Chapter 114: Even More Shameless

“Was that attack just now his doing?”

As the five caught sight of Shen Qingyun’s face, their hearts trembled with his every step. One strike was enough to break through the Three-Eyed Savage Ape’s defenses and wound it.

Yet when they sensed the aura radiating from Shen Qingyun’s body, shock and disbelief struck them like thunder, freezing their expressions in place.

“Foundation Establishment stage? Impossible!”

They could no longer maintain their composure. All five were High Spirit Phase cultivators who had barely managed to injure the Three-Eyed Savage Ape despite exerting their full strength. And Shen Qingyun’s aura was only Foundation Establishment level. Except for the unusual energy emanating from the golden Fangtian Huaji spear he held, Shen Qingyun was a bona fide Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Was the Foundation Establishment stage really this powerful? How had they never known?

“You seem quite dissatisfied, little ape,” Shen Qingyun said, holding the Fangtian Huaji spear as he looked at the Three-Eyed Savage Ape.

The beast’s eyes flashed with disdain. It had already seen that Shen Qingyun was merely Foundation Establishment, and the earlier wound was pure luck.

“Little ape?” The group exchanged strange glances—how was it little?

“If you’re not convinced, then I’ll have to make you submit,” Shen Qingyun said with a confident smile.

“Your friend?” Heming glanced at Feng Chuxun.

Feng Chuxun said nothing, only nodding.

“Your friend is crazier than you.” Heming gave a thumbs-up. Indeed, Feng Chuxun, a Low Spirit Phase cultivator, had dared to face a High Spirit Phase Three-Eyed Savage Ape. Though he lost, they were at least on equal footing.

Now Shen Qingyun, still Foundation Establishment, dared to challenge again. Either madness or sheer folly.

This time Feng Chuxun only smiled faintly and looked at Shen Qingyun, softly saying, “I think so too.”

“Everyone step back, so you don’t get accidentally hurt,” Shen Qingyun told the four who were closest to the beast.

The four stared at him in disbelief; Shen Qingyun was shameless, speaking so boldly at early Foundation Establishment.

Without another word, Shen Qingyun’s spear gleamed brilliantly. In an instant, its power surged, and with a flash of light, he charged at the Three-Eyed Savage Ape.

The beast swung its fist to meet him, but compared to before, its punch was much weaker. Clearly, it still underestimated Shen Qingyun, believing a Foundation Establishment cultivator could not harm it.

Shen Qingyun’s body blurred for a moment, unnoticed by anyone. The beast’s fist struck the spear, shattering it like dry twigs. The Three-Eyed Savage Ape seemed unhindered and lunged at Shen Qingyun’s body.

Its fist slammed down with a thunderous crash. It was supposed to hit Shen Qingyun, but just like the spear, it passed through. The speed was so fast it appeared as if Shen Qingyun had been blasted away by a single blow.

“This...” Heming and the others were stunned, too slow to react.

Feng Chuxun’s eyes widened in disbelief. Could Shen Qingyun really have been so easily defeated?

Heming sighed, patting Feng Chuxun’s shoulder, “My condolences.” Seeing Feng Chuxun silent, he assumed grief.

Yet in his mind’s eye, the scene replayed in slow motion, every detail scrutinized.

Then he noticed something was off...

At that moment, a faint voice sounded behind the Three-Eyed Savage Ape: “You seemed awfully proud when you thought you hit me.”

The beast paused, then spun around to see Shen Qingyun standing behind it with a calm smile, showing no sign of injury.

Heming and the others’ eyes widened in disbelief. Heming rubbed his eyes, exclaiming, “Am I seeing ghosts?”

Feng Chuxun explained, “He dodged before the fist landed.”

Heming turned to him, “But we saw him get hit.”

“That was just an illusion,” Feng Chuxun replied with a faint smile.

At that moment, the golden glow of the Fangtian Huaji reignited as Shen Qingyun thrust it forward.

Startled, the massive beast moved swiftly to evade.

Landing atop a tree, it looked down at Shen Qingyun with an expression that seemed almost like a smile.

Its third eye, furrowed tight until now, slowly opened. The black pupil resembled a void, pulling at one’s very soul.

Seeing this, Heming and the others paled. They hadn’t expected the beast to reveal its third eye so soon!

“Fall back!” the one who had given orders shouted.

The moment the third eye opened, a doomsday aura radiated, a black beam spreading, casting a dim shadow over everything.

