Exploding God

Chapter 1125 Amidst Mountains of Corpses and Seas of Blood, Martial Artists Were Shocked

(PS: Last night I saw an article, and the sentence "True self-discipline comes from intrinsic motivation" instantly broke me down. I thought to myself, what have I been doing all year of drifting aimlessly... I'm quitting gaming. Everyone is welcome to keep an eye on me.)

***

The thick fog obscured the air and also clouded the view.

Lu Ze returned silently, lifted the tent flap, and went inside.

The stellar energy field around him blended naturally with the airflow, like a gentle spring breeze after a light rain, caressing one's face without being felt.

Zhang Xinghuo rolled over in his sleeping bag, mumbled something, chewed a few times, and a smile appeared on his sleeping face.

She was clearly dreaming of delicious food and was enjoying it immensely.

As for the Pharaoh, who was lying on his sleeping bag, he was sprawled out, drooling from the corner of his mouth, and making rhythmic little snores.

Lu Ze chuckled, picked up the little ball, crawled into his sleeping bag, and within five seconds closed his eyes, entered a deep sleep, oblivious to everything around him.

In his drowsy state, the Pharaoh felt the warmth of his master's palm, so he closed his eyes and squeezed it until his entire body was cradled in the palm, and continued to sleep soundly.

……

The tent was peaceful, but for some people in the quiet night, it wasn't so reassuring.

Inside the tent under the misty willow tree, Wuliangha sat cross-legged, with the scarred-faced second brother and the tall third brother sitting on either side of his field of vision.

Since the fourth brother left, the three of them have been sitting cross-legged and looking at each other in this posture.

For a full hour, no one spoke.

At first, it was just a normal wait, but after an hour, the second and third brothers' expressions changed slightly.

The eldest brother's single eye grew increasingly sinister, while sweat began to bead on the foreheads of the second and third brothers. The silent atmosphere made each day feel like an eternity.

Based on the initial estimate of 3 kilometers, excluding preparation time and time to deal with emergencies, 60 minutes is the limit.

And now it has been a full 120 minutes!

Based on their experience as hunters who have spent years roaming the wilderness, the fourth brother is most likely dead.

On the other hand, it's impossible that the fourth brother's formidable night-fighting capabilities would prevent him from even sending a signal.

Therefore, the fourth brother, who exists between disappearance and existence, is the reason why the three of them have been sitting in silence until now.

Uriyangkha looked at the third brother, who had the keenest sense of smell among the group.

After receiving the eldest brother's gaze, the third brother turned around and lifted the tent flap, paused halfway, then slowly lowered it and sat back down.

He raised a finger upwards and shook his head with a gloomy expression.

—Upwind.

At night, the wind shifts in the valley, blowing all the scents deeper into the valley, rendering his sense of smell useless.

Uriyangkhad closed his eyes, still sitting cross-legged in a commanding posture.

No answer is the best answer.

The second and third brothers exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, and continued to calmly wait.

They waited until dawn.

……

"Awooo—"

As the morning mist dissipated, the distant howling of wolves suddenly shattered the tranquility that had been building up overnight.

One howling sound after another echoed through the valley.

People from each tent came out and looked into the distance with surprise and uncertainty.

"The Ancient Land Wolf Pack!"

"They're not far away, are they hunting?"

"Heh, I'm afraid our first battle will be against the wolf pack. If the Yan family is willing to issue this mission, I don't mind taking two more bottles of dragon's saliva."

Hearing the surrounding chatter, a square-faced martial artist sneered as he tossed his short sword around. The chilling blade rose and fell, cutting through the air with a low, whistling sound.

Splash!

The square-faced martial artist shuddered, feeling a chill run down his spine as if he were being watched by a vicious wolf. He gripped his short knife tightly, turned around, and cursed under his breath.

Damn it!

The tent curtain under the misty willows was lifted, and the three of them, Wuliangha, walked out in silence.

The three of them had somber and cold expressions, with bloodshot eyes, which gave one a sense of the tumultuous emotional journey they had gone through that night.

No one spoke, but everyone knew that something had happened to the fourth brother.

It is now daytime, the fog has dissipated, and the Yan family guards will make unified arrangements for their actions.

They knew the fourth brother was dead, but they couldn't go looking for him; they could only wait for someone else to discover him.

This frustration made them, who were always arrogant, feel so irritable that they wanted to explode.

The square-faced martial artist who had just spoken loudly became the target of their emotional outbursts.

The square-faced martial artist's face gradually turned pale under the bloodthirsty gaze.

The warriors from the Yan family rode their horses around the area, shouting loudly, "Five minutes of rest are over, continue forward."

The hunter's gaze finally shifted, and the square-faced warrior's tense nerves finally relaxed. Only then did he realize that his back was covered in a layer of cold sweat, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of fear.

