NOVEL NEXT Chapter 988: Counter-Snatch
When they saw a total of thirty-six Milky Way Realm Treasure Artifacts in the palace, everyone's eyes turned red.
Treasure Artifacts of this level, each one is worth a fortune!
Yet, the Comet-level experts did not stop, but rather hurriedly headed toward the third palace—since the first two palaces had Star-level and Milky Way-level Treasure Artifacts respectively, wasn't it logical to assume the third palace would house Comet-level Treasure Artifacts?
Comet-level Treasure Artifacts!
Even Comet Realm experts couldn't help but feel a tremor in their hearts and naturally ignored the Milky Way-level Treasure Artifacts in front of them.
Once they left, the younger generation of the Milky Way Realm naturally followed, wanting to see for themselves. However, quite a few also chose to stay behind, working hard to unlock the restrictions on the Treasure Artifacts. As long as they could obtain one, this ancient tomb expedition would be worth it!
Zhou Heng, however, exited the second palace. It could be imagined that the third palace certainly had more Stone Statue Clan members guarding it. Judging from the earlier pig and dog guards, and knowing there were twelve palaces in total, the third palace should be guarded by a Stone Statue Chicken.
No matter the form, their strength was the same, enough to give those Comet-level experts a hard time.
Zhou Heng arrived at the bodies of the two Stone Statue Dogs and began extracting the Essence Stone Origin Liquid.
Little Fire thoroughly disliked these two, opened its mouth to bite ferociously at the stone statues, shaking its head as if trying to tear off a piece of meat. Although it was a Heaven-Earth Divine Beast, it was still at the Milky Way Realm, not yet fully grown, so it could do nothing to the two Stone Statue Dogs.
The Black Donkey, on the other hand, watched while drooling, already aware of the benefits of the Essence Stone Origin Liquid.
"Indeed, your earlier defense had something to do with these two statues!" As Zhou Heng extracted a Crystal Heart, Liu Shishi's voice suddenly sounded.
Zhou Heng sighed and said to the Black Donkey, "Should we silence her?"
"Of course we should!" The Black Donkey pretended to roll up its sleeves, twisted its butt in a flowery skirt, inside of which was a pair of golden underpants, exceedingly flamboyant.
Liu Shishi quickly raised her hands, smiled, and said, "Killing and disposing of a body is such a hassle. Why not marry me instead? That way, there'll just be an extra set of chopsticks on the table, and I can keep you warm at night too!"
This woman was indeed bold and sassy!
Zhou Heng curled his lips and said, "Donkey, do you want to marry?"
"Too ugly, at least she should be at the level of the Little Witch before I would consider it!" The Black Donkey said with a proud tone.
"You heard that, even the donkey dislikes you, so it seems you can't get married. Better go find that furry fiancé of yours!" Zhou Heng said to Liu Shishi.
"I never intended to marry that donkey!" Liu Shishi moved closer to Zhou Heng, reaching out to grab the Crystal Heart. Zhou Heng quickly pulled back his hand, hiding it behind him, leaving her empty-handed.
This fiery woman pouted her lips immediately, and pouted, "Brother Heng, don't be so stingy!"
Stingy?
Nonsense, this was the essence of a Five Elements Living Spirit, although it couldn't increase cultivation, it could be used for life-saving, how precious!
Zhou Heng stepped back, but Liu Shishi moved two steps forward instead, her curvaceous body almost pressing against Zhou Heng, her exquisite and alluring face mere inches away, with fiery red lips and eyes as seductive as spring water, intoxicating.
"Hey, hey, hey, your fiancé and future father-in-law are still here. Aren't you afraid of being caught and punished?" Zhou Heng kept shifting his hands to prevent Liu Shishi from snatching the Crystal Heart.
"I, the Commandery Princess, have already taken the initiative to approach you. How can a big man like you have no courage at all!" Liu Shishi humphed, yet still reached for the Crystal Heart.
They were both experts, and didn't need eyes to see, as their Divine Sense could perceive everything clearly.
"Yes, I really don't have much courage, so you should not fancy me!" Zhou Heng kept retreating, but his Spiritual Power level was far below Liu Shishi's Peak Milky Way Emperor level. Without using the Fire Divine Furnace or Sky-soaring Nine Forms, he was truly no match for Liu Shishi!
After all, Liu Shishi was also an Overlord of Martial Arts, with outstanding talent in martial arts.
"Since I, the Commandery Princess, fancy you, you have no choice but to comply!" Liu Shishi said arrogantly, having cornered Zhou Heng with nowhere left to go and about to succeed.
"Are you trying to force me?"
"So what if I am?"
"Donkey!" Zhou Heng shouted.
The Black Donkey yawned and murmured, "I thought this pair of shameless lovers were about to get carried away, I was just about to leave to avoid an eye-sore!"
"Donkey, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing, just suddenly thought of a certain adulterous couple!" The Black Donkey raised its hooves and cast an Inhibitory Rune, causing Liu Shishi to stop in her tracks immediately.
Zhou Heng slipped away and tossed the crystal heart in his hand before throwing it to the Black Donkey.
