Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Ambush

Wu Gang led the eight through patches of weeds half a meter tall before turning to explain.

“Those were infant magical monkeys.”

The magical monkey was a type of magical beast unique to the Illusionary Forest.

Their reproductive ability was extremely strong, and their most notable trick was throwing their young.

The thrown infants themselves weren’t highly offensive, but their bodies contained powerful Illusionary Power. Once touched, one would fall into an illusion.

When that happened, the magical monkeys would swarm together to tear apart and devour the intruders completely.

After hearing Wu Gang’s explanation, Zhou Luo wore a look of amazement.

He hadn’t imagined such a magical beast existed.

Using their own young as an attack method, letting them go die.

Truly, magical beasts were different from what he’d envisioned.

Unlike tigers, who wouldn’t harm their cubs.

The magical monkeys’ assaults were continuous. Had they not withdrawn swiftly earlier, there would have been a ceaseless stream of infant magical monkeys thrown at them.

At that point, they would have had to destroy them all.

Once a certain level of Illusionary Power accumulated, even if one guarded their consciousness sea beforehand, they’d still be affected by it.

By now, those magical monkeys had likely attacked the cultivators trapped in the illusions.

Zhou Luo stared at Wu Gang’s back, his estimation of this man increased another notch.

It seems this individual wasn’t to be underestimated.

Not long after, the group encountered another wave of magical beast attacks.

There were bison-like magical beasts covered entirely in hard scales, capable of unleashing fierce wind blades capable of slicing everything in their path.

Also present were brightly-feathered flying bird magical beasts emitting lightly toxic fumes; they possessed venom sacs at their tails that secreted lethal poison.

Then there were blood-red vines, alive and incredibly tough, capable of easily crushing a great tree.

…

These magical beasts dwelled year-round in the mountain valleys and typically wouldn’t attack proactively. They only launched assaults when someone encroached upon their territory.

At this point, everyone began showcasing their own means.

Zhou Luo gripped Qing Hui, continuously swung his sword, while always maintaining an appropriate distance from Shangguan Qianxue.

To hide his strength, he deliberately appeared strained, leading her to shield him from part of the pressure.

Shangguan Qianxue seemed unconcerned with these matters. She just fought silently, unleashing considerable force with each move.

Zhou Luo estimated her strength to be at least at the late stage of the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.

It took a full hour for the group to finally exit the valley.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

Just as Zhou Luo was regulating his breathing, Shangguan Qianxue suddenly walked over to him.

She coldly said, "If that’s all you have to offer, I suggest you withdraw immediately."

Every ulterior motive in his mind had been clearly observed by her during this journey.

Earlier, she hadn’t commented because he wasn’t worth her attention.

In her view, with his barely fifth layer of Qi Refinement cultivation, relying on petty tricks meant he might as well leave sooner rather than later.

Zhou Luo smiled slightly, unfazed. "Aren’t companions supposed to assist each other?"

"I don’t partner with the weak." Shangguan Qianxue finished speaking and strode directly ahead.

Zhou Luo did not follow.

Being so openly disdained, he certainly couldn’t chase after her just to let his warm face touch her cold backside.

He deliberately slowed his pace, putting a respectable distance between himself and the group.

This way, if danger truly arose, he could seize a chance to slip away.

Shortly afterward, the nine reached a site of ancient ruins.

Broken stone pillars lay scattered on the ground, choked by weeds. On their surfaces, barely visible through the growth, were faint runes and engravings.

Though long since dulled and lusterless, one could still sense the vestiges of their once powerful strength amidst the ruins.

Alongside the pillars were piles of crumbled pavilions and toppled towers; jagged remnants of walls stood starkly, evoking desolation and sorrow.

Wu Gang led the group as they picked their way cautiously.

Though he possessed a map of the Illusionary Forest, not every corner was clearly marked, demanding extra vigilance.

Boom—

Just then, the middle-aged man who’d spoken with Liu Tie earlier inadvertently triggered something unknown.

Instantly, the earth shook. The faded runes on the fractured pillars flared with sudden, blinding spiritual radiance, trapping him within it.

"Damnation! An array trap!" Wu Gang cried out in alarm.

The group scrambled backward away from the source.

More runes ignited, a thick torrent of light surged skyward before crashing back down in radiant columns, enclosing the entire area.

Seeing the unfolding peril, Zhou Luo retreated smoothly.

He slipped just beyond the formation’s expanding boundary mere instants before the light sealed it.

His brow knitted slightly; without a sound, he leaped onto the branches of a nearby tree, observing the situation from his high vantage point.

Within the formation’s luminous cage, clashes of combat became faintly audible.

Calming his breath and focusing his senses, he scanned in another direction.

From the tangled jungle a distance away, a band of men poured forth. Their faces held a natural fierceness, magical artifacts gripped tight—clearly men who lived for bloodshed.

Among them stood an old man, a formation-control disk glowing in his hands as he watched the activation site with smug satisfaction.

The disk emitted soft pulsations, tendrils of light spearing into the core of the radiant prison, bolstering its restraints and force.

Clearly, this formation wasn’t native to the Illusionary Forest—it was his doing.

So, cultivator bandits lay in ambush even deep inside the forest?

That explained Wu Gang’s insistence on forming a team.

The cultivation world proved dangerous indeed; nowhere felt safer than home.

Inside the formation, chaotic silhouettes flailed wildly, defenders straining against the onslaught.

"Grand Elder Ma Zhi, the formation won’t hold much longer," the old man said, adjusting the threading patterns of light on his disk, his voice low.

"Be at ease, Golden Elder. Just whittle them down. My men will handle what’s left." The leader of this band, a truly burly man that towered over those around him, hefted a massive stone hammer as he replied.

They were bandits. For days they had prepared outside the entrance to the ruins, laying their hidden trap in hopes of a rich prize.

Now, at last, their patience was rewarded.

Zhou Luo observed silently from the tree branch. He made no immediate decision to flee.

This Illusionary Forest still felt unfamiliar. Traveling alone would likely invite unexpected peril.

Sticking initially with Wu Gang’s group offered a safer path at least until they entered its denser regions.

Naturally, should ill fortune be their lot today and see them all ended… well, one couldn’t be blamed for not staying to be buried with them.

Half an hour passed.

As the formation’s power burned out, the shower of light rays finally faded away.

On the ground beneath stood eight figures now, panting harshly; exhaustion and injury marked every movement.

Mere resistance to the formation’s attacks had cost them dearly already.

"Ma Zhi! Knew it was you!" Wu Gang snarled toward the waiting band, his eyes blazing with hatred.

Ma Zhi only offered a lazy smile. "And here I netted myself a big fish today. Surprise."

"Hmph. With just you?" Wu Gang’s derisive snarl sliced the air.

"Once? Maybe I’d worry. But not today." Ma Zhi’s mask of casual cruelty snapped into open bloodlust. "Brothers! END THEM!"

A roar echoed as the dozen waiting cultivators surged forward.

Magical artifacts bloomed into lethal brilliance in their hands, flying straight for the trembling eight.

Wu Gang bellowed defiance, swinging his broadblade as he met the charge head-on.

His companions rushed behind him, stumbling straight into brutal collision.

Instantly, spiritual energy warped the air around the melee. Offensive capabilities erupted in overlapping chaos—slashing blades, lightning blasts, explosive fire glyphs—fueled by blazing Qi. Power rolled outward in crushing energy waves.