Chapter Sixty-Four: The Green Sandalwood Arm Gibbon

When Brother Biao saw Tang Tian’s new appearance, he was momentarily stunned. Tang Tian was wrapped head to toe in bandages, only his eyes exposed, looking like a mummy that had just crawled from its coffin.

But nothing had happened last night, had it? Brother Biao thought in a daze.

“Hey, Baldy, let’s have a fight!” Tang Tian exclaimed, full of enthusiasm.

Brother Biao shuddered, his face instantly turning green. Big brother, I haven’t offended you! He immediately put on a sycophantic expression: “Big brother, if there’s anything about me you dislike, just say the word! I’ll change, I promise! Is it because my bald head is too shiny? I’ll wear a wig tomorrow...”

“I don’t dislike you,” Tang Tian shook his bandaged head. “I just want to have a fight.”

A fight... Big brother... That just means getting beaten up by you! Brother Biao shook his head vigorously, looking as meek as a lamb. “Big brother, from now on, you’re the boss! If you ever get annoyed at me, beat me, scold me, I’ll never complain. If sacrificing my pitiful self can bring you a moment of happiness, my life is complete!”

Brother Biao wore the look of someone heroically accepting martyrdom.

Tang Tian, seeing this, realized he had no chance—when someone says they won’t hit back or talk back, what’s the point in fighting? He had just gone looking for Jing Hao, but that guy was nowhere to be found, elusive as a ghost. Baldy’s skills might be lacking, but he would have to make do.

“Do you know where Jing Hao is?” Tang Tian asked.

Brother Biao shook his head. “Master Jing Hao always keeps to himself; his whereabouts are never certain.”

Tang Tian’s last hope was dashed. His mood soured, his expression turned threatening. “I want to fight! You know this place—think quickly, where can I find a fight? If you can’t come up with something, I’ll just have to beat all of you up again!”

Brother Biao felt his heart trembling. The painful memory of yesterday was so fresh, he didn’t even dare recall it. Internally, he wept. Heaven help me, when did the Martial Society produce such a monster?

Being monstrously strong was one thing—Brother Biao had seen prodigies before—but why did this one have to be so twisted in character as well?

Up at the crack of dawn, just to look for someone to fight. And even after I admit defeat, you still won’t let it go...

Can’t find anyone to fight, so you come to hassle us—how is that reasonable? Even bullies aren’t this unreasonable...

Brother Biao had seen unreasonable people, but never one so utterly devoid of logic.

A freak, a madman, a brute!

“Think hard. If you can’t come up with something... hmph!” That bandaged head scanned him up and down, and Brother Biao felt a surge of indignation. Why must you pick me to threaten and bully? Go find someone else...

How unlucky must my day start to be like this...

“If you mean people, there are none nearby,” Brother Biao said, forced into a corner, speaking cautiously. “But there are Star Soul Beasts.”

“Star Soul Beasts?” Tang Tian was taken aback, then nodded. “That’ll do.”

“About ten li down, there’s a gathering place for Green Sandalwood Arm Apes,” Brother Biao quickly said, silently praying. Truly a monster, so desperate to fight that he doesn’t care if it’s beast or human...

“Green Sandalwood Arm Apes? What rank?” Tang Tian asked.

“Fourth rank. Incredibly strong, immune to blades and spears, and extremely agile,” Brother Biao answered. “We usually don’t dare go near them.”

“Fourth rank...” Tang Tian suddenly remembered the Ironhide Rhinoceros he’d taken down before, which was also fourth rank. That sold for a lot, didn’t it? He asked, “Is there anything valuable on a Green Sandalwood Arm Ape?”

“Just the soul core,” Brother Biao replied. “They’re tough to deal with, and apart from the soul core, there’s nothing worth much, so basically no one bothers with them.”

“Hmm, fine, that’ll do,” Tang Tian said to Brother Biao. “Take me there!”

Brother Biao wanted to refuse, but the look in Tang Tian’s eyes made the refusal die in his throat. He felt nothing but sorrow.

Why me...

Suddenly, Tang Tian changed his mind. “Call everyone together.”

At this, Brother Biao felt instantly better, even a little gloating. Though he found it strange—what was the point of bringing so many people?

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With Baldy leading the way, the group soon arrived at the Green Sandalwood Arm Apes’ habitat. Naturally, none of the others were willing, but under Tang Tian’s pressure, no one dared refuse. To Tang Tian’s surprise, there was a dense forest underground.

“This is a sinkhole, the place with the most sunlight,” Brother Biao explained, familiar with the area. “In the past, a few fifth-rank Star Soul Beasts tried to claim it, but were defeated by the Green Sandalwood Arm Apes. These creatures are tough-skinned, strong, and cunning—very smart.”

As soon as Tang Tian stepped onto the grass, a Green Sandalwood Arm Ape appeared.

