My Artifacts Can Upgrade Infinitely

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Hunting Demon Beasts Again

The two walked shoulder to shoulder, cautiously avoiding the many Tribulation Cultivators along their path. They also steered clear of other teams out hunting Demon Beasts. Even when they couldn’t avoid crossing paths, they would quickly move on, showing no intention of starting a conversation.

Zhao Zuo lay flat in a snow pit, straining to hear any sounds from outside. He clutched a Communication Jade in his hand while peering through a tiny crack, watching for any movement around the Demon Beast meat he had placed as bait ten meters away.

More than an hour later, the roars of Demon Beasts echoed from a distant valley, followed by the tremors of dozens of them on the move. The ground shook as if a mighty army was charging, their momentum as terrifying as a flash flood or a tsunami.

The Demon Beasts were on the attack. More lives were about to be lost across the four major zones.

Zhao Zuo slowed his breathing as much as possible, suppressing his heartbeat as he waited patiently for a Demon Beast to arrive. Before long, a massive one came into view. The creature’s head resembled a rhinoceros, and its body was enormous. The top of its head was covered with a hard, dark-colored plate that emitted a strange glow in the darkness.

A pair of enormous, incredibly sharp horns jutted from the sides of its head, soaring high into the air. Its body was so immense one had to crane their neck back just to see its full form. Its limbs were thick and powerful, like colossal pillars supporting the heavens, and its thick black hide was etched with deep, silver patterns resembling crescent moons.

A One Tier Late Period Demon Beast, the Cold Moon Horned Rhinoceros.

Its power and ferocity were on full display with every slow step, enough to make one’s blood run cold. It didn’t even glance at the bait on the ground, instead walking directly toward Shen Yunjiao’s hiding spot. The silver moon patterns on its body could sense the fluctuations of all Energy in the world.

Suddenly, Shen Yunjiao and Zhao Zuo’s camouflage seemed laughably crude.

"What do we do?"

Zhao Zuo pushed off with his legs and sprang to his feet. He looked to Shen Yunjiao, awaiting her command, his right hand already gripping his Black Flame Saber. ’At the same tier, a Demon Beast is stronger than a cultivator in most respects,’ he thought. ’Their immense size is their greatest weakness, making them less agile. But regardless, a One Tier Late Period Demon Beast isn’t something the two of us can handle.’

"Retreat!" Shen Yunjiao commanded. The two of them simultaneously activated their Light Body Talismans and shot off into the distance.

The two had long ago discussed how to handle an unbeatable enemy. With a flick of her wrist, Shen Yunjiao tossed a black pouch that exploded in mid-air. Acrid black smoke spread rapidly, while Zhao Zuo and Shen Yunjiao were already retreating according to plan.

More than an hour later, they had shaken off the Cold Moon Horned Rhinoceros and reached another forest, where they resumed their hunt.

Incidents like this had happened several times over the past few days, but they always managed a narrow escape. After all, the four major zones were teeming with prey, so a Demon Beast wouldn’t waste too much time on a particularly troublesome meal.

They didn’t find another target that night, so they agreed to resume the hunt the next day.

For the next few days, Zhao Zuo and Shen Yunjiao continued to return empty-handed. Their luck finally turned at the end of the twelfth month. Their new target was a giant bear with shoulders about four meters wide. Its entire body was covered in black fur as stiff as steel needles, save for a patch of white fur on its chest the size of a pot lid.

Judging by its aura, it was a One Tier Middle Period Demon Beast—well within the range the pair could hunt. Furthermore, it had already taken the bait and was now afflicted by the potent poison hidden inside, its movements growing sluggish and weak.

Zhao Zuo sprinted across the snowy forest floor, circling the battlefield and searching for an opening to strike. A rushing wind enveloped him, boosting his speed and making his body feel lighter.

When the Black and White Giant Bear first appeared, blood still stained the corners of its mouth. Bone fragments were visible between its teeth when it roared. It had clearly already made one successful kill tonight, but its greed had driven it straight into Shen Yunjiao’s trap.

Shen Yunjiao circulated her Mana, expertly dodging the Black and White Giant Bear’s attack. She then unleashed a fire-based Swordsmanship technique. The attack fanned out like a wave of fire before splitting into two distinct arcs that streaked across the Black and White Giant Bear, setting its fur ablaze and successfully drawing its attention.

The Black and White Giant Bear rolled in the snow, dousing the fire with a spray of white powder. With a furious roar, it charged at Shen Yunjiao. A foul stench washed over her as a mouth full of fangs lunged for her pale neck, its brown eyes blazing with murderous insanity.

Shen Yunjiao leaped back gracefully, her red longsword tracing two silver arcs through the air. The Black and White Giant Bear swatted its right paw, shattering one of the silver slashes, but the other managed to slice off half the Bear Demon’s ear before it dissipated.

The Black and White Giant Bear howled in pain, its frenzy intensifying. Just then, Zhao Zuo charged out from behind it. The Sky-Breaking Saber at his waist flashed with cold light as it shot toward the back of the beast’s neck. Sensing the danger, the Black and White Giant Bear twisted its body wildly, barely dodging the surprise attack.

But Zhao Zuo was already in mid-air. Gripping his Black Flame Saber, he brought it down hard on the back of the beast’s neck. This time, the Black and White Bear Demon failed to react, and the blow left a gash so deep that bone was visible. Blood poured from the wound.

This Demon Beast was clearly a tough opponent. Its reflexes were sharp and its hide was thick; despite being struck several times by Zhao Zuo and Shen Yunjiao, it was still full of fight. However, it had also realized it was no match for the pair. Its attacks were no longer as frenzied, and it began to back away, preparing to flee.

Their Sword Moves and flight patterns were perfectly coordinated. Shen Yunjiao and Zhao Zuo relentlessly pursued the Black and White Giant Bear, continuously opening new wounds. The beast roared in agony as their attacks rained down upon it.

Suddenly, the giant bear’s body shuddered. It let out a sorrowful wail, and its movements became even more sluggish.

One had to admit, the Black and White Giant Bear had a robust constitution to still be moving after such grievous injuries. But it was now a spent force. The Demon Beast had abandoned all attempts to attack, focused only on escaping with its life.

Finally, Zhao Zuo found his chance and delivered the finishing blow with his Sky-Breaking Saber.

The two exchanged a look and immediately drew their weapons, beginning to butcher the Black and White Giant Bear. Large chunks of its flesh were quickly stuffed into their Storage Bags. With a wave of a hand, they scattered a white powder to mask the scent of blood.

About ten minutes later, it became clear that the Black and White Giant Bear’s dying wails had attracted the attention of another Demon Beast.

A pair of dark green eyes emerged at the edge of the dense woods. The creature they belonged to was a full fifteen meters long, its body over a meter in diameter at its thickest point. The giant snake’s smooth skin had a dark green sheen, like a suit of incredibly hard armor, and its body looked as solid as a fortress wall.

The truly peculiar feature was on the giant snake’s head. Three blue scales grew between its eyes, which themselves held fiery red pupils. They looked like two scorching fireballs, seemingly containing a terrible, searing Energy.

The contradictory energies of ice and fire coexisted within the great snake’s body. Its eyes were filled with chilling malice.

"Run!" Shen Yunjiao said instantly.

The dark green snake suddenly coiled and sprang. Its massive body shot forward like a bolt of lightning, instantly blocking their path. The burst of speed it had just unleashed far surpassed their own, even with the aid of their Light Body Talismans.

This battle was unavoidable. All that was left was a fight to the death.

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