Chapter Thirty-Five: The Golden Spirit Appears and Subdues the Ape Demon

The fleeing Little One and Fire Ling'er did not feel the world-shaking pressure from Jin Ling. When they saw the fierce ape suddenly crouch to the ground and cease its pursuit, they found it strange and stopped in their tracks.

At that moment, a figure appeared in the clearing. Little One saw the newcomer smiling gently at him, and joy filled his heart. He released Fire Ling'er's hand and, with his short legs moving as fast as the wind, rushed toward the figure, shouting excitedly, “Aunt Jin! Aunt Jin! I knew Master wouldn't ignore me, hehe!” He dove into Jin Ling's embrace, wriggling with delight.

For the past years, Chen Xing had assigned Jin Ling and the other two as caretakers and wet nurses for Little One. Naturally, he grew close to them. On several occasions, when they entered a world called the Realm of Emotion to nurture their children, Little One had begged Chen Xing to let him join them and play with their offspring.

Indeed, when Chen Xing subdued the three, it was solely to make them wet nurses for Little One. He spared their children, keeping them in the Realm of Emotion, allowing the three to visit and reunite with their families at will. This act made them immensely grateful and ever more loyal to Chen Xing.

Little One had never witnessed Chen Xing's true strength, but he firmly believed his master was the most powerful, for he knew Chen Xing possessed a Great Thousand World even larger than his own. Alas, Chen Xing forbade him from telling others, and Little One, who loved to boast, endured a period of frustration.

Fire Ling'er, seeing a beautiful woman appear suddenly and hearing Little One call her Aunt Jin so affectionately, hurried forward to pay her respects. “Greetings, elder!”

Jin Ling nodded kindly at Fire Ling'er and then turned to the fierce ape crouched on the ground, scolding, “You wicked creature, you dared to harm my young master! Do you truly wish to perish and be condemned for eternity?”

Feeling Jin Ling’s supreme pressure, the fierce ape knelt before her in utmost reverence, growling repeatedly.

Jin Ling understood beast speech and rebuked the ape, “Even if you were provoked, the culprit has already self-destructed and died. Yet you pursued these two children out of your own vicious nature. Do not argue with me. Await the young master's judgment, and if you persist, you will suffer agony between life and death!”

Though the fierce ape was a beast king with intelligence surpassing humans, upon hearing her words, it hurriedly kowtowed to Little One, who was nestled in Jin Ling's arms.

Little One, curious, asked, “Aunt Jin, you can understand what this fierce ape says?”

Jin Ling gently stroked his head. “Of course! Have you forgotten Aunt Jin’s identity?”

Little One suddenly realized—Aunt Jin was a divine beast, a Golden Dragon, naturally able to understand beast speech. He looked at the ape with disdain, “You can’t even speak human language, and you call yourself a beast king? How silly!”

Though unable to speak human tongue, the ape could understand. Despite being a beast king, it could not take human form and thus could not speak. Its ferocious face showed a hint of grievance.

Jin Ling softly addressed Shi Hao, “Little one, how would you like to deal with this creature?”

Little One saw the once terrifying demon ape now gazing at him pitifully and felt a pang of compassion, intending to let it go.

But before he could speak, Fire Ling'er cried out, “It killed my Uncle Huo! It must die!” Her phoenix eyes blazed with hatred and anger.

Seeing Little One’s troubled look, Jin Ling shook her head and said to Fire Ling'er, “This matter cannot be blamed on it. It was asleep when your Uncle Huo tried to capture Fei Yi and encountered the ape, attempting to kill it for the rune in its bones. Its death was its own fault.”

Fire Ling'er, not unreasonable, fell silent at these words. Indeed, the ape had not provoked them; it was her uncle who sought its life for treasure, so how could blame be placed on the beast?

Little One, seeing Fire Ling'er quiet, pondered a moment and said, “It did chase us, so it must pay for its mistake. How about letting it pledge itself to this big sister and protect her?”

Fire Ling'er, who had been struggling, widened her phoenix eyes in surprise. This was a beast king! Even her royal father would not dare claim superiority over it, let alone subdue it.

The fierce ape, hearing Little One’s suggestion, showed unwillingness in its eyes but could do nothing. It had roamed the Wilds freely, rarely meeting an equal. If it became a child’s battle companion, other beast kings would surely ridicule it. Glancing at Jin Ling, who stared at it with her elegant eyes, it lowered its massive head and gave a low growl.

Jin Ling laughed softly, “You wish to pledge yourself to my young master? You dare dream! With your aptitude, you are not worthy. Better listen to the young master’s arrangement.”

