After trekking through hundreds of miles of scorching sandstorms and spending another three days and nights, Wu Tao, drenched in sweat, finally arrived at the center of the Crimson Sand Sea, panting for breath.
The Crimson Sand Sea spanned over eight thousand miles from east to west and north to south. Due to the constant sandstorms, cultivators were unable to fly with their spiritual artifacts and had to travel on foot. Even their divine sense, usually their most relied-upon sense in the outside world, was severely restricted here.
It could be said that the environment was extremely unfavorable to human cultivators. Yet, a considerable number of human cultivators braved the dangers to reach the Crimson Sand Sea from afar.
The primary reason for this was the immense rewards, making the risk worthwhile.
The Crimson Sand Sea was one of the few spiritual and treasure lands within the vast continent of Qingzhou, millions of miles in area, that did not belong to the influence of major sects or immortal cultivating families.
The Crimson Sand Sea harbored many precious spiritual herbs, medicines, treasures, and materials that were unavailable elsewhere, making it a frequent destination for fearless rogue cultivators.
Furthermore, several unique demonic beasts resided within the Crimson Sand Sea, each possessing significant value.
...
"Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent!"
Scanning his surroundings, Wu Tao's gaze landed on a poisonous serpent demonic beast about ten meters away. Its body was covered in crimson scales, but its head was adorned with silver-white scales.
"Each of these snakes is worth thirty to forty spirit stones and only lives in the Crimson Sand Sea. With a bit of caution, they are relatively easy to deal with. Their venom can be refined into 'Crimson-capped Silver Venom Sand'."
Wu Tao's primary objective for this trip was to hunt these serpents to acquire a large amount of spirit stones.
Without hesitation, Wu Tao extended his hand, and the Golden Python Bow immediately appeared in his grasp.
However, before Wu Tao could launch an attack, the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent's body suddenly rose, its fangs splitting open, its cold, blood-red pupils focusing into a beam, locking onto him.
*Swish!*
Immediately after, the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent leaped forward, its massive body, over three meters long, lunging at Wu Tao with potent corrosive venom. It opened its mouth, filled with densely packed fangs.
Wu Tao remained calm. He drew the bowstring, and golden arrows were shot out with lightning speed, striking the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent's body.
*Clang!*
With thousands of pounds of force coupled with pure spiritual energy, the golden arrows only managed to send the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent flying back dozens of meters, leaving it even lightly injured.
"Die!"
His attack unsuccessful, Wu Tao immediately retracted the Golden Python Bow into his storage bag. His clothes billowed in the wind as he let out a thunderous roar, stomping forward with great force, and delivered a punch directly to the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent's vital spot.
*Hiss!*
This punch was not only immensely powerful but, amplified by "Armor Piercing Dragon Cone," it contained an indestructible sharpness. It pierced straight through the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent's body, staining the desert with blood.
Following this, Wu Tao directly tossed the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent's corpse into his storage bag.
Then, Wu Tao's figure flickered, and he immediately pressed on into the deeper parts of the Crimson Sand Sea without pausing.
Not long after he had traveled, danger struck again.
From the sky, dozens of featherless, flying demonic bird-monsters suddenly swooped down.
The strange birds circled in the air, emitting hissing cries, then dived down in unison, attacking Wu Tao from all directions.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!*
Seeing this, Wu Tao drew his bowstring dozens of times in rapid succession. The strange birds were pierced by one golden arrow after another, their heads bleeding, their wings broken, falling into the desert like rain.
The scent of blood seeping into the desert attracted numerous deep abyss worms. The corpses of the featherless bird-monsters were almost instantly swarmed, torn apart, and devoured by the terrifying deep abyss worms, leaving nothing behind.
...
Along his journey, Wu Tao had been attacked by countless demonic beasts. Just before this, a purple scorpion had sprayed him with venom. This venom was not only extremely potent but also carried a hint of a "strange aroma."
If Wu Tao hadn't sensed it with his divine sense beforehand, avoided it, and held his breath instantly, he would have been affected in the next moment.
Finally, this purple scorpion had its head blown apart by Wu Tao's punch.
...
"Hmm, it seems someone is approaching."
After meditating for a while in the desert to replenish some spiritual energy, Wu Tao's expression suddenly shifted slightly. His body, which was preparing to leave, froze.
After a few breaths, five individuals dressed as sand bandits appeared around him, surrounding him from all directions.
These five men stared at him menacingly, their faces filled with undisguised greed, clearly harboring ill intentions.
"Kid, throw over your storage bag."
"Don't try any tricks. Just surrender obediently."
"If you commit suicide now, we'll leave you with a complete corpse."
The five men slowly approached, intending to encircle and kill Wu Tao in a flash, and seize the wealth within his storage bag.
Wu Tao sneered. All five of them were at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Condensation, and judging by their aura, none of them were true experts.
