Chapter 99: Acknowledging Identity

Looking at the massive ice sphere suspended above the sea surface and the figure immobilized within it, Ancestor Lu Kun and Lady Guge breathed a sigh of relief.

The exchange just now, though lasting only a dozen or so breaths, had revealed the opponent's immense strength, which had secretly alarmed them. Fortunately, with the combined efforts of the three, they had finally subdued him.

At the same time, the Luo clan members scattered across Wumeng Island were thrown into great shock and commotion, most showing expressions of panic.

"Senior Liu..." Luo Feng murmured, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes.

What he had feared most had finally come to pass.

With Han Li, the clan's only remaining pillar, defeated, the Luo clan's fate was like fish on a chopping block. He could not imagine it, nor did he dare to.

Some dim white light, and a voice uttered a praise.

"Brother Lu is too kind. This person's ability to withstand the laws we wielded with sheer brute force indeed exceeded expectations. Thanks to your help, I would have suffered greatly otherwise," Han Qiu said with a chuckle.

"To avoid complications, we should finish this early," Lady Guge said slowly.

"Well said, Brother Guge."

As Han Qiu spoke, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. With a casual wave of his hand, a white light appeared.

A flash of white light in midair, and a crescent-shaped white ring blade engraved with a dragon relief materialized. With a crystalline glint, a wave of law fluctuations emanated.

With a "whoosh"!

The white ring blade trembled, then shot out as a streak of white light, vanishing into the ice sphere in a flash, continuing unabated toward Han Li within.

But at that moment, an unexpected turn occurred!

Han Li, who had been completely immobile inside the ice sphere, moved his eyes slightly. Then, ten thousand golden lights burst from his body, illuminating the entire ice sphere brilliantly, like a rising sun.

With a few "crack" sounds!

The entire ice sphere trembled violently, large cracks appearing on its surface. Then, with a thunderous roar, it exploded, sending icy mist and countless ice shards scattering in all directions.

A golden-furred giant ape over thirty zhang tall leaped out, its body radiating golden light. One furry hand grasped the crescent-shaped white ring blade.

The white ring blade trembled violently, trying to break free, but could not. The sharp blade cut into the giant ape's palm, sending sparks flying and producing clanging sounds, yet the palm was covered in a translucent film, leaving no trace of injury.

"What is this thing!" Han Qiu and the others were greatly alarmed.

On the island below, the Luo clan members led by Luo Feng were also stunned at the sight of the giant ape breaking out of the ice.

But only Luo Feng's eyes flickered with a barely noticeable hint of joy.

"Roar!"

The golden-furred giant ape let out a roar like a primordial beast, then tightened its five fingers on the ring blade.

With a "bang"!

The ring blade was crushed directly into a pile of crystalline fragments.

Han Qiu's body trembled; his lifebound treasure was destroyed, and his aura diminished by a full thirty percent.

Ancestor Lu Kun and Lady Guge exchanged glances, both seeing horror in each other's eyes.

At that moment, the blue water giant lunged toward the golden-furred giant ape, its fists striking out fiercely.

A brilliant blue light blazed from its fists, and two house-sized blue fist shadows shot forth, causing the void to tremble as they passed.

Instead of meeting the attack with a punch, the giant ape took a deep breath, its chest swelling high, then opened its mouth and let out a fierce shout.

A transparent wave rolled out, distorting and deforming the void as it passed, leaving visible ripples and even black spatial cracks.

The two blue fist shadows shattered inch by inch upon contact with the wave.

The next moment, the transparent wave, undiminished in force, engulfed the blue water giant.

The water giant trembled violently, its massive body twisting, blue light flashing wildly on its surface. Thick streams of water shot out from within, splashing in all directions.

"Not good!"

Ancestor Lu Kun's face changed drastically. His hands moved like wheels, sending streaks of blue light into the water giant.

But it seemed futile. The water giant's body shook more and more violently, finally exploding with a "bang" into countless fine droplets, which, under the transparent wave's vibration, turned into wisps of water vapor and dissipated.

Ancestor Lu Kun grunted, the blue light on his body dimming significantly.

After its roar, the golden-furred giant ape transformed into a golden shadow, charging toward the dark clouds in midair. It thrust one arm upward, its fist blazing with dazzling golden light.

A thunderous crack split the air!

A mountain-sized golden fist shadow shot up, plunging into the dark clouds. An indescribably powerful and terrifying force spread, turning into golden hurricanes that swept in all directions.

