Chapter 338 Are there spying sessions in the burial ground?

"We'll start with the three Amethyst Rank beasts in the town center."

Jiang Yun said this nonchalantly.

Yet it caused Captain Wang and the team members behind him to all gasp in unison.

There were Amethyst Rank Vicious Beasts there!

As well as several high-tier Gold Rank Vicious Beasts and a Peak Gold Rank 9 Vicious Beast.

The combat power of Vicious Beasts was inherently stronger than that of average tamed beasts.

For these guards who were stationed at the border town year-round...

...and had to risk their lives just to contend with a Gold Rank Vicious Beast, it was a different story.

To them, the Amethyst Rank was an insurmountable chasm.

Those were terrifying existences capable of wiping out their entire defense zone within a few breaths!

But this young leader before them...

...when he spoke of dealing with them...

...his tone was so calm...

...it was as if he were just saying he was going to the market later to buy a head of cabbage.

Captain Wang opened his mouth.

He wanted to say something.

At least to warn these young people about the terrifying nature of those three Amethyst Rank Vicious Beasts.

However, when he saw Lei Qing's eager and excited expression, as if he had just heard news of prey...

...saw Liu Qingshuang's still cold eyes, even faintly shimmering with a chilling light...

...saw Xiao Chen's calm and sharp eyes...

...and Jiang Yun's bottomless tranquility... he ultimately said nothing.

Perhaps...

...this was the confidence of the Sky Dome Academy Prodigies.

"Flame Prison Lizard King, Profound Ice Python, and one more... Amethyst Vicious Beast."

Jiang Yun quickly repeated the lineup.

Vicious Beasts of this caliber didn't pose much of a threat to the group.

After all, each of the four Prodigies behind him likely possessed the terrifying combat power to kill a Violet Crystal Rank One Vicious Beast.

Even for him...

...the current Little Fire could certainly kill them as well.

It would just take a bit of effort.

However, Little Fire and Little Skylark were currently refining resources to increase their strength.

He didn't want to interrupt them.

So his gaze swept over the four of them.

His tone was steady and decisive.

"Since you've chosen me to be the leader, then as the leader, I can't do nothing."

Jiang Yun smiled as he spoke.

"Lei Qing, you'll handle that Flame Prison Lizard King later. Your Thunder Beast has enough explosive power; end it quickly."

"You got it!"

Lei Qing grinned.

His fists cracked as he clenched them.

Battle Intent burned like fire in his eyes.

"Senior Sister Liu Qingshuang."

Jiang Yun turned toward that cold figure.

Liu Qingshuang slightly raised her eyes.

She didn't speak, waiting for him to continue.

"Leave the Profound Ice Python to you. I believe that with your strength, you should have no problem within the same rank."

Liu Qingshuang nodded slightly.

Her voice was like an icy spring hitting jade.

"Three breaths."

Three breaths.

She didn't say she would try her best or give it a shot.

Instead, she directly gave an estimated time to resolve the battle.

This confidence was as cold and sharp as a blade.

Jiang Yun said no more.

He turned to Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen spoke up at the right moment.

His tone was peaceful yet insightful.

"I'll clear the wandering Gold Rank Vicious Beasts in the vicinity and cover the two main attackers to prevent interference from small fry. I'll also keep an eye on the movements of that unknown beast..."

In a few words, he clearly defined his position in the team.

Support, cover, and intelligence gathering.

Not fighting for glory, not acting rashly.

Yet he was an indispensable key to the team everywhere.

Jiang Yun nodded.

In his heart, his evaluation of this second-ranked Earth Board member rose a few notches.

"What about me?"

A slightly impatient voice rang out.

Zhao Zhao leaned against a broken wall.

A half-smile hung on the corner of his mouth.

His gaze circled around Jiang Yun.

"The Sacred Student's arrangements are so thorough, could it be you've forgotten this young master?"

He spoke flippantly.

Anyone could hear the hidden dissatisfaction in his words.

