The five-meter-tall creature with fur as hard as black steel landed with a thud that shook the entire bamboo forest. Its eyes glowed a fiery red radiating a chilling bloodlust.
Su Yan immediately leapt in front of Lu Fan her emerald sword shining brightly. "Back off Lu Fan! This is a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Beast! You'll be turned into a meat pancake if it so much as touches you!"
Lu Fan swallowed hard. Late-Stage Foundation Establishment? That's two whole major realms above me!
[Ding! Mission: The Unexpected Hero!]
[Objective: Assist Su Yan in defeating the Iron-Armed Ape]
[Rewards: 1,000 Cultivation Points, Foundation Enhancement Pill, and Su Yan's 'Favorability' +20%]
[Note: If the Host flees the System will apply the 'Eternal Diarrhea' effect for 7 days and 7 nights]
Eternal Diarrhea?! You really are the embodiment of a demon not a system! Lu Fan cursed inwardly.
"Senior Sister I can't let a beautiful woman like you fight alone!" Lu Fan shouted trying to look gallant despite his legs trembling slightly.
Su Yan glanced back her eyes showing a mix of shock and annoyance. "Don't be ridiculous! Run to the sect gate and call the Elders!"
ROOOAR!
The ape gave them no time to argue. Its giant arm slammed into the ground creating a shockwave that blew Su Yan back. Although Su Yan was at the Early-Stage Golden Core Realm she seemed to be hiding internal injuries or was depleted of spiritual energy as her face suddenly turned pale while withstanding the strike.
"System system!!! Give me something! I can't punch that monkey with my bare hands!" Lu Fan cried out in panic.
[Ding! Purchasing 'One-Time Strength Card: Mountain-Shattering Punch' Cost: 100 Cultivation Points (Debt permitted)]
[Use now?]
Use it! Quick!
Suddenly Lu Fan's right arm swelled his muscles hardening and emitting a faint golden light. At the same moment the Iron-Armed Ape leapt toward Su Yan who was still struggling to regain her balance.
"Hey Ugly Monkey! Look at my ass over here!"
Lu Fan darted forward using the Heavenly Shadow Step technique he had just learned.
His movements were still unrefined but his speed increased drastically. He appeared right beside the giant ape's belly.
"Take this! Mountain-Shattering Punch!"
BOOOOOM!
Lu Fan's small fist collided with the ape's toughened hide. The sound of the explosion was like thunder. The two-ton ape was sent flying dozens of meters crashing through rows of bamboo trees before finally stopping after hitting a cliff wall.
Silence.
Su Yan's eyes widened her mouth slightly agape. "W-what was that? You... you knocked back a Foundation Establishment Beast with your bare hands?"
Lu Fan panted heavily. His right arm felt like it was burning and numb. "Hah... hah... it's a... secret family technique Senior Sister. Don't tell anyone okay? This is a secret between the two of us" he said with a wink trying to act cool even though his heart was racing.
[Ding! The Iron-Armed Ape is not dead. It is entering 'Berserk' mode]
[Suggestion: Run now while it is dazed or spend 500 Points for 'Poisonous Fart Bomb']
"What? Not dead?!" Lu Fan looked toward the cliff. The ape stood back up its eyes now pitch black and its aura doubling in intensity.
Su Yan quickly rose and grabbed Lu Fan's hand. "Quick! That's Berserk mode it won't feel any pain. We must get back to the sect's protective formation!"
The two of them sprinted through the forest. Amidst the escape Lu Fan felt Su Yan's soft yet cold palm gripping his hand tightly.
"Lu Fan who are you exactly?" Su Yan asked without looking back her voice sounding softer than before. "This morning you were the 'trash' everyone despised but now... you saved me"
Lu Fan gave a thin smirk. "Let's talk about that over tea after we survive Senior Sister. But for now can you run any faster? I can feel that monkey's breath on my back!"
Just as they saw the sect gate in the distance a sinister laugh echoed from the treetops.
"Well well... look who's going on a date in the middle of a disaster" The voice belonged to Han Bing who hadn't actually run away but was hiding with two of his lackeys. "It would be such a shame if the beautiful Senior Sister Su Yan were to 'suffer an accident' because of this ape beast and the only witness was that trash Lu Fan who also died being crushed"
Han Bing swung his sword not at the ape but at a large tree in front of Lu Fan and Su Yan blocking their path.
"Han Bing! Are you insane?!" Su Yan screamed in rage.
"I'm not insane Senior Sister. I just want to make sure no one knows how humiliated I was today" Han Bing replied with a cruel expression.
The Iron-Armed Ape was closing in and the path ahead was blocked.