Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

"Why hasn't the Ape Chieftain obtained the Nether Soul Grass after being here for thirty years?" The two humans and two apes, with the help of Ape Thirteen as a "translator," chatted for a while before getting to the main topic.

"It's related to those three Red Hounds." Ape Twelve sighed, a helpless expression on its ferocious, hairy face.

"The cliff that Daoist Zhang pointed to earlier, below it is the entrance to the Earth Abyss. Those three Red Hounds lurk on that side of the cliff day and night, guarding the entrance, not allowing any demon beasts or cultivators to enter. I and the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape have fought those three Red Hounds countless times, but each time we were defeated, unable to break through the blockade and enter the Earth Abyss.

"Those three Red Hounds, two in the mid-stage of the Demon Core realm and one in the late-stage, are extremely strong and difficult to deal with. However, they never leave the entrance to the Earth Abyss by more than five miles, so even if we can't beat them, we can still save our lives."

Daoist Fire Crow asked in confusion, "As far as I know, Red Hounds have always preferred to live near earth fire. There doesn't seem to be any earth fire around here, does there?"

Ape Twelve said, "They stay here, monopolizing the entrance to the Earth Abyss, probably for the Nether Soul Grass. Otherwise, what else could they be after?"

Daoist Fire Crow was even more puzzled, stroking his chin as he said, "Red Hounds don't seem to have the problem of their spirits and bodies being incompatible. Could it be that this Nether Soul Grass has other uses for demon beasts? All along, the legends about the Earth Abyss have never mentioned the Nether Soul Grass. This Nether Soul Grass should only be suitable for demon beasts, but I don't know its exact effect."

Ape Twelve shook its head in confusion. As a demon beast, it naturally couldn't understand it any better.

Zhang Yuanjing asked, "Those three Red Hounds have dominated the entrance to the Earth Abyss for who knows how many years. Haven't they obtained the Nether Soul Grass? Have you seen them enter it before?"

Ape Twelve stretched out its large palm and scratched the dark green fur on its head, chirping as it said, "I feel that the Red Hound in the late-stage of the Demon Core realm should have swallowed the Nether Soul Grass, or it broke through to the late-stage by swallowing the Nether Soul Grass. According to the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape's observation, this late-stage Red Hound often enters the Earth Abyss alone.

"Once, taking advantage of it entering the Earth Abyss, we ambushed the two mid-stage Demon Core Red Hounds that remained behind, and just as we entered the Earth Abyss, we ran into the late-stage Demon Core Red Hound head-on. It somehow got the news and actually ran back, bringing with it two Yin Specters and two Flying Corpses. So, the three of us fought in a chaotic battle, from the inside to the outside, from the mountain stream to the valley, until we were exhausted, and then we each retreated.

"After that, we didn't dare to enter the Earth Abyss casually. We always wanted to find an opportunity to kill a Red Hound that was alone, but we haven't been able to find such an opportunity."

Zhang Yuanjing asked again, "I wonder what the strength of these Yin Specters and Flying Corpses is? What are their characteristics?"

Ape Thirteen shook its head, "It's difficult to discern the strength of these things, but it's very difficult to injure them. The Yin Specter is like a cloud of mist. After fighting for a long time, it changes and changes, but it's still the same, as if it hasn't been injured at all.

"The Flying Corpse is extremely hard. I, Old Ape, am considered strong enough and my fists are hard enough, but when I punch it, it only takes a few steps back, while my fist will be bruised and bleeding. However, they are relatively afraid of fire. When the Red Hound spits out a mouthful of fierce flames, it will make them scatter and flee."

Hearing this, Zhang Yuanjing subconsciously glanced at Daoist Fire Crow. Daoist Fire Crow nodded to him and asked Ape Twelve, "Ape Chieftain, do you know how many Yin Specters and Flying Corpses are in the Earth Abyss, and whether there are other demonic creatures?"

Ape Twelve said, "Whether there are other demonic creatures, I don't know. However, that time, the late-stage Demon Core Red Hound brought back four Yin Specters and Flying Corpses in less than half an hour after entering the Earth Abyss, so there should be many demonic creatures in the Earth Abyss!"

According to Xiong Qifeng, he didn't see a single living thing after entering the Earth Abyss. It seems that he just didn't go deep into the Nether Soil, and the outer perimeter was probably those four Yin Specters and Flying Corpses, all of which were led out of the deep ravine by the Red Hound.

Zhang Yuanjing pondered for a moment and said to Ape Twelve, "Ape Chieftain, you are Ape Thirteen's fellow chieftain and elder, so you are naturally also my elder. I think Thirteen has already mentioned to you that this time, we are here to go to the Earth Abyss to retrieve something, which is a special kind of soil. Therefore, we can cooperate to drive away the Red Hounds and enter the Earth Abyss, each getting what we need."

Ape Twelve grinned and nodded repeatedly, "That's exactly what I want. If you hadn't come here, only I and the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape wouldn't know how long we would have to wait to find an opportunity to kill those three Red Hounds. Not to mention going to the Earth Abyss to find the Nether Soul Grass."

"The Red Hound is of the fire element, and its inner core and entire body of bones and blood are top-grade materials for me to refine Fire Crows. It's usually hard to find, and they live in groups, so it's not easy to kill them. This time is a good opportunity. As long as I kill one Red Hound, I can replenish my three thousand Fire Crows."

Daoist Fire Crow said with a smile, paused slightly, and then asked a question, "However, one of these three Red Hounds is in the late-stage of the Demon Core realm and should be able to use a special innate skill—Hellfire. I wonder how the Ape Chieftain has dealt with it in the past?"

