"Captain Wang, who is this guy?" Li Mu looked at the face of 'Master Zhou' which turned into a ghastly stranger after death, and curiously asked Wang Deshan.

"He is Huan Xue Divine Child, one of the Nine Great Divine Sons of the Blood God Sect. I didn't expect him to die just like that!" Wang Deshan stared at the head with amazement.

After speaking, Wang Deshan looked up at Li Mu, admiringly praising, "Master Li, you are really incredible! I didn't expect that you not only have outstanding artifact refining skills, but also such formidable cultivation and combat techniques! This Huan Xue True Master had cultivated an exquisite blood technique, and even the Five Sect True Disciples were helpless against him. He was one of the top contenders for the next Sect Master of the Blood God Sect, yet he died by your hands just like that!"

"Haha! I just took advantage of the magical treasure spiritual artifact. Is the Blood God Sect so poor? They don't even have a decent high-tier spiritual artifact on them!" Li Mu replied with a smile, having checked the spoils of a storage bracelet but found nothing worth much, totally not in line with what a Golden Core cultivator should possess.

"Uh! The Blood God Sect has always focused on refining blood techniques, defeating enemies with unpredictable blood techniques, and since the difficulty of crafting blood artifacts is high, they wouldn't carry too many spiritual artifacts on themselves." Wang Deshan quickly explained.

Li Mu nodded, realizing that it was no wonder he found lots of blood-related materials in the storage bracelet.

"Captain Wang, do you know where this place is? How far is it to the next city, and how do we get back?" Li Mu asked, concerned, seeing Wang Deshan in a daze.

Hearing this, Wang Deshan snapped back to reality, shot a resentful glance at Li Mu, and said softly, "This should be the Hongyun Ridge Mountain Range, about three thousand miles from the next major cultivation city—Mo Yu City. At the flying speed of the Celestial Spirit treasure ship, it should take about one hour to get there!"

...

Li Mu turned to look at the crashed Celestial Spirit, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face.

Earlier, if he hadn't intervened, the defense array of the captain's chamber might have held for another hour just fine.

"Master Li, don't misunderstand, I'm not blaming you. If we had continued to hold out, that Huan Xue demon certainly wouldn't have spared the others on the ship. You saved everyone!" Wang Deshan realized he misspoke and quickly explained.

"Help!"

Just as Wang Deshan finished speaking, a distant scream echoed, and they saw passengers who had fled now flying back by sword, being pursued by a group of demon apes, with giant rocks hurtling towards them.

The passengers who had dispersed earlier had suffered many casualties, and less than half returned.

...

Li Mu sighed, noticing that they were pursued by a group of muscular Tier Two demon apes, he relaxed a little and quickly moved to help.

With a flash, a Tier Four spiritual sword appeared at his feet, and he flew out by sword control.

At the same time, five Tier Three flying swords appeared sequentially, followed closely by a Geng Metal Shield, and a square seal flew out as well, swarming towards the demon ape group.

With a loud "bang," a giant rock smashed onto a suddenly appeared golden shield, successfully saving a terrified Qi Refining female cultivator.

With a loud "boom," the giant square seal, like a hundred-zhang high mountain, fiercely slammed into the demon ape group, instantly knocking down many Tier Two demon apes. They were furious, spewing fresh blood, severely injured by the intense counterforce, and the pursuit of the Tier Two demon ape group halted abruptly.

"Roar!" A two-zhang high Demon Ape King pounded its chest and roared angrily, reaching out to grab the void, condensing a giant rock and hurling it at Li Mu, having identified the 'culprit.'

Li Mu quickly maneuvered the Geng Metal Shield to fly back and meet it.

Unexpectedly, the boulder, like a thunderbolt, suddenly curved around, dodging the Geng Metal Shield and continued to aim at him!

It even curves!?

A bit of cheating!

Li Mu's whole body flashed with Five Elements spiritual power, his figure turned into dust and disappeared, using Five Elements Escape Technique to reappear from an ancient tree, forming a sword technique with his hands, and the five Five Elements spirit swords flew together, rapidly merging into a ten-zhang long Five Elements Giant Sword, slashing towards the Tier Two Demon Ape King.

The Tier Two Demon Ape King's eyes showed a hint of despair. Having no place to evade, it raised both arms, all hair stood erect, and golden light gathered.

The Five Elements Giant Sword struck down hard.

With a loud "boom," the immense impact shockwave instantly destroyed countless ancient trees around, clearing the heavens and earth.

However, the golden giant ape still stood tall, its arms drenched in blood. Yet, its figure became immensely majestic, and the gathered golden light deepened a few shades, emanating a fierce, overwhelming demonic aura, stronger than before.

The Demon Ape King, eyes blood-red, stared intently at him, filled with killing intent.

"No way! It can even advance in such a situation!"

Facing the Demon Ape King's gaze, Li Mu's face turned pale, murmuring incredulously.

In desperation, the Tier Two peak Demon Ape King advanced against the tide, successfully breaking through, and ascended to a Tier Three demon beast.

After the five spirit swords merged to deliver a strike, their spiritual energy greatly depleted, they disassembled and flew back.

"It's over! The Demon Ape King advanced, we're doomed!"

"Heavens! How could we be so unlucky!"

"Where is that Golden Core True Master? Did he run away?"

...

The panicked returnees cried out in despair.

Wang Deshan's face turned incredibly grim, having just escaped Huan Xue True Master, only to encounter a Tier Three Demon King immediately. Can Master Li create another miracle?

The power of an ordinary Tier Three demon beast is comparable to a Golden Core cultivator, let alone this ape demon being a Demon King, more talented and powerful than ordinary demon beasts. Despite its breakthrough during battle, this only further highlighted its exceptionally outstanding talent.

Only a young, talented Demon King could advance in the heat of battle, using battle to foster growth.

"Roar!" The Tier Three Demon Ape King pounded its chest with both hands, howling skyward, its battle spirit soaring, looking at Li Mu with eyes full of provocation.

Li Mu silently gestured, retrieving the five Tier Three Five Elements spirit swords into the Nine Treasures Spirit Pearl, having no other options! The Tier Three spirit sword couldn't handle it, he could only use the Tier Four now!

Li Mu released the Tier Four Spirit Sword under his feet, then summoned four additional Tier Four Spirit Swords from the storage compartment, which he had specially prepared using high-tier materials commissioned by the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

Although he had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, manipulating five Tier Four Spirit Swords at once was still quite strenuous, so when battling 'Master Zhou,' Li Mu primarily used Tier Three Spirit Swords against him.

This Demon Ape King had thick skin and sturdy flesh; even the combined force of five Tier Three Spirit Swords couldn't take it down, and it managed to promote its tier during the battle. Without using Tier Four Spirit Swords, it would be impossible to defeat it.

The five Tier Four Spirit Swords appeared one after the other, radiating intense spirit light and emanating an overwhelming murderous intent.

The Tier Three Demon Ape King ceased its chest-thumping battle cry, gazing at the five Tier Four Spirit Swords with growing solemnity on its face.

Seeing the five Tier Four Spirit Swords make their appearance, Wang Deshan finally understood what Master Li meant by saying he had gained the advantage of possessing magical and spiritual artifacts.

This wasn't just taking advantage! It was clearly using wealth to bully others! Or rather, to bully demon beasts!

The previously despairing crowd, who were pessimistically shouting, suddenly fell silent, their eyes filled with delight as they watched the simultaneous appearance of the five Tier Four Spirit Swords.

"Haha! We're saved, we're saved! So many Tier Four Spirit Swords!"

"Captain Wang, who is that person? They must be incredibly wealthy!"

"Shopkeeper Huang has been clinging to him, calling him Master Li!"

"Ah! He is an Artifact Refining Grandmaster! No wonder!"

...

The crowd was overjoyed, discussing with celebratory enthusiasm.

"Roar!" The Tier Three Demon Ape King roared angrily at Li Mu, then suddenly turned around, bolting away with a 'swoosh.' The other demon apes, seeing this, quickly followed in a swarm!

Li Mu was stunned. He had brought out his trump card spirit swords, yet the opponent ran away!

"Haha! This Demon King is smart, knowing it couldn't win!"

"It ran away! It actually ran away!"

"Alas! If Master Li had appeared sooner, Wang Yi wouldn't have had to die!"

"What are you talking about! Master Li was just fighting with that Golden Core; how could he have possibly saved someone in time!"

...

The crowd broke into discussion, going from happiness to sorrow in their discourse.

...

Li Mu listened to their chatter but did not respond, instead retrieving the five Tier Four Spirit Swords, Geng Metal Shield, and Ruyi Seal back into the Nine Treasures Spirit Pearl.

"Oh!" Li Mu flew forward, discovering a juvenile ape left behind by the demon ape group lying on the ground. It seemed to be alive, likely having fainted during the previous chaos, but it wasn't injured.

Gazing at the young demon ape lying on the ground, Li Mu remembered an item at the bottom of his chest. He injected his Divine Sense into the storage compartment and immediately found his target.

A piece of Golden Ape Beast Hide recording two spiritual wine recipes.

Golden Ape Belly Hide

Grade: Tier Three Spiritual Object

Special Effect: Demon Text does not appear, Water and Fire Immersion

Engraving of Golden Ape Belly Hide Demon Blood, enduring a millennium, recording the Golden Ape Race's inheritance - the recipe for brewing Hundred Fruit Spirit Monkey Wine, infusing ape demonic power, can manifest the quantity of this spiritual wine inheritance.

Yellow Ginseng Spirit Wine

Grade: Tier One Lower Grade

Special Effect: Strengthening Spirit and Awakening Soul, Blood Detoxification and Lung Moistening

Recipe for Tier One Yellow Ginseng Spirit Wine, a three-hundred-year legacy, created by the Sun Clan in imitation of the Hundred Fruit Monkey Spirit Wine, main ingredients: Yellow Reishi, Hundred Flowers Ginseng, secret fermentation method, long-term use has slight body tempering and spirit strengthening effects.

Li Mu immediately cast the Spirit Taming Contract Seal Technique, inscribing a Spirit Taming Seal into the Divine Soul of the juvenile demon ape, and conveniently stored it in the Spirit Beast Bag.

Li Mu then tidied up the battlefield; the Tier Four Ruyi Square Seal had caused substantial results when it smashed into the demon ape group earlier, killing or injuring numerous Tier Two demon apes.

For those injured, Li Mu compassionately wielded a sword to end their suffering, easing their pain.

These Tier Two Golden Apes were perfect high-grade materials for refining Tier Two Gold Sword Talismans and Golden Armor Talismans which couldn't be overlooked, so Li Mu skinned them quickly and stored the bodies of these demon apes into the newly acquired storage bracelet.

Meanwhile, under Wang Deshan's command, others began to remove useful spiritual objects from the treasure ship and started collecting the bodies of deceased or injured companions, creating a busy scene.

"Captain Wang, can you let me have 'Huan Xue Divine Child's' head? I'm planning to join the Qing Xuan Sect, and there's a bounty for 'Huan Xue Divine Child's' head that can be exchanged for a contribution at Qing Xuan Sect," Li Mu tentatively requested as he approached Wang Deshan.

"Of course, it should be yours; it's your spoils of battle. However, this person did hijack our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion ship, Master Li, could you lend me the head first so that I can make a report to several general managers in our pavilion? I'll arrange to have the head returned to you later," Wang Deshan explained apologetically to Li Mu.

"Alright then. When will your sect's reinforcement ship arrive?" Li Mu nodded understandingly, then asked with concern.

Just as Wang Deshan was about to answer, a series of thunderous sounds came faintly from the sky, gradually approaching from afar to near.

Li Mu, Wang Deshan, and the other survivors all looked up.

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