The black-furred giant ape seized the opportunity, lunging forward and smashing its fist down onto the skull of its foe with all its strength!
“Crack!”
The sound of the skull fracturing was clearly audible.
The dark gold giant ape struggled a few times before finally ceasing to breathe, its scarlet eyes losing their lustre.
The battle ended, leaving only heavy panting echoing through the basin.
The black-furred giant ape stood beside its opponent’s corpse, tilting its head back and letting out a triumphant long howl, proclaiming ownership of this treasure site and the blood lingzhi.
Chen Ping sheathed his sword and stood calmly, settling his surging vital energy and blood.
He walked towards the three blood lingzhi mushrooms that gleamed with alluring lustre, joy in his heart, ready to reach out and harvest them.
However, a massive palm covered in black fur blocked his path.
Chen Ping paused, turning to look at the black-furred giant ape, his brows slightly furrowed.
Could this beast be planning to burn the bridge after crossing it?
But there was no hostility in the giant ape’s eyes. It let out a low growl, using its enormous finger to point at the blood lingzhi, then at itself, before clumsily gesturing.
Chen Ping’s confusion deepened. He temporarily withdrew his hand, wanting to see what the giant ape intended.
The black-furred giant ape cautiously approached one blood lingzhi. Contrary to Chen Ping’s expectations, it did not roughly uproot it.
Instead, it extended its rough finger and, with gentleness utterly mismatched to its massive frame, lightly touched the edge of the mushroom cap.
In the next moment, something extraordinary occurred!
The crystalline, life-essence-rich blood lingzhi, upon being touched, rapidly dimmed and withered at a visible speed!
It was as if all its essence had drained away in an instant, ultimately turning into a small handful of ash devoid of any spiritual energy, scattering into the air.
Chen Ping stared in stunned disbelief. What was going on?
Could the harvesting method be wrong?
Just as he was bewildered, the black-furred giant ape did something even more surprising.
It growled low, its chest heaving violently as if gathering something.
Moments later, a pigeon-egg-sized drop of essence blood, dark gold in colour, with what seemed like flowing blood inside and radiating astonishing energy fluctuations, was slowly forced out from its mouth.
This drop of essence blood hovered in the air, emitting powerful vital fluctuations and the unique aura of the giant ape.
Then, the ape guided the drop towards another intact blood lingzhi.
The instant the essence blood made contact, another transformation occurred!
The blood lingzhi did not wither. Instead, like oil catching flame, it suddenly blazed with dazzling blood-red light!
The entire mushroom softened and liquefied, ultimately turning into a wisp of extremely pure crimson essence, containing vast blood vitality and some peculiar law of life!
This crimson wisp seemed sentient, circling once in the air before, like a swallow returning to its nest, swiftly and actively burrowing into the black-furred giant ape’s chest where the essence blood had been drawn, vanishing from sight.
“Buzz!”
A powerful surge of blood vitality erupted from within the black-furred giant ape. Its battle-depleted stamina seemed to recover substantially in an instant.
Its wounds healed noticeably faster, and even its aura grew subtly stronger!
It let out a satisfied low roar, looking at Chen Ping with an expression that seemed to say, do you understand now?
Chen Ping stood there, waves of shock crashing through his heart!
He completely understood!
This blood lingzhi was not like ordinary spiritual herbs that could be directly harvested and consumed!
It was extremely special, containing some peculiar life contract or bloodline lock.
Directly touching or harvesting it would only cause its essence to instantly dissipate.
Only by using one’s own essence blood as a catalyst, communicating and resonating with it in a special way, could its vast essence be perfectly absorbed and utilised!
The black-furred giant ape was not burning the bridge. It was, in the most direct manner, teaching him this otherworldly unique law of absorbing spiritual herbs!
This Tenth Heaven truly brimmed with mysteries different from the lower realms!
Chen Ping looked at the remaining blood lingzhi, then at the little fire qilin beside him, which was staring eagerly and gulping audibly. A flash of comprehension and resolve passed through his eyes.
He took a deep breath, mimicking the giant ape’s method, circulating his internal vital energy and blood, forcing out a drop of pale golden essence blood infused with the power of the divine dragon.
