The lush green extended endlessly across the vast, deep mountains, reaching the very edge of his vision. It resembled a boundless sea of verdant waves.
When the wild wind swept through, the forest would sway as one, and a wave of green—over a thousand feet in length—would surge forth like a tide rolling in from the horizon. The sight was so magnificent that words failed to do it justice.
Above, the sky was a clear, tranquil blue. White clouds drifted lazily, unbothered by the world below. Sunlight cascaded gently to the earth, illuminating two figures: one, a young man walking steadily through the air; the other, a small figure perched on his shoulder, calm and unshaken by the heights or winds.
The young man gazed down at the endless forest beneath him, astonishment flickering in his eyes. He hadn't expected the forest beyond the Inner Academy to be this vast.
The Chaos Spiritual Forest was but a part of it—yet due to the sheer size of this great woodland, even a place as well-known as the Chaos Spiritual Forest could only be considered a portion of the whole.
From a certain perspective, he could easily claim that the Chaos Spiritual Forest was comparable in size to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Yet, when placed beside this colossal forest, even the vast Magical Beast Mountain Range that stretched across the Jia Ma Empire seemed small in comparison.
Even the large array that was made by Xue Yue and covers the entirety of the Chaos Spiritual Forest could not hope to encompass the whole of this immense forest.
"So, where exactly did you sense the Core Quenching Body Milk?" Xiao Hua asked, casting a glance at Zi Yan, who was swinging her legs idly, clearly bored.
"It's over there," Zi Yan replied with a sigh, pointing toward a distant direction. Her voice softened, tinged with guilt and apology. "I'm sorry, Xiao Hua. I didn't know that stingy ape had a berserk bloodline ability when I told Sister Han Yue and Sister Xiao Yu…"
'Sister, huh…' Xiao Hua mused inwardly, a gentle smile forming on his lips as he looked at Zi Yan with warmth in his eyes.
Eleven days had passed since he and Zi Yan visited Chaos Gate's medicinal warehouse.
In that time, Xiao Hua had spent his days teasing Cai Lin and the Little Fairy Doctor while sending affectionate letters to Ya Fei. However, Ya Fei's reply had arrived not long ago—her words sharp, warning him that the next time they met, it would be her turn to scold him harshly. The letter brought a cold sweat to Xiao Hua's brow… and earned a round of amused giggles from the Little Fairy Doctor, Cai Lin, and even Zi Yan.
In the meantime, Zi Yan's relationship with Han Yue and Xiao Yu had gradually grown closer while Xiao Hua continued to guide the two in improving their proficiency with Dou Techniques.
To Xiao Hua, this newfound bond was a welcome development. After all, Zi Yan had spent much of her time in solitude, often bullied by other Magical Beasts. Naturally, seeing her make genuine friends brought him quiet joy.
"Don't blame yourself," Xiao Hua said gently, offering her a warm smile as he reached out to rub her small head. "The Snow Demon Sky Ape is a rare and unique Magical Beast. It's no surprise you didn't know about its bloodline berserk ability."
The Snow Demon Sky Ape possessed a wild and violent lineage. Once awakened, its fury was so intense that even a 5-Star Dou Wang might choose to avoid direct confrontation.
Han Yue and Xiao Yu hadn't truly stepped into the Dou Wang class yet. Though both were capable of contending with an ordinary Dou Wang, they were still far from being able to handle a berserk Snow Demon Sky Ape—especially one whose rage could cause even seasoned experts to falter.
"Let's go. If we delay any longer, Han Yue and Xiao Yu might be in danger." As Xiao Hua spoke, Spiritual Strength rippled from his body. With a wave of his hand, the space before him split open, revealing a crack in the void.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the spatial rift, Zi Yan still seated on his shoulder. The moment they entered, the spatial lines behind them sealed shut, and the two continued forward through the empty void.
It didn't take long before the spatial crack twisted open, and the two of them emerged from the void, reappearing high above a secluded mountain valley on the forest's edge. They hovered silently in the sky, the air still and tense beneath their feet.
Below them, two graceful figures wielding longswords danced amid the chaos, their movements sharp and swift. They were locked in fierce combat with a towering, white-furred beast. The creature stood nearly forty feet tall, its muscular frame radiating an icy aura so sharp it seemed to freeze the very air around it.
Roar!
Xiao Hua narrowed his eyes as a deafening roar tore from the beast's maw. The Snow Demon Sky Ape released a pulse of snow-white energy that surged outward like a shockwave. As it swept past, massive rocks in its path were instantly encased in frost, then shattered into glittering shards of ice.
