Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent-Chapter 280 : Hunting Outside the City

Chapter 280: Hunting Outside the City

Emperor Qing asked, “Brother Luo Feng, since we're going out to hunt, we’ll need to cooperate. So we should understand each other’s strengths. I walk the path of space and specialize in sword arrays—trapping and killing enemies with them.”

“I specialize in close-quarters combat,” Luo Feng replied.

The Path of Life and Death was, by nature, the transformation between life and death—perfectly suited for brutal combat.

The Ultimate Realm comprehension of the Path of Life and Death was enough to rival the early-stage God Emperor level on an ordinary path. With just this path alone, Luo Feng could already match an early-stage God Emperor–level Seeker. Not to mention, he also possessed five powerful forms.

Even Seekers who focused solely on refining the body—though their physical forms were strong—would struggle to possess five such unique talents.

“Hahaha, excellent. I’ll form the array, and you engage in melee combat—we’re a perfect match.” Emperor Qing was delighted. Among cultivators, only a few were willing to fight in close quarters—especially against naturally-born Primordial Lifeforms.

And which one of those creatures wasn’t overwhelmingly powerful in physique and gifted with incredible talents?

“However, I’m still lacking a suitable weapon,” Luo Feng said.

“Come, come, come, I’ll go with you,” Emperor Qing said, already prepared. If Luo Feng didn’t have enough Primordial Crystals, he was even willing to lend some.

Moments later—

Luo Feng and Emperor Qing arrived at a merchant shop within Rainlan City’s inner region. When Luo Feng had first arrived at Rainlan City, he had already toured the entire city and gained a clear understanding of these weapons and treasure artifacts.

“These gloves,” Luo Feng said, his gaze fixed on a pair of black gloves.

“These are a pair of treasure gloves refined in the early years by ‘Dao Lord Remnant Moon’. They contain the profound essence of both the Path of Life and the Path of Destruction. The fusion of life and death—its power is terrifying,” the attendant nearby said with a smile. “Nowadays, ‘Dao Lord Remnant Moon’ is one of the pinnacle existences in the Dark Holy Realm, having pushed both paths—life and destruction—to the half-step Primordial level.”

Luo Feng had heard about him before.

A terrifying Seeker, who had advanced both paths to the half-step Primordial level. Far, far stronger than the Ancestors of the Two Kingdoms.

“What’s the price?” Emperor Qing asked impatiently from the side.

“One hundred and five thousand Primordial Crystals,” the attendant replied with a polite smile.

“Make it cheaper,” Luo Feng bargained.

With the exception of a few standardized items, many treasures in the Jiugang Holy Realm could be bargained for. Although these gloves were powerful, they had limited appeal—only someone like Luo Feng, who cultivated both the life and death paths, would be drawn to them.

“I’ll go speak with the Pavilion Master.” Seeing that Luo Feng was interested, the attendant immediately went to report. The Pavilion Master personally came to negotiate.

After some bargaining, the final price was set at 98,000 Primordial Crystals.

Luo Feng gladly accepted the pair of gloves.

These were crafted personally by Dao Lord Remnant Moon back when both his life and destruction paths had reached the late-stage God Emperor level. At that time, Dao Lord Remnant Moon held a high status in the Jiugang Holy Realm.

It was worth noting that having just one path reach late-stage God Emperor level could qualify one to become an elder in the Elders’ Hall of Rainlan City.

Back then, Dao Lord Remnant Moon was merely an elder in the Elders’ Hall, but in terms of strength, he was nearly at the level of a Hall Master.

“What a treasure.” Luo Feng couldn’t put the gloves down after refining them with a single thought and sensing the profound mystery of life and death intertwined within.

“Secret treasures at the late-stage God Emperor level generally don’t cost too much. But if you reach the complete God Emperor Realm, even the cheapest items would cost over a million Primordial Crystals,” Emperor Qing said with a laugh. “These gloves are quite a bargain.”

Luo Feng nodded.

He had spent over 190,000 Primordial Crystals on resources previously, and now another 98,000 on a treasure. He didn’t have much left.

…

In the cave mansion.

“Emperor Ming, are you really planning to go hunting?” Emperor Fu looked at Emperor Ming.

