The intelligence Teng Qingshan gleaned from Liu Jian was not entirely convincing. However, several points were confirmed. Firstly, the Iron Clothes Sect had come to the Savage Lands for a crucial matter, otherwise, they wouldn't be trying to kill him. It might be the Undying Grass, or something else entirely. Secondly, judging by the direction the Iron Clothes Sect members were heading, and assessing Liu Jian’s tone and gaze, ‘Silver Horn Mountain’ was the destination with nearly ninety percent certainty.

But...

For the time being, his objective was ‘Iron Arm Monkey Mountain’.

“The strength of Deng Geng from the Iron Clothes Sect is still uncertain. Moreover, Deng Geng has four subordinates with him, and their travel speed is only about one or two hundred li a day. To reach Silver Horn Mountain would take at least half a month, perhaps longer with delays along the way. I will go to Iron Arm Monkey Mountain first. Once I consume the ‘Vermillion Fruit’ and refine the Innate True Essence, my strength will increase greatly. Then, I will hurry to Silver Horn Mountain!”

Teng Qingshan never showed mercy to those who wished him dead! If a treasure could be taken, he would take it; if not, he would spoil the other party’s plans!

...

With this decision made, Teng Qingshan’s travel speed increased even further, covering six hundred li during the first day alone. While resting that night in the branches of a massive tree, a python and two lizard-like beasts crept up to ambush him.

Teng Qingshan was not truly sleeping during his rest; he sat cross-legged. During such moments, his six senses were at their sharpest. The python and the lizard-like beasts were both swiftly slain.

...

Early the next morning, Teng Qingshan resumed his journey quickly, hacking his way through the undergrowth. After dispatching numerous wild beasts, he reached his destination by noon that day—Iron Arm Monkey Mountain!

Iron Arm Monkey Mountain towered into the clouds, its highest peak perpetually shrouded in mist. “This Iron Arm Monkey Mountain is truly tall!” Though his clothes were ragged, Teng Qingshan’s spirits were high as he looked up at the imposing mountain. “It looks to be at least three or four thousand meters high! If I fell from the summit, without a way to dissipate the force, even I would be smashed into a pulp.” Teng Qingshan felt quite pleased at this moment. He had finally reached his destination. “Master only mentioned that the Vermillion Fruit is on Iron Arm Monkey Mountain, but didn't specify… where on the mountain. ” Teng Qingshan had initially expected Iron Arm Monkey Mountain to be a small hill, not such a massive peak. “Searching the entire Iron Arm Monkey Mountain will take a great deal of time.” “How should I search?”

In just a moment, a smile dawned on Teng Qingshan’s face: “Hmm… books say that the Iron Arm Monkeys guard the Vermillion Fruit. It can’t be easily obtained… Haha, yes, on Iron Arm Monkey Mountain, who would know the location of the Vermillion Fruit better than the Iron Arm Monkeys? It seems I only need to climb rapidly upwards. Any place without an Iron Arm Monkey certainly won't have a Vermillion Fruit.”

He first went to a nearby small stream to wash his face lightly. Then, shouldering his pack, Teng Qingshan swiftly started his ascent! Iron Arm Monkey Mountain was a treacherous and expansive high mountain. Yet, Teng Qingshan climbed it as if traversing flat ground, running directly up the slopes, only occasionally relying on his hands when encountering difficult sections.

** On Iron Arm Monkey Mountain, Teng Qingshan sat perched on a thick tree branch, retrieving some flatbread and a gourd of water from his pack: “I’ll look around properly after I finish eating. This mountain is too vast; finding even an Iron Arm Monkey will be difficult.” Teng Qingshan took a sip of water, then took two hearty bites of bread.

The mountain wind howled past. Rustling sounds drifted by. “Hm?” Teng Qingshan’s ears twitched, and he looked towards a spot several dozen zhang away, where a vibrant green python was moving slowly, its movements barely audible, its pair of cold, golden pupils scanning the surroundings. This python was over four zhang long, thick as a human thigh. “Pythons are strong! This Green Python is a type of Demonic Beast, but a common one.” Teng Qingshan identified it instantly as a ‘Green Python’.

However, a four-zhang Green Python posed no threat to Teng Qingshan. Unless it grew to ten zhang and molted into the ‘Jade Green Flood Dragon’, which was only three feet long. The Jade Green Flood Dragon, despite its small and slender size, was no less threatening than the ‘Violet Light Flood Dragon’ in the Cold Abyss Pool. This type of flood dragon was not necessarily stronger just because it was larger. The Jade Green Flood Dragon’s physique was small, but its body was as hard as a divine weapon, capable of being used as a weapon to kill! Furthermore, it carried potent poison! Even experts at the Innate Golden Core stage feared the ‘Jade Green Flood Dragon’. “The speed at which the Jade Green Flood Dragon’s poison spreads is terrifying. Even if I can control the flow of my vital energy, I’d have to be cautious beforehand.” Teng Qingshan smiled as he watched the Green Python. The Jade Green Flood Dragon was formidable, but the Green Python’s strength was only comparable to that of a master on the Earth Ranking.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of rushing wind echoed, and three crimson shadows flew in from the distance, then swung onto tree branches before leaping another dozen zhang away. Teng Qingshan’s eyes lit up. Those three crimson shadows were three apes, covered in red fur! Their pupils, however, were blue. Most peculiar were their long arms; these ape-like creatures possessed arms longer than their legs, and their thickness was by no means inferior to a thigh. The sharp claws on their arms gleamed with a cold luster. “Iron Arm Monkeys!” Teng Qingshan was certain. “I’ve finally seen Iron Arm Monkeys!”

