"What's the point of worrying about all that? As long as we can finish the mission, that's all that matters."
The War Soldiers happily picked up the corpses Gu Han had left behind.
They were delighted to be one step closer to completing the mission.
Meanwhile, Gu Han continued deeper into the mountains, enjoying the growth of his own strength.
The sensation of feeling his power grow stronger so clearly made Gu Han want to throw back his head and let out a long howl.
But just then, a tremendous crashing sound suddenly came from up ahead.
Amid the crashing, he could also hear the low bellow of a Barbarian Bull.
"Could Demonic Beasts be fighting over territory?"
Wherever Demonic Beasts fought, there were bound to be opportunities!
Gu Han's heart stirred, and he cautiously hurried toward the source of the noise.
At his current speed, even if he ran into an enemy he couldn't defeat, he should have no trouble escaping.
Before long, Gu Han spotted a broad lake.
The lake was smooth as a mirror, with only occasional waves sending ripples across its surface.
At the center of the lake bloomed a pristine lotus.
And in the lake, a Barbarian Bull and a Wolf Beast with pale blue fur were locked in battle!
The two were fighting to the death, evidently over the blooming lotus.
"Is that a Phantom Water Wolf?"
Judging by the Wolf Beast's striking fur, Gu Han recognized its species at a glance.
"Though the Phantom Water Wolf can control water, it's still far weaker than the Wave-Treading Bull."
The Phantom Water Wolf could only just barely control water.
But the Wave-Treading Bull was a water buffalo. It had lived in the water since it was young—how could the Phantom Water Wolf compare?
What's more, the Wave-Treading Bull had thick skin and tough flesh, and could practically ignore the Phantom Water Wolf's attacks!
"It actually dared to pick a fight with a Wave-Treading Bull. That's some nerve."
Gu Han smiled and shook his head. If the Phantom Water Wolf weren't so fast, it would have already lost.
But that was precisely why the two were barely holding each other at bay, neither giving an inch.
As long as the Wave-Treading Bull stayed stubbornly beside the Water Essence Lotus, the Phantom Water Wolf wouldn't have a chance against it.
However, Gu Han noticed that perhaps to avoid affecting the Water Essence Lotus and damaging its efficacy,
both the Wave-Treading Bull and the Phantom Water Wolf kept their distance from it.
That sight stirred something in Gu Han's heart.
He could absorb attributes by killing Demonic Beasts.
But who would ever complain about having too many heavenly treasures like the Water Essence Lotus?
In the lake, the Phantom Water Wolf seemed to sense that the Water Essence Lotus was about to ripen. It immediately let out a piercing howl.
"Awooo~"
Then its aura suddenly burst forth, and two illusions identical to it split off from its body.
The two Phantom Water Wolves surged forward at incredible speed, closing in on the Wave-Treading Bull from both sides.
Meanwhile, the real Phantom Water Wolf quietly darted away.
The Wave-Treading Bull let out an angry bellow and stamped hard on the lake's surface.
Two waves surged up at once, crashing down toward the Phantom Water Wolves.
Amid the heavy impact, the water sent the Phantom Water Wolves flying.
Just as the Wave-Treading Bull was about to let out a victorious bellow,
it suddenly noticed that, hidden by the waves, the Phantom Water Wolf had quietly crept up beside the Water Essence Lotus!
The Wave-Treading Bull felt cheated!
That Phantom Water Wolf had eight hundred tricks up its sleeve, and all it ever did was fool an honest bull like itself!
With an angry roar, the Wave-Treading Bull used the waves to accelerate, barreling toward the Phantom Water Wolf like a tank.
Knowing it couldn't hesitate, the Phantom Water Wolf prepared to swallow the Water Essence Lotus whole.
But the moment the Water Essence Lotus entered its mouth, the Phantom Water Wolf was struck as if by a heavy blow. A terrifying force hurled it away.
The Water Essence Lotus flew out of its mouth, landing on the lake near the shore.
"Moo! Moo!"
The Wave-Treading Bull's eyes were bloodshot. It couldn't care less about swallowing the Water Essence Lotus and began ramming the Phantom Water Wolf's body like a madman.
It looked as though it was venting its rage at having been tricked!
The impacts were so heavy that even hearing them from far away made Gu Han's scalp tingle!
"That Phantom Water Wolf sure can take a beating."
Gu Han bared his teeth, but his eyes stayed fixed on the Water Essence Lotus drifting with the current.
The Water Essence Lotus had now floated to the shore, but perhaps intimidated by the Wave-Treading Bull and the Phantom Water Wolf, not a single Wild Beast dared approach it.
"This Phantom Water Wolf should be around One-star Sixth-Order, while the Wave-Treading Bull is a little stronger—probably One-star Seventh-Order."
"The Phantom Water Wolf is faster. I might not be able to outrun it, but the Wave-Treading Bull has it pinned down, so it probably won't have the strength to chase me."
A plan to snatch food from the bull's mouth began to take shape in Gu Han's mind.
Still, the scene felt oddly familiar.
That's right!
In all those novels, didn't the protagonists wait for two powerful Demonic Beasts to fight until both were badly wounded, then sit back and reap the rewards when they were weak?
Or quietly slip away with the treasure while the Demonic Beasts were fighting?
Gu Han grinned. It seemed his idea really did match the protagonists of the novels he'd read before transmigrating.
Gu Han suddenly saw the light.
This time, he was sure to snatch the prize!
Gu Han waited patiently for a little while instead of rushing out. He stayed hidden in the shadows, using the trees for cover as he slowly crept closer.
By the time the Phantom Water Wolf was nearly at death's door,
Gu Han suddenly poured every ounce of strength he had into a burst of speed, racing straight toward the Water Essence Lotus that had drifted to the shore!
"Got it!"
Gu Han snatched up the Water Essence Lotus. Its refreshing sensation soothed him from head to toe, leaving him so cool and clear that he nearly let out a moan.
But just then, he noticed a pair of eyes fixed on him from beneath the water.
Gu Han looked over and saw a Water Snake lurking behind the Water Buffalo fighting the Wolf.
The Water Snake, furious at having its prey snatched away, let out a hiss and shot forward like an arrow loosed from its bow.
The Water Snake was thick as a barrel. It coiled around Gu Han's body, trying to squeeze him to death!
"You want to steal my stuff? You've got some nerve."
In Gu Han's eyes, any heavenly treasure he spotted that had no owner belonged to him—its owner was Gu Han!
If someone else had raised it, Gu Han wouldn't go so far as to steal it.
But this Water Snake had not only tried to steal his treasure, it had also tried to kill him. It was as good as dead!
Gu Han grabbed the Water Snake by the head as it lunged to bite him, then unleashed a terrifying force with both hands.
The Water Snake's body was torn clean in two by Gu Han!
"Attribute Absorption."
"Congratulations, host. You absorbed 10 Blood Qi, 10 Speed, and 10 Strength from the Water Snake's corpse."
The Water Snake had only been as strong as a Fourth-Rank Martial Disciple. It had tried to fish in troubled waters because it couldn't stand up to the Wave-Treading Bull and the Phantom Water Wolf!
But instead, it had run into Gu Han, another one who'd been lurking behind the scenes, waiting to swoop in.
Just then, an angry bellow rang out from the distance.
Gu Han looked up and saw that the Wave-Treading Bull had left the nearly dying Phantom Water Wolf behind and was charging toward him in a fury.
"What the hell? That's not how it goes in the novels!"
Before you continue