30 Battle At The Wandering Wood - Three (1/2)

Lin Huangfu and Forest Clan fought relentlessly, dozens of Spirit Beasts corpses on the ground. All around the scenery of blood and destruction, Spirit Energy flashing left and right.

”Patriarch, we need to retreat!” One cultivator screamed in fear. The more they fought the less hope they saw of leaving alive.

After taking down the Furious Roaring Red Lizard and Triple slashing Dragonfly, the Patriarch Lin Huangfu and Second Elder thought about resting but had no time to do so. More Spirit Beasts kept coming.

They needed to retreat, but how? Those Spirit Beasts prevented them from doing so, cutting off their retreat. Many of their Cultivators lost consciousness although no one died yet. Their fighting force dwindled at each passing breath.

”Don't retreat! Stand your ground! When the other Clans are done reinforcements will come!” Although the Patriarch tried raising morale, he too was unsure. Since taking the field himself, although weaker than the Flame Commander and White Clan Elder, their strengths could be comparable. The other Clans would also be in trouble.

Soon a strong presence fell from the above in front. A huge green ape with an armored body and a long Spirit Beast Spine as a weapon. The other beats lowered their heads in reverence.

Green Armored Ape King, Peak of The Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm!

Some Spirit Beast Kings possessed higher intelligence and wisdom. In rare cases, they would mimic humans and use weapons, specially in species that somehow resembled human physique, such as Apes.

”Be careful!” Patriarch Lin Huangfu and the others moved right away into defensive positions. Yet the beast didn't attack. It looked at them and snorted as if it found insects in its path.

With a glare, all the other beasts retreated out of range.

”It's coming!!!!” The second Elder roared and moved to block, protecting his body with a layer of Spirit Energy. The Patriarch did the same with his axe.

But the Large Spirit Beast Spine moved irregularly. It had over five meters, dense Spirit bone, its might comparable to a First-Rank Fifth Layer Weapon. Not only both the Second Elder and Patriarch together couldn't block and took damage, but it even hit the many Cultivators behind, throwing them crashing into the branches.

Such a powerful strike!

”What's going on…? That's not the Spirit Beast we saw!” The Forest Clan Scout trembled. It belonged to the same realm at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea, but the one before was not such a powerful existence. He'd never dare to lead his clan to face such a Spirit Beast.

The Spirit Beast raised his weapon and struck downward. The Patriarch and Second Elder dodged, but one Cultivator got smashed to a pulp. Lin Huangfu pressed on the attack, hacking with [Woodland Fury], but the Spirit Beast parried with the weaponized spine with no trouble. The Second Elder moved in to attack, and hit its sides with [Leaf] and all his might, spending a large amount of Spirit Energy. A strike at the Peak of the Spirit Realm!

The beast screamed in pain, not enough to break its defenses.

”Impossible!” Before the Second Elder could end his astonishment, a strong hand hit his chest, sending him straight to the ground, coughing a lot of blood.

”We're doomed!” The scout cried.

And it seems like the heavens heard him.

From another side, a fierce looking red Lizard-like bipedal Spirit Beast came, with three horns and two tails. Its cultivation base at the peak of the middle stage of the Spirit Sea Realm.

”T-that's the one!” The scout recognized the beast, ”Three Horned Salamander!”

The Patriarch grit his teeth, hope vanishing. When the Green Armored Ape raised his weapon to strike it suddenly glanced sideways as if it had a scare, even taking a step back. The Three Horned Salamander also did the same.

Lin Huangfu and the rest: ”???”

The Ape then shook its head as if thinking ”only my imagination” and raised his weapon again to strike. Once more, it shivered and jumped back even further. The Salamander hissed and jumped back.

”What is going on…? Are they… afraid? Is another powerful Spirit Beast coming?” Lin Huangfu held his ax and thought about taking advantage of this moment, but looked around and gave up. The Second Elder stood with difficulty, his body battered with a single strike. All other living Cultivators had varying wounds.

Lin Huangfu sighed. He didn't do right as the Forest Clan Patriarch, leading so many people to their deaths just to save his son. No matter what, he needed to hold those beasts back. When his determined eyes wanted to burn every bit of blood essence to fight, a few figures rushed from the forest with great speed, landing in front of him.

Elder Lin Dong clasped his hands and bowed, ”Lin Dong greets Forest Patriarch, Second Elder!”

Lin Qiang did the same, ”Junior Lin Qiang greets Forest Patriarch, Second Elder!”

Ming Ren stood behind them but only clasped his hands and said nothing.

”Lin Dong…?” Hope flashed across Lin Huangfu eyes, ”Little Fu…?”

”He is fine! He's coming with the others, they couldn't keep up!” After greeting the Patriarch, Lin Dong turned around and glared at the Green Armored Ape and the Three-Horned Salamander. No sign of fear in his eyes.

”That's East Elder…? And Qiang'er…?” Second Elder couldn't believe his eyes. Peak of the Third Layer of The Spirit Sea Realm and peak of the Second Layer. Just a week before Lin Dong was only at the Peak of The Body Tempering Realm, unable to break through, and Lin Qiang at the Body Tempering Realm. What kind of heaven-defying encounter did they have?