Half-retreating, Zhang Yang bent his body sharply, gliding backward like a drawn bow.

"Crack!"

Long Feng's Snow Whip arrived at that moment, snapping loudly in the air as it struck heavily against the object that had just attacked Zhang Yang.

This whip managed to block the object opposite, finally allowing Zhang Yang to pull back. Only then did he straighten up, staring with lingering fear at the thing that had ambushed him.

Upon seeing the object, Zhang Yang froze for a moment.

Beside him, Long Feng also stood gaping at the sight ahead, while behind them, Li Wei was utterly stunned.

On the ground before them, a massive pit was revealed, and at its edge stood an ape over two meters tall, still shedding clumps of dirt from its body.

The ape’s arms were incredibly long; the arms alone were as tall as an adult man.

Zhang Yang and Long Feng exchanged glances, recognizing the mutual astonishment in each other's eyes.

"Long-Armed Spirit Ape. These are spirit beasts only found inland. How could it be here?"

Zhang Yang managed to say, his voice strained. Long Feng shook his head, his face etched with confusion.

The Long-Armed Spirit Ape, a strength-type spirit beast, carried no poison, possessing a physique of steel cables and iron bones. Not only was its defense formidable, but its strength was also immense.

It was rumored that the Long-Armed Spirit Ape could split mountains and shatter stones; it could even take down an elephant with a single punch, crushing its skull.

Spirit beasts specializing in brute force were more troublesome than venomous ones. With venomous beasts, one only needed to counter the poison, but against strength-type beasts, there was often no good recourse.

Absolute power overrides technique; if there’s a definitive gap in strength, there’s simply no easy solution.

However, Long-Armed Spirit Apes usually dwelt deep in the mountains, never inhabiting islands. Its presence here was completely unexpected.

As Zhang Yang and his companions faced the Long-Armed Spirit Ape, the beast was also observing them.

This particular Long-Armed Spirit Ape seemed different from the norm. Its fur was long, and the hair on its head had turned white. Deep wrinkles lined its face.

Judging purely by its appearance, it looked more like an elder ape.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!"

Lightning and Shadowless both leaped out, chattering incessantly at the Long-Armed Spirit Ape. Zhang Yang could sense their intent—they were trying to negotiate with the beast to acquire some Resurrection Grass.

"Roar!"

The Long-Armed Spirit Ape suddenly threw its head back and roared, extending its terrifyingly long, iron-like arms to slam the ground several times.

Lightning and Shadowless immediately scrambled onto Zhang Yang, continuing to bark at the ape from a distance.

"Dr. Zhang, wh-what is that!"

Li Wei, who had been paralyzed, finally snapped out of his stupor, asking hesitantly. He had never encountered such a massive monster before.

To him, the Long-Armed Spirit Ape was pure monstrosity.

Facing this clearly aged Long-Armed Spirit Ape, Zhang Yang seemed to grasp a great deal.

The Long-Armed Spirit Ape, being a strength-type spirit beast, possessed immense power capable of cleaving mountains and smashing rocks, effectively carving paths through solid stone.

Such power was simply beyond human resistance; even having reached the third layer of Inner Strength, he could not withstand a direct blow.

However, the Long-Armed Spirit Ape was not without its flaws; the primary drawback was its sluggish movement. Despite its tremendous strength, it lacked agility. If it hadn't erupted from underground for that surprise attack, Zhang Yang would not have been in such danger.

The Long-Armed Spirit Ape was mighty but slow. This sluggishness was why Zhang Yang's ancestor back then was able to retreat unscathed.

Because the Long-Armed Spirit Ape’s power was too great, Zhang Yang's ancestor was no match for it and naturally failed to retrieve the Resurrection Grass, leaving a regret.

Zhang Yang’s speculation was indeed close to the truth; his ancestor had retreated in precisely that manner.

This Long-Armed Spirit Ape was visibly much older now. Their lifespan was around five hundred years. One hundred and sixty years ago, it was in its prime, and only a prime Long-Armed Spirit Ape could have rendered the late-stage third layer Inner Strength Zhang family ancestor utterly helpless.

The ancestor's cultivation level when he arrived was significantly higher than Zhang Yang's current strength.

"Zhang Yang, what do we do?"

Long Feng's expression grew grave. The Long-Armed Spirit Ape was different from the Golden Crown Python. While the Python was strong, it wasn't purely a strength-type beast; ultimately, it was a venomous creature.

The Golden Crown Python’s hide could stop bullets; the Long-Armed Spirit Ape was far beyond that level of resilience.

"The Long-Armed Spirit Ape isn't agile, but we have more people. Our goal here is the Resurrection Grass. I’ll keep it occupied; you pull the grass. One stalk is all we need!"

Zhang Yang considered it briefly before whispering his plan. Their greatest current advantage was numbers.

If he and Long Feng could separate slightly, as long as one held the ape's attention, the other might have a chance to secure the Resurrection Grass.

"I’ll keep it busy; you go pull the grass. Just be quick!"

Long Feng added, looking up at Zhang Yang.

