Chapter 87: Trying It Out |
Moving to this valley area not only expanded their hunting range but also completely changed the hunting environment compared to before.
Upon entering Redwood Ridge, Xia Hong didn't rashly start looking for prey. Instead, he had Luo Yuan lead the group to familiarize themselves with the five-hundred-meter perimeter first.
While getting acquainted with the surroundings, the distribution of Frost Beasts within the five-hundred-meter outer area was quickly mapped out by everyone.
"There are seven total, with three of them less than fifty meters apart from each other—we'll leave those for now. The other four are two Snow Manes, one Frost Wolf, and one Golden-Eyed Demon Goat, each more than a hundred meters apart from the others. We can consider targeting one of them."
After compiling all the information reported by the group, Xia Hong sketched a rough diagram in the snow. Looking down at the animal trap at his feet, his expression shifted slightly as he aimed the branch in his hand toward the southwest.
"That Snow Mane is the farthest away—let's go for it first!"
Previously, when using torches to attract Frost Beasts into fighting each other, Xia Hong had to choose targets right in the middle of multiple beasts. But times had changed—their hunting methods had evolved, and so naturally their target selection strategy needed to change as well.
The group walked southwest for a while and soon spotted an unusually thick Golden Frost Tree. When they were still about thirty meters away, Xia Hong halted everyone and then signaled to Xia Chuan.
Xia Chuan nodded, pulled out a Goat Horn Chisel from his back, found an open patch of ground, cleared away all the snow covering it, revealing dark soil crusted with a layer of ice crystals.
Thump...
A tremendous rebound force shot up from the ground through the chisel. Xia Chuan's arm was thrown backward in a full circle, and his whole body was flung back three or four meters. If Xia Hong hadn't caught him with quick reflexes, he would have stumbled and fallen.
"Don't test it recklessly. The ground's hardness is too strong—you can't break through it without Digging Realm strength. Let me do it!"
Xia Hong shook his head, took the Goat Horn Chisel, gripped it with both hands, held his breath, and slammed it down on the ground with focused power.
Crack...
The crisp sound of shattering ice crystals echoed as the chisel successfully penetrated the soil. The others, seeing the ground broken open, immediately showed looks of envy on their faces.
It might seem like just digging open the ground, but what it represented was Digging Realm strength.
The key point was that Xia Hong was still so young.
Although Luo Yuan also had over eight thousand jin of basic strength, he was already in his thirties. Not just him—the three Zhao brothers, Li and Ying, including Zou Yuankai, were all basically over twenty-five years old.
Compared to Great Xia's Lumberjack Realm members, their ages were on the older side. So it wasn't just when looking at Xia Hong—sometimes when they saw Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, and others, they felt a certain degree of envy.
After all, youth represented potential.
Xia Hong naturally wasn't aware of Luo Yuan and the others' thoughts, focusing entirely on digging the pit. After an hour, a trap pit one meter in diameter and half a meter deep suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes.
A tremendous rebound force shot up from the ground through the chisel. Xia Chuan's arm was thrown backward in a full circle, and his whole body was flung back three or four meters. If Xia Hong hadn't caught him with quick reflexes, he would have stumbled and fallen.
Once all preparations were complete, Xia Hong took out a torch, looked at everyone, and ordered: "Chuan, Luo Yuan, Zhao brothers—you five will join me in the main attack. The other seven all hide in the trees and find opportunities to shoot its weak points with bows."
Xia Chuan, Qiu Peng, and Xu Ning all nodded at the command. Qiu and Xu immediately went to find trees to hide in.
Although the nine people including Luo Yuan felt doubtful, they still followed Xia Hong's instructions and found their respective positions.
Seeing that everyone was ready, Xia Hong glanced back at the Golden Frost Tree about thirty meters away where the Snow Mane was still sound asleep, suddenly struck the torch to ignite it, then carefully inserted it into the disguised snow pit.
