Chapter 66 Completing the Aftermath

When their cultivation session concluded, the two of them once again set out on their quest to track down the Snow Demonic Sky Ape.

Throughout this process, Chen Xiao continuously recalled the terrain where the Snow Demonic Sky Ape made its habitat. Based on his descriptions, Zi Yan constantly adjusted their route, ruling out numerous locations that bore no resemblance at all.

Thanks to this seamless cooperation, as noon approached, the two finally found a small valley that closely matched Chen Xiao's description.

The valley was not particularly large, spanning only a few hundred square meters inside. Its entrance was shaped like a gourd, possessing very distinct characteristics.

"There is a big monkey. Is that it?"

Hiding near the valley entrance, Zi Yan peeked out to observe. Her gaze locked onto a white ape inside the valley—standing a full three zhang tall and leaning against a cave entrance to bask in the sun—before she immediately pulled her head back and asked.

Chen Xiao also sensed the situation within the valley. Upon detecting the intruders, the white ape abruptly stood up, its entire body radiating a piercing, frigid aura. Heavy breathing expelled from its massive nostrils like two streams of white smoke, while a pair of blood-red eyes stared fixedly toward the valley entrance. It began approaching with heavy strides, leaving a massive footprint on the ground with every step it took.

"That's it, Zi Yan, let's attack together!"

Calling out, Chen Xiao leaped forward first. An ice spear materialized in his hand, and with a flick of the spear tip, an icy-blue lion head phantom immediately shot toward the Snow Demonic Sky Ape.

"Roar!"

Seeing the incoming lion head phantom, the Snow Demonic Sky Ape flew into a rage. It clenched its paws into fists, beat them against its chest, and let out a series of furious roars.

Immediately afterward, it brazenly swung its fists to meet the attack. Terrifying, peerless force erupted from its fists, shattering the icy-blue lion head into smithereens in the most savage and brutal manner possible.

With just a single blow, it caused Chen Xiao, who had only recently broken through to the five-star Dou Ling realm, to feel immense pressure.

A fifth-rank Magical Beast comparable to the Dou Wang realm presented no small challenge for him at present.

However, Chen Xiao was not afraid. With the Swallow Return counter-attack and the Violet Cloud Wings as his trump cards, even if he could not defeat it in a direct head-on clash, it would still be quite easy for him to extricate himself.

At this thought, the battle intent in Chen Xiao's heart gradually rose.

This Snow Demonic Sky Ape seemed like an excellent choice to use as a sparring partner.

"Don't waste time. Step back and leave it to me."

Just as Chen Xiao intended to continue his assault, Zi Yan's voice rang out.

Unlike Chen Xiao's cautious demeanor, this young girl strolled closer at a leisurely pace, completely devoid of any tense expression. Despite her diminutive stature, the gaze she cast at the Snow Demonic Sky Ape made it look as though she were standing upon the clouds and looking down from above.

"Roar!"

The intelligence of a fifth-rank Magical Beast was already quite remarkable.

The Snow Demonic Sky Ape could sense Zi Yan's contempt, and the fury within its crimson pupils instantly intensified.

With a furious roar, it decisively abandoned Chen Xiao in front, waved its paws, and charged straight at Zi Yan.

Waves of fierce winds blasted viciously from between its paws, grazing the cliffs on both sides and sending rock fragments scattering everywhere. Bearing an unmatched momentum, the attacks firmly locked onto that tiny figure.

Under Chen Xiao's watchful gaze, Zi Yan smiled faintly.

"Big monkey, flying into a rage out of humiliation is useless, you know."

With a giggle, Zi Yan extended a fair, tender little hand and met the fierce gale without the slightest evasion. Blocking left and right, she effortlessly dissolved the attack.

Then, her small hand lunged forward abruptly, firmly grasping the right paw that the Snow Demonic Sky Ape was swinging down.

The next moment, Chen Xiao watched with absolute astonishment as the majestic Snow Demonic Sky Ape was treated like a giant burlap sack in the young girl's grip. She forcefully hurled it away, sending it crashing violently into a distant cliff. Falling rubble completely buried the Snow Demonic Sky Ape.

Hiss...

Chen Xiao silently drew in a cold breath, finally fully understanding why she earned the nickname "King of Brute Force."

Indeed, a name might sometimes be given in error, but a nickname was never wrong!

Crash, rattle...

Amidst a flurry of tumbling stones, the tall Snow Demonic Sky Ape crawled out from the pile of rocks. It dazedly shook its head, clearing up its blood-red eyes with a somewhat bewildered clarity.

"Big monkey, run quickly! I'm coming!"

The somewhat childish voice fell upon the Snow Demonic Sky Ape's ears like the whispers of a demon.

Quickly snapping back to its senses, the Snow Demonic Sky Ape dashed off toward one side without the slightest hesitation.

Right as it dove out of the way, Zi Yan descended from the sky, smashing the pile of rubble into dust!

Glancing back at the spot it had occupied just moments before, the Snow Demonic Sky Ape shivered all over, feeling a deep, bone-chilling cold.

A monster!

This was a monster!

Uncontrollable fear surged within its heart. Seeing Zi Yan cheerfully pursuing it once more, the Snow Demonic Sky Ape fled wildly across the valley, completely devoid of any courage to fight head-on.