At that moment, Fire Ling'er shook her head. “Elder, this fierce ape killed my Uncle Huo. No matter what, I cannot accept it. Let it protect the little brother instead.”

Jin Ling smiled at her, “This is not for me to decide. The choice is the little one’s alone.” She looked at Little One. “Aunt Jin reminds you: though this beast king has some talent, its future may be limited. With your master’s abilities, countless divine beasts will be yours to choose from one day. Think carefully.”

Fire Ling'er was dumbstruck at Jin Ling’s words. Such a statement was shocking—a beast king, invincible in the Wilds, dismissed as inferior, and divine beasts promised for selection.

Divine beasts! Already legendary, unseen for countless generations. Who was this little one’s master, to speak so boldly?

For a moment, Fire Ling'er’s mind blanked. It was not disbelief; when the beast king bowed to Jin Ling without resistance, she knew Jin Ling’s cultivation was unfathomable. Yet even supreme experts would not speak so confidently.

Little One, who wanted to compensate Fire Ling'er for her protector’s sacrifice, was at a loss when she refused his suggestion and the fierce ape showed willingness to pledge to him. Hearing Aunt Jin’s advice, he fell into deep thought.

Shi Hao trusted Aunt Jin's words. If Jin Ling, Bai Yi, and the others—so powerful—could be recruited by his master as wet nurses, what could his master not accomplish?

But if he let the fierce ape go, he felt reluctant. It was a beast king, after all. Without his master’s presence, if a beast king attacked Shi Village, even the wounded Willow God might not be able to protect them from annihilation.

Clenching his teeth, Little One said firmly to Jin Ling, “Aunt Jin, I want to take it in. So what if its talent is extraordinary? When my supreme bone was dug out, I still believed I would one day slay Shi Yi. My fate is mine, not Heaven’s. I believe it will break its limits and become my finest companion.”

After his righteous declaration, he lowered his head and murmured quietly, “Besides, Master will have a way, right?”

Jin Ling, moved by Little One’s words, nearly choked at his last remark, rolling her eyes and at a loss for how to respond.

Fire Ling'er burst out laughing, bending over in amusement at Little One’s antics. Her curiosity about his master only deepened.

After catching her breath, Jin Ling said helplessly to Little One, “Enough, don’t trouble the master with such trivial matters. Be careful or you’ll get your bottom smacked.” She flicked her finger, and a drop of golden blood floated in midair.

As the golden blood appeared, the fierce ape raised its head, staring greedily at the droplet. Its instincts told it that swallowing this golden blood would break its limitations, granting boundless potential.

Yet before Jin Ling, it dared not move. It knew she could kill it with a mere gesture. It could only gaze at Little One, full of hope.

Shi Hao, though curious about the golden droplet, understood its significance to the beast king. He nodded to Jin Ling. Without delay, Jin Ling waved her hand, merging the golden blood into the ape.

In an instant, a golden light erupted from the beast king, as if it could shatter the confines of this world, changing the very sky.

A beastly roar shook heaven and earth. The fierce ape’s body expanded rapidly, becoming a colossal ancient beast returned to the world. Within tens of thousands of miles, countless savage beasts crouched in fear.

As the golden radiance faded, the ape’s massive form gradually shrank, becoming smaller and smaller until it stopped at about two feet tall.

When the light was gone, a golden little monkey, similar in size to Shi Hao, stood by Little One’s side, affectionately rubbing its head against him. The once fearsome face now sported golden fur and features like a common monkey, lending it a touch of cuteness.

Luckily, Chen Xing had already withdrawn his divine sense; otherwise, he might have exclaimed: Sun Wukong! Indeed, the fierce ape now resembled the legendary Sun Wukong of Earth, with none of its former ferocity.

“Since the young master is willing to accept you, it is your great fortune. From now on, you must protect him well.

I have aided you today with my essence blood, transforming your lineage. Endless possibilities await you, but if you fail to protect the young master, I will peel your skin and draw your sinews, leaving you in agony between life and death.”

“Yes, elder, rest assured. Should anything befall the young master, I, Yuan Mo, will die. Yuan Mo will never betray your kindness.”

A slightly hoarse voice sounded.

Little One and Fire Ling'er were startled, glancing around in confusion, seeing no one else present. At last, their gazes fell upon the little golden monkey before them.

Seeing Little One’s gaze, the monkey bowed its head respectfully. “Yuan Mo greets the master!”

Little One exclaimed in surprise, “You can speak now?” When the monkey nodded, Little One was overjoyed, hugging it tightly. “Wonderful! I knew you’d become the fiercest beast king!”