Ape Twelve scratched its head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "The Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape is very good at observing. If it feels that the Red Hound is going to use an extremely dangerous supernatural power, it will call me to run away together. So, although I have fought with that Red Hound hundreds of times, I have never seen the Hellfire you mentioned."

Daoist Fire Crow was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said with a smile, "That's also a way. During the battle tomorrow, please ask the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape to keep an eye on that late-stage Red Hound and give us more reminders, so that everyone is not caught off guard and suddenly gets hit!"

Afterwards, Daoist Fire Crow carefully introduced the characteristics of the Hellfire to the two apes and discussed how to deal with it.

At midnight, the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape quietly ran back. Ape Twelve chirped and talked to it for more than half an hour, probably telling it about the origins and intentions of Zhang Yuanjing and the others, and how to deal with the three Red Hounds.

The Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape just kept nodding, and occasionally opened its mouth, even able to make the same sounds as Ape Twelve, communicating with it, which greatly broadened the horizons of the two humans and one ape beside it.

Night is the time when the demonic creatures in the Earth Abyss are active, and the yin and cold energy in the mountain stream is very strong, so Ape Twelve suggested that they fight the Red Hounds again when the sun is high in the sky during the day.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape slipped out to observe the Red Hounds. At noon, the red sun was in the sky, the temperature in the mountains rose, and the green smoke that covered the mountains dissipated, leaving only a thin layer in the deep ravine.

The two humans and two apes set off from the mountain cave, agreeing that Ape Thirteen would face the late-stage Demon Core Red Hound head-on, the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape would restrain one mid-stage Red Hound, and Ape Twelve and Daoist Fire Crow would join forces to kill the other mid-stage Red Hound. The Red Hounds are not known for their speed, so they are not afraid of them escaping.

Flying to the top of this side of the cliff, which was high on one side and low on the other, the cliff face on the opposite side could be seen clearly. Three ten-foot-long demon beasts covered in crimson fur were lazily lying on a protruding boulder, basking in the sun.

Below the boulder, there were also hundreds of such stones of various sizes on the rock wall, extending from top to bottom like interlocking teeth all the way to the bottom of the ravine. And at the bottom of the ravine, near the side of the mountain peak, there was a large hole several feet in diameter, like a giant mouth opened by a ferocious beast, silently roaring towards the narrow sky above.

Before the two humans and two apes arrived, the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape was lying on a rock, staring listlessly at the three Red Hounds on the opposite side as usual. The three Red Hounds had long been accustomed to it and turned a blind eye to it. When the two humans and two apes approached the mountain stream, the three Red Hounds immediately jumped up from the stone as if they had been pricked by a needle, glaring at the opposite cliff with their deep black eyes, and uneasily letting out low roars.

The three Red Hounds, two slightly shorter and one slightly longer, were about twelve to three feet long and about eight feet tall, shaped like dogs, with strong limbs and long rabbit-like ears on their heads. They had two foot-long fangs in their mouths, most of which were exposed, sharp as swords, with a ghostly light flashing, which was very terrifying.

The leader, its eyes sometimes looked at the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape, and sometimes looked behind the cliff, sometimes showing a fierce light in its eyes, and sometimes showing a hesitant look, as if it couldn't make up its mind. It was a true demon in the late-stage of the Demon Core realm, with strong five senses. From dozens of miles away, it had already discovered the two humans and two apes flying rapidly.

The two humans were nothing, it didn't care about them, but the two apes, especially the newly arrived ape, were full of fierce and explosive power, which made it palpitate. The original giant ape was not easy to deal with, and with another more ruthless one, it would be difficult to resist.

With its intelligence, it could naturally think of a plan to retreat in order to advance. It could simply give way first, and wait for the few humans and beasts to enter the Earth Abyss before taking the opportunity to attack. However, as a demon beast, the desire to protect its own territory was innate and could not be violated in the slightest. It could not escape without a fight just because the enemy was strong.

"If the Red Hounds escape, which one should we chase?" Zhang Yuanjing asked Daoist Fire Crow.

"Of course, the strongest one!" Daoist Fire Crow said without hesitation, "If we take down the Red Hound in the late-stage of the Demon Core realm, the other two will be nothing to worry about."

Zhang Yuanjing nodded in agreement and immediately transmitted his divine sense to Ape Thirteen, explaining his intention.

At this time, the cliff was in sight, and the majestic figures of the three Red Hounds were clearly revealed in the eyes of the two humans and two apes. At the same time, the three Red Hounds suddenly窜上to the top of that side of the cliff and let out a roar at them. The roar was like thunder, resounding through the mountain stream and shaking the rocks.

The Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape rose up into the air, while Ape Thirteen, who was originally flying with Ape Twelve, sacrificed a flying magic weapon, stepped on a flying sword and rose to the cliff, and then sped towards the three Red Hounds. Daoist Fire Crow followed closely behind it.

Ape Twelve rose into the air, and with the Azure-Eyed Lion-Ape, fell behind, but they were only ten feet or so apart.

Zhang Yuanjing stopped in the rear, looking down from a high position, watching the mixed battle between cultivators and demon beasts from afar.

When the Red Hound in the late-stage of the Demon Core realm saw that Ape Thirteen was controlling a cultivator's flying sword, its eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a trace of fear, and then it turned its head and roared at the two beasts behind it, and then ran down the cliff. The other two Red Hounds were stunned and hurriedly turned around and fled.

Daoist Fire Crow laughed and said, "Still playing this trick, it's a bit clever! But it doesn't work for Daoist."

With that, he lifted a mouthful of mana, and the flying sword under his feet accelerated, shooting out like a meteor, chasing directly after the Red Hound in the late-stage of the Demon Core realm.