The old ape leapt high into the air, bringing with it a howling gust of wind that made it difficult for anyone to stay on their feet. Its target was Li Yanchu. This demon ape, capable of speaking human language, now had murderous intent blazing in its eyes. Li Yanchu instantly activated his qi shield, and a layer of invisible qi enveloped his entire body. With a sudden movement, he launched forward instead of retreating, slashing down from above. His Jiaoslayer carved a crescent arc through the air, and the very air itself seemed to tear apart under its force. Clang! The old ape’s fist smashed into Li Yanchu’s qi shield, and the impact rang through the chamber like temple bells and war drums echoing across the heavens. At the same moment, Li Yanchu’s saber struck the old ape’s neck. Then, a visible shockwave burst outward and spread in all directions. The old ape’s strength was like that of a primordial beast capable of moving mountains and parting seas. It sent Li Yanchu flying backwards, slamming him hard into the tomb’s rocky wall. Boom! The entire tomb chamber shook from the impact. Li Yanchu’s limbs went cold, his chest throbbed with searing pain, and his arms felt as if they’d been torn apart. His bones were on the verge of shattering, but the endless flow of Daoist spirit qi surged through his meridians, gradually purging the demonic qi left behind by the ape’s punch. His qi and blood reignited, his blood surging once again. At this point, the old ape’s power had already reached a level Li Yanchu could not match. Had he only dodged earlier, he might’ve landed a serious wound. But now, choosing to meet force with force, he had barely managed to block the attack head-on. The old ape, more enraged than ever, charged at him again. But this time, Master Shenshan, Daoist Master Yuanyi, and a host of other cultivators rushed in and launched a coordinated assault to surround the old ape. The power radiating from the old ape now was on a completely different level than just moments before. In the blink of an eye, two more people were injured. Master Shenshan hurled his gold alms bowl high into the air. A dazzling beam of Buddha's light burst forth, and the bowl hummed with power, enveloping the old ape completely. Then, the demonic qi on the ape’s body turned almost tangible and formed a dark shroud over its fur and skin. But after only a brief pause, the ape broke free from the bowl’s range and slammed into a nearby Daoist with tremendous force. No one knew exactly when, but Li Yanchu had already climbed out from the tomb wall. And just as the old ape charged, he met it head-on with a Divine Astral Hands! The old ape’s momentum was briefly interrupted. When it saw it was Li Yanchu, its bloodlust surged again before it lunged for him in a frenzy. But this time, it was intercepted by Old Ghost Wu and Yan Chixiao, who joined forces to block its advance. At this point, the old ape’s power had become so overwhelming that no one present could defeat it alone with certainty. Worse still, the ape had mastery of martial techniques, so even under a coordinated siege, it fought with effortless ferocity and precision. It was now nothing like the battered creature they had injured moments before. At this time, the nine experts present, Master Shenshan, Daoist Master Yuanyi, Master Huizhen, Master Kongming, Daoist Master Yunhe, Daoist Master Moping, Granny Chang, Yan Chixiao, and Old Ghost Wu, surrounded and attacked the ape. The others had either retreated or were already seriously wounded. One elderly monk had critical injuries to his vital organs, and even after taking healing medicine, he looked to be on the brink of death. Master Kongming, the monk who had cultivated Heaven’s Eye, was highly skilled in Buddhist arts. As Daoist Master Moping, known for using the coin-sword, held a soul-summoning bell in one hand and his sword in the other, his presence brimmed with killing intent. At a glance, the gaps in power levels among the group were now painfully clear. Li Yanchu, having been targeted specifically by the old ape, had already suffered two serious injuries in direct confrontations. Had he not been quick-witted and fast on his feet, it wouldn’t just be injuries. Those nine experts might have already lost their lives to the beast. Mr. Ma was actually quite strong. However, the ancestral Great Immortal he worshipped seemed