Lin Tuo's initial landing point had been close to the west. Moreover, this continent itself covered only three hundred thousand square kilometers. Thus, even without proper roads,
they could only race across the wilderness, hunting ferocious beasts along the way. Yet after two days, they successfully reached the Great Western Continent.
Nothing eventful happened along the way. The biggest problem they encountered was that the car ran out of fuel.
Since the vehicles all ran on gasoline, he simply used the Sandbox to purchase several barrels of gasoline separately from Yangcheng City and bring them in. With high-quality fuel poured in, the battered modified vehicle's speed also increased.
Along the way, Hua Xi gradually became more familiar with him.
Without Lin Tuo even asking, she chattered endlessly on her own. Most of the time, she recounted her glorious exploits roaming the wilderness, and Lin Tuo listened to pass the time.
By the third day, once they officially entered the Western Mountains, the off-road vehicle could barely continue.
"The terrain ahead is impassable by car. Pack up your things and follow me into the mountains on foot."
Under the dim sky, the cold wind howled.
The closer they got to the Great Western Continent, the lower the temperature dropped. Even Lin Tuo had to move his body from time to time to generate warmth.
"Okay."
In the back seat, Hua Xi, dressed in a padded coat and wearing a woolen cap, answered. Nimbly, she slung the shriveled ammunition pack over her shoulder, stuffed a few cans of beer into her clothes, and hugged her rifle tightly.
Over the past two days, she had already grown accustomed to the role of "assistant" and "follower."
Raising their heads, they saw the boundless Western mountain range before them.
Dark clouds piled high in the sky, casting everything in murky light. The mountains lay sprawled across the earth like crouching beasts, filling one's heart with fear.
Not far ahead of them stood a wooden post—a signpost, surprisingly enough—with three arrows pointing in different directions. They bore the names "Blaze," "Gray Mountain," and "Floating Apocalypse."
Seeing this, Lin Tuo's expression became rather strange.
"This should be a marker they set up for those who came later. The directions written on it are where the three powers are located," Hua Xi said, tightening her collar.
"I thought this place would be a chaotic battlefield," Lin Tuo said.
Hua Xi shook her head.
"Before they find anything good, a large-scale war won't break out. Over all these years, the three sides have fought each other too many times already. They've long since developed an unspoken understanding.
"There are many powerful Mutant Beasts living in the Western Mountains. Rather than wear each other down, it's better to sweep through them together."
"Of course, if they really come across a large arsenal, laboratory, or Secret Seal, then peace definitely won't last."
"Mm." Lin Tuo nodded. "What do you think?"
"I think we should find a Hunter's Home first, gather some information, and then act," Hua Xi analyzed calmly.
"Lead the way." Lin Tuo pulled his windproof mask tighter over his face and spoke in a muffled voice.
Hunter's Home was Floating Apocalypse's branch network spread across various regions. It was naturally present on this Great Western Continent frontline as well.
Abandoning the car, Lin Tuo and Hua Xi set off on foot along a path through the snowy mountains.
After heading farther in, they gradually began encountering Evolvers.
Some traveled in groups, while others went alone. All were wrapped in thick winter clothing and carried weapons, keeping wary distances from one another as they scattered throughout the Western Mountains.
"They should all be Wasteland Hunters. They want to take advantage of the Great Western Continent opening up to hunt fierce beasts, explore Relics, and fish for benefits. Don't worry—so long as we don't draw too much attention, no one will notice us."
Hua Xi explained softly.
Lin Tuo silently nodded and remained vigilant.
They continued onward. Occasionally, they saw a few temporary structures. After climbing over another hill, a newly built camp appeared in their field of vision.
A flag bearing the emblem of Floating Apocalypse fluttered in the cold wind.
"That's Hunter's Home," Hua Xi said.
At the same time, sporadic gunshots echoed one after another from deep within the mountains.
They came from various directions, and there were quite a few of them.
"Those gunshots are from the Scout Teams of the Three Major Powers?" Lin Tuo asked. After receiving an affirmative answer, his eyes briefly lost focus as he shifted his consciousness back to his main body and used Full Map Vision to observe.
He saw the snow-covered mountain range in the west of the Sandbox continent, with vast stretches of forest scattered haphazardly across it and dense gray clouds hanging overhead.
Within the mountains, three groups maintained safe distances from one another as they spread from south to north, attempting to push their battle lines deeper in.
Floating Apocalypse, positioned in the middle, had the fewest people. They were scattered and lacked organization, likely powerful Wasteland Hunters conducting exploration.
To the south and north were Blaze and Gray Mountain. Their numbers were large, and they carried firearms. They were likely composed mainly of military forces.
As his gaze shifted farther west, he could clearly spot the ruins hidden within the mountain hollows from his bird's-eye view.
Unfortunately, Lin Tuo had little interest in them.
Shifting his consciousness into the Sandbox, Lin Tuo followed Hua Xi toward Hunter's Home.
It was a disorderly cluster of buildings. Wooden houses stood in the central area, while heavily armed guards watched the passersby cautiously from the surroundings.
Experienced as she was, Hua Xi covered her face with her mask, straightened her back, and pushed open the wooden door.
At once, the conversations inside fell silent. Gazes turned toward the two people who entered wrapped in wind and snow, then quickly shifted away again.
The so-called Hunter's Home was decorated much like a bar.
A stove burned inside, keeping out the cold. Around twenty or thirty people were scattered near the bar counter and around the room, warming themselves by the fire and drinking bitter liquor brewed from some kind of wild fruit.
"A summary of recent intelligence."
Putting on an experienced air, Hua Xi walked to the counter, pinched her voice, took out her ID card, and spoke to Floating Apocalypse's "receptionist."
"Five standard bullets or equivalent goods," the receptionist said flatly.
What a rip-off...
Hua Xi cursed inwardly. Reluctantly, she took out five bullets in exchange for something resembling a newspaper and handed it to Lin Tuo.
He opened it, skimmed it for a few moments, and raised his brows slightly.
It really did resemble a simplified newspaper, containing "intelligence" from the past seven days.
Much of it was already outdated. The most valuable information concerned the confirmed activity zones of certain Mutant Beasts in the Western Mountains.
They had all been marked in ink, and the red areas were clearly the most dangerous.
Yet the "danger" that applied to others was, to him, the perfect tool for Body Tempering.
Besides that, a Hunter Ranking also caught a bit of his interest.
Its general purpose was a hunter achievement ranking compiled by Floating Apocalypse, specifically tracking the gains Wasteland Hunters had made in the Great Western Continent. It could also be understood as a "combat power ranking."
Others could use the list to judge who could be provoked and who needed to be avoided.
Every name had a corresponding point total behind it.
Lin Tuo glanced over it. The hunter ranked first was called Lone Wolf, with an astonishing 876 points—a full 150 points ahead of second place.
Only the top fifty were listed.
"They really know how to have fun." Shaking his head with a laugh, Lin Tuo put away the intelligence sheet. "Let's go."
With that, he strode out first. Hua Xi froze for a moment before hurriedly following without a word.
Once the two pushed open the door and left, three hunters gathered together inside suddenly rose at the same time, picked up their weapons, and followed them out.
The others were unsurprised by this. There was merely an extra trace of wariness in their eyes.
"Someone's following us."
After leaving the warm building, the bone-piercing wind swept through the mountains. Hua Xi followed Lin Tuo farther into the mountains for a while before suddenly speaking warily.
"I know." Lin Tuo did not slow down or look back, merely continuing forward as though he had not the slightest fear. His tone was indifferent.
"They're just a few small fry. Let them follow. If they're blind enough to provoke me, I'll kill them."
After two consecutive days of slaughter, crossing the wilderness from the central region to the Great Western Continent, no one knew how many Mutant Beasts had died at Lin Tuo's hands.
His Body Tempering progress continued to increase, while his combat experience grew ever richer.
Along the way, he had also encountered several hunters who tried to attack him. All of them had been killed in return by Lin Tuo.
As a result, a trace of Killing Intent had stained his body.
Even his personality had become much sharper.
At this moment, those casual words made Hua Xi's heart tremble. She knew that the mysterious person she followed absolutely possessed that ability.
Indeed, throughout their journey, she had often doubted whether there was any living thing in this Wasteland that could defeat him.
"Whoosh, whoosh—"
As the two walked, a strange whistle suddenly sounded overhead and rapidly approached.
By instinct, Hua Xi rolled aside, raised her rifle, and aimed at the sky. Only then did she see a gigantic strange bird diving down at them.
It was roughly the size of an adult human, black all over, with wings that gleamed with metallic luster. It had clearly marked the two of them as prey.
In the distance.
The three hunters trailing behind them changed expression dramatically at the sight. They all stopped, raising their guns or blades with grave looks.
"It's an Ironwing Bird!"
Having arrived at the Great Western Continent several days earlier, they knew full well how terrifying this local mutant bird was.
Its feathers were hard as iron, and it was exceptionally agile. Bullets could scarcely harm it, and it particularly loved harassing its targets. Once it locked onto someone, it was incredibly difficult to shake off.
Even those near the top of the Hunter Ranking were generally unwilling to provoke such a creature.
"They're dead for sure. Hurry and leave," the leading hunter said unwillingly, though his tone was decisive.
Yet at that very moment, the situation suddenly changed!
The tall, thin figure in the distance neither dodged nor evaded. He merely assumed a strange stance where he stood. Then, an illusory longbow actually condensed in his hand!
Martial Ancestor Manifestation, drawing the bow like a crescent moon!
Whoosh!
With a flick of Lin Tuo's wrist, an illusory arrow condensed from Aether shot into the sky!
At the same time, Hua Xi, crouching nearby, adjusted her muzzle and fired several shots, sealing off the Ironwing Bird's routes of escape!
Boom!
The next second, accompanied by a mournful cry, the black bird of prey with its terrifying combat strength had its head violently blown apart by Lin Tuo's arrow. It died before it even hit the ground.
Like a kite with its string cut, it fell onto the snowy plain!
"This..."
"How is that possible?!"
The three hunters stared at the scene in shock. For a moment, their entire bodies went cold, as though they had been thrown into an ice cave.
They had never imagined that the target the three of them had set their sights on would be so powerful.
"They've left!" After a long while, one of them finally recovered and cried out in surprise.
"What?"
The other two were stunned. Only then did they realize that the large and small figures ahead had not paid them any attention at all. They had not even collected the dead Ironwing Bird, instead drifting away already.
The three exchanged glances. Only after Lin Tuo and Hua Xi had become two tiny dots in the distance did they dare approach and pick up the already frozen bird of prey.
"Back to Hunter's Home! A mysterious powerhouse has arrived at the Great Western Continent—this news can definitely be sold for a good price!"
A few hours later, news of the mysterious powerhouse reached the Three Major Powers through various channels.
Then, all three powers were stirred.
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