This ape was about Tang Tian’s height, but far more muscular, especially in the arms, which were nearly as thick as Tang Tian’s thighs and much longer than a human’s, almost dragging on the ground. Its dark green eyes glared at Tang Tian, wary—the bandaged, white-clad stranger was a first for it.

Tang Tian’s excitement surged at the sight of the Green Sandalwood Arm Ape.

The scattered true force within him kept his body in a constant, needle-pricking discomfort. He was acutely aware of the danger these unabsorbed energies posed to him.

But their rank was too high; with his third-rank Dantian Pool, even absorbing a trace took a long time to digest.

At this rate, he wouldn’t finish absorbing them in ten days. Tang Tian’s mind was set on seeing Qianhui as soon as possible; he couldn’t stand wasting time.

Staring at the Green Sandalwood Arm Ape, Tang Tian spread his arms wide.

Nearby, Baldy swallowed hard. Was he really going to fight the ape barehanded? The others gaped, dumbstruck, as Tang Tian strode toward the ape with arms outstretched.

Of all Star Soul Beasts, apes were among the most difficult to deal with. Cunning, incredibly strong, with outstanding defense, flexibility, and speed—they had no real weaknesses. But their most fearsome trait was their superior technique. Many martial arts had been inspired by Star Soul Beasts, and apes were a primary model; their long arms and agility made them natural-born masters of fist techniques, so much so that even lions and tigers gave them a wide berth.

There were countless fist styles named after apes—some famed for strength, like Arm-Through Ape Fist, others for versatility, like Hundred-Transformations Ape Fist.

A fourth-rank Green Sandalwood Arm Ape was undoubtedly a paragon among them.

Baldy had once witnessed a Green Sandalwood Arm Ape tear apart a full-grown Saber-Tooth Shadow Tiger—the bloody, violent scene was forever seared into his memory. Watching Tang Tian approach the ape barehanded, that memory flashed unbidden through his mind, and terror swept over him, leaving his mind blank.

The Green Sandalwood Arm Ape was surprised that this strange figure kept coming closer. A murderous light flashed in its dark green eyes. With a savage roar, it planted both arms on the ground and lunged at Tang Tian.

Tang Tian saw a blur as a dark shape leapt at him.

A foul stench assaulted his nostrils.

Tang Tian reacted quickly, raising an arm to block.

Bang!

It was as if he’d been struck by a giant hammer—he flew horizontally through the air.

Twisting in midair, Tang Tian landed steadily on his feet.

Such strength!

Though unprepared, Tang Tian was shocked by the sheer force behind the ape’s attack. Even Amory didn’t possess such power!

Truly a beast!

Tang Tian was inwardly alarmed, but as he flexed his hand, he discovered the prickling pain had eased. The realization excited him—Uncle Bing had been right: fighting accelerated the absorption of high-rank true force.

The Green Sandalwood Arm Ape hadn’t expected its sure-hit blow to leave Tang Tian unscathed.

It roared, slamming its arms into the ground; the earth exploded under its strength.

Tang Tian roared back, launching a punch without hesitation.

Small Collapse Fist!

Bang!

The two fists—one large, one small—collided, force exploding outward. Tang Tian shot off like a ball struck by a stick, crashing into a tree, while the ape arced high through the air.

As Tang Tian was about to slam into the trunk, he twisted, his legs smashing into the wood with a shower of chips. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Like a spring wound to the limit, his body shot forward, vanishing in a blink.

He appeared beside the airborne ape.

Though suspended in the air, the Green Sandalwood Arm Ape’s extraordinary flexibility was on full display. Curling into a ball, it swung its arms like twin sledgehammers at Tang Tian’s head.

Tang Tian ducked down, narrowly dodging the blows.

Bang!

The fists crashed together above his head, the shockwaves making his scalp tingle.

Yet far from fear, Tang Tian felt a surge of exhilaration.

He grabbed the ape’s waist, his fingers digging in like iron hooks. Though the skin and fur were tough as iron, his Eagle Claw technique held fast.

The ape howled in pain, swiping at Tang Tian.

But once Tang Tian latched on, escape was nearly impossible. Like a supple noodle, he used the force to swing himself behind the ape.

An opening!

A cold glint flashed in Tang Tian’s eyes as he wrapped his arms around the ape’s shoulders, coiling his body like a spring, his feet planted on its back.

Joint Lock Technique—Rear Arm Lock!

Man and ape plummeted like stones.

But this ape was uncannily agile; its arms swung backward, coiling around Tang Tian like vines.

Thud!

Man and ape crashed into the earth, the impact sending them tumbling apart. The ape rose as if nothing had happened, and Tang Tian, bandaged from head to toe, also scrambled up.

The tingling in his body thrilled him. He had a brilliant idea.

Wasn’t a Green Sandalwood Arm Ape the perfect partner to practice joint locks on?

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There’s another chapter tonight, though it’ll be a bit late.