After dining with Neil Li, Quincy Dungsworth sat cross-legged at the mouth of the seaside cave, flipping through the herbology book he had borrowed from the library, his gaze occasionally wandering to the sparkling waves of the Azure Sea.His eyes stopped on a chapter describing a potion known as the Super Vitality Elixir. The brew could restore 100% of a cultivator’s strength within ten minutes.“What a potion…” Quincy murmured.But as he read further, his excitement dimmed. The recipe required only one ingredient: the juice of a rare coconut called Degan, which grew only in the Monkey Demon Valley.The Divine Staff spoke:“King Jigo possessed the greatest inner force of all demon beasts. If you, Master, can obtain the Ape King’s Tome, you won’t only gain immense inner strength—you’ll also have the right to lead the monkey clans. With me at your side, they will recognize you. But first, you must grow stronger. Only then will they submit.”“The Ape King’s Tome? Where can I find it?” Q

“The first layer of the Demon Valley?” Quincy rubbed his chin thoughtfully.“Yes,” replied the Divine Staff. “This layer is ruled by the Serpent King, Tham Fang. Though other demons dwell here, all bend the knee to him.”Quincy continued down the ravine. Every serpent demon he passed eyed him with suspicion, their gazes sharp and probing. To them, a human in the valley was an anomaly—a threat.“Human child,” a voice hissed suddenly.“Who’s there?” Quincy spun.A massive python, two meters long, slid into view. Quincy’s breath caught—then the serpent shifted, becoming an old man with weathered skin and slit-pupil eyes.“If you have no business here, leave at once. Should the Serpent King learn of you, you will not escape alive.”“That’s impossible. I must reach the dwelling of the Ape King, no matter the danger.” Quincy’s tone was firm.Two smaller snakes slithered away, clearly to report. The old serpent’s frown deepened.“You should go. They will summon the King.”“Thank you for the

“Hahaha! Since I will soon inherit my father’s position, of course I must gather more power! I want your Black Spirit Gem, Serpent King!” shouted Belleron Yong.“Tch! Step over my corpse first!”At once, a pitch-black aura engulfed Serpent King Tham Fang’s body. He had activated his Spirit Gem—the sign that he was ready to fight to the death with his full strength.Belleron Yong was no less prepared. He too activated a Spirit Gem—the stolen White Spirit Gem.The clash between them was ferocious, so intense that not a single soldier dared to intervene. The armies on both sides remained still, only watching their leaders battle from afar.Whuuuush!Boom! Boom! Boom!The impact of their collision hurled both combatants down to the ground with bone-crushing force.Bugh!Blood gushed as their innards tore apart.Belleron Yong grinned through a mouthful of blood, droplets splattering onto the earth. “Hahaha! Even if you can match me and we both fall, I still win! My army will tear your terr

Hearing Elder Python’s revelation, Quincy Dungsworth finally understood. Perhaps that was why his parents had abandoned him and sealed his power—to hide his identity from those who would hunt him.That meant he could never reveal his true abilities carelessly. Clenching his fists, he muttered with resolve:“I must become the strongest! I’ll find them, no matter where they are in this world. And I’ll never let anyone harm them again!”He turned and bowed deeply to Elder Python. “Thank you for this truth, Elder.”In one month, Quincy would turn nine. That day would also mark the Institute’s advancement examination. He was the oldest among the Class One disciples, most of whom were only seven.His growth was astonishing—each day he mastered one new technique of the Divine Staff flawlessly.After a week of training, Quincy prepared to thank the Serpent King Tham Fang for granting him a place to practice, before departing for the Valley of the Ape King to confront Lu Tung, the Black Ape.B

Hearing the Divine Staff’s words, Quincy Dungsworth froze.“Of course! These carvings… they’re the same as the ones etched into you. But how do I open it?”The staff answered calmly:“Place me on top of it. The box will merge with me, and then you can claim the Codex, Master.”Quincy obeyed. The moment he set the staff on the box, the container dissolved into motes of light and vanished. What remained was an old, worn-out book—yet surprisingly well-preserved.The Ape King’s Codex.When Quincy reached for it, the sun-mark on his palm flared to life. Startled, he hesitated.Could this be another artifact?The Divine Staff chuckled.“Why hesitate? You can absorb it easily.”“Will it hurt… like when I absorbed you?”“Not nearly as much. It’s just a book. The Spiritual Light lies only within its inked script. Absorb it, and you’ll master its contents instantly—just as you’ve trained with me in the dream-realm.”Taking a breath, Quincy pressed his palm onto the book’s cover. Warmth surged i