These five fools dared to boast so loudly; they were courting death!
"If you gentlemen desire my storage bag, you'll have to pay with your lives first."
As Wu Tao spoke, his killing intent surged, and his indestructible sharpness radiated outwards domineeringly.
"Courting death!"
"Kid, die!"
"We'll chop off your head."
One of the rogue cultivators closest to Wu Tao attacked, raising a mid-grade spiritual artifact, the Green Fern Sword. The several-foot-long sword pressed down menacingly.
Wu Tao shifted his feet, turned, and immediately unleashed a punch. The "Armor Piercing Dragon Cone" glowed golden.
*Boom!*
The golden fist cleanly shattered the mid-grade spiritual artifact, the Green Fern Sword, into pieces. Then, the next punch pierced through his neck, crushing his cervical vertebrae.
*Crack!*
His head flew off, exploding into a mist of blood in mid-air.
"Not good, this one is troublesome. Brothers, attack together quickly!"
The remaining four were greatly shocked and shouted in unison.
"Hmph, a bunch of clueless trash!"
Executing a swift counterattack, Wu Tao moved and weaved, his massive fists striking out continuously, a flurry of punches like a sudden volcanic eruption, harboring endless killing intent.
In terms of actual combat experience, Wu Tao was no less seasoned than those ruthless rogue cultivators who thrived on conflict.
Another rogue cultivator who attacked from behind, before even getting close, took a punch from Wu Tao, leaving a deep, indented bloody fist mark on his body.
Finally, this rogue cultivator was torn in half by Wu Tao, his upper and lower body ripped apart...
With a cold laugh, Wu Tao swept his right leg out, unleashing terrifying power that slammed heavily into another rogue cultivator's waist.
*Bang!* With a loud sound, this rogue cultivator's body was sent flying hundreds of meters like a kite with a broken string, crashing into the desert. Blood flowed profusely, and he fell to the ground, unmoving, becoming a cold corpse.
"Scatter and run! This one is too powerful." Seeing the tragic fate of their three companions, the remaining two finally realized that Wu Tao was not someone they could afford to provoke.
If they couldn't gain any profit, they might even lose their lives. If they didn't run, what were they waiting for? Death?
...
However, it was a little too late to run now.
One of them was slower and was instantly pierced through the chest by Wu Tao's straight jab punch, his heart exploding. He fell to the ground, dead.
The last of the five, who had already run hundreds of meters away, had no time to rejoice in his escape when he suddenly felt a heat on his forehead. He looked up in despair as a golden arrow pierced through his forehead.
After collecting the storage bags of the five, Wu Tao immediately departed.
Within the sand sea, strong winds howled, and sand churned. The bodies of the five were instantly buried, and in a blink of an eye, it was as if nothing had happened.
...
*Creak!*
As Wu Tao ventured deeper into the sand sea in search of the Crimson-capped Silverback Serpent, he suddenly sensed two strange gazes from the darkness fixed upon him, their green light resembling malevolent ghosts.
Wu Tao's brow furrowed. These two green lights gave him an extremely evil feeling, filled with malice and ferocity.
...
A colossal monstrous beast, its entire body covered in pale red scales, bore a resemblance to a lizard but was several times larger. Its back was higher than a lizard's, and its body was studded with enormous bony plates. It looked more like a colossal serpent-like monster that appeared before Wu Tao.
"Break!"
Wu Tao reacted swiftly, leaping into the air and repeatedly drawing the bowstring of the Golden Python Bow. Several golden arrows shot through the air with a cold glint.
*Clang!*
Sparks flew. These sharp golden arrows were unable to penetrate the dense pale red scales.
"It's a Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard!" Wu Tao frowned.
The Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard was one of the unique demonic beasts of the Crimson Sand Sea. Its scales were incredibly tough, impervious to blades and spears, and it possessed potent venom, making it a formidable opponent.
...
In the next second, the Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard let out a ghastly howl and lunged at Wu Tao with lightning speed.
The Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard retracted and extended its forelimbs, then its hindlimbs sprang, its burst of speed astonishing. In an instant, it reached Wu Tao.
Seeing this, Wu Tao did not hold back. The shadows of his fists and kicks flew consecutively, his sharp fist force striking towards the Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard's most vulnerable eyes from the left and right.
This Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard was quite capable. It still managed to react within a very short period, tilting its massive head back slightly, avoiding the left fist strike. As for the other fist strike, it missed the eyes due to the target's movement and instead hit its cheek.
A few more sparks flew. The Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard's cheek bore several shallow gashes from the impact.
"Damn it, such strong defense. Even a fist enhanced by 'Armor Piercing Dragon Cone' couldn't inflict heavy damage?" Wu Tao had clearly seen a faint red light flash when his fist hit the Fire Hunter Poisonous Lizard's cheek, neutralizing most of the force.
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