Soul Devouring and Boundary Breaking: I Embark on the Path to Immortality in the Era of Demon Chaos

Chapter 90: Battle Against the Silverback Ape King

Deep within Seven Star Valley, a pale purple miasma, like a veil left behind by a celestial maiden, perpetually shrouds a steep, towering mountain wall. The rock face is grayish-black, covered with damp, dark green moss and deep purple vines hanging like snakes. Had Lin Yan not obtained the demon fox's memories, he would have had no chance of discovering that behind those dense clumps of poisonous ferns lay a natural crevice—more than ten feet high and only wide enough for four or five people to walk side by side—the entrance to the Spirit Milk Cave.

The group approached silently. Lin Yan slid into the crevice first. The cave was initially narrow and deep, with damp, cold rock walls on both sides and icy water droplets dripping from above. The air was filled with the somber smell of rocks and a strange aroma similar to frankincense. After walking for about twenty paces, the view suddenly opened up before them.

Bathed in the soft white light of the pearl, a natural grotto of unimaginable grandeur unfolded before my eyes. The dome soared high, densely draped with countless stalactites and stalagmites, some as thick as pillars supporting the sky, others as thin as hanging needles, forming layers upon layers of stone curtains and draperies. Stalagmites stood tall on the ground, echoing the stalagmites hanging from the ceiling, many already joined together to form colossal pillars as thick as a person's embrace. There was no light source inside the cave; only the pearl's clear glow bathed everything in a hazy, silvery-white light. The air was moist and cool, imbued with a spiritual aura many times stronger than outside.

Lin Yan's eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly scanned the area. The center of the grotto was relatively open, but numerous stalagmites and pillars were scattered throughout, forming a natural barrier. Within a few dozen feet of the entrance, the stalagmites were particularly dense, creating a complex terrain. Further into the grotto, the terrain gradually rose, forming a natural stone platform about half a person's height. Behind the platform, there were several dark, forked passageways on the rock wall.

"This is the place." Lin Yan said in a very low voice as he began assigning tasks.

Lu Ling received the order and, with two sharp-eyed snipers skilled in stealth and sniping, carrying a sufficient quantity of "Armor-Piercing Golden Crossbow Arrows" and other attack talismans, silently climbed behind several protruding rocks and stalactites above the inner side of the cave entrance, using the shadows for cover.

Zhou Fu, along with Wang Dashan, Zhao Si, and two other burly, composed team members with extensive shield-wielding experience, lay in ambush at the edge of a small plaza, located slightly behind the center of the grotto and surrounded on three sides by massive stone pillars. They leaned their shields against the pillars, examined the spiritual patterns, and adjusted their breathing.

Lin Yan closed his eyes and concentrated, sensing the flow of spiritual energy within the cave. After a moment, he opened his eyes and walked towards the stone platform in the depths. In the center of the platform was a natural groove about the size of a bowl, its inner walls smooth and warm, faintly retaining a trace of pure and peaceful spiritual energy. He memorized the location, then slowly surveyed the entire cave, engraving every stone pillar, shadow, and gap that could serve as cover into his mind.

"You all heard me clearly," Lin Yan turned to face the pairs of burning eyes in the darkness, his voice deep and clear, "After the Silverback Ape King enters the cave, Lu Ling, you will launch the first attack, be precise and sudden, aiming to disrupt its movements. Zhou Fu, once I lure that beast into the formation, watch my hand gesture and immediately form the array! Don't hold back on the spiritual power of your shields, unleash it with all your might to trap it! Brothers guarding the cave entrance," he glanced at the few team members with the most resolute expressions, "you bear the heaviest burden! Let the mountains crumble and the earth crack outside, just remember one word—defend! As long as the shields are there, the line cannot retreat! The signal will be my long howl. If things become unbearable, or if I order a retreat, you must immediately take turns providing cover as you withdraw, absolutely no lingering in battle!"

"Understood!" A suppressed yet orderly low response echoed through the cave.

Lin Yan finally looked at Su Qingyao. She insisted on staying in a slightly back part of the cave, in a place with a wide view and good concealment, so as to observe the operation of the "Earth Array". Lin Yan knew that she was determined, so he let her be, and only nodded slightly to Zhou Fu.

"Take care," Su Qingyao said softly, meeting his gaze.

Lin Yan nodded slightly, and with a flicker of his body, he darted out of the Spirit Milk Cave.

……

Guided by the fox demon's memories, Lin Yan sped towards a more ancient and secluded primeval forest northeast of Qixing'ao. The closer he got to that forest, the stronger the stench of wild beasts in the air became, and huge handprints and broken trees appeared on the ground. The forest was eerily silent.