With a savage glint in its eyes, the ape suddenly stomped the earth and vanished in a blur of speed unnatural for its size. A heartbeat later, its hulking form appeared before one of the women—Han Yue. One of its massive arms, twice the size of a human body, swung down with crushing force, claws glinting like icy blades.
Its fist, thick with killing intent, hurtled toward Han Yue's head. Judging by the momentum—and the wicked sharpness of its claws—if that blow connected, even her beautiful head would be reduced to nothing more than bloodied fragments, regardless of how refined her defenses were.
Boom!
But just as the strike descended, Han Yue shifted lightly on her feet. Her movement was graceful, flowing like drifting snow in a winter breeze. With a single elegant step, she evaded the blow effortlessly. The ape's fist slammed into the ground where she had just stood, splitting the earth with a thunderous crack.
"Foolish women. Abandon your delusions of seizing the Core Quenching Body Milk. Leave now, and I might spare your lives!" The Snow Demon Sky Ape's voice rumbled like distant thunder, its tone cold and imperious.
Unbothered by Han Yue's graceful evasion, it slowly raised its massive fist again. Then, with a low growl, it turned its enormous head, blood-red eyes locking onto Han Yue and Xiao Yu. The killing intent surging from its gaze was so intense, it felt as though even the air had frozen.
Yet the two women stood their ground.
Neither flinched. Neither faltered.
Their eyes met in silent understanding, and without a word, their Dou Qi erupted like twin storms. Power surged from their bodies in waves, shaking the air as their auras slammed forward toward the towering beast. In a flash, their figures blurred into streaks of light, charging head-on without hesitation.
Han Yue stepped into the sky with practiced grace, her figure spinning mid-air like drifting snow under moonlight. As she moved, faint ripples spread across the mountaintop, as though the very fabric of space were trembling. Behind her, an ethereal amethyst moon began to materialize—its surface glowing gently with tranquil radiance, yet exuding a suffocating, divine pressure.
She raised her white jade sword, as flawless as a sculpted crystal. In response, strands of violet moonlight began to drift from the phantom moon above, cascading down like silken threads drawn from the heavens. These glowing strands wrapped around her blade, weaving a shimmering veil of divine brilliance around it.
The once-pristine sword now radiated sacred majesty. Its edge shimmered with violet luminescence, as though reflecting the light of a god's moon.
For a brief moment, all fell silent.
Even the wind itself seemed to halt, as though the world dared not interrupt.
"Moonlit Violet Edge!"
With a calm breath, Han Yue gathered the moonlight to a single point—compressing it at the sword's tip into a luminous needle of terrifying density. Then, with a single motion, she thrust the blade forward. The violet beam that erupted from the strike was no thicker than a thread, yet its power was enough to pierce mountains.
The moment the ray flew forth, space itself trembled.
Sensing the immense threat, the Snow Demon Sky Ape's fur stood on end, its instincts screaming in alarm. Letting out a furious roar that split the sky, it unleashed a snow-white energy ripple in retaliation. The blast swept through the valley like a freezing tidal wave. Giant boulders along its path instantly froze, cracking and shattering into shards of white ice as the chilling ripple surged forth.
Chi!
A muffled, thunderous crack echoed across the valley as the amethyst moonlit ray collided head-on with the freezing blast of the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
Bang!
The clash lasted but an instant before a deep, explosive boom reverberated within the swirling fog. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the mountain walls. The Snow Demon Sky Ape's massive body suddenly lurched backward, its feet gouging deep trenches into the ground as it staggered—forced to retreat over a hundred steps before finally regaining its balance.
Pu!
A mouthful of dark blood was violently spat from its maw, splattering onto the frosted stones below.
It raised its head and glared at Han Yue with eyes like burning coals. Crimson and fierce, they were filled with hatred, disbelief, and unwillingness. That last exchange had left no doubt—it had been suppressed by Han Yue's Moonlit Violet Edge. The cold-blooded beast, born of ice and fury, had been overwhelmed by the quiet elegance of moonlight.
But before it could fully stabilize its aura, its sharp instincts flared once again.
The natural energy between Heaven and Earth stirred violently, as if responding to an overwhelming presence. In the blink of an eye, the surrounding temperature spiked. The cold, lingering frost of its previous attack began to melt, chased away by a searing heat that crackled in the air.
There, suspended mid-air, stood Xiao Yu.
Her long hair danced wildly in the wind, her eyes sharp and focused. Around her, the very air shimmered with searing intensity. Fiery-red Dou Qi surged from her body in torrents, rushing like a furious tide into the longsword gripped tightly in her hands.
The crimson energy twisted and coiled, growing ever more unstable—as though the heavens themselves were holding their breath.
