125: A desperate escape and the "hunting dogs" sniffing the trail

The process of leaving the wilderness stronghold was more hurried and wretched than any time before.

Wen Youyi did not even have time to plan a detailed route; he could only rely on his intuition and perception of danger to lead Zhao Iron Pillar and Senior Brother Zhang in a desperate escape toward the southwest, a deeper and more desolate direction opposite to the Qingxuan Sect.

They dared not fly, nor did they dare to use any Spell that might trigger spiritual energy fluctuations, and they dared not even easily use "Star Language," fearing that the faint fluctuations would become clues for the "Hounds" to track them.

The three of them were like the most primitive hunters, relying on their legs and Zhao Iron Pillar's brute Physique to struggle through dense forests, mountain streams, and swamps.

Senior Brother Zhang had the weakest Physique and nearly fell behind several times, only to be dragged forward by Zhao Iron Pillar like a chick.

"Boss... I... I feel like something's wrong." After running for half a day, Zhao Iron Pillar suddenly stopped, panting heavily, and vigilantly looked around at the dense bushes, "It seems like something... is watching us."

Wen Youyi's heart tightened, and he immediately signaled everyone to hide.

He pushed his Mental Energy perception to the limit while carefully mobilizing a trace of Star Core Power to cover his body, executing the deep concealment technique he had learned from the "Purifiers."

The surroundings were deathly silent; even the chirping of insects and birds had vanished, leaving only the rustling of wind through the leaves.

But this silence, instead, felt chillingly eerie.

Suddenly, the bushes on the left swayed ever so slightly! It wasn't the wind, but rather as if something had flashed past at an extremely high speed!

"Over there!" Zhao Iron Pillar growled, his heavy sword instantly pointing in that direction.

Almost simultaneously, slight rustling sounds came from the bushes on the right and behind them!

They were surrounded!

Wen Youyi's pupils constricted; he still hadn't perceived any obvious energy fluctuations or signs of life!

The concealment ability of these "Hounds" far exceeded his imagination!

"Back to back! Iron Pillar, protect Senior Brother Zhang!" Wen Youyi hissed, and the three immediately formed a tight triangular formation.

"Whoosh!"

A gray shadow shot out from the shadows directly in front like a ghost, pouncing straight at Wen Youyi's face! Its speed was astonishing!

Wen Youyi saw it clearly—it was a creature about the size of a mongrel dog, shaped like a lizard but covered in a metallic carapace!

It had no eyes; its head had only a constantly opening and closing hole filled with sensor-like structures, and its limbs gleamed with a cold, metallic luster!

"Hound"!

Without a second thought, Wen Youyi instantly activated the "Spirit Disturbance Array" he had already prepared! With him at the center, a pