Mortal Bones

"Swish!"

Almost as soon as Fairy Ling Yue's voice rang out, Xu Taiping had already activated the Wind Shadow Step he had learned a few days ago, his figure shooting out of the thicket like the wind.

Although he had only mastered two steps of the Wind Shadow Step, with his newly acquired speed and agility, Xu Taiping was almost as fast as some ordinary demonic beasts. In just a few breaths, he had already entered Bamboo Creek Valley.

"Is that it?"

Upon entering the valley, Xu Taiping immediately spotted the Fire Lingzhi. From a distance, the Fire Lingzhi looked like a small campfire growing by the creek.

"Yes, but cover it with the demonic tiger skin first, or you'll be burned by it."

Though Fairy Ling Yue had already warned him before, she couldn't help but remind him again.

"Alright."

Xu Taiping responded, quickly unfurling the demonic tiger skin in his hands and wrapping the Fire Lingzhi in it.

"Swish!"

Then, he swiftly drew his steel saber from his waist, slicing through the ground with precision to sever the Fire Lingzhi's root.

He sheathed the saber and quickly cradled the Fire Lingzhi in his arms. His movements were smooth and practiced, clearly the result of many rehearsals in his mind.

"This child really knows how to get things done without hesitation," Fairy Ling Yue murmured to herself, watching Xu Taiping's clean and efficient actions. She felt that her earlier concerns were unnecessary.

Although she had hidden their presence and helped with concealment, the act of stealing the Fire Lingzhi was not as simple as it seemed. If they didn't follow the plan perfectly, taking the Fire Lingzhi could still be extremely dangerous.

"It may seem easy, but if it were anyone else, even adults might not be able to do it as well as this little one," she mused to herself.

"Wait, that aura... this is bad!"

Just as Xu Taiping was about to leave the Bamboo Creek Valley, Fairy Ling Yue's soul suddenly sensed two very strong fluctuations of spiritual energy, and these two auras were rapidly approaching.

"What's wrong?"

Xu Taiping immediately halted, one hand clenched into a fist, the other gripping the saber hilt, assuming a combat-ready stance.

"It's likely that the Fire Pattern Python is fighting something powerful. It's too late to leave the valley now. Quickly, find a place to hide inside. I'll help you conceal your aura," Fairy Ling Yue said urgently.

The Fire Pattern Python was still a level of demonic beast far beyond Xu Taiping's current abilities.

"Okay."

Xu Taiping quickly scanned his surroundings, his gaze locking onto a deep pond near the cliffside of the valley. Without hesitation, he activated the Wind Shadow Step, leaping swiftly into the clear water, then leaned against the stone wall of the pond, quietly watching the situation above.

Thanks to the Turtle Breathing Technique in the Remaining Sunset Scripture, he wasn't worried about breathing underwater.

"Boom!"

Before the ripples on the water's surface could settle, Xu Taiping heard a loud crash coming from the valley entrance.

"Is that a giant ape?"

Looking through the clear water's surface, Xu Taiping saw a giant ape, about one to two zhang (meters) tall, fiercely battling the Fire Pattern Python, which was similarly massive.

The Fire Pattern Python had a half-eaten monkey in its mouth.

This giant ape wasn't as large as the one below, but it was still at least one zhang (3 meters) tall.

Clearly, the monkey the Fire Pattern Python had in its mouth was prey it had caught earlier, and the giant ape had come to reclaim it.

"Boom!"

At that moment, the giant ape suddenly lifted a large rock from the ground and smashed it down toward the Fire Pattern Python's tail.

"Swish!"

Even though the Fire Pattern Python had its prey in its mouth, its body was still incredibly agile. Before the giant rock could land, the python's tail swiftly swung away, and it nimbly lashed out with its tail at the ape's abdomen, sending it flying backward.

"This is a Mountain-moving Ape, with purple-golden eyes. It might even be a descendant of the Demonic Sage, but this one's bloodline has degraded, so it's no different from an ordinary monkey. Otherwise, a true Mountain-moving Ape would be hundreds of feet tall and could crush the Fire Pattern Python with a single step," Fairy Ling Yue's voice sounded in Xu Taiping's mind.

"Hundreds of feet?"

Xu Taiping could hardly imagine a demonic beast with such an enormous body.

"Ah, the monkey's been swallowed!"

Lost in his thoughts, Xu Taiping was suddenly shocked as he saw the Fire Pattern Python swallow the giant ape whole. He hadn't expected the python to be able to devour such a large monkey in one bite.

"Roar!"

As the Fire Pattern Python swallowed the giant ape, the other giant ape that had been knocked away by the python's tail roared in fury, its body enveloped in red demonic energy as it charged recklessly at the Fire Pattern Python.

"The one the Fire Pattern Python just swallowed should have been the Mountain-moving Ape's wife. Mountain-moving Apes are deeply loyal and only have one mate in their lifetime. This one is now probably going into a berserk state, intending to fight the Fire Pattern Python to the death," Fairy Ling Yue sighed.

"Boom!"

As she spoke, the Mountain-moving Ape stomped down on the Fire Pattern Python's tail, then lifted a huge rock in its hands and smashed it down on the python's head.

"Boom!"

With a resounding crash, the Mountain-moving Ape's blow, fueled by its berserk state, hit the Fire Pattern Python's head squarely, forcing it to retreat toward the Bamboo Creek Valley.

"Roar…"

The Mountain-moving Ape wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by. It leapt high, slammed its hands onto the Fire Pattern Python's head, and wrapped its legs around the python's body, then began pounding its fists against the python's head.

In its berserk state, the Mountain-moving Ape finally had the strength to face the Fire Pattern Python head-on.

"Berserk demonic beasts burn their original bloodline. Even if the Mountain-moving Ape wins in the end, it will likely die as well," Fairy Ling Yue's voice became more sorrowful.

"Boom!"

Just as the Fire Pattern Python was on the verge of collapsing, it suddenly opened its mouth wide, unleashing a spray of blood mist. The mist immediately transformed into a ball of flames, engulfing the Mountain-moving Ape completely.

"Ah!"

The Mountain-moving Ape let out a tragic scream as it was consumed by the flames.

Despite being engulfed in fire, the Mountain-moving Ape still relentlessly pursued the Fire Pattern Python.

The Fire Pattern Python, seizing the moment when the Mountain-moving Ape released its grip, quickly fled into the Bamboo Creek Valley, heading straight for the Fire Lingzhi.

"It's trying to find the Fire Lingzhi, isn't it?"

Xu Taiping asked anxiously through his spiritual communication with Fairy Ling Yue.

"Yes, it's probably trying to use the Fire Lingzhi to quickly enhance its strength to deal with the Mountain-moving Ape," Fairy Ling Yue confirmed Xu Taiping's guess.

"If it discovers the Fire Lingzhi is gone, won't it go into a frenzy?"

Xu Taiping murmured, glancing at the unfolding scene.

"That's possible. Just remember, when the time comes, you must not make a sound," Fairy Ling Yue reminded him again.

"Okay."

Xu Taiping nodded quietly, mentally acknowledging her advice.

"Roar!"

As expected, the Fire Pattern Python, upon discovering the Fire Lingzhi was missing, let out a furious roar.

"Boom!"

At that very moment, the Mountain-moving Ape, still burning with flames, leaped into the air and threw a punch at the Fire Pattern Python, following the source of the angry roar.

4o