Before me, the spectral butterfly conjured an illusion, depicting Guan Ling and the two colossal apes. The white giant ape stood at least three meters tall, its robust physique resembling a mountain of muscle, its snowy fur billowing in the wind, exuding an air of majesty. The Winged Demon Ape above, despite its fearsome reputation, dared not confront it directly, instead gliding through the sky, hesitant to descend.
It appeared that these two had been locked in conflict for some time, having battled their way from afar to this lowly peak, leaving behind numerous signs of fierce skirmishes. Broken branches, shattered rocks, and unfortunate beasts caught in the crossfire all bore witness to the deep-seated enmity between the two giants. "Fear not, for the entrance here is made of solid stone; even if they were ten times bolder, they could not breach it. Let us simply enjoy the spectacle," I reassured Guan Ling, though my own heart was not entirely at ease.
The Winged Demon Ape, swift and ferocious, seemed to lack immense strength, while the white giant ape, a veritable mass of muscle, might possess boundless power. Who could say whether it could breach the entrance to our treasure cave? I could not resist summoning the spectral yellow dragon cannon from the heart of the fallen warrior, advising Guan Ling to take cover behind the Rainbow Altar and prepare her most powerful and far-reaching energy gun for an ambush. Given the Winged Demon Ape's incredible speed and the white giant ape's immense strength, far surpassing human limits, I harbored little confidence in defeating them through brute force alone; my hopes rested upon the ingenuity of human-crafted weaponry.
With a sharp, piercing shriek, the Winged Demon Ape could no longer contain itself. It dove down with tremendous force, the impact of its descent, coupled with its deliberate display of ferocity, created a spectacle that, though smaller in stature than the white giant ape, seemed even more menacing. It resembled a fiery streak, plummeting from the heavens. "Incredible!" The Winged Demon Ape exhibited remarkable intelligence, its movements reminiscent of a master martial artist, each attack executed with precision and power, leaving no room for error.
In stark contrast, the white giant ape appeared rather clumsy. It merely thrust its chest forward, its fists colliding with a thunderous crash. This peculiar creature possessed an innate anomaly; between its fists, lightning crackled and frost formed, wielding two distinct elemental powers. These forces clashed and coalesced into a dense protective barrier, absorbing the Winged Demon Ape's aerial assault.
As the two beasts clashed, the ground trembled and dust billowed, sending debris soaring within a radius of several dozen meters. The white giant ape, unable to take flight, was acutely aware of its vulnerabilities. It relentlessly picked up massive stones, hurling them into the air. Despite the Winged Demon Ape's superior speed, it dared not approach closely, opting instead to strike from a distance.
Though Guan Ling and I remained concealed within the treasure cave, the ferocious battle between the two apes unnerved us. Even this small mountain, composed of resilient rock, trembled under the force of their clash, dust sifting down from the cave's ceiling, as if it might collapse at any moment. The ground shook, and the heavens seemed to crack. I could hardly fathom the might of these two colossal creatures. Although their battle gradually moved away from our treasure cave, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief, my plans for seeking refuge on this supposedly "safe" Nameless Island had been utterly derailed.
This Nameless Island was not a place for long-term habitation. It seemed I would have to board the Golden Princess and drift across the ocean for a while. While contemplating this change of plans, I dared not leave the treasure cave. Guan Ling, having lost her nerve, had abandoned her position behind the Rainbow Altar and moved closer to me. The falling debris from above was deflected by the protective barrier of holy energy, ensuring our safety. Although thoughts of escape began to creep into my mind, I couldn't help but wonder how that adventurer had managed to tame the Winged Demon Ape; such a creature was far more formidable than the skeletal cavalry I had commanded.
If I could command a legion of Winged Demon Apes, I would have no fear of the Rock Group! The undead minions of Snoke would surely be no match for the Winged Demon Apes. Even if they could regenerate endlessly, I would relish the sight of them being torn apart by these fierce beasts. The greatest power on Demon Island lies not in martial skills or magical artifacts, but in those legions of immeasurable potential. The only legions I possessed, aside from the skeletal war lance, were the Bull Serpent War Hammer, which could prove useful, while the spectral butterfly legion and the giant spider legion would be of little value against such ruthless monsters.
If I could assemble an unparalleled legion of Winged Demon Apes, I would reign supreme on Demon Island. Suppressing my envy, I expanded the spectral butterfly legion's reach to a ten-kilometer radius, planning to wait for the battlefield to shift before leading Guan Ling away. The spectral butterflies, being peculiar entities, existed between the realms of void and soul, impervious to any material barriers, only halted by formidable wards and shields.
Since controlling the spectral butterflies required mental energy, I typically deployed only a handful for reconnaissance. However, expanding the scouting range necessitated doubling the number of butterflies. As they passed through the cave's ceiling, I noticed an unusual space.
This small chamber, a naturally formed cavity just above the treasure cave, extended about ten meters deep. It was completely enclosed, yet within it lay a black bundle, strikingly similar to the one that had originally contained the Colorful Phoenix fruit, causing my heart to race with anticipation. Could it be, as Guan Ling suggested, that there was an even more precious treasure hidden here?
I extended my mental energy into the narrow space, activating my telekinetic abilities to retrieve the bundle through the layers of rock. Upon grasping it, I found it surprisingly light, weighing no more than a few dozen grams, leading me to doubt it could contain anything of significant value, and my expectations diminished considerably.