As soon as the fire persimmon was crushed, it immediately self-detonated!
Yuan Dasheng’s attention had been entirely focused on Yuan Er, the millennium fire persimmons, and the surrounding mechanical fire explosive monkeys.
He had never considered that he might make a mistake himself!
It was simply impossible.
He had harvested fire persimmons for so many years that it was second nature—there should be no room for error.
But the reality was, he had indeed made a mistake!
At this moment, the great ape’s eyes widened in fury, watching helplessly as the fire persimmon in his hand exploded.
This detonation triggered further explosions, and a chain reaction was about to consume the entire Fire Persimmon Forest.
This was the millennium Fire Persimmon Forest!
In this life-or-death moment, Yuan Dasheng’s thoughts turned to Yuan Er, who was still in the forest.
Without a second thought, he dashed back to protect him.
With Yuan Er in his arms, Yuan Dasheng prepared to escape from the Fire Persimmon Forest.
But Fei Si would not allow it!
This forest was Fire Persimmon Immortal City’s most vital industry, a core aspect of his duty and a significant achievement for the City Lord during his term.
Each small section of the Fire Persimmon Forest was isolated by a formation to prevent a chain reaction of explosions that could destroy the entire forest.
At the moment of detonation, the protective formation activated, isolating this section of the millennium Fire Persimmon Forest to contain the blast.
Yuan Dasheng and Yuan Er were trapped inside.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The chain explosions began.
Yuan Er trembled violently, his whole body shaking like a leaf as he clung to Yuan Dasheng’s fur, shouting desperately, “Uncle Monkey! Uncle Monkey! We’re going to die! We’re going to die!!”
Yuan Dasheng held him close, using his back to shield him from the exploding Fire Persimmon Forest.
The entire forest erupted in flames!
In an instant, flames soared to the heavens, a fierce inferno surged, like a giant crimson lotus blooming in the world, scorching hot and melting metal and iron alike.
The terrifying blaze and shockwave swept through, filling the entire formation’s space.
Under immense life-threatening pressure, Yuan Dasheng’s face twisted in agony.
Instinctively, he wanted to use the Demonic Blood Vein Technique!
But suddenly, he realized something and hesitated!
On the mountainside.
Ning Zhuo’s face was filled with astonishment.
The fiery glow of the explosion illuminated his young face, flushing it red, yet the cold gleam in his eyes remained.
“It worked!” His heart raced with excitement, his entire being brimming with joy at that moment.
This was the carefully devised trap he had set to bring Yuan Dasheng to his end.
With such a horrific explosion, Yuan Dasheng’s life was in danger!
He would have to use every ounce of his strength to have any chance of survival.
But would he really use all his power? Would he dare expose the Demonic Blood Vein Technique?
If he did, he would certainly face a ruthless purge!
After all, this was a demonic technique.
In private, there might be room for negotiation, but exposed under the scrutiny of all, no righteous figure would risk protecting him.
At this moment, the four great factions remained unaware of the astonishing treasures Yuan Dasheng had discovered within the Lava Immortal Palace.
The four factions were united in their effort to hunt down the Shadow Demon Cultivator.
But if another demonic technique practitioner was suddenly revealed, what would their reaction be?
Time seemed to slow at this moment.
The terrifying explosions and blazing flames gradually devoured Yuan Dasheng and Yuan Er.
Yuan Dasheng held Yuan Er tightly, and in a daze, he seemed to see Yuan Yi once again.
Yuan Yi was beaming with joy, holding Yuan Er up as he ran towards Yuan Dasheng.
“Look, Dasheng, this is my child, he’s really my child!” Yuan Yi was ecstatic, “I have a child now, a legacy in this world.”
Yuan Dasheng grinned widely, genuinely happy for Yuan Yi.
Yuan Yi handed the child directly to Yuan Dasheng.
Yuan Dasheng quickly took him, somewhat awkwardly.
