Chapter 397 - 397 Another Great Harvest

397 Another Great Harvest

Fang Huo gave a confident smile. “Brother Zhou, I figured it out when you asked. You haven’t fought with this type of near-death old monster before, have you?”

Qin Huai’s interest was piqued. “Why do you say that?”

“These old creatures indeed have a wealth of combat experience and a variety of tricks,” Fang Huo explained. “But their most fatal flaw is the well-known decline in vitality. As long as I can seriously hurt them, I don’t need to kill them… Their strength would diminish quickly as their vital energy drains away. Their aura, bone patterns, and even their guardian spirits are all dependent on this energy.”

Fang Huo added, “We young fighters often exploit this weakness. Some elderly guys who are nearing the five full patterns or visceral prefecture realm are really envious of us… even though they’re not as desperate as the folks from the bronze realm.”

Qin Huai nodded, finally understanding these old timers’ critical weakness. In his resource-rich home city, Qingzhou, he’d never encountered such an opponent. The city was not only home to many experts, but also provided access to longevity techniques and powerful factions that cared for their elders. There was no need to fight and kill out of desperation for resources.

Soon, the pair covered a good distance and ran into another figure. This individual’s hands formed symbols, and his fingers moved so fast that it blurred the vision. An elderly man opposite him mirrored his actions. Both were deeply engrossed in their standoff.

Suddenly, they both cried out, “Void lightning technique!”

Bang!

Simultaneously, lightning and a blinding blue light flashed, and an instant later, both were stumbling backward, their bodies wreathed in evaporating blood.

Qin Huai and Fang Huo took advantage of the moment, sprinting past the younger man. They also left Xiang Mingfeng’s arm next to him.

Qin Huai’s white hair whipped in the wind as Fang Huo’s mane of brown hair expanded, his lion’s roar echoing like thunder. Their ground-breaking steps marked an impressive tactic.

Before they knew it, they were face-to-face with the old man. He moved his fingers rapidly, and lightning bolts struck Qin Huai and Fang Huo.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Despite the successive explosions and rising black smoke from their chests, their pace never faltered. They attacked with their respective forbidden techniques, poison dragon shock and spirit lion furious fist.

In an instant, their fists collided with the old man’s body. Remarkably, he twisted his body to dodge within the limited space. His feet moved like phantoms, evading Qin Huai and Fang Huo’s attacks while his fingers flicked even faster.

However…

The terrifying gusts that came from Qin Huai’s poisonous dragon shock kept blasting the old man. Gradually, purple-black bruises began to cover his body, and more wounds kept appearing.

“Spare me!” the old man pleaded. “I can help you find the others. I have a big secret!” He held up his hands in surrender, a hoarse desperation in his voice.

In front of him, the fists of Qin Huai and Fang Huo halted abruptly. A murderous glint flashed in the old man’s eyes as he flipped his hands. Behind them were two dim balls of lightning.

“Let me explain…” But before he could finish, two enormous fists pierced through his chest.

Bang!

“Don’t get us wrong, old man, we were just building up our power,” Fang Huo said to the old man who stared wide-eyed. His tone was mockingly sweet. “Really, you’re so naive. Why would we go easy on you?”

Bang!

With a resounding crash, a white light exploded, reducing the old man’s body to pieces. The air filled with flying chunks of flesh, raining down like a gruesome storm.

Fang Huo looked at Qin Huai, slightly taken aback. This Brother Zhou, being a rogue cultivator, always had to make his kills so bloody. Either their heads or bodies were blown up.

Calmly, Qin Huai retracted his fist, collecting all the experience orbs scattered around him. A series of notifications flooded his consciousness.

“Ding! You have collected a [Hollow Thunder Technique Essence (Dark Red)], [Hollow Thunder Technique] experience points +500,000!”

“Ding! You have collected a [[Long Wind Seal Technique Essence (Red)], [[Long Wind Seal Technique] experience points +200,000!”

An ocean of experience poured into Qin Huai’s mind. Closing his eyes, he sifted through the vast sea of memories.

“Thank you.” Wiping the blood off his face, a young man revealed a charred visage. It was Wang Gang. “If not for you two, I might’ve died here,” he admitted with a wry smile, before collapsing.

Fang Huo, serious-faced, told him, “You can rest here or come with us.”

“You go ahead. If I come now, I’ll just slow you down.” Wang Gang slumped on the ground, looking pale.

Without another word, Qin Huai and Fang Huo pressed on. After a two-hour sprint, they halted once more, the sight of fresh blood flowing into the grass at their feet.

Le Ji’an, known as the Little Cattle King, stood in a pool of blood, his face as gaunt as tree bark.

“Too bad, you’re late,” he said, flexing his muscles. The ground around him was strewn with body parts. At a glance, it was impossible to piece together a complete human figure.