Chapter 53: Blue-Scaled Demon Ape, Xenogenic Demon Seed

The Cu Yue Mountain Range, abundant with spiritual energy, combined with the Five Elements Formation’s ability to gather spirits, created an exceptional environment for cultivation.

Qin Shu and Xiao Yan, immersed in their training, were oblivious to the passage of time.

At the lake’s bottom, the Profound Origin Banner, empowered by the Five Elements Formation, reached a new phase in refining the Cold Marrow Pearl.

New restrictive techniques emerged, guided by the principles of the Five Elements. As the Profound Origin Banner evolved, the other four flags—Cyan Lotus, Flame Radiance, Apricot Yellow, and Cloud Boundary—also transformed in response.

For every new restrictive technique generated by the Profound Origin Banner, corresponding innovations appeared in the Cyan Lotus, Flame Radiance, Apricot Yellow, and Cloud Boundary Flags.

These five flags, interdependent yet conflicting, shifted in harmony: change one, and all must follow.

Thus, the once-impenetrable Cold Marrow Pearl became more accessible.

As Qin Shu collected the eighth Yin-Yang Pill, the Profound Origin Banner began its transformation.

A cloud of frigid mist billowed from the lake’s depths, swiftly freezing the surface. Even the waterfall crashing down from above froze mid-stream, forming a majestic icy curtain.

The new restrictive technique fully manifested, casting a beam of blue light that penetrated Qin Shu’s forehead.

The Profound Origin Banner now possessed the power to condense water into profound ice, controlling all the world’s waters while storing enough liquid to fill a lake.

Simultaneously, the other four flags also completed their transformations, acquiring new restrictive techniques.

The Cyan Lotus Banner purified the world’s filth, The Flaming Light Banner transmuted fire into radiance, The Apricot-Yellow Banner controlled vectors, The Cloudthroat Banner shifted without fault, conjuring illusions and manipulating shadows.

As Qin Shu experienced the new restrictions of the five banners, his understanding of the Five Elements Great Escape advanced to a new level almost unconsciously.

Without realizing it, he began to make hand gestures instinctively.

Fire and Earth combined could create meteor showers or cause volcanic eruptions.

Wind and Fire gave birth to wind and rising water, freezing thousands of miles over, sweeping mountains away and drying seas…

Various composite spells flowed from him effortlessly. The ice on the lake shattered, the waterfall turned into icy curtains that crashed down, breaking into shards that flew in all directions.

Xiao Yan was awoken by this commotion long ago. Seeing his master in the middle of enlightenment, he lifted his wings to protect him from the flying ice shards.

Sleep was definitely out of the question now.

Qin Shu couldn’t remain in deep thought for long either.

The intense fluctuations of battle and furious roars suddenly reached his ears with such clarity.

His heart jolted, immediately pulling him out of his state of enlightenment. He looked towards the horizon.

It was noon, the sun blazing overhead, yet the light on the horizon was even more blinding than the sunlight. Red and blue hues intertwined, accompanied by explosions and roars that echoed incessantly in his ears.

“What level of battle is this?”

Qin Shu’s pupils contracted slightly as he sensed the terrifying fluctuations of this combat, knowing he couldn’t afford to provoke it.

But then, a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind—his opportunity had arrived.

He hastily called out, “Xiao Yan, let’s go.”

“Where to, Master?” Xiao Yan asked, puzzled.

“I don’t know,” Qin Shu shook his head. “But it’s definitely a good place.” A fiery glint flashed in his eyes. “We’re going to need you in the blood pact space again.”

“Alright, Master.” Xiao Yan, without hesitation, dissolved into light and entered Qin Shu’s sea of consciousness.

Qin Shu packed away his four-sided flag, leaving only the Profound Origin Banner to swirl around him. He dove into the water, using the Water Escape to reach the lake’s bottom and the undercurrent. Without resistance, he was instantly swept inside.

The current was fast, but Qin Shu still felt it wasn’t enough. He enhanced it with Water Escape, all while instructing the Profound Origin Banner to absorb water.

After nine turns and eighteen bends, he was finally ejected.

It led him to another cliff, where a waterfall plummeted into the depths below. The impact carved a channel from the lake, forming a mighty river that flowed eastward.

On both banks of the river, spirit trees, flowers, and grasses flourished. Spiritual energy coalesced into a tangible form, creating an ideal land for cultivation.