Before Yan Wenchang mounted his horse, he glanced in the direction of Wuliangha, only to see three cold gazes.

[A bunch of lunatics!]

Displeased, he frowned and spurred his horse forward.

After the horse had run a few steps, his brow, which had just relaxed, suddenly furrowed again.

Not right.

The Uriyangkhai team has four people, so why were there only three just now?

One-eyed Wuliangha, the second brother with the burnt face, the tall third brother...

What about the fourth brother who always had a smile on his face?

Yan Wenchang felt disgusted, as if he had swallowed a fly, when he thought about this.

Unruly and disobedient.

The hunters were never obedient, so they must have slipped out while I wasn't looking.

Why would the Tantai family hire someone like this as an inside agent?

This greatly displeased him, given his strong desire for control.

It would be better if he were dead!

After cursing under his breath, Yan Wenchang stopped paying attention.

……

After a brief rest, the large group resumed its advance.

The road ahead became rugged and the terrain more complex, so the yellow dragon carriage, which could carry dozens of people, stopped moving forward and turned back.

Lu Ze strolled leisurely at the back of the group. After Zhang Xinghuo finished drinking the cooling potion he had prepared, she followed Lu Ze in a cheerful mood, a smile on her round little face.

"I slept so well last night. I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep, but it went more smoothly than I expected."

Zhang Xinghuo's voice suddenly stopped, then he lowered his head and finished speaking in a low voice.

Lu Ze naturally knew the reason. Just now, Zhang Xinghuo's gaze fell on the group of hunters not far away, and the tall hunter in the group happened to look back at him.

"After all, someone is on night watch," Lu Ze replied calmly.

The girl thought about it and then agreed wholeheartedly, deciding to attribute her deep sleep to the Yan family's patrol team.

Although the expedition team consisted of a large number of people, they were all experienced martial artists. They joked and laughed as they walked, but their speed did not decrease in the slightest.

No matter how rugged the road was, or what kind of creatures emerged from the sides of the valley, each team moved with great order and clearly had their own special skills.

Lu Ze nodded inwardly. Wuyuan Lu's martial arts level was a level higher than that on the surface, and he would definitely be a powerful force for the upcoming tower.

Faced with the towering structure that is about to be erected, humanity has no choice but to stick together for warmth.

At that time, all disputes over emotions and ideologies will give way to the struggle for human survival.

These martial artists before us, along with a large number of other martial artists scattered throughout the Mist Plains, will all become part of the spark of hope for humanity when that day arrives.

Even if they have selfish motives and ulterior motives.

In Lu Ze's view, none of this mattered. As long as they could fight for survival and increase the human population's chances of winning by even one in a billion, that would be enough.

While I was pondering this, a rapid warning whistle suddenly sounded from ahead.

The sound was either long or short, and extremely sharp.

Yan Wenchang, who was walking at the front, pulled on the reins, stopped his horse, and looked ahead indifferently.

The large group immediately stopped and entered combat stance without needing any orders.

Lu Ze saw Zhang Xinghuo slip a pair of brass knuckles from his sleeve, put them on his hands, step forward slightly, gather his energy, clench his fists, and his body was like a taut bowstring. In an instant, he completed a change in his aura, ready to deliver a thunderous blow at any moment.

As a giant wolf, nearly 2 meters tall and over 4 meters long, leaped onto a boulder in front of them upon hearing the sound, gasps of surprise immediately rippled through the crowd.

"It's a Red Wolf with a Swordmane!"

The Red Wolf with the Sword Mane is an apex predator in the food chain. It is a social creature that is cruel and cunning. A single wolf is only 7-star, but when it moves in a group, it can easily hunt 9-star creatures!

The thick, red mane around their necks, as fluffy as steel needles, is their trademark; when they bristle their mane, it means they have entered an attack stance.

"It was just keeping watch; it didn't know how many wolves were hiding in the valley behind it."

"Damn, we've run into this kind of troublesome guy right from the start."

"Let's see how Steward Yan arranges things..."

Hearing the murmurs around him, Yan Wenchang frowned.

[Isn't the Red Wolf with the Sword Mane supposed to be at the foot of the South Mountain? How did it end up here?]

This contradicts the intelligence he possesses!

While it's true that the red wolves with their manes live in packs, their range doesn't extend to this area. Moreover, these creatures are particularly opportunistic and avoid danger, so they usually don't actively provoke large groups of humans.

The fact that the red-maned wolves are now appearing before them in an attack posture can only prove that there is something in the valley ahead that they cannot bear to part with...

From that moment on, Yan Wenchang had a vague feeling that the situation was slipping out of his control.

This feeling made him extremely unhappy, so he slapped the saddle, and the black rhinoceros horn bow and armor-piercing arrow hanging on the side of the saddle flew up and landed in his palm at the same time.

