C169 The Ghost Ape Attacked

"Crack!"

Within the lava pond, the crescent pendant blazed with an intense fire.

Trapped inside, the refined soul of the ancient Moon Demon struggled in vain against the engulfing flames, unable to escape.

This ancient Moon Demon was no weakling.

It had managed to launch a surprise attack on Yu Yuan without Qin Yun and Lee Yuchan noticing, a testament to its unique mastery in concealing its soul.

Yet, it had been thwarted by Yu Yuan and foolishly attempted to possess Duan Guanlan.

Did it really think it could easily break through the Devil Soul Talisman?

Without the talisman affixed to his forehead, would Duan Tianhong and Duan Tianxi have remained so composed?

Without reaching the Penetrating Stage, Duan Guanlan would have stood no chance against Lee Yuchan and Qin Yun, and they would have struggled to defend him.

"The ancient Moon Demon is merely that," Duan Tianhong said with a radiant smile to Lee Yuchan. "Now you've witnessed the might of our Devil Soul Talisman, haven't you?"

Lee Yuchan's complexion was pale, his heart still racing with fear.

This ancient Moon Demon was far more perilous than Yuefei. Even after ascending to the Yin God Stage, she felt confident only to battle Yuefei to a standstill.

The ancient Moon Demon, consumed and refined by the lava pond, was undoubtedly more formidable than Yuefei!

But what of it?

What fate awaited the one who recklessly sought to seize Duan Guanlan, shielded by the Devil Soul Talisman?

Even Duan Tianhong, with all his strength, would have found it impossible to dispatch the demon so effortlessly into the maw of the lava pond.

Had Yu Yuan not discerned the terrifying might of the Devil Soul Talisman, she too might have rashly struck at Duan Guanlan.

What then?

"Enough, there's no point dwelling on this," Yu Yuan said with a dismissive smile. "The emergence of an ancient Moon Demon signals that more Alien Soul Demons will soon make their presence known."

Neither the Red Devil Sect's Scarlet Soul Demon Spell nor the lava pond refined by Duan Tianhong possessed the ability to absorb souls.

As the ancient Moon Demon perished within the pendant, Yu Yuan keenly sensed the Soul Transformation Pool's walls quietly receiving it.

"There's no point," Duan Tianhong concurred, his eyes narrowing as he gazed intently at Yu Yuan. "What intrigues me is how you managed to survive the ancient Moon Demon's initial onslaught."

Duan Tianxi and Duan Guanlan both wore expressions of surprise.

As the dark light burst forth, Yu Yuan's face briefly displayed a mysterious and dazzling pattern.

In that fleeting moment, the ancient Moon Demon shifted its focus and charged toward Duan Guanlan.

It seemed to recognize the enigmatic pattern on Yu Yuan's face, as if aware that Yu Yuan was not to be trifled with, hence its swift decision.

Unexpectedly, it ran into another snag, getting ensnared by the terrifying flames within the secret talisman.

But what prompted the appearance of that pattern on Yu Yuan's face?

If such a pattern could send the ancient Moon Demon fleeing in terror, then...

Exchanging glances, brothers Duan Tianhong and Duan Tianxi realized that this mysterious youth from Darkmoon City harbored too many secrets, necessitating their earnest attention.

"Here it comes again!"

Duan Guanlan touched the Devil Soul Talisman at his brow.

The engraved lines on the talisman lit up once more, each line a miniature river of fire, brimming with intensely refined flame energy and soul power.

"Awoo!"

A roar, laden with fury and frenzy, thundered from the distant earth.

Leading the charge, a snow-white ghost ape, brandishing a deep red stone pillar, bellowed as it barreled forward.

The other Alien Soul Demons appeared to have an unspoken agreement, trailing from a distance or stealthily concealing themselves.

Without a clear understanding of the situation at the Soul Transformation Pool, they refrained from acting rashly, preserving their wits and caution.

The ghost ape, single-minded as it was, made the perfect expendable scout.

"Heh!"

With a swift bound, Duan Tianhong leaped from the depths of the lava pool to the skies above the Soul Transformation Pool. Casting a casual glance, he quipped, "A ghost ape, a Sixth Level Demonic Beast."

A Sixth Level Demonic Beast's combat prowess was on par with the Yin God Stage of humans.

Yet to Duan Tianhong, such a Sixth Level Demonic Beast as the ghost ape seemed trivial.

"Let's see what it does when it gets here," Duan Guanlan interjected, "Ghost apes are rare sights on the Profound Sky Continent. It's a mystery where this one originated from."

"Ghost ape..."

Lee Yuchan furrowed her brows and whispered, "The Silvermoon Empire once subdued a ghost ape. If I'm not mistaken, that's the one."

Yu Yuan turned his gaze toward her.

"It happened a very long time ago," Lee Yuchan elaborated, "I'm not clear on the details, but I need to make one thing clear. The ghost ape we subdued wasn't at the Sixth Level."

"It was at the Seventh Level!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Tianhong's face showed a trace of concern. "Seventh Level?"

"But it was definitely Sixth Level!" Duan Guanlan interjected in a hushed tone.

"Its rank has fallen," Lee Yuchan asserted firmly. "It's likely the same creature. After years of suppression, without the sustenance of blood or the absorption of Spiritual Qi, its rank naturally declined over time."

Yu Yuan's expression grew somber. "If that's the case, we should eliminate it quickly to prevent further trouble."

From his past life on the Quietus Continent, he had gained extensive knowledge of the Demonic Beasts within the Demon Palace and understood all too well that a great demon, once demoted in rank, could recover much more swiftly than humans.

Demonic Beasts, with sufficient blood energy and Spiritual Qi, typically heal at an accelerated rate.

However, for a Demon God like the Golden Elephant Ancient God, who had reached the pinnacle, the journey back after a demotion in rank was significantly longer.

A Sixth Level ghost ape was on par with a human at the Yin God Stage. With four of the Duan brothers having attained the Yin God Stage, they were confident in their ability to slay a Sixth Level ghost ape.

But if the ghost ape were to regain its Seventh Level strength, it would match the combat prowess of someone at the human Soul Wandering Stage.

For those at the Yin God Stage, their techniques and devastating attacks against Sixth Level Demonic Beasts would be severely diminished against a Seventh Level adversary.

Surpassing one level could mean a multitude of risks and unforeseen dangers.

"We must exercise caution with a ghost ape that was once at the Seventh Level," Duan Tianxi said, his smile fading as he pondered. He then summoned the Crimson Bell.

His Yin God burst forth, transforming into a deity wreathed in flames.

The deity was surrounded by fire clouds, each swirling like auspicious mist.

Yu Yuan watched closely, and upon noticing the ancient symbols etched within the depths of the fire clouds, he nodded in approval, remarking, "Impressive."

Duan Tianxi was taken aback. "Kid, what have you noticed?"

"Not many from the Red Devil Sect manage to master their Devil Spell, but you've done quite well," Yu Yuan said, offering genuine respect. "The Balrog's Devil Spell was believed to be lost with no one in the Red Devil Sect able to fully grasp it after his demise. It's surprising, Duan Tianxi, that you've managed to elevate the Balrog's Devil Spell to such an impressive level."

Both Duan Tianxi and his brother Duan Tianhong were visibly shaken by the revelation.

In that moment, Duan Guanlan's eyes gleamed with astonishment as he fixed his gaze on Yu Yuan.

The Balrog was a storied figure within the Red Devil Sect!

At the height of his power, the Balrog stood at the late Unrestrained Stage, just one step shy of condensing his soul into a Primordial Spirit and becoming one of the most formidable beings in all the Boundless Land.

The Balrog met his end during the fierce conflict between the Heavenly Source Continent and the Quietus Continent.

Legend has it that the Primordial Yang Sect sought out the Red Devil Sect first upon their arrival in the Quietus Continent.

The Primordial Yang Sect spared no effort in breaching the grand formation at the Red Devil Sect's holy site, ultimately bringing down the Balrog.

Their goal was to thwart his ascension to a Primordial Spirit!

Clearly, the Primordial Yang Sect regarded the Balrog as a significant menace, one that needed to be eliminated.

Following the Balrog's fall, his Devil Spell continued to circulate within the Red Devil Sect, yet sadly, no disciple could cultivate it to its full potential.

Who would have predicted that, after so many years, an anomaly like Duan Tianxi would emerge?

"The Balrog, bearing the Duan surname, is an ancestor of our Duan family!"

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