Chapter Forty-Seven: Nangong Xue's Choice

When the swirling dust finally settled, a massive handprint was scorched into the earth, leaving a deep pit at its center. Within that hollow lay the silver-furred demon ape, sprawled and defeated. Its breath was now faint and feeble, its once-mighty body mangled and bloodied, shimmering fur matted with gore as fresh blood continued to ooze from its wounds. Lying there, it had lost all its previous vitality and ferocity, struggling in vain to rise, only to collapse again with a resounding thud into its own blood, a powerless, low growl issuing from its throat.

All eyes turned at once to the fallen beast. After a moment’s stunned silence, expressions of delight swept across the faces of every mercenary present. With the threat of such a formidable creature now removed, their lives were that much safer.

“No wonder they call the powerhouses of Eternal City formidable... Such extravagant means,” Ye Cheng muttered bitterly to himself from afar. He recalled how much effort it had cost to procure a single vial of Green Essence for Ye Zhan and Ye Hong—not even a top-tier potion, but merely of the third rank. Yet Old Wu had just consumed a fourth-rank Burst Qi Elixir. The difference between third and fourth rank was only a single grade, yet their value was worlds apart.

After taking the Burst Qi Elixir, Old Wu had unleashed the “Nine Mountain-Splitting Seals” again, but this time he did not show the same weakness as before. Though energy still surged through his veins, his aura was not what it had been at its peak. Such powerful martial techniques always exacted a heavy toll.

Yet everyone knew this respite was only temporary. As the effects of the elixir waned, Old Wu would soon face its side effects. Though these weren’t particularly damaging to the body, for several days he would be unable to engage in combat. To force himself now would risk irreparable harm: at best, a decline in martial attainment; at worst, the complete loss of his martial path. Either outcome was unacceptable for a cultivator.

Meanwhile, the demon apes also stared in disbelief, their eyes wide and vacant. Their king had fallen, stretched out in a sea of blood, defeated by a human warrior.

Suddenly, the entire troop of apes erupted in agitation. Their innate savagery and rage were fully ignited, as they beat their chests with both fists, their roars thundering skyward, echoing throughout the demon forest. Yet within these roars was a note of summoning.

Beyond the borders of the apes’ territory, countless birds and beasts, hearing the furious clamor, instinctively turned their heads in fear, gazing toward the demon apes’ domain before hastily fleeing the area.

“That’s the sound of a summons,” Old Mu’s voice resonated in Ye Cheng’s mind, tinged with a faint smile. “Heh, it seems this matter is far from over...”

“A summons?” Ye Cheng frowned.

The mercenaries had at first dismissed the apes’ roars as mere expressions of rage, but soon realized something was amiss: there was a definite call within those cries.

If the silver-furred demon ape was the king of this group, what, then, were they summoning? The question weighed heavily on everyone’s minds.

“Could it be that there isn’t just one silver-furred demon ape in this tribe—but two?” an elderly mercenary speculated, his face grave.

At his words, alarm spread among the mercenaries. The terror of the silver-furred ape had just been made painfully clear; had Old Wu not been present, few would have survived its wrath.

On a small mountain nearby, Nangong Xue stood with her delicate brows knit tightly, listening to the apes’ deafening roars below. Her slender hand clenched, and a look of deep concern clouded her beautiful face. Four martial attendants stood respectfully behind her, eyes alert, prepared for any sudden crisis.

Old Wu darted over and landed at Nangong Xue’s side, his withered face shadowed with worry.

Suddenly, an enraged beast’s roar, even more fearsome than before, echoed from the distant mountains, growing closer by the moment.

At this, the apes’ once-fierce howling abruptly softened, replaced by subdued, obedient growls.

Witnessing this, all present drew a sharp breath. There truly was another silver-furred demon ape in the horde.

As the bestial roar reverberated from the distant mountains, the gravity on Old Wu’s face deepened. He could feel his strength already beginning to ebb away. After a brief deliberation, he turned heavily to the striking figure beside him and said, “Miss, it seems the situation has changed. We can no longer proceed as planned. We should withdraw at once.”

At these words, a struggle flickered across Nangong Xue’s icy features. But she quickly clenched her teeth, making her decision resolute: “No. My father’s illness can’t wait any longer. I must obtain that item as soon as possible.”

“But there’s another silver-furred demon ape among them, and the side effects of the Burst Qi Elixir are already setting in. My strength diminishes by the moment. When that other ape arrives, I fear I will not be able to hold it off.”

“Just help me open the stone gate. I’ll go in and retrieve the item myself,” Nangong Xue insisted.

“Miss, it’s too dangerous. That stone gate was forged from a meteorite and is impossibly heavy. Without the strength of a Yuan Realm master, it can’t be opened. And if you enter, how will you get out?” Old Wu replied bitterly.

“Even if you manage to escape, with so many demon apes outside, I may not be able to protect you,” he added.

“Then do you have a better idea?” Nangong Xue retorted coldly.

He could only shake his head, though he pressed on, “If anything happens to you, I could never answer to the family...”

She snorted, her tone scornful. “So your duty is more important than my father’s life?”

“This—” Wu began.

“Enough. Let’s not delay any longer,” Nangong Xue interrupted, her voice softening despite its chill. “Don’t worry. My father gave me a teleportation array. Once inside, I can leave safely.”