Chapter 30

The valley entrance before them was narrow, with dense branches extending out from both sides. Amidst the piled-up boulders, the valley was partially hidden, making it seem elusive. It was evident that the Thunderbolt Squad had put considerable effort into discovering this place. "There are indeed quite a number of Fire Spirit Apes inside." Mu Chen stood some distance from the valley entrance, took a deep breath, and then smelled a strong, pungent odor, clearly indicating that the number of Fire Spirit Apes inside the valley was no less than what Lei Cheng had mentioned. "Get ready." Lei Cheng waved his hand, and Lin Zhong, along with several companions, quickly gathered dry firewood from the surroundings and piled it outside the valley, then set it alight. "Cover your mouths and noses, and try to hold your breath." Lei Cheng took out several dark gray pills from his pocket, which emitted a strong, fragrant smell that made people feel a bit drowsy. Lin Zhong and the others had already torn some cloth, wet it in a nearby stream, and distributed it to everyone. Seeing that everyone was prepared, Lei Cheng threw the pills into the fire, and the strong fragrance immediately spread out. "Together, channel your spiritual energy to blow the smoke into the valley!" Lei Cheng shouted, taking the lead. His sleeves flapped, and a powerful spiritual energy surged out, creating a strong wind that carried the thick smoke into the valley. Mu Chen and the others followed suit, each channeling their spiritual energy to create strong winds, quickly enveloping the valley in a thick fog. The originally boisterous ape cries began to weaken rapidly. Lei Cheng watched the valley, waited for a while, and then listened carefully. He finally let out a sigh of relief and waved his hand. "Move in, be careful!" "Let's go!" Everyone, who had been holding back, nodded excitedly and swiftly leaped through the valley entrance, rushing into the valley. When Mu Chen and the others rushed into the valley, the valley was already shrouded in a mist. Looking around, they saw numerous fiery red giant apes lying on the ground, almost all of them in a deep sleep, clearly indicating that Lei Cheng's hypnotic drug was highly effective. "The Jade Spirit Tree is deep in the valley. Let's hurry; this hypnotic effect won't last long." Lei Cheng urged, speeding up and leaping over the sleeping Fire Spirit Apes, heading straight for the valley's depths. Mu Chen followed closely behind. However, just as they entered the deeper part of the valley, a low growl suddenly echoed from the rocks, followed by a gust of foul wind. A massive Fire Spirit Ape lunged at Tang Qian'er, who was behind Mu Chen. The sudden attack startled Tang Qian'er. In a panic, she raised her hand, and a short sword, enveloped in spiritual energy, shot out, but it only left a shallow scratch on the Fire Spirit Ape's body. Although the short sword did not cause significant damage, it did momentarily halt the Fire Spirit Ape. At that moment, Mu Chen pushed off the ground, his body darting forward like a monkey. He gripped a sharp dagger that slid out from his sleeve, and with a black spiritual energy wrapping around it, he swiftly slashed through the Fire Spirit Ape's eyes. Blood splattered as the Fire Spirit Ape let out a fierce roar, but before the roar could fully escape, the dagger pierced its throat, silencing it. *Thud.* The massive body of the Fire Spirit Ape fell heavily, crushing the rocks beneath it. Mu Chen landed nearby, casually wiping the blood off the dagger, and asked Tang Qian'er, who was still shaken, "Are you okay?" "I'm fine." Tang Qian'er shook her head slightly, while Mo Ling and the others were somewhat stunned, still not recovered from the fact that Mu Chen had so easily killed a Fire Spirit Ape. Of course, not only them, but even the members of the Thunderbolt Squad were taken aback. Mu Chen's quick reaction and decisive move were impressive... "Impressive, this Fire Spirit Ape must have the strength of a late-stage Spirit Movement Realm." Lei Cheng gave Mu Chen a thumbs-up and smiled. "The smoke slowed its speed; otherwise, I wouldn't have had such an easy time." Mu Chen shook his head, realizing that although the Fire Spirit Ape had resisted the hypnotic effect, it was still affected. "The hypnotic drug has limited power. A Fire Spirit Ape at the late-stage Spirit Movement Realm can resist it. There are probably no less than twenty such Fire Spirit Apes deep in the valley. However, although they weren't hypnotized, their strength has been reduced, so they shouldn't be too difficult to deal with." Lei Cheng nodded, then suddenly crouched down, his gaze turning serious as he looked into the distance. "Our real trouble is that big guy." Mu Chen also narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. At the end of the valley, where the smoke had largely dissipated, a massive, fiery red figure could be seen. This figure was entirely like fire, its body shining as if covered in a fiery red armor. Even though it was half-sitting, a fierce aura emanated from it, and the violent spiritual energy fluctuations were far beyond those of ordinary Fire Spirit Apes. Clearly, this massive figure was the leader of the valley, the Fire Spirit Ape King. Feeling the distant spiritual energy pressure, Mu Chen's expression became more serious. Mo Ling and the others showed a hint of fear in their eyes; this was a mid-level spirit beast. Mu Chen stared at the Fire Spirit Ape King for a while, then looked behind it. On the mountain wall, there was a crack about two zhang wide, and from this crack, a small tree about a zhang tall extended out. This tree was entirely white, as if made of jade, and on its branches, green leaves revealed a hint of emerald color. The round fruits, even from a distance, emitted a fragrant aroma, making one feel refreshed. "It's indeed the Jade Spirit Tree!" Mu Chen's eyes lit up with joy. The Jade Spirit Tree was clearly mature, and a rough count showed that there were no fewer than thirty Jade