Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Over those three days, Er Dongsheng had mysteriously bought quite a few things: ores, plants, and other strange odds and ends. The spies watching him were baffled!
At noon on the fourth day, Er Dongsheng swaggered out of the Trading Camp with a group of Abyssal Species. A small pack hung from his back, apparently holding the things he had bought there.
He glanced back at the noisy marketplace and smiled mysteriously. Would they follow? He hoped they wouldn't let all his preparations go to waste!
Time slowly slipped by. Er Dongsheng had left the established routes far behind, crossed countless dense forests, and entered the vast Uncharted Zone. Every so often, he stopped; at other times, he broke into a sprint. After several hours of this, he halted in a relatively open patch of woodland.
It seemed whoever was following him had been put through quite an ordeal.
The scenery here was lovely. Perhaps because it lay near the Land of Death, most of the leaves were red, and even the tree trunks bore a reddish tint. The Abyss Tree was a remarkable plant, extraordinarily adaptable. It developed different varieties as it adjusted to the climate and terrain around it.
This place was merely near the site of the last volcanic eruption, and only a hundred years had passed. Yet these Abyss Trees had already adapted to the local climate and evolved into a distinct variety. Their vitality was astonishing!
People said plants were the greatest form of life. In this world, that truth was on full display.
"So, what do you think of the demon graveyard I picked out for you?" Er Dongsheng asked softly, his back to the way he had come as he looked up at the red leaves swirling overhead.
"I'm sure you'll be pleased. Won't you, Lord Sakaros?" He turned to face the red figure emerging not far away and gave a mocking smile.
"You look a little worse for wear, my lord!"
Sakaros, clad in a blood-red cloak, was looking rather bedraggled. All that hiding and tracking had left him covered in broken twigs and leaves. Dead leaves were tangled in his fiery red hair, and mud clung to the handsome face Er Dongsheng envied. At the sight, Er Dongsheng's spirits soared.
That familiar, infuriating voice was as lazy as ever, and hearing it still set Sakaros's teeth on edge. But that no longer mattered. Soon, the wretch who vexed him would shut that detestable mouth for good, and his flesh would become the foundation for Sakaros's ascent to Greater Demon!
"Still as sharp-tongued as ever. No matter. Once I kill you and devour you completely, you'll shut that hateful mouth for good!" Sakaros said without expression, his voice calm and measured, as though stating a settled fact.
"Hah! What a joke!" Er Dongsheng dug at his ear with a claw in disdain, as if he had heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.
He leaned forward slightly, his body arching like a leopard about to spring. His piercing eyes locked on Sakaros, and his cold, rasping voice rang out.
"So you're ready to die, then!"
"How about I send you to meet God?"
With a swish, Er Dongsheng shot from where he stood and reached Sakaros in the blink of an eye!
Bang!
Boom!
A tremendous blow struck Sakaros. It was as though a raging typhoon had swept through the area: leaves and grass flew everywhere, while dead branches and rotting foliage were ripped from the ground and hurled into the sky!
The scene seemed to freeze.
Suddenly—
Sakaros raised his head. His crimson eyes fixed on Er Dongsheng, right before him, and a trace of disdain appeared in them.
"That's the best you can do?"
One hand gripped Er Dongsheng's attacking claw as easily as if it held a doll. Disappointing. Truly disappointing. If that was all the strength Er Dongsheng had, this was hardly worth his time!
"Tsk, tsk. Looks like you're looking down on me!"
Er Dongsheng bared a savage grin at Sakaros, then snapped his head up and roared.
"Then you can go drink tea in Heaven!"
"Inch Force!"
Boom!
An even greater force blasted through their joined hands. Sakaros flew backward like a punctured balloon, snapping countless vines and branches along the way!
"Pfft!" He spat out scarlet blood.
"Damn it! What monstrous strength! How is that possible?" Sakaros slowly climbed to his feet. Bent at the waist, he steadied himself against an Abyss Tree with one hand while repeatedly wiping the blood from his mouth with the other. Shock flashed across his face. He had never expected that strike to be so strange or so powerful!
"Cough, cough. I admit your attack is strong, but—"
"But nothing! Take another hit!" Er Dongsheng gave Sakaros no time to react. He had kicked off the ground and raced after Sakaros as he flew backward. He raised his leg and struck, releasing an even greater burst of force from the point of impact!
Boom!
Dust billowed in every direction, swallowing them both!
"I told you, attacks like that are useless against me, a Second-Level Demon!" Sakaros roared. Grabbing both of Er Dongsheng's legs, he twisted and flung him away like a cannonball. Er Dongsheng slammed hard into a nearby Abyss Tree!
The powerful impact churned through Er Dongsheng's insides, and waves of numbness spread through his legs. Even a casual blow from a Second-Level Demon had this much force. That alone showed how formidable they were!
Er Dongsheng's eyes narrowed as he looked at the faint film of light covering Sakaros's body. Bitterness rose in his heart.
As expected, a Second-Level Demon is no ordinary opponent! Even if I transform, I probably still can't beat him like this!
That flame-like film of light covering Sakaros's body possessed formidable offensive power. It was the reason Er Dongsheng's fierce strike just now had achieved nothing!
Er Dongsheng touched the pack on his back, his gaze turning cold.
Whatever happens, I have to break through that turtle shell of his. Otherwise, I can't use what's in here!
With a swish, Er Dongsheng charged again.
Bang!
Boom!
Crack! Countless branches and blades of grass snapped. Er Dongsheng wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth and charged again!
Bang, bang! Boom! Er Dongsheng was like a machine made of steel. He kept attacking the Second-Level Demon's hard shell without giving up, no matter how badly he was hurt!
He had not transformed. At this moment, transforming would do him no good. If he did, the thing in his pack would kill him even faster!
"Hahaha! It's useless! Every attack you make is in vain!" Sakaros laughed wildly as he blasted Er Dongsheng away once more!
Er Dongsheng pressed his lips together and charged back in.
Crack.
A sound so faint it was almost inaudible reached Er Dongsheng's ears. His eyes lit up. He knew the moment of reckoning was almost here!
Bang, bang, bang!
They exchanged several more blows. This time, Er Dongsheng concentrated every attack on the same spot. The cracking of the film grew louder and louder, until at last...
Crack!
The stubborn film of light shattered completely, revealing the astonishment on Sakaros's face!
Even the hardest thing would quickly break if struck at the same point over and over. Even the diamond, the hardest substance in Er Dongsheng's previous life, was no exception!
Sakaros's stunned expression and Er Dongsheng's narrowed eyes seemed to freeze in place. The two stood there, neither moving an inch!
All at once—
Sakaros burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Not bad! Such impressive strength! You broke through my Second-Level Demon force field with nothing but a First-Level Demon's physical power! You're making me look forward to this more and more!"
He licked his lips, his greed spilling out without the slightest attempt to hide it!
"But did you think breaking it was enough? Look at this!"
The shattered film stopped breaking apart and slowly began to repair itself. In just a few seconds, only a chest-sized opening remained, facing Er Dongsheng!
Did he seem to have fallen into despair? Er Dongsheng's voice drifted out, unhurried.
"Of course. What I was waiting for..."
He raised his head, a savage smile spreading across his face.
"Was this very moment!"
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