A Gold Rank Five leader...

...arranging for three Gold Rank guys to deal with Amethyst Vicious Beasts...

...while leaving him, the only Amethyst Tier 3, to the side?

What kind of logic was that?

Jiang Yun looked at him calmly.

Without any emotional fluctuations.

"You are responsible for surveillance."

Zhao Zhao's movements paused.

"The Bone Burial Area is twenty miles south of the town."

Jiang Yun didn't explain further.

He just stated the facts.

"There may be higher-tier existences appearing there that weren't marked in the mission intelligence."

Higher tier.

This term was like an invisible shadow.

It quietly loomed over everyone's hearts.

Zhao Zhao's expression changed slightly.

He stared at Jiang Yun.

He seemed to be trying to discern if this was a real tactical arrangement...

...or if he was using the opportunity to suppress him and make things difficult.

Jiang Yun's expression was open.

He didn't avoid his gaze.

Three breaths later.

Zhao Zhao snorted coldly.

He looked away.

"Fine. Surveillance it is. this young master wants to see what kind of extraordinary thing can crawl out of this broken town. But you guys better not embarrass the academy."

He spoke with indifference.

But on the back of his hand gripping the jade pendant...

...veins slightly bulged.

The division of labor was set; there was no more delay.

Lei Qing was the first to move.

His burly body was as light as a flash of lightning.

With a few leaps, he disappeared at the end of the ruined street leading to the town center.

His laughter drifted back faintly from ahead.

Heroic and hearty.

"Flame Prison Lizard King, right! Just wait! Your Grandpa Lei Qing is coming to take your life!"

Liu Qingshuang followed closely behind.

Her figure was like an icy blue shadow, silent and soundless.

Perhaps the ice attribute power of the beast in her Beast Taming Space was too strong.

Wherever she passed...

...the air seemed to drop several degrees.

The remaining embers of fire on the ground made a sizzling sound as they froze.

Xiao Chen nodded slightly to Jiang Yun.

With a flick of his green robes...

...he moved unhurriedly toward the east street.

His speed didn't seem fast.

But every step precisely landed on the best vantage point.

Faint green wind swirls circulated around him.

Jiang Yun watched the three leave.

He didn't follow immediately.

His gaze fell on the area to the south of the town shrouded in gray mist. His Brick Stone Rank Divine Sense quietly spread out like an invisible giant net, extending inch by inch toward the source of that familiar yet unsettling Aura.

He still couldn't remember.

Clearly, that Aura felt familiar.

As if he had sensed it somewhere before.

Was it in the provincial capital?

Or C City?

Jiang Yun suppressed that lingering doubt in his heart.

Just as he was about to move...

...a cold female voice...

...rang out in his Sea of Consciousness without any warning.

"Twenty miles to the north, at the edge of the Bone Burial Area, something seems to be staring this way. Its strength is estimated to have reached Amethyst Ninth Tier Peak, half-step Brick Stone Rank."

It was Fox Immortal.

Jiang Yun's footsteps paused.

He didn't look back.

On the broken wall not far behind him...

...Fox Immortal still stood there quietly.

In a plain white dress, with her black hair falling down.

She looked indifferently toward the north of the town.

As if she hadn't been the one to speak those words just now.

Jiang Yun felt a slight chill in his heart.

He had just spread his Divine Sense.

Yet he hadn't sensed the gaze Fox Immortal mentioned at all.

If she hadn't warned him...

...he wouldn't even have known something was peering at them.

But Jiang Yun wasn't surprised.

After all, Fox Immortal's Realm was right there.

The strength of her Divine Sense was bound to be more powerful than his.

"What Realm?"

He asked via the contract transmission.

Fox Immortal didn't answer immediately.

Her fox-like eyes slightly narrowed.

In the depths of her eyes, a five-colored divine light flashed and then vanished.

Then it submerged.

