Chapter Forty-Three: The Three-Eyed Great Demon

"They are cultivators from the Wu Clan of Flying Dragon City!"

When Ye Yun was young, he had lived in Flying Dragon City with the Grand Ancestor for many years. He had seen and could recognize quite a few of the renowned masters from the Wu Clan.

"Elder, these beasts are too frenzied. We should leave at once," a voice suddenly reached Ye Yun’s ears.

He looked over and saw that the speaker was a middle-aged cultivator, addressing an elder with snow-white hair and beard, whose expression was cold and stern as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

Upon seeing this elder, Ye Yun recalled his identity—this was Wu Daoshan, an elder of the Wu Clan, whose cultivation was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Wu Daoshan was famous among the elders of both the Wu Clan of Flying Dragon City and the Ye Clan of Cloudwater City. He followed the path of martial arts: even after his inner energy had transformed into true essence and he became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he chose to temper his body and practice martial techniques instead of pursuing spells. His physical strength was said to be unrivaled among the elders of both great clans.

"The millennium spiritual nectar is about to be born. Whether we can defend it or not, you must hold your ground. This concerns the great undertaking of our Wu Clan!" Wu Daoshan’s voice was cold as he spoke.

"Millennium spiritual nectar?"

Hearing this, Ye Yun was greatly astonished. He had studied all manner of classics since childhood, and thanks to the records of rare treasures in Elder Ye Min’s study, he was well aware of the origin of the millennium spiritual nectar.

After countless years absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, jade transforms into spirit stones. If spirit stones are nourished by spiritual energy for countless more years, they become spirit marrow. In places dense with spiritual energy but lacking vessels to contain it, the energy gathers on its own to form spiritual nectar.

There are different grades of spiritual nectar; millennium spiritual nectar is the most common, yet it remains an unparalleled treasure. It contains an immense amount of spiritual energy, making it a precious aid in cultivation. Unlike medicinal pills, it carries no risk of toxic side-effects.

Beyond enhancing cultivation, spiritual nectar has another effect: adding a single drop when refining pills results in a batch of perfect pills. This is due to the nectar’s miraculous ability to neutralize pill toxins.

At this point, Wu Daoshan’s expression softened, and with a faint smile, he patted the middle-aged cultivator’s shoulder. "Had you not discovered this place, I would never have known such a rare treasure would form here. Once we have the nectar, you will not be unrewarded."

"Thank you, Elder! It is my honor to serve you," the middle-aged cultivator replied, bowing deeply in fear and respect.

Wu Daoshan laughed heartily. "Gather your men and block those monsters at all costs. These beasts must have learned that spiritual nectar is about to form here. We must not let such a treasure fall into their hands!"

As he spoke, a cold gleam flickered deep in Wu Daoshan’s eyes.

"Elder, among those beasts are some at the late Foundation Establishment stage. I fear we won’t be able to hold them off for long. Should we send word to Flying Dragon City and have the main family send reinforcements?" the middle-aged cultivator said with a bitter expression.

He and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were all confidants of Elder Wu Daoshan. The monsters were fighting with reckless fury for the spiritual nectar, and many of his companions had already been gravely wounded.

"A treasure like spiritual nectar is of unparalleled value, the product of a thousand years of spiritual energy. How many drops can there be? If you tell the city lord and the other elders, I might get a share due to my position, but you would get nothing," Wu Daoshan replied coldly.

"I understand!" The middle-aged cultivator gritted his teeth, then turned to join the other Foundation Establishment cultivators to block the frenzied beasts.

A surge of savage demonic energy suddenly flooded from the nearby forest as a giant ape covered in jet-black fur leapt out. Beating its chest with both fists, it emitted deep, thunderous sounds.

The ape stood nearly twenty feet tall, exuding a violent aura. Most astonishingly, it bore a third, vertical eye in the center of its brow, glowing with a demonic red light.

"A peak Foundation Establishment demon beast!" Ye Yun’s pupils contracted as he sensed the overwhelming pressure emanating from the black ape.

"The three-eyed demon is here!"

The other monsters, who had been desperately charging toward the cave, recoiled in fear at the sight of the black ape, not daring to advance further. Instead, they retreated.

A Foundation Establishment demon beast could speak and possessed human-like intelligence. For it to inspire such terror, this three-eyed black ape evidently had a fearsome reputation in Sunset Mountain.

"The spiritual nectar is mine! Get lost, all of you!" the black ape roared at the other beasts, its figure flashing like lightning as it charged the Wu Clan cultivators.

A razor-sharp claw, gleaming like a divine weapon, struck before one early Foundation Establishment cultivator could react—his head flew from his shoulders, blood gushing as his body collapsed in a pool of crimson.

"Quick! Stop it!" The Wu Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators paled in terror. Spells were cast, treasures unleashed, dazzling lights flaring like stars as they attacked the black ape.

"A pack of trash dares to stand in my way?" The three-eyed black ape let out a sinister laugh. The blood-red light from its third eye flickered as it effortlessly dodged every attack, plunging into the midst of the cultivators.

With a thunderous crash, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was struck in the chest by the black ape, leaving a bloody hole that gushed with blood. Before he could react, the ape grabbed him by the feet and, with a sickening rip, tore him in two.

At the peak Foundation Establishment level, this monstrous ape was unstoppable—a scene of bloody carnage unfolded, the Wu Clan cultivators utterly powerless. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators lay dead, the few survivors maimed and incapable of halting the black ape’s advance.

"Abominable beast! When did Sunset Mountain gain such a monster?" Wu Daoshan’s face was ashen. The men he brought were all close confidants; if they all died, his standing in the Wu Clan of Flying Dragon City would suffer greatly.

Sunset Mountain was situated between Flying Dragon City and Cloudwater City. The Wu and Ye Clans kept detailed records of the mountain’s denizens, especially any demon beasts above late Foundation Establishment stage.

Yet this black ape was an anomaly—nowhere to be found in the Wu Clan’s bestiary of demon beasts.

"A three-eyed beast... Could it be a rare bloodline mutation?" Wu Daoshan wondered. But he would not let the black ape continue its slaughter. Striding forward, he unleashed a palm strike imbued with true essence, surging like a flood toward the ape.

"A peak body-refining Foundation Establishment cultivator is still no match for your demonic grandfather!" The black ape, naturally gifted with immense strength, met the elder’s attack with its own palm.

Wu Daoshan felt a tremendous force surge through his hand, forcing him back six steps, each one leaving a deep imprint in the muddy earth.

"Oh? The fight has begun. Could fortune finally be on my side?" Hidden in the dense forest nearby, Ye Yun had sealed his pores and suppressed his aura, remaining unnoticed by both demon and cultivator alike.

If Wu Daoshan and the black ape wore each other down, he would have a chance to seize the spiritual nectar about to be born in the cave!

However, the other demon beasts had not left either; they lingered not far away, clearly harboring the same intention.