Chapter 1998: Giant Ape King’s Request

Back when Shang Xia had dragged the Spirit Frost World and the Spirit Ruling World out of the chaotic currents stirred by the great spatial vortex, taking them in as the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field’s auxiliary Spirit Worlds, he had promised the Giant Ape King that he would do his utmost to help him advance to the seventh tier of exotic beasts, transforming him from a Beast King into the legendary Beast Emperor.

Now, years later, the Essence Luxuriant Heavenly Field had grown stronger again and again. Their Heavenly Field was ever more complete, and even the Spirit Frost World, already one of the top Spirit Worlds, had further prospered. Yet the Giant Ape King, who had long since reached the very peak of the sixth rank, still saw no hope of advancing to the seventh rank to become the Giant Ape Emperor!

A Spirit World was not enough to bear the birth of an existence in the Seventh Order. And now that the Spirit Frost World was an auxiliary world under the Heavenly Field, it had no chance at all to advance to an Essence World!

By every measure, the Giant Ape King saw no future path.

He understood that without Shang Xia’s intervention back then, the Spirit Frost World might not even exist anymore, let alone the possibility of his advancement.

But the fact remained that Shang Xia had personally given his word, even if it had been an expedient promise in a time of crisis. Now that the Giant Ape King truly saw no hope, he could not help feeling some dissatisfaction.

It was for that reason that he dared to appear directly before the two Sages to question Shang Xia about his advancement.

Though spiritual beasts were different from humans and knew little of etiquette or tact, being confronted so bluntly still put Kou Chongxue in a bad mood, and his brows knit together. But before he could speak, Shang Xia stepped in. “Ape King, be at ease. I have not forgotten your advancement. But this is an extremely difficult matter, it will take time to prepare, and I cannot guarantee success.”

Naturally, the Giant Ape King dared not truly interrogate both Sages, or either one of them for that matter. His purpose in showing himself was mainly to remind Shang Xia not to forget his promise. Moreover, with no clear path ahead, all his hopes of advancement now rested entirely on Shang Xia, so he dared not act presumptuously.

When Shang Xia made it clear that he had a plan for the old promise, the Giant Ape King immediately grew excited. But, being unversed in human social graces, he immediately asked, “What is the method?”

From anyone else, such a question might have sounded like a challenge or an expression of doubt. Luckily, the Essence Luxuriant World’s Sages were no ordinary people.

Though Kou Chongxue’s expression stayed stern, he said nothing.

Shang Xia smiled at him and said, “Once, in the void where the Essence Chong Heavenly Field lay, I encountered a rank seven giant bird awakened from slumber in a great star. I fought it twice. Yet this bird clearly belonged to no world. At the very least, it bore no trace of its soul connected to a world.”

At that, the Giant Ape King pounded his chest in excitement, roaring loudly. This time, he truly saw hope.

Shang Xia revealed a crafty smile suddenly. “Well? Ape King, do you dare fight it?”

The Giant Ape King froze, his great bronze-bell eyes fixed on Shang Xia with a strange look.

Are you kidding? Me fighting a rank seven Bird Emperor?!

Yet despite this, Shang Xia could feel that the battle intent within the Giant Ape King had not been extinguished. His puzzlement at the provocation was stronger than any reluctance.

Shang Xia smiled and revealed his aim. “I intend to hunt this rank seven bird. Will you join me?”

This time, the Giant Ape King’s battle spirit truly erupted. His ferocious, surging aura caused the surrounding void to ripple.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Now he truly believed Shang Xia meant to help him break the barrier and become a Beast Emperor. Seeing him leaping and stomping impatiently in the void, Shang Xia could only try to calm him down. “Don’t rush. We must prepare first. That bird is hidden deep in a star in slumber. Finding its trail will take great patience and time. And before setting out, both you and I have much to do.”

The Giant Ape King was indeed worthy of ruling all other Beast Kings in the Spirit Frost World. His strength had long reached the peak of the sixth rank, and he possessed great intelligence. Hearing Shang Xia’s words, he quickly shifted from excitement to contemplation. Moments later, as though something had clicked, he bowed to Shang Xia and Kou Chongxue again before turning back to return.

Once the Giant Ape King had left, Kou finally frowned and asked, “You really intend to take that giant ape to hunt a rank seven bird? For what purpose? And besides, can killing a rank seven bird alone really help him break through to a Beast Emperor?”

“Don’t forget...” Kou Chongxue went on, “All eight Star Regions of our Chaotic Sea of Stars each have unstable forbidden regions linked to the other Star Fields. Another invasion could begin at any time. If the Void Mirage is broken while you’re away, our Heavenly Field will be in grave danger!”

Shang Xia did not respond directly. After a pause, he suddenly asked an unrelated question. “Patriarch Kou, have you paid attention in recent years to news about Star Beasts or Beast Warriors?”

“Hm?” Kou Chongxue shot him a surprised look. “Not particularly. Why? Has something happened?”

Shang Xia smiled faintly. “Nothing serious in itself. You’ve not paid attention simply because news about them has become rare, or rather, rarer and rarer.”

From Shang Xia’s tone, Kou Chongxue picked up on something, and his expression grew serious. “You’ve discovered something?”

Shang Xia waved a hand. “Not entirely my discovery. It was a warning from the Star Origin Lord.”

“The Star Origin Lord?” Kou Chongxue was slightly taken aback. “When the four of you high-level Sages met in another section of the void during the division of the Essence Du Heavenly Field?”

Shang Xia nodded solemnly. “The Star Origin Lord told us that the Chaotic Star Sea may still harbor ancient beings from over 1,000 years ago. To slow the drain of their lifespans, most chose to slumber in the void at the fringes of our Chaotic Sea of Stars. Now, with a new invasion about to erupt, this may be their last chance...”

The frown on Kou Chongxue’s face grew deeper. “Is this good or bad?”

Shang Xia’s voice deepened. “Both. These ancient beings, free from the influence of any Heavenly Field, have only one aim, to seize any chance to break into the Martial Eternity Realm and prolong their dwindling lifespan. They may stop at nothing.”

Kou Chongxue’s expression shifted rapidly, his thoughts clearly racing. Eventually, he asked in a low voice, “How do such ancient beings maintain their cultivation without a Heavenly Field’s support? And what does this have to do with Star Beasts and Beast Warriors?”