Killing the Li Family — The Six-Armed Giant Ape
The moment Zhang Lingxiao passed through the Void Realm passage, a wave of dizziness washed over him. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing at the edge of a pitch-black forest.
There was no one around.
Not a single Yao Beast could be seen.
He had been separated from the others.
The three great families knew very little about the Ancient Tomb Space. During the last opening, only a handful of people had survived and returned alive—but those survivors had brought back valuable information.
One of the most important discoveries was this:
Upon entering the Ancient Tomb Space, everyone would be randomly teleported.
Zhang Lingxiao stroked his chin as he surveyed his surroundings.
"No one has ever reached the true location of the Ancient Tomb… but it must be hidden somewhere within this forest."
Apart from this desolate, oppressive woodland, the space appeared completely empty. The Ancient Tomb could only exist within the forest's depths.
What worried him was the unknown—what kinds of trials and dangers lay ahead.
"It's best not to act rashly. Regrouping with the others should come first."
After a moment's thought, Zhang Lingxiao decided against venturing deeper alone. He began cautiously exploring the outskirts of the Dark Forest.
Crack.
A sudden sound echoed behind him.
"Who's there?!"
Zhang Lingxiao spun around instantly, summoning the Tianji Sword from his Storage Pouch and gripping the hilt.
"You Zhang Family trash—today is the day you die!"
A young man clad in Li Family robes charged forward, wielding a massive axe and swinging it straight at Zhang Lingxiao.
Zhang Lingxiao frowned, raising his sword as he executed Falling Leaf Swordplay, thrusting forward with precision.
Clang!
A sharp sword cry rang out.
The Li Family youth's head flew into the air, his aura instantly extinguished.
"A blind weakling," Zhang Lingxiao said coldly. "A mere Qi Wu Realm Middle Stage cultivator dares challenge me?"
He withdrew the Tianji Sword and activated the Devouring Heaven Demon Art, absorbing the man's Qi and Blood.
Even a fly's leg was still meat.
He wasn't in a rush to break through realms, but devouring Qi and Blood was excellent for strengthening his physical body.
The corpse rapidly shriveled into a dried husk.
Zhang Lingxiao retrieved the man's Storage Pouch and checked its contents, shaking his head in disdain.
"Pathetic. Only three low-grade Spirit Stones."
By comparison, Zhang Lingxiao carried over thirty low-grade Spirit Stones—earned through family support, hunting Yao Beasts, and selling their materials.
After pocketing the stones, he prepared to leave and continue searching for his clansmen.
Just then, an angry shout rang out nearby.
"Zhang Family brat! You dare ambush and kill members of my Li Family?!"
Another Li Family youth stepped forward. His cultivation was also at the Qi Wu Realm Middle Stage, but his aura was noticeably stronger—nearing the Nine Heavens.
Zhang Lingxiao spat lightly, his expression mocking.
"Strange. Why do I keep running into Li Family dogs?"
He grinned.
"I'll kill every Li Family member I see."
This was an unspoken rule.
The Zhang Family and Ma Family were allied, while both were hostile toward the Li Family. In the Ancient Tomb Space, competition meant bloodshed.
More people alive meant fewer opportunities.
Thus, all three Patriarchs had issued the same order:
Kill outsiders on sight.
Even the Dragon City Lord had tacitly approved it.
"Hmph! You're courting death!"
The Li Family youth roared, gripping his half-zhang saber and chopping down viciously.
He was confident. Unless he encountered one of the leaders, he could slaughter anyone.
After all, his true cultivation was Qi Wu Realm Nine Heavens.
Boom!
As the battle erupted, his Qi Concealment Art collapsed, and surging Spiritual Qi exploded outward.
"Oh?" Zhang Lingxiao chuckled. "So you were hiding your strength. No wonder you're so bold."
He activated Phantom Step, effortlessly dodging the saber strike.
"Falling Leaf Swordplay!"
His footsteps shifted unpredictably as the Tianji Sword thrust forward.
Sword Qi surged.
Before the blade arrived, the Falling Leaf Sword Qi pierced the air—
Whoosh!
It punched straight through the Li Family youth's heart.
Zhang Lingxiao withdrew his sword and calmly stepped forward, once again activating the Devouring Heaven Demon Art.
Boom!
His Bloodline surged violently.
His physical body strengthened yet again.
Recently, Zhang Lingxiao had been pouring massive amounts of Qi, Blood, and Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Qi into tempering his body. Even with meridians far stronger than ordinary cultivators, the burden was immense.
After this devouring, his physical strength had reached the level of Lingwu Realm Four Heavens, solidly entering the Middle Stage.
"Haha… with this physical body, I should have few rivals left in this Ancient Tomb Space."
He stripped the corpse of its Storage Pouch.
"Oh? Not bad."
Inside were healing medicinal pills, as well as grain-abstinence pills—clear signs of careful preparation.
Unfortunately, all of it now belonged to Zhang Lingxiao.
He collected the pills and seven scattered Spirit Stones.
Suddenly—
"Help! Help me!!"
A sharp female cry pierced the air.
Zhang Lingxiao stiffened, scanning his surroundings—but saw no one.
After listening closely, he realized the voice was coming from deep within the Dark Forest.
A Yao Beast's roar echoed—
—and the scream abruptly cut off.
Zhang Lingxiao's expression darkened as he fixed his gaze on the forest's edge.
"That woman dragged the Yao Beast this way…"
ROAR!
The roar was deafening.
Judging by its aura, the creature was at least Lingwu Realm Late Stage.
Trees snapped apart as a massive figure burst from the forest.
It was an ape-type Yao Beast.
Eight zhang tall.
Six arms.
Muscles bulging like forged steel.
Each step shook the ground, its fanged mouth dripping with ferocity.
Most striking of all—the three pairs of arms were colored green, brown, and gold.
"What kind of Yao Beast is this…?" Zhang Lingxiao thought, startled.
The aura it radiated was terrifying—far beyond what he should be able to contend with.
Yet suddenly—
His body froze.
His Bloodline boiled uncontrollably.
An intense, primal urge surged within him.
Fight.
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