Chapter 114: Traveling Companions, The Heaven Shaking Demonic Ape"It seems Sister Jiu Jiu looks upon you somewhat differently?" Princess Vina probed, her gaze shifting between Nebula Douluo and Dai Youheng.Nebula Douluo Man Yi was the Titled Douluo Xu Jiujiu trusted most. Though their official relationship was that of sovereign and subject, their private bond was akin to that of grandmother and granddaughter.It was impossible for Man Yi to personally bring Dai Youheng to hunt for a spirit ring without Xu Jiujiu's approval. The fact that Man Yi was personally escorting him spoke volumes in itself."I am indebted to Princess Jiu Jiu for not looking down upon me," Dai Youheng replied.During their conversation, when Princess Vina learned that Dai Youheng's purpose for this trip was to obtain his fifth spirit ring, her surprise deepened. She herself possessed twin spirits and had the immense resources of the Body Sect and the Heavenly Soul Empire's royal family supporting her, which was how she had reached level fifty at her current age.But Dai Youheng, as far as she knew, had not originally shown such outstanding talent?"It seems everyone misjudged him. This Young Master Youheng hides his depths truly well," Princess Vina mused inwardly.The two groups naturally merged into one, traveling together. After all, she was a good friend of Xu Jiujiu and a princess of Heaven Dou. Nebula Douluo and Star Shattering Douluo were happy to do her a favor by helping her hunt for a spirit ring.Dai Youheng and Princess Vina walked side by side at the front, with the two Douluos and three guards following a few steps behind. One was the son of a quietly rising Duke from the Star Luo Empire, the other was the beloved princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire. Their casual conversation already carried the undertone of a first meeting between two future pillars of their respective nations.The five of them Advanced deeper into the forest. With two Titled Douluos present, the Spirit hunting expedition became exceptionally efficient.Their luck was good. Princess Princess Vina soon sensed a pure life aura that resonated perfectly with her Snow Lotus Spirit—a ten-thousand-year Azure Spirit Vine. This type of Spirit Beast could greatly amplify healing and purification effects, making it a top-tier choice for a support system Tool Spirit Master.However, a Heaven And Earth Treasure must have its guardian. Especially a ten-thousand-year Spirit vine like this.Beside the Spirit vine, two giant apes lay crouched, their bodies like small hills! Covered in pitch-black fur, their muscles knotted like steel, with crimson eyes radiating an aura of savagery and power. They were Heaven Shaking Demonic Apes! One was roughly thirty-thousand years in cultivation, while the other had reached a terrifying sixty-thousand years!The Heaven Shaking Demonic Ape was a comprehensively enhanced version of the Great Strength Gorilla, possessing Supreme strength, with its speed and physique also being Advanced. Among ape-type Spirit Beasts, it was second only to the Titan Giant Ape.If a ten-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape could contend with an ordinary Titled Douluo, then in terms of pure strength alone, a thirty-thousand-year Heaven Shaking Demonic Ape was nearly on par. A sixty-thousand-year Heaven Shaking Demonic Ape could even rival a Super Douluo around level ninety-five in raw power.Of course, it lagged far behind in other aspects.Moreover, they had a major flaw: this species possessed no Spirit Abilities, relying purely on their formidable physical attributes in combat.As Chang Wei might say, they didn't know martial arts, just possessed innate divine force. Therefore, they were easily kited by high-agility Spirit Masters or Spirit Beasts."Heaven Shaking Demonic Apes," Star Shattering Douluo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Immense strength, astonishing defense. The sixty-thousand-year one's power is already comparable to a human who has just entered the Super Douluo rank. This is somewhat troublesome."A flicker of joy passed through Princess Vina's eyes. If only Grandmother Man Yi were present, she might have had to give up. But now, Star Shattering Douluo, a true Super Douluo, was also here."However, it's of no consequence," Star Shattering Douluo said calmly. "Man Yi, you restrain the thirty-thousand-year one. Leave the other to this old man."In terms of actual combat strength, they held the advantage. With a little time, driving off these two Heaven Shaking Demonic Apes wouldn't be difficult.Before his words faded, the two Titled Douluos moved simultaneously!Man Yi transformed into a stream of light. Her Nebula Fan unfurled, drawing upon the surrounding Star Power, materializing into countless dazzling chains of stars. In an instant, she trapped the thirty-thousand-year Demonic Ape within a Domain of starlight. No matter how it roared and charged, it couldn't break free immediately.On the other side, Star Shattering Douluo was even more direct. He didn't even activate his Spirit Avatar. Simply pointing his fingers like a blade, he casually slashed through the air. A slender, space-severing, shattering golden light flashed and vanished.*Sshhhk—!*On the sixty-thousand-year Heaven Shaking Demonic Ape's hide, tough enough to withstand soul-guided artillery shells, a deep, bone-revealing wound was sliced open out of thin air, blood gushing forth! The Demonic Ape let out a heaven-shaking roar of pain, its savage ferocity utterly ignited as it frantically pounced towards Star Shattering Douluo.The battle instantly escalated to a fever pitch. Although the two Douluos held the upper hand, they still needed some time to completely drive off these two thick-skinned, rugged forest overlords. Princess Vina and her three guards watched with rapt attention, their minds captivated by the clash between top-tier powerhouses and top-tier Spirit Beasts.At that very moment."Youheng, northeast direction, about three li away, that aura of auspiciousness, nobility, and destiny fluctuations—It absolutely cannot be wrong, it's the Auspicious Beast!" Sister Snow Empress's voice urgently sounded in Dai Youheng's mind, carrying a complex tone and a hint of warning. "Remember, you can only obtain a wisp of destiny power at most. You must not harm her in the slightest!"Dai Youheng had been asking Sister Snow Empress to help him sense the Auspicious Beast's location for some time. Sister Snow Empress had initially refused.Firstly, the Auspicious Beast absolutely must not be touched. Otherwise, Dai Youheng would become the target of all Spirit Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.Secondly, no matter what, she was still part of the Spirit Beast race. Usually, helping Dai Youheng hunt a few Spirit Beasts was one thing, but she absolutely could not help him target the Auspicious Beast.It wasn't until Dai Youheng told Sister Snow Empress about the fate originally awaiting the Auspicious Beast, promised her he would definitely help the Auspicious Beast once in the future, and even proposed a transactional condition, that Sister Snow Empress agreed to assist.That transactional condition would, in the future, be a great help to the Spirit Beast race."Don't worry, Sister Snow Empress, I know my limits," Dai Youheng responded inwardly, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.He quietly retreated to a blind spot in the others' line of sight. The first and third spirit rings flickered with faint light. Demonic Tiger Body and Shadow Surge activated simultaneously, instantly boosting his attributes. Then, his entire being merged into the shadows beneath his feet, stealthily advancing towards the northeast direction like a Gui Mei. Even Star Shattering Douluo, locked in fierce combat, failed to notice.Soon, he reached his destination. Concealed behind an ancient towering tree, he witnessed a breathtaking scene.In a clearing within the forest, sunlight seemed to favor this spot particularly, forming a soft pillar of light. At the center of this light pillar was that extraordinarily divine and majestic Three-Eyed Golden Lion.It paced gracefully, emanating a faint golden halo. Around it, dozens of powerful Spirit Beasts of various species, ranging from thousand-year to ten-thousand-year levels, all lay docilely on the ground. As if paying homage to a monarch, they basked in the nourishing auspicious aura radiating from it, their eyes filled with piety and longing.The Auspicious Beast, the blessing of the Star Dou Great Forest, the emperor-like existence revered by the entire Spirit Beast race!Dai Youheng held his breath. He knew that revealing himself directly would inevitably provoke an attack from all the Spirit Beasts. Recalling the original work, the Auspicious Beast had been attracted by the aura of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion simulated by Huo Yuhao.But he had no simulation skill. What he possessed was something else, perhaps even more alluring—a Supreme aura originating from a top-tier beast king of another world!
