Chapter 8, The Ape Man

Suddenly, Hao Ran's heart skipped a beat as a powerful aura from the south rapidly approached

"Senior Lingxu, your judgment is quite poor. That old hag cannot even be considered a bad person? What a joke, she is beyond redemption, with pus oozing from her head and sores all over her body, completely rotten inside and out." While cursing, he conveniently cleaned himself in the Qinghu, then rushed into the Spirit Mansion and changed into another outfit, calming down slightly.

Half a month later, the ring moon hung overhead, and in front lay a lush forest, with low undulating hills faintly visible, indicating that the boundary of the Bluewood area was near. Further south was the Loess Forest, which was much larger than Bluewood and extremely dangerous

As expected, after several miles, there is a large river, beside which stands a village covering several acres. It is surrounded by a circle of wooden fences several meters high, made from locally felled logs, rough yet sturdy. Beyond this, for a distance of one hundred meters, lies an empty expanse, designed to prevent enemy ambushes

The primates? Hao Ran suddenly realized that they were the primate tribe of the Loess Forest

After two volleys, all the long arrows were exhausted. The ape-men discarded their giant bows and raised their long spears to hurl them towards the village. They were filled with rage, exerting all their strength; the long spears were even more formidable than the arrows, piercing through the wooden palisade and penetrating the entire village, with screams of agony rising and falling.

Suddenly, Haoran slowed his pace, took down his bow and arrows, floated to the treetops, and began to leap and move stealthily

The old shrew is malicious and vengeful. Now that her attempt to steal has failed, she is bound to be furious and seek revenge. As soon as dawn breaks, she will come back to kill. Indeed, Ling Xu, the sage, is right; we cannot confront her head-on. We must leave this place under the cover of darkness and depart from the Lanmu District, or else one day we will surely die at her hands.

The remaining apes quickly retreated, shouting in unison: "Chief, what should we do? ... ... The despicable Short-Haired and Book Mouse, if you have the guts, come out and fight; I will take down your Ironwood tribe. " The wise ones were smaller than them, yet much more intelligent, and the apes referred to them as "Short-Haired Mice."

This move not only astonished the apes but also took Haoran by surprise, causing him to laugh out loud. The Homo sapiens truly live up to their name; they are indeed as cunning as a fox. No, it would be more accurate to say they possess both courage and strategy, first feigning weakness to lure the apes into a trap. Hehe, it seems that today's victory is already assured

Homo sapiens warriors did not rush in all at once, but instead formed groups of three to encircle the ape men from a distance, gradually tightening their formation. Although the ape men were significantly weakened and suffered heavy casualties, desperation can drive even the most cornered to fight fiercely. Once they lost their reason and fell into madness, their combat effectiveness did not diminish but rather increased.

Although the bow and arrow are particularly heavy, the Neanderthals' rapid-fire technique is exceptionally skilled, and the speed is extremely fast, with arrows being shot one after another in an unbroken sequence, resembling a dense rain of arrows, all concentrated on a single point

Haoran quickly halted his steps, retreating several zhang. The sparks, as if they had eyes, relentlessly pursued him like a shadow. Haoran was greatly alarmed and hurriedly leaped into the air, making several agile maneuvers before lightly landing by the lakeside. "Whoosh!" A few sparks landed on his robe, instantly igniting a raging fire.

The book not only contains the fundamental principles of the Five Arts, but also includes detailed annotations, which quickly captivated Haoran

After throwing their spears, the ape-men found themselves empty-handed, yet they were unwilling to give up. They returned to the forest, either uprooting trees or breaking off branches as thick as their arms, continuing their assault with the intent to destroy the entire village and kill all the Homo sapiens

The cries from the trap grew fainter and soon fell silent, leaving the remaining ape-men in a furious rage. They immediately drew their bows and shot arrows, causing the wise men to hurriedly retreat. The rain of arrows struck the nearest thatched huts, causing them to sway and then collapse with a thunderous crash

Their giant bows were nearly as tall as a person, with arrow shafts close to one zhang in length, possessing tremendous power, almost comparable to that of the junior disciples of the Lingmen. "Dong dong!" A series of heavy sounds seemed to penetrate the wooden fence, faintly carrying the sound of screams.

