34: Chapter 34 The Forest of Withered Bones: A Massacre!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

In these three days, Xia Youchu consolidated her 1-Star Yuan Master Realm and re-familiarized herself with some low-level combat skills and secret techniques from her past life.

Although limited by her Yuan power cultivation, her power was not even a ten-thousandth of what it was in her past life, but her rich combat experience and battle awareness were enough to give her an absolute advantage when facing opponents of the same rank.

Ling Tian, by consuming some of the Yao Beast flesh Xia Youchu had purchased and the rewards later sent by Chairman Zhao, pushed his evolution points to 6,000, further advancing his strength.

Early morning, the rising sun began to ascend.

In front of the Pioneers Guild headquarters, the atmosphere was stern and murderous.

Over fifty rugged and fierce-Aura Pioneers gathered here, the lowest cultivation level being a 1-Star Yuan Master, among whom were many elite deacons at the Grand Yuan Master Realm.

Most of them were accompanied by War Beasts of various forms.

This was the core elite force that the Pioneers Guild could mobilize; almost everyone had been deployed!

At the front of the square, Chairman Zhao stood with his hands behind his back.

Today, he had changed into a set of dark golden light armor, his Aura as Heavy and steady as a mountain.

Beside him lay a giant beast covered in silver feathers, shaped like a lion but with wings on its back.

The Silver-Winged Griffin, a powerful War Beast with Silver-grade potential, had already reached the Peak Yuanling Realm and was Chairman Zhao's most important partner.

Zhao Mengmeng also stood beside her father, wearing fire-red leather armor and holding a longbow; her Crimson Flame Wolf was also looking aggressive.

Xia Youchu and Ling Tian stood near the front of the crowd.

Ling Tian's nearly two-meter-tall body, along with the domineering Aura Xia Youchu exuded after her Breakthrough to Yuan Master, made them exceptionally conspicuous in the crowd, attracting many gazes.

"Everyone!"

Chairman Zhao's voice was loud and resonant, spreading across the entire square, "I believe everyone is already aware of the importance of this mission!"

"In the depths of the wilderness, that Thunder Serpent has reached the critical moment of its ninth molting! Once it successfully transforms into a Flood Dragon and ascends to an Yao King, it can command the Yao Beasts within a radius of hundreds of miles, creating an Yao disaster! At that time, the first to bear the brunt will be our Cloud City and the countless surrounding villages and towns!"

"An existence at the Yao King level can already manipulate the power of heaven and earth, initially altering the environment and terrain!"

Chairman Zhao explained in a grave tone, "At the place of its Breakthrough, a domain that matches its attributes will often form."

"If this Thunder Serpent successfully transforms into a Flood Dragon, its lightning domain will continuously expand, attracting more Yao Beasts to gather, and it may even trigger celestial phenomena, bringing down continuous thunderstorms! That will be a true natural disaster!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd's expressions became even more solemn.

When a Yao Beast reaches the Yao King level, it is no longer just individually powerful; it becomes a source of calamity that can affect a region!

"Our mission is to kill it before it completes its Breakthrough!"

Chairman Zhao waved his hand, and a massive Yuan power map appeared in the air, marking the terrain deep within the Falling Thunder Ravine and several red zones.

"According to our reconnaissance, the location of the Thunder Serpent is this valley."

Chairman Zhao pointed to a deep red area marked in the center of the map, "The energy tide caused by its Breakthrough has already attracted a large number of Yao Beasts to gather around it, forming a protective circle. Influenced by the Thunder Serpent's Aura, these Yao Beasts have become exceptionally manic and have a tendency to spread outwards."

"Our plan is to clear out these peripheral Yao Beasts in separate zones and build a blockade line; we must not let a single Yao Beast escape and harm the surrounding areas!"

"At the same time, clearing these obstacles will also pave the way for the final execution of the Thunder Serpent!"

His gaze swept across the audience, and he began to assign tasks.

"Elder Zhang, you lead a team and take responsibility for the eastern foothills area!"

"Deacon Li, the western valley is entrusted to you!"

"..."

One team after another received their orders and, with an Aura of murderous intent, quickly left the square and headed toward their respective assigned areas.

"Xia Youchu!"

"You are responsible for leading your War Beast to clear the Bone Forest in the southeast! The terrain in that area is complex, the forest is dense, and there are quite a few lurking Yao Beasts, many of which are highly poisonous, so be careful!"

"Leave the Bone Forest to us." Xia Youchu nodded calmly.

Chairman Zhao looked at them deeply, especially at Ling Tian, whose Aura was becoming increasingly unfathomable, and added, "After you finish clearing it, there is no need to rendezvous with other areas; you can come directly to me and participate in the final encirclement of the Thunder Serpent!"

This was giving them great trust and affirmation!

"Understood!"

Xia Youchu replied.

"Meow." Ling Tian let out a low growl, which served as his response.

"Move out!"

With Chairman Zhao's command, he mounted the Silver-Winged Griffin and soared into the sky, turning into a streak of silver light and disappearing.

Xia Youchu and Ling Tian exchanged a glance and, without further delay, sped toward the Bone Forest in the southeast.

...

In the depths of the wilderness, the scenery was vastly different from the outskirts.

The further they went in, the more abundant the lightning Yuan power in the air became, to the point where one could faintly see tiny electric arcs jumping and flashing in the air.

The surrounding plants had also undergone strange changes.

Many trees' branches and leaves presented an unhealthy charred black color, as if they had been scorched by lightning fire, yet they were growing stubbornly.

Some rock surfaces were covered in bright blue moss, emitting a faint lightning glow.

Occasionally, in places where the lightning Yuan power was particularly dense, one could even see one or two strangely shaped Spiritual Plants emitting a glowing, precious light.

"It's Snake Blood Grass!"

Xia Youchu, with sharp eyes, recognized one of the Spiritual Plants, "This kind of Spiritual Plant only grows in the habitats of powerful snake-type Yao Beasts, formed by absorbing the dissipated blood, energy, and Yao power. It is a main ingredient for refining various body-tempering potions and is quite valuable."

She casually collected a few that were in good condition.

Ling Tian had no interest in being a vegetarian; his Energy Perception was fully activated, firmly locking onto the area ahead known as the Bone Forest.

There, the life signals were dense, and the energy reactions were chaotic and manic, with no lack of one or two existences reaching the level of an Yao General.

A moment later, the two arrived at the edge of the Bone Forest.

What came into view was an extremely eerie forest.

The trees here had long since died completely, their branches twisted and presenting a ghastly white color, like the skeletons of countless giant beasts standing on the earth.

In some places, one could indeed see ghastly white bones half-buried under the fallen leaves, some human, some from Yao Beasts.

Bone Forest, the name lived up to its reputation.

"Be careful, watch out for the toxic miasma and the lurking poisonous creatures here." Xia Youchu reminded him, circulating her Yuan power to form a faint protective barrier on her body surface.

She cultivated the Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art and had a certain resistance to toxins, but she dared not be careless.

Ling Tian, however, completely ignored those toxic miasmas.

His Advanced Poison Resistance allowed him to be immune to toxins of this level.

What he cared about more were the ingredients in the forest.

Hiss—!

As if sensing the scent of living people, a hair-raising hissing sound suddenly erupted from within the Bone Forest!

The next moment, countless black shadows lunged out from behind the ghastly white tree trunks and from under the thick fallen leaves!

Deadwood Poison Pythons!

Ghost-Faced Spiders!

Rotten Corpse Vultures!

And a large number of poisonous insects and Yao Beasts whose names they didn't know!

Their eyes were blood-red, and they surged toward Xia Youchu and Ling Tian outside the forest like a tide!

"One side each; whoever kills fewer is a puppy!"

Xia Youchu's eyes turned sharp. The ordinary longsword in her hand instantly unsheathed, infused with Demonic Qi, and the blade shimmered with a dark, gloomy light.

Her figure moved, and she charged to meet them!

She executed her Flowing Cloud Steps to the limit, weaving through the dense swarm of Yao Beasts, her longsword transforming into streaks of deathly shadows!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The sword light flashed, like the skillful butcher dismembering an ox, slicing through the vital points of one Yao Beast after another!

Whether it was the throat, the heart, or the compound eyes!

There were no superfluous movements, no wasted effort; she was as efficient as a killing machine!

Her combat experience as an Empress was displayed to the fullest at this moment!

Often, the Yao Beasts were killed by her sword before they could even react!

The Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art operated in tandem, rapidly devouring the life essence of the fallen Yao Beasts and converting it into pure Demonic Qi, replenishing her consumption and even faintly pushing her cultivation to grow slowly!

She alone, with one sword, actually held back the impact of the beast tide on one side of the Bone Forest!

And on the other side...

Ling Tian watched the surging beast tide, his cold, vertical pupils filled only with excitement.

The feast, let it begin!

He did not use his Atomic Fission Breath; that would be too much of a waste of ingredients.

He wanted to enjoy this hunt in the most direct way!

"Roar—!"

He let out a roar that shook the Soul, and the Destruction Monarch Aura erupted with a boom!

Those low-level poisonous insects and Yao Beasts that were rushing over madly felt as if they had been struck by an invisible giant hammer; their limbs instantly went weak, their speed plummeted, and their eyes were filled with fear!

Ling Tian's massive body moved!

His strengthened hind limbs erupted with terrifying power, allowing him to charge into the beast swarm like a bolt of gray lightning!

His sharp claws swung!

Bang!

A Deadwood Poison Python had its head directly smashed by him, red and white matter splattering everywhere!

His tail swept across!

Crack!

Three or four Ghost-Faced Spiders were sent flying as if hit by a Heavy truck; their carapaces shattered, and they crashed into the bone trees, turning into pulp!

Relying solely on the power and speed of his Physical Body, he stirred up a bloody storm within the swarm!

Wherever he passed, severed limbs flew, and there was no enemy that could withstand a single blow!

[Devoured Deadwood Poison Python (Early Stage Demon Soldier), gained Evolution Points +25.]

[Devoured Ghost-Faced Spider (Rank 1), gained Evolution Points +3.]

[Devoured Rotten Corpse Vulture (Peak Mortal Rank), gained Evolution Points +1.]

His evolution points were steadily rising!

But soon, stronger guys appeared!

Hiss—!

A Purple Lightning Viper dropped from the top of a bone tree, opened its mouth filled with venomous fangs, and bit toward Ling Tian's neck!

Its speed was as fast as lightning!

At the same time, the fallen leaves on the ground exploded; an Iron-Clad Poison Scorpion, with a body size comparable to a wild buffalo, a carapace as Heavy and hard as iron, and a scorpion tail, waved its huge pincers and viciously clamped toward Ling Tian's hind leg!

In the air, a dozen poisonous flying lizards with wingspans exceeding two meters, their sharp claws gleaming with a dark blue cold light, spat out venom and launched a dive attack!

Facing this siege from three directions, a flash of disdain crossed Ling Tian's cold, vertical pupils.

With a thought, he activated the newly acquired golden entry.

Treasury of the King!

Hum!

A peculiar energy flow turned toward his right front claw.

A brilliant golden light erupted!

A phantom of a huge lance, entirely cast as if from gold with spiral patterns winding around the tip, instantly condensed on his right claw!

[Materialized Noble Phantasm: Lance of the End]!