Yet even so, it did not last long. In less than a few minutes, it was kicked to the ground by Zi Yan, who then straddled its back, rendering it completely unable to move.

[Advance fulfillment completed.]

[Current available advance fulfillments: One!]

The long-familiar advance fulfillment message emerged in his mind, snapping the dumbfounded Chen Xiao back to his senses.

"That's enough, Zi Yan. Let's go check out its cave."

Looking at the utterly battered Snow Demonic Sky Ape, which was covered in bruises, Chen Xiao spoke up at the appropriate moment.

You act all proud and arrogant when facing me, but the moment little Zi Yan makes a move, your life and death are entirely uncertain!

Hearing Chen Xiao call a halt, Zi Yan hopped down from the Snow Demonic Sky Ape and gave the big monkey's backside a kick.

"Guarded the cave well. Don't let anyone else in."

"Awoo..."

The Snow Demonic Sky Ape whimpered in response, moving its body reluctantly to squat at the cave entrance, daring to feel angry but lacking the courage to speak up.

"Roughly what star Dou Wang strength does it have?"

Entering the cave, Chen Xiao asked casually.

He remembered that this Snow Demonic Sky Ape had awakened the berserk bloodline and could even speak human language. Yet during the battle just now, the entire affair was a completely one-sided beating, and he had not witnessed any special traits from the Snow Demonic Sky Ape.

"A one-star Dou Wang, perhaps. This big monkey is still a little bit away from adulthood, so its strength is quite mediocre."

Zi Yan replied offhandedly. To her, beating up a fifth-rank Magical Beast could not even be considered a notable achievement.

Compared to that, she was far more anticipating what kind of good treasures might lie within this cave right now.

Chen Xiao nodded slightly. After pondering back and forth, he could only come up with one explanation.

That was at this current point in time, the Snow Demonic Sky Ape had not yet awakened its berserk bloodline, nor had it gained the ability to speak human language with the help of the Earth Heart Body Cleansing Milk.

Without dwelling on the matter, the two of them carefully inspected the Snow Demonic Sky Ape's lair.

To call it a lair was generous; in truth, it was merely a cavern of massive proportions.

Inside this cave, scattered rocks were everywhere, and white fur could be seen all over the place. In a corner of the cave wall, the ground dipped into a massive depression. The pile of white fur and the surrounding footprints were vastly more numerous than anywhere else.

"There is nothing at all."

After taking a look around, Zi Yan wrinkled her delicate nose.

Inside this lair, the stench of the Snow Demonic Sky Ape was far too pungent, something she deeply disliked.

Chen Xiao smiled faintly, sending a burst of Dou Qi shooting forward to sweep the fur in the corner aside, revealing a layer of fine sand underneath.

This layer of fine sand was very loose, completely different in soil texture from the rest of the cave, and had clearly been frequently disturbed.

"Oh..."

Zi Yan let out a soft exclamation as she stepped closer. After a moment of thought, she raised her fist and began hammering away in the most simple and brutal fashion possible.

With a single punch, the ground was left with a depression the size of a water vat and over a foot deep.

"As expected, there is something fishy here!"

Zi Yan beamed with joy, throwing punches in rapid succession.

Soon, with a dull thud, a large chunk of soil collapsed inward, revealing a wide subterranean entrance.

"Let's go down and take a look."

Seeing Zi Yan look over, Chen Xiao nodded and spoke.

Hearing this, Zi Yan did not hesitate in the slightest, leaping straight in with a single bound.

Chen Xiao followed closely behind.

Utilizing the light emitted by the white stone walls, the two could clearly see that this was an underground world filled with stalactites. Looking out, milky-white stalactites stretched on endlessly, radiating a pale white glow that completely banished the darkness here.

Stalactites grew everywhere; some hung from the ceiling above, while others stretched as long as a hundred meters. Gazing across the expanse, it could truly be called a spectacle. Occasionally, a droplet of white milky liquid would fall, emitting a crisp sound in the tranquil, lonely space.

"There really are good things! This way!"

Zi Yan twitched her nose, her eyes instantly lighting up. She pointed a direction for Chen Xiao and sped away at an increased pace.

Chen Xiao was not in a rush, lingering unhurriedly behind her.

He wanted to see what kind of changes would occur to the Earth Heart Body Cleansing Milk if Zi Yan reached its location first.

Thus, taking about ten minutes, Chen Xiao finally caught up to Zi Yan again, who was standing before a massive bluestone and waiting with a frown.

Chen Xiao walked up and saw that on top of this bluestone, there was a groove less than half a foot deep, positioned directly beneath the tip of a giant stalactite hanging from above.

Within that groove, however, there was only a very thin layer of milky-white liquid. Floating above the liquid was a faint white mist, which was quite peculiar as it drifted about endlessly without ever dissipating.

Chen Xiao recognized at a single glance that this was precisely diluted Earth Heart Body Cleansing Milk.

Or perhaps, it could also be called—

Fake Earth Heart Body Cleansing Milk!

Looking at the meager amount of milky liquid in the groove, Zi Yan wore an unkind expression.

"We came too late. Some thief beat us to it!"