Chapter 174 - 60: Bloodbath of the Demon Crossbow

Words : 1217 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

The clothes torn, what Feng Buhui saw was a face that was indescribable as either ugly or bizarre, a face that should not even be called a face. It resembled a clumsily carved piece of knotty root, whose features were patched together with concave and convex cracks and endless bumps, with skin like mottled, rotting tree bark, emitting a scent of moss and decomposing leaves. The limbs were like those of a dried-up tree full of branches, all signs indicating that this creature, which appeared suddenly on the way, was not of the Human Race. Realizing this, Feng Buhui did not flinch. As a mercenary with extensive combat experience, Feng Buhui knew that unnecessary flinching would only bring disaster. Almost instinctively, his left hand fingers nimbly clasped the crossbow, as beautifully as when he used to shoot with his right, loading, firing the crossbow. Shadows of arrows, five like hungry wolves leaping out and moving side by side, without the slightest deviation. The arrows tore through the air, directly aiming at the figure clad in black, truly imposing, there in the blink of an eye, instantly boosting his confidence, a speed even Feng Buhui could hardly achieve before his hand was severed. As long as the opponent was a Dark Practitioner of the same Dark Earth Realm, even if their cultivation was higher than his, Feng Buhui was confident of killing him with a single arrow. Exactly on target, the five arrows hit the rotten wood creature squarely. The figure clad in black shuddered as five arrows embedded themselves into his body, piercing through. Hearing that sound, rather than delight, Feng Buhui’s face showed confusion. He had used his crossbow to kill numerous Dark Beasts, and the sound of arrows entering flesh was not like this; this sound was like arrows hitting wood in practice, too dull. "Hehe, a cripple with a severed arm managing such a shot, one that could pierce through my body, is commendable," the black-clad creature said while taking a deep breath. "Bang," those five arrows suddenly made a ricochet shot. Feng Buhui quickly rolled over, barely avoiding the crossbow arrows. A series of obscure and bizarre ancient script spilled from the rotten tree creature’s mouth. Its pronunciation was strange, not resembling language of the Human Race; even Feng Buhui, who had traveled widely and was knowledgeable, could not understand it. The rotten tree creature chanted faster and faster, the ground trembled, and vines like tentacles burrowed out of the ground, entwining around Feng Buhui’s body, making it hard for him to move. "Boy, I’ll give you another chance, who gave you the Devil Crystal, and where is that person now? Otherwise, I’m going to rip you apart from head to toe instantly," the rotten tree creature said patiently. "Pah, you demon, don’t get cocky, it’s just death, don’t imagine getting a single word from me," Feng Buhui brandished the crossbow, still unyielding, managing to break a few vines. "Death, you think it’s that easy, I want you to suffer a fate worse than death," the black-clad figure stomped his foot down, cruelly penetrating Feng Buhui’s body, a huge thick vine like a rolling snake pierced through Feng Buhui’s left shoulder. Streams of fresh blood instantly sprayed out, as the giant vine swept him into the air. Feng Buhui’s body fell heavily; then another giant vine struck, this time piercing his left leg. Each time was a deeply agonizing penetration. Feng Buhui’s body soon looked like a piece of tattered, perforated leaf, finally falling heavily to the ground. Throughout it all, he had not begged for mercy, his five blood-soaked fingers still clutching the crossbow tightly. The blood had soaked a small patch of the earth. Feng Buhui clenched his teeth; he knew he was not going to make it. "You obstinate little brat, you think your death will settle everything. Heh, you have truly enraged me, I will tear apart your family, every single person in town. This is all because you refuse to tell me the whereabouts of the Devil Mother Crystal," the monster in black roared furiously. On a nearby branch, several carrion owls that smelled death perched, their eyes emitting a faint glow, staring at the unrecognizable form of the person on the ground. "Brother Buhui, I also want to be a mercenary in the future," the little brother’s adorable smiling face lingered in his mind. "Buhui, you’re the eldest son of the family. After dad passes, you must take good care of your brother and your mother," Dad’s final entrustment before his death. "Buhui, you’re not getting any younger, when will you give your mother a chubby grandson," the concerned words of the enthusiastic neighbor ladies still ringing in his ears. "Buhui, come, tell everyone about how you became a mercenary," neighbors and friends eagerly beckoning him to drink. How hateful, how regretful he was, he hated his own helplessness, hated that he could not personally slay the monster that killed countless brothers. These were his most precious treasures, they must not be destroyed. Feng Buhui’s eyes almost burst open, numerous blood vessels erupting around his eyeballs. His bloody and mangled fingers started to move, using his last breath of strength to grip the Pan Bow tightly. The patterns on the crossbow seemed to come to life, writhing, turning into strips of green and red meridians. Upon encountering flesh, they burrowed and bit like ants. But for Feng Buhui at this moment, he no longer knew what pain felt like. The crossbow slowly merged into his flesh, and a dazzling red light burst forth, so bright that the tree monster was momentarily unable to open its eyes. "Monster, not a single hair of theirs shall you touch," an earth-shattering roar erupted from Feng Buhui’s throat, as he became entirely engulfed in red light. Where Feng Buhui had initially stood, there was no longer any human form, only a man-high crossbow. On the crossbow, the ancient and dim arrow patterns had, at that moment, all come to life. A gleaming light, brighter than blood, a jade-red color, burst forth. The jade-colored red arrow shot out, split into a Luan Bird in midair, its wings flapping, countless feathers transforming into lethal arrows. The feather arrows grated against the air, turning into fist-sized fireballs. The monster in black widened its eyes, disbelieving as it watched the sky filled with fireballs. It was inherently a tree spirit of the Wood Attribute, naturally afraid of fire. A rain of fire came crashing down like water, and it shrank back. But it was too late, that day, a large fire ignited for no reason in the forest outside Fenglinwan Town, countless vines ignited, trees turned to charcoal. The monster in black struggled in agony, howling, thick green tree sap spraying from its body, emitting a foul stench. It was consumed by the fireballs, turning into a puddle of ugly ashes. Heavy panting resonated in the light of the fire, rising and falling. The giant bow crashed to the ground, transforming back into Feng Buhui, his limbs bloody and battered, his body covered in bewitching patterns. From afar, the cries of the little brother reached him, a faint smile appeared on Feng Buhui’s face, a tear glistened, falling from the corner of his eye.

Chapter 174 - 60: Bloodbath of the Demon Crossbow

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