Upon the savage continent of Kai Yuan, named by the star chart etched within a jade scroll, rose a multitude of peaks. They surged like ocean waves, veiled in mist, from whence the guttural roars of savage beasts echoed, rumbling across the desolate land.

Scattered across the scarred earth lay the crumbling ruins of forgotten cities, silent testaments to a bygone era of prosperity. Now, only desolation remained, no longer graced by melodious songs, but haunted by images of ruin. Amongst the savage beasts, some formed great packs, while others were solitary wanderers.

At this moment, from one particular peak, the cacophony of bestial cries was most intense, a symphony of roars that shook the very heavens, its power undiminished even by the swirling mists.

This mountain, a jagged monolith of black-green stone, jutted skyward like a thousand sharpened blades. Upon its slopes, hordes of black apes, each towering at nearly ten *zhang*, surged towards the mountain’s heart, driven by an unseen urgency.

At the mountain’s summit, a colossal black ape, a behemoth easily exceeding a hundred *zhang* in height, sat cross-legged, as if in meditation. Its mighty limbs, thicker than ancient pines, would require the embrace of many men to encircle.

Before this titan, stood a peculiar purple tree, no higher than the ape’s knee. Though many of its limbs were withered, bearing the marks of untold ages, the tree clung stubbornly to life. Its boughs teemed with foliage, a sea of snow-white leaves whose veins shone with an ethereal, crystalline glow. And upon these branches hung two fruits, no larger than fists, their flesh a swirling dance of black and white.

The giant ape’s eyes flickered, releasing twin beams of blinding light, like two newly kindled ever-burning lamps. An aura of primordial fury radiated from it, piercing the mists, searing through the ranks of lesser beasts, fixing upon a lone white-haired figure battling his way through the mountain’s mid-section.

As the great ape’s gaze locked onto Wang Lin, the man swept his right hand through the air, unleashing a maelstrom of black wind that devoured the souls of a dozen beasts, their death throes echoing through the mountain. He lifted his head, meeting the savage gaze with icy defiance. A roar that threatened to shatter the very heavens reverberated from the summit, and spurred the beasts assailing Wang Lin into a frenzy, their bloodlust rising as they sought to tear him asunder.

Undaunted, Wang Lin fixed his gaze upon the swarming beasts before him, then strode forward, transforming into a streak of white light hurtling towards the mountain’s peak!

Overhead, a swarm of Mosquito Beasts shrieked in a chaotic ballet with fierce, eagle-like predators, their faces twisted in savage hunger. A brutal aerial battle raged around them.

Wang Lin carved a path through the chaotic fray, those beasts foolish enough to stand before him were torn asunder with a flick of his wrist. A rain of blood and gore marked his advance, a testament to his deadly passage. From his storage, Wang Lin summoned a host of flying swords, forming a whirling vortex of blades around him. The deadly array cleaved through his enemies, allowing him to ascend unhindered.

From afar, he appeared as a white comet, trailing a bloody wake, ascending towards the peak.

The great ape, its eyes blazing with primal fury, rose in a single fluid motion. The mountain shuddered under its weight as it leaped down the mountainside, its speed matching Wang Lin’s, closing the distance between them with alarming haste.

A snarl twisted the ape’s face as it swung a massive fist downwards, but in that instant, Wang Lin vanished, leaving the ape clutching at empty air. The beast wheeled around, only to see Wang Lin standing beside the mystical tree.

Its savage eyes narrowing, the ape unleashed a tempestuous gust of wind that spiraled around it. The tempest grew into a connection between the heavens and the earth, a raging hurricane sweeping towards Wang Lin.

Wang Lin reached out and laid his hand upon the tree, and in that instant, the ancient tree was torn from the ground. Roots and all vanished into Wang Lin’s storage rift.

The hurricane bore down on Wang Lin, but the man conjured a sigil with his left hand, unleashing a torrent of killing intent that formed a protective vortex around him, a whirlwind of death that clashed with the primal storm.

With a deafening roar, the hurricane buckled and shattered. The vortex of killing intent continued onward, undeterred, crashing into the giant ape.

