Liang Xiaoke was currently surrounded by over a dozen Violent Apes. Relying on his extreme speed, he weaved between the beasts, aided by Yu Wushuang's illusionary attacks confusing them. For a time, the stalemate held, as the Apes found it nearly impossible to touch either of them.

But when that battle hymn sounded, the Apes’ speed seemed to double instantly, and their movements became far more agile. One Ape slashed open Liang Xiaoke’s lower abdomen with a single swipe, while another tore a gash across his shoulder. A third Ape, no longer deterred by Yu Wushuang’s illusions, lunged fiercely, claws aimed directly at the crown of her head.

Yu Wushuang was a Soul Master, possessing immense soul power. However, her physical strength was barely more than that of an ordinary girl, leaving her no time to evade that savage strike.

A flash of silver light darted across her eyes, and an invisible wave of energy formed, yet it was instantly shattered by the enraged Ape’s grasp. The sharp claws continued their relentless descent toward her skull.

Just as the claws were about to pierce her crown, a figure reappeared directly in front of her.

“Damn it, you dare touch my woman!” Liang Xiaoke roared, simultaneously slashing out a claw toward the Ape.

With a sharp scccchht, Liang Xiaoke’s claw tore through the Ape’s hardened skull as if it were soft tofu. However, the beast’s razor-sharp claw managed to rake another bloody furrow across Liang Xiaoke’s own shoulder.

Seeing Liang Xiaoke bravely shield her despite his own injuries, and then witnessing the ferocious power with which he dispatched the Ape, a ripple—a first stir of genuine feeling—stirred within her heart, sparking a nascent affection for him.

“Hmph, you smelly wench! Aren’t you a Soul Master of the Lingxian Realm? Why are you utterly useless against these Violent Apes?” Yet, as Liang Xiaoke’s curse rang out, the flicker of goodwill Yu Wushuang had just found vanished without a trace.

“I only just entered the Lingxian Realm; I can barely deploy many of my Spirit Arts. If you can’t protect me, then just let them kill me!” Yu Wushuang screamed in defiance.

“If I can’t even protect my own woman, what’s the point of living? I’d slit my own throat long ago. I was just afraid the way I look after transforming would scare you silly!” Liang Xiaoke said, even as he grabbed the body of one Ape, twisted its head, and forcibly ripped it clean off its neck. The gruesome sight profoundly shocked Yu Wushuang, but the cost was immediate: the Ape’s claw pierced straight through his lower abdomen, exposing his intestines. The Ape’s fresh blood sprayed directly onto his wound, a truly horrifying tableau.

“I’m not afraid. Since I agreed to be your woman, I won't fear you even if you turn into a vengeful spirit!” Yu Wushuang watched as the massive claws passed through Liang Xiaoke’s gut, yet he spoke to her as if nothing were wrong. Her face shifted through several expressions, but she instinctively knew Liang Xiaoke was far from ordinary.

“Good, you said it. I’m far more terrifying than a vengeful spirit! Aooo…” Liang Xiaoke bellowed, tossing the decapitated Ape carcass aside. His eyes instantly flushed blood-red, two fangs slowly extended from his lips, demonic markings gradually crawled across his face, and his body began to swell rapidly. In an instant, the clothes he wore shredded away as his muscles bulged. His skin sprouted patches of black, hard scales, and his arms elongated, entirely covered in scales. His once pale palms morphed into razor-sharp claws, even more lethal and terrifying than those of the Violent Apes...

In the blink of an eye, the handsome, slightly pale man transformed into a shaggy, scaled monstrosity standing nearly twenty feet tall.

His blood-red eyes shot twin beams of crimson light, emanating a wildly tyrannical aura. The fangs at his mouth looked utterly ferocious and dreadful under the moonlight.

Yu Wushuang gasped, stunned. Despite her mental preparation, the sudden transformation left her momentarily frozen.

But that shock quickly turned to elation. She watched as Liang Xiaoke’s arm, thick as a tree trunk, swept out, striking at least three Violent Apes. The immense force hurled them backward; the lead Ape was cleanly torn into three segments by his razor-sharp claws.

Grisly chunks of flesh and entrails tumbled out. While the claws of several other Apes managed to strike Liang Xiaoke, they merely sparked against his dense, black scales.

“Get up here!” Liang Xiaoke commanded, sweeping his massive claw to seize Yu Wushuang and pull her close to his chest, using his powerful arms to charge a path outward.

Far off, Gongsun Sheng and Xu watched the transformation with faces contorted in shock. As for the surrounding men in black, they were already paralyzed by terror.

This was no longer a man; this was a monster.

Meanwhile, on Ye Jingyu’s flank, when the Violent Apes were driven into a frenzy by the manic battle hymn and surged toward him, the Taotie spirit perched on his shoulder flashed out. Still airborne, it transformed into a white Wolf of Gluttony the size of a calf, its indestructible claws sinking fiercely into the chests of the charging Apes.

As for Ye Jingyu, he still made no move to draw his blade, instead walking forward steadily. Every Ape that tried to approach him was either killed or forced back by searing streams of sword qi. Even though these Apes were Level Six Desolate Beasts, they were powerless against the sword qi of a Martial Saint.

Of course, it would be difficult for Bing Ming to slay every single Ape. But with Liang Xiaoke holding the majority at bay and Xiao Taotao clearing the immediate path ahead, Ye Jingyu only needed to dispatch or repel the stragglers, which was trivially easy.

On the distant hillside, Gongsun Sheng, watching the unfolding chaos, could remain seated no longer. Sharp, bright glints flashed in his cloudy eyes.

“A Martial Saint guard? Just who is that youth? To have a Martial Saint following him, and a monster whose strength equals a Martial Saint—when did such figures appear in the Nine Provinces?” Gongsun Sheng muttered in utter disbelief, tossing his ancient zither aside.

“This old servant knows not!” The aged butler standing behind him wore an equally horrified expression, clearly unprepared for the emergence of such supreme figures on the Continent of the Nine Provinces.

“Master, shall this old servant intervene?” After a brief pause, Xu finally spoke.