“I’ve been in Rainlan City for so long, and I’ve met quite a few cultivators who refine their Primordial Bloodline,” Emperor Ming nodded. “There are plenty of early-stage God Emperor cultivators in Rainlan City.”

“The real hunting teams wouldn’t even consider us. So we have to form our own.”

“If several dozen early-stage God Emperor–level cultivators with Primordial Bloodlines team up, there’s still a chance to kill one of the weakest low-rank Primordial Lifeforms,” Emperor Ming said.

“You could also die,” Emperor Fu said, gazing at his companion.

Emperor Ming smiled faintly. “Don’t worry.”

He had his secrets. Although he didn’t have clone techniques, he had received a mental will reward from the Infinite Space Treasury. He once helped the Flame Wind Ancestor exchange for a treasure—specifically requesting a life-saving item. The Flame Wind Ancestor found two top-tier life-saving treasures for him, both of which had merged with his soul.

In a life-or-death crisis, they could be triggered.

Emperor Ming had also exchanged for another life-saving item from the Infinite Space Treasury.

He knew full well—

Without clone techniques, protecting his life was the top priority. Everything else could be accumulated slowly.

“The path of cultivation does not allow retreat.” Emperor Ming had made up his mind. After nearly a hundred eras in Rainlan City, he had observed enough. He was certain that those who rose to power had almost all grown through battles with low-rank Primordial Lifeforms.

“Emperor Ming, since you’ve decided to go hunting, be sure to choose your teammates carefully,” Emperor Fu reminded.

“Mm.” Emperor Ming also understood how crucial teammate selection was. Outside the city, without rules to constrain them, anything could happen. He had waited this long precisely because he was being cautious in finding the right teammates.

This was also why Emperor Qing had been so thrilled when he discovered the Galaxy Ruler.

A trustworthy and powerful companion—such people were truly rare.

…

After Luo Feng purchased the secret treasure gloves and familiarized himself with them for over a hundred days, he and Emperor Qing quietly departed from Rainlan City.

Outside the city, a black flying boat vanished instantly, hidden from the naked eye.

Inside that black flying boat were Luo Feng and Emperor Qing. This boat was Emperor Qing’s most powerful vessel, possessing extremely strong stealth capabilities.

“With our strength, our targets should mainly be low-rank Primordial Lifeforms at the early-stage God Emperor level. Although we’re not afraid of the mid-stage level, killing them would be very difficult,” Emperor Qing explained.

“It’s hard to gauge a low-rank Primordial Lifeform’s true strength from appearances alone,” Luo Feng said with concern.

“Then we’ll have to rely on experience.” Emperor Qing chuckled. “Let’s judge them together.”

Luo Feng nodded.

“Now that we’re out of the city, keep a close watch on the surroundings,” Emperor Qing reminded. “We must be wary not only of low-rank Primordial Lifeforms, but also of other cultivators.”

“I understand.” Luo Feng opened his Simulated Eye of Life and Death at his brow, observing everything within billions of kilometers. All traces of the past—temporal remnants—were within his view.

Auras, temporal traces, wave fluctuations, remnants of will…

Luo Feng examined all directions in detail.

Emperor Qing also used a treasure to probe the surroundings in the void.

“We’re currently heading toward one of the Nine Rivers—Cold Ice River. There are countless low-rank Primordial Lifeforms there. The closer we get, the more likely we are to encounter them,” Emperor Qing said.

“Low-rank Primordial Lifeforms at the early-stage God Emperor level make up the overwhelming majority—more than 90% of the total. The stronger ones are much rarer. So the chance of running into an extremely strong one is still low.” Emperor Qing appeared relatively relaxed, given his rich hunting experience.

In the past, he had to be cautious even around his companions.

But with Luo Feng, he could finally relax.

Both of them had forms back in the Origin Continent—without a monumental temptation, betrayal was nearly impossible.

“Hmm?”

As they chatted and laughed, Luo Feng suddenly fell silent. He stared off into the distance.

His Simulated Eye of Life and Death had already spotted a massive creature—far off in the void, it had carefully hidden itself. It had massive wings and sharp claws, its wingspan even larger than its body. Its head was triangular, bearing three faces, each observing coldly in different directions.