Lin Yan paused on a giant, moss-covered rock, concentrating his senses. Deep within the forest, several powerful and violent auras were clearly discernible. The strongest of these was majestic and imposing, like a mountain, far surpassing the others. The remaining dozen or so auras were slightly weaker, gathering around the strongest one.

Lin Yan no longer concealed himself. The pale golden core in his chest and abdomen suddenly spun, and a surge of spiritual energy from the Core Formation Realm spread outwards, crashing towards the core area where the Silverback Ape King was located! At the same time, he focused his energy in his dantian and let out a clear, long, and resonant roar that seemed to pierce through the clouds and split rocks!

"Awooo—?!"

Deep within the forest, a furious roar suddenly erupted! It shook the branches and leaves, and echoed through the mountainside!

Immediately afterwards, a dull tremor shook the earth! Thump! Thump! Thump! ...like a primordial giant beating a drum, it approached from afar with terrifying speed!

Lin Yan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he turned and sped towards the Spirit Milk Cave! He controlled his speed to a perfect degree—not letting the pursuers catch up easily, but not leaving them too far behind.

"roar--!!!"

The roar behind him grew ever closer, filled with violent killing intent. Lin Yan glanced back occasionally and saw a massive figure, as if cast from silver, smashing through all obstacles in its path with utter brutality! The figure, standing upright, was probably two zhang and three zhang tall, its entire body covered in long, silvery-gray fur that shimmered with a metallic sheen in the sparse sunlight. A patch of snow-white silver on its back was its most prominent feature. Its eyes were blood-red, its fangs bared, and each step it took left a deep crater in the ground.

It was the Silverback Ape King! A little further behind, a dozen silver-gray figures leaped and flew through the trees, hot on their heels.

The chase and escape kicked up clouds of dust. In no time at all, the miasma-shrouded mountain wall where the Spirit Milk Cave was located came into view.

A cold glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. He suddenly accelerated and plunged into the pale purple mist! The instant he entered the miasma, he unleashed several palm strikes with his backhand. The palm wind was condensed, containing a trace of the true essence of the [Burning Mountain Claw], and scattered behind him with specks of pale golden sparks!

These few sparks had limited power, but the golden fire aura belonging to the Golden Flame Fox, which the Silverback Ape King loathed, and this blatant "teasing," completely ignited the raging flames in its chest!

"Roar—!!!"

The Silverback Ape King's massive body, accompanied by a raging wind that could crush everything, crashed into the poisonous miasma without stopping!

Passing through the miasma zone, the narrow cave entrance was just a stone's throw away. Lin Yan ducked and slid into the dark crevice.

Almost simultaneously, the Silverback Ape King's mountain-like body surged to the cave entrance! It seemed not entirely unfamiliar with the cave, its movements momentarily halting. However, the distinct aura of the hateful provocateur emanating from within, along with those few pesky golden sparks, instantly crushed any warning signs! A low, murderous roar rolled from its throat, and it, without hesitation, plunged headfirst into the somewhat cramped entrance! Its robust body scraped against the rock wall, producing a teeth-grinding "crunch," and gravel cascaded down.

The cave was dark, with only a faint glow emanating from its depths. The Silverback Ape King squeezed into the cave, its crimson eyes flashing with a terrifying ferocity in the darkness. It snorted, sensing the slippery human's scent, and began its heavy, rumbling pursuit! Each step echoed dully in the enclosed space.

Just as its massive body stepped completely into the cave, its eyes had not yet fully adjusted to the change in light, and its mind was firmly drawn to the scent of its prey ahead—

"Hiss hiss hiss—!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several sharp, piercing sounds burst forth without warning from the dense shadows above and to the left and right! Steel crossbow bolts tempered with "Armor-Piercing" runes flashed with a cold light; several pale golden arc-shaped blades formed from "Sharp Gold Sword Qi Runes" were as thin as cicada wings, tearing through the air! This attack was cunning and ruthless, all aimed at the Silverback Ape King's eyes, ears, nostrils, and the joints connecting its knees and elbows!

Even the fierce Silverback Ape King was caught completely off guard by this sudden turn of events! It only had time for an instinctive roar, to close its eyes, and to swing its massive, beam-like arms to protect its head and face, its body slightly tilted in an attempt to withstand the attack. However, Lu Ling and the others' long-prepared attack was timed with absolute precision!

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Two crossbow bolts pierced its left forearm, which it was using to block, and the sharp energy from the "Armor Piercing" rune pierced through the skin, bringing a burning pain! A pale golden sword aura grazed the edge of its right arm, which was protecting its face, severing several strands of silvery-white hair above its ear and leaving a trail of tiny blood droplets!

