Chapter Sixty-Seven: Encounter Battle

Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Encounter

A few martial artists surrounded Chu Jie, showering him with praise, convinced that trading with him would never leave them at a disadvantage, and would instead earn them considerable profit. However, none of them possessed a spatial pouch to store their belongings, so they carried little with them, which left Chu Jie somewhat dissatisfied. After acquiring a few more bottles of Azure Blue Pills, he purchased some Spirit Gathering Grass, spending a fair amount of black crystal.

The Spirit Gathering Grass still benefited his body, though not as much as it had at first. He desired to buy some Great Spirit Gathering Pills, which would greatly aid his cultivation, but none of these people had any to offer.

“Great Spirit Gathering Pills are rare treasures. Only major powers have the ability to refine them, and they seldom circulate. Each pill comes at a steep price,” the middle-aged martial artist who had spoken first explained.

Chu Jie recalled that the man he had killed earlier had been delivering Great Spirit Gathering Pills, seemingly to the Luo family. Unfortunately, after their conflict, Chu Jie had slain him, thus claiming the pill for himself.

Unable to obtain more Great Spirit Gathering Pills, Chu Jie reluctantly set the matter aside.

At that moment, Zhou Jie had recovered from his injuries for the most part, though the wounds inflicted by Chu Jie earlier left him looking pitiable. He must have had some restorative pills with him, or he would never have healed so quickly.

Zhou Jie’s dark, brooding gaze remained fixed on Chu Jie, as though he wished to devour him whole.

Chu Jie was well aware of this, and sneered inwardly but said nothing. After finishing his transactions with the group, he stored everything inside the Wildlands Cauldron. The surrounding people cast him envious looks—a treasure, and one capable of storing items as well, truly the perfect tool for robbers.

Under their covetous stares, Chu Jie put away the Wildlands Cauldron. In truth, he had not meant to flaunt it, but storing things without it was inconvenient. He resolved to find a spatial pouch in the future to avoid such attention.

Zhou Jie watched everything closely. To him, these treasures should be his, and Chu Jie was merely delivering them.

Yet killing Chu Jie would be no easy feat. From their recent battle, he knew that unless he broke through soon, he had no hope of victory. He could only bide his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Chu Jie was calculating as well. If Zhou Jie were ever alone, he and Duan Kun would not hesitate to attack.

Zhou Jie looked miserable now, but that was the price for provoking Chu Jie. He had no energy left to vie for the captain’s role and remained silent.

Despite losing to Chu Jie, Zhou Jie’s power was undeniable, so no one dared to challenge him.

With the tension between Zhou Jie and Chu Jie diffused for now, Du Xuan, as captain, was the most relieved. He carried the responsibility of mediation, but their enmity ran deep and could not be resolved merely by words. Still, as long as the time was not right, neither would act, creating a strange balance.

“Now that everyone’s rested, let’s continue to the ninth terrace,” Du Xuan said, rising to his feet.

Meanwhile, at the very center of the Abyss of Gods and Demons, columns of light continued to erupt, though no one knew what was transpiring there. Phenomena abounded, so their priority was to hurry toward that place, hoping to seize some advantage.

One martial artist who had just finished trading with Chu Jie stood at the edge of the camp, gleefully counting his black crystals, seemingly forgetting himself.

Suddenly, a shadow darted up from below!

“Watch out!” Chu Jie shouted, but it was too late. The shadow seized the martial artist and yanked him downward.

Their small camp perched on high ground, so everyone rushed over to see what had happened.

Below, three or four meters down, five or six giant black apes, walking upright, launched a savage attack on the unfortunate martial artist.

The giant black apes ravaged the corpse, all the while threatening Chu Jie’s group.

“Damn it!” Chu Jie cursed under his breath. He longed to charge down and slaughter the beasts, but their numbers were great and their cultivation formidable. Alone, Chu Jie might not prevail.

After weighing his options, Chu Jie refrained from descending and instead joined the team in fortifying their position atop the high ground.

To go down now would mean being beset by a horde of giant black apes. Here, the terrain offered some protection.

Below, the black apes were on the move—there were surely more than just a few. Their numbers must be vast.

These apes had pursued them from the seventh terrace, relentless in their pursuit. If not dealt with, they might chase them all the way to the ninth terrace.

Fortunately, the Stone Ridge Fiends had not followed, which brought some relief. Had they joined the assault, it would have been like facing a miniature beast tide, and survival would be impossible. As it was, their chances remained.

Chu Jie had long wished to slay some black apes, for they had pursued and attacked him repeatedly. Only the need to escape the beast tide had prevented him from retaliating sooner.

Now, with the apes once again confronting them, he could finally take his revenge. Remembering how they had twice killed before his eyes, Chu Jie’s fury burned.

Just then, another shadow leaped up from below, attempting to drag someone down as before, but this ape jumped in Chu Jie’s direction and caught his attention.

“Beast, you won’t escape!” Chu Jie snatched the ape’s arm and swung it forcefully onto the central clearing.

The black ape rolled several times and stood, dazed and confused by its sudden displacement. Around it, the martial artists glared menacingly.

“Kill!” they shouted, and in a flash, the giant ape was slain.

Yet no one celebrated, for many more black apes were poised to attack. Though they had killed one, it became clear that the ape’s cultivation matched the third tier of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

In other words, things looked grim—the black apes were no weaker than they were. Now, they were effectively surrounded.

At the death of one ape, a piercing howl echoed far and wide. Simultaneously, five or six shadows surged up from below. These apes, learning from their fallen comrade, did not try to drag anyone down but claimed their positions atop the high ground.

Soon after, four or five more black apes jumped up, taking another corner, forming a diagonal line.

The black apes howled and launched their attack. Their speed was unmatched, their bodies powerful, their strikes deadly. Though they wielded no weapons, their claws were razor-sharp, and every swing seemed to send a chill through the air.

More than a dozen shadows charged into their encampment, and Chu Jie and the martial artists fought desperately.

Three black apes came straight for Chu Jie, driven by their own vendetta.

Back when the beast tide erupted, these apes had chased Chu Jie relentlessly, but he had always managed to escape. Their repeated failures had etched his image firmly in their minds. Now, seeing him again, their hatred flared.

Though puzzled that several black apes targeted him directly, Chu Jie wasted no time in attacking. He summoned the Heaven and Earth Treasure Wheel, having already revealed it once and seeing no reason to hide it now.

The wheel flew out, slashing at one giant ape. The ape dodged nimbly, baring its teeth at Chu Jie, but failed to notice the wheel circling back to strike.

With a bright flash, the wheel sliced the ape in half, and it collapsed.

The other two apes, startled by Chu Jie’s ferocity, hesitated briefly before attacking again.

Chu Jie snorted coldly. While the wheel consumed much spiritual power, he carried plenty of Azure Blue Pills to restore his energy with ease.

He popped a pill, swallowed it, and poured spiritual power into the wheel. Instantly, it grew larger and shone brilliantly, slicing toward the two apes.

This time, the apes were clever—they dodged as the wheel approached, and again as it returned, avoiding harm.

By then, they were upon Chu Jie.

He recalled the treasure wheel, transforming it into gloves.

A blazing sun appeared atop his fist, its light dazzling and intense. He swung a fierce punch at one ape’s chin.

Bone shattered audibly, and the ape howled in agony, falling back but quickly rising to attack again.

The other ape slashed with its claws, sending arcs of cold light, but Chu Jie’s speed was its equal, and it failed to land a blow.

Seizing their moment of distraction, Chu Jie struck again with the treasure wheel, fists blazing.