Charge! The ape-man was ecstatic, drawing his bow and raising his spear as he sprinted forward, preparing to attack the village through the gap.

Oh! Before the ape could approach the open area outside the village, an alarm was sounded within the village first. The horn's sound was deep and urgent, echoing in the moonlit night sky, instilling a sense of dread.

In order to escape the relentless pursuit of Sikong Qing as soon as possible, Haoran pressed on without rest, traveling day and night, only finding places to eat and recuperate on rainy days, while also casually perusing books and talismans.

The art of tools is further divided into five major categories: refining tools, nurturing tools, controlling tools, transforming tools, and quality tools

Reaching the level of a master in artifact forging is remarkable, as one can independently create unique techniques and forge special magical treasures. Of course, nearly all masters are practitioners of the Golden Vein.

A head of a Homo sapiens popped out from the fort, laughing loudly: "Furry beast, come if you have the ability, I'll take one down at a time, haha, the Gray Fur tribe is almost dead, right?" The ape-like beings, covered in hair, were insulted by the Homo sapiens as furry beasts.

In his childhood, Haoran once visited the Homo sapiens tribe with his father and also encountered a shaman of the ape people. After that, he had no further contact, only knowing that the indigenous people of the two regions were sworn enemies, frequently engaging in brawls, which worsened the relations between their shamans. They established mutual no-go zones, strictly prohibiting their disciples from entering each other's territory

Before long, dozens of figures appeared in the forest, moving in a dispersed formation. They were tall and robust, with ape-like heads, carrying bows and spears, and their movements were extremely agile, hardly disturbing the branches and leaves along their path. Only the sound of their light and swift footsteps could be heard, resembling a soft rustling.

The indigenous people of Lanmu belong to the same race as Haoran, namely Homo sapiens, and regard the Nine Sects as their protective deities, regularly offering tributes to them. Many daily necessities of the various sects come from the indigenous tribes.

Due to time constraints, he focused his efforts on studying the art of imperial utensils, gaining a broad perspective and reaping substantial rewards

Haoran lives alone in the empty mountains, with no one to guide him. He has only learned very superficial skills; after a hundred entanglements, he knows nothing at all. Now, he treasures knowledge as if it were a precious gem, and he is eager to learn. If it were not for being on the run, he would certainly be in seclusion, diligently practicing.

However, spirit masters generally do not interfere with their actions, nor do they concern themselves with tribal conflicts; assistance is only provided during large-scale invasions by foreign tribes. The Loess Forest is primarily inhabited by the ape-man tribe, which also has its own spirit mansion.

As soon as he stepped into the open space, two sharp arrows flew out from the stronghold, accurately aimed at the leader of the ape men. Unfortunately, the distance was too great, and the leader easily deflected the arrows with his spear.

With several loud bangs, a wooden fence collapsed over a length of more than ten meters, revealing a row of rudimentary thatched cottages. The intelligent beings were thrown into chaos, shouting for a retreat, mixed with the cries of women and children.

The multitude of apes, filled with rage, rushed towards the village while drawing their bows and shooting.

This fire is the heart fire of the spirit master, and Sikong Qing herself cultivates the fire vein, making its power exceptionally great

"Ha ha, shrew, you cannot escape!" Haoran was overjoyed and was about to shoot again when suddenly, with a loud "boom," a fireball exploded, not only destroying the arrow but also sending a wave of sparks from the remaining flames rushing towards him

The term "御器" refers to the use of magical tools for defense against enemies. The combination of mental techniques and power is essential, with neither being dispensable; both are equally important. After achieving spiritual communication, one possesses a primary magical tool, which can eliminate the owner's spiritual imprint to transform into a versatile tool, allowing for new spiritual communication. Understanding the characteristics, abilities, and grades of magical tools is best approached through discernment.

