The training in the Savage Beast Hills passed in a blur of blood and slaughter. Yu Yuanchen, Tang Chen, and Qian Daoliu had long since grown accustomed to the omnipresent danger and madness of this place. Their coordination could hardly be called refined, yet it had become increasingly efficient and lethal, like three divine weapons of vastly different styles being sharpened against the whetstone of the wilderness, honing an ever more chilling edge.
On the afternoon of this day, the three had just finished a brutal battle. Their opponent was a Thorn Ground Dragon with a cultivation level approaching thirty thousand years. This soul beast not only possessed astonishing defensive power, but the bone thorns covering its body could also launch spikes laden with potent toxins and paralytic effects, making it extremely troublesome. After a bitter struggle lasting nearly half an hour, the trio finally found an opening; Qian Daoliu used his Angel Sacred Sword to divert its attention, Tang Chen delivered a heavy "Sky Breaker" strike to its relatively vulnerable abdomen, and Yu Yuanchen seized the moment to pierce its eye socket with a Thunder Dragon Claw, terminating the gargantuan beast.
When the battle ended, all three were somewhat exhausted. Tang Chen leaned on his Clear Sky Hammer, his chest heaving violently; his shoulder had been grazed by a poisonous thorn, and although he had channeled his energy to purge the toxin in time, a patch of dark bruising remained. Qian Daoliu's pristine wings had been struck by the dragon's tail, causing several white feathers to drift away, and his body was stained with dust and dark red dragon blood. Yu Yuanchen felt a dull ache in the meridians of his right arm from overexerting the Thunder Dragon Claw. To create the opportunity for the final blow, he had resisted a charge from the dragon head-on, leaving his chest feeling stifled and his qi and blood in turmoil. The massive corpse of the Thorn Ground Dragon lay in the ruined woodland, the gushing dragon blood soaking the soil, and the thick, pungent scent of blood permeated the surroundings like a physical substance.
"This big guy really packs a punch!" Tang Chen gasped for air, looking at the massive corpse of the Thorn Ground Dragon on the ground with lingering fear. The thick smell of blood permeated the valley like a physical presence.
Qian Daoliu frowned slightly; he keenly sensed that the atmosphere in the surroundings was off. The restless agitation in the air seemed to intensify sharply at this moment. "The scent of blood here is too heavy; it is not suitable to stay long. We must leave as soon as possible."
Yu Yuanchen's Electric Field Perception had already been pushed to its limit, and his complexion turned grave: "The situation is bad. Around us... many soul beasts are being attracted here. They are moving fast, and... the numbers are staggering!"
In his perception, countless chaotic and violent auras were converging on the valley where they stood from all directions. These auras varied in strength, ranging from thousand-year to ten-thousand-year levels, but they all carried the same madness, completely ignited by the scent of blood!
"Run!" Yu Yuanchen shouted in a low voice, choosing without hesitation the direction they had come from, which was relatively open and favorable for a breakout.
Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu also realized the severity of the situation and followed immediately.
However, they were half a step too late.
Just as they rushed out of the valley, their hearts sank at the sight before them.
The hilly area ahead, which had been relatively calm, was now filled with rolling dust! Dozens of soul beasts of various forms were charging from all directions, their eyes red and roaring! There were Mountain Shaking Rhinoceroses with massive bodies like heavy tanks, Sabertooth Terror Cats as swift as the wind with exposed fangs, and Wind Breaking Eagles circling in the air, emitting sharp cries... Their target was clear: the three people radiating the thick scent of blood!
And this was only what they could see! In Yu Yuanchen's perception, even more soul beasts were joining this feast of madness from further away!
"Damn it! It's a beast tide! A small-scale beast tide!" Tang Chen cursed with a grim expression. The slaughter they had committed in the Savage Beast Hills during this time had already accumulated a great deal of hostility and agitation among the soul beasts. Now, the blood scent released by the death of the powerful Thorn Ground Dragon acted like a spark, completely igniting the madness in this area and forming this small-scale, yet lethal, beast tide!
"We cannot be trapped! Break through!" Qian Daoliu made a prompt decision, his six wings spreading wide behind him as his sacred aura erupted, attempting to use his powerful pressure to clear a path.
