Chapter 113: Paying the Price

“The road ahead won’t be easy.”

Beneath a sky of azure, dotted with drifting white clouds, Shen Qingyun and Feng Chuxun stood atop a high ridge. Below them stretched an endless forest, towering trees standing shoulder to shoulder. Occasionally, one or two winged beasts would burst forth from the canopy, their sharp cries piercing the air.

Shen Qingyun sensed numerous powerful demonic beasts lurking within the forest, their presence formidable and numerous.

“So what? We’ll just bulldoze through!” Feng Chuxun’s eyes gleamed with fierce anticipation. Knowing how highly King Qin esteemed the Zixiao Academy, he wondered how it would compare to the Cangyun Sect.

Shen Qingyun glanced sideways, shaking his head slightly. Since meeting King Qin, this had been his mindset—how to put it? Being at the realm of the laws only meant he had a foothold in the Southern Domain.

On second thought, Shen Qingyun found this quite natural. After all, when he himself was at the realm of the laws, it had seemed like an insurmountable mountain.

“Let’s go,” Shen Qingyun said, leaping effortlessly down the cliff’s edge, Feng Chuxun following close behind.

A flicker of thought, and a spiritual energy barrier appeared, shielding Shen Qingyun from the fierce wind as he descended. He landed steadily, a force emanating from the center of his brow, radiating outward.

Feng Chuxun felt a mysterious power sweep over him, a brief discomfort before he quickly regained composure.

“Move.” Confirming their safety, Shen Qingyun stared ahead and spoke once, then the two figures dissolved like phantoms, vanishing into the dense forest.

Shortly after they left, a shadow vast enough to blot out the sun appeared overhead—it was none other than the Northern Abyss Demon King.

“Entering the territory of the demonic beasts, let’s see where you can run!” His sharp eagle eyes flicked with menace as he winged toward the left side of the forest.

Within the woods, thunderous roars echoed. A colossal black gorilla pounded its chest and stomped, unleashing a deafening bellow. Upon closer inspection, a third eye, still closed, marked its brow.

The Three-Eyed Savage Ape—that was its name. Its immense size alone spoke of the explosive strength coursing through its massive muscles.

Now, it roared with fury. Its body bore numerous scars, and the murderous and angry intent in its eyes seemed almost tangible, fixated on the five humans who appeared so insignificant before it.

“Tch, so disdainful of us, and yet you won’t open your third eye!”

Among the five stood a man on the far left, clad in a black robe embroidered with dark golden patterns. He wiped fresh blood from the corner of his mouth and stared defiantly at the savage ape.

“He Ming, don’t underestimate its third eye, or you might suffer losses!” A white-robed man beside him turned and scolded.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” He Ming replied sheepishly.

The man in the center also bore blood at his mouth but paid it no mind. His eyes burned with fighting spirit. “Truly worthy of the Three-Eyed Savage Ape, whose power exceeds its rank—it’s not easy to deal with!”

The other four were silent. This savage ape’s rank matched theirs, but its strength far surpassed it. And with the threat of its third eye, confronting it was a daunting task.

Their attention remained fixed on the savage ape, unaware of two pairs of eyes silently observing them from the trees just tens of yards away.

Those eyes belonged to Shen Qingyun and Feng Chuxun. Shen Qingyun’s divine perception extended over fifty yards, enabling him to detect anyone who entered his domain instantly. Not only that, their aura and movements were relayed to his mind in real time.

Hence, Shen Qingyun had long since discovered the savage ape and the five humans fighting it.

“This ape is formidable,” Feng Chuxun remarked, his gaze fixed on the beast’s powerfully muscled frame.

Shen Qingyun nodded in agreement. Even he regarded the Three-Eyed Savage Ape with respect. Though its rank was unimpressive and it had yet to grow stronger, any savage ape that did mature would become a towering force among the demonic clans. But throughout history, almost none had grown beyond a certain stage—perhaps a divine restriction prevented them from advancing.

“I really want to fight it,” Feng Chuxun suddenly said.

Shen Qingyun turned, his gaze strange. Fight it? Are you out of your mind? You’re still at the early stage of Spiritual Phase, and the ape is at the advanced stage—what chance do you have? Moreover, the Three-Eyed Savage Ape is renowned for its brute strength and that third eye…

Boy, you don’t stand a chance. Give it up.

“So we just watch then?” Feng Chuxun asked after a moment.

