Chapter 149 - 148: Can Be Sold for Money

"Ah!"

Those crimson flying ants were terrifying. Zhou Qingyu’s Protective True Qi couldn’t block them at all.

In the blink of an eye, a large chunk of flesh and blood was devoured from Zhou Qingyu’s arm.

"Quick, save my cousin!"

The color drained from Li Yunxiu’s beautiful face as her delicate hand sent out a flurry of shimmering white petal-like finger projections.

However, her attack only managed to shoot down a few of the crimson flying ants.

BUZZ! WHOOSH!

Several hundred crimson flying ants transformed into a dense cloud of blood-red specks of light and swarmed toward Li Yunxiu.

"This is bad!"

Li Yunxiu’s face turned pale. She couldn’t possibly block them.

Those crimson flying ants had a natural resistance to True Qi.

"Don’t use True Qi! Use your Martial Vein Power," Luo Tian shouted.

WHOOSH!

He swung his palm, and an icy-blue Cold Mist spread out, causing frost to form on the flying ants and sending them falling to the ground one by one.

"Activate!"

Li Yunxiu activated her Martial Vein Power, and the radiant, ethereal image of a pure white lotus appeared behind her.

POP!

A stream of sacred, white lotus light swept out, knocking the flying ants to the ground.

Under their cover, Zhou Qingyu scrambled away from the blood-red soil in a sorry state, finally managing to repel the crimson flying ants.

But Zhou Qingyu paid the price of half an arm.

"Brother Luo, you know where those flying ants come from? If you hadn’t reminded me, I’m afraid I would have been in trouble."

Li Yunxiu said, her heart still pounding with fear.

"Those are ’Bloodthirsty Flying Ants.’ They’re a species from Ancient Times that strengthen themselves by devouring flesh and blood," Luo Tian replied.

A typical Martial Artist’s True Qi is blended with the qi from their own Essence Blood, so Bloodthirsty Flying Ants have a strong immunity to it.

"You’re vicious! If you knew what these ants were, why didn’t you say so sooner?"

Zhou Qingyu’s face was full of resentment as he ground his teeth.

If Luo Tian had warned him earlier, he wouldn’t have lost half his arm.

He even suspected that Luo Tian had deliberately kept quiet, hoping to use the insects to get rid of him.

"I only just remembered where the ants came from."

Luo Tian only bothered to explain for Li Yunxiu’s sake.

When he saw the flying ants, he had the Celestial Book perform an Inference, but who knew Zhou Qingyu would be so hasty.

"Cousin!"

Li Yunxiu sighed softly and advised, "Brother Luo already warned you that you were facing a calamity and needed to act with caution. If you had listened to him, this wouldn’t have happened."

If Zhou Qingyu had heeded even half of Luo Tian’s warning, he wouldn’t have suffered this senseless disaster.

"I don’t believe in that hocus pocus!"

Zhou Qingyu’s face was filled with hatred, a vicious aura seeping from him.

He hated himself for being careless and hated Luo Tian for deliberately hiding the truth, but he absolutely refused to believe Luo Tian’s talk of a calamity.

Luo Tian glanced at Zhou Qingyu again.

He saw that on the Clear Qi Pillar above Zhou Qingyu’s head, a bloody, baleful qi swirled, entwined with several wisps of withered death qi.

"The death qi on you is solidifying. If you continue to be so stubborn, I’m afraid..."

Luo Tian sighed and said no more.

"Enough with the nonsense! If you’re so capable, then go get the ’Blood Pear Fruit’."

Zhou Qingyu sneered.

The ancient tree where the Blood Pear Fruit grew was covered by a massive swarm of flying ants.

The Bloodthirsty Flying Ants that had just attacked were less than one percent of the total.

Even if the number one expert on the Human List were here in person, they would be helpless to retrieve the Blood Pear Fruit.

"Brother Luo, if there’s no way, don’t force it."

Li Yunxiu said, her eyes filled with concern.

"Killing all these flying ants would indeed be difficult. But if it’s just to get the fruit, it’s actually quite simple."

Luo Tian said with a small smile.

"You really have a way?"

A strange light flashed in Li Yunxiu’s phoenix eyes. She had always trusted Luo Tian.

Zhou Qingyu scoffed, clearly skeptical.

"Come down."

Luo Tian suddenly beckoned with his hand.

WHOOSH! FLAP!

A charred, smoking crow descended from the sky.

"CAW CAW... A few tiny flying ants are no match for this god!"

the crow cawed arrogantly.

Li Yunxiu had seen the crow during the Beast Tide, so she wasn’t surprised.

WHOOSH! FLAP!

As the crow flapped its wings, wisps of black, acrid smoke drifted down onto the blood-red soil.

"COUGH! COUGH!"

Zhou Qingyu caught a whiff and nearly choked and passed out.

The acrid smoke smelled horrible, like feet that hadn’t been washed in three years.

Li Yunxiu felt nauseous, covering her face with her hand and holding her breath.

Just then, a bizarre scene unfolded.

In the area of blood-red soil covered by the black smoke, the flying ants began to struggle and writhe in agony.

Soon, the flying ants in the smoke-covered area grew dizzy and lost their ability to fight.

Of course, with the crow’s power, the black smoke could only cover an area of about one square meter.

"Not bad."

Luo Tian calmly stepped into the area covered by the black smoke.

The acrid smoke, which was unbearable to others, had no effect on Luo Tian whatsoever.

The scent of blood and qi on Luo Tian’s body attracted the attacks of the surrounding flying ants.

But as soon as the ants got close to the black smoke, they choked, fainted, and fell to the ground.

Even when a few elite ants managed to get close, the deep blue Cold Mist emanating from Luo Tian’s body froze them solid and made them drop.

Within a few breaths, Luo Tian reached the ancient tree and plucked all four Blood Pear Fruits.

"He actually succeeded!"

Zhou Qingyu stared blankly, unable to believe it, a ball of rage simmering within him.

Li Yunxiu’s gaze was soft, her eyes shimmering with a beautiful light.

Just as Luo Tian was returning, having easily retrieved the fruit,

"There are four Blood Pear Fruits. I want half!"

Zhou Qingyu suddenly spoke up, his expression demanding.

"Cousin! Brother Luo was the one who got the Blood Pear Fruits."

Li Yunxiu snapped, displeased.

"I paid the price of half an arm! What’s wrong with me taking half the Blood Pear Fruits?"

Zhou Qingyu roared, a savage and greedy look on his face.

He knew his chances of pursuing Li Yunxiu were now hopeless, so he decided to drop all pretenses.

Luo Tian frowned slightly and was about to speak.

Suddenly, his Creation Technique flared, and a chill shot straight up his spine.

"Watch out!"

Luo Tian yelled.

The moment the words left his mouth, WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! A soul-shaking, ear-piercing whistle tore through the air, enveloping the three of them in a powerful, sinister pressure.

PFFT!

Zhou Qingyu’s body went stiff. A ghastly white Bone Arrow had pierced through his back, and blood gushed out.

"I..."

Zhou Qingyu’s face was filled with fear and struggle, a trace of regret showing in his pupils.

PFFT!

Another ghastly white Bone Arrow struck Li Yunxiu.

But Li Yunxiu had been on guard after Luo Tian’s warning and had dodged subconsciously.

That Bone Arrow only pierced her delicate shoulder.

CLANG! CRACK!

A thick, glistening yellow light appeared in Luo Tian’s palm, and he directly slapped the Bone Arrow aimed at him, breaking it in two.

After consuming the Dragon Scale Grass, his strength was immense.

Combined with the defense-oriented Guiyuan True Skill, he shattered the attack with his bare palm.

"Why..."

As his life faded away, Zhou Qingyu saw this and, amidst his despair, felt a surge of intense remorse.

’So this was the calamity, the fatal disaster.’

Luo Tian and Li Yunxiu had both averted their fatal destinies.

Only he was beyond saving.

Suddenly, Zhou Qingyu remembered Luo Tian’s warnings.

If he had listened and remained cautious, he wouldn’t have had his arm maimed by the flying ants, nor would he have become so frantic, losing his composure and his guard.

It was this series of mistakes that had led him to a point of no return.

THUD.

Zhou Qingyu fell to the ground, dead. A tear of blood trickled from the corner of his eye, his face a mask of regret.

"Cousin..."

Li Yunxiu clutched the Bone Arrow in her wound, her face a mixture of grief and indignation.

"Not bad! To be able to react so quickly and block my ’Bone Arrow’."

A hoarse, mocking voice drifted over.

A hundred meters away,

stood a gaunt man in a black cloak, holding a Bone Bow and Arrow, his gaze sharp and cold.

"Who are you!"

Li Yunxiu’s delicate body trembled. A numbing sensation spread through her from the Bone Arrow piercing her shoulder.

The Bone Arrow contained some kind of sinister, venomous power.

SLAP!

Luo Tian slapped his palm, and a deep blue Cold Mist flickered, freezing a layer of frost over Li Yunxiu’s wound.

After stabilizing Li Yunxiu’s injury,

"’Li Cui,’ third on the last Human List of the Qiu Yue Kingdom. His famous Ultimate Skill is the ’Bone Life-taking Arrow’."

Luo Tian stated calmly.

"Oh? You actually know my name."

The gaunt man, Li Cui, grunted in surprise.

The youth before him gave him an inscrutable feeling.

His astonishing reaction, formidable strength, and calm response to the sneak attack—

all of it was far beyond what an ordinary person could achieve.

Otherwise, Li Cui’s three Bone Arrows could have killed three Spirit Sea Realm experts.

"If you want to fight, I’ll oblige. If not, then scram."

Luo Tian’s tone was hostile.

After speaking, he swept Li Yunxiu up by the waist with one arm and started walking toward a part of the garden.

"Brother Luo! Don’t worry about me..."

Li Yunxiu’s slender body was held in his arms, her cheeks flushed red, her eyes filled with worry.

That gaunt man’s strength was terrifying. If Luo Tian were alone, he would have a chance of survival.

With her, he would be dragged down, and they would both die.

"Don’t worry! He can’t do anything to me."

Luo Tian gave a faint smile and reached out to smooth the dark hair on the young woman’s forehead.

Li Yunxiu’s heart trembled. She felt a strange sense of security and peace, as if no matter how many enemies came, they couldn’t harm her in the slightest.

’Courting death!’

A cold glint flashed in the gaunt man’s eyes.

Right now, Luo Tian was not only holding a woman, flirting with her, but also had his back turned to him in a blatant display of disregard.

How dare he be so arrogant in front of Li Cui of the "Bone Life-taking Arrow"!

This was a grave insult!

TWANG! WHOOSH—

The gaunt man drew his Bone Bow, and a sharp, piercing sound cut through the air.

A ghastly white Bone Arrow shot like lightning toward Luo Tian’s back.

The speed and power of this arrow could have heavily injured or even killed a Spirit Sea Realm First Layer expert head-on.

However, Luo Tian didn’t even turn his head. He tilted his body slightly, and a thick, glistening yellow light appeared in his palm.

SHIIING! THWACK!

The ghastly white Bone Arrow scraped against Luo Tian’s palm, sending sparks flying with a piercing screech.

’What...’

The gaunt man’s pupils shrank, and a trace of horror rose in his heart.

’He caught my Bone Arrow with his bare hand.’

’Setting aside the reaction speed required for that,’

’just the strength and durability of his physical body are inhuman.’

"Thanks."

Luo Tian said with a casual smile.

SWISH!

The Bone Arrow in his hand vanished, stored away in his Space Ring.

This scene made the corner of the gaunt man’s mouth twitch.

His Bone Arrows were crafted from the bones of some Two-star Demon Bird, refined with various Treasure Materials, and were quite valuable.

Who would have thought Luo Tian would not only catch the Bone Arrow but also pocket it.

’He’s so cheap!’

The beauty in Luo Tian’s arms, after a moment of terror, now had a bright, flowing light in her gorgeous eyes, filled with pleasant surprise.

"Be careful!"

Li Yunxiu’s face was bright red as she whispered the reminder, her full, jade-like body pressed against Luo Tian’s chest.

"It’s fine. At most, I’ll just collect a couple more arrows. I can even sell them."

Luo Tian wasn’t bothered.

He practiced the Creation Technique and had a powerful Spiritual Sense, so he wasn’t afraid of this kind of long-range attack at all.

Besides, after taking the Dragon Scale Grass, Luo Tian’s physical strength was immense, and his Guiyuan True Skill excelled at defense.

’Once I’ve treated the Commandery Princess’s injury, I’ll deal with this guy.’

Luo Tian had a plan.

Seeing Luo Tian walk away with the woman in his arms, ignoring him,

the gaunt man felt a fire of frustration building inside.

He drew his Bone Bow again and aimed at Luo Tian, but ultimately, he didn’t shoot.

He had no desire to keep giving Luo Tian free arrows.

"Hmph! He’s strong, and very strange."

"But you’re burdened by an injured woman. I’ll find an opening eventually and land a fatal blow."

The gaunt man put away his Ancient Bow, his expression turning as cold as a hunter tracking his prey.

As a top-tier shooter, he had to have sufficient patience and composure.

He had once, at the Ninth Layer of Meridian Opening, spent a whole month to wear down and kill a Spirit Sea Realm expert.

Now, his battle lust was stirred!

He decided to engage in a battle, a game of endurance, wits, and patience.