Lady Guge was startled and tried to act, but it was too late.

The dark clouds in the sky crackled and were torn apart like dry twigs, then shattered and exploded on their own.

The dark clouds vanished in an instant.

Lady Guge grunted, staggering back a step. Her aura fluctuated violently, and the black light on her body dimmed considerably.

The golden-furred giant ape turned its head abruptly, its gaze sweeping over the three ancestral gods below, finally resting on Han Qiu. A fiery golden light flickered in its pupils.

Then, its massive form suddenly turned into a golden phantom, diving straight toward the three.

Whether intentionally or not, Ancestor Lu Kun and Lady Guge shot backward to the left, separating from Han Qiu.

The golden-furred giant ape's dive direction remained unchanged, and its speed even increased.

Han Qiu retreated while his ten fingers moved rapidly. The white light on his body blazed, condensing into a layer of white radiance that engulfed him.

Intense law fluctuations emanated from the white radiance, and countless white runes flew out, tumbling up and down.

He opened his mouth and spat out a crystal-clear white ice crystal. As it spun, all the white runes flew toward it, intertwining and forming a white ice dragon over ten zhang long, which lunged at the golden-furred giant ape.

The golden-furred giant ape snorted and threw a punch.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar. A mass of golden light shot from its hand, transforming into a hill-sized golden fist shadow that smashed into the white ice dragon.

The white ice dragon opened its mouth wide and spewed a thick white beam.

Rings of white cold air rolled out like raging waves, causing the void to crackle and sheets of ice to appear out of nowhere.

The fist shadow and the beam collided with a deafening roar!

The white beam shattered directly, unable to withstand the impact.

The golden fist shadow paused briefly, then struck the white ice dragon.

With a tremendous "boom"!

The white ice dragon exploded into countless fine ice crystals. A formless force burst forth, sending a wave of invisible energy scattering in all directions.

Han Qiu's white light was like a thin sheet of paper. Caught in the force, he was sent flying backward, crashing diagonally from the sky into the sea below, splashing a large spray of water.

The golden-furred giant ape swayed, about to give chase.

Just then, a man's voice came from the nearby sky:

"Brother Liu, let's talk this over. Hold your hand!"

The golden-furred giant ape's eyes flickered. It stopped and looked up.

Two figures flew over from not far away and stopped before the giant ape. They were Ancestor Lu Kun and Lady Guge.

"Hehe, I didn't expect your strength to be so formidable. Admirable, admirable!" Ancestor Lu Kun said with a smile, cupping his hands.

"Since you possess such strength, according to the rules of the Black Wind Sea, we are willing to acknowledge your control over Wumeng Island. Today's conflict can be considered a misunderstanding. Continuing would benefit no one. How about we stop here?" Lady Guge said, looking at the giant ape.

The golden-furred giant ape squinted, a blue light flickering in its eyes. It frowned slightly but said nothing.

With a splash!

A figure shot out from the distant sea surface—it was Han Qiu.

His aura was weak, clearly heavily injured.

"Brother Han, you have now witnessed Brother Liu's divine abilities. I trust you will no longer oppose his control of Wumeng Island?" Ancestor Lu Kun said, looking at Han Qiu from afar.

Han Qiu was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Brother Liu's strength has truly opened my eyes, and I am full of admiration. Naturally, I have no objection to Brother Liu taking control of Wumeng Island."

The golden-furred giant ape gave Han Qiu a deep look, then swept its gaze over the other two. With a flash of golden light, its form rapidly shrank, returning to human shape.

"As I said earlier, I had no intention of fighting you three. Since you are willing to leave, please do as you wish," Han Li said with a faint smile.

The oppressive atmosphere around them eased somewhat with Han Li's smile.

"Brother Liu, we are now acquainted through battle. The various forces in the Black Wind Sea are constantly at odds. Our four islands are close to each other, and when Brother Luo Meng was still here, we always advanced and retreated together. Now that you have taken over Wumeng Island, we should interact more in the future," Ancestor Lu Kun said with a smile.

"Indeed. We have no senior masters to guide us and can only cultivate alone. We need more exchanges. Every so often, we gather to discuss cultivation insights or hold small exchange meetings. You are young and have already reached such a high level. There is great hope for you to break through to the Golden Immortal realm, and you need to understand the laws of power more," Han Qiu nodded, his tone carrying a hint of flattery.

"If I have the time, I will certainly come," Han Li said, his eyes flickering as he nodded.