Chapter 436: Chapter 317: The Sword Ape Who Betrayed Its Master, An Unexpected Upheaval!
Cloud Dream Marsh spans hundreds of thousands of miles, and its outer regions are vast and boundless. No one knows how many shoals and Demon Islands exist within, nor how many spirit monsters and Loose Cultivators are devotedly cultivating there.
To the west of the Great Marsh, beyond an expanse of continuous reeds, nine Spirit Peaks rise abruptly from the ground like sword points, the cliffs steep and precipitous, even flying birds find it hard to traverse.
Although the Spiritual Qi of these nine Spirit Peaks isn’t particularly abundant, the unique terrain has each rock containing sharp, dazzling Sword Qi, shooting straight into the sky.
Amidst the interwoven and crisscrossed rocks, Sword Qi forms a web, seemingly creating a natural Sword Qi Array that guards the Spirit Peak.
Within this Spirit Peak, numerous Silverback Long-tailed Apes leap incessantly, frolicking and playing, appearing carefree and joyous.
These are the unique inhabitants of the Spirit Peak, the Sword Apes!
Apes have always been similar to humans, with well-developed limbs, able to walk upright. Having thrived for years in this unique terrain, each Sword Ape is capable of wielding an impressive Sword Technique.
The Sword Apes stronger than Great Demons combine the ferocity of the Demon Race physique with the agility of Sword Technique, possessing extraordinary prowess; in thousands of miles, almost no one dares to provoke these Sword Apes.
At this time, outside the shortest of the Spirit Peaks in the west, a Thunder Escape Light shattered countless drifting clouds, speeding forward.
The Escape Light showed no restraint, open and frank, and naturally, it couldn’t escape the notice of the Mountain Guardian Sword Apes watching over the Spirit Peak.
"Quickly report to the King!"
Within the Spirit Peak, an Ape Demon shouted urgently.
Soon, an ape shadow leapt through layers of cliffs, quickly reaching the summit, urgently shouting at the entrance of a cave sealed by a huge stone:
"King, a handsome Golden Core Cultivator has arrived outside the peak, with a deeply profound aura. Even the Second General couldn’t discern his depths, unsure if he is friend or foe!"
Inside the stone-sealed cave, an Old Ape with grayish-white fur and white brows drooping to his chin was seated cross-legged, seemingly meditating.
Upon hearing this, it suddenly opened its eyes, a flash of dazzling sword light flickering, and in an instant, the Void turned white, illuminating the Cave Mansion as bright as day.
A mighty and sharp Divine Thought surged from its Sea of Consciousness, rising and sweeping in all directions like a sharp sword, probing outside the peak.
Below the floating clouds outside the Spirit Peak, a young Daoist with hair bound by a green clasp and flowing sleeves stood with hands behind his back, watching with interest the Spirit Peaks rising like sword points beneath him.
As if sensing this probing Divine Thought, the Daoist turned his head, looking towards the peak.
In an instant, it seemed as though two Bright Moons rose in the Daoist’s eyes, radiant Moonlight, peerlessly brilliant, and a Divine Thought even more overwhelming than the Old Ape’s surged forth.
The Old Ape closed its eyes quickly, withdrawing its Divine Thought, yet even so, it suffered a hidden loss, letting out a muffled groan within the Cave Mansion.
But it dared not delay, standing swiftly, numerous streams of Sword Qi flowed at its feet, activating the natural Sword Array within the Spirit Peak. In an instant, countless surging Sword Qi rose, forming a massive Sword Qi net outside the Spirit Peak, covering the Celestial Vault.
"Fellow Daoist, do not be alarmed. I have not come to attack the island or slay demons; I am here to seek an opportunity!"
At that moment, a hearty voice resonated from outside the Spirit Peak.
"Opportunity?!"
The Old Ape’s heart flinched, and it stepped out from the Cave Mansion, standing atop a giant rock at the summit, facing Gu Yuan from afar, and asked in a deep voice, "This Spirit Peak has sparse Spiritual Qi, and produces no heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Where is the opportunity to give you? Please, leave at once!"
"This opportunity is not an external object, but lies within you, Fellow Daoist!"
Gu Yuan chuckled with his hands behind his back.
He had been curious as to what Sword Technique improvements could be obtained while traveling the Nine Islands, but now, seeing the unique terrain of the Nine Peaks and the Sword Apes among them, he felt a realization.
The Sword Peak before him, the mountain terrain like fire, Sword Light within the stones as bright as the Great Sun, nurturing the Old Ape, who had golden light overflowing from its eyes like the brilliant sun, clearly not an ordinary creature.
If he could defeat the Old Ape and then enter this mountain to comprehend the Sword Stone, he might be able to advance the Qianyang Swordsmanship even further.
Nine Spirit Peaks are precisely Nine Paths Swordsmanship.
Gaining insight from this Spirit Peak and then finding the Sword Order to enter the Realm of Yin Yang, obtaining the final Chapter of the Sword Technique, would mark the day of the sword technique reaching Great Success.
The path of the sword lies in both comprehension and combat, one cannot be lacking.
The Sword Apes of these Nine Islands are a critical part of the "Sword Duel," a portion of the trial.
"Are you here to seek the Sword Order? Do you have proof?"
Upon hearing this, the Old Ape’s heart stirred, it blurted out the inquiry.
Gu Yuan did not hide anything, with a wave of his sleeve, a grayish beast skin Map was displayed to the Old Ape.
"It’s indeed the Map!"
"The destined one has finally arrived!"
After scrutinizing it for a long time, the Old Ape finally revealed a look of surprise, yet in the blink of an eye, it showed a helpless bitter smile:
"Unfortunately, you are already late. The Sword Order is no longer here, even if you defeat me, it’s impossible to enter the Realm of Yin Yang..."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan frowned slightly and asked, "What do you mean by this, Fellow Daoist?"
"The Nine Spirit Peaks’ Sword Stones are innate, imbued with boundless Sword Intent, yet we apes lack the wisdom to understand the methods within. Later, a Human Race Cultivator enlightened us, thus setting us fully on the path of cultivation, becoming the Sword Ape clan."
"Out of gratitude for this grace, we naturally were willing to guard the Sword Order for him, waiting for the destined one holding the Map."
"However, two hundred years ago, from within our Sword Ape clan emerged a maverick, who abducted the Sword Orders of the other eight islands, hiding them. My Spirit Peak has long since been without a Sword Order."
The Old Ape explained with a bitter smile.
As the one man and one ape conversed, suddenly within the Spirit Peak below, a beam of extraordinarily swift command light shot out abruptly, racing toward the furthest distant Sword Peak.
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