Chapter 54: The Gradually Strengthening Beast Herd

"Makes sense!" Hearing Zhu Zhiquan's reminder, Zhao Yuxin modified the content of her notes. "Next, we just need to see the cultivation cost of this thing."

Zhu Zhiquan looked at the newly created ice cream cactus and said, "Uh... th-that, Azhao, will we be going to the next world to survive tomorrow? Is there even any point in researching this by then?"

Zhao Yuxin rolled her eyes at him. "Seriously, I originally thought you were quite suited for research, really... sigh, never mind, I'm going to start my research now. I'll make you another ice cream cactus in a bit so you don't get sun-baked to death."

Zhu Zhiquan: "(′? _? `)"

While Zhao Yuxin was researching the ice cream cactus, another batch of beasts spawned on the road, and this time they were still primarily Liaobiyan, numbering about twenty.

Zhu Zhiquan narrowed his eyes slightly and discovered that mixed among them was a stone turtle with a human face, a brown body, and red stripes. Zhu Zhiquan immediately activated the Nightmare Demon Eye, and the stone turtle's information was instantly revealed before his eyes.

Name: Hell Evil Turtle

Type: Demon

Introduction: This is a stone turtle from hell; it is said this stone turtle is from the Samsara Hell, and it usually likes to peel off the faces of its victims to wear on its own head.

Of course, this kind of stone turtle is only allowed to stay in hell; as a Hell Walker, you must send it back to hell! Because this is your duty as a Hell Walker.

After reading the Hell Evil Turtle's information, Zhu Zhiquan felt a bit excited, but the sun was truly too hot right now, so even though Zhu Zhiquan was a battle maniac, he had no heart for fighting.

In such high temperatures, perhaps only that Lord Linker of Fire from a certain nautical novel could maintain a high interest in battle.

As the beast herd approached, the Hell Evil Turtle also sensed a familiar aura. This aura made it feel physically uncomfortable, causing it to look involuntarily at the player in the tricycle.

When its gaze rested on Zhu Zhiquan, the Hell Evil Turtle's body shook even more violently. Because it was certain that the aura was emanating from this player.

Zhu Zhiquan tossed out a few Explosive Chilis to kill all the Liaobiyan, leaving only the Hell Stone Turtle trembling as it looked at Zhu Zhiquan.

Zhu Zhiquan looked at this big guy, thought for a moment, then bought ten bombs from Sun Zi Fu Fu and tossed them one after another at the Hell Evil Turtle.

Boom, boom, boom~

The continuous explosions blew the Hell Evil Turtle to smithereens. "Looks like this turtle's defense wasn't that high after all." Zhu Zhiquan shook his head in disappointment, then cut the cactus on the ground into several small pieces and put them into the box containing ice cubes.

Afterward, he took some ice water to cool down the entire tricycle before hitting the road again. Soon, they encountered another White Supply Box, from which they obtained a bag of ice and a Hand-cranked Flashlight Blueprint.

Name: Hand-cranked Flashlight Blueprint

Quality: White

Introduction: A flashlight that can be used for illumination; its unique power-generation method makes it one of the best emergency and disaster relief devices.

Materials: Electronic component 1 unit, metal 4 units.

After Zhu Zhiquan learned the blueprint, he tossed the harvested materials into the carriage, while he himself leaned against Zhao Yuxin's lap and went to sleep.

Zhao Yuxin ignored Zhu Zhiquan and persisted in finishing her research on the ice cream cactus. During this time, monsters spawned twice, and after Zhu Zhiquan cleared them, he used the scorching high temperature of the Desert Highway to cook.

"Has Azhao become obsessed with this research?" Zhu Zhiquan murmured while looking at the hardworking Zhao Yuxin.

Just as he finished murmuring, Zhao Yuxin sighed and exited her research state. Zhu Zhiquan blew on the freshly grilled meat a few times, then held it to Zhao Yuxin's mouth.

"Aowu~" Zhao Yuxin took a bite, an excited expression appearing on her face. "So yummy! Ajiu, I want more."

Zhu Zhiquan patiently fed the grilled meat to Zhao Yuxin piece by piece, and Zhao Yuxin acted like a child, acting spoiled in Zhu Zhiquan's arms, seemingly casting the hardship of her research to the back of her mind.