A bestial shriek tore through the mountain. The ape reeled backward, its massive frame mangled and bleeding, hurled back into the sky.

Wang Lin ascended and transformed into a shooting star hurtling towards the ape. He wielded his fingers into the form of a sword, and struck the beast’s massive form again and again!

Each strike was followed by a pained roar as a torrent of energy surged into the ape’s body. He left a trail of bloody spray as he sealed the black ape. “Will you become my Spirit Beast?” Wang Lin’s voice cut through the chaos. For seven days he traversed the desolate continent, slaying many savage beasts and gathering potent herbs. Some of these creatures possessed formidable powers, capable of challenging cultivators, even those at the fifth level. Each beast was slain, its soul claimed by Wang Lin.

This gargantuan black ape was also a Tier-5 beast, but its thick hide and raw power, even after suffering Wang Lin’s attacks, marked it as a peak specimen, one poised to ascend to the sixth tier. The beast’s potential had sparked a desire within Wang Lin to tame the beast.

A furious roar, louder than before, answered Wang Lin. The great ape swung its left arm. A gust of wind rose with the fist. A trace of Ancient God power throbbed in the wind. Wang Lin knitted his brow. He hadn’t fused with his True Body. His physical strength wouldn’t allow a head-on clash with the ape. He was about to evade and attack with Divine Arts when a flash of black robed elders face, using one hand to block the Ancient God Tuo Sen’s arm.

Wang Lin steeled his heart. He calmed his mind, and he gathered his Yuan energy in his palm. Lightning crackled around it. He closed his eyes as he replayed the elder raising his hand. A flash of realization washed over Wang Lin’s heart.

Like the giant hand seal in the Rain Spiritual Realm, here too, on this savage continent, under the star-strewn sky, Wang Lin was about to face a nearly identical scenario as the one he viewed in his encounter with the Black Robed man.

He understood how that master had achieved that technique.

The wind howled around Wang Lin, pulling at his robes. The ape’s arm bore down on him. Wang Lin threw open his eyes, and he lifted his hand and placed it against the Great Ape’s arm.

An enormous force threatened to overwhelm Wang Lin’s palm. His robes whipped. His long white hair flew back. And yet, he stood still!

The ape’s body shuddered. Its arm felt like it had struck mist. A sharp, searing pain spread from the point of contact.

Wang Lin’s eyes shone brighter and brighter. The Elder’s movements flashed over and over, until it was as if he acted on instinct. Without thinking, he raised his left hand, and began to tap at his palm!

With each tap, Worldly Energy poured into his fingertips, into his palm. Thrice he tapped. Wang Lin’s face flushed red. His eyes shone, and he gave a single, guttural cry.

*BOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*

The ape was flung backward. Blood gushed from its arm, revealing a clear palm print. Three fissures spread from the palm, ripping across the ape’s entire body!

Wang Lin’s gaze fell upon his palm, and a realization blossomed within him. He did not know the name of this art. All he knew was that in that moment, he had found a way to command power from all around him!

A pathetic roar broke Wang Lin’s train of thought. The Great Ape’s eyes widened with fear as the three fissures raced across its skin, threatening to tear it asunder.

In its darkest hour, a beam of white light erupted from within the ape’s flesh, and a phantom image of the ape’s head began to coalesce.

The soul was hazy, but Wang Lin’s eyes lit up. “The essence of Godhead! According to the Jade Scroll, Tier 6 beasts are said to have this Divine Power. The Beast must be on the verge of breaking through.” Wang Lin charged forward, and he pressed the spectre back into the beast’s body. “Become my Spiritual Beast,” Wang Lin said calmly. The ape trembled, understanding the situation. It nodded its head.

Wang Lin touched the ape’s body. The fissures twisted and vanished into motes of light. The Spirit Control Seal landed on the ape’s brow, and it shone for a moment. The mosquito beasts had already finished off the eagles and gathered around. Wang Lin sat on the giant ape’s shoulder, and gazed forward.

The giant ape roared, and began to run away in the distance!