Demon Beasts are born with powerful physiques.
This is especially true for Demon Apes. At birth, their bodies are as tough as steel, and they become even harder in adulthood, far surpassing human Body Refining Martial Artists.
And yet, Su Mo had killed one just by running into it.
The grey-robed elder not far away ran forward. Seeing the Demon Ape’s corpse, which had exploded into a bloody pulp, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in astonishment.
’Did Su Mo really kill the Demon Ape with his own body?’
Even though he had witnessed it with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.
The grey-robed elder rubbed his eyes and muttered to himself, "My old eyes must be playing tricks on me. I must be seeing things."
Su Mo asked curiously, "Were you trying to subdue that Demon Ape just now?"
Elder Mayi nodded.
The grey-robed elder walked up to Su Mo and sighed. "To subdue that Demon Ape, we brought dozens of elite disciples to assist, set up traps, and fought a fierce battle with it for three days and three nights. We had finally worn it down until it was exhausted, but who would have thought that in the end..."
Su Mo’s face was a picture of embarrassment.
He had gotten lost in the mountains. After finally running into some living people, he had rushed over to ask for directions, only to end up ruining their plans.
Su Mo scratched his head awkwardly. "I’m so sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. I never expected this to happen."
"Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to apologize!"
Elder Mayi said with relief, "Although you ruined our plans, Fellow Daoist, you also saved my life. If you hadn’t appeared so suddenly and killed the Demon Ape, I would have been the one turned into a meat paste."
"Though we had exhausted the Demon Ape, its strength was still formidable. In its death throes, not only would Elder Wu have died, but I and the dozens of disciples under my command would have perished as well. It’s only thanks to you, Fellow Daoist, that we were lucky enough to survive," the grey-robed elder said, still shaken from the close call.
"Oh, I see..."
Su Mo looked at the Demon Ape’s corpse and said, "This Demon Ape doesn’t seem that strong to me. How about you find a stronger Demon Beast, and I’ll help you subdue it?"
’A man has to be reasonable, after all. Since I killed their Demon Beast, I have to compensate them with another one. Saving them was just an accident.’
Elder Mayi politely refused, "How could we trouble you with such a trivial matter, Fellow Daoist? We can handle it ourselves. Please don’t worry about it."
He could tell that Su Mo’s strength was immense, far beyond their own. ’We can’t afford to offend an expert like him. He’s just being polite. We can’t take his offer seriously. If we somehow offend him over this, he could crush us eight hundred times over with a single finger.’
Su Mo said, looking troubled, "I ruined your plans. If I don’t compensate you with another beast, my conscience won’t be clear."
Just then, an elite disciple ran up to Elder Mayi and said, "Elder, isn’t there still an Ancient Giant Crocodile at Luoshui Creek? We could ask this senior to subdue it."
"Nonsense!"
Elder Mayi scolded, "That Ancient Giant Crocodile is many times more ferocious than the Demon Ape! Are you trying to get this Fellow Daoist killed along with you?"
The grey-robed elder added sharply, "Hurry up and step back! Don’t you know your place? Can you bear the consequences if you offend our Fellow Daoist?"
The elite disciple retreated, his face a mask of grievance.
Elder Mayi apologized. "My disciples are used to being unruly and don’t know their place. Please forgive any offense, Fellow Daoist. Don’t lower yourself to their level."
"It’s nothing!"
Su Mo waved his hand. "If it’s not too much trouble, Fellow Daoist, please take me to see that Ancient Giant Crocodile at Luoshui Creek."
"This..."
Elder Mayi looked troubled. "Fellow Daoist, it’s better if you don’t go. That Ancient Giant Crocodile is incredibly ferocious. It kills any human who intrudes on its territory without exception. If something were to happen, we would be responsible for harming you."
"A few days ago, we tried to subdue that Ancient Giant Crocodile. We dispatched five Elders and over a hundred elite disciples, but the crocodile killed them all. We even lost a Supreme Elder in the end," the grey-robed elder added.
Fear was etched on both their faces; they didn’t even want to speak the Ancient Giant Crocodile’s name.
Su Mo said, "There’s no harm in just looking, right?"
Elder Mayi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright. Since you insist on going, Fellow Daoist, we will risk our lives to accompany you."
The group set off for Luoshui Creek.
Luoshui Creek.
A waterfall cascaded from a hundred-meter-high cliff, crashing into a large pool at the bottom.
The Ancient Giant Crocodile lay in the pool, its form partially submerged and indistinct.
The group stood a thousand meters away.
Elder Mayi gave a hushed warning, "Everyone, keep your voices down. From this moment on, no one is to make a sound. If we wake the Ancient Giant Crocodile, none of us will make it out alive."
The grey-robed elder, the dozens of elite disciples, and even Elder Mayi himself held their breath, looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
They didn’t dare make a single sound.
Pointing at the beast, Elder Mayi whispered in Su Mo’s ear, "Fellow Daoist, that is the Ancient Giant Crocodile. Its strength is..."
"That’s it?"
Su Mo blurted out.
Elder Mayi was stunned. "Fellow Daoist, you must not underestimate this Ancient Giant Crocodile! It’s over a hundred feet long and covered in scales that are impervious to blades and spears. Its attack power is terrifying."
"Fellow Daoist, why don’t we leave? Just being here gives me the creeps. My back is cold," the grey-robed elder said, his voice trembling.
Su Mo shook his head. "I said I’d compensate you with a Demon Beast, and I will. This Ancient Giant Crocodile right here will do. You all wait here. I’m going to subdue it."
"Fellow Daoist, wait!"
Just as Elder Mayi was about to stop him, Su Mo vanished from his spot.
The next second, he appeared right in front of the Ancient Giant Crocodile.
Elder Mayi’s expression changed drastically.
’Even if one were to subdue the Ancient Giant Crocodile, they should at least formulate a plan and work together to suppress it. Who would have thought he’d just charge in by himself? Isn’t that just suicide? So reckless!’
Elder Mayi shouted, "Everyone, prepare to support our Fellow Daoist with all your strength!"
’At this point, we have no choice but to bite the bullet and follow. Otherwise, we’ll all die. It’s too late to even think about running.’
At that moment, Su Mo had already arrived before the Ancient Giant Crocodile.
The Ancient Giant Crocodile had also noticed Su Mo. Its massive body climbed out of the pool. "Human, you dare trespass in my domain?"
"Holy crap, you can talk!" Su Mo exclaimed in surprise.
The Ancient Giant Crocodile said proudly, "I carry an ancient bloodline and have long since broken through to Tier Four. It is only natural that I can speak your human tongue."
"Since you can talk, this will be much easier."
Su Mo said coolly, "I’ll give you two choices. First, you can surrender willingly and submit to me. Second, I can beat you into surrendering, and then you’ll submit to me."
"I’ll tear you to shreds!"
The Ancient Giant Crocodile was enraged, glaring at Su Mo with murderous intent.
’This is so damn infuriating! With my power, I’m the undisputed king for miles around. Yet this human has the audacity to claim he’s going to subdue me. He’s courting death!’
In a rage, the Ancient Giant Crocodile raised its massive claw, which descended upon Su Mo like a falling mountain peak.
"Fellow Daoist, look out!"
Elder Mayi shouted a warning, then immediately turned his head away, unable to bear the sight of Su Mo being smashed into a meat paste.