"Too far away, hidden too deep. At least Amethyst Peak, half-step Brick Stone Rank, and there might be more than one."

She paused.

Her tone was still indifferent.

Jiang Yun sensed a slight change.

It wasn't fear.

It was more like... a certain alertness.

"They have no intention of approaching, just watching. But I'm not sure if it's wariness or waiting, perhaps they are watching this side vigilantly."

Amethyst Peak?

More than one?

Vigilant of this side?

Jiang Yun's heart sank.

He turned to look at Zhao Zhao.

This 81st-ranked Prodigy on the Heaven Board was leaning against the wall out of boredom, his gaze occasionally sweeping toward the north, completely unaware of the peering from at least an Amethyst Peak level being as Fox Immortal described.

Jiang Yun didn't warn him.

It wasn't a lack of trust.

At least not entirely.

Speaking it out now...

...would serve no purpose other than creating panic.

Zhao Zhao's surveillance was meant to guard this direction anyway.

If there really was any movement...

...as the only overt Amethyst combatant...

...he had to react immediately.

This was his task.

And his responsibility.

Jiang Yun had already given him enough information.

As for whether he believed it or took it seriously... that was his own business.

Jiang Yun withdrew his gaze.

He was also quite curious about the situation over there.

What exactly caused these Vicious Beasts to riot and attack this town?

And why were those powerful Amethyst Rank tamed beasts staying there instead of attacking together?

What exactly was over there?

Although there were many doubts in his heart...

...for now, he had to resolve the crisis in the town first.

So Jiang Yun also headed toward the town center.

Zhao Zhao looked disdainful.

He was extremely displeased looking at Jiang Yun's back.

He also moved to follow... Town center.

Administrative Office Plaza.

This was originally the most prosperous area of Ash Town.

Now it was a scorched wasteland.

The main building of the Administrative Office had long since collapsed.

The plaza ground was cracked like a spiderweb.

Everywhere were deep pits stepped out by giant claws of Vicious Beasts and charred marks left after being burned by flames.

The air was filled with a pungent smell of blood, char, and the unique rank odor of Vicious Beasts.

At this moment.

A fierce battle was breaking out in the center of the plaza.

Two figures were back to back.

Contending with seven or eight Vicious Beasts.

Beside them.

Their respective beasts were letting out low growls.

Desperately resisting wave after wave of attacks from the Vicious Beasts.

One of them was in his early forties.

His face was resolute, with a hideous old scar on his left cheek.

It added a bit of bravery and ferocity to his entire face.

At this moment, his palms were pressed down.

He was commanding a giant beast in front of him that was entirely crimson and about ten meters tall.

It was clashing head-on with a massive lizard that had dark red lava flowing all over its body.

This person was...

...a Amethyst Tier 3 Beast Tamer.

The Mayor of Ash Town!

Xiao Jianshan!

His beast was a Amethyst Tier 3 earth-fire dual-attribute Puppet-type beast.

Every punch it threw carried the high temperature of splashing lava and immense force.

It smashed against that Flame Prison Lizard King, which was also Amethyst Tier 3.

Emitting a dull boom like thunder.

The Flame Prison Lizard King's scales were too thick.

When the Lava Giant Puppet's punch hit it...

...it could only leave shallow scorch marks.

It was unable to cause fatal damage.

And even more deadly...

...there was also a Gold Rank 9 Vicious Beast.

That was a Wind-Rending Eagle Falcon surrounded by grey-black wind blades.

It was circling above the battlefield.

It didn't attack head-on.

Instead, whenever the Lava Giant Puppet fully attacked the Flame Prison Lizard King...

...it would dive down from a tricky angle.

Its claws wrapped in wind blades.

Fiercely tearing at Xiao Jianshan's vital points.

Xiao Jianshan had already dodged three such sneak attacks.

A deep, bone-deep bloody wound was torn open on his left shoulder.

Every breath affected the wound, bringing sharp pain.

His eyes were still as fierce as a wolf's.