Xiao Yu raised her longsword high, the blade now blazing with a fiery crimson sheen. The air around her trembled under the overwhelming pressure, as if the skies themselves recognized the sword's call.
Below, the Snow Demon Sky Ape's eyes widened in fear, its savage instincts screaming of impending danger. In the distance above, Xiao Hua and Zi Yan stood silently in the sky, watching with sharp, unwavering focus.
Then, with a cry that echoed through the mountains, Xiao Yu slashed her blade down in a fierce, commanding arc.
"Earth-Sky Rending Sword!"
In that instant, the fiery crimson sword in her hand erupted with violent force. A dark-red glow burst forth, coalescing into several dozen massive sword projections, each one seething with molten energy. They howled through the air like flaming meteors, descending with unstoppable momentum. The temperature around them spiked sharply, distorting the very air as the flames surged higher and higher.
Boom!
The moment the swords tore through the air, it was as if the atmosphere itself had been smashed open—like a still lake struck by a massive stone. Explosive ripples of force spread outward, shaking the heavens.
And then—without warning—the fiery swords plummeted like crimson lightning from the sky, bearing down on the Snow Demon Sky Ape with a terrifying, world-splitting force!
The Snow Demon Sky Ape could clearly feel the overwhelming power radiating from the descending swords. Each fiery blade carried a terrifying heat that made its fur bristle in fear. Even without direct contact, the oppressive temperature scorched the air around it.
It understood clearly—under its current condition, stopping this attack was impossible.
Having already failed to fully block Han Yue's Moonlit Violet Edge, its internal condition had been thrown into chaos. The raging energy within its body was unstable, and its foundation severely shaken. To face this rain of blazing sword light head-on would be courting death.
'To think these two seemingly weak humans possess such strength...' the Snow Demon Sky Ape thought grimly. 'In that case, I'll have to awaken my Wild Violent Bloodline. Even if I fail to kill them… I'll make sure they return half-dead!'
The Snow Demon Sky Ape understood full well—it lacked the means to slay Han Yue and Xiao Yu outright. However, once it activated its berserk bloodline, it believed it could deal them a heavy blow. Initially, it refrained from using this ability, as the aftermath would leave its strength severely depleted. But now, with no other path left, it began to summon that savage power deep within its blood.
Yet just as it was about to ignite its bloodline—
Xiao Hua appeared.
In a flash, he silently stepped between the falling swords and the wounded Magical Beast.
Ripples of Spatial Strength surged from his body. With a calm expression, he raised his hand and gently traced a line through the empty air.
Chi—!
A massive spatial line silently opened, crackling with terrifying spatial energy. Without hesitation, Xiao Hua inserted both hands into the glowing seam—and with a powerful pull, he tore the rift wide open!
A spatial crack spanning a hundred feet yawned open like the jaws of an ancient void beast, devouring the incoming rain of crimson swords in one swift gulp. The moment the final sword disappeared into the darkness, the crack sealed itself shut with a sharp hum.
The valley fell silent.
The wild, chaotic fluctuations of Heaven and Earth began to settle. The burning heat that had twisted the air slowly faded, and the sky above returned to a calm, steady hue.
"How about we stop here, Cousin Xiao Yu, Han Yue?"
As the spatial crack sealed in front of him, Xiao Hua calmly lowered his hand, letting it slip beneath his sleeve before placing it behind his back. A gentle smile curved his lips as he glanced toward the two women.
"Cousin Xiao Hua!"
"Elder Xiao Hua!"
Xiao Yu and Han Yue called out in surprise, their voices overlapping. Neither had expected Xiao Hua to appear so suddenly, let alone at this very moment. Their eyes quickly swept the surroundings, puzzled as to how he had located them.
Their gazes inevitably fell upon Zi Yan, who sat atop Xiao Hua's shoulder. Scratching the back of her head with an awkward laugh, her expression all but confirmed their suspicion.
'So, it was Sister Zi Yan…'
Xiao Hua turned his attention to the Snow Demon Sky Ape and spoke leisurely, "Snow Demon Sky Ape, rather than continue this meaningless battle, how about we strike a deal... for some Core Quenching Body Milk?"
"A deal, you say?" the Snow Demon Sky Ape rumbled, its tone low and unreadable. Its crimson eyes narrowed slightly as it swept a glance at Zi Yan.
Clearly, it had already pieced things together—this troublesome little ancestor must have been the one who brought those two terrifying young women to its doorstep.