Heming’s group felt as if time itself slowed under its gaze.

This was the Three-Eyed Savage Ape’s most formidable ability, capable of turning an area into its domain where all movement slowed—even time itself.

Yet the third eye was also a prized artifact for forging, fetching a high price due to its lethal power.

Shen Qingyun knew this well but felt no fear. Just as there is no absolute sharpest spear or toughest shield in the world, once one’s strength surpasses a certain threshold, nothing can stand in the way.

“Foolish human, taste despair. I won’t kill you outright. I’ll shatter your bones inch by inch, making your life a living hell before ending it!” the Three-Eyed Savage Ape hissed, its eyes bloodthirsty.

That the beast could speak depended on its will. It had been silent before, but now, after Shen Qingyun’s display, it no longer underestimated him.

Seeing the calm in Shen Qingyun’s eyes, it sneered, “Feigning composure. In my domain, unless you have the strength to break free, you can only await death.”

Here, speed was meaningless.

The Three-Eyed Savage Ape leapt down and slowly approached Shen Qingyun.

“Do you think you’ve already won?”

Shen Qingyun’s sudden words made the beast tense, wary as if facing a deadly enemy.

He met its gaze without moving, speaking as if unaffected: “Your ability is troublesome, but if you think this ends here, you’re gravely mistaken!”

Within the beast’s domain, everything grew eerily quiet, almost as if this were Shen Qingyun’s territory. The beast sized him up, finding it hard to read him.

“I’m wrong? Then prove it by moving!” the beast snarled.

“If I move just because you say so, won’t I lose face?” Shen Qingyun replied.

“You said I was wrong. Prove it!” the beast growled.

After a pause, it added, “Or are you really too weak to move, just bluffing?”

“If I’m bluffing, then come closer,” Shen Qingyun smiled faintly.

“If I come over, I’ll lose face,” the beast retorted, twisting Shen Qingyun’s words.

“Then come here,” Shen Qingyun challenged.

“You move first!” the beast demanded.

Shen Qingyun withdrew his gaze, clicking his tongue. This beast was hard to figure—smart or foolish, it just wouldn’t bite.

Nearby, Feng Chuxun showed no change but seemed to be stifling a laugh. He probably hadn’t witnessed such theatrics between human and beast before.

Shen Qingyun’s confidence was the reason he felt no fear.

Seeing Shen Qingyun close his eyes and frown, the beast’s expression turned bloodthirsty.

“See? You haven’t broken free from my domain!”

Hearing this, Shen Qingyun opened his eyes as the beast lunged. He thought, “Finally.”

“Die!”

The beast decided to kill him outright—Shen Qingyun was too strange.

At that moment, the Fangtian Huaji flew from Shen Qingyun’s hand, soaring straight at the beast.

Golden light burst forth as the beast’s fist slammed into it. This time, the spear wasn’t shattered but rang with metallic clangs.

The spear was knocked away, flipped in midair, and reoriented to strike again.

The beast clenched its teeth. That clash hadn’t been a complete overpowering; the spear had broken through its defense, meaning it was injured!

Yet the spear’s momentum remained undiminished.

Clang...

Clang...

Clang...

...

“What kind of weapon can act on its own like this?” the beast thought in alarm. Each time it knocked the spear away, it came back again.

It was as if the spear had a will of its own, or invisible hands guiding it—otherwise, it couldn’t remain so vigorous after being blasted repeatedly.

Feeling pain in its hand, the beast’s gaze flickered. The spear showed no signs of wear, but it did.

It couldn’t go on like this forever.

At this point, it couldn’t kill Shen Qingyun.

After knocking the spear away once more, the beast stepped back and stared at Shen Qingyun.

“You little Foundation Establishment cultivator, I don’t even consider you worth killing. I’ll spare your life for now. Come find me again when you reach Spirit Phase, and then we’ll settle this for good!”

With that, the beast shook off the spear’s assault, leapt onto the trees, and disappeared from sight within moments.

With the beast gone, its domain faded, and everyone returned to normal.

Heming and the others approached, looking toward where the beast had fled.

“Waiting until Spirit Phase to come back—that’s even more shameless. If you lose, just admit it,” Heming remarked.

Though their bodies had been restrained, their vision remained clear.

“Brother, you’re amazing!” Heming, always quick to make friends, extended his hand to Shen Qingyun. “Nice to meet you, I’m Heming.”