Without the slightest intention of retreating.

"Old Li! Hold on over there!"

He roared hoarsely.

His voice was a bit raspy due to excessive blood loss.

But his Aura didn't diminish.

The other person...

...was exactly the Old Li he mentioned.

The Captain of the Ash Town Guard.

Fierce Tiger Li.

Fierce Tiger Li was about the same age as Xiao Jianshan.

He was burly, with a back like a tiger and a waist like a bear.

Right now, he looked extremely wretched.

His beast was a Peak Gold Rank 9 Iron Spine Azure Wolf.

Its fur was mottled, its body covered in wounds, and its left hind leg was clearly broken.

It could only barely support itself on three legs, yet it still stood in front of its master.

Letting out an unyielding roar at the two Vicious Beasts in front.

Confronting it...

...was a Peak Gold Rank 9 One-Horned Savage Ape.

The same species as the one killed by Lei Qing earlier, but its body was even more robust, and its roar shook the fields as it beat its chest.

As well as a Gold Rank 9 Bone-Piercing Shadow Leopard.

Not just these two.

On the periphery of the battle circle...

...there were at least five Gold Rank Seventh Order and Eighth Order Vicious Beasts watching greedily.

They moved cunningly.

Looking for flaws that could appear at any moment.

Fierce Tiger Li held a heavy, broad-bladed beast-slaying saber.

It was a close-combat treasure specifically equipped for Beast Tamers.

The blade was already nicked.

It was covered in the blood of Vicious Beasts and his own beast's blood.

A half-foot-long wound was torn open on his right leg when the Bone-Piercing Shadow Leopard ambushed him.

Every step he took left a bloody footprint on the ground.

He didn't retreat a single step.

"Town! Mayor!"

He was panting heavily.

His voice sounded like an old bellows.

"The people on North Street... have they finished evacuating?!"

"They're all evacuated!"

Xiao Jianshan gritted his teeth.

He controlled the Lava Giant Puppet to force back the Flame Prison Lizard King's charge again.

"They were all moved to the town hall basement last night! Now we're the only ones left who haven't... shit!"

He suddenly turned sideways.

The Wind-Rending Eagle Falcon's claws grazed his cheek.

Leaving three cracks over three inches deep on the stone wall.

A bloody mark appeared on Xiao Jianshan's cheek.

Warm blood dripped down his chin.

"Damn it!"

He spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm.

"These beasts are trying to wear me down here today!"

Fierce Tiger Li didn't speak.

He actually couldn't hold on much longer.

Blood loss, fatigue, and his beast's serious injuries.

Each one was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

After his Iron Spine Azure Wolf desperately blocked three heavy blows from the One-Horned Savage Ape...

...it finally let out a mournful cry.

Its limbs went weak, and it collapsed to the ground.

"Old Wolf!!"

Fierce Tiger Li's eyes were red.

He rushed forward.

Using his own body to block the front of his beast.

The One-Horned Savage Ape's giant palm was already raised high.

Its dark gold claws flashed with the cold light of death under the setting sun.

At this moment.

What flashed through Fierce Tiger Li's mind... was not fear, not regret.

But... damn it, if I'd known, I would have written a letter to my wife last night... "Mayor! Captain!!"

A hoarse cry, filled with a sob.

Came from the edge of the plaza.

Captain Wang stumbled out of the ruins.

His face was pale, his eyes full of despair and horror.

He saw Fierce Tiger Li about to die under the beast's claws.

He saw Xiao Jianshan being pincered by the Flame Prison Lizard King and the Wind-Rending Eagle Falcon, in a critical state.

He saw the bodies of guards and their beasts fallen all over the ground.

His heart completely sank to the bottom.

He hadn't expected the situation here to be far worse than he had anticipated.

"It's over..."

His legs went weak.

He could barely stand steady.

"We're still... too late..."

Seeing this, Jiang Yun also immediately issued the command.

Move!