Chapter 12 Slaughtering the Black Stone Scorpions! Tusked Boars and Rotten Dogs!

Black Stone Scorpions are unique Beasts found only on Black Stone Mountain. Although they haven't reached the 1st Tier, their bodies are entirely covered in an incredibly hard black carapace, granting them high defense. Their pincers possess enough strength to easily crush black stones, and their highly toxic tail needles can easily kill a 1st Tier Martial Artist.

Furthermore, they prefer to move in groups. Even a 1st Tier Martial Artist would avoid their sharp edges and dare not engage them in battle upon encounter.

Sure enough, before Chu Han could even steady himself, the surrounding soil broke open one after another. Within a few short seconds, over twenty Black Stone Scorpions burst from the ground, surrounding him in the center.

If it were any other student participating in the training, they would likely have wet themselves by now.

They would either turn and run or pull out a signal flare for help.

But as Chu Han looked at the swarm of Black Stone Scorpions before him, there wasn't a trace of fear in his eyes; instead, a glint of excitement flashed through them.

"I was just worrying about having nowhere to practice, and here you are delivering yourselves to my door."

He drew the Fine Steel Long Saber from his back, his gaze sweeping over the Black Stone Scorpions' bodies, quickly discovering their weaknesses.

"Their weaknesses are the head and abdomen. Their speed is relatively slow, and their attack patterns are simple. As long as I avoid the pincers and tail needles, I can deal with them easily."

At that moment, the Black Stone Scorpion in the very front was the first to launch an attack!

It abruptly arched its body, its pincers quickly snapping toward Chu Han's calves while its tail sprang out like a coil, the deep blue tail needle stabbing directly at his chest.

"Perfect timing!"

Chu Han gave a loud shout and, instead of retreating, he advanced!

With agile steps, he easily dodged the Black Stone Scorpion's lethal attack.

At the same time, the long saber in his hand lunged out like a lightning bolt. With a 'puchi' sound, the blade accurately pierced through the Black Stone Scorpion's skull.

Pulling out the saber, blackish-green fluid sprayed out. The Black Stone Scorpion's body twitched violently for a moment before instantly losing its life.

Chu Han didn't use any Martial Skills; relying solely on his reaching perfection Basic Saber Technique, he instantly slew the Black Stone Scorpion.

His movements were clean and sharp; even many veteran Martial Artists wouldn't be able to achieve such a level.

"Black Stone Scorpions are nothing more than this!"

After this small test of his skills, Chu Han's Battle Intent surged, and he swung his saber again, charging toward three Black Stone Scorpions.

Facing the siege of three Black Stone Scorpions, he still dodged their attacks as if taking a leisurely stroll in a courtyard.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

With three consecutive stabs, three Black Stone Scorpions were killed instantly.

In an instant, four Black Stone Scorpions had been taken out.

The surrounding Black Stone Scorpions were enraged by their companions' deaths, letting out "hissing" cries as they lunged at Chu Han together.

Some swept their pincers from the front, some used their tails for sneak attacks from the side, and some simply burrowed back underground, attempting to launch a surprise attack from beneath his feet.

But Chu Han's footwork became increasingly elegant and agile; the Spirit Cat Steps were executed by him without a single flaw.

No matter how the Black Stone Scorpions attacked, they found it difficult to even touch his body.

Instead, every time Chu Han lunged with his saber, another Black Stone Scorpion died.

The battle quickly became a one-sided slaughter by Chu Han.

On the ground, the corpses of Black Stone Scorpions piled higher and higher.

Before long, all 27 Black Stone Scorpions that had attacked Chu Han had become corpses!

Chu Han stood in the center of the pile of scorpion corpses, his face slightly flushed.

Although the battle just now was easy, the continuous high-level combat had consumed a fair amount of his energy, but more than that, it was exhilarating!

This was his first real battle in a true sense. Not only was he uninjured, but his Basic Saber Technique and Spirit Cat Steps had made significant progress.

"As expected, actual combat is the best way to train a person."

Chu Han sighed with emotion, his gaze falling upon the Black Stone Scorpions' tail needles.

With a flick of the long saber in his hand aimed at the joint of the scorpion's tail needle, a poisonous needle emitting a faint blue glow was pried out by him.

Nothing could represent the identity of a Black Stone Scorpion better than its tail needle; the tail needle was the proof of his hunt.

So, Chu Han pried off the tail needles of these Black Stone Scorpions one by one, wrapped them in special anti-toxin cloth, and placed them in the inner compartment of his backpack.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the corpses of the Black Stone Scorpions on the ground were all collected into his space ring.

