133: The returning horde of monsters

The Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King looked at the human Cultivators who were ready and waiting. It actually spoke human words, its voice hoarse and unpleasant:

"Humans... leave... half the blood food... this King... will let you... pass... otherwise... die!"

The saliva from its mouth dripped onto the ground, making a "sizzling" corrosive sound.

Puffs of green smoke rose, showing just how intense its toxicity was.

"Vile beast! Do not be so arrogant!"

Li Chen was furious. Blood food? That meant sacrificing living people!

This crossed his bottom line. "Kill!"

He was the first to strike, a condensed and incomparable giant green blade energy tore through the air, slashing straight at the head of the Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King!

Ma Lei and the others also launched their attacks simultaneously. The light of various Magic Treasures and a torrent of Spells instantly submerged the giant lizard!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Violent explosions echoed through the mountain forest.

The dark purple scales on the Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King's body burst forth with blinding light,

forcibly withstanding most of the attacks; only a few managed to leave shallow scars on its body.

It roared in pain, its thick tail sweeping across like a steel whip, creating a shrill piercing sound through the air, forcing the besieging Cultivators to dodge one after another.

At the same time, it opened its mouth and spat out a thick cloud of purple poison mist, which rapidly spread!

"Watch out for the poison mist!"

Ma Lei shouted in horror, quickly holding his breath and retreating while simultaneously manifesting a defensive Magic Treasure.

The poison mist was extremely corrosive; even his protective spiritual light made a "sizzling" sound.

The battle instantly fell into a stalemate. Li Chen's blade techniques were sharp and his movements swift, focusing on the main attack and containment;

Ma Lei and the others supported from the sides, looking for opportunities.

But the Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King was thick-skinned and tough, and the poison mist covered a large area. Even with five people joined together,

they were temporarily unable to severely wound it, and were instead forced into a bit of a frantic state by its fierce counterattacks.

On the other side, the guard team and the Cultivators were also struggling to clear out the low-level Yao Beasts that kept pouring in. The shouts of battle reached the heavens, and casualties began to appear.

The Mortals and low-level Cultivators who were protected in the middle,

looking at the tragic slaughter around them and the terrifying giant lizard, had long since turned pale with fright, trembling all over.

Xin Yuelan was protected by Yao Delong in a relatively safe corner behind him. She looked at the deadlocked battle in the distance,

then at the guards and Cultivators who kept falling around her, her pretty face under the mask full of anxiety.

She understood the habits of Yao Beasts all too well!

The Demon Sect often dealt with high-level Yao Beasts and knew well the greed and vengefulness of these creatures.

"Hey!"

She couldn't help but tug at Yao Delong's sleeve, her voice carrying urgency,

"Don't you Righteous Path Cultivators pride yourselves on intervening when you see injustice?"

That big lizard is so difficult to deal with, Li Chen and the others are about to fail! Why... why aren't you going to help?"

Yao Delong glanced at her, his tone so flat it was almost irritating:

"What's the rush? They can handle it. Besides,"

He pointed to the White Horse Merchant Guild transit token at his waist,

"I am a paying customer; protecting me is their responsibility. Since when does the customer have to enter the field personally?"

"You!"

Xin Yuelan was so angry at his twisted logic that she stomped her foot, yet she was helpless. She was currently a burden who could hardly protect herself.

Just then, the Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King also seemed to realize that its subordinate Yao Beasts were suffering heavy losses and it couldn't win after a long time.

It let out an angry roar, suddenly jerked its head to force Li Chen back, its cold vertical pupils swept across the entire battlefield, and it hissed:

"Humans... you... wait! This King... will... return!"

Before the roar faded, its massive body twisted suddenly,

breaking several giant trees, and with a gust of rank wind, it quickly vanished into the depths of the dense forest.

With its retreat, the low-level Yao Beasts that were besieging them also retreated like a tide,

leaving behind a mess and the shaken crowd.

"Phew..."

Li Chen leaned on his blade, panting slightly, his face somewhat pale.

Although the consumption from the battle just now wasn't huge, that poison mist also made him feel waves of dizziness.