From the looks of it, this place was undoubtedly claimed.

Qin Shu suspected that the owner of this place was one of the combatants fighting in the distance.

Thus, he didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings, his divine sense hastily sweeping over them. He felt rich all of a sudden—this whole area was like a spiritual medicine treasure trove.

The apricot-yellow flag appeared.

“Go!”

The flag transformed into a beam of yellow light, plunging into the ground.

Wherever Qin Shu’s divine sense reached, the earth cracked open. Strange flowers and exotic grasses were uprooted by the bunch, while spirit trees transformed into light, all flying into the microscopic heavenly cave that had been summoned.

The entire valley, including the fruit tree with the most vibrant life force, was sensed by Qin Shu and promptly collected.

Without any hesitation, he then retracted the apricot-yellow flag, plunging himself into the river. He didn’t even spare a glance to see what he had just acquired.

Don’t be fooled by the saying ‘the fisherman reaps the benefit of the battle between the clam and the crane’. If either the crane or the clam react, I’d be the one turned into fish food, Qin Shu thought, fleeing swiftly.

Using the Water Escape technique, he could travel downriver at incredible speed—covering hundreds of miles in no time was no exaggeration.

“Drawing a tiger from the mountain, you humans are truly despicable.” The Celestial Dragon roared, leaping up. “Great Destruction Fist.”

This creature was the undisputed ruler of the southern region of the Cu Yue Mountain Range, a seventh-rank monster beast. In its single form, it measured over a hundred meters tall. Its fists, glowing with blue light, transformed into even more colossal appendages, smashing towards its opponent with a force that could shake the heavens.

The opponent was a mysterious figure shrouded in scarlet flames. In the face of this overwhelming punch, he remained unfazed. His hands formed a seal before him, conjuring boundless flames.

“Bring it on! Behold my Flaming Crow Art!”

The flames coalesced into a massive fire-red, three-legged crow, hurtling towards the green fist.

The two forces clashed, their red and blue energies filling half the sky, shaking it to its core.

Above, clouds were shredded across hundreds of kilometers, the sound of impact thundering louder than any lightning.

Qin Shu fled into the water, yet even that couldn’t block out the booming sounds, which caused his eardrums to sting painfully.

The mysterious figure, mistaking the sound for his ally’s success, took advantage of the moment to retreat. “Ha ha, monkey king, we’ll meet again in the future.”

“Not so fast,” the Celestial Dragon roared, its wings unfurled once more. It transformed into a streak of green light, chasing down the figure.

“What?” The figure glanced back, terror gripping his soul. “You’re no simple green-skinned ape—you’re a twisted demonic seed.”

“Realizing this now is too late,” growled the Celestial Dragon. It quickly closed the gap, snarling, “Thousand Whirling Slash!”

Its wings thrashed, summoning countless blades of wind.

The azure wind blades were boundless, instantly transforming the entire world into a green hue as they engulfed the mysterious figure before him.

“Damn it!”

Within the sea of green light, a raging inferno sprang to life around the stranger’s body. “Flaming Crow Dharma idol!”

The Flaming Crow spiritual soul coalesced with his own, forming a Dharma idol. Though not as massive as the Celestial Dragon, it was formidable in its own right, its crimson fire feathers shimmering with life.

“Unlimited Fire Feathers!”

With a clear shout, the scarlet wings expanded a hundredfold. Fire feathers condensed in front of the wings, and with a flicker of the fire pinions, they unleashed an endless barrage of fiery darts. The wind blades and fire feathers collided in a devastating display, annihilating each other in an instant.

Having made his move, the mysterious man showed no hesitation. The Flaming Crow Dharma idol flapped its wings, preparing to vanish into thin air. Yet, a voice echoed in his ears: “Not so fast.”

Harnessing the ferocious winds, the Celestial Dragon had closed the distance without warning. His colossal fist swung out, an overwhelming pressure bearing down on the mysterious man.

“You wreaked havoc on my domain? You think you can leave unscathed? My fist will be your last meal.”

Faced with this tremendous blow, the mysterious man dared not meet it head-on. His only recourse was evasion.

While the Flaming Crow Dharma idol was powerful, it paled in comparison to the monstrous physique of this xenobeast. Engaging in close-quarters combat with such a creature was no wise decision for any man.