“Wait a little longer,” Shen Qingyun replied, eyes on the renewed battle between the five and the beast. Suddenly, his gaze fixed on one man’s chest, his eyes narrowing. “Now this is interesting.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Feng Chuxun blinked.

“Nothing. You said you wanted to fight the Three-Eyed Savage Ape.” Shen Qingyun shook his head.

Feng Chuxun’s eyes flared with light. “Can I?”

Shen Qingyun patted his shoulder seriously. “Yes. Go.”

“Alright!”

Feng Chuxun nodded and surged forward like a phantom toward the savage ape.

“Ruinous Killing Sword!” One of the five, after narrowly evading the ape’s attack, leapt backward to create distance. His dark sword hummed and vibrated, a faint black aura spreading as he unleashed it. The fierce momentum seemed intent on destroying all before it.

The ape swung a fist, but instead of dodging the black blade flying toward it, it raised its fist again to meet the sword head-on, seemingly eager to combat the weapon with its flesh and blood.

The black fist collided with the black sword, erupting in a terrifying explosion that shattered the air itself.

The immense force reverberated back into the ape’s body.

Staggering backward, the savage ape was struck by a force stronger than its own.

He Ming gave a thumbs-up to the swordsman. “Guan Yan, nice work!”

Guan Yan leapt into the air, caught the sword, then landed with calm indifference, as if it had nothing to do with him.

“Cut the chatter. He Ming, show us your real skills,” the man in the middle said, turning to him.

“Alright,” He Ming replied confidently.

Just as He Ming prepared to unleash his true power, three streaks of sword light tore through the air, striking the ape’s back. Though it wasn’t wounded, the impact forced a pained howl, revealing sharp fangs.

The savage ape, ignoring them, turned its back to the five, leaving them stunned and bewildered.

From the grass, Feng Chuxun emerged like a specter, vaulting into the air. His Red Snow sword traced a red and blue arc, striking the beast.

The ape blocked the blow, prompting Feng Chuxun to retreat swiftly. Sword intent flared as two more sword lights sliced forth, seemingly warping space so the ape’s fists couldn’t disperse them.

The two sword lights landed solidly on the beast, as if two real blades tearing at its fur.

“Argh!” The ape endured the pain, its body crackling with energy. Its fist blurred with speed, slamming toward Feng Chuxun.

Alarmed, Feng Chuxun summoned a spiritual shield just before the fist’s arrival. The shield shattered visibly as the punch landed heavily on his chest.

He grunted, trying to open his mouth but struggling to hold back. Upon landing, his tightly closed lips finally gave way, and a mouthful of blood spat out.

Pain. Intense pain. Feng Chuxun felt as if every bone in his body had shattered, utterly drained of strength.

“Who is he?” He Ming asked, watching Feng Chuxun being thrown back.

The others shook their heads, unfamiliar with the newcomer but recognizing Feng Chuxun’s cultivation as early Spiritual Phase. To challenge a Three-Eyed Savage Ape at the advanced Spiritual Phase was likely a reckless act.

Still unsatisfied, the ape stalked toward Feng Chuxun.

“Save him!”

In that instant, the decision to intervene or watch coldly was made.

At a command, all five attacked in unison—spear, sword, palm, and fist—anything to distract the savage ape.

While the others diverted its attention, He Ming drifted like a breeze to Feng Chuxun’s side, taking in his pitiful state with a silent thought: “Pathetic.”

Supporting Feng Chuxun, He Ming helped him away.

“You alright?” He asked as he settled Feng Chuxun beneath a tree.

Feng Chuxun said nothing, just shook his head slightly to indicate he was fine, though bitterness filled his heart. The Three-Eyed Savage Ape was just too powerful. He hadn’t even unleashed his full strength before being utterly crushed.

Seeing Feng Chuxun shake his head, He Ming turned back to the ongoing battle. The savage ape’s strength and thick hide made inflicting damage difficult, even with full force.

No one noticed a glimmer behind the beast.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound, then blood splattered before their eyes as the tip of a Fangtian Halberd pierced the ape’s shoulder. The beast howled in pain.

As everyone wondered who had wielded the halberd, the weapon dissolved into a point of light, vanishing completely, leaving only the bloodied wound as proof.

Feng Chuxun let out a faint laugh, seeing the halberd and knowing all was well. Yet in that laugh lingered a trace of bitterness—that was the gap in strength.

“Have you decided how to pay the price?” A faint figure emerged from the forest, holding a Fangtian Halberd glowing with golden light.

All eyes turned toward the newcomer as he approached slowly.