Chapter 1065: Ancestor Dragon

The true meaning behind the Behemoth Ape's words was that to genuinely conquer him, Xu Yang had to defeat him relying solely on his purest cultivation, without any external aid. Conversely, if Xu Yang couldn't achieve this, even if he used his strongest power to cleave the ape with a single sword, the creature would never willingly follow him.

With this clear understanding of the situation, Xu Yang decided not to waste any more time. Once he was set on conquering the Behemoth Ape, he had no intention of giving up.

Perhaps only Lingyao truly understood the depth of Xu Yang's inner resolve and unwavering persistence. Throughout his journey, no matter the difficulties or hardships he faced, no force had ever managed to break his spirit. This, Lingyao often felt, was the man's most captivating quality.

As long as Xu Yang was by her side, even if the sky were to fall, nothing could disturb the profound tranquility deep within her.

Finally, Xu Yang offered a calm smile, slowly closed his eyes, and used his spiritual power to draw the protective energy of the Ancestral Dragon Armor, which encased his physical body, back into his inner mind-sea. This effectively removed the ultimate defensive state over his body.

"Boy, are you sure about this? Are you really going to temporarily abandon your body's protection?"

"The Behemoth Ape probably hasn't even detected my presence. What's wrong with a little trickery? It won't hinder you from achieving your goal. Don't you want to conquer him? There's no need to put yourself in harm's way. This creature possesses the most powerful bloodline I've ever encountered on Yingzhou Continent in terms of physical strength. If he truly unleashes his full power with a single punch, and without my protective energy, even your cultivated foundation would likely result in severe injury."

The Ancestral Dragon's voice continued to resonate in Xu Yang's mind. However, Xu Yang had already made up his decision and showed no hesitation.

"You needn't worry at all. Even if I were to be utterly shattered, it certainly wouldn't be here. Besides, I, Xu Yang, have no desire to die, and there's likely no power in this world that can truly take me."

Having dispelled the Ancestral Dragon's worries with such a jest, the old dragon sighed softly and remained silent. Although he still wasn't confident that Xu Yang would emerge from this battle physically unscathed, he respected every choice Xu Yang made, and deep down, he believed in Xu Yang's ability to handle any unforeseen circumstances.

Not only had the Ancestral Dragon Armor been discarded, but so had Tutian, which belonged to the previous generation of God-Kings. It was even more unthinkable for Xu Yang to use Fenghuo Wuji, his Natal Artifact. Yet, this wasn't the most astounding part; what truly shocked everyone was that Xu Yang hadn't even unsheathed his Jade Bone Divine Sword this time.

He intended to confront the Behemoth Ape head-on, relying solely on physical strength. While the Behemoth Ape clearly held a significant advantage in terms of raw physical power, only by unleashing power through one's physical form could a cultivator's deepest foundation be demonstrated in its purest and most primal state.

This was an ancient and immutable truth across all planes: the physical strength of a cultivator and the raw power their body could unleash were often core, unyielding standards for evaluating true combat prowess.

This was why Xu Yang took such a drastic risk, choosing what seemed like the most improbable method to prove his ability to conquer his opponent. The Behemoth Ape burst into laughter at this moment. In truth, even before the battle began, a shift in its internal defenses had already started to occur.

Beyond everything else, the sheer sincerity and courage Xu Yang displayed at that moment were already enough. However, as the battle hadn't officially begun, the Behemoth Ape didn't outwardly concede to Xu Yang. He genuinely wished to witness the true cultivation foundation of the master he was about to follow.

Wildly pounding its chest, the Ape unleashed a terrifying roar, like the crash of mountains and the surge of a tsunami. The sound rippled outwards, striking the deep waters near the perimeter of Skeleton King Island and stirring up colossal waves. It was as if this earth-shattering roar alone could make the entire Endless Sea tremble, further highlighting the Behemoth Ape's unparalleled regal status among the beast race bloodlines.

In fact, if Xu Yang could successfully win this battle and bring the Ape under his command, he would no longer need to demonstrate his inherent strength in any future confrontations across Yingzhou Continent. With such a powerful subordinate by his side, Xu Yang would possess a unique and immense advantage against opponents of any caliber.

After all, the Behemoth Ape's inherent bloodline advantage in both offense and defense was simply too immense. Beyond all else, its colossal physique alone, when fully manifested and simply standing there, was enough to overwhelm the spirit of any opponent across the entirety of Yingzhou Continent.

"Boy, since you're ready, I won't stand on ceremony. Prepare yourself! I will throw only one punch. If you can withstand it, you win."

The moment the Behemoth Ape finished speaking, its entire body began to emanate a purplish-red energy. It was already at the peak of the late-stage Purple Rank, just one step shy of true Grand Completion at that level.

However, this final step had been a barrier in the Behemoth Ape's life for nearly ten millennia. Perhaps he would never be able to cross this seemingly insurmountable chasm of a threshold in his entire existence.

Nevertheless, this didn't diminish its power in the slightest. Purplish-red light rapidly converged upon the Behemoth Ape's right fist, and at that moment, his eyes began to faintly glow with dark golden radiance. This shimmering glow only appeared when he was truly enraged, signaling that the Behemoth Ape's impending punch was gathering the full extent of his power.

The entire Skeleton King Island trembled uncontrollably at that moment. Even the thousands of pirate warriors hiding in its outer reaches instinctively felt their minds reeling.

"My God! What kind of power is being unleashed? It's truly terrifying! It feels like my soul could shatter at any moment; that sensation is overwhelming my mind."

More and more people experienced these thoughts and feelings. Yet, the harder they tried to escape this dread, the more they found themselves mesmerized by it. Finally, as the Behemoth Ape took its first step, the power in its right fist fully accumulated, and a purplish-red glow completely enveloped its massive, boulder-sized fist.