Within Fire Persimmon Mountain.
Demon Ape Den.
In the cave where the Nascent Soul Level Demon Ape resided, the icy fog gradually dissipated.
Witnessing this scene, the Golden Core Cultivators present all grew excited.
"It's coming out, it's coming out!" Zheng Shuanggou shouted.
Ning Jiufan slowly floated out from the thinning icy fog.
His face was as pale as gold paper, lips bloodless, his entire being as though drained dry, floating like a paper piece in the wind, extremely weak.
"Brother Ning, you really worked hard this time!" Zhu Xuanji was the first to step forward, immediately coming to Ning Jiufan's side, supporting him.
Ning Jiufan's body still trembled slightly.
He gazed blankly at Zhu Xuanji, his eyes red-rimmed, a mixture of grief and relief at having survived a lifetime in what felt like a different world.
Zhu Xuanji also examined Ning Jiufan, seeing the latter's sunken eyes and cheeks, he secretly marveled: "How long has it even been?!"
The four Golden Core Cultivators from the Zhou Family and the Zheng Family gathered around, expressing their thanks and concerns.
Their words were entirely heartfelt.
If Ning Jiufan hadn't taken the lead, one of them might have become a sacrifice.
"Brother Ning, your righteousness will be remembered by all of us!"
"You saved us all this time. This life-saving grace will be repaid in the future."
Ning Jiufan sighed deeply: "I also saved myself. After this battle, let's hope in the future we can advance and retreat together, united, building a bright future."
The Golden Core cultivators all nodded in agreement.
Ning Jiufan's enormous sacrifice caused his status among the Golden Core Cultivators to soar, gaining tremendous influence!
Zheng Shuanggou took out a portion of Nine Yang Yellow Bull Balm.
He cared deeply for Ning Jiufan and said: "Brother Ning, you are exceedingly weak right now, you should use some of my family's superior elixir pills."
Who knew, at the sight of the Nine Yang Yellow Bull Balm, Ning Jiufan's eye twitched violently.
He forcefully suppressed his nausea, waving his hands repeatedly: "No, don't let me see this elixir."
"Alright, alright!" Zheng Shuanggou quickly put the balm away.
The Golden Core cultivators immediately understood, Ning Jiufan's injuries were not just physical but also spiritual.
His sacrifice was incredibly vast!
This made the others admire Ning Jiufan even more, creating a sense of compensation within them.
Next, everyone took out various spirit pills and elixirs, shoving them towards Ning Jiufan, almost feeding him water and medicine personally.
The various spirit pills and elixirs had excellent effects, quickly stabilizing Ning Jiufan's breathing.
Roar!
At this moment, the Nascent Soul Level Magma Demon Ape suddenly let out a low growl.
The surging Nascent Soul Level aura caused all the Golden Core Cultivators and the Magma Demon Ape King outside the cave to shudder.
By this time, the icy fog had completely dispersed.
The Nascent Soul Level Magma Demon Ape looked content, it laid back down and slowly closed its eyelids.
Before falling asleep, it extended a finger, emitting a streak of blood qi.
The blood qi shot towards Ning Jiufan's forehead like a meteor, marking a red mole at the center of his brows.
Having done this, the Magma Demon Ape entirely shut its eyes, falling into a deep slumber.
Soon, it started snoring.
Ning Jiufan hurriedly reached out, touching his forehead, feeling the intensely concentrated and incredibly stubborn blood qi, his face turned very grim.
Clearly, the Nascent Soul Level female ape had completely taken a liking to him, making a unique mark on him.
What was he supposed to do now?
The other Golden Core cultivators all stared at the red mole on Ning Jiufan's forehead, their expressions equally astonished and shocked, filled with a deep sense of fear and relief.
Zhu Xuanji quickly transmitted a reassuring message, telling Ning Jiufan he would do his utmost to help him.
The other Golden Core cultivators also expressed that Ning Jiufan's problem was everyone's problem! They would do everything they could to assist in the future.
At this moment, the Magma Demon Ape King led several Golden Core Level Demon Apes into the cave.
The atmosphere inside the cave turned tense immediately.
Zhu Xuanji stepped forward, blocking Ning Jiufan, directly facing the numerous Golden Core Level Magma Demon Apes.
However, the Magma Demon Apes, who had just been roaring with anger and fighting to the death, showed no intention of battle.
Seeing the human Golden Core Cultivators on high alert, they took several steps back, raising their hands to show they had no intention to fight.
Then, the Magma Demon Ape King pointed at Ning Jiufan and started clapping, letting out continuous roars.
The several Golden Core Level Demon Apes behind it also clapped, dancing around with admiration on their faces, some even revealing looks of worship.
The human Golden Core Cultivators looked at each other in confusion, focusing their gaze on Ning Jiufan.
Ning Jiufan's face looked worse than before!
The Demon Apes' worshipful gazes and applause felt like slaps gently falling on his face, making him feel extremely embarrassed and angry.
Zhu Xuanji and the others struggled to keep serious faces, some frowning, some biting their tongues, some tightening all their muscles.
After applauding for a while, the Magma Demon Ape King pointed at Ning Jiufan again, then towards the cave entrance.