Refining tools, which refers to the crafting of magical artifacts, is a highly intricate process. It involves gathering and identifying various materials, preparing suitable refining instruments, and undergoing initial and subsequent refining stages. Some magical artifacts also require specific mental techniques to master the optimal temperature.

Sister Ning, back in the day, personally crafted three robes of honor to urge him to cultivate. Hao Ran had never been willing to wear them, and unexpectedly, the first time he put one on, it was ruined. Hao Ran felt immense heartache; fortunately, the bow and arrows were undamaged, and he wasn't carrying a package, otherwise it would have been a significant loss

The art of alchemy can be cultivated, and the art of weaponry can be used to confront enemies. These two arts are the most fundamental skills of the Spirit Gate, thus they are ranked at the forefront. Those with a golden vein excel in weaponry, and naturally, Haoran is most interested in the art of weaponry.

Sneaking around, either as a thief or a scoundrel, certainly up to no good. Hmm, it must be an ambush on the Homo sapiens tribe. Hao Ran's mind stirred, and he quietly followed behind. He did not wish to meddle in others' affairs, but was merely curious to witness the battle of the indigenous people

Haoran silently praised, the physique of Homo sapiens is far inferior to that of Homo neanderthalensis, yet their intelligence quotient is very high. Conflicts between tribes are extremely frequent, and they rely on hunting for survival, possessing extensive experience in combat, remaining constantly vigilant, with a well-established defense system both inside and outside the village.

The group of apes showed a slight panic. The leader of the apes raised his spear and shouted sharply, urging the others to quicken their pace in an attempt to launch a strong attack. They were one and a half times taller than Homo sapiens, with particularly well-developed muscles and immense strength. In a direct confrontation, three Homo sapiens would not be able to match even one of them

"How much longer can we stand tall?" As he caressed the mountain monument, he let out a long sigh, gathered his energy, and his fingers turned golden. With great effort, he wrote fervently: "The destroyer of the monument shall die!" He laughed heartily and resolutely turned south.

Haoran could not help but smile secretly as Zhi and the librarians gradually retreated from the other side. Dozens of adult warriors circled around to the back, intending to annihilate the remaining enemies in one swift move

The spiritual gate encompasses five arts: elixirs, tools, illusions, talismans, and escape techniques. Vast as the sea of clouds, profound and extensive, new skills continuously emerge, making it impossible for anyone to master them all.

The earth dwellers, like the disciples of the Spirit Gate, also consist of many different groups. They operate as tribes and exist in particularly harsh environments, facing not only the threat of ferocious beasts but also frequent wars between tribes, which are extremely brutal, resulting in a very high mortality rate

He immediately picked up the package, closed the cave door, and ran out of the mountain without looking back. Upon exiting the mountain gate of Yeling, he couldn't help but pause to look back at the mountain tablet. It was a massive stone, towering a hundred feet high, inscribed with two large characters: "Yeling!" The calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, a gift from the Lingqing Sect at the beginning of the mountain's establishment.

Splash! The lake water was icy cold, the fire extinguished, and Haoran cautiously poked his head out. The other sparks vanished on their own as he immediately climbed up the lake shore, his yellow robe burned away in large part, leaving him in a disheveled state, with his skin feeling scorched.

As they approached within three zhang of the gap, dust was raised from the ground, and the first dozen or so ape-men vanished without a trace. It turned out that the wise men had long been prepared, having set traps in this location. Additionally, another dozen individuals lost their footing and fell, letting out piercing cries of despair

The magical instrument requires nourishment from internal energy to achieve a unity of mind and spirit, allowing it to be manipulated as effortlessly as one's own limbs, thereby unleashing its maximum power. This is especially true for spiritual masters, who, after establishing a connection, transform it into their life instrument, creating a profound link with their own consciousness, enabling boundless transformations at will. This is the essence of nurturing the instrument

Removing the charred, tattered robe, with a surge of righteous anger, he shouted furiously: "Shrew, lunatic, your entire family is twisted, beautiful yet venomous, no wonder your husband wants to leave; sooner or later, they will all run away, leaving behind a group of madmen, the Sikong family will be left without heirs."