C5 There Was Someone

The tiger and the wolf exchanged a glance, realizing the giant ape was an unstoppable force, and decided to team up against it.

Undaunted by the combined assault of the two beasts, the giant ape swung its massive palms, repeatedly sending the tiger and wolf flying to the side. Undeterred, they picked themselves up and launched another attack.

Despite the giant ape's apparent advantage, the bloodstains marking its body were evidence that the battle was far from effortless.

The Silver Wolf, slowed by its injuries, exposed a vulnerability that the giant ape was quick to exploit, pinning it against a rock face.

With a resounding thud, a fist as large as a punching bag hammered down on the Silver Wolf's head. Its skull was tough, but it only just prevented the brain from spilling out on impact.

Sliding down the wall, the Silver Wolf was rendered incapable of fighting.

The White Tiger, sensing defeat, attempted to flee, but the giant ape was not about to let it escape so easily.

With an outstretched arm, the giant ape seized the White Tiger's hind leg.

With a powerful over-the-shoulder throw, the White Tiger was slammed onto the ground before the giant ape, coughing up a torrent of blood.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

The giant ape beat its chest triumphantly as the three Spirit Beasts lay incapacitated at its feet, alive but utterly immobilized.

The victory seemed to belong to the giant ape, yet its staggered gait betrayed significant wounds.

Qin Biao realized he could wait no longer; any further delay and the Snake Saliva Fruit would surely be claimed by the giant ape.

Qin Biao was closer to the fruit than the giant ape, and his only concern now was how to make his escape after seizing the prize.

It was time to take a risk!

Surely, he could outrun the lumbering beast!

With this in mind, Qin Biao prepared to leap out and claim the victorious fruit for himself.

Roar!

The giant ape turned its gaze toward the stone pillar, as if anticipating Qin Biao's emergence.

It seemed aware of Qin Biao's presence.

But that didn't matter!

Just as Qin Biao braced himself for the confrontation, a cool male voice interjected, "Hmph, all this searching and it turns out to be effortless. Had the Snake Saliva Fruit's scent not carried so far, I might never have found this place."

It was a human!

Even though Qin Biao had been human before arriving in this world, this time, it seemed they were destined to be adversaries.

"Judging by the looks of it, we've played the role of the fisherman this time. Our luck is quite remarkable, wouldn't you agree, junior sister?" The man spoke to the veiled woman behind him.

The giant ape caught sight of the two humans and let out an angry roar towards the entrance of the cave.

"Roar!"

The roar echoed through the forest, yet it was clear that the creature was running out of steam.

"Heh, running on fumes and still trying to flex your muscles in front of me?" The man scoffed, drawing the sword from his back.

The sword was long and slender, its blade radiating a chilling presence – clearly, it was no ordinary weapon.

"Senior brother, be careful. This Demonic Beast appears to have been cultivating for quite some time," the woman warned from behind him.

Though her face was obscured, her melodious voice suggested she was a beauty.

Perhaps eager to impress the lady, the man showed no fear. "Junior sister, there's no need to worry. Ever since I, Duan Hao, acquired this Cold Soul Sword, I've slain numerous Demonic Beasts, some far stronger than this one! Besides, it's already wounded."

The woman behind him let out a soft sigh. Her senior brother had many virtues, but his pride was his downfall.

When it came to slaying Demonic Beasts, wasn't it always you who followed up with the final blow? As for leading the charge, you had no part in it! How could he tout such deeds as his own and boast about them?

His arrogance had led him to rashly take on the sect's mission to find the Snake Saliva Fruit. Sure, someone had goaded him, but ultimately, it was his own doing.

The woman quietly readied her cultivation technique, prepared to intervene if Duan Hao stumbled into trouble.

Duan Hao's time in cultivation was relatively short, so he lacked the ability to wield his sword in flight. He could only confront the giant ape with the Cold Soul Sword in hand.

But while humans cultivate their spirit, Demonic Beasts strengthen their bodies.

Despite the giant ape's grievous injuries, Duan Hao was still outmatched.

Paying the price with two additional sword wounds crusted with frost, the giant ape sent Duan Hao hurtling through the air.

"Pfft..." Duan Hao clutched his chest, coughing up blood.

The incident unfolded too rapidly. In the blink of an eye, even the woman couldn't react quickly enough to rescue Duan Hao.

"Damn it, I'm really angry now!" Duan Hao pulled out a red pill from his chest and swallowed it. His pallid complexion improved slightly, likely due to some healing potion.

"Senior Brother, you should employ spells against such Demonic Beasts, not engage in close combat!" The woman timely advised.

Humans should leverage their strengths. How could one compete with a beast relying solely on physical prowess?

Duan Hao's face soured, but he retorted defiantly, "How could I be unaware? I merely wished to test the edge of the Cold Soul Sword!"

Despite his words, Duan Hao began to form a spell.

The giant ape lacked experience in battling human cultivators, but instinctively knew it couldn't afford to give this human the slightest opportunity!

Thus, it swung its massive palms toward Duan Hao.

The giant ape's interruption thwarted Duan Hao's spellcasting.

Lacking the skill for instantaneous spellcasting, Duan Hao was forced to hastily defend against the giant ape's onslaught with his Cold Soul Sword.

"Whoosh!"

The sound of slicing air preceded an ice cone that landed just before the giant ape.

The giant ape's bloodshot eyes shifted to see the woman casting spells in support of Duan Hao.

"Junior Sister, there's no need for your assistance. I can handle this on my own!" Duan Hao narrowly evaded another strike from the giant ape, then landed a fierce blow with the Cold Soul Sword on the ape's arm.

Alas, Duan Hao's pride would likely be his downfall one day.

The giant ape, now drained, slowed considerably after Duan Hao's strike.

As the enemy weakened, the tide turned in Duan Hao's favor, quickly tipping the scales to his side.

Duan Hao managed to create some distance from the giant ape with just a few agile leaps. He swiftly began to conjure a spell, his hands drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy in a frenzied whirl.

Roar!

The giant ape hoisted the log it had been clutching and swung it horizontally at Duan Hao.

"Senior Brother, watch out!" the woman at his side called out in warning.

It looked like the round log was about to connect with Duan Hao, threatening to disrupt his powerful incantation. But in a flash, Duan Hao sprang into the air, his toes lightly touching the log, not only evading the swipe but also positioning himself directly above the giant ape's head.

At that moment, Duan Hao's spell was ready!

"Eternal Ice, freeze!" he bellowed, pointing his right hand at the giant ape.

Crackling sounds filled the air as a mist of ice blue smoke swirled around the giant ape. In the blink of an eye, the beast was encased in a block of ice.