unwilling to fight the old ape. It had shown itself only briefly before withdrawing from his body, refusing to get involved. “Hongtu, how are you holding up?” Li Yanchu asked. After Bai Hongtu took a healing pill, his breathing calmed a bit. He spoke weakly, “I’m fine now. But that old ape is seriously abnormal. There’s so many of us, and we still can’t bring it down.” Li Yanchu nodded. “Yeah... Who would've thought its strength would suddenly explode like that.” Before, while the old ape had been fierce, it wasn't nearly as terrifying as it was now. Then, a sudden thought flashed through Li Yanchu’s mind. “Don’t tell me it’s because I took the Demonslayer Pestle?” Right after he’d snatched the weapon, the old ape had gone berserk. With a single roar, it had injured several people in an instant, like a wild beast from prehistory. Its rage and power were overwhelming. “That can’t be it... right? That doesn’t make any sense,” Bai Hongtu said, stunned. But Li Yanchu fell into deep thought. Earlier, when the old ape attacked, its demonic qi had become almost physical, which was completely different from when the battle had started. “Could the Demonslayer Pestle not only be its weapon, but also the thing that seals its power?” The idea suddenly took root in Li Yanchu’s mind. It seemed far-fetched, but deep down, he couldn’t shake the instinctive feeling that he might be right. A demon ape, buried deep in this ancient tomb, could wield such a sacred Buddhist artifact... The situation was clearly not as simple as it seemed. The Demonslayer Pestle might very well be a deeply entwined artifact, bound to the creature in some mysterious way. Just as he was pondering this... Two deafening crashes rang out, thereafter Yan Chixiao and Master Kongming were sent flying by the blow and crashed to the ground, their fates uncertain. Immediately, Li Yanchu hurried over to check on their condition. Master Kongming’s chest was soaked in blood, and one of his arms hung limp at his side. It was clearly broken. This deeply cultivated Buddhist monk had suffered a serious injury, and demonic qi was ravaging his body from within. He was now using his profound Buddhist power to forcibly expel the invading demonic qi. Yan Chixiao was in far worse shape. Parts of his body had been torn open, with bone showing through in several places. A gaping wound had ripped through his lower abdomen, exposing his internal organs. Seeing this, Li Yanchu was startled. At first glance, he thought Yan Chixiao might already be killed by the ape. But then he noticed something strange: a mysterious force stirred inside Yan Chixiao’s body. Despite the horrific injuries, as his blood and qi began to circulate, the wounds were actually starting to heal on their own. A look of shock and astonishment appeared in Li Yanchu’s eyes. “What kind of beastly physique is this?!” In just a few breaths, Yan Chixiao’s wounds had already started to heal. As exorcists, the Yan family’s bloodline truly carried some mysterious and extraordinary power. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ N0v3l.Fiɾe.net Meanwhile, the old ape continued to move with the speed of the wind and the weight of thunder. Every strike was brutally powerful, yet also refined, displaying a mastery of martial technique that made it even harder to deal with. Were it not for Master Shenshan constantly using his gold alms bowl to weaken the creature, the group likely would have already suffered a heavy toll. Just then, Master Huizhen was also sent flying by a punch from the ape. His heavy monk’s staff slammed into the ground, shattering the granite steps on impact. He had already been injured earlier. He was ambushed by Master Guanxin with a powerful Great Hand Seal, and he had yet to fully recover. And now, after Yan Chixiao and Master Kongming, he too had been blasted aside. Li Yanchu quickly rushed over and helped Master Huizhen to his feet. The two of them had forged a friendship during the demon-slaying mission in Wei City. Now, the golden lacquer armor covering the monk’s body had been shattered by the old ape’s blow, and his aura was fading fast. “I’m powerless... That demon ape is just too fierce,” Master Huizhen said weakly. “Master, let me help you to the side so that you can rest for now.” Li Yanchu carefully settled Master Huizhen onto a step along the side, away from the center of the battlefield.