Endless Ascension

Chapter 21: damn task

Evening arrives at the main hall of the Nie Family in Qinghe City.

"Clan Leader, there's a deafening roar emanating from the Autumn Hunt grounds, sounding like it's from a high-level demonic beast. We should..."

"Since the Qin Family established the Autumn Hunt competition, it's been a rule that we must not interfere with anything that happens within the grounds during the three days of the contest. Seventh Elder, you haven't forgotten that, have you?" Qin Xiangtian spoke calmly yet with an air of authority, secretly rejoicing. Only Qin Kun, having consumed the Fiery Sun Pill, could possibly possess such astounding strength. It seems his son has succeeded in eliminating the great threat.

"But those inside are Qin Family elites, our future hope. Does the Elder wish for them all to perish within?"

"The strong prey upon the weak, and only the fittest survive. The Autumn Hunt is designed to weed out the weak and retain the strong. Qin Family does not need useless members."

"You..."

"Enough, let's not argue further." Qin Zhantian raised his voice slightly, "We cannot break the ancestors' rules. If a fifth-order demonic beast truly appears, it's fate. This matter shall not be discussed again. It's all up to their destiny now..."

The deafening roars in the forest grew louder, as the rampaging demonic beast unleashed its destructive power, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Mountains crumbled, boulders shattered, and towering trees were uprooted, creating powerful shockwaves akin to gigantic waves in the ocean.

Its presence was like a wolf entering a sheepfold, unbridled and sweeping through everything in its path.

The low-level demonic beasts trembled in fear, emitting pitiful growls and fleeing chaotically without direction.

"What's happening?"

Qin Kun stood atop a towering tree, gazing into the distance where dust filled the sky, obscuring his view. He could sense a stark change in the atmosphere, a formidable aura emanating from the front, growing heavier with each step closer.

The low-level demonic beasts around them scurried about in panic, trembling with fear.

"Could it be a high-level demonic beast?" Qin Yang's brows furrowed. He was now fully recovered, his shoulder wound healed, his Qigong restored, and his eyes turned icy cold.

"It shouldn't be, we're not even in the Kunlun Mountains yet. How could there be a fifth-order demonic beast here?" Qin Kun doubted but couldn't rule it out completely, given the thunderous roar. If it truly was a fifth-order beast, their only option would be to flee.

"Isn't that useless Qin Ze ahead?" Qin Kun suddenly asked.

"If my guess is correct, their cave should be not far ahead, halfway up that mountain." Qin Yang smirked sinisterly.

"Alright, let's move forward..."

"We can't keep running, we'll end up in the Kunlun Mountains."

Qin Ze suddenly halted, staring anxiously at the dark forest ahead. The beastly creatures within the Kunlun Mountains were said to be terrifying, as if stepping into them meant doom. Qin Ze's mind raced, trying to devise a solution to their current crisis.

"Maybe we should..." Yun Man hesitated, not finishing her sentence. A flicker of doubt crossed her mind, wondering why she even entertained such a foolish thought.

"What?" Qin Ze asked.

"Should we kill it?" Yun Man asked weakly, avoiding Qin Ze's gaze.

"Hunt a fifth-tier beastly creature?" Qin Ze was visibly shocked, thinking, "When did this girl get so daring?"

"If we don't kill it, we'll have to enter the Kunlun Mountains," Yun Man said, glancing nervously at the ominous mountains that seemed to loom like a flood of ravenous beasts. She had no intention of stepping into the darkness. "Will we survive in there?"

Just then, a 'ding' sounded in Qin Ze's mind.

"Ding."

"System Task: Defeat the Violent Golden Gorilla and obtain its crystal nucleus. Task Reward: Experience 10,000, Qi Points 4,000, Survival Points 100..."

"Dammit."

Qin Ze couldn't help but curse, feeling overwhelmed by the task. "Why don't you come out and do it yourself, damn system?"

His face was etched with anger, imagining if the system were a person, he would stomp on it mercilessly and throw it away.

He had intended to evade the situation, but the system's task had left him infuriated. He had to kill the gorilla and obtain its crystal nucleus, a task that felt like throwing his life away. What was the difference between this and throwing an egg against a stone?

Now, the task was non-negotiable, impossible to decline.

"Fuck it. Let's do this."

"Kill it!"

Qin Ze let out a deep growl, his brows relaxing as he released Yun Man's hand. The Dragon Elephant Tai Xu Scripture silently activated within him, causing an intense aura to build up, making it difficult even to breathe. Excitement welled up within him; a fifth-order demonic beast, one that had condensed a core, was a formidable challenge indeed.

His battle instincts surged, and Qin Ze radiated an intense aura of combat readiness. Yun Man, standing beside him, seemed to catch fire from this aura, her gaze hardening into one of unwavering determination and stability.

As the shockwaves intensified, Yun Man's colorful robes fluttered gracefully, transforming her into a fierce, poised fairy amidst the looming danger.

"Yun Man, I'll distract it. You try to hit its eyes and blind it," Qin Ze quickly strategized, secretly worried about whether she was capable. Facing a fifth-order demonic beast was no joke; even its sheer size and aura were overwhelming, let alone its terrifying power.

To his surprise, Yun Man nodded resolutely and abruptly activated the 'Cloud Soaring Force', lifting her body gracefully into the air...

Qin Ze didn't hesitate. With a fierce charge, he followed suit...

"Bang, bang, bang..."

With each step the demonic beast took, the ground trembled violently, as if an earthquake was in progress.

"Roar!"

A towering tree was ripped from the ground as the Violent Golden Gorilla lifted it menacingly, roaring to the heavens in a display of its invincible strength.

"Yantian, its fury is waning, now's our chance," the bearded man said, his thick eyebrows relaxing slightly, his face betraying his joy. Gripping his massive hammers tightly, he swung them slowly through the air before propelling himself forward with a powerful leap, soaring several dozen yards.

They had been chasing the Violent Golden Gorilla for half a month, and their team of thirteen had dwindled to just two. Failing to kill it would haunt them for the rest of their lives.

Yantian, hidden within his black cloak, also changed expression, his hand appearing with a golden sword. Running on the ground, he left no trace, his speed matching that of the bearded man.

As the Violent Golden Gorilla continued its relentless attacks, they dodged and parried, struggling to find an opening for a counterattack.

"Yantian, people ahead, be careful," the bearded man spotted Qin Ze rushing towards them, furrowing his brows. He dragged his hammers heavily behind him, leaping from a treetop to land heavily on the ground.

The Violent Golden Gorilla roared, clenching its fists and pounding them down fiercely towards the bearded man.

"Roar! Boom..."

With a leap fueled by every ounce of strength he possessed, the bearded man narrowly dodged a devastating blow. His heart still pounding from the near-miss, the Violent Golden Gorilla swung its hands together to form a towering mace, which it slammed down with ferocity.

"Roar..."

A massive crater appeared on the ground, and the bearded man, desperate to increase his speed, had to abandon one of his massive hammers. Within the crater, the hammer lay reduced to dust...

A fifth-tier beastly creature was truly terrifying.

For the first time, Qin Ze felt the sheer power of a beastly creature. It was immense, immense, and utterly monstrous!!!