Chapter 160: Great Battle with the Demon Monkey (Part 1)

The days that followed.

Wangyue Island returned to its usual tranquility.

Qin Ming gathered all the materials, cleared some time, and began a new round of brewing; following the steps in the Wine Immortal's Divine Formula, he combined the spiritual ingredients, placed them in a specially crafted steamer, used the Soul-Devouring Poison Flame to heat and distill them, and after two days and two nights, brewed over a dozen jars of Bai Yulin Wine.

He then stored them underground beneath the Purple Gold Bamboo Grove.

……

In addition, Qin Ming had recently fed one demonic core each to the Xuan Shui Eel and the Yin Yi Shuangfeng.

After all, these were their spoils of war.

One day.

Qin Ming was sitting beneath the Dragon Blood Divine Tree at the entrance of his cave, gently sipping tea while holding the puppetry jade slip, when suddenly his expression shifted and a smile appeared on his face.

"After feeding you so many rare treasures, you're finally about to break through!"

"Excellent, excellent!"

The Xuan Shui Eel had just sent him a mental message: the demonic core it had swallowed was nearly digested, and it was now ready to break through to Second Stage Mid-Level Demon Beast.

Qin Ming immediately flew to the cave dug by the Xuan Shui Eel to guard it.

Boom! The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged into the Xuan Shui Eel's body like a dam breaking.

This continued for several hours, and the Xuan Shui Eel's aura steadily rose.

It kept its eyes tightly shut as its demonic power circulated nonstop through its limbs and bones.

Finally, its body trembled violently, and a powerful aura radiated outward.

Its scales changed color, shifting from purple-gold to dark gold, streaked with a thread of crimson; its massive body grew even larger, and explosive power churned and brewed within it.

The Xuan Shui Eel slowly opened its vertical pupils, exuding an air of supreme dominance over all demons, radiating terrifying ferocity!

At this point, the Xuan Shui Eel could likely stand a chance against a Second Stage Late-Level Demon Beast.

When the Xuan Shui Eel's breakthrough ended, the gathered spiritual energy around it gradually dispersed.

It shrank its form, crawled up to Qin Ming's side, and proudly lifted its head.

"This heavenly bloodline truly is extraordinary—its cultivation speed is incredible," Qin Ming patted the Xuan Shui Eel's head.

To be honest, he was even a little envious of this thing.

He then went to check on the Yin Yi Shuangfeng and found it still asleep.

Although the Yin Yi Shuangfeng had not yet broken through, another demonic flower had bloomed on the Longevity Vine; for it, reaching Second Stage Mid-Level was merely a matter of time.

Outside the spiritual island, after Wu Jiang had spent this time gathering intelligence.

Qin Ming learned that after the Qianye Island incident, the Immortal Realm situation in the spiritual energy Archipelago had become extremely tense.

"Lei Yuanzong took a heavy blow this time—not only did it lose a Third Stage spiritual vein, but also an affiliated clan," Qin Ming remarked calmly while drinking Shen Shen Cha by the lake.

Wu Jiang sipped his spiritual tea, savoring it deeply, then said: "Exactly! Daoist Friend Qin is right—especially after that demon-monger Zhao Wuyang escaped, everyone's on edge, and it's become a thorn in Lei Yuanzong's side."

"I also heard the beasts in the Beast Roar Mountains have recently begun acting strangely."

"It seems not just the Demon Monkey lineage is stirring—other beasts are restless too."

"It's said Yunze Xiancheng has specially formed a Beast Defense Force for this reason."

"Given all these complex factors, even the previously hostile relationship between Lingyu Men and Lei Yuanzong has noticeably eased."

"Ah! How quickly the situation changes!"

Qin Ming nodded. "Hmm, things have been unsettled lately. Better to be cautious."

"By the way, how are your two children doing in Lei Yuanzong?" Qin Ming asked, remembering the matter.

At this, Wu Jiang's face fell, and he sighed: "Alas—I never imagined the struggle between Lei Yuanzong and Lingyu Men had reached the point of mutual annihilation."

"Wang Yue and Wu Wangfeng are doing alright—they're being heavily valued and cultivated by the sect."

"But I don't know what will happen to them in the future. If I'd known this, I'd regret sending them into Lei Yuanzong so early—it was truly ill-advised."

Qin Ming comforted him: "Daoist Friend Wu, don't worry too much—the current situation still hasn't determined who will win or lose."

"I hope so," Wu Jiang said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Two more days passed.

Peaceful days are always rare.

Today, an unwelcome guest arrived at Wangyue Lake.

Qin Ming was in seclusion within his cave, cultivating.

Suddenly!

He snapped open his eyes and sent out a powerful spiritual sense toward five li beyond Wangyue Island.

The Xuan Shui Eel and the Yin Yi Shuangfeng also flew out of their nests, appearing as if facing a dire enemy.

Qin Ming's spiritual sense landed on the figure racing toward Wangyue Island—he drew in a sharp breath. "The Twin-Pupil Demon Monkey!"

Yet now, this fiend was covered in bruises and blood, clearly badly wounded, and its aura had dropped from Second Stage Peak to Second Stage Late-Level.

Even so, Qin Ming's entire body tensed, his expression grave.

"With the mist illusion realm blocking it—equivalent to a Third Stage formation—surely it can't get in?"

As he spoke, Qin Ming summoned both beasts to his side and swiftly sent a message talisman to Wu Jiang.

"Something major may happen on the island soon—take your clan and hide. Don't come out."

Below the island, Wu Jiang, who had been hoeing the spiritual fields with grunts and groans, received the message talisman, opened it, and immediately turned pale!

"Quick! Something major's happening—hide yourselves!"

……

Outside Wangyue Island.

The Twin-Pupil Demon Monkey panted heavily, its strange twin pupils glancing at the pink mist shrouding Wangyue Island, then back behind it.

Without further hesitation, it unleashed its innate bloodline divine ability, "Law-Breaking Double Pupils," and leaped straight into the mist.

Two beams of divine light suddenly erupted from the Demon Ape's eyes; the misty illusion realm, comparable to a third-grade great formation, proved utterly ineffective against it!

"It breaks laws, and it breaks illusions too!"

Qin Ming saw the Demon Ape charge in without any scruples, heading specifically toward the rear mountain of the main peak.

With a calm expression, he conveyed a thought to his two spirit pets: "Prepare for battle!"

"If it's only at the late second stage... then perhaps we can clash with it."

Had this been the Double-Pupiled Demon Ape in its prime, Qin Ming would certainly have abandoned the Wu family members and fled first.

He could only hope they sought their own fortune.

But now, the situation was different.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Immediately after, Qin Ming, accompanied by his two spirit pets, flew toward the rear mountain of the main peak, standing in strict formation and awaiting the enemy.

Mere half an incense stick later, a massive black shadow appeared before Qin Ming's eyes.

The moment the Double-Pupiled Demon Ape pierced through the misty illusion realm, it sensed the one human and two beasts appearing ahead of it.

It couldn't help but reveal a look of shock and suspicion, never expecting another hidden paradise to exist here, complete with cultivators residing within.

Its gaze fell upon the human in the center; seeing he was merely at the early Foundation Establishment stage, it immediately displayed an expression of disdain.

In the past, it could have casually crushed several human cultivators of such cultivation with a flick of its hand.

What was even more detestable was that the opponent actually dared to enslave demonic beasts; this was one of the primary reasons demonic beasts like themselves hated humans the most.

Roar! Upon spotting the human cultivator, the Double-Pupiled Demon Ape immediately let out a roar toward the sky, swung its heavy fists, and charged straight at Qin Ming!

Qin Ming did not flinch either; brimming with fighting spirit, he erupted with vital energy and true force, causing a colossal blood-colored ape phantom to float behind him, where five fingers joined to form a fist that crossed dozens of zhang to meet the Demon Ape head-on!

(End of Chapter)