Chapter 077: Striking It Rich!

"Poof~"
"Poof!"
Two bursts of bright red blood sprayed into the air.
"Roar~!"
The furious roar echoed once more.
The three-meter-long centipede medicinal bug, far from stopping after its attack, bent its massive, grotesque body and doubled back to the right, lunging at one of the two men lying on the ground after losing an arm. Its hideous mouthparts opened wide, intending to devour the man in one bite.
Whizz!
An arrow appeared out of nowhere, striking the edge of the centipede bug’s ugly mouth. Though it didn’t pierce the skin, it was enough to make the creature halt, raising its head high and aiming toward the direction from which the arrow had flown.
In the next instant, it launched itself in a sudden sprint, charging like a bolt of lightning toward Three-Eyes, the archer.
Wherever it passed, swathes of flowerbeds were shredded, petals scattered across the ground.
Its wild, unstoppable momentum carried a thick stench and toxic fumes, injuring those members of the Madmen Mercenary Group who couldn’t escape in time.
Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!
Three-Eyes, whom it had targeted, shot arrows while retreating rapidly, shouting, "Scatter and run! This thing is an ‘Elite-level’ giant bug!"
"It’s at the peak of ‘Elite-level’!"
Lin Huafeng’s shout followed close behind, "Everyone, withdraw from the sea of flowers immediately! Old Cai, the rest of us, let's go!"
"Understood!"
Four other professional martial artists, their bodies shielded by protective energy, grabbed their weapons and rushed in from all sides to besiege the centipede bug.
The others didn't attempt heroics, swiftly withdrawing from the flower field one by one.
Even the corpses of the slain centipede bugs were left behind, unattended.
Against a peak Elite-level giant bug, these professional fighters were no match.
Stubbornly staying would only mean a pointless death.
Tang Mubai did not retreat.
He watched Lin Huafeng and the others encircle the centipede bug, nocking three arrows onto his bowstring.
This three-meter-long centipede bug radiated a violent aura, its presence exerting pressure that was palpable even from a distance.
Even with five men attacking together, there was an eighty percent chance they would lose!
If Tang Mubai continued to hold back now, it would be tantamount to watching them get injured or killed.
He drew his war bow to full, aiming at the centipede bug for a moment.
Suddenly, Tang Mubai called out, "Uncle Lin, lure it five steps to your left!"
In the midst of the attack, Lin Huafeng instinctively moved to the left, drawing the centipede bug after him.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, Tang Mubai released his grip on the arrows.

A piercing whistling sound split the air.
The three arrows flew in a straight line, hitting the centipede bug from a diagonal angle, striking beneath its mouthparts, at the neck.
Pang!
The first arrow was deflected, leaving a mark.
Slash!
The second arrow was also bounced away, but it enlarged the previous mark and scraped the skin.
Poof!
The third arrow, finally, was not deflected; at the enlarged, scraped spot, it embedded itself halfway in.
And in the next instant—
"Boom~!!!"
A muffled explosion sounded, and the centipede bug’s entire head suddenly burst apart, showering Lin Huafeng in fragments of flesh and blood.
Headless, the massive body collapsed to the ground, writhing and twitching.
It took a while before it finally stopped struggling.
[Vitality +59]
"Only 59?"
Tang Mubai frowned and put away his war bow.
Previously, even ordinary centipede bugs yielded up to 43 vitality points.
Yet this peak Elite-level centipede bug gave only 59?
Tang Mubai shook his head.
The difference in vitality between giant bugs and half-beastmen was immense.
It seemed hunting half-beastmen was still more profitable!
Well, perhaps not—giant bugs gave less vitality, but their numbers were overwhelming!
Sand spiders were like this, so were blue-scaled sticky bugs, and now centipede medicinal bugs as well.
Realizing this, Tang Mubai couldn’t help but chuckle dryly.
Just then, he felt eyes on him. Looking up, he saw Lin Huafeng and his four companions standing dumbfounded, staring at him in shock.
"What is it, Uncle Lin?"
Tang Mubai’s heart stirred, but he kept a calm face and asked curiously, "Why are you all looking at me?"
"Oh, oh, it's… it's nothing."
Lin Huafeng snapped out of it, shaking his head instinctively. After a moment, he regained his composure and sighed, "I just didn’t expect, Xiaobai, your archery to be so incredible!"
"Indeed, a triple shot, each arrow stronger than the last, and the final one was a ‘Explosive Arrow Technique’. That skill—Three-Eyes could train another ten years and still not achieve it!"
"Yes, combining ordinary archery and the Explosive Arrow Technique and releasing them together is truly remarkable."
"I thought Captain Xiaobai’s archery was already amazing, but today it’s several times stronger than yesterday!"

"Captain Xiaobai, it seems you truly are a born marksman!"
"……"
The professional fighters who’d besieged the centipede bug, each spoke up in turn, praising and marveling.
They were all deeply impressed by Tang Mubai’s performance.
They’d heard of the power of the Explosive Arrow Technique, but seeing it firsthand was a first.
If not for yesterday’s groundwork, witnessing Tang Mubai’s masterful archery today would have left them utterly astonished.
But with that prior impression, it was different.
At most, they believed Tang Mubai was born for this, a true marksman!
Even Lin Huafeng, after his admiration, couldn’t help but sigh again, "Xiaobai, now I believe you’re a genius."
"I always have been," Tang Mubai replied seriously. "You just never believed it."
Lin Huafeng, "……"
"Haha, that’s right—our captain always needs to see with his own eyes."
"I can only say Captain Xiaobai’s archery is truly astounding."
"Three-Eyes is going to cry when he gets back!"
……
The professional fighters joked and laughed.
After a while, they began to collect the corpse of the three-meter centipede bug.
This peak Elite-level centipede bug was worth even more—at least a hundred thousand federal credits.
This made everyone all the more excited.
Though two people had lost arms in this hunt, the rewards were great.
Apart from the initial fifty-four killed, another sixty-seven were found and slain after splitting up.
Altogether, over a hundred and twenty centipede bugs, worth about five million federal credits!
They hadn’t even gathered the Iron Peach Blossom yet, and already had such wealth.
This expedition was a huge windfall.
More than twenty people worked together to haul all the centipede bug corpses out of the valley and loaded them onto the truck.
After returning, they continued northeast toward their destination.
The rest of the journey was free of giant bug attacks and beast roadblocks, and when the group finally found the Iron Peach Blossom, they cheered again.
For, amidst the spread of Iron Peach Blossom, a herd of red-bronze miniature pigs were digging up roots and tubers in the grass, munching away excitedly.
"Bronzehide pigs! We’re rich—truly rich this time!"