"How dare a beast block the way!"

Draw the bow and nock the arrow, then loosen your fingers.

With a buzzing sound.

A white shockwave suddenly erupted in front of Yan Wenchang, and the heavy arrow vanished instantly.

The baring, red-maned wolf had no time to react before its head and upper body exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

The terrifying aura caused the large group to pause, and many people looked horrified.

"That is Steward Yan's Shattering Star Arrow!"

"The trajectory of the arrow was completely undetectable the moment it was released."

"If they were to shoot at us, we would likely face certain death..."

Even the usually nonchalant hunter, Wuliangha, now showed a deep sense of apprehension in his single eye.

This arrow shares a similar effect with the fourth brother's Floating Butterfly Killing Technique; both are as violent as fire and as swift as a shadow.

If the other party launches a sneak attack...

Thinking of this, Wulianghatu felt a murderous intent rising within him.

The hunters would not give others a chance to ambush them.

If that day ever comes, he, Wuliangha, will only kill the other party before that day arrives.

"Новшгэж!" (Damn it!)

He muttered a curse under his breath, his anger rising, wanting to vent his extreme frustration.

……

Lu Ze narrowed his eyes slightly.

Eleven Star Realm!

Yan Wenchang concealed his abilities well, but his strength was still revealed the moment the arrow was released.

The star source power drawn from the star source sea of ​​consciousness was bound into a spiral by him, as if it were a tangible substance attached to the tail of an arrow.

This kind of Star Source Enchanted Attack is the hallmark of Boundary Warriors.

Although the methods used were somewhat rudimentary, they ultimately broke through that boundary, making him a true Storm-level martial artist.

You can fool others, but you can't fool yourself.

……

Yan Wenchang didn't pay attention to Wuliangha, nor did he know that his true strength had been instantly perceived by Lu Ze, but that arrow just now had a deterrent effect on everyone, including Wuliangha.

In this ancient land of Guangxi, Yan Wenchang could kill a giant beast with a single arrow, and also shoot down a martial artist.

Obedience is the only right way out!

He raised his right hand.

Wow!

The Yan family warriors simultaneously drew their swords and stood in a row on guard, while the recruited warriors also took out their weapons and assumed a fighting stance.

Just as this group made their move, a series of wolf howls suddenly echoed through the valley.

So close, the mournful howl, carrying a chilling atmosphere, echoed through the valley in waves, finally bursting forth as a rolling roar.

Splash, splash.

That was the sound of claws stepping on stones.

A series of low, mournful sounds rose up.

In the rugged valley ahead, groups of red wolves with sword-maned manes began to appear.

Each red wolf's mane bristled, and its fierce eyes stared at the group.

Thirty, fifty, eighty...

Within a few breaths, hundreds of sword-maned red wolves surged out, forming an inverted arc that covered both sides of the rugged mountain road.

Judging from the sounds coming from behind, there were quite a few more, probably no less than two hundred in total.

This is an extremely large pack of sword-maned red wolves!

Without needing any prompting, the martial artists' eyes all became serious.

The combined fighting power of two hundred wolves will reach an astonishing level, and deaths will likely be unavoidable, but no one wants to be the one to die.

Yan Wenchang was also surprised by the number of wolves, but the number of wolves was not enough to frighten him. His sharp eyes swept across the wolves, looking for an opportunity to shoot and kill the wolf king.

But after searching around, he still couldn't find the king of this enormous wolf pack!

It's not that it didn't exist, but rather that the cunning wolf king didn't show up.

"kill."

Yan Wenchang hung up the black horn bow, drew a battle blade and swung it forward, but did not make a move himself.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Yan Jiawuwei shouted at the same time.

Seeing that a battle was inevitable, the recruited warriors steeled themselves and charged forward under the watchful eyes of the Yan family's guards.

Although Yan Wenchang did not take action, no one dared to speak ill of him.

After all, he held the highest position and should have been in charge from the center.

When the hundred sword-maned red wolves saw the group of over a hundred people charging towards them, their fur stood on end. However, they did not charge back as a group. Instead, only the wolves at the front of the pack shot out like arrows released from a bow.

Yan Wenchang's gaze grew even colder.

In the skirmish, they still sent out the first wave of probing attacks.

There must be a wolf king among this pack of beasts.

I'm afraid we can't afford to expend a large number of martial artists first.

……

The warriors and the wolf pack, two torrents, collided fiercely.

The collision between the two sides was devoid of any fancy moves.

The first batch of sword-maned red wolves numbered about thirty, and their speed suddenly increased dramatically the moment they engaged in combat.

The rugged mountain road resembled a crimson storm.

The warriors were startled and instinctively swung their weapons forward.

The sound of metal clashing rang out.

A chorus of screams erupted.

The expedition's first line of defense was instantly torn apart, and several streams of blood gushed out like fountains.

The warriors of Yan's mansion were protected by armor and mainly focused on supervising the battle, rather than leading from the front. Therefore, although their injuries looked ferocious, they were not life-threatening.

However, the recruiting warriors at the very front were severely injured in this unpretentious collision.

Four people were torn apart on the spot, three had limbs severed, and the remaining thirteen were all seriously injured.

The red wolf with its mane displayed astonishing lethality.

However, the warriors who followed regained their footing after a brief moment of panic, relying on the team to form a battle formation, breaking up the wolf pack's formation, and then launching a combined attack on a single giant wolf.

With the strength of an 8-star versus a 7-star, they naturally have the advantage.

Puff, puff!

The sounds of sharp blades piercing flesh rang out one after another.

The first wave of attack was extremely short, and the exchange between the two sides ended in the blink of an eye.

Thirty giant wolves died.

The Yan family's expedition team left behind four corpses and twenty seriously injured.

Lu Ze did not make a move, but watched as Zhang Xinghuo delivered an extremely powerful punch, smashing a red wolf with a mane that was charging at him from the side, denting its forehead.

The giant wolf howled as it flew out, only to be finished off and torn to pieces by the rest of the team.

The little girl displayed strength that was inconsistent with her size and appearance for the first time. Who would have thought that the seemingly delicate girl would make such powerful and unrestrained moves?

From the moment she made her move, Zhang Xinghuo had been intentionally or unintentionally protecting Lu Ze. Perhaps it stemmed from her respect for Lu Ze, or perhaps it was her confidence in her own strength. It was all out of instinct, and she did not explain herself after defeating the giant wolf.

The women of the Zhang family are no less capable than the men.

……

After the first wave of attack ended, all the warriors were aroused and prepared to charge with their swords drawn.

The three hunters, Wuliangha, had bloodlust in their eyes. They threw away the wolf carcass in their hands and exhaled hot breath from their nostrils.

But as a long wolf howl echoed from the valley ahead, the wolves that had been watching without moving suddenly turned and ran away, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

They are wild animals that roam the mountains, and their speed when running far exceeds that of humans.

"Damn it! Those beasts got away!"

The injured martial artist cursed and swore, extremely unwilling to accept defeat.

"The wolf king is hiding in the valley, but I haven't found any trace of it." Yan Wenchang withdrew his gaze and said in a deep voice, "Take stock of the casualties. Bury the dead on the spot, bandage the wounded as soon as possible, and the rest of you, take your knives and move forward."

Upon hearing this emotionless command, the martial artists felt as if they had been doused with cold water.

There was little noise in the group this time.

My teammates who were laughing and joking just a moment ago are now corpses and cripples.

Yan Wenchang's cold attitude made them realize the cruelty of this trip.

Adding to that the initial Star-Shattering Arrow, not a single person in the large group uttered a complaint.

As soon as we approached Xiegu Valley, we were greeted by a strong smell of blood.

Many people looked up in surprise.

Hee-lü-lü—

Yan Wenchang's warhorse suddenly reared up high.

Yan Wenchang himself stared wide-eyed, disbelief appearing in his pupils for the first time.

"That is—"

The large procession then navigated the rugged terrain, and when the horde of corpses, which had stained the entire valley red, came into view...

Everyone suffocated in an instant!

Hundreds of people stood frozen in place!

A chill ran from the soles of my feet straight up to the top of my head.

No one expected to witness such a magnificent yet extremely bloody scene in the valley, a scene unlike anything they had ever seen before.

A ten-meter-tall giant bear stood like a sculpture at the front, behind which lay a fan-shaped pile of corpses...

Huge wings, dark brown fur, a gaping maw, and a ferocious bear body.

That was a winged bear that could terrify countless people!

Nine in total!

The leader was the Winged Bear King, who had become even more ferocious.

Congealed blood covered a hundred-meter stretch of mountain road.

That alone is not enough to leave everyone speechless.

What truly shocks the eye is the half-corpse in front of that ten-meter-tall bear.

The hunter's tattered clothes couldn't hide the arm that had pierced the heart of the Winged Bear King.

"—Fourth brother!"

Beside Wuliangha, the tall third brother roared fiercely, instantly shattering the silence.

hiss--

A collective gasp of astonishment rang out at the same time.

The huge procession drew hundreds of gazes in awe.

The fourth hunter, a wandering hunter, actually slaughtered the entire Winged Bear clan.

Not only did he possess such incredible strength, he also sacrificed himself to kill the 10-star Winged Bear King in the end!

What an invincible sight!

But this is only the fourth one...

Then what about the other three...?

At this moment, even Yan Wenchang's expression changed.

(End of this chapter)