Chapter 182 - 171: Stone Thorn Flower

Chapter 182: Chapter 171: Stone Thorn Flower

The stone thorns ahead were soul beasts, and they could be killed.

This was good news for the whole team. After all, having some sort of lead was better than being completely in the dark.

"But these things are really tough! If you don’t use your full strength, your weapons won’t even make a dent!"

Although Bai Shasha had said the Stone Thorn Flowers could be killed, she quickly added a warning.

"But there are so many... Never mind whether they’ll fight back or not, just look at these numbers..."

Hearing the flat-chested loli’s words, Jiang Hongtao immediately frowned. His expression darkened as he gazed at the densely packed stone thorns, not daring to think about what it would take to get through.

They had already scouted the area on their way here. This was the only path forward; there was no way to go around.

"If we don’t figure out a way to clear these things, it’ll probably take us three days just to open a narrow path. Unless we fly over, but... Huh?"

As Jiang Hongtao spoke, he trailed off mid-analysis. He had suddenly thought of something. His gaze shifted to Li Heng’s Ice Simurgh Bird, then back to Li Heng himself.

Li Heng knew what Jiang Hongtao was thinking.

He just wanted them to ride the Ice Simurgh Bird and fly over, but Li Heng had already dismissed that idea from the start.

First, as long as he himself couldn’t fly, he would never ride the Ice Simurgh Bird in what he considered a "real" situation. He refused to accept the possibility of dying by falling from his mount.

Second, the Ice Simurgh Bird could carry him alone, but it definitely couldn’t fly with this many people. Ferrying them across one by one couldn’t guarantee their safety either.

Third, ’a single Stone Thorn Flower is worth 60 soul energy points. This place is packed to the brim with them; you can’t even see the end. To just fly away without harvesting them would be a colossal waste, wouldn’t it?’

"It won’t carry anyone but me. But these things... since they’re soul beasts, it just means we’ll have to use a little force!"

After speaking, Li Heng drew his Empty Cicada Longsword and hacked at a Stone Thorn Flower in front of him. At the same time, he commanded his Ice Simurgh Bird to use its Frost Wind and Drifting Snow Soul Energy Skills on a different area.

Soul Energy Points +30. (Gains from soul pet kills are halved.)

Soul Energy Points +30.

Soul Energy Points +60.

...

Hearing the ceaseless notifications of his soul energy points increasing, Li Heng swung his Longsword even faster.

"This... The boss is a bit more of a brute than I expected, huh? No... our whole team seems to be a bit reckless..."

Jiang Hongtao couldn’t help but mutter this sentiment as he watched Li Heng charge in without a second thought, even sending his soul pet into the fray to relentlessly attack the "stone thorns."

But before he could finish his thought, two more women joined the fray, hacking away at the Stone Thorn Flowers.

But musing was one thing. Jiang Hongtao still drew his bow and joined the fight.

Under the assault of the four humans and one bird, the Stone Thorn Flowers continuously went limp and collapsed, their sharp tips vanishing as they did.

"Be careful, they fight back!"

The Ice Simurgh Bird was safe in the sky, but down on the ground, Li Heng suddenly felt a powerful gust of wind rush at him and instinctively dodged.

He turned to see that the attacker was a full, three-meter-long Stone Thorn Flower!

And it was aiming with its sharpest point!

The other three heard Li Heng’s warning loud and clear. They grew more cautious as they continued to cut down the Stone Thorn Flowers.

Of course, the Stone Thorn Flower’s speed wasn’t particularly fast to Li Heng, but the sight of a three-meter-long thorn rushing toward you was certainly unnerving.

Plus, the other three were only Soul Disciples, so the rhythm and speed of their attacks slowed.

It was impossible to tell how many Stone Thorn Flowers there were, but after a solid hour of hacking with all their might, Bai Shasha and the other two had to stop.

After an hour of giving it their all, their weapon hands were numb and aching. If they kept going, they’d risk complete exhaustion.

Once exhausted, they wouldn’t be able to continue exploring, which would undoubtedly hold the entire team back. Thus, the three of them chose to stop and rest.

’He’s a real beast! I knew a Soul Warrior’s stamina was insane, but this is just over the top. Does killing soul beasts actually make Li Heng happy?’

Jiang Hongtao’s mind raced as he watched Li Heng in the distance, still hacking away at the Stone Thorn Flowers. The sight of someone smiling while relentlessly slaughtering soul beasts... he found it a little unsettling.

Bao Yaoyao, however, felt a profound sense of security as she watched his swordplay never slow, even as he dodged incoming attacks.

Bai Shasha, meanwhile, was filled with self-reproach. ’I promised I wouldn’t hold them back.’

Watching Li Heng’s tireless figure, the flat-chested loli could only think, ’Someone more talented than me is working even harder than I am! My own efforts... are still not enough!’

Li Heng was oblivious to his three teammates’ thoughts. In any case, he was quite happy "grinding."

’Although 30 or 60 soul energy points per kill wasn’t a lot, the sheer quantity of them was overwhelming!’

’In just this short time, I’ve already gained no less than 8,000 soul energy points. The vast majority of these Stone Thorn Flowers are immobile and don’t fight back; I can take them out with a single sword strike. After all, with the buffs from my equipment, I have plenty of power.’

’And my Ice Simurgh Bird’s Soul Energy Skills are even more devastating—a single blast can instantly freeze and shatter a huge swathe of them!’

Between Li Heng and his Ice Simurgh Bird’s attacks, a "flat" road was forcibly carved through the dense field of Stone Thorn Flowers.

Actually, it was more than just a path. Li Heng hadn’t let a single one he saw get away; you could say he’d just steamrolled everything in his way!

Two hours passed before Li Heng finally recalled his Ice Simurgh Bird to rest.

"Li Heng, come rest for a bit! Eat something and get your strength back."

The three of them slowly approached Li Heng as he recalled his Ice Simurgh Bird, weapons gripped tightly as they watched their surroundings.

Once they confirmed it was safe, Bao Yaoyao took out a delicate pastry and offered it to Li Heng. He accepted it and thanked her.

"Boss! I honestly thought it would take us a day or two to clear these stone thorns, but you’re an absolute beast! At this rate... No, no, your health is more important. You need to rest. Even a Soul Warrior can’t keep going like this."

Gazing at the vast swathes of fallen stone thorns, Jiang Hongtao was filled with genuine admiration. He knew how difficult this was, yet the sheer number and speed of the kills... It was simply terrifying.

Although brute-forcing their way through was a rather crude, even "stupid," method, Li Heng had somehow turned it into a "highly efficient" one!

Still, deep down, Jiang Hongtao felt that Li Heng was pushing himself way too hard. The stamina drain had to be immense.

"It won’t take a day or two. Just give me a few more hours! The Ice Simurgh Bird is tired, so I’m letting it rest. I feel fine. You guys just stand guard. I’ll take care of these things."

However, just when Jiang Hongtao was sure Li Heng’s stamina was failing and that he desperately needed a break, Li Heng polished off the pastry in a few bites and, to Jiang Hongtao’s utter astonishment, charged once more into the horde of "stone thorns."