However, these soul beasts, dominated by blood and madness, only hesitated for a split second before the sacred pressure of the Angel Martial Soul, then erupted with an even fiercer charge! The soul beasts of the Savage Beast Hills seemed to have an extremely high resistance to this type of mental deterrence!
"Roar!"
A ten-thousand-year Mountain Shaking Rhinoceros lowered its head and took the lead in the charge like a moving hill! Its thick rhinoceros horn shimmered with earthy yellow light, and wherever it passed, the ground cracked—the momentum was terrifying!
"I'll take it!"
Tang Chen roared, knowing he absolutely could not retreat now! He charged forward defiantly, his fifth soul ring lighting up once more. His Clear Sky Hammer, carrying the power of "Earthquake Mountain," smashed into the head of the Mountain Shaking Rhinoceros in an unadorned fashion!
"BOOM--!"
It was like two great mountains colliding! The terrifying roar made their eardrums ache! Tang Chen's body shook violently, and he retreated three steps, his web between thumb and forefinger splitting, blood flowing down the hammer handle. The Mountain Shaking Rhinoceros was also smashed until its head was bloody, its charging momentum coming to an abrupt halt as it let out a pained bellow.
But because of this delay, more soul beasts had already swarmed up!
"Watch your left!" Yu Yuanchen's voice rang out. His body moved like lightning, his dragon-transformed right arm sweeping across. A condensed arc of purple lightning whipped out, snapping the bones of three thousand-year Sabertooth Terror Cats that were attempting to ambush Tang Chen's flank, sending them flying back.
At the same time, he struck out with his left palm, a thunderous palm print blasting into the air, blowing the feathers off two diving Wind Breaking Eagles and sending them spiraling down.
Qian Daoliu moved like golden lightning, weaving along the edges of the beast horde. Every swing of his Angel Sacred Sword brought up a spray of blood, precisely severing the joints, eyes, and other vital points of the soul beasts. He did not clash head-on with the strength-based soul beasts, but instead relied on his speed advantage to continuously weaken the horde's offensive, easing the pressure on Yu Yuanchen and Tang Chen.
The three fought and retreated, attempting to tear open a gap.
However, the terror of a beast tide lay in its endless supply and disregard for death. For every one that fell, two or three immediately took its place! They completely ignored casualties, their eyes filled only with the instinct to kill and devour.
"This won't work! Our soul power is being consumed too quickly!" Tang Chen smashed a ten-thousand-year Iron Backed Grey Wolf that pounced on him, gasping for air. He had already consumed nearly forty percent of his soul power.
Qian Daoliu's situation was slightly better, but the frequent high-speed movement and precise attacks were a huge burden on his spiritual power and soul power as well.
Yu Yuanchen, relying on the efficient use of soul power from the "Thunder God Power" and the faint recovery effect brought by his Purple Gold Scales, was in the best condition, but he knew this was only temporary. In his electric field perception, more soul beasts were still pouring in, among them several exceptionally powerful auras—likely existences with cultivation levels exceeding thirty thousand years!
"We must find a breakthrough! Or... find a terrain favorable for defense!" Yu Yuanchen's brain raced, his sharp gaze scanning the surrounding environment.
To the left were steep rock walls, difficult to climb and easy to get trapped in; to the right was a dense forest of poisonous miasma, the aura strange and the unknown risks too great to rush into; behind them was the valley they had come from, which was a dead end.
Only ahead, despite the surging beast tide, the terrain was relatively open. As long as they could charge through this most concentrated area, there might be a glimmer of life!
"Charge forward! Don't stop!" Yu Yuanchen shouted sternly. At the same time, his first and third soul rings lit up again, and a massive purple lightning claw struck out, blasting several soul beasts ahead and clearing a space, temporarily opening a gap.
"Go!" Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu did not hesitate, immediately following behind him. The three of them, like a sharp arrowhead, plunged fiercely into the depths of the beast tide!
The desperate charge had officially begun! Ahead lay countless mad claws and fangs, and behind them, the pursuers gathered in ever-increasing numbers.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan