BOOM!
The collision sounded like a mountain collapsing into a valley. Qin Yu's watery drill slammed into the Ape's left shoulder, the high pressure sword force shredding through the silver fur and carving a shallow crater in its dense, stone like muscle. Simultaneously, Hanyuan's first lightning thrust connected with the beast's chest, leaving a singed silver line across its skin.
"ROAR!"
A visible shockwave of moonlight colored energy erupted from the Ape's wide open maw. Hanyuan, still mid air after his initial strike, felt the atmospheric pressure hit him like a physical wall. He gritted his teeth, twisting his body and using a burst of his Azure Cloud Footwork to pivot on a mere wisp of air. The displacement allowed him to narrowly avoid the brunt of the sonic blast, though his ears rang with a sharp, high pitched whine.
From the sun drenched sky, Lingxiao dove like a bolt of metallic silk, its wings folded into a razor sharp 'V.' The eagle raked its talons across the Ape's face, narrowly missing its crimson eyes but leaving three deep, bleeding gashes across its snout. At the same time, Qin Yu's Crane circled low, its massive wings creating localized gales that buffeted the smaller beasts trying to swarm the two cultivators, keeping the Ape isolated.
"Brother Yu, keep its attention on the front!" Hanyuan shouted, his voice cutting through the din.
"Understood!" Qin Yu landed on a nearby jagged boulder, his sword weaving a complex, circular pattern. "Spiraling Water,Torrential Bind!"
Vast amounts of water Qi materialized from the humid morning air, condensing into thick, rotating chains of liquid that coiled tightly around the Ape's massive ankles and wrists. The behemoth roared, its muscles bulging to the size of tree trunks as it strained against the restraints.
Hanyuan didn't waste the opening. He touched down on the ground, his boots crushing the dirt. The Cold Cloud Spear vibrated with a terrifying, rhythmic hum.
"2nd Thrust!"
"3rd Thrust!"
The spear became a blur. Hanyuan thrusted out twice in rapid succession. The lightning tipped blade struck the Ape's abdomen and then its thick thigh, leaving shallow, charred marks. The beast was durable, its hide acting like natural armor.
The Silver Moon Ape's crimson eyes flashed with an primal intelligence. It realized these two "ants" were dangerous. It gathered a brilliant silver light in its palms and slammed them both into the ground beneath its feet.
CRACK-BOOM!
The energy exploded outward in a radial pulse, shattering Qin Yu's water chains into mist and sending Hanyuan flying backward. Hanyuan crashed ten meters across the battlefield, the tip of his spear digging a furrow into the earth to stabilize his momentum.
"Tsk. A 2nd Layer Mortal Core beast is indeed much tougher than a 1st Layer," Hanyuan muttered, wiping a trickle of blood from his lower lip.
He could feel his 1st Layer core spinning frantically to replenish the spent Qi. In the Qi Refining stage, such a hit would have broken his ribs; now, his body was dense enough to absorb the shock, but the power gap was clear.
"Brother Hanyuan, it's building energy again!" Qin Yu warned, his robes fluttering as he readied a defensive stance.
The Ape looked toward the city walls and then back at the two Youths. It began to growl, a deep, guttural sound that caused the very air to vibrate. The real struggle was only just beginning. Hanyuan gripped his spear tighter, the violet sparks on the shaft growing more intense.
"Don't let it breathe, Brother Yu!" Hanyuan roared, charging forward once more. "We end it here!"
Hanyuan did not let his momentum falter. Before the shockwave from the previous explosion had even fully dissipated, his boots hit the scorched earth, and he charged forward again, dragging the Cold Cloud Spear behind him.
The blue shaft crackled with violent violet sparks.
"1st Thrust!"
"2nd Thrust!"
Skipping breaths to force the momentum to stack higher, his lightning reached a fever pitch.
"5th Thrust!"
Spear and claws collided in a blistering cascade of lightning and silver energy. Hanyuan and the massive Silver Moon Ape clashed five times in the blink of an eye, the shockwaves tattering the ground around them. The 2nd Layer Mortal Core beast roared in frustration, it could not use its full, overwhelming strength against Hanyuan because its massive body was simultaneously being forced to defend against the strikes of Qin Yu and the relentless aerial dive bombs of Lingxiao.