"roar--!!!"

The excruciating pain and the humiliation of being attacked drove the Silverback Ape King into a complete frenzy! It suddenly spread its arms wide, roaring to the sky with a deafening roar filled with boundless rage! The sound waves surged wildly within the cave like a tangible shockwave, causing rubble to rain down from the ceiling! Its crimson eyes almost spit fire as it stared intently at the direction from which the crossbow bolts and sword energy had come, its silver fur standing on end, its surging demonic power flowing like boiling magma, ready to pounce without hesitation!

However, just as its attention was drawn to the ambush from above and it was enraged, the human figure it had been relentlessly pursuing in the dimly lit area of ​​the stone pillars in the center of the cave unexpectedly stopped, slowly turned around, and faced it.

Lin Yan stood quietly beside a massive stalagmite that required two people to encircle, his figure upright, his face expressionless, only his eyes shining with an astonishing light in the dim light. In his hand was a simple-looking but exquisitely crafted steel longsword infused with pure spiritual energy. The blade hummed softly, emitting an eerie, gray-black aura, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground, a chilling killing intent locking onto the Silverback Ape King from afar.

The Silverback Ape King's ferocious pounce paused slightly due to this unexpected halt. Although enraged, it was not entirely without intelligence. The prey's unusual calmness, and the seemingly more solid and obscure aura emanating from it than when it was fleeing earlier, caused a trace of instinctive vigilance and hesitation to flash deep within the flames of fury in its crimson eyes.

In that brief moment when its mind was slightly distracted and its ferocity subsided, Lin Yan made a move!

Without a warning shout, he lightly pushed off the slippery rocky ground with his feet, and his entire body shot towards the Silverback Ape King like an arrow released from a bow, transforming into a blurry gray shadow! His speed was so fast that he left a faint afterimage in his place! The long sword in his hand drew a fierce and decisive arc of light, aiming straight for the ape king's waist and abdomen! This strike concentrated all the essence, energy, and spirit of his newly advanced Core Formation stage, and even faintly incorporated a trace of the [Burning Mountain Claw]'s inextinguishable and unstoppable essence!

The Silverback Ape King roared, its massive right arm sweeping out with a howling wind and immense force! It intended to crush this reckless human into a bloody pulp with absolute power!

However, Lin Yan's forward momentum suddenly changed at the very moment his longsword was about to collide with the giant arm of the ape king! His [Swiftness] talent was pushed to its limit, his body seemingly weightless, defying all logic in its agility and flexibility, narrowly slid past the ape king's sweeping arm just inches below it! At the same time, the momentum of his longsword remained unchanged, and the gray-black blade light smoothly dragged along the inside of the ape king's arm!

"laugh--!"

A deep, gruesome gash, revealing bone and with flesh torn open, appeared on the inside of the Silverback Ape King's thick forearm! Dark red blood gushed out! Furthermore, a cold, domineering, and greedily devouring gray-black true essence silently seeped in through the wound!

"Awooo!" The Silverback Ape King suddenly felt pain, and its left claw followed up with a powerful slam, its five fingers like hooks, tearing through the air with a sharp screech!

Lin Yan, however, did not take the blow head-on. His body moved like a leaf in a storm, drifting backward with the fierce gust of wind generated by the giant claw of the ape king. At the same time, he did not retract his long sword. With a flick of his wrist, the tip of the sword repeatedly thrust and stabbed. Streams of condensed, needle-like gray-black sword energy rained down like pear blossoms, precisely targeting the ape king's wrist joints, the inside of his elbows, and the joint between his shoulder blades—key and vulnerable points! Although these sword energies were not enough to cause serious injury, the spirit-devouring true essence they contained and their tricky attack points greatly interfered with and slowed down the ape king's movements, causing him to have the strength to move mountains but to hit empty air every time, which was extremely frustrating.

This is precisely the method Lin Yan learned from the memories of the Golden Flame Fox for dealing with such powerful demonic beasts—never confront them head-on, but instead use extraordinary speed, agile movements, and precise attacks to continuously provoke and deplete them, leading them step by step into a pre-set trap.

The Silverback Ape King was thoroughly enraged by this "slippery" and "mosquito-like" fighting style. It roared repeatedly, and its attacks became increasingly ferocious and violent. However, it was also unable to maintain its composure due to extreme anger. Lin Yan fought and retreated, gradually leading it to the "small square" in the center of the cave, which was surrounded on three sides by towering stone pillars that were as thick as a person's embrace.