It repeated these gestures thrice, then led the Golden Core Level Demon Apes out of the cave.
The human Golden Core cultivators understood its meaning—they were being invited out.
Zhu Xuanji took the lead, walking at the forefront.
The Zheng Family and Zhou Family each had a cultivator guard the rear, protecting the great hero, Ning Jiufan, in the middle.
The human Golden Core cultivators exited the cave and arrived at the previous battlefield.
The Magma Demon Ape King waved to the numerous Demon Apes gathered there, then let out a roar.
The Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Apes scattered in all directions.
Soon, only the Golden Core Rank ones remained.
The Magma Demon Ape King suddenly pounded its belly and then regurgitated a stone orb.
It grabbed the stone orb with a reluctant look, handing it to Ning Jiufan.
The legend of the Demon Ape tribe rewarding their heroes materialized!
Zhu Xuanji's eyes flashed with golden light, instantly recognizing the stone orb, looking shocked: "This is a Fire Core Pomegranate. Each pomegranate seed is an explosive talisman, comparable to an ordinary Golden Core's full-strength attack."
"But using it this way would be a waste!"
"The pomegranate seeds can serve as fire cores, combined with other fuels, to preserve special flames."
"Such a large pomegranate, this is a first for me. Even the royal treasury hasn't recorded such high-quality Fire Core Pomegranates."
Without a doubt, this was an exceptionally rare natural treasure.
Upon hearing Zhu Xuanji's explanation, Ning Jiufan swiftly reached out, taking the pomegranate. After examining it, he applied a talisman to its surface, then placed it into his storage waist belt.
Zhou Nongying sighed in relief: "Who would have thought the Ape King had such a trump card? In hindsight, avoiding a deathmatch with the Magma Demon Ape King by stumbling into the cave was fortunate."
The two Golden Core cultivators from the Zheng Family kept their eyes on the pomegranate, their gazes unwavering, like glue.
They communicated privately: "These pomegranate seeds can be used in many ways for artifact refining."
"Indeed, I've thought of at least thirty uses. They must be very effective!"
After giving away the pomegranate, the Magma Demon Ape King called out several times.
Three Golden Core subordinates immediately turned around and left.
After a dozen breaths, they returned.
The leading Magma Demon Ape high above held a gigantic flame with both arms.
This flame was as large as a carriage, predominantly deep red, occasionally flashing black. At the flame's tip, black smoke intermittently billowed out.
"Earth Fiend Fire!"
"Such a large flame, it's a Nascent Soul Level resource!"
The cultivators gasped in amazement.
The Earth Fiend Fire not only possessed terrifying power and perpetually emitted high temperatures, but it also contained severe toxicities of fire fiend.
Its usage in alchemy was limited, most suitable for refining fire poison pills and similar items.
But it could be used in artifact refining.
Just this fire alone, in some aspects of refining, surpassed the Zheng Family's top-tier refining workshop.
The two Golden Core cultivators from the Zheng Family couldn't take their eyes off it.
This flame was profoundly tempting for them!
The Magma Demon Apes didn't practice cultivation techniques, relying on physical growth and constant natural honing, reaching Golden Elixir Level combat strength.
They couldn't use spells to isolate the high temperatures of the Earth Fiend Fire, relying solely on their unique body structures to withstand it.
The Golden Core Level Demon Ape carrying the Earth Fiend Fire began to struggle, grimacing from the burns.
It reached its limit, passing the flame to the companion behind it.
The second one took over, holding on for a while, but also couldn't bear it, with its hands already scorched, eventually handing the Earth Fiend Fire to the third companion.
Thus, the three Golden Core Level Magma Demon Apes carried the Earth Fiend Fire to Ning Jiufan through relay.
This time, Ning Jiufan adhered thirteen talismans continuously, barely sealing the Earth Fiend Fire.
Under the eager gaze of the Zheng Family's two Golden Core Cultivators, Ning Jiufan stored the Earth Fiend Fire.
Zhu Xuanji couldn't hold back and coughed, transmitting a message to Ning Jiufan: "Brother Ning, don't forget our main objective for this trip."
Thus, when the Magma Demon Ape King wanted to continue giving treasures, Ning Jiufan took the initiative, pointing to the Mechanical Demon General in the pile of spoils.
The Magma Demon Ape King tilted its head, puzzled, but after repeated requests from Ning Jiufan, it pulled the Mechanical Demon General out and handed it over.
The demon apes' gifts weren't finished yet.
The Demon Ape King presented six more grand gifts as rewards to Ning Jiufan.
Afterwards, the demon apes began to usher the humans out.
Zhu Xuanji, having achieved his goal, had no desire to linger in such a dangerous place, immediately leading the Golden Core cultivators out of the Demon Ape Den.
They retraced their steps back to the volcano peak, where they once again met Meng Kui.
Though Meng Kui stayed atop the peak, he had observed much of what transpired within Fire Persimmon Mountain.
Watching the cultivators leave, he remained composed, though feeling a deep sense of loss.
This trip, the Golden Core cultivators had experienced thrills without casualties, dashing many of Meng Kui's hopes.
Ning Jiufan held onto the Mechanical Demon General, not handing it over to Zhu Xuanji immediately.