Its feathered wings bore ashen-colored scales, filled with a deathly stillness. Just looking at them radiated an aura of death.

“Three-Faced Graywing Beast,” Luo Feng said gravely. “Judging by size, aura, and wave fluctuations, it’s likely early-stage God Emperor level.”

As he spoke, Luo Feng waved his hand, and a phantom map appeared beside him, marking the position of that low-rank Primordial Lifeform.

“Oh?” Emperor Qing piloted the black flying boat forward cautiously until he too spotted the creature.

“I also think it’s early-stage God Emperor level,” Emperor Qing assessed based on his experience.

“Brother Qing, let me try first,” Luo Feng said, full of fighting spirit. “I’ve never fought a low-rank Primordial Lifeform before.”

Emperor Qing nodded and smiled. “Alright, if you can’t handle it, I’ll step in.”

This would also be a good chance to get a clear sense of Luo Feng’s strength.

Luo Feng’s body was suddenly cloaked in a white robe—a transformation of his Heavenlight Form. Among his five forms, the Heavenlight Form was the toughest—far more suitable as armor than any purchased treasure.

Treasure armor could withstand minor damage, but serious damage—especially to secret patterns—would be hard to repair.

But the robe formed by the Heavenlight Form could regenerate its energy flows rapidly, even when heavily damaged.

“Let’s go!”

With a thought, Luo Feng entered the future timeline.

Many cultivators could access the past timeline, but few could enter the future. That was the power of his Time Form.

“Brother Luo Feng can walk along other timelines?” Emperor Qing watched in awe.

…

The Three-Faced Graywing Beast lay hidden in the void, its three faces coldly scanning the surroundings. Its tail—thin as a thread—gently swayed.

It waited patiently.

It knew that cultivators often approached the Cold Ice River, which was its chance to ambush them.

“Devour cultivators.” It craved it deeply.

The more it devoured, the more it would be rewarded by the heavens and earth—and it would grow stronger.

Perhaps one day, it could even escape this world.

“Boom—”

Suddenly, a world projection descended with overwhelming power, suppressing the Three-Faced Graywing Beast.

Cultivators who comprehended the Dao often experienced enhancements to their mental will. Back then, Emperor Qing and the Ruler of the Myriad Realms both had their mental wills transform to the God Emperor level after reaching the Ultimate Realm.

Luo Feng had successively attained the Ultimate Realm in Life, Destruction, and Life-and-Death paths, all of which greatly enhanced his mental will.

Especially his comprehension of the Path of Life and Death—that had the greatest impact! His World Form now held a perfect Divine Body energy reserve at 300 times capacity—easily supported by his mental will.

Naturally, the power of his world projection was immense!

“Heaven and Earth as One!”

At that moment, his Heaven-and-Earth Form merged with the vast surroundings—the world itself became Luo Feng’s domain.

Control the world! World projection! All of it suppressed and bound the Three-Faced Graywing Beast.

“A cultivator?” The beast was both shocked and enraged. Its wings flapped, trying to shake off the suppression—but the force was too strong. It could only use 60–70% of its power. “Not good.”

“Forbidden Technique—Heaven-Severing Curse Art!”

“Lieu Yuan Technique!”

At that moment, Luo Feng’s Causality Form unleashed a forbidden move created only after comprehending the full Path of Life and Death—Heaven-Severing Curse Art. This technique consumed a large amount of energy, but its power was immense.

At the same time the curse descended, Luo Feng’s World Form used the Lieu Yuan Technique.

The Three-Faced Graywing Beast “saw” a massive star crashing toward it, crushing its will.

Boom rumble—

As beings who had broken free from the Caged World, low-rank Primordial Lifeforms possessed terrifyingly strong souls and physical bodies.

Suffering simultaneous attacks from the Heaven-Severing Curse Art and the Lieu Yuan Technique, the Three-Faced Graywing Beast felt dazed—its awareness greatly dulled.

At that moment—

“Slash.”

Luo Feng, clad in his white robe, loomed tall—about one-third the size of the Three-Faced Graywing Beast—suddenly appeared before it.

In that instant, Luo Feng’s giant hands—clad in the treasure gloves—transformed like claws, filled with the mystery of life-and-death cycles, and stabbed straight into the beast’s chest!