Each time we plunged into the abyss, it was for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, with rest intervals exceeding 20 minutes.
Clearly, such prolonged breath-holding sprints placed a significant burden on Bloerâs body.
In the next two attempts, Bloer managed to collect only five fingernail-sized pieces of black meteorite gold.
At this point, Mu Fan realized that gathering was not as simple as it seemed, and the first time was merely luck.
"Alright, Bloer, take off the ropes. Our harvest is enough for today."
This time, Bloer did not argue, and after landing, he lay down on the bare ground, panting heavily and nodding with difficulty.
His stamina had also reached its limits.
"Rest well, when we return, the tribe will send your family six monthsâ worth of rations."
Alva patted Bloer on the shoulder, and upon hearing this, Bloerâs face lit up instantly with joy. He was so excited that he wanted to express that it was too much, but Alva firmly pressed him back.
"Itâs not much; itâs what you earned with your life. The warriors of the White Armor Tribe remember your contribution."
Alvaâs smile grew to its fullest, and he nodded vigorously, unable to speak from excitement.
Normally, collecting once only earned a monthâs rations, but this time the White Armor Tribe gave his family a full six monthsâ worth of supplies.
This meant that for the next six months, his family could live without worries about food and clothing.
In this grassland, to survive is the ultimate pursuit.
"Brother Mu, I never thought our harvest would be so great this time." Alva spoke with excitement, the fist-sized piece of meteorite gold was enough to forge two weapons like his war axe.
Todayâs harvest was indeed a miracle.
"After a short rest, Iâll take you to the next locationâ[Burial Ground]."
"Only the Beast Kingâs bones there can merge with this meteorite gold."
After Bloer finished drinking the last bit of raspberry flower juice from the wooden jar, another ten minutes passed before he finally recovered his strength.
The meteorite gold had long been collected by Alva into a rather antiquated wooden box.
The group gathered their gear and prepared to head to the next target point.
Alva jumped onto a large bare stone and looked out into the distance, his loud voice reverberating, "No signs of a sandstorm, letâs move quickly."
The group exchanged glances and nodded lightly, resuming their journey.
But as they leaped down from a fault, during the landing process, Mu Fan suddenly noticed a piece of rock on the side moving eerily.
Then, a pair of scarlet eyes and chilling fangs emerged from beneath the lifted "rock"!
Mu Fan clearly saw saliva dripping from those fangs.
It was evidently disguised as a rock, resembling a giant land turtle.
And under the light of their torches, it hadnât revealed itself.
This was clearly a sinister fierce beast!
"Hiss!"
A soft sound rang out, sounding particularly jarring in the barren land.
In front, Alva, Bloer, and the others froze in their tracks and suddenly looked back.
At this moment, Mu Fan moved with the speed of lightning!
The emerald-green sheen on his left handâs Curved Light Scythe Blade flashed by.
Thud!
A staff directly nailed into the rock from above.
The fierce beast, resembling a land turtle, had only opened its mouth when it was fatally struck.
"Thereâs a fierce beast here."
Mu Fan responded as everyone turned their eyes towards him.
As the others shone their torches over, Bloer at the forefront had his pupils contract to pinpoints.
"Itâs a female stone beast in heat, its real head is behind! Donât let her call..."
Squeak! ---------
A piercing, grating sound abruptly emerged from the rear of that land turtle-like body.
The fierce beast with its "head" nailed stood up in pain, and another head emerged from what seemed like its coiled tail end.
Boom!
An ax with immense force descended from the side.
Thud!
The sharp screech stopped abruptly.
Alvaâs ax had chopped off the true head along with the rocky-hard shell!
A fountain of dark-brown blood gushed from the wound.
"A female stone beast in heat has been killed... it will provoke the entire stone beast speciesâ frenzy..."
Bloer stared dumbfounded at the bloody scene and muttered.
The female stone beast had already called out...
In that instant, an indescribable eerie rustling sound suddenly emanated from afar, coming closer with the sound waves...
Everyone sharply turned to look.
A horrifying scene appeared.
Unexpectedly, a tide of dense black shadows had emerged from the previously bare ground in the distance.
Pairs of scarlet vertical pupils lit up on the desolate night prairie.
Even Mu Fan felt his throat go dry.
Were there tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of these stone beasts?
All because he casually slew that one fierce beast?
"What are you standing there for, run!"
If not seen with oneâs own eyes, it would be hard to believe such words came from someone as god-like as Alva.
Alva rushed forward, pulling Mu Fanâs shoulder, and sprinted ahead.
At that moment, the group that had been leisurely moving suddenly began to sprint wildly as if injected with adrenaline.
Even Mu Fan didnât want to be engulfed by this endless tide of beasts.
How could this desolate rocky area hide so many fierce beasts?
And, just for casually dispatching one Star Beast, why did it turn out like this!?
"Whatâs going on..."
Mu Fan shouted towards the front while running, as tough as he was, he didnât wish to pit himself against so many stone beasts.
"Itâs the mating season for the female stone beasts. Once theyâre attacked, theyâll scream, and the male stone beasts already in agitation will go berserk upon hearing it because, in their minds, itâs an act threatening the entire speciesâ reproduction."
Alva explained while taking long strides as he ran.
"No problem, fortunately, they donât run fast. These stone beasts have a volatile nature, and their shells are particularly tough, but we can outrun them."
Mu Fanâs reaction speed was exceedingly fast, leaving no time for warning.
In all his years of hunting, this was honestly the first time he had been chased by a swarm of stone beasts.
This disastrous experience would be unforgettable for a lifetime!
Seeing Alvaâs complex and even resentful gaze, Mu Fan felt a wave of guilt.
It seemed he had gotten them into trouble.
Yet instead, they had to turn around and comfort him.
This truly made Mu Fan feel ashamed.
The tsunami-like crashing came from behind, as the frenzied stone beasts pursued relentlessly, either jumping down the faults or using their bodies to form ladders.
"Hahaha, Alva, this is my first time being chased by a stone beast horde. These foolish creatures, theyâre really dumb and straightforward."
Suddenly, laughter echoed over the heads of the running group.
As they ran, the air began to carry a chill.
The ground no longer consisted solely of barren black stones.
On the rocked-strewn ground, sparse large footprints started to appear.
"Ahead lies the Burial Ground."