The weight of the spear was becoming monumental. Every cell in Hanyuan's body screamed under the pressure of the lightning he was absorbing.
"8th Thrust!"
The Cold Cloud Spear lunged out with the force of a battering ram.
BOOM!
The massive, seven meter ape let out a grunt of pure shock, its huge, mountain like legs trembling as it was forced to take a step back from the pure impact.
"Brother Yu! Now is the time!" Hanyuan roared, his voice cutting through the sounds of the battlefield.
Qin Yu did not hesitate. He funneled every remaining drop of his water Qi into his blade, preparing his strongest attack. Simultaneously, Hanyuan executed the final move of the high spirit manual.
"9th Thrust!"
Hanyuan was completely enveloped in a blinding pillar of crackling violet lightning. He loped forward, a humanoid storm, and thrust his spear with all his might.
SQUELCH!
The lightning covered tip punched straight through the dense muscle and silver fur of the Ape's right shoulder, leaving a charred, hollowed out hole. Simultaneously, Qin Yu's massive, spiraling water torrent targeted the beast's left shoulder, the pressure violently ripping through its flesh and rendering the limb useless.
"ROAR!"
The Silver Moon Ape was completely enraged, throwing its head back in a deafening cry. But with both of its shoulders destroyed by the dual assault, it could no longer lift or swing its massive arms to defend itself.
"Time to end this," Hanyuan murmured, withdrawing his bloody spear.
He immediately shifted his grip, the air temperature plummeting as he used his ice Qi. He initiated the Star Point Piercer, aiming directly for the right side of the beast's thick, armored neck.
Qin Yu executed a parallel strike, his water blade aiming for the left side of the neck. From high above, Lingxiao dove with its wings pulled back, its razor sharp talons aimed for the crown of the giant's skull.
CRACK—SPLAT!
The sound was nauseatingly loud. A massive severed head flew into the air, its crimson eyes still wide with a lingering trace of shock before it crashed into the bloodied dirt. The colossal, headless corpse of the Silver Moon King swayed on its feet for a split second before falling forward with a thud that shook the valley.
Around them, the sea of lesser beasts went deathly still. Seeing their undisputed King brutally decapitated before their eyes, the primal courage of the horde shattered. They let out panicked yelps and shrieks, turning around in a blind stampede as they fled back toward the distant mountains.
"Phew... I only had about five percent of my energy left," Qin Yu sighed in pure, profound relief, collapsing onto a nearby boulder and using his sword as a crutch.
Hanyuan nodded, scanning his own body. "I only have a minor internal injury from the initial shockwave. What about you?"
Qin Yu let out a bitter, exhausted smile. "Three shattered ribs, and my right arm has a hairline crack. That monster didn't joke around with its raw power."
Despite their heavy injuries, both youths moved quickly. Qin Yu activated his spatial storage ring, causing the massive, valuable corpse of the Silver Moon Ape to vanish from the dirt. They mounted their spirit beasts and flew back to the castle walls, ignoring the frantic retreats of the lesser beasts below.
Upon landing on the stone ramparts, the City Lord rushed toward them, his wrinkled face streaming with tears of absolute gratitude. "Thank you, Benefactors! Thank you for saving our city!"
Hanyuan looked past him at the battlements. His brows furrowed. The wall was littered with the bodies of dead soldiers. Despite their swift execution of the King, many agile beasts had managed to climb the stone during the chaos and slaughter the defenders.
He looked at the mountain of Tier 1 beast corpses piled on the ground outside and waved his hand dismissively. "We only came for the King. Take the Tier 1 Spirit Beast corpses, we have no use for them. Consider them a gift to rebuild your city."
Hanyuan looked at the sky and then turned to the City Lord. "We will depart in two hours. We will rest and recover at the estate meanwhile."
Without waiting for a reply, Hanyuan and Qin Yu remounted their beasts and returned to the luxurious estate. Qin Yu immediately went into his room, shutting the door to consume a healing pill and repair his broken bones. Hanyuan, on the other hand, walked into the quiet garden. He pulled the corpse of a beast he had casually killed during the tide from his ring and threw it to Lingxiao, letting his eagle feed in the peace of the afternoon.