Chapter 713 - Carefree Valley

Master Ou’s master had been one of the best blacksmiths in Divine Weapon City, but had been forced to flee due to a war between factions. During his travels across the lands, he had accepted Master Ou as his disciple and taught him blacksmithing.

On one of their travels, the two accidentally wandered into a dangerous beast-filled area. Master Ou had managed to escape but his master had unfortunately perished to the beasts’ attacks.

After escaping, Master Ou swore to one day bring back the bones of his master. This became his lifelong goal. However, he had never found someone strong enough to help him—that was, until he met Han Wu.

It was time for him to fulfill his promise. The risk was worth it if he could retrieve his master’s remains. If he failed, he would follow his master’s footsteps and die there too.

Master Ou’s loyalty deeply moved Qin Shuang and Han Wu. Still, this didn’t stop the pair from having questions.

“You said your master died there many years ago. Even if the beasts haven’t eaten him, his remains would’ve surely decomposed, right?” Qin Shuang asked.

The eavesdropping Boss Hui nodded in agreement. “He’s probably dust at this point.”

“My master’s remains will still be there,” Master Ou said confidently. “I used a special technique to melt a Divine Weapon and turn him into an impervious bronze statue to preserve his body before I fled. His remains can withstand the elements just fine.”

Blacksmiths were more creative than Han Wu had expected. Only a genius would even think to turn a body into a bronze statue to preserve it.

“In that case, let’s see the materials you promised as payment,” Han Wu said, more than willing to delay his journey for a few more days for the right price.

Master Ou quickly brought them back to his workshop and showed them the resources and Divine Weapons he had accumulated over the years. There were 659 of them, with the most expensive being a Dimension Bag with an interior space of a thousand cubic meters.

The Dimension Bag’s capacity was far larger than the urn on Han Wu’s waist and could store a greater variety of items. It was an invaluable piece of equipment.

When Han Wu saw the treasure trove of materials and Divine Weapons, he immediately agreed to Master Ou’s request.

Master Ou packed everything into the Dimension Bag before passing it to Han Wu. After receiving the payment, they immediately prepared to set out. The Noir Group offered them a horse each, but Han Wu rejected it, and the trio left soon after.

Unbeknownst to the three, a weasel was tailing them. They traveled for half a day and a night before reaching Carefree Valley, named after its ability to make people forget their worries and stress.

As Master Ou had come here before, Qin Shuang and Han Wu made sure to listen carefully to his advice before entering.

“It’s true that this place allows people to forget their worries. Beasts kill most of the people who wander in, and the dead have no worries,” Master Ou explained. “Also, be careful while moving around. There are all kinds of beasts here. These beasts are special and are officially known as mutated beasts.”

Han Wu asked the Will of the Divine Weapon Civilization, “What’s the difference between mutated beasts and monsters?”

[Both mutated beasts and monsters have sapience, but the former cannot take on a humanoid form while the latter can. In exchange, mutated beasts have stronger bodies and can better attune themselves to nature. Monsters, on the other hand, can use Divine Weapons. (Today quota for questions: 2)]

The trio entered Carefree Valley with their guards raised. The valley was filled with wild vegetation. Dense bushes and trees populated the entire area. The undergrowth in some areas was so dense that Han Wu had to use the Explosive Locust Blade to blast a path open.

An area with such overgrowth would undoubtedly have plenty of beasts. Of these, those that gained sapience became mutated beasts.

The group cautiously moved forward. Suddenly, a white rabbit leaped out in front of them.

“What a cute bunny!” Qin Shuang cooed.

Master Ou quickly squatted down and warned them, “Don’t let its cute appearance fool you. That’s a mutated beast called the Battleborn Lunarbunny. Its powerful legs can snap your bones with a single kick.”

The Battleborn Lunarbunny had noticed them during Master Ou’s explanation. Its black eyes turned blood red, and it charged at them with its explosive jumps. Han Wu quickly shot out a Small Locust Blade. It flew faster than the Battleborn Lunarbunny and severed its head.

Even without its head, its powerful legs continued to kick, tearing apart the vegetation where it had fallen. Qin Shuang watched in shock as a large stone was pulverized during its death throes.

“I never thought a single Battleborn Lunarbunny could be so strong. This area is indeed dangerous,” Han Wu remarked.

Master Ou warily eyed their surroundings. “Battleborn Lunarbunnies live in a herd. If there’s one here, that means there’s likely more hiding around. We need to leave now!”

The two immediately made to leave, but it was too late. Pairs of white ears popped out one after another from the rustling tall grass.

The main herd of Battleborn Lunarbunnies had appeared.

Han Wu summoned his Small Locust Blade and mowed down the surrounding vegetation for better visibility. Hundreds of Battleborn Lunarbunnies were hopping about, encircling their group.

The bunnies’ eyes were all blood-red, sharp fangs gleaming as they prepared to pounce.

Han Wu lit up at the sight. “I’ve never killed mutated beasts before. Let me try.”

With that, he threw out an Explosive Locust Blade into the area with the highest concentration of Battleborn Lunarbunnies. The blade split into ten with Tenfold, each inheriting 70% of the original’s parameters.

The ten Explosive Locust Blades exploded in a burst of flames that swallowed the area. More than twenty Battleborn Lunarbunnies died from the blast. Their deaths only spurred the rest to fight.

More jumped forward. Fortunately, they could no longer hide within the undergrowth thanks to Han Wu’s preemptive pruning.

Qin Shuang used her Feather Darts to fend them off while Han Wu summoned the Locust Soul Orb. He called forth Ah Da and Ah Er before transforming the orb into a fiery tiger to protect Master Ou.

Han Wu then summoned the newly upgraded Locust-V and unleashed a flurry of bullets at the Battleborn Lunarbunnies. Trails of blood-red energy flew out from the grass and into Locust-V. Its rank meter slowly increased.

“Not enough! This isn’t enough! I need more!” Han Wu yelled into the bushes.

More Battleborn Lunarbunnies jumped out upon hearing his cries. He fired at them relentlessly. The roar of Locust-V’s barrage could be heard even from a kilometer away.

Every time a Battleborn Lunarbunny was hit, a wisp of blood-red energy would emerge from its wound and merge with Locust-V. The Divine Weapon soon ranked up.

Mutated beasts were more powerful than regular beasts, which was reflected in their comparatively higher essence. Han Wu’s Divine Weapon Atlas absorbed the bunnies’ essence as they perished in droves, and he was soon granted his fifth Divine Weapon.