Although the most valuable part of a Black Stone Scorpion is the tail needle, their entire carapace is also an excellent material for crafting armor, and their venom sacs can be used in medicine.

Chu Han naturally wouldn't let this money delivered to his door go to waste.

Having finished all this, Chu Han looked deeper into Black Stone Mountain. The fishy scent there was even thicker, clearly indicating the presence of stronger Beasts.

He quickened his pace and continued on his way.

On the way, he encountered two more waves of Black Stone Scorpions, all of which were killed by him, totaling 39.

After continuing several miles deeper, Chu Han suddenly felt a very slight vibration coming from the ground beneath his feet.

"Hmm? More Black Stone Scorpions?"

Chu Han frowned slightly. He had killed enough Black Stone Scorpions today and was hoping for some other Beasts.

"No, this isn't the movement of Black Stone Scorpions."

Chu Han discovered that the vibration was coming from further away, and the commotion was getting louder and louder.

After a short while, a thunderous sound echoed from the distance.

"Rumble..."

The ground beneath his feet suddenly shook as if there were an earthquake.

Chu Han's expression changed slightly, and he quickly ran toward a protruding black stone slope on the right. The terrain there was higher, allowing him to see the situation ahead clearly.

Reaching the top of the slope, he saw a giant beast, with a body size comparable to a small truck, sprinting frantically through a clearing in the woods a hundred meters away!

It was a Tusk Boar, over three meters long, its entire body covered in thick black skin with needle-like black bristles standing up on its back. Most terrifying were the two curved tusks protruding from both sides of its mouth, a full half-meter long and glinting with a cold metallic luster. As it ran, its tusks slammed into tree trunks, snapping those as thick as bowls right in half!

"A First Tier Exotic Beast, a Tusk Boar!"

Chu Han's pupils constricted slightly as the records from his textbooks instantly surfaced in his mind.

A Tusk Boar was not something the likes of a Black Stone Scorpion could compare to; this thing was considered one of the most dangerous species even among First Tier Exotic Beasts.

Its strength and defensive power were top-tier among First Tier Exotic Beasts, enough to rival a Second-Tier Martial Artist among humans!

Its tusks were even more lethal weapons, capable of easily piercing through large trees and giant boulders!

It would take at least five 1st Tier Martial Artists working in coordination to have the confidence to attempt a hunt, and even then, casualties were highly likely.

Even a 2nd Tier Martial Artist would have to rely on their movement technique advantage to maneuver around it, not daring to face it head-on.

Such a powerful existence was currently fleeing frantically like a stray dog.

This was only because it was being followed by a mass of dark figures, their roars rising and falling, making one's scalp tingle.

Chu Han focused his gaze and recognized them immediately.

"It's a pack of Putrid Dogs! There are at least seventy or eighty of them!"

Putrid Dogs are even more robust than an adult Tibetan Mastiff, their bodies covered in rotten meat and oozing pus, emitting a nauseating stench of decay.

Their teeth are sharp and long, covered in black slime. If bitten by them, even a Third-Tier Martial Artist would need to be treated with an antitoxin.

They belong to one of the most disgusting categories of Beasts.

This pack of Putrid Dogs was very fast, trailing closely behind the Tusk Boar, seemingly maintaining a hunting formation.

"How is that possible?"

Chu Han's brow furrowed, his heart filled with doubt.

Although Putrid Dogs are formidable, their individual strength is far from reaching the 1st Tier; a single one's strength is even inferior to a Black Stone Scorpion.

Aside from their speed and venomous teeth, they have almost no advantage against a Tusk Boar.

Never mind seventy-plus, even if a hundred came, under normal circumstances they would only be easily crushed by the Tusk Boar. How could they possibly be the ones hunting it down?

But several deep, bone-deep wounds had indeed appeared on the Tusk Boar's hindquarters and flank, which were currently festering—definitely caused by Putrid Dogs.

Just as Chu Han was feeling puzzled, the Tusk Boar suddenly let out a shrill wail, its speed abruptly faltering.

A giant dog, far exceeding the size of an ordinary Putrid Dog, pounced onto the Tusk Boar like a flash of lightning!

Its speed far surpassed its companions, and its body was two sizes larger than a normal Putrid Dog—it was practically like a tiger!

It bit down with unerring precision onto the Tusk Boar's hind leg!

With a forceful shake of its head, it instantly tore off a large chunk of flesh.

"Roar!"

The Tusk Boar let out a shrill scream, its massive frame stumbling, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Chu Han's pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at the giant dog that had retreated immediately after the strike and was now letting out a menacing growl.

"So that's it, it's the Corrupt Hound King! A First Tier Exotic Beast!"