He forced himself to stay alert and said to the equally disheveled Ma Lei:

"Captain Ma, this place is not to be stayed in for long! That beast is vengeful and will surely return!"

Notify the merchant caravan to advance at full speed; we must pass through the core area before sunset!"

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Li!" Ma Lei, still shaken, quickly shouted orders, urging the startled group to clean up the aftermath and accelerate their advance.

In an atmosphere of oppression and tension, the team burst forth with unprecedented speed.

Finally, at dusk, they rushed out of the most dangerous core area of the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range without further incident.

The terrain ahead became gentler, and the Demonic Qi thinned out significantly. Everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

That night, they set up camp in a relatively flat mountain hollow.

Ignoring his fatigue, Li Chen personally checked the layout of the camp's defensive Formation and instructed Ma Lei once more:

"Captain Ma, be sure to strengthen the patrols tonight, three shifts on rotation, without the slightest slackness!"

That Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King will never let this go; it is highly likely to launch a sneak attack under the cover of night!"

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist! I will personally lead the men to guard the first half of the night!"

Ma Lei patted his chest in guarantee, his expression extremely serious.

Xin Yuelan sat by the campfire, looking at the darkness outside the camp that was so thick it wouldn't dissipate, her sense of unease growing stronger and stronger.

She knew the persistence of Yao Beasts all too well, especially a Rank Six Great Demon like this that had been provoked and not satisfied.

She couldn't help but look again at Yao Delong, who was resting with his eyes closed nearby, and said in a low voice:

"Hey, that big lizard will definitely come tonight!"

It wants blood food and won't stop until it gets it! Are you... are you really not worried at all?"

Yao Delong didn't even lift his eyelids, his tone remaining flat:

"Is worrying useful? When soldiers come, use a general to block them; when water comes, use earth to cover it. If I can't win, can't I still run?"

These words were not empty talk. With his Middle Golden Core Stage cultivation and the extreme speed of the Instantaneous Body Sword Art,

even if a Rank Seven Demon General came, he was confident he could escape with the demon girl.

Xin Yuelan was choked into silence by his "unconcerned" attitude and could only hug her knees in a huff, listening tensely to the movements outside the camp.

The night grew deeper, and all was silent except for the crackling of the campfire and the deliberately light footsteps of the patrolling guards.

Most of the exhausted caravan members had already fallen into a deep sleep to recover their energy.

At midnight, a sudden change occurred!

Just as Xin Yuelan had expected, how could the Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King let it go?

It hadn't retreated to give up, but to summon more minions!

At this moment, in the darkness surrounding the camp, countless pairs of crimson beast pupils lit up like the fires of Hell.

Low beast roars rose and fell, merging into a heart-palpitating wave.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several bursts of violent demonic power slammed heavily against the defensive light barrier on the outskirts of the camp!

The light barrier flickered violently, letting out a groan as it became overwhelmed!

"Enemy attack! It's a Beast Tide!!" A shrill alarm once again tore through the night sky!

All around the camp, densely packed Rank Four Yao Beasts, whose strength was comparable to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage,

poured in like a tide, and among them were five Rank Five Yao Beasts with massive bodies and towering Demonic Qi, whose strength was comparable to the Middle Golden Core Stage!

And at the very front of this Beast Tide, that dark purple terrifying figure—the Purple Scaled Poison Lizard King—

was using its cold vertical pupils to lock onto the center of the camp, letting out a roar full of tyranny and greed!

"Form the array! Face the enemy!"

Li Chen's roar resounded through the camp, carrying an unquestionable authority.

Inside the camp, all Cultivators were instantly mobilized.

Five Early Golden Core Stage Cultivators, three Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivators (including Ma Lei), and dozens of Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators quickly split into several forces.

Most of the strength was thrown into resisting the surging Beast Tide, clashing with the Rank Four and Rank Five Yao Beasts.

For a time, the light of Magic Treasures flashed, Spells boomed, and the sounds of shouting and beast roars shook the earth, as the smell of blood instantly filled the air.