Chapter 223: Probing the Black Bear
In the gloomy Secret Realm, a brilliant beam of light tore through the air, piercing the pack leader’s skull with devastating ease.
’All four of my Spear Skills and Staff Skills have finally reached the Skilled level!’
With a flick of the Long Spear in his hand, Duane expertly removed the Wind Attribute Demon Core from the Wind Wolf’s head.
He briefly sensed it and found it contained two Spell Models: Rapid Speed and Tearing.
However, he had already learned both of these spells.
Although this Demon Core was worthless for research and study, it was still quite valuable in other ways.
For example, it could be used to extract Mid-Level Wind Energy Essence.
Or, it would also make a good choice for Magic Fuel.
Duane looked at the dozen or so wolf corpses on the ground and quickly collected their Demon Cores.
Just then, the sound of birds chirping reached him.
’They’re here again!’
Duane complained in annoyance.
He quickly used Stealth Magic to hide his form and moved to a new position as fast as he could.
Soon, several birds flew over.
After witnessing the scene, one of them immediately split off, while the others flew out in all directions to search for Duane’s tracks.
The reason Duane was being targeted, it turned out, was because of the Level 6 Long-armed Ape he had encountered on his first day.
He had been preparing to kill the Level 6 Long-armed Ape that day, but unexpectedly, it had been able to summon a patch of swampy mud.
Although the mud was only thirty to forty centimeters deep—not enough to submerge Duane—it greatly restricted his movement.
The Level 6 Long-armed Ape had used this ability to escape quickly and had passed the information on to the Black Bear.
From that day on, countless birds had been dispatched into the Secret Realm, frantically searching for any sign of him.
Unfortunately for them, Duane relied on his Stealth Magic, launching surprise attacks before rapidly changing his position.
In the past eight days, he had not only finished planting the Black Demon Vines and gathered the Pale Fungus, Shadow Thorn Flowers, and Wailing Roots needed to brew three types of medicinal wine, but he had also killed dozens of Mutated Demon Beasts along the way.
During this time, he often heard the Black Bear’s furious roars.
But it was a pity that these ordinary birds had no chance of seeing through Duane’s Stealth.
Soon, he had escaped the search area.
’Today is my eighth day in the Secret Realm. Although I haven’t heard the legendary [Whispers of the Ancient God] yet, it’s time to leave, just to be safe.’
He planned to use this time to create a batch of Stealth Magic Spell Scrolls. Once the Qingming Wine was brewed, he would lead Kaelon, Raymond, and Simone to encircle and annihilate the remaining Level 4 and Level 5 Demon Beasts in the Secret Realm.
’I’ve figured out the abilities of that Level 6 Long-armed Ape. The only one I haven’t fought yet is the Black Bear.’
Duane stopped and looked ahead to his right.
He had a basic understanding of the Secret Realm’s geography by now, and that direction was where the Black Bear’s lair was.
It was the same large pit he and Kaelon had discovered that day.
’Maybe I should go test this Black Bear before I leave.’
With the enhancement from his warhorse, he could leave a battlefield very quickly.
Besides, he had killed quite a few Level 4 and Level 5 Demon Beasts over the past few days.
Even if the Black Bear tried to organize a siege, the danger wouldn’t be as high as it was during the last ambush.
After pondering for a long time, Duane decided to give it a try.
He immediately found a hidden thicket to hide in and adjust his condition.
Two hours later, he hid his backpack and, under the cover of his Stealth Magic, quietly approached the Black Bear’s lair.
As he drew closer, the same gloomy, heavy feeling from that day returned, whether for psychological reasons or because the Elemental Energy in the area was somewhat abnormal.
Before long, Duane arrived at the edge of the large pit.
Unlike last time, there were no Demon Beasts gathered here.
On a raised area in the center of the pit, the Black Bear was lying fast asleep.
With each breath, a strange energy occasionally puffed out of its nostrils, like the misty breath of an animal in winter.
’I can’t believe this guy is actually sleeping.’
Duane had expected the Black Bear to be jumping with rage from being unable to find him, not this peaceful scene before him.
’It’s about two hundred meters from here to there. At my maximum burst speed, I can reach it in less than two seconds.’
Although that sounded like a very short time, when facing a High-Level Demon Beast, one misstep could be disastrous.
Moreover, this was its lair, and Duane didn’t know if there were other traps in the pit. Rushing in would be too arrogant.
’Let’s see how fast your reactions are.’
Duane grasped his Long Spear, his eyes fixed on the beast’s head.
"Rainbow Piercing!"
Duane shot to his feet, concentrating surging Fighting Qi at the tip of his spear and thrusting forward.
The attack, carrying immense piercing power, shot out with the speed of a lightning bolt.
CRACK!
As if a bottle had been shattered, the Elemental Energy above the entire pit rippled violently.
’This is a Shadow Barrier!’
Duane knew this Magic too. Its function was to block sound from within, while also instantly notifying the caster when an external force pierced the barrier.
Sure enough, the moment the barrier broke, the Black Bear’s bell-sized eyes snapped open.
At the same time, Rainbow Piercing arrived before it with its full might.
The Black Bear roared in fury, instinctively turning its head aside while raising a massive arm to block.
PFFT!
Rainbow Piercing’s penetrating power was immense; it tore straight through the Black Bear’s skin, blasting open a bloody hole!
The tremendous force slammed into its body, sending the behemoth tumbling across the ground.
"Again!"
Duane repeated the move, and the light of Rainbow Piercing once again shot through the air.
"ROAR!"
Sensing the enemy’s attack, the Black Bear roared and gathered a dense concentration of energy. Even the Elements from the surrounding heavens and earth seemed to be drawn in, coalescing before it into an energy wall eight to nine meters thick.
BOOM!
The sharp light of Rainbow Piercing bored through the energy wall. The dispersing energy formed a terrifying storm, blowing the sand and gravel in the pit high into the air and creating a frightening dust storm.
Duane activated his Celestial Python’s Eye and saw the Black Bear raise its hand to block the remaining force of Rainbow Piercing.
Although its thick arm was still knocked back, its palm was left without a scratch.
"ROAR!"
The Black Bear locked its gaze on Duane, its bared teeth making it look as if it wanted to devour the human who had invaded its Territory.
Duane’s brow furrowed slightly.
Although the first spear strike had inflicted some damage on the Black Bear...
...the bloody hole, not even as wide as a bowl, seemed utterly insignificant on its massive body.
’This thing’s defense is too strong!’
Duane was secretly amazed. The first Rainbow Piercing hadn’t been at full power due to the distance, but it had still carried at least ninety-five percent of its might.
And with the Black Bear offering no resistance, it had only suffered a minor wound.
Such defensive power was truly astonishing.
The man and the beast faced off for several seconds before the Black Bear could no longer hold back.
For days, it had been thoroughly annoyed by this intruder who had broken into the Secret Realm.
A few days ago, after getting the information, it had gone to the scene to hunt him down. But after coming up empty several times in a row, it lost interest, wanting only to absorb energy in its lair and raise its strength as soon as possible so it could leave the Secret Realm.
It never expected that while it was ignoring the intruder, the intruder would come right to its doorstep.
The more the Black Bear thought about it, the angrier it became. Blue-white lightning began to crackle all over its body.
CRACK!
With a clap of thunder, its huge body leaped directly into the air.
At the same time, it raised its thick right arm and threw a punch toward Duane.
KRA-KOOM!
A thick pillar of lightning fell with terrifying force.
Duane’s pupils contracted violently. Relying on the predictive ability of his Celestial Python’s Eye, he had already leaped away the instant the beast raised its arm.
But even so, the terrifying pillar of thunder and lightning had still nearly grazed his body.
RUMBLE!
The terrifying thunder slammed into the earth, instantly causing the ground to shake and the mountains to sway!
The earth could not withstand such terrifying power; boulders, chunks of dirt, and the very ground itself completely disintegrated!
Duane suddenly had a strange thought.
This large pit, the Black Bear’s lair, wasn’t a natural formation. It had been blasted into existence by the bear itself.
’So strong!’
This was the most powerful Demon Beast Duane had ever seen.