After planting the torch, Xia Hong quickly ran away and hid with Luo Yuan and the other five in a large tree to the left of the trap pit, then quietly watched the Golden Frost Tree in the distance.
Lighting a fire to attract Frost Beasts?
Luo Yuan didn't yet know the wonderful use of the small torch, thinking Xia Hong was simply lighting a fire to attract Frost Beasts. A flash of disappointment immediately appeared in his eyes.
Although Frost Beasts chase light and heat, it depends on the situation. At night they're extremely sleepy and hard to wake unless attacked. Not to mention such a small torch—even a big fire might not necessarily...
Thump...
The thought in Luo Yuan's mind was interrupted by a loud noise.
He looked up at the Golden Frost Tree and immediately froze in shock.
He never expected the rebuttal to come so quickly.
The torch had been burning for less than five minutes when the adult Snow Mane that had been sleeping soundly on the Golden Frost Tree actually woke up.
Not only did it wake up, but it was really walking toward the torch.
This... how was this possible...
Not just Luo Yuan—the three Zhao brothers and the other five all widened their eyes, watching the approaching Snow Mane with faces full of disbelief and incomprehension.
The Snow Mane was a full four meters long, with two tall tusks raised high, thick and powerful limbs. Each step pierced through the snow straight to the ground, clearly an adult form.
Although it was approaching, its small eyes kept darting around inspecting the surroundings. Despite being clearly vigilant, whenever its gaze shifted to the torch, those eyes revealed an extreme craving and fascination.
The torch seemed to hold some tremendous attraction for it.
Xia Hong naturally wasn't aware of Luo Yuan and the others' thoughts, focusing entirely on digging the pit. After an hour, a trap pit one meter in diameter and half a meter deep appeared prominently before everyone's eyes.
The Snow Mane had already reached within three meters of the torch.
Just one more step forward...
Snap!
The Snow Mane's right front limb stepped on the trap pit location. The clear sound of the underground animal trap snapping shut and violently colliding with bone suddenly rang out.
Immediately following was the Snow Mane's angry roar of pain from being hurt.
Rooooar...
"Attack!"
At Xia Hong's command, he charged out first with Luo Yuan and the other five close behind, surrounding the Snow Mane from different directions.
Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh...
At the same time, from nearby trees came the sounds of arrows cutting through the air at high speed.
The Snow Mane's right front limb had its bones injured by the animal trap, greatly reducing its mobility. Facing these rapidly approaching arrows, even if it sensed danger, it couldn't effectively avoid them.
The first two arrows pierced straight into the Snow Mane's two eyes, left and right;
Among the following dozen or so arrows, two more hit the Snow Mane's ear canal and mouth cavity;
Although the others didn't hit fatal spots, they mostly struck vulnerable areas like the Snow Mane's neck and face.
Rooooar...
With the arrow attack plus the five blade lights charging from all directions, the Snow Mane clearly already smelled death. After its angry roar, it actually pulled the animal trap out from the ground, then suddenly leaped, actually planning to turn and escape.
Unfortunately, the trap on its foot was tied with a rope, and the other end of the rope was tied to a tree with a dead knot. The Snow Mane's leap not only failed to successfully escape but instead, due to the rope's pulling force, made it stumble and almost fall to the ground.
The Snow Mane quickly righted itself, this time prepared, and with one pull broke the rope.
Unfortunately, Xia Hong with Luo Yuan and the other five had already arrived.
The Jinghan Blade flashed with silvery light, not inferior to the snow's reflection. Xia Hong raised it high over his head, gathered all his energy, looked at the Snow Mane's neck with icy cold eyes, and swung down with all his might.
At the same time, Luo Yuan and the three Zhao brothers also raised their blades against the Snow Mane's body joints.
The Snow Mane suddenly raised its head, saw Xia Hong's descending blade light, a flash of fear appeared in its eyes. It actually twisted its body, abandoned escape, changed direction, and charged toward the only person among the six without a blade—Xia Chuan—with tusks raised.
Crack...
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