According to records, the most unique feature of the Iron Arm Monkey was its pair of forearms and their claws. Those arms possessed boundless strength, capable of easily tearing apart fierce beasts. Moreover, those arms seemed forged like divine weapons, impervious to blades or spears. Their claws were the sharpest, capable of crushing massive boulders effortlessly. “Iron Arm Monkey, Iron Arm Monkey! Their greatest asset is their iron arms! With a mere tearing motion, they exert a force of one hundred thousand jin, enough to kill a master on the Earth Ranking. The records state that even an Innate expert wouldn’t dare confront a troop of these monkeys head-on.” Teng Qingshan marveled internally.

The Iron Arm Monkey was somewhat similar to himself. Its double-arm strength was immense. Although he was stronger than a single Iron Arm Monkey, if surrounded by dozens, Teng Qingshan felt a chill: “With one hundred thousand jin of strength in their arms, and being blade-proof—such immense force channeled through those sharp claws… I wonder if my body could withstand it.”

The full-force strike of an ordinary Houtian master wouldn't harm Teng Qingshan. But against the Iron Arm Monkey, Teng Qingshan wasn’t entirely confident. “Ya! Ya!”

The three Iron Arm Monkeys emitted cries, then skillfully spread out, moving to encircle the Green Python. “Oh, Iron Arm Monkeys killing a Green Python?” Teng Qingshan watched with keen interest. “Chss-chss~~” The massive body of the Green Python coiled suddenly. It wrapped itself tightly together, raising its head. Its cold, golden eyes focused on the three surrounding Iron Arm Monkeys. Clearly, these three posed a threat, indicating that encounters between them on Iron Arm Monkey Mountain were not new.

“Ya, ya!” “Ya ya ya ya!”

The three Iron Arm Monkeys surrounded the Green Python, issuing strange cries. Then, one of them turned and leaped to a nearby tree, the thickness of which was comparable to a man's waist. It scraped its sharp claws across the trunk, cutting as easily as a knife. Whoosh!

This Iron Arm Monkey then held the thick tree, let out a shout of ‘Ya’, and violently smashed it towards the Green Python. “What powerful arm strength, what sharp claws,” Teng Qingshan muttered in shock. “One hundred thousand jin of force? It must be that much or more, certainly not less.” Teng Qingshan grew even more interested in this duel between Demonic Beasts.

Swish! The Green Python darted away quickly. Boom!

The tree crashed onto the mountainside, but the Green Python had already evaded it. The Iron Arm Monkey holding the tree roared once more and violently swung the trunk at the Green Python’s head. Faced with the swinging tree trunk, the Green Python could only dodge again.

“Ya!” a cry rang out! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The other two Iron Arm Monkeys, which had been observing from the side, simultaneously sprang out. Taking advantage of the moment the Green Python dodged the tree, one grabbed the python’s tail, while the other lunged for its head. The vital spot of a python is usually just behind the head; striking there might kill it. Striking other areas, even piercing the body, would be difficult to kill.

“Roar~~” The python let out a terrifying screech, whipping its tail violently toward the Iron Arm Monkey, while its head twisted, spitting out a stream of green fluid. Thump!

The python’s tail collided with the Iron Arm Monkey’s claws. That ape rolled away to evade the blow, but a large wound appeared on the python’s tail, blood beginning to flow. “Ya!” The other Iron Arm Monkey immediately dodged, narrowly avoiding the green fluid. “Chss-chss~~”

The green fluid landed on a rock, instantly corroding a deep hole into the stone. Boom! The third Iron Arm Monkey swung the tree, slamming it into the Green Python’s torso while it was occupied dealing with the other two.

“Roar~~” The Green Python cried out in pain, twisting its body violently, flipping the tree aside. The other two Iron Arm Monkeys immediately pounced again; the Green Python only managed to whip one away with its tail. Thwack!

A pair of sharp claws plunged deep into the Green Python’s torso, followed by a violent pull that instantly tore the Green Python into two halves. The python writhed in agony, convulsing ceaselessly. At this moment, the three Iron Arm Monkeys leaped on top simultaneously and easily finished off the Green Python.

“Ya!” “Ya ya!” “Ya~~~”

The three Iron Arm Monkeys chirped happily. One of them reached out, pulled out a green python gall bladder, and swallowed it in one gulp. Then, shouldering the python carcass, they left in high spirits.

Dozens of zhang away, hidden in the canopy, Teng Qingshan sensed the difficulty of the situation: “As expected of Demonic Beasts! They possess intelligence comparable to humans. Clearly, they understand teamwork: one Iron Arm Monkey used the tree for long-range attack, while the other two engaged in close combat. If the Green Python was even slightly slower to react, its death was certain. Moreover… the Iron Arm Monkeys are too agile!”

Teng Qingshan wasn't afraid of the Iron Arm Monkeys' arms or claws. But their sheer nimbleness made him wary. They could instantly evade even the poisonous venom the Green Python spat out in desperation. This evasion ability surpassed that of an average master on the Earth Ranking. “If I were surrounded by a troop of Iron Arm Monkeys, given their agility, escaping would be difficult,” Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly. “No wonder Master said that to obtain the ‘Vermillion Fruit’, I must use my wits and absolutely avoid brute force. Hmm… tracking those Iron Arm Monkeys might lead me to where the Vermillion Fruit is located.” Teng Qingshan put his water gourd back into his pack, hoisted it onto his shoulders, and silently leaped down.

Quietly, Teng Qingshan began to follow the Iron Arm Monkeys.