NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Beast Fruit
Chapter 42: The Beast Fruit
The Ancient Ravine lay to the north of Great Wilderness County, about a five-day journey from Great Eagle City. According to the map, the Nirvana-level Ancient Dragon Ape Spirit was located within this ravine. Lin Langtian made his way directly there without any detours, arriving in just three days thanks to his full-speed travel.
Standing atop a towering peak, he gazed at the ancient, expansive mountain range ahead and raised an eyebrow. Even from here, he could faintly sense powerful presences hidden deep within the ravine. These auras, fierce and primordial, likely belonged to beasts that carried traces of ancient bloodlines.
"In the depths there… that should be my target, the Ancient Dragon Ape," he muttered, his face growing serious as he squinted into the heart of the mountains. There, he sensed an overwhelming, hair-raising aura that sent tremors through the air itself. Whatever being possessed such an aura was no ordinary creature; it was a monster among beasts.
With a determined thought, Lin Langtian descended into the forest below. Since this was just the outskirts of the ravine, he encountered groups of people moving through the area, some in pairs and others traveling solo. As he entered, he drew a few cautious glances but no one approached, warily minding their own business.
Lin Langtian wasn't concerned and continued on his way, brushing off the occasional beast blocking his path with a casual wave of his hand, releasing a powerful burst of energy to clear the way. With his speed, it took only a few minutes to approach the ravine's depths.
As he moved through the area, a massive valley appeared before him, its surroundings littered with bones, both of beasts and perhaps humans. A violent, savage aura filled the valley, a powerful, oppressive force that hung in the air. Leaping up to a cliffside, he looked down and finally caught sight of the enormous silhouette within—a creature that seemed to fill the valley with its presence.
Staring at the massive figure, Lin Langtian felt his nerves tense. The sheer power emanating from it was incredible; any ordinary expert at the Shape Transformation Stage would be nothing more than an insect in its presence.
It was the Ancient Dragon Ape!
The huge ape stood in the center of the valley, its aura radiating waves of ferocity that made the surrounding energy hesitate to draw near. Even though it was only a juvenile and not yet as powerful as a full-grown Nirvana-level Dragon Ape, it was still on par with a human at the lower stages of the Creation Realm. Lin Langtian knew he couldn't underestimate it.
Sunlight streamed down, illuminating the black-skinned giant ape, whose body looked as if it were sculpted from steel. Its tough, dark hide gleamed with an iron-like luster, and every movement hinted at destructive strength. Its fierce face was marked with a single sharp, black horn that jutted from its forehead, adorned with intricate, ancient markings.
"That looks like… a dragon horn, one of the manifestations of the Dragon Ape's bloodline," Lin Langtian murmured, recalling the information he'd gathered. "The Dragon Horn's power is formidable, but it's said the Dragon Ape doesn't use it unless absolutely necessary."
Although Lin Langtian felt some tension facing such a creature, he wasn't about to back down. Determined, he leaped into the valley.
The valley's interior was strewn with beast bones, and the air was so thick with a foul stench of blood that it was nearly unbearable. Resisting the urge to gag, Lin Langtian moved quickly toward the heart of the valley, finally reaching the inner area.
There, in a small pool, he noticed something peculiar—a set of two blood-red fruits floating in the water, one large and one small. These fruits were bizarre, shaped vaguely like beasts but without a clear form, as if they had been cobbled together from parts of many creatures. They gave off an unsettling, eerie aura.
"This is… the Beast Fruit!" Lin Langtian's eyes lit up with excitement as he recognized the fruits. As the most talented young member of the Lin Clan, he possessed both exceptional talent and extensive knowledge and immediately identified the rare fruit.
According to the Lin Clan's records, Beast Fruit wasn't a natural creation but rather something crafted through an extremely brutal process. The method of creating it was known only to certain powerful beasts that retained ancient memories. To make Beast Fruit, the blood essence of countless beasts was required.
Lin Langtian glanced around at the bones scattered throughout the valley and figured they were likely the remains of creatures drained of their blood essence to nourish the fruit.
Shaking his head, he reflected on the cruelty of the process. The law of the jungle didn't apply only to humans; beasts practiced it just as ruthlessly.
"Once the Beast Fruit matures, the Dragon Ape will be able to use it to undergo a transformation, gaining strength equivalent to the Nirvana Stage," Lin Langtian muttered thoughtfully. "Though it won't allow a human to reach the Nirvana Stage, it does have tremendous benefits for enhancing physical prowess."
Satisfied with his unexpected find, he was about to retrieve the Beast Fruit when a thunderous roar erupted behind him. The sound was saturated with anger and violence, causing the entire mountain range to tremble. Nearby beasts, sensing the rage of the valley's apex predator, crouched in terror.
At the same time, he felt a dark shadow fall over him as the ground quaked beneath the approach of a terrifying aura.
"It seems… I've been found out."
Turning around, Lin Langtian's gaze settled on the towering, iron-like figure of the Dragon Ape. He exhaled slowly, his face showing both calm and a touch of exhilaration as a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.
(End of Chapter)