Chapter 53 Ambushed

To reassure the others, Chi Bi snorted coldly. “Hmph, what’s there to fear from a mere Blood Path demon? He’s nothing more than a rat everyone wants to kill. Our clan leader has already requested aid from the Tie Clan of the Southern Border. As a super clan, there’s no way they’ll stand by and do nothing.”

The Tie Clan of Southern Border was renowned for far more than just their Divine Investigator, Tie Xue Leng. Since the days of their founding ancestor, the clan had upheld a single ancestral creed: suppress the demonic path of Southern Border and imprison its criminals within the Demon Suppression Tower.

Naturally, the Tie Clan was generously rewarded for hunting demonic Gu Masters and assisting the various mountain clans. Moreover, all spoils seized from those they killed or captured belonged to the Tie Clan Gu Masters who carried out the mission.

This was the Tie Clan’s justice, one that brought tangible rewards. It was a creed established by the first Tie Clan Leader and had never wavered, no matter how rampant the demonic path became.

At the same time, no righteous force accused the Tie Clan of using justice as a pretext for personal gain.

The reason was simple. Only a system that rewarded those who upheld it could endure through the generations. Otherwise, even the noblest ideals would eventually become nothing more than empty words.

After all, justice itself is selfless, but upholding it comes at a cost. Those who uphold justice still need resources to cultivate and survive. Without proper rewards, fewer people would be willing to walk that path. In time, even those living under their protection might grow suspicious of them or come to resent the sacrifices they made.

The group continued deeper into the crimson maple forest when the Gu Master responsible for scouting suddenly shouted, “Damn it! We’ve been ambushed! Someone lured us into the Lava Crocodiles’ territory!”

The others immediately went pale. The previously calm ground suddenly began to tremble. At first, the vibrations were faint, but they quickly grew stronger until the entire area shook violently, as though an earthquake had struck.

The earth split open as one Lava Crocodile after another burst from beneath the ground. They possessed thick armored hides, razor-sharp fangs, and three pairs of powerful legs.

Lava Crocodiles were common wild beasts in the Southern Border. They were often infested with Fire Path Gu, and their carapaces were prized materials for refining defensive Gu.

“There’s no other choice. Fight!” Chi Bi roared as a crimson light barrier enveloped his body. Without hesitation, he charged straight at the oncoming beasts.

The others immediately moved to support Chi Bi. Some launched fireballs to hold the Lava Crocodiles back, while others activated Earth Path Gu to raise stone platforms beneath their feet. Meanwhile, the scouting Gu Master constantly warned everyone of attacks coming from blind spots.

Despite their flawless coordination, the Lava Crocodiles were simply too numerous. A Rank One Flowing Fire Gu lurking within one of the beasts suddenly spat a stream of flames at Xiao Lan. Startled, she lost her footing and tumbled from the elevated platform.

Roar!

Seeing their prey fall, the surrounding Lava Crocodiles let out excited roars and charged toward her from every direction.

“Xiao Lan!” Everyone’s faces paled as they hurried to rescue her, unleashing long-range Gu to slow the charging beasts.

“Water Bullet Gu!”

“Help! Help me!” Xiao Lan had completely panicked. Most of her attacks missed outright, while the few that struck only glanced off the Lava Crocodiles’ thick armored hides, leaving nothing more than shallow scratches.

“Idiot! Attack their bellies, not their shells! Xiao Lan, have you already forgotten everything I taught you?” Chi Bi roared furiously as he charged deeper into the crocodile horde, desperately drawing their attention onto himself.

At this moment, With a deafening roar, a gigantic beast burst from beneath the earth and landed directly before Chi Bi.

This Lava Crocodile King was several times larger than an ordinary Lava Crocodile, its massive body rivaling that of a yak. Unlike the others, it no longer moved on six legs. Instead, it stood upright on two thick, powerful hind legs.

Its broad shoulders and muscular back gave it the imposing build of a giant bear, while its long, scale-covered tail dragged across the ground, carving deep furrows with every swing.

The remaining four limbs had evolved into thick, muscular arms ending in razor-sharp claws. Every movement radiated explosive strength, and the bulging muscles beneath its armored hide seemed as hard as solid rock.

Chi Bi’s expression immediately darkened. A Beast King already possessed considerable intelligence. It had remained hidden until the decisive moment, waiting patiently for its prey to expose a weakness. Now, with a single appearance, it had cut the battlefield in two, leaving the five Gu Masters isolated from one another.

It intended to annihilate them all in one sweep.