Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Mutual Defeat

"Roar!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the depths of an ancient mountain ravine teeming with savage beasts, the sound saturated with violence and ferocity. The entire gorge seemed to tremble beneath its fury, and countless monsters within shuddered in fear. For the one who unleashed this roar was none other than the Dragon Ape, the undisputed lord of the ravine—a single fit of its wrath could leave mountains of corpses in its wake.

"What a powerful set of lungs!"

Seated cross-legged atop a mountain peak, Luo Hao rubbed his ears, which still ached from the shockwave. Even separated by such a distance, the Dragon Ape’s roar seemed to thunder directly beside him. The gulf between the Blood-Gathering Realm and the Spirit Forming Realm was truly vast, an abyss not easily bridged.

"The show is about to begin."

Gazing into the distance, Luo Hao’s lips curved into a faint smile. After that terrifying roar, the valley where the Dragon Ape’s lair lay was immediately shaken by earth-quaking rumbles. He didn’t need to guess to know that the enraged Dragon Ape was searching for the thief who had stolen its Blood Essence Fruit.

The Dragon Ape’s massive form moved like a mobile fortress of war, each step in its anger causing the earth to quake and stones to fly. The clamor resounded throughout the primeval gorge, and the weaker monsters scattered in terror—no one wished to become the target of the Dragon Ape’s wrath.

Such commotion could not escape the notice of the treasure seekers camped at the gorge’s entrance. Hearing the successive roars and thunderous crashes from within, they left without looking back, feeling profoundly grateful that the men of the Ziwei Pavilion had sealed the entrance.

"Hahaha, those bastards from the Ziwei Pavilion are in for a disaster this time! Hahaha!" The speaker was none other than the trio Luo Hao had encountered upon entering the ravine.

"Enough. The time has come."

A cold gleam flickered in Luo Hao’s eyes as he turned a grim, vengeful gaze toward the distant forces of the Ziwei Pavilion—there was not a shred of mercy in his heart. He would make them understand that provoking Luo Hao would come at a bloody price.

With a sudden motion, he hurled a signal flare high into the sky. A burst of dragon force followed, igniting the flare into a dazzling explosion of fireworks.

"Who sent up that signal?" Senior Brother Liu demanded, turning to the disciples behind him, but none replied. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the ravine, other disciples of the Ziwei Pavilion, upon seeing the flare, immediately began converging toward Liu’s position.

From his vantage atop the peak, Luo Hao’s eyes swept the ancient forest below, quickly spotting dozens more Pavilion disciples hastening in the same direction—toward Senior Brother Liu and his group.

"Senior Brother Liu, what’s gotten into the Dragon Ape? Why is it so frenzied?" one of the newly arrived disciples asked, breathless. The Dragon Ape’s roar had shaken the entire ravine—they could hardly have ignored it.

Senior Brother Liu shook his head. He too was at a loss as to who would dare provoke one of the ravine’s most formidable overlords.

"Never mind. We’ll wait for the remaining juniors, and then we’re leaving for Tianhai Sect at once."

The Dragon Ape’s fury had rendered the already perilous gorge even more deadly. Except for a few exceptionally powerful beasts, the rest now hid in terror, and there was no point in lingering.

"Boom! Boom!"

As the Pavilion members waited for their comrades, the Dragon Ape’s footsteps grew ever heavier, shattering boulders and splintering ancient trees in its wake. Its colossal form radiated a terrifying aura, its killing intent undisguised—the very embodiment of savage dominance. Not even the other overlords of the ravine wished to cross its path now.

"So, it comes at last."

From the mountaintop, Luo Hao could already make out a massive black shadow hurtling toward the Pavilion’s position.

At this moment, the Dragon Ape’s bloodshot eyes and twisted features radiated unrestrained malice, as if someone had slaughtered its entire family. Its murderous intent was palpable.

"Senior Brother, I think the Dragon Ape is heading right for us," a disciple stammered. Others quickly echoed his alarm.

Senior Brother Liu frowned. "We’ve never provoked that brute. You must be mistaken."

"Boom!"

Another deafening crash sent a tremor through the ground. Suddenly, a monstrous silhouette burst into view. The moment it appeared, Liu shouted, "Run!"

He was the first to bolt. Roaring with rage, the Dragon Ape sent sand and stones flying. In the terror-stricken eyes of the Pavilion disciples, the beast wrenched up a small mountain and hurled it with brutal force at the fleeing Liu.

"Bang!"

The peak crashed down, forming a chasm that blocked Liu’s escape. Whirling around, he saw the Dragon Ape’s enormous body barreling into the cluster of disciples like a primeval beast unleashed.

Its arms towered to the heavens, its palms golden as stars. With a thunderous clap, the air exploded and space itself seemed to tremble. More than a dozen disciples were flattened into pools of blood in an instant.

"Help me! Save me!"

"Somebody help!"

Screams filled the air. The Dragon Ape’s blow was devastating. The remaining disciples were paralyzed with terror, some even losing control of their bladders, their dignity utterly shattered.

"Form up, now!"

Gritting his teeth, Senior Brother Liu roared at the survivors. Their only chance was to unite; if they scattered, none would escape alive.

At his command, the surviving disciples quickly formed into defensive circles. Liu leapt high as a god descending, torrents of spirit power surging into his fist like a celestial river. Clenching his fist, he struck at the Dragon Ape.

"Great Sun Vajra Fist! Die, beast!"

He roared as his fist blazed like a golden sun, radiating scorching divine light that smashed down upon the Dragon Ape.

"Roar!"

The Dragon Ape beat its chest, bloodlust in its eyes. From this human, it sensed the scent of the stolen Blood Essence Fruit. Its massive palm swept forth, the force so great it shattered the very air, clashing against the descending divine sun.

"Bang!"

In an instant, the sun exploded, and the Dragon Ape’s golden palm was forced back. Liu seized the moment to put distance between them. From his perch, Luo Hao’s eyes flickered with surprise and suspicion—though Liu was clearly weaker, he’d managed to withstand the Dragon Ape’s assault. That fist technique was no ordinary art; it was at least of the Supreme Mortal rank.

"Roar!"

The Dragon Ape’s savage roar crashed like thunder in Luo Hao’s ears, shaking the very earth. Below, the beast glared murderously at Liu. That a mere human had forced it back was unforgivable—worse yet, he had stolen the precious fruit the beast had labored to refine. Intolerable!

A strange current pulsed from the dragon horn at its brow, golden lines blazing with divine radiance.

"Boom!"

A primordial, oppressive aura erupted, as if dragging everything back to the ancient days. The Dragon Ape blazed with golden light, its presence growing ever more fearsome.

"Late Second Rank!"

"Late Second Rank, at its peak!"

Terror gripped Liu’s face. The beast was now unstoppable, and many disciples collapsed in despair.

Waves of force rippled through the air beneath the Dragon Ape’s bulk—a sign of overwhelming physical power. With a roar, it charged like a burning golden mountain toward the Pavilion disciples.

"Boom!"

Its sheer force crushed the air before it. The disciples had no time to scream before they were obliterated in a mist of blood. The Dragon Ape barreled on, aiming for Liu.

The golden mountain bore down, and escape was impossible. Liu gritted his teeth, black hair bristling, and crimson veins crawled like worms across his face.

"Bloodburning Technique!"

A secret art he’d discovered by chance in an ancient cave, this method burned away one’s blood essence to unleash a surge of power.

With the Bloodburning Technique activated, Liu’s aura changed completely, all reason drowned in savage fury. His strength soared, his presence as deep as an abyss—now he was the Dragon Ape’s equal.

"Great Sun Vajra Fist—Vajra’s End!"

Spirit power poured forth. Liu’s fist pierced the void, his arm a burning blood-red dragon. With a sweeping strike, a stern-faced, wrathful Vajra manifested behind him, feet planted, hands entwined with the blood dragon—one punch aimed to sunder heaven and earth.

"Bang!"

The golden mountain shuddered as the Dragon Ape howled. Amid the cataclysmic force, Liu’s form was like a mad fiend. Explosions thundered between them, waves of spirit power radiating like a tsunami.

At last, the golden mountain shattered, and the Dragon Ape’s huge body was hurled into the mountainside. The wrathful Vajra faded, and Liu’s body rang with the sickening crackle of breaking bones.

On the peak, Luo Hao was stunned. In equal realms, beasts were generally far stronger than human martial artists—he had not expected Liu to fight the Dragon Ape to a standstill.