Everyone gaped incredulously at Xu Ran, their faces full of disbelief, yet their eyes held a glimmer of hope.

Xu Ran had awakened before the Peregrine Falcon and Xu Binghu perished.

However.

The strength of this White Ape was such that all of them combined couldn’t match even one of its fingers. Now, even though Xu Ran had awakened and seemed to have shown some cultivation improvement.

Still, could he resist this White Ape?

...

"Boom----"

Deep ’crackling’ sounds emanated from within Xu Ran’s body, his skin radiating a faint golden light. With the fusion of countless Golden Light Power inside him, his skin became increasingly fair, looking like a naturally crafted work of art.

Feeling the endless spiritual qi within, Xu Ran was somewhat exhilarated. With a thought, several golden whirlwinds emerged on his surface, unleashing a horrifying suction force, absorbing all the white innate qi drifting from his body into these whirlwinds.

Moreover, as soon as this innate qi entered the golden whirlwinds, it merged within the body at an indescribable speed, circulating through various parts, nourishing every inch, whether it be the unseen muscles or cells. Once the entire body was nourished, it finally converged at the brow, blending into the Sea of Spirit, flowing into the vast ocean.

This innate qi, drifting from within, completely absorbed without waste by the evolving Innate Saint’s Sacred Body, all emanated from the marrow.

Feeling the near-earth-shattering transformation within, Xu Ran’s heart was overwhelmed with joy, wanting to laugh; yet evidently, the situation forbade such indulgence.

He slowly stood up, observing the stunned expressions among the crowd, then with a wave of his large hand, a white innate qi emerged, flying toward the severely injured Xu Binghu, who was left breathing shallowly.

Instantly, a strong white glow enveloped Xu Binghu’s body, blinding everyone.

Through this luminosity, the White Ape could clearly see Xu Binghu’s hands recovering to their original state, and the bloody wounds on his body slowly healing, muscles visibly forming and linking.

"This...what is this? The healing effect is so remarkable?"

The White Ape exclaimed in astonishment, eyes wide, having never encountered such mystical medicinal herbs even after traversing the entire Great Mountain as the king of the Mountain Monkey tribe.

And this little child possessed such healing secret medicine, wasn’t it blessed by the heavens?

"Hahaha!"

The White Ape’s greedy laughter echoed through the Great Wilderness Border Village, awakening everyone to gaze fearfully at it.

Even with Xu Ran’s awakening, the shadows cast previously upon everyone were indelible.

"You little boy, you’ve surprised me quite a bit, possessing such healing secret medicine. Hand it over quickly, and perhaps I’ll spare the villagers!"

Innate qi, an extremely scarce spiritual object for heaven and earth, recognized probably only by humans and demon beasts of ancient times for short durations.

If the White Ape awakened its bloodline and successfully reverted, perhaps it could recall from its blood memory what this was.

Xu Ran stood quietly, his face as cold as millennium unmelted ice, eyes like deep, unwavering pools.

As Xu Binghu’s injuries were fully healed by the innate qi, the white glow dissipated.

Xu Binghu labored from the ground with support, delighted to see his son Xu Ran standing there.

"Xiao Ran, you’re awake?!" Yet then his expression changed, grabbing at the dulled blade on the ground, rushing to say, "Xiao Ran, run, run as far as you can, I’ll hold them off here!"

Then he positioned himself before Xu Ran, facing the White Ape with a resolute spirit.

"It’s alright!" A small, fair hand rested on Xu Binghu’s shoulder, accompanied by a cold voice, "Leave the rest to me!"

Though icy, unwelcoming to strangers, this voice brought an unprecedented comfort to Xu Binghu’s heart, as if all would be resolved, gently dropping the blade and retreating behind Xu Ran.

The White Ape, priorly focused upon, seeing a mere infant daring to disregard it, and shamelessly proclaiming such arrogance, flared with anger, clutching the Peregrine Falcon’s head with one hand and stabbing the stone rod into the ground with the other, shaking the whole Great Wilderness Border Village.

"You mere infant, where did you find the courage to utter such words?" The White Ape’s face twisted, baring its fangs at Xu Ran, "Just a human with a special constitution, not something I haven’t eaten. Yet I’ve never seen someone as arrogant as you...."

"If that’s the case, then I’ll devour the spirit pet you raised, the little Peregrine Falcon, and seize the Kunpeng Bloodline within."

Having said that, it resumed its interrupted action, forcefully gripping, causing the severely wounded Peregrine Falcon’s eyes to widen, with its sustaining blood threads about to vanish.

"Buzz----"

Suddenly.

A devastating aura appeared before the White Ape, compelling it to turn around, revealing a white stream of light, and igniting a sense of fear within.