The Long-Armed Spirit Ape was a creature that even a late-stage third layer Inner Strength practitioner couldn't confront directly. Whether it was him or Zhang Yang, being touched by this beast would yield terrible results.

Minor injuries at best; death at worst.

Long Feng volunteering for such a perilous task stirred a slight sense of gratitude in Zhang Yang’s heart. But Zhang Yang had already intended to take the dangerous role; they shared the same thought.

"No need. I’ve reached the third layer of Inner Strength; I’m faster than you and can maneuver around it a few times. Dealing with it would be too strenuous for you!"

Zhang Yang smiled and shook his head. Asking Long Feng to handle the Long-Armed Spirit Ape was simply out of the question.

The gap between Long Feng and this ape was too wide. In terms of power scaling, a prime Long-Armed Spirit Ape was equivalent to a late-stage third layer Inner Strength practitioner. However, due to their unique physiology and overwhelming strength, ordinary late-stage third layer Inner Strength cultivators were no match for them.

This ape was clearly much older, deep into senescence.

An aged ape's capabilities would certainly have declined, but it would still equate to at least a mid-stage third layer Inner Strength cultivator, compounded by its abnormal defense and unimaginable power—advantages they always held in combat against cultivators.

Zhang Yang, an early-stage third layer Inner Strength cultivator, stood no chance of victory against an aged Long-Armed Spirit Ape.

"Li Wei, go back to the helicopter immediately. Have it ascend and leave this island. Wait for us to return before you come back!"

Zhang Yang turned and instructed Li Wei, not having time for pleasantries now. They weren't certain they could handle this powerful spirit beast, yet they absolutely had to obtain the Resurrection Grass—someone's life depended on it.

This left them unable to retreat with the composure of Zhang Yang's ancestor, who wasn't in urgent need of the grass and could return later when his strength increased.

"No, I'm not leaving!"

Li Wei pulled out a handgun, shaking his head fiercely. He was still nervous, but at least he possessed the courage to stay.

"That thing is useless!"

Zhang Yang glanced calmly at the handgun and shook his head gently.

If the dual-barrel shotgun couldn't penetrate the Golden Crown Python's skin, this Long-Armed Spirit Ape, whose hide was several times tougher, would treat the handgun’s bullets as mere tickles.

To deal with the Long-Armed Spirit Ape, conventional artillery might not suffice; they would need missiles.

But their objective wasn't to kill the beast; it was to collect the Resurrection Grass. Even if Li Wei managed to call in missiles to blast the ape to death, it would be pointless.

Killing the Long-Armed Spirit Ape would also destroy the valley.

Once the valley was gone, the Resurrection Grass would naturally be gone too.

"I know, but I won't leave. If we go, we all go. I'll wait for you!"

Li Wei shrank back slightly, his palpable fear impossible to conceal, his hand gripping the pistol trembling uncontrollably. That gun offered him only a meager sense of comfort.

He understood the power of those bullets; they couldn't handle an ordinary bear, let alone this terrifying giant ape, which was surely much stronger than any bear.

"Fine, go wait outside the cave entrance. If anything goes wrong, leave immediately!"

Zhang Yang gave him a deep look before turning back again.

Li Wei’s courage deserved praise; he hadn't fled upon encountering an unknown monster. That was commendable.

Having him wait outside would also make their escape easier later. The Long-Armed Spirit Ape certainly couldn't outrun him; if Zhang Yang fled first, he could bring Li Wei along.

This time, Li Wei didn't insist. He trotted back to the cave entrance, gripping his handgun and anxiously watching the distance.

While Zhang Yang was speaking, Long Feng had been intently focused on the Long-Armed Spirit Ape. Strangely, the beast hadn't moved at all.

Upon returning his attention, Zhang Yang glanced at Long Feng.

Long Feng understood, tightened his Snow Whip, and subtly began to spread his stance.

Shadowless had vanished again, while Lightning jumped down, watching the Long-Armed Spirit Ape with intense caution.

Lightning wondered about the ape's resistance to poison, hoping to find a chance to sink its fangs in. If it could poison the beast into submission, everything would become much simpler.

"Move!"

Zhang Yang shouted, clutching his military knife, his entire body surging toward the Long-Armed Spirit Ape like a shadow.

As he moved, Long Feng also sprang into action, rapidly retreating in the opposite direction—his target was the Resurrection Grass on the ground.

Li Wei, at the cave entrance, saw the scene and his eyes narrowed sharply.

Both Zhang Yang and Long Feng were moving too fast; their speed was beyond what his eyes could track, clearly not normal human velocity.

Li Wei came from a prominent domestic family and knew some secrets of the upper echelons. He had heard rumors of a group of people in the country capable of scaling walls and moving with breathtaking agility—martial arts masters.

Such people existed, he’d heard, sometimes secretly guarding certain important figures.

But he had only heard of them; he had never seen them. Now, witnessing the monstrous speed of Zhang Yang and Long Feng, he understood he had encountered such individuals.

In truth, Zhang Yang had already displayed his extraordinary abilities when dodging the ape’s ambush, but Li Wei had been too terrified by the sudden appearance of the monster to notice then.

One hundred chapters added, eighty-nine remaining; there is more to come!