Twenty-Six Killing Swords and the Six-Armed Giant Ape
Zhang Lingxiao took a large step forward, his battle intent surging skyward.
At that moment, it was as if he had become a completely different person. His body moved on instinct alone, an overwhelming aura erupting from him, fierce and unrestrained.
"Run!"
A clear, urgent shout rang out.
"This is a descendant of the Six-Armed Divine Ape. Although its cultivation is only at the Lingwu Realm Late Stage, its physical body is terrifyingly strong. Its true combat strength rivals that of the Xuanwu Realm. You are no match for it!"
Gu Yue Ningbing suddenly appeared beside him, her voice sharp with alarm.
Zhang Lingxiao's body shuddered violently. His mind cleared in an instant, cold sweat soaking his back as lingering fear surged up from his heart.
"What just happened to me?" Zhang Lingxiao was stunned. "Why did I suddenly feel an uncontrollable urge to fight it?"
Even though his physical body had already reached the Lingwu Realm Middle Stage, facing an eight-zhang-tall Six-Armed Giant Ape was no different from smashing an egg against a mountain.
"Don't think about that now—run for your life!" Gu Yue Ningbing urged. "In this Ancient Tomb Space, my soul is under heavy suppression. I can't help you at all!"
If Zhang Lingxiao died here, she would lose her final hope of revival.
At the same time, the Six-Armed Giant Ape's massive eyes locked onto the tiny human before it.
"Roar! Food! Tender… tender food!"
The ape pounded its chest violently, letting out an earth-shaking roar. Its fangs jutted out from its gaping maw, savage and terrifying.
Worse still, when it saw Zhang Lingxiao's fair skin, saliva began to drip from the corner of its mouth.
"Can it speak?!"
Zhang Lingxiao's scalp tingled. A Yao Beast at the Lingwu Realm Late Stage that had already awakened intelligence was exceedingly rare—and exceedingly dangerous.
Seeing the enormous palm descending toward him, Zhang Lingxiao no longer hesitated. He activated Phantom Step and fled at full speed.
"Roar! Don't run! Tender meat—I want to eat!"
The Six-Armed Giant Ape roared furiously, its massive footsteps shaking the ground as it chased after Zhang Lingxiao.
The Ancient Tomb Space was a land of desolation. The ground was cracked and scarred, the sky dyed a deep crimson as if soaked in blood. Aside from the Dark Forest at the center, there was not a single blade of grass in sight. Rock fragments littered the uneven terrain.
Zhang Lingxiao sprinted desperately, Phantom Step flickering beneath his feet as he glanced back repeatedly.
Though the Giant Ape appeared slow, its eight-zhang body allowed each step to cover an astonishing distance. It never fell behind.
"Damn it—what rotten luck!"
Zhang Lingxiao cursed inwardly. This couldn't continue forever. Once his Spiritual Qi ran dry, he would be doomed.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
Several human figures appeared in the distance.
Judging by their attire, they were young Martial Artists from the City Lord's Mansion.
Compared to the three great families, the City Lord's Mansion always produced elites with higher average cultivation.
This group numbered around twenty people, both men and women, each at the Qi Wu Realm Late Stage. Standing together, they formed an imposing force.
After entering the Ancient Tomb Space, teleportation points were random and scattered. For them to gather so quickly meant they possessed some special method—but Zhang Lingxiao had no time to dwell on that.
An idea flashed through his mind.
He immediately changed direction and rushed toward them.
With so many Martial Artists present, leading the Giant Ape over should make it abandon its pursuit of him.
"Big brothers and sisters—save me!"
Zhang Lingxiao shouted shamelessly, afraid they might miss him entirely.
The Six-Armed Giant Ape was impossible to ignore. The City Lord's Mansion Martial Artists, who had been moving in the opposite direction, froze when they heard the shout and turned around.
"By the heavens! What kind of Yao Beast is that? It's taller than a tower!"
"What a massive ape! If we kill it, we'll strike it rich. It might even have formed a Yao Core!"
Yao Cores were crystallized cores within powerful Yao Beasts. Like Spirit Stones, they contained immense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but also violent blood Qi that required careful refinement. Absorbing one directly could easily lead to Qi Deviation.
"Are you insane?" a voluptuous female Martial Artist cried out in terror. "Its realm is unfathomable! Even all of us together wouldn't be enough. Run!"
"What's there to fear?" a male Martial Artist who seemed to be the leader said coldly. "We've gathered twenty-eight people. That's enough to activate the formation the Dragon City Lord bestowed upon us. It's more than sufficient to deal with this foolish ape!"
"Good! Let's try!"
The others echoed in agreement. Even the female Martial Artist hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly.
They hadn't entered the Ancient Tomb Space to return empty-handed. Rare resources—and rare Yao Beasts—were worth risking their lives for.
"Roar!"
The Six-Armed Giant Ape let out an excited roar as it noticed the group. Ignoring Zhang Lingxiao entirely, it crossed its six arms, pounded its chest, and charged straight toward the City Lord's Mansion Martial Artists.
Zhang Lingxiao was overjoyed. He immediately activated Phantom Step and retreated in the opposite direction.
After running some distance, he stopped behind a small mound and peeked out.
"They're actually planning to hunt it?"
He saw the City Lord's Mansion Martial Artists spreading out in a precise pattern. Each of them pulled out a small sword from their bosom and thrust it into the ground beneath their feet.
Their positions were extremely peculiar.
Zhang Lingxiao narrowed his eyes.
"A sword formation?"
The small swords were identical—no longer than a finger, forged from an unknown metal, each engraved with profound and identical runes.
Zhang Lingxiao couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"As expected of the City Lord's Mansion. Directly governed by the Imperial Family… even sword formations are casually deployed."
His guess was correct.
This sword formation had been personally bestowed by the Human Emperor of Tianhuo Country upon the Dragon City Lord when he was appointed to govern Qingyun Town. Similar formations were granted to City Lords across the realm to defend against external threats.
Buzz!
As the Martial Artists circulated their Spiritual Qi and drew in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of the Ancient Tomb Space, the small swords embedded in the ground began to hum violently.
Their blades trembled, resonating as one.
"Is it starting?" Zhang Lingxiao murmured. "Can that Giant Ape withstand even a single strike?"
He didn't care who won. Ideally, both sides would suffer grievous losses—leaving him to reap the benefits.
Zheng!
A clear sword cry rang out.
At the center of the formation, a colossal illusory sword condensed from Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi took shape.
Five to six zhang in length, its presence was overwhelming. The sword body was etched with the same profound runes as the small swords below, radiating an intense killing intent.
"Roar!"
The Six-Armed Giant Ape roared again, a distinctly human-like expression of disdain flashing across its face.
Its middle pair of arms suddenly clamped together before its chest, erupting with dazzling yellow light.
Moments later, its fur stiffened.
As the light faded, its massive body began to petrify.
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