Chapter 68: Black Gold Ape

**Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Black Gold Ape**

“Of course I can confirm that the green copper belongs to the Central Lands.” The Villainous Taoist pondered for a moment, then continued: “The incident back then caused a huge stir. The most widespread rumor was that the Demon Emperor stole the Desolate Pagoda, the supreme treasure of the Eastern Wastelands’ human race, intending to use it as a burial object when his life ended. The Desolate Pagoda indeed went missing during that period, and everyone believed he was responsible. Besides this, there was also a more obscure legend claiming that the Desolate Pagoda was not stolen by the Demon Emperor; he did make a move to find burial objects, but what he actually stole was a mysterious artifact from the Central Lands. This piece of green copper is enigmatic, rarely known in the Eastern Wastelands, and even those who have heard of it don’t fully understand its nature.”

“You based your judgment on that?” Ye Fan asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

“There was no Desolate Pagoda unearthed from the Demon Emperor’s tomb, which disproved the first legend. Naturally, I then thought of the green copper.” At this point, the Villainous Taoist slapped himself directly and said, “I never imagined that after a lifetime of seeking treasures, I would be blinded by that green copper and miss such an opportunity.”

“How did you realize it later? How did you detect something was wrong?”

“Because it was extraordinarily ordinary, without a single flaw. Every method I used was fooled. Looking back, that was clearly its biggest flaw. Even ordinary scrap copper couldn’t be so ‘ordinary’...”

Ye Fan deliberately sighed, saying, “I can’t believe I was so nonchalant, simply flicking my hand and discarding an artifact comparable to the Desolate Pagoda as if it were trash. It’s a pity no one saw it; I imagine I must have looked like a deity descending, with unmatched grace, unique throughout history.”

“Are you intentionally trying to provoke me? You’re asking for a beating!” The Villainous Taoist’s nose was practically twisted out of shape with anger.

Although Ye Fan found the Fat Taoist quite unprincipled, he wasn't truly vicious, so Ye Fan wasn't particularly afraid of him. He said, "Calm down, Taoist priest. Your most important task now is to quickly figure out how to retrieve that green copper. Who knows, perhaps the Desolate Pagoda is also in the nether tomb below. You might not have missed a treasure; on the contrary, you might end up with two."

“The Desolate Pagoda cannot be in the nether hall!” Although he said this, the Villainous Taoist released Ye Fan and carefully considered his next move.

“I’ll risk it, I’ll try again!” The Fat Taoist walked towards the black pool once more. He couldn’t forget the mysterious green copper; he simply couldn’t let it go.

Boom!

Just then, a massive vortex suddenly appeared in the dark, cold pool. A monstrous, ferocious beast bobbed up and down, emerging from the black water. Its entire body was pitch-black, as if cast from black gold, exuding an eerie aura.

Its shape was bizarre: it had three heads, the central one resembling an ape, while the two side heads were those of a bird and a snake, respectively. Its body was like a “Nether Steed” cast from black gold, entirely devoid of fur or feathers, covered instead in black scales that shimmered with a metallic luster, making it appear powerful and robust.

This was a colossal beast, over ten meters long, roaring in the water, letting out a deep bellow that made Ye Fan feel his soul drifting, as if it were about to leave his body.

“Calm your mind and focus!” The Fat Taoist lowed, “Such a creature actually exists, dwelling in the world’s most Yin-heavy places! Its roar can shatter human souls. It’s an extremely powerful beast, named the Black Gold Ape...”

Although this monstrous, colossal beast, shimmering with black light, had three heads, only the central ape head possessed sentience. The bird and snake heads on its sides could unleash divine abilities but lacked independent thought, serving the central ape head. Hence, it was called the Black Gold Ape.

However, there were also legends that the bird and snake heads, appearing as if cast from black gold, could also awaken sentience. Once the Black Gold Ape evolved to that state, it would be terrifying. Unless a peerless master intervened, it would be impossible to slay it, and its magical power would be boundless.

Ye Fan listened intently, taking it to heart. He calmed his mind and focused, enveloped by the luminous glow emanating from the Fat Taoist, and his soul stabilized, no longer feeling as if it were drifting.

Boom!

Just then, the Black Gold Ape suddenly surfaced in the black water, stirring up boundless black waves that surged towards the Fat Taoist and Ye Fan.

Whoosh!

The Villainous Taoist reacted swiftly, drawing a circle with one hand. A radiant azure glow poured forth, blossoming like fireworks, splendid and hazy, enveloping both him and Ye Fan. The black mist and frigid water, capable of freezing stones, were completely blocked. At the same time, he gestured in the air, inscribing a large character, “Seal.”