Spirit Fruits. This collaboration was indeed tempting. "Young brother, I will lead five team members to attack the Fire Spirit Ape King, while the other five will help your companions deal with the awakened Fire Spirit Apes. When the time comes, you will wait for the opportunity to use the Spirit Breaking Pearl to try and kill the Fire Spirit Ape King in one strike!" Lei Cheng observed for a while and then said solemnly. "Alright." Mu Chen nodded, then paused and said, "If anything goes wrong, I suggest we retreat immediately. If you are greedy for the Jade Spirit Fruits, I will lead my people away first. The loss of the Spirit Breaking Pearl will be on you, as the fruits, though precious, are not worth risking our lives." Lei Cheng smiled bitterly and nodded. If it came to that, they would just have to accept their bad luck. "Prepare to move." Lei Cheng waved his hand, and the five members of the Thunderbolt Squad, including Lin Zhong, gathered their spiritual energy and cautiously approached the Fire Spirit Ape King. Although there was a light mist in the valley, the Fire Spirit Ape King was clearly not an ordinary Fire Spirit Ape. As Lei Cheng and his team approached within a few dozen zhang, it suddenly sensed them. Its blood-red eyes fixed on them, and a fierce look appeared in its eyes, clearly angered by the intruders. *Roar!* An angry roar erupted from its mouth, and with a long arm, it grabbed a massive boulder and hurled it at Lei Cheng. The whistling sound indicated the immense force behind it. *Kill!* Lei Cheng shouted, his body shooting forward. He gripped a blood-red large knife, and with a surge of spiritual energy, he slashed, splitting the boulder in two. His speed did not slow, and he led the charge toward the Fire Spirit Ape King. The other members of the Thunderbolt Squad followed closely behind. *Bang! Bang!* The two sides clashed, and a fierce battle erupted. Spiritual energy surged, and sharp knife blades flashed, striking the Fire Spirit Ape King's body. As Lei Cheng and his team engaged the Fire Spirit Ape King, Mo Ling and the others, along with the other five Thunderbolt Squad members, blocked the awakened Fire Spirit Apes to prevent them from interfering. Mu Chen stood not far away, his eyes fixed on the battle. In his fingers, the fiery red Spirit Breaking Pearl was once again held, emitting a fierce spiritual energy. The Spirit Breaking Pearl had the power to severely wound a Spirit Wheel Realm expert, but there was only one, so he had to seize the best opportunity. Otherwise, if he wasted it, the mission would fail. *Boom!* The battle with the Fire Spirit Ape King was intense. Lin Zhong and the other five Thunderbolt Squad members attacked with all their might, leaving some wounds on the Fire Spirit Ape King, but their hands, gripping the knife handles, were covered in blood, clearly injured by the backlash. If not for Lei Cheng blocking most of the Fire Spirit Ape King's attacks, they would not have been able to get close to it. "Thunder Knife Slaughter!" After a while, Lei Cheng felt his arms go numb and shouted. *Boom!* As he shouted, Lin Zhong and the others stepped forward, and their knives glowed with lightning. They used all their strength to slash, and five lightning-like knife beams struck the Fire Spirit Ape King's back. *Squish!* The Fire Spirit Ape King's metal-like back was split open, and blood flowed out. *Roar!* The intense pain from its back made the Fire Spirit Ape King roar in fury. It swung its arm, and a violent spiritual energy swept out, causing Lin Zhong and the others to spit blood and fly backward. "Beast, die!" Lei Cheng leaped forward, shouted, and slashed with his knife, his spiritual energy surging. A spiritual energy blade over a zhang long appeared on the knife, and he struck the Fire Spirit Ape King with all his might. *Clang!* The Fire Spirit Ape King, moving quickly, sensed the ferocity of Lei Cheng's attack and crossed its arms like a shield, blocking the powerful strike. The blade pierced its flesh but did not sever its arms. "Mu Chen!" Lei Cheng shouted. As soon as he shouted, Mu Chen, who had been preparing, darted forward, appearing behind the Fire Spirit Ape King like a monkey. With his fingers, he channeled dark spiritual energy, like a sharp dagger, and plunged it into the wound on the Fire Spirit Ape King's back. Blood spurted out, and Mu Chen quickly retreated, a fierce spiritual energy surging from the wound. *Boom!* As the energy surged, a massive spiritual energy shockwave erupted, and the Fire Spirit Ape King's back exploded, blood and flesh flying everywhere, and the rocks on the ground were shattered by the impact. *Roar!* The Fire Spirit Ape King roared in madness, but blood gushed from its back, and it staggered a few steps before collapsing. Mu Chen landed on the ground, looking at the fallen Fire Spirit Ape King, and let out a sigh of relief. "We did it!" Lin Zhong and the others looked at the scene with joy, and even Lei Cheng's face showed a relieved smile. "No, something's wrong!" Just as they were about to relax, Mu Chen's expression changed. He saw a faint red light emanating from the Fire Spirit Ape King's body. "Be careful!" Lei Cheng also noticed the change and became tense. The red light spread over the Fire Spirit Ape King's body, and the bleeding from its back stopped. Lin Zhong and the others watched in horror as the Fire Spirit Ape King, despite its injuries, managed to stand up again, and its red fur began to regrow. *Roar!* The Fire Spirit Ape King roared to the sky, and within the red light, a faint emerald glow appeared, identical to the color of the Jade Spirit Fruits. As it roared, the Fire Spirit Ape King's aura suddenly grew much stronger. "Damn it, it's breaking through now!" Lei Cheng, sensing the Fire Spirit Ape King's growing aura, his face changed dramatically. Mu Chen's expression also turned serious. It seemed this beast had consumed many Jade Spirit Fruits, and now things were getting complicated... (Looking eagerly at everyone's recommendation tickets.)