After all, it was Zi Yan who had first discovered the location of its secret treasure. The Snow Demon Sky Ape still couldn't fathom how she managed to uncover it—but what followed was an inevitable clash between them. Naturally, it fought back. Yet, despite its pride and strength, it was thoroughly defeated… though, to its surprise, the little ancestor showed no real interest in seizing the treasure for herself.
"…What kind of deal are you proposing?"
Under normal circumstances, the Snow Demon Sky Ape wouldn't have bothered entertaining words from a human cultivator. But the aura radiating from Xiao Hua made its instincts scream with caution. This human was no ordinary foe.
If it could gain some benefit in exchange for just a few drops of Core Quenching Body Milk, there was no reason to refuse.
Xiao Hua smiled faintly. "I will offer you a Tier 7 Medicinal Pill—Body Transformation Pill—and a stalk of Chilling Goldroot Vine. The vine can enhance your physical strength and boosting your affinity to ice while greatly increase resistance to flame and heat."
His tone was calm and composed, not the least bit reluctant.
He didn't mind parting with these items. After all, they were among the many treasures he had drawn from the System's Gacha, and he still had plenty more stored away within his spatial rings.
"…Fine. I'll accept."
The Snow Demon Sky Ape was momentarily stunned by the generous offer Xiao Hua had made. It fell silent, contemplating the deal. But under Zi Yan's sharp and unmistakably threatening glare, it could only respond with a reluctant grunt, accepting the exchange with a faintly vexed expression.
In truth, there was no real loss to be had. Quite the contrary.
The Body Transformation Pill would allow it to fully take on human form, granting access to a human's training speed, while retaining the long lifespan and raw physical might of a Magical Beast.
As for the Chilling Goldroot Vine, its value was equally astounded—tempering the body, enhancing resistance to fire, and further amplifying its innate affinity for ice.
If consumed together, the two treasures would greatly elevate its cultivation foundation, pushing its future growth far beyond its current limits.
And yet, a single lingering regret remained in its heart.
It could tell—clearly—that Xiao Hua had offered those two items without the slightest sense of loss. That calm and composed smile held no trace of reluctance. In fact, the Snow Demon Sky Ape suspected the young man had far more of such treasures at his disposal. It briefly considered trying to bargain for even more…
…but Zi Yan's deathly glare silenced that thought before it could be voiced.
With a disgruntled snort, the ape suppressed its frustration. What was the point in brooding? In the end, it still profited greatly. Better to accept the gains than dwell on what could not be changed.
Xiao Hua gave a faint nod before approaching Xiao Yu and Han Yue, who were still stunned, momentarily at a loss for words. With a gentle smile, he asked, "What about you two? Would you like to come along?"
Han Yue paused in thought, then exchanged a glance with Xiao Yu. A faint, resigned smile curved on her lips. Turning back to Xiao Hua, she spoke softly, "After unleashing the Moonlit Violet Edge, my Dou Qi has been nearly drained. I believe Junior Sister Xiao Yu is in the same condition."
Xiao Yu nodded in agreement, her smile weary. "That's right. The Earth-Sky Rending Sword consumed a great deal of my Dou Qi. We've overexerted ourselves and need time to recover. We'll return to rest."
"That's a pity," Xiao Hua said with a nod, making no attempt to persuade them otherwise. He could tell from their pale faces that it wasn't just exhaustion—they had sustained minor internal injuries during their clash with the Snow Demon Sky Ape.
He smiled gently and added, "You needn't concern yourselves with the Core Quenching Body Milk. It holds little value to me—I only sought it for your sakes."
"Thank you, Elder Xiao Hua/Cousin Xiao Hua…"
Han Yue and Xiao Yu smiled warmly. Though their faces were pale, their eyes shimmered with gratitude. They bowed slightly, then turned and made their way back toward the wooden cabin within Chaos Gate, their steps light but dignified.
Xiao Hua watched as the two departed, their figures gradually fading into the distance. Only then did he shift his gaze back to the Snow Demon Sky Ape. With a faint smile, he said calmly, "Shall we go, then?"
The Snow Demon Sky Ape didn't reply, merely let out a displeased snort. Though reluctance simmered in its chest, it could only suppress its resentment and accept the reality—it had no choice but to part with some of the Core Quenching Body Milk.
Its crimson eyes swept toward the little girl perched silently on Xiao Hua's shoulder. The moment their gazes met, Zi Yan offered no words, only a frosty glare that sent a chill down the beast's spine. A shudder ran through its massive body as memories surged forth—of being thrashed so thoroughly that it couldn't even distinguish up from down.
The Snow Demon Sky Ape had long since accepted it: the moment it crossed paths with this terrifying little ancestor, its fate had taken a truly miserable turn…
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