A Useless Person's Rise to Power

Chapter 26 Deep in the Mist, the Demonic Ape Blocks the Way, and Remains Appear

He held the ancient animal hide map he had obtained from Zhou Hu in his palm, his fingertips tracing the mottled, aged patterns of the hide as he meticulously deduced the routes within. The map, weathered and incomplete at its edges, was drawn with lost cinnabar, depicting the entire landscape of the misty region. Poisonous swamps, treacherous places, monster lairs, and forbidden areas with hidden currents were all clearly marked. In the deepest northeastern part of the misty region, a mysterious spiral of ancient patterns defined a region, accompanied by blurred ancient seal script—the very location of the ancient ruins that Zhou Hu had so longed for.

Following the route shown in the map, heading northeast and traversing three poisonous miasma depressions and two monster-infested valleys, one would reach the outer barrier of the ruins. Qin Zhan put away the ancient map, his gaze fixed on the depths of the vast white mist. This journey into the misty region was originally for training and treasure hunting, and now that he had obtained clues to the ancient ruins, he naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity. He knew that the closer he got to the ruins, the greater the danger would be; high-level monsters, ancient restrictions, and hidden powerful figures would inevitably follow. However, with his resolute will and decisive nature, he had no intention of retreating.

As you venture deeper into the landscape, the surrounding scenery subtly transforms.

Beyond the outer edge of the fog, all the low-lying vegetation vanished, replaced by towering ancient trees rising from the ground, their trunks gnarled and vigorous, with withered vines and old tendrils coiling and intertwining like dragons coiled in the forest. Their branches blotted out the sun, and thick fog swirled and flowed slowly within them, appearing from afar like countless ghostly figures swaying in the mist, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

The ground was muddy and black, with weathered broken steles and crumbling stone pillars scattered everywhere, and half of an ancient carved pillar buried deep in the soil. The stone patterns were ancient, engraved with lost mythical beast totems, and despite the endless erosion and wear of time, it still retained its former grandeur. It was obvious that this land was once filled with pavilions and sects in ancient times, but it suffered an unknown calamity, its prosperity vanished, sealed by poisonous fog, and turned into a dangerous secret realm.

Qin Zhan spread his divine sense far and wide, covering an area of ​​a hundred feet, proceeding with extreme caution with every step. The most deadly dangers deep within the misty domain are never the obvious crises, but the lurking killing intent. Demonic beasts are adept at concealing their auras, and cultivators are skilled at ambushing from the shadows; the slightest opening could lead to certain death.

After speeding for half an hour, the surrounding fog suddenly changed.

The originally drifting white mist suddenly sank and stagnated, turning into a gray-black evil mist, carrying a wild and violent aura that rushed towards them. The heavy beastly power suddenly surged, making people feel suffocated in their chests and their blood and qi sluggish.

Qin Zhan abruptly stopped, his brows furrowing slightly, a hint of seriousness flashing across his eyes.

"Such a powerful demonic aura, already approaching the peak level of a high-level demonic beast."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a ferocious roar that shook the mountains and forests exploded out!

The roar was like rolling thunder, causing the surrounding thick fog to surge and churn, the branches of ancient trees to shake violently, withered branches and fallen leaves to fall in a rustling sound, and the whole earth to tremble slightly.

A dark shadow suddenly swelled up from the depths of the dense forest, and a massive body more than three zhang long burst through the mist, charging out with overwhelming ferocity!

It was none other than the infamous Black Mist Demon Ape from the Misty Domain.

Its entire body was covered in dark scales, each scale as if cast from refined iron, gleaming with a chilling light; its head was ferocious and terrifying, with protruding, crimson fangs and eyes burning with a violent, ferocious light; its limbs were as thick as giant pillars, and its fingertips had sharp, cold claws that could shatter rocks with a single swipe. A thick, black poisonous aura swirled around it, intertwining with the poisonous mist of the fog domain, its corrosive power terrifyingly potent; an ordinary cultivator at the Transcendent Realm would perish at its claws if they were not careful.

The Black Mist Demon Ape locked its gaze on Qin Zhan, its crimson eyes filled with savagery and greed. In its eyes, Qin Zhan possessed abundant blood and refined aura, making him an excellent prey delivered right to its doorstep, one it could not afford to let slip away.

With a powerful push off the ground, its massive body, enveloped in a wave of poisonous mist, leaped into the air. The ape fist, carrying immense force and accompanied by a thunderous roar, slammed down towards Qin Zhan's head! The fist's wind howled, its malevolent aura corroding to the bone, sealing off all escape routes—its domineering power was unparalleled.

Qin Zhan remained calm and unhurried, his footwork agile and ever-changing, his figure flowing like clouds and breeze, gracefully dodging to the side.

Boom!

