Facing the Water-Fire Twin Apes, Fang Han felt a pressure not quite as suffocating as when confronting the Ghost Emperor, yet undeniably greater than the threat posed by the three great thieves—Execution Immortal, Moon-Stabber, and Star-Destroyer. In fact, their combined power was already on par with Meng Shaobai.
If they truly fought, Fang Han could hold his own without issue. But killing them outright? Impossible. Still, when he heard them vowing to kill him and seize his Dao artifacts so they could escape the Five Elements Land, a plan took shape in his mind.
"Oh? So you two want to leave the Five Elements Land? Understandable—this place is desolate. Outside is a vast, boundless world. Take my Xuanhuang World for example: magnificent scenery, mountains and rivers everywhere. On certain immortal peaks, there are peaches the size of a man's fist—bright red, dripping sweet nectar with a single bite… You two have never tasted such fruit, have you? Never seen such sights? Staying trapped here forever is such a pity. With your cultivation, you could roam the world freely, carefree and untethered. How glorious would that be?"
His voice flowed with effortless temptation. In a few sentences, he painted vivid images of juicy immortal peaches, breathtaking scenery, and the freedom of the outside world—hooking "ape hearts" with surgical precision.
Ape minds were naturally restless, lively, easily swayed.
The twin apes' throats visibly trembled. Having developed true intelligence, they also possessed emotions, desires, curiosity.
"Indeed, your kind loves immortal peaches. Have you ever tasted one?" Star Little Child chimed in enthusiastically, despite not knowing Fang Han's intentions. With a flourish, he pulled out a plump peach from who-knows-where and bit into it, juice spraying.
Fang Han himself was not in the habit of carrying fruit around—unlike the gluttonous little creature—but it happened to be extremely useful at this moment.
Smelling the peach's fragrance, the twin apes' expressions grew increasingly strained, as if resisting the urge to snatch it immediately.
"What do you want, human?" the Fire Ape growled coldly. "Trying to bait us into killing you?"
Although they had been threatening to kill him, neither ape had dared to act—because they could clearly see Fang Han was no easy opponent.
"You can't kill me. At least, not now," Fang Han replied calmly. "So how about cooperation? You want greater power, you want freedom from the Five Elements Spirit Root, you want to enter deeper regions to kill powerful beings like the Water-Affinity Xuanwu and the Fire-Affinity Vermilion Bird so you can absorb their essence. I can help you. You guide me through this realm, we join forces, and slaying stronger beasts becomes much easier. Why fight when we can benefit each other?"
The Five Elements Spirit Root, though Fang Han didn't know its exact nature, was clearly a massive existence, akin to a world-devouring dragon vein—capable of birthing endless elemental beasts like a vast ocean birthing myriad lifeforms.
"Why should we trust you?" the Water Ape snarled, still nursing the humiliation of nearly being killed moments ago.
"Because it benefits us both." Fang Han's smile faded. "If you don't trust me, I can simply leave. And you'll stay here forever."
"Fine! We agree!" the Fire Ape finally said. "Thirty-six thousand miles deeper lies a flame mountain close to the Five Elements Spirit Root. A Vermilion Bird dwells there. We'll kill it together. Let us absorb its essence—then we'll believe you. And you go first. We'll back you up."
"No problem. Let's go."
Fang Han shot into the distance without hesitation.
"…Huh?" The twin apes stared. His decisiveness startled them. After exchanging looks, they followed.
They flew for an hour. The fiery aura grew blisteringly intense even from thousands of miles away. The mountain ahead was a blazing inferno, flames surging into the sky.
The Fire Ape slowed, clearly wary. Even the Water Ape found the heat unbearable.
"This is Vermilion Bird territory. If we enter, it'll sense us immediately. Annoying. You go first—engage it and lure it out. Then we'll strike together."
"No problem."
Fang Han activated his Red Emperor Flame Qi and stepped smoothly into the sea of fire—merging completely with the flames.
The Fire Ape blinked in surprise.
"He's cultivated some kind of extraordinary fire technique… good thing he hasn't mastered Ding-Fire Divine Thunder. Let's retreat!"
"Retreat?" the Water Ape asked, startled.
"Of course. There's more than one Vermilion Bird in these mountains. That human will be beaten half-dead and forced to flee. We'll ambush him when he comes out."
"Good!"
The twin apes retreated three thousand miles and lay in ambush.
One hour passed.
Two hours.
An entire day.
Nothing.
"What's going on? Did the human die?" the Fire Ape growled impatiently. "I'll sneak in and check."
"You go. I'll stay—my water essence will expose me instantly inside those flames."
The Fire Ape transformed into a thin streak of fire and slipped into the mountains.
Moments later—
The Water Ape sensed a sudden, overwhelming danger.
Before it could react, a demonic hand descended from the sky, followed by three Dao artifacts closing around it.
"Kuisui Divine Thunder!" the Water Ape roared. "Fire Ape! That human didn't enter the mountain—he ambushed us! Hurry back!"
"Too late," Fang Han sneered.
He had entered the mountain, yes—but only to hide near the perimeter, cultivating his Red Emperor Flame Qi while waiting for the apes to split up.
Now that they had, he struck with thunderous speed.
Boom!
The Fire Ape, hearing the Water Ape's scream, shot upward in a panic—only to be intercepted by a blazing figure within the mountain.
A gigantic divine bird.
The Vermilion Bird.
"Fire Ape! You dare invade my domain!"
Fang Han relaxed, relieved the Fire Ape was now occupied. The three Dao artifacts tightened around the Water Ape, the Heaven-Covering Devil Hand smashed downward, and the Five Emperor Great Seal struck like a meteor.
Roaring violently, the Water Ape resisted, but Fang Han dragged it relentlessly toward the Gate of Abaddon.
Inside the mountain, the Fire Ape was utterly trapped. The Vermilion Bird's strength exceeded its own—and before it could break free, a second Vermilion Bird appeared. Two divine birds tore it apart in an instant and absorbed its essence.
"Shame… I thought it might escape, and I could swoop in for a bargain," Fang Han muttered. "Killed too quickly."
He finished suppressing the Water Ape, drawing it into the Gate of Abaddon. Black Emperor Water Qi surged skyward, thickening into rolling thunderclouds.
Crackling energy built—
Until—
A brilliant flash tore through the sky.
Kuisui Divine Thunder was born.
The Black Emperor Water Fist reached perfection.
The dying scream of the Fire Ape faded behind him. The two Vermilion Birds, growing stronger from devouring its essence, turned their burning eyes toward Fang Han.
With a single flap, they unleashed two collapsing mountains of flame.
"Hmph."
Fang Han blinked away, fleeing deeper into the Five Elements Land.
The two divine birds shrieked and pursued him relentlessly, streaking through the sky like blazing comets.
Just as Fang Han began devising a counterattack—
The earth split open beneath him.
A colossal yellow hand surged out of the abyss.
With one casual flick—
One Vermilion Bird exploded into fiery mist.
The other was captured alive, its wings pinned in one effortless grip.
Fang Han froze.
"This… this aura… A Longevity Secret Realm eternal giant!?"
His only thought was run.
But the giant hand turned, its fingers curling lightly.
In an instant, Fang Han's vision spun, and he found himself standing upon the enormous palm.
"Damn…"
"Do not panic, little friend," a calm, ancient voice echoed beside him. "I will not harm you. It has been ages since I last saw a cultivator of the Five Emperor Devil Arts. We are, in a sense… from the same lineage."
Fang Han turned sharply.
Before him sat an elderly Daoist, long eyebrows and beard trailing like clouds, expression gentle and kind.
"Senior… who are you?"
"I," the old man said softly, "am an Ancient Demon Sovereign, sealed within the Five Elements Land."