The infant was so small, he carefully held it with his large hand, feeling the warmth from the tiny swaddling cloth, sensing the baby’s delicate fragility.
All of this stirred something deep within him.
Yuan Yi looked at him with a smile, “You like him too, don’t you? That’s wonderful, cough, cough!”
As he spoke, he coughed up blood.
Yuan Dasheng quickly looked up, full of concern as he called out to him.
Yuan Yi waved it off nonchalantly, “It’s just an old ailment, nothing you don’t already know.”
He wiped the corner of his mouth and spat out another mouthful of blood, ignoring the intense pain in his body, and still smiling, “Fighting my way up from the bottom, killing step by step to this position, it all came at a cost.”
“Right, Dasheng?”
The great ape grunted in agreement, its body covered in scars that bore testimony to its experiences.
Yuan Yi stretched his arms, taking a few deep breaths, “Damn it, I’ve lived this life to the fullest.”
Then, with a calm voice, he added, “I acted. This child no longer has a mother. Hmph, that woman wanted to hold onto her status through him; with her gone, her family’s power and wealth are now ours!”
“I promised she’d regret it.”
“I vowed to repay the humiliation I suffered tenfold, and I always keep my word, Dasheng.”
The great ape nodded, gazing at the infant with newfound gentleness.
Yuan Yi also looked at the infant and said, “I named him Yuan Er. Dasheng, my life is not as long as yours.”
“If one day I’m gone, let Yuan Er stand by your side in my place.”
…
Yuan Er grew hungry, cried out, and Yuan Dasheng squeezed juice from a peach the size of a basin, drenching him in the process.
Yuan Er fell ill, and Yuan Dasheng darted through the nighttime Immortal City like the wind, barging into the Medical Pavilion, grabbing the pharmacist by the throat, and dragged him all the way, his terrified screams piercing the quiet night.
Yuan Er began to climb, gripping Yuan Dasheng’s thick fur, challenging great heights, and each time he fell, Yuan Dasheng’s hand would catch him perfectly.
As Yuan Er grew up, Yuan Yi gradually weakened, bedridden for days.
In his final moments, Yuan Yi told Yuan Er, “Brat, with your Uncle Monkey, protect this family business for me.”
Young Yuan Er wept bitterly.
Yuan Yi looked toward the great ape, his last moment of clarity, and shouted, “Dasheng! I, I…”
Yuan Dasheng called out as well, but unlike before, he could no longer hear Yuan Yi’s reply.
Yuan Yi lay on the bed, eyes wide open, mouth slightly agape, without any signs of life.
The great ape stood silently like a stone statue.
Its face was expressionless, yet its ears echoed with deafening thunder, as if the heavens roared in mourning.
Boom!
The explosion was deafening, as if an ancient beast had swallowed Yuan Dasheng and Yuan Er in an instant.
The blast was contained within the formation, its crimson glow blinding, completely filling the confined space.
After only a few breaths, the firelight receded.
Those outside could see into the formation once again.
The ground was scorched, a scene of utter devastation.
The once lush Fire Persimmon Forest had nearly vanished, with only a few trees remaining, their trunks blackened, standing defiantly.
The next moment, as hot air dispersed, the charred trunks crumbled, scattering in fragments.
Yuan Dasheng knelt on one knee, unmoving like a statue.
Yuan Er stirred in his arms, and Yuan Dasheng collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
His skin was torn, revealing white bone along his spine, his fur entirely gone, his skin burnt to a crisp.
His eyes remained tightly shut, his face twisted in agony, the excruciating pain and his final, intense effort frozen on his face.
Yuan Er was in shock, dazed as he slowly looked around, then shivered as he came to his senses.
He quickly checked himself and found he had only suffered minor injuries.
It was a miracle!
Yuan Er could hardly believe it.
At the moment of the explosion, he had thought he was dead for sure!
To still be alive, and relatively unharmed, was beyond his wildest dreams.