The giant fist of the demonic ape slammed into the ground, instantly cracking the hard rock layer with spiderweb-like fissures, sending rubble and dirt flying everywhere, its power terrifying beyond measure.

With its attack missing its mark, the Black Mist Demon Ape grew even more enraged, roaring to the sky once more. Its gray-black malevolent energy surged wildly, and its arms swung back and forth, its fists like a storm, relentlessly crushing Qin Zhan. Each punch carried the power to shatter mountains and split rocks, and the entire forest was filled with howling winds and surging waves of mist.

Qin Zhan's eyes flashed sharply, his inner energy surged and circulated, a blue light condensed at the tip of his fist, and his fighting spirit soared. Facing the overwhelming onslaught of ape fists, he did not retreat but advanced, his figure suddenly leaping out to meet the ferocious fists head-on!

The boy appeared slender, but his aura was in no way inferior to that of the savage giant ape, and he exuded a domineering aura that surpassed even demonic beasts.

Fists and claws collided with a deafening roar, and a terrifying shockwave swept outwards from the battleground. Ancient trees that could be embraced by several men snapped in half, and the thick fog was forcibly blown away several feet, revealing a brief moment of clarity.

The massive body of the Black Mist Demon Ape trembled violently, its enormous form being forced back several steps. Its thick arms went numb and trembled, and its crimson pupils were filled with shock, doubt, and fear. It never expected that the young cultivator before it would possess such formidable physical strength, having withstood its full-force attack head-on and even causing its own blood and qi to surge in response.

Qin Zhan stood firmly in place, his body motionless, his expression indifferent as ever.

Although this Black Mist Demon Ape was a peak high-level demon beast with a powerful body and strange, malevolent aura, and its combat strength was slightly better than Zhou Hu's, it was still not enough to pose a fatal threat to him.

But he did not underestimate his opponent in the slightest.

The area was thick with malevolent energy, clearly indicating that it was already the outer guard territory of the ruins. The black mist demonic ape was merely a reconnaissance outpost, and even stronger demonic beasts were undoubtedly lurking in the shadows. What made him even more wary was that he could faintly detect several deliberately concealed human auras at the edge of his divine sense, clearly indicating that he was not the only one eyeing this ancient ruin.

After being forced back, the Black Mist Demon Ape's ferocity was completely ignited. Its crimson eyes were filled with murderous intent, and its body was filled with swirling poisonous energy. It opened its mouth and spewed out countless poisonous blades as sharp as knives, shooting towards Qin Zhan and blocking all escape routes.

Qin Zhan's eyes narrowed, and he activated his Yuan Qi barrier at full power. At the same time, he leaped through the air, maneuvering among the dense blades of evil. His movements were graceful and agile, avoiding fatal attacks while finding openings for a counterattack.

A burst of azure light erupted from his fingertips, unleashing a condensed and sharp burst of Yuan Qi that aimed directly at the demonic ape's vital point between its brows. The black mist demonic ape roared and swung its massive arm to block, its scales colliding with the energy and sparks flying. Its enormous body was once again shaken and forced to stagger backward.

The man and the ape clashed once more, their roars shaking the heavens, waves of air churning, and poisonous mist swirling, the battle in the forest escalating ever more fiercely. Qin Zhan, adept at both offense and defense, moved with unpredictable agility, his moves sharp yet steady, firmly suppressing the rampaging black mist ape. Relying on its powerful physique and boundless brute strength, the ape launched a frenzied counterattack, spreading poisonous energy across the sky as it desperately defended its territory.

After dozens of rounds of fierce fighting, the Black Mist Demon Ape's aura gradually became disordered, and several shallow wounds appeared on its scales, its ferocious arrogance subtly diminishing. In contrast, Qin Zhan remained calm and composed, showing no signs of exhaustion, and instead grew stronger with each battle.

Just as Qin Zhan was preparing to unleash an even stronger attack to quickly defeat the demonic ape—

In the depths of the distant fog, a faint, ancient outline suddenly emerged. A jumble of crumbling walls and ruins crisscrossed the landscape, the foundation of a massive stone palace hidden in the mist, ancient runes flickering in the air, and an aura of timeless grandeur slowly emanating from it.

The entrance to the ancient ruins was revealed unexpectedly amidst the great battle!

What made Qin Zhan even more alarmed was that he keenly sensed at least three hidden figures approaching the entrance to the ruins from three different directions. They were clearly already lying in wait, waiting for him and the demonic ape to be exhausted so they could reap the benefits!

A misty fog obscured the sky, ancient ruins appeared, demonic beasts remained undefeated, and powerful enemies lurked in the shadows. Qin Zhan gazed at the faintly visible outline of the ancient ruins, and sensed the chilling auras silently approaching from three directions. His eyes suddenly turned deep and cold.

Can he decisively slay the demonic ape and be the first to enter the ruins? And who are the identities of the three mysterious figures lurking in the shadows, and what are their schemes?