He had no intention of giving this defensive treasure to Little Fire, because Little Fire was a Heaven-Earth Divine Beast, and its toughest feature was its thick skin and flesh. Back when it was merely a Bright Immortal, it could withstand multiple kicks from a Star King. Giving it to Little Fire would be a waste.
"Brother Heng, you're so heartless!" Liu Shishi said softly. The Inhibitory Rune couldn't hold her for too long.
Zhou Heng ignored her and continued excavating the Essence Stone Origin Liquid from another Stone Statue Dog. After digging for a while, he asked, "Why did you suspect me?"
"Isn't it obvious? That grayish appearance you had totally resembled these stone demon beasts. Since these demon beasts can transform into pigs and dogs, it doesn't seem impossible for them to become human!" Liu Shishi said, covering her mouth with a laugh.
Zhou Heng knew Liu Shishi intentionally grouped him with pigs and dogs, clearly showing that she bore a grudge. He said, "From what you're saying, you aren't the only one who suspected?"
"Of course, it's just that those Comet-level experts are all focused on the Comet-level treasure artifacts in the third palace, and the Milky Way Realm fighters are no match for you, so they have to pretend not to know!" Liu Shishi replied.
Zhou Heng nodded, realizing that anyone who could cultivate to the Stellar Realm and beyond wasn't foolish. But since none of them could harvest the Stone Statue Clan's corpses, there was no choice but to let him benefit from it.
With practice comes efficiency. After excavating three Stone Statue Dogs, Zhou Heng was getting faster and faster, and in just over ten minutes, he unearthed the fourth crystal heart.
"Brother Heng—" Liu Shishi tugged at his sleeve, looking utterly pitiful, "I just want half, is that okay, huh—"
Zhou Heng had already swallowed the crystal heart whole.
Liu Shishi was so angry she stamped her foot, reaching out to pinch Zhou Heng's neck, "Scoundrel, I've pleaded so humbly with you, and you didn't even give me a tiny bit, it's too infuriating!"
She reverted to her original fiery temper.
Zhou Heng laughed heartily and said, "I thought you could keep that up for a long time!"
"Never mind, if you don't leave a share for me next time, I'll start saying I'm pregnant with your child!" Liu Shishi said, being unreasonable.
"Hey, hey, hey, you can't speak nonsense, I haven't even touched a single strand of your hair!"
"Not a single strand indeed, just slept with me a few times!"
"...Are you a Commandery Princess or a hooligan?"
"Both a Commandery Princess and a hooligan!"
Zhou Heng ignored her; the Essence stone from the two Stone Statue Dogs had been extracted and was no longer valuable. He returned to the second palace, and upon passing through, he saw dozens of Comet-level experts battling two Stone Statue Chickens.
Because everyone was eager for the burial goods from the third palace, several extremely powerful Comet-level experts had demonstrated their true strength. Runes flowed brilliantly, showcasing their formidable prowess.
Facing these experts, Zhou Heng doubted that even if he unleashed the Sky-soaring Nine Forms, it might not break their runes!
Fortunately, there weren't many such experts, at most no more than ten.
Zhou Heng spent nearly an hour thoroughly extracting from the two Stone Statue Dogs, and by then, the two Stone Statue Chickens were also exhausted and soon were struck dead one by one.
The Comet-level experts rushed into the third palace, and soon after, cries of delight echoed from within. It seemed there were indeed Comet-level burial goods inside; otherwise, the Comet-level experts wouldn't have reacted with such surprise.
"Brother Heng, I want a share, remember!" Liu Shishi insisted, clinging to Zhou Heng's arm, acting adorably.
"You really dare to ask!" Zhou Heng wasted no time, immediately taking out the Black Sword to excavate the crystal heart. After all, he had strong backing, and no one dared to snatch things from him.
Besides, in the previous battle with the Stone Statue Dogs, he had single-handedly slain a Comet-level Five Elements Living Spirit without receiving any injuries himself! Apart from the Black Cave King, who dared to claim they could confidently defeat Zhou Heng?
"Come on, you've already eaten two pieces, leave me a share, since I'm already yours!" Liu Shishi again used gentle persuasion against Zhou Heng.
"Can't be bothered with you, call it out if you want, anyway, everyone knows whether something happened or not!"
Liu Shishi was utterly furious, constantly casting seductive glances at Zhou Heng, plotting something unknown.
Over ten minutes later, Zhou Heng unearthed the crystal heart from the first Stone Statue Chicken. But before he could toss it to the Black Donkey, Liu Shishi suddenly moved, and an Exquisite Jade Tower emerged from her chest, instantly expanding hundreds of times and releasing a terrifying pressure.
Under such immense pressure, both Zhou Heng and the Black Donkey momentarily halted, unable to react quickly. Liu Shishi seized the opportunity, reached out, grabbed the crystal heart, and swallowed it whole.
By then, Zhou Heng and the Black Donkey had regained their freedom, but the crystal heart had been devoured completely.
"Donkey, do you think if we cut open her stomach now, it'll still be in time?" Zhou Heng stared at Liu Shishi's belly, his eyes gleaming with a strange light, but definitely not related to lust.
"Give it a shot, there's nothing to lose!" The Black Donkey said fiercely, as Donkey Master had always been the one to take others' belongings—when had they ever been counter-robbed? (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, read on m.qidian.com.)