“Subdue!”

The Fat Taoist let out a soft cry. The “Seal” character in the void instantly shimmered brilliantly, appearing as if carved from jade, tangible and substantial. With a whoosh, it flew forward.

Thud!

It solidly imprinted itself on the Black Gold Ape’s body, emitting a hissing sound and giving off wisps of chilling black mist that gradually began to merge into the black-gold beast’s form.

“Roar...”

The Black Gold Ape violently shook its body, and its two drooping side heads slowly lifted. The bird head opened its beak, instantly spewing a scorching lightning bolt, while the snake head flicked its tongue, unleashing a stream of black flames that seemed to scorch the very air around them.

“Extreme Yin Lightning and Netherflame!”

The Fat Taoist was greatly startled. Pulling Ye Fan, he quickly retreated a few steps, then opened his mouth and spat out a small, blood-colored shield. It shimmered with points of light and, expanding against the wind, grew to be several dozen feet high, blocking them.

Bang, bang, bang!

Streaks of lightning danced, and massive black flames burned, all impacting the crimson, blood-red shield. Glimmering crimson lights flashed forth from it.

“This Black Gold Ape is far from simple. Its side bird and snake heads seem to have once awakened sentience, but they were pierced through by someone and lost their sentience again!” The Fat Taoist’s expression turned grave. “If all three heads of the Black Gold Ape simultaneously possessed sentience, even a powerful cultivator would have no choice but to flee.”

“Thankfully, its two heads aren’t in perfect condition...” he muttered softly. The Black Gold Ape’s powerful attacks caused the shield, resembling a red jade, to tremble, but it ultimately held firm.

“Slay!”

Just then, a brilliant light, like a bright, clear full moon, surged out from the Fat Taoist’s Sea of Bitterness, soaring directly towards the Black Gold Ape.

Thud!

Two golden beams shot out from the eyes of the Black Gold Ape’s central ape head, striking the moon-like, brilliant jade disc. Both trembled.

The Villainous Taoist looked startled and said, “All three heads seem to have been severely damaged; there are terrifying scars on them. It appears that in the past, it successfully awakened the sentience of all three heads. If I had encountered it then, I would have had no choice but to flee.”

Not only had the Black Gold Ape’s two side heads lost their sentience, but its central ape head had also suffered severe damage, making it unable to display its former demonic might. At this moment, it was gradually being suppressed by the Villainous Taoist.

Thud!

However, just as the Villainous Taoist attempted to subdue it, the Black Gold Ape violently struggled, its entire body instantly erupting with dazzling black-gold light. It swiftly broke free from its restraints and sank back into the black pool.

“This creature is indeed formidable. If all three of its heads were to recover, few would be able to subdue it then,” the Fat Taoist said, his expression grave.

Just then, the bottomless cold pool suddenly began to churn violently. Something beneath seemed about to burst forth, far more intensely than the Black Gold Ape. Boundless waves surged in the black pool, and black mist billowed in all directions.

The mist swirled, biting cold, freezing many parts of the mountain range until they cracked. Numerous rocks turned to dust after the black mist swept over them.

“Taoist priest, didn’t you say the nether tomb was hidden in the shadows and wouldn’t surface? Why is it so terrifying now?”

“Perhaps I unintentionally did something just now that caused trouble.”

“What did you do?”

“Thousands of meters deep in the black pool, I saw a broken stone tablet engraved with the words ‘Nether Pool.’ I pulled it out and threw it deeper into the black pool. I think it might have touched the Demon Emperor’s nether tomb after sinking to the bottom.”

“Taoist priest, you didn’t just smash that broken tablet onto the Demon Emperor’s nether hall, did you?”

“Who knew then that the Demon Emperor’s nether tomb was beneath that deep pool...”

Splashing!

Just then, the dark, deep pool churned with splashing water, and a troop of Yin Soldiers, clad in black iron armor and wielding dark Yin Blades, burst forth, exuding an air of death.

“This is...” Ye Fan gasped in shock.

The Fat Taoist also looked surprised. Pulling Ye Fan back, he said, “What’s going on? Is there something strange about the Demon Emperor’s nether tomb? Are there terrifying tomb guardians? What kind of beings are these?!”

In the black pool, waves surged continuously. Broken ancient war chariots emerged, carrying cartloads of Yin Soldiers. They were clad in tungsten-iron armor, their entire bodies covered, and in their hands they held either black Yin Blades or dark Nether Halberds.