On the other side…
Yueshi marveled at the scene before his eyes. More than a hundred apes roared madly toward the heavens, showcasing their intense fury and anger at the presence of the newcomers.
It was like watching a legion of white-furred monsters prepared to march and destroy anything on their path. Just their roars alone were enough to shake heavens and earth, scaring most enemies into retreat.
However, such a thing would not scary him – not after the beast horde. Right now what he saw was an opportunity to make money; they had killed a few beasts on their way here, but this time he would reap much more.
He was not really worried – the group had asked for help merely to increase their chances, and they already had a plan to deal with the Ape King.
Above all, Yueshi and Yuan Yue were also at the fourth stage, and if something happened they could deal with it – through the rest of the group did not know of that.
Because he did not want to draw attention, Yueshi had hidden the fact he had already advanced to the fourth stage. There was no need to let others know and be prepared for it, after all.
That aside, the group soon lunged forward. They had a total of eleven people, and two of them would take care of the Ape King – Yu Hai, and the most boisterous and shameless of the bunch, You Ping.
The first was at the late-phase of the fourth stage, while the latter at the middle-phase.
And although their power lacked in comparison to the Ape King's fifth stage, late-phase, they had weapons and talismans with them. Thanks to that, they would be able to deal with him, even if it would take some time.
Meanwhile, the others had to take care of the remaining apes, so that they wouldn't interfere in the main battle.
Just as the group stepped forth, the madly roaring creatures decided to move too.
Some moved with their four members on the ground, while others ran like humans; there were even a few carrying weapons that they stole from past invaders.
Apes were amongst the most intelligent races of beasts, and some of them had trained in martial arts over time – though their accomplishments were lacking.
Meanwhile, the Ape King watched from over the mountain, its eyes locked in the leader of the other party – Yu Hai.
It was as if even from a certain distance the two were fighting against the other, none of the two moving, but keeping the other in place.
You Ping stood to the side too, though the Ape King seemed to ignore him.
Coming back to Yueshi, he was no more the inexperienced youth from a while back. Even during the beast horde mission, he was still a greenhorn, despite his contributions being high.
However, over the past month, he had fought again and again against phantoms of the past and improved a lot in the process.
The most important thing was that he was slowly perfecting his understanding of his spear arts and improved it even more, although he was still unable to walk another step forward.
Those changes were clearly shown when his spear flashed forward in a vicious and deadly thrust.
Martial arts were different from Cultivation Techniques that could be taught and learned with some effort.
Martial arts were about one's comprehension of their own style, of the image they had about it. Mu Qiang wanted his spear to be a heavens reaching mountain, and Yueshi aimed for a road that cut through the heavens.
Right now, for the first time, that image seemed to faintly come to life. It was as if his spear was suppressing the world around it just from being there – it was overbearing and powerful, telling the world that anything that stood in its path would be obliterated.
And so they were.
The spear pierced through the first ape with ease, making a gaping hole on its chest and sending blood splashing backward; however, the intense power behind it meant the attack had not ended.
Before those behind the first ape could react, some sort of immaterial energy surged toward them, blasting toward their bodies.
As a result of the blast of energy, another two monkeys died, while three ended severely injured – losing an arm or leg.
They were obviously amongst the weakest ones, still, achieving such a result with an average attack that went to show Yueshi's progress during the last month.
Obviously, Yueshi wasn't the only one that had progressed.
While his spear arts walked the path of a tyrant that suppressed the heavens, Yuan Yue's fist arts were free and unfettered, like a divine immortal that roamed unconcerned through the heavens.
She moved around freely, with steady but fast movements; her punches and palm-strikes generating airwaves that would hurt the apes around or make them retreat.
Yet, no matter how many times the beasts tried to encircle her, with jumps and somersaults – as if she was dancing – she would get away easily and without any worries.
Her battle instincts were amongst the best, and she had a talent for combat that others could never match. Even if her understanding of martial arts was lacking, she could easily compare with someone that had attained the first realm.
Unfortunately, things would not remain as easy forever. The small fly soon started to avoid the two, and stronger apes came charging in. They were not just stronger, but more intelligent too.
Some wielded weapons like swords and sabers, and there even a few gorilla-like apes wearing thick armors.
They were unable to use the arrays inscribed in the pieces of equipment, however, they were still dangerous.
The most problematic thing was that, before fighting, they had smeared their own blood in the weapons – a cut would be enough to poison their enemies.
Suddenly, a heavens shaking roar echoed through the region. Yueshi did not divert his eyes, however.
The roar was merely a signal that the Frostbite Ape King could not hold himself back anymore – and how could he, when his kin were being slaughtered?
However, fighting against him was not Yueshi's mission, and he would only do so if Yu Hai and You Ping could not. Yuan Yue was of the same thought – taking care of the Ape King would give them more points, but it would also take more time.
Unless the other two were in danger, there was no need to act.
However, because everyone was focused on their enemies, no one noticed a pair of pale-blue eyes observing them from a cave in the small mountain where Ape King had been standing on.
This pair of eyes were like two ghostly flames burning with endless fury and rage, and also sorrow and pain.
