Chapter 174: Transformation! The Demon Ape Descends

In the sky, the seventy-two-island Alliance's fleet of magic ships once again charged toward Thousand Leaf Spirit Island.

Deafening battle cries and the thunderous roar of magic ship cannons echoed across the spiritual energy Archipelago.

Even on Moonwatch Island, far away in the far north, the sounds of war—like heaven cracking and seas roaring—could faintly be heard.

The Wu family cultivators tending fields on the spirit island naturally sensed the disturbance, all gazing outward, their hearts trembling with fear.

Wu Jiang frowned tightly, pacing anxiously back and forth inside his wooden hut.

His father, Wu Hanyuan, wore a face full of worry, fearing the flames of war might reach them at any moment.

"Sigh! Jiang'er, stop pacing—you're making me dizzy," Wu Hanyuan sighed.

He hesitated, then continued: "Why not send a few clan members out to scout what's really happening out there?"

"Not knowing anything makes me feel uneasy!"

Wu Jiang stopped, hesitating: "But Qin Daoist told me to stay inside for now, to avoid trouble."

"Then go ask Qin Daoist for his advice and see what he says."

"Alright."

To be honest, Wu Jiang was also deeply anxious—after all, clashes between major powers were no joke.

Though Moonwatch Island had many safeguards, he still couldn't feel secure.

So he went up to the main peak and sent a message talisman to Qin Ming inside.

A few breaths later, the defensive array opened a gap, and Wu Jiang stepped inside.

But the sight within left him stunned.

There sat Qin Ming, calm and composed, on a stone bench outside the cave, sipping tea and studying a book.

He looked as steady as an old dog, utterly unfazed.

'At a time like this, how can Qin Daoist still have the nerve to drink tea and read?' Wu Jiang thought inwardly, but dared not show it.

Qin Ming, seeing him arrive, asked calmly: "Wu Daoist, what brings you here?"

"Ahem! Qin Daoist, you must've heard the commotion outside—this battle is no small matter. Shouldn't I send some men out to scout from afar?" Wu Jiang asked.

Qin Ming fell silent for a moment; he had no concern for Moonwatch Island's safety.

Still, he knew information couldn't be too isolated—he needed at least some grasp of the outside situation.

He stood up and said to Wu Jiang: "Since you're uneasy, sending a few to scout isn't unreasonable."

"But the battlefield outside is surely brutal—any misstep could mean death and dissolution."

"Wu Daoist, proceed with utmost caution."

"Notify me immediately if you learn anything new."

"If things turn dire, return to the island—here, at least, you're safe."

After speaking, Qin Ming pulled two defensive magic treasures and several life-saving talismans from an unknown cultivator's storage pouch and handed them to Wu Jiang.

"Thank you, Qin Daoist!"

"I'll gather men and set out at once."

Wu Jiang accepted the life-saving items with deep gratitude and hurriedly took his leave.

He immediately assembled several Wu family Qi Refining late-stage cultivators and departed Moonwatch Island to scout.

Qin Ming watched Wu Jiang and the others depart; since they were acting on his behalf and the mission was perilous, giving them a few magic treasures and talismans for protection was only proper.

He had considered advising Wu Jiang against it, but held back—Wu's family knew nothing of the outside situation and likely couldn't sleep soundly on the island.

…

Only half a day had passed.

News from Wu Jiang began arriving in succession.

"Qin Daoist, as expected—the battle outside is horrific."

"This time, Zhao Family on Thousand Leaf Spirit Island is finished."

"The Alliance's united forces have shattered the third-rank great array of Thousand Leaf Spirit Island."

"They're now storming inward, and many opportunistic cultivators are joining the looting."

"Zhao Family's pseudo-Jin Dan ancestor, Zhao Wuyang, is being held off by two other pseudo-Jin Dan ancestors from rival factions—Spirit Feather Gate can't save Zhao anymore." Qin Ming, hearing this, fell into thought—the two other pseudo-Jin Dan ancestors must be allied with Lei Yuanzong.

'So Zhao Family's fate is sealed.'

As time passed, Wu Jiang's reports kept coming.

All were tales of Zhao Family's collapse—mere last-ditch resistance now.

The family's destruction was merely a matter of time.

The once-deafening clamor from outside gradually faded.

Just as Qin Ming assumed the Seventy-Two Island Alliance would soon crush Thousand Leaf Spirit Island—

Wu Jiang returned to Moonwatch Island, pale-faced and frantic.

Without pause, he rushed straight to Qin Ming.

He stammered out a far more shocking piece of news.

"Q-Qin Daoist, an emergency has occurred."

"Just moments ago, as the Alliance was about to wipe out Zhao Family on Thousand Leaf Spirit Island—

"The Alliance's rear was struck by a sudden catastrophe: after Mu Family, two more Spirit Island Foundation Establishment clans were slaughtered!"

"Even their Foundation Establishment late-stage ancestors didn't survive—their bodies were found with hearts and lungs torn out, in the most gruesome state."

Qin Ming, hearing this, could no longer remain calm: "What? Three clans wiped out in succession—what's going on?"

"Any leads on the killer?"

Wu Jiang swallowed hard, then nodded: "Many cultivators nearby witnessed both incidents."

"The perpetrator isn't a human cultivator."

"It's an ancient great demon beast from the Beast Roar Mountains—the Twin-Pupiled Demon Ape."

"It's said this monster has reached the peak of second-rank, just one step away from ascending to third-rank demon king."

"Its power is immense—it can even fight Jin Dan ancestors head-on."

"Witnesses claim the two Foundation Establishment late-stage ancestors died instantly, unable to withstand even a single punch from the demon ape."

"..."

Qin Ming, hearing this, felt a chill in his chest—he suddenly had a terrifying suspicion and quickly asked: "This demon beast didn't attack those three clans randomly, did it?"

"Qin Daoist, how did you know?" Wu Jiang exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right! According to what I learned, Mu Family's ancestor and several others once joined forces in the Beast Roar Mountains to kill a second-rank mid-stage White-Armed White Ape."

"That ape was the only offspring of this Twin-Pupiled Demon Ape."

"This demon ape is targeting those three clans to avenge its child."

"Mu Family and the other two had no idea another demon ape was hiding deep in the mountains, quietly breaking through to second-rank peak."

Qin Ming: "..."

!!!

After hearing this, Qin Ming was drenched in sweat—how could this be?

The white-armed white ape's essence had already been consumed and refined by him—could this ancient demon beast come after him? Though the Mist Illusion Realm blocked spiritual sense, the Twin-Pupiled Demon Ape had precisely located three Foundation Establishment clans from thousands of li away—it clearly possessed some special secret technique.

'Damn it.'

'I won't leave the island until I reach Jin Dan!'

Qin Ming hadn't expected to be entangled with such a terrifying entity.

"What happened after?"

Seeing Qin Ming's usually calm expression now strained, Wu Jiang answered: "The demon ape rampaged through the Alliance's rear, unstoppable—its forces suffered heavy losses."

"The Alliance had to divert part of its army to defend its rear; two pseudo-Jin Dan ancestors abandoned their pursuit of Zhao Wuyang and were forced to retreat."

"Some of Zhao Family's core descendants managed to escape through the chaos."

Qin Ming sighed: "Zhao Family really has luck—still alive after all that."

(End of Chapter)