…………………

At noon, the two were sleeping in the carriage when Zhao Yuxin heard something falling. Zhao Yuxin poked her head out to look at the sky and discovered many fireballs falling down.

Zhao Yuxin immediately jumped from the back window into the driver's seat and stomped hard on the pedals; the tricycle instantly sped forward more than ten meters. The fireballs landed where they had originally been staying, smashing out a sea of fire.

"Damn it! We just took a nap! And you throw fireballs to smash us, you dog system, try being a human for once!" Zhao Yuxin cursed loudly, also waking up Zhu Zhiquan who was sleeping in the carriage.

As soon as Zhu Zhiquan woke up, he saw a large fire behind them, which left him somewhat confused, but he didn't take it to heart, thinking Zhao Yuxin had just wiped out a beast herd.

At this moment, another batch of Liaobiyan and three Hell Evil Turtles spawned behind them, which made Zhu Zhiquan even more puzzled. "Has the monster spawn rate increased?"

Zhao Yuxin: "No, that fire behind us is from fireballs falling from the sky."

Zhu Zhiquan nodded and picked up a bomb from the side to throw. Just as the bomb was about to land in the beast herd, a wall of fire blocked all the thrown bombs.

Boom, boom, boom~

When the smoke cleared, although the fire wall had been shattered by the impact of the explosion, this batch of beasts hadn't suffered much damage and was still approaching in an orderly fashion.

Zhu Zhiquan's eyes narrowed as he saw a huge, transparent orange-red caterpillar slowly following at the very back. On its back were four indentations; except for the one at the very front which was an empty hole, the other three had crystal-like objects resembling copper mirrors.

Zhu Zhiquan couldn't view its information with the Nightmare Demon Eye, so he rested his chin on his hand and analyzed: "Interesting, it should be that those crystals can block the bombs, and this thing isn't a ghost type or a demon type; my Hell Walker talent has no effect."

Zhao Yuxin's ears twitched, and she looked at the sky in shock, shouting to Zhu Zhiquan in the carriage: "Ajiu, watch out for the sky!"

Hearing Zhao Yuxin's words, Zhu Zhiquan wanted to look up, but he only lifted his head a little before the scorching sunlight made it impossible for him to open his eyes.

"Roar~"

The Hell Evil Turtle let out a loud roar, and all the Liaobiyan charged toward the tricycle. Zhu Zhiquan tossed out Explosive Chilis, blowing up the Liaobiyan charging at the front.

The moment the remaining Liaobiyan pounced, Zhu Zhiquan drew the Dingtang Sword and finished them off in a few strokes.

Even though Zhu Zhiquan quickly dealt with all the Liaobiyan, he was already drenched in sweat under the scorching high temperature. Suddenly, Zhao Yuxin turned the handlebars hard to one side, dodging a fireball.

This sudden, violent turn almost threw Zhu Zhiquan off, and the Hell Evil Turtles, seeing Zhu Zhiquan's center of gravity was unstable, all charged forward, attempting to peel off his face.

"Hmm~ You're courting death!!!" Zhu Zhiquan glared at the three Hell Evil Turtles and jumped off the vehicle, slowly approaching them.

The three Hell Evil Turtles were instantly struck with weak legs the moment they were locked onto by Zhu Zhiquan's gaze. Their fear of a Hell Walker was deeply ingrained in their bones; even until they were killed one by one by Zhu Zhiquan, they hadn't been able to move a single step.

At the same time, Zhao Yuxin shot an arrow at the sky, and an orange-red eagle was shot down. However, this eagle wasn't dead yet and was still thinking about firing a fireball at Zhao Yuxin.

Swish~

Another Crossbow Bolt was fired; this time the bolt pierced the eagle's throat, and the fireball it had just condensed dissipated along with it.

Pfft~

The caterpillar spat a ball of flame at Zhu Zhiquan, but unfortunately, the movement was too slow; Zhu Zhiquan dodged it and then killed it with a single sword strike.

Zhao Yuxin wiped her sweat and said with a worried expression: "Ajiu, these monsters are getting stronger and stronger; what do you think other players should do?"

Hearing her words, Zhu Zhiquan lowered his head and remained silent for a long time, finally letting out a sigh.