

The elders of the twin cities were famed for their unrivaled physical strength, and indeed, their reputation was well-deserved. The three-eyed black ape was a monstrous beast, born with terrifying brute force, yet Wu Daoshan could contend with it in terms of sheer bodily might—proof enough of his formidable power.

The great black ape moved with astonishing swiftness, leaping toward Wu Daoshan, its massive hand charged with overwhelming force, aiming a blow at Wu Daoshan’s forehead. If that strike landed, even with Wu Daoshan’s robust physique, he would be left dazed and bleeding, defeated in an instant.

A thunderous clash sounded as man and beast exchanged a palm strike. In terms of raw power, Wu Daoshan was still inferior to the great black ape by a margin. His bones crackled beneath the impact, forcing him several steps back, but he deftly shifted his stance, using exquisite footwork to absorb and redirect the ape’s wild strength.

“Can’t you see those other beasts lurking close by, waiting for an opening? If we both end up wounded, they’ll seize the chance to make trouble!” Wu Daoshan suddenly called out.

The great black ape, poised to strike again, paused at Wu Daoshan’s words. Its fierce gaze swept over the nearby beasts. “What are you suggesting?”

“How about we split the spirit milk in the cave equally?” Wu Daoshan proposed without hesitation.

“Split it with you? Not a chance!” The black ape sneered savagely, and in the brief moment of speech, darted forward like a shadow, each movement radiating terrifying strength.

“Damn you!” Wu Daoshan’s anger flared. He unleashed his martial skills to resist with all his might, but whether in power or speed, he remained a step behind the black ape, constantly forced onto the defensive. His blood surged and his face flushed red; even his stance became unsteady.

The ape’s speed was astonishing—not only did it relentlessly attack Wu Daoshan, but it also dispatched the other Wu family Foundation Establishment cultivators with casual ease. This stirred a sense of retreat in Wu Daoshan’s heart.

The inverted third eye on the ape’s brow was peculiarly insightful, as though it could anticipate Wu Daoshan’s every move. None of Wu Daoshan’s martial techniques landed, while the black ape, exploiting its speed, pressed its attacks, driving Wu Daoshan back again and again.

Another thunderous blow sent Wu Daoshan flying, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He immediately turned to flee, shouting fiercely, “I’ll bring back a true master, and then you, you wretched beast, will be utterly destroyed!”

The black ape spat in disdain, making no move to pursue—after all, if it gave chase, the spirit milk in the cave would be stolen by the other covetous beasts.

“What, waiting for me to send you all to your deaths?” Its vicious gaze swept over the remaining monsters, baring its fangs in a fearsome display.

“Let’s go!” The remaining beasts, though powerful, dared not cross the black ape. They turned and vanished into the forest, unwilling to show themselves.

With no one else around, a look of joy appeared on the three-eyed black ape’s face. In a flash, it darted into the cave to claim the spirit milk.

Hidden in the nearby thicket, Ye Yun felt a wave of disappointment. With Wu Daoshan driven off and no mutual destruction in sight, he, the fisherman poised to reap the rewards, would be no match for the black ape—he’d be crushed with a single slap.

A piercing howl suddenly echoed from the cave, followed by another. It sounded as if the three-eyed black ape, in seeking the spirit milk, had encountered an adversary.

“Could there be another beast lurking in the cave?” Ye Yun recalled that Wu Daoshan had never stepped inside, always lingering at the entrance.

There was certainly some trickery at play.

Ye Yun remained hidden, making no move. After a while, a figure appeared at the cave’s mouth—it was Wu Daoshan, who had left only to circle back.

“So Wu Daoshan already knew another beast was hiding inside. His retreat was a ruse to trick the three-eyed black ape into fighting with the cave dweller, so he could return and play the fisherman’s role!” Ye Yun instantly confirmed his suspicion.

Without pausing at the entrance, Wu Daoshan entered the cave. Ye Yun, after scanning his surroundings and confirming that the other great beasts hadn’t returned, emerged from his hiding place and slipped into the cave as well.

As soon as he entered, a wave of concentrated spiritual energy greeted him, invigorating his mind. Having a spirit marrow bead that stored spiritual energy, he was no stranger to such sensations.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the silence, stones bursting apart as a wild surge of demonic energy swept toward him. Startled, Ye Yun darted behind a boulder for cover.

With a thud, a figure was thrown from the cave and landed beside Ye Yun. Looking up, Ye Yun saw that it was Wu Daoshan, the very man who had just entered.

Wu Daoshan, renowned as the strongest in physical prowess among the elders of the twin cities, was now a mangled mess—his face and chest battered beyond recognition, breath shallow, life hanging by a thread.

Clearly, he had tried to take advantage of the chaos but had been caught in the deadly struggle between the three-eyed black ape and another monstrous beast, suffering grave injuries.

A furious roar came from deep within the cave. In the next instant, Ye Yun felt a fetid wind rush out as a massive foot stomped down hard on Wu Daoshan, grinding him into the ground.

“Treachery will get you nowhere! You dare come back? I’ll crush you beneath my heel!” The owner of the massive foot was, of course, the three-eyed black ape. Wu Daoshan died on the spot under the savage blow.

Ye Yun held his breath, heart nearly stopping from fear. Luckily, the black ape never suspected anyone was hiding behind the boulder; its bloodshot eyes didn’t glance his way, and soon it bounded out of the cave.

No sooner had the ape departed than the rumble of tumbling earth echoed from the cave—something enormous was crawling forth.

Ye Yun glimpsed a colossal shadow slither past. It was a terrifying beast, covered in dense spots, with a body like a giant serpent, seven or eight meters long, and four clawed limbs beneath its belly, moving at blinding speed.

Strangest of all, its head was that of a tiger—a sight that made Ye Yun marvel at the world’s endless wonders.

A serpent’s body and tail, eagle’s claws, and a tiger’s head—Ye Yun had never heard of such a bizarre beast before. It must be a rare and exotic species.

His heart, which had nearly stopped moments before, now raced wildly with excitement.

With the two great beasts now battling outside the cave, could this be the legendary stroke of fortune sent from the heavens?

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ye Yun sprang into action, moving as silently as a cat, his steps light and deft as he slipped deeper into the cave.

Inside, the cave was spacious, filled with a fragrant spiritual energy that made Ye Yun’s spirit soar.

A natural pool came into view, and not far from it, the place was strewn with beast bones, reeking with stench—a sure sign that the exotic monster had lived here for years.

Within the pool, the normally invisible spiritual energy had condensed into a thick mist. Ye Yun inhaled deeply, feeling all his meridians open, his body surging with internal energy.

“With such concentrated spiritual energy, a day’s cultivation here would equal a year’s effort elsewhere!” Ye Yun rejoiced inwardly, leaping into the pool to search for the even rarer spirit milk.

According to ancient texts, spirit milk only forms where spiritual energy gathers naturally over many centuries. Once it condenses, it will gradually dissipate, and who knows how many years must pass before it forms again.

The pool was small and dry, and after a brief search, Ye Yun discovered a pocket in a rock where a small amount of rich, aromatic liquid had collected.

This was spirit milk, also known as spirit nectar—an exceedingly rare treasure, with perhaps only a dozen drops in total.

“A peerless treasure!” Ye Yun carefully collected the spirit milk, then leapt from the pool and hurried toward the cave’s entrance as quickly as he could.

But as soon as he stepped outside, Ye Yun was stunned by the bloody scene before him.

The three-eyed black ape and the exotic beast were locked in a savage battle. The ape’s waist had been ripped open by the other beast’s fangs, blood pooling on the ground, entrails spilling out—a sight so grisly it could make one sick.

The exotic beast fared little better, pummeled to the ground by the ape, which straddled its body, raining a flurry of savage blows upon its head.

Both monsters were at the peak of Foundation Establishment and formidable in their own right. Now, both were severely wounded, each inflicting grievous harm on the other.

With a final, thunderous roar, the three-eyed black ape gathered its demonic energy into its fists and, with a desperate punch, smashed the beast’s skull into pulp.

Howling in pain, the black ape emerged as the ultimate victor in this brutal battle for the spirit milk, even though it was gravely wounded. Beating its chest with both fists, it let out a triumphant cry, paying no heed to the blood gushing from its abdomen.

Suddenly, all three of the ape’s fierce eyes turned toward the cave, catching sight of Ye Yun as he leapt out from within.