78: Worm Wasteland - Treasure Chest Harvest (Part 2)

Flame Moon Slash tore through the Giant King Worm's body, slicing it in half.

Because the flames were scorching hot, the torn area was charred black, and not even blood spurted out; only a strange smell of burnt flesh permeated the air.

The Giant King Worm's raised upper body crashed heavily to the ground, but this clearly wasn't enough to kill it. In the charred area, countless flesh buds began to sprout wildly, and the burnt old flesh also fell off. It twisted its body, trying to squeeze its severed halves together so the flesh buds could connect and it could recover.

However, Tang Ping wasn't stupid; of course, he wouldn't give the Giant King Worm such an opportunity, and with another slash, the Giant King Worm was cut into two halves.

But seeing the two halves of the Giant King Worm still wriggling, Tang Ping also had a headache.

“The Giant King Worm's vitality is truly extraordinary.”

Crucially, this fellow didn't have any weak points like a brain or heart that could be struck for a fatal blow.

Tang Ping didn't have time to burn such a large Giant King Worm. Since the threat was temporarily neutralized, he immediately went around it and headed for the treasure chest.

Seventeen treasure chests!

At the center of this worm nest, there were seventeen doomsday treasure chests.

Based on the 30% chance of obtaining an experience stone, there should be five or six treasure chests that would yield an experience stone, but this was theoretical; if he was unlucky, he might not get even one.

After collecting the seventeen treasure chests, Tang Ping knelt down and pressed his ear to the ground. If there was a great king worm pupa in its metamorphosis stage below, he would definitely hear a sound like a heartbeat.

This great king worm pupa, being in its metamorphosis stage, had no ability to resist, so it would mimic the heartbeat of a giant beast to deter other Pollution Beasts from approaching.

But for humans familiar with the great king worm pupa, this method could also be used to find the pupa.

“What is Uncle Xiao Tang doing?” Wu Zhenhai wondered.

Chen Pingliang shook his head: “Perhaps he's looking for something.”

Tang Ping moved to several different spots but found no sound of a heartbeat, so he gave up.

“I won't give you too many. This place was found by you, Old Wu, so I'll give you three. Old Chen, although you didn't contribute much, everyone who sees gets a share, so I'll give you one.” Tang Ping took out four treasure chests.

“No, no need. I just provided a location for Uncle Xiao Tang, and I don't have the strength to collect these treasure chests anyway.” Wu Zhenhai waved his hand.

“Take them if I tell you to. If you don't want them, just throw them away. Stop being so wishy-washy.” Tang Ping threw them to the two. These treasure chests mostly contained experience stones, which, to be honest, weren't of much help to him, because even if they contained experience stones, they were unlikely to be A-rank, let alone SS-rank.

If they were F-rank or E-rank supernatural weapons, items, or clothing, they might still be somewhat useful, but only just.

“Alright then, thank you, Uncle Xiao Tang.” Wu Zhenhai was very happy to receive three extra treasure chests after watching a show, especially since he had only found one treasure chest himself in the past half hour.

“Oh, by the way, Uncle Xiao Tang, we noticed that there seemed to be someone in that area where you were fighting earlier? Should we go check it out?”

Wu Zhenhai's expression showed that he had ill intentions.

Tang Ping nodded: “Collecting treasure chests yourself isn't as fast as snatching them. Let's go take a look.”

On a pile of rubble.

“What do you want to do?!”

“What do we want to do? Hehe, of course, we want to snatch treasure chests, you fool.”

“If you want treasure chests, go find them yourselves! Why are you trying to snatch ours?!” The slender male high school student, Qi Jun, was indignant.

“Hand over all the treasure chests you have, or I'll kill you and take them anyway.” The burly man sneered.

“Come and get them if you dare! I'm not afraid of you!” In the hand of the slender male high school student, Qi Jun, a ball of lightning appeared. The lightning wasn't large, but it clearly made the tall, thin man somewhat wary.

“A C-rank Talent, huh? But it's only Level 1. I advise you to obediently hand over the treasure chests, along with your Shelter, or I will ensure that I kill you before you can cast a second lightning bolt!” The burly man's arm muscles bulged, and his veins twisted.

“Kid, our boss means what he says. Just hand over your Shelter and treasure chests, and we'll spare your lives.” A subordinate next to him held a steel bar.

Six people gradually surrounded the two high school students.

“Junzi, maybe we should just hand them over.” The shorter high school student seemed a bit scared.

“If you want to hand them over, do it yourself.” Qi Jun's eyes immediately turned cold.

A murderous intent flashed in the burly man's eyes, and he sneered: “Attack!”

The shorter high school student suddenly lunged at his companion, restraining Qi Jun's hands.

The lightning in Qi Jun's hand immediately flew to the side.

The burly man's muscular arm slammed towards Qi Jun's head.

Qi Jun was terrified and instinctively turned his head, his palm gathering lightning again, which he pressed directly against the shorter high school student's waist.

The shorter high school student screamed, and his hands loosened.

Qi Jun broke free from the restraint and moved to the side.

But the burly man's palm, like a heavy hammer, still struck Qi Jun's shoulder.

One of Qi Jun's arms immediately went limp, but he ignored his arm and glared fiercely at the shorter boy: “Zhang Hao! What do you think you're doing?!”

The shorter high school student, Zhang Hao, his eyes darting around, stood up clutching his waist: “I'm sorry, Qi Jun, I just want to live.”

“Idiot!” Qi Jun cursed angrily.

Unfortunately, despair filled his eyes. The burly man swung his fist again, and this time, he had no chance to dodge.

The shadow on the ground suddenly wriggled.

Suddenly, a dagger slashed across the burly man's neck.

A shallow line of blood appeared.

The burly man froze, his body rigid in place. He incredulously touched his neck.

Then, scarlet blood, like a fountain, gushed out!

Thud! The burly man fell to the ground. The sudden turn of events plunged everyone around into an eerie silence.

“B-boss is dead!”

“Run, run!” Someone reacted and tried to flee in panic.

But the next second, their body was engulfed in flames, and in the blink of an eye, only a pile of ashes remained.

All seven people, including the man killed by Chen Pingliang, turned into ashes, leaving only seven faintly glowing shelter items lying quietly in the ashes.

“You, you all.” Qi Jun coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“Kid, a C-rank lightning Talent?” Wu Zhenhai's gaze was intense.

Qi Jun didn't know who the other party was, but circumstances were against him. He nodded: “C-rank Talent, Purple Lightning.”

“Good! Kid, do you want to join our Spark Base?” Wu Zhenhai clapped his hands.

“Can I say no?” Qi Jun forced a bitter smile.

“Join? Very good, excellent, welcome to our ranks.” Wu Zhenhai was happy, “From now on, you're under my protection, Wu Zhenhai's!”

Tang Ping rolled his eyes. It would have been better if he hadn't even asked; it was superfluous. He should have just knocked him out and brought him back, like Tang Ping would.

“Let's go, we still have treasure chests to collect.”

“Wait!” Qi Jun became anxious, spitting out another mouthful of blood, “Don't go in that direction, there's a very dangerous Great Fluttering Moth there!”

“A Great Fluttering Moth?”