Chapter 139: Slay the Gods, Slaughter the Buddhas

Then came two, three, four, five...

With every white ape that descended, the ground shuddered.

Wuyan could not help but swallow hard. How could there be so many? He looked back at Ji Shaofeng and offered an awkward smile. "Shall we... consider another way?"

Ji Shaofeng’s expression was cold and rigid. Beneath his feet, frost began to bloom, spreading rapidly until the entire earth was blanketed in ice. A layer of crystalline frost even clung to the blades of grass nearby. Watching this, Wuyan finally witnessed the true extent of the Young Master’s power.

Everything was freezing in an instant. Ji Shaofeng stood unmoved before the pack of white apes.

"Retreat, or die!"

Frost coated the apes' fur, and their bodies trembled violently. Yet, they refused to take a single step back, glaring at Ji Shaofeng with seething rage. Suddenly, Ji Shaofeng exerted more power, and the surrounding chill intensified. Wuyan hurriedly wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing his shoulders to stay warm.

A white ape lunged at Ji Shaofeng, but before it could take a single step, it trod upon the jagged ice flowers sprouting from the ground. Sharp icicles pierced directly through its paws. Simultaneously, its lower body was encased in ice, rendering it immobile. Enraged, the ape beat its chest fiercely and roared at Ji Shaofeng.

Ji Shaofeng raised his hand, and a shard of ice shot straight into the ape’s heart. The creature gasped its last breath, its entire body rapidly turning to ice.

"Those who block my path shall perish!"

The wind caught the hem of his robes. The gentleman, usually as gentle as jade, displayed an unprecedented ferocity. He stood ready to slay gods if they crossed him, and Buddhas if they stood in his way.

The remaining white apes, cowed by his overwhelming presence, began to retreat. Ji Shaofeng raised his hand, and a sword of pure ice materialized in his grasp.

Wuyan stared at him, a flicker of astonishment crossing his eyes. He himself was still limited to using forged weapons, yet Ji Shaofeng had already mastered the ability to manifest his own Soul Weapon.

These were weapons forged from soul power, far superior to any crafted blade and second only to divine artifacts. Furthermore, because the weapon was fused with the user’s own essence, its power would grow in tandem with its master. Wuyan had dreamt of forging his own Soul Weapon, if only so his blades would no longer shatter whenever the Young Master grew angry.

Ji Shaofeng gripped the sword and stepped forward. No one had ever seen this blade before, for until now, no one had been worthy enough to force him to draw it.

Every person has a "reverse scale"—a vulnerability they guard with their life. For Ji Shaofeng, Ji Yin was that scale, and she was not to be touched.

***

Ji Yun led the group, scanning their surroundings with keen vigilance.

Upon hearing the distant roars, everyone braced for battle. Figures began to dart through the periphery, moving with such unnatural speed that they vanished into the forest in the blink of an eye, leaving only blurred white shadows. What had been distant moments ago was now closing in rapidly.

"What are those things?"
"I couldn't get a clear look. Are they human?"
"They are much taller than any man!"

Chu Yu gripped his sword, watching the shadows vigilantly. Ji Yun gathered his soul power and struck out toward a corner of the woods. A heavy thud echoed as a creature covered in white fur was sent crashing to the ground in plain view.

"A white ape! It’s a white ape!"

Suddenly, the fallen ape regained its senses and lunged at the nearest person. Ji Yun darted forward, snatched the man from the ape's grasp, and struck the beast with a single palm. Once revered as a god of war, Ji Yun’s blow was lethal; the ape was sent flying, blood pouring from its seven orifices before it died.

"Awoo!" A series of roars erupted from all directions.