Only to see.

A white ape appeared before their eyes.

The white ape, covered in white fur, stood like an ancient giant beast, towering at a full height of five meters. Its pair of dark eyes were bright and extremely fierce. Its fur, white as snow, shimmered with a ghostly sheen under the sunlight, exuding an air of majesty and cunning. Its long fangs were bared on its face, instilling fear in those who gazed upon it.

Behind the white ape, it carried a stone rod also five meters tall. Carved on the stone rod were numerous black, mystical runes that occasionally flickered with a black light.

The white ape slowly emerged from the depths of a shaded path, arriving at the entrance of Great Wilderness Border Village. With each step it took, the earth trembled slightly, announcing its arrival to everyone in the village.

All the villagers looked up at the gigantic creature slowly approaching them, subconsciously swallowing, their nervous gulps echoing in everyone’s heart.

"What...what kind of monster is this?"

Finally, someone in the crowd couldn’t bear the terrifying pressure anymore and asked with a trembling voice.

As this voice rang out, a similar pressure swept over, but Xu Binghu stood before them, forcefully blocking it.

Seeing this, the villagers immediately relaxed their tense bodies, some collapsing to the ground, repeatedly wiping the cold sweat off their foreheads.

Upon realizing they could make a sound, the gagged children started to cry pitifully, huddling behind the adults, peering out with half their faces at the imposing figure.

The elders were trembling, their hands clasped in prayer before their chests, chanting as if praying to the heavens.

The Guard Team, having successfully passed their second round of Body Refining, though fearful, gripped their weapons tightly, trembling as they guarded the young and old.

"This white ape is really that big?"

Old Qi swallowed hard and exclaimed.

They had encountered monkey Demon Beasts when they ventured into the Great Mountain, but even so, they had never seen a white ape as large as five meters!

This appearance shattered their understanding of Demon Beasts.

The white ape, realizing that its pressure was blocked by the person before it, scanned its surroundings, then looked at Xu Binghu with a mischievous gaze, "So, you must be the strongest in this village?"

"However, if this is your level, I fear this village may cease to exist today!"

"All of you will become my feast!"

Saying this, its scarlet tongue licked its lips, as if it already saw all the villagers of Great Wilderness Border Village as food.

Hearing this, those behind Xu Binghu trembled violently, their eyes filled with terror, as fear flooded their hearts like a tidal wave.

Considering the power displayed by the white ape, wanting to massacre Great Wilderness Border Village would be an easy task, so they had no doubt about what the ape said.

Even Xu Binghu might not be able to stop it in the slightest.

Unless the sleeping Xu Ran awakens immediately, there might be a sliver of hope.

"Hoo!" Xu Binghu took a deep breath and stepped forward, "You, Demon Beast, possess terrifying power. If you were after our village, you would have come sooner."

"Moreover, our village and you have no grievances from before nor recent conflicts, why come now?"

Right now, it seemed that only Xu Binghu could converse with the white ape, so he had to step forward.

Most importantly, Xu Ran was still asleep and could not be disturbed, which would disrupt his cultivation.

"Hahaha!" Upon hearing Xu Binghu’s words, the white ape burst into laughter.

The deafening sound echoed in everyone’s ears, threatening to rupture the eardrums of those with low cultivation. Many lush branches and leaves on either side of the shaded path were shaken loose.

"This village of yours is indeed beneath my notice. Making you my feast is merely a side matter."

Xu Binghu immediately responded, "If so, then please leave quickly!"

"Noisy." The white ape swung a punch sharply, the strong wind accompanying it producing several piercing sounds as it shot towards Xu Binghu.

"Bang---"

A loud bang ensued, yellow dirt soared, and upon looking down, a not too small or deep pit appeared beside Xu Binghu’s foot.

Upon seeing this scene, everyone gasped.

This was merely a casual punch, yet it left such a pit on the ground. If it hit a person directly? If the target were them?

Moreover, judging by Xu Binghu’s reaction just now, he hadn’t even reacted. If Xu Binghu had been the target, his life would have been in danger.

"Gulp--"

Xu Binghu also swallowed, looking down at the pit.

If that punch had been aimed at him, could he have reacted?

In an instant, he had the answer—yes, and no.

Yes, because he could react if fully focused; no, because if he were relaxed, that punch could easily hit him.

Clearly, this was the white ape’s warning: if he continued to block, this pit would be his fate.

"Speak, what do you want?" Xu Binghu asked.

The main thing now was to satisfy the white ape’s demands and wait for Xu Ran to awaken.

The white ape casually waved its fist; the previous punch was trivial for it.

"Fine, as long as you satisfy my demands, I will spare you."

With those words, the villagers of Great Wilderness Border Village were overjoyed. Any demand could be met, and no matter the cost, as long as it led the ape away from the village, it would be worth it.

"What do you want, we’ll try to fulfill it." Old Qi said.

Yet Xu Binghu felt a bad premonition, his eyes slowly turning towards Xu Ran, who sat cross-legged in the courtyard, emitting a purple glow.

Simultaneously, the white ape’s gaze also fixed on Xu Ran, seated in the Xu Family courtyard, then pointed a finger in a teasing manner.

"I want him!"

Upon hearing the white ape’s words, time seemed to freeze in silence, all villagers looking in surprise at where the ape pointed—Xu Ran’s sleeping spot.

Nobody expected the white ape to descend from the Great Mountain for Xu Ran.

If it were for anything else or anyone else, they would have surrendered without hesitation.

But now, the white ape demanded Xu Ran.

Xu Ran, the genius of Great Wilderness Border Village, possessed the demeanor of an Immortal, and could even command immortal-like abilities.

During the recent medicinal bath, he even ascended, floating in the air—abilities only true Immortals possess.

No matter how powerful Xu Ran’s cultivation truly was,

He at least selflessly shared a simplified Body Refining Manual with everyone in the village, enabling them to hunt in the Great Mountain and live well; that alone deserved everyone’s respect.

But now, the Demon Beast threatening to destroy Great Wilderness Border Village—the white ape—specifically demanded Xu Ran. If they didn’t comply, it could mean their death.

Even if Xu Ran’s strength could rival the white ape’s, he was asleep and there was no knowing when he would wake.

If they agreed, who knows what the white ape might do to Xu Ran? Maybe he wouldn’t die.

For a moment, the villagers were deeply conflicted.

Lian Ji, Xu Ran’s mother, immediately refused upon hearing the white ape’s demand.

"Impossible, no one can take my Xu Ran!!"

Xu Binghu quickly shielded Lian Ji behind him, also shaking his head.

"Impossible, Xu Ran is my son, I could never give him up!"

"Hmph!" The white ape snorted coldly, suddenly the surrounding temperature seemed to drop.

"If you are unwilling, then I will have to slaughter all of you, whether you agree or not!"

Behind the white ape, the monkey army made a sound like an excited thousand-strong army.

"Squeak---squeak---squeak---"