— - -
"Heavens Tearing Slash!" You Ping shouted as his sword moved horizontally, striking toward the white-furred Ape King.
As he activated the Cultivation Technique, the blade seemed to turn into two, then three, then six… they all came from different directions, aiming to take the demon beast's life.
However, such a thing would not be an easy feat.
Roaring madly, the Ape King looked at You Ping with annoyance and rage – he would long have dispatched the other guy if this one didn't keep interfering.
And as it roared furiously the world seemed to tremble, and then ice rose from the ground and formed a wall around the Ape King.
The Frostbite Apes had carried the bloodline of the Six-Armed Ice Ape God and, once they became strong enough, they could easily control ice – that was why they liked the environment of the Frozen Wasteland and were only found in cold climates.
As the swords clashed against the ice wall, they slashed it apart, however, when it was finally destroyed most of them had disappeared.
Without a choice, You Ping retreated with a fast and cautious movement, moving in a zigzag pattern for safety.
Not that he had to worry too much.
Just as he retreated another figure lunged forward while swinging a pair of hammers with intense power and brutality.
The two huge weapons could easily squash a human into meat paste – and they obviously belonged to Yu Hai. And on a side note, Yueshi never expected the man to choose those weapons, not with his personality.
However, instead of striking against the Ape King, Yu Hai hit one hammer against the other.
'Let's see how you deal with this', cycling his qi he activated one of his cultivation techniques, the sound waves generated by his attacking intensifying as they struck against the monster.
The sound waves traveled in a circular area around the hammerheads and, while Yu Hai was not affected by them, the Ape King was struck head-on by it.
The beast released a howl of pain as its ears bleed from the attack, the waves momentarily stunning it in place.
In a show of cooperation, You Ping immediately came forward after the sound waves ceased. The long years they fought together made them act seamlessly as if they were one in body and soul.
Just as Yu Hai sidestepped, his hammer crashing down toward the Ape King's left side, You Ping's sword descended like lighting from the opposite end.
However, a demon beast could not be underestimated since, as beasts, their natural instincts were extremely developed.
Almost unconsciously, the ape created an armor made of ice in the last instant. Even if it could not protect him perfectly, it would still be enough to mitigate the damage caused by his enemies.
A crackling sound echoed as the ice was broken apart by the hammer strike and sliced by the sword slash.
However, it served its purpose – You Ping's attack left only a shallow mark on the ape's shoulder, while Yu Hai only managed to leave a big, purple bruise on its body, failing to break its bone.
Nonetheless, the two were not discouraged, having known from the start that it would be a long and exhausting battle.
Suddenly, however, the situation changed once more.
A howling sound filled with pain and sorrow echoed across this land of ever snow, seeming to paint a desolate scene.
Even Yu Hai and You Ping unconsciously turned to see what happened, catching a glimpse of what it was all about.
Kneeling in front of Yueshi, a tall gorilla-like ape was in his last moments.
With the last of its force, it looked to the side, and the two older men could swear they saw not only pain and sorrow in these eyes, but a deeper message too.
When it looked at its king, it seemed to say 'sorry, I am going first'. Then, its eyes dimmed and lost luster, signaling its dead.
At that moment, the apes came to a standstill.
Many weaker apes had died as of now, however, all they did was continue to desperately fight; however, the death of this single ape seemed to change something.
Was it because he was amongst the stronger ones? Yueshi and the others were not sure.
Roars and howls echoed across the battlefield on that instant as every Frostbite Ape seemed to be consumed by rage and fury.
They had been angered before, but this time they had truly gone berserk and, as experienced hunters, the mercenaries would not stay still and watch things continue to develop.
They pushed forward and killed a few more, and the apes did not even resist. You Ping had even successfully left a fairly deep cut in the Ape King's chest, before retreating under its wrath-filled, pale-blue eyes.
With the crazy behavior of the apes, they understood that things were going to become even harder - and they were not wrong.
The Ape King eyes seemed to have become two chilling ponds as it scanned its opponents, its face being distorted by the intense rage it felt. The howls of sorrow from before seemed to still echo in his ears as it ignored the cut in its chest and lunged forward.
The one who had fallen had the same blood as him; they were brothers that had fought against death many times.
Those strangers… they invaded his territory, murdered his kin, and killed his brother. He could not understand the motive behind their actions, and he did not care.
Letting the rage consume his heart, he jumped toward Yu Hai and You Ping, prepared to tear them apart.
And as if affected by his rage, the snowflakes around seemed to become sharp weapons, marching together with him toward his opponents.
Meanwhile…
In the top of the mountain, a figure trembled while hiding in the shadows, its cold pale-blue eyes burning with even greater fury than ever before.
The Ape King had asked it to stay behind, to protect their greatest treasure… however, it couldn't hold back anymore. Not after watching for so long its family and also friends being slaughtered.
Sending a last glance toward their treasure, the creature seemed to let out a long sigh. If it stayed behind, it could flee with it in case they lost; yet, it could not keep on watching for any longer.
That being so, it roared toward the sky while thumping at its chest, and then it jumped into the flay – aiming at the boy who had killed the King's brother.
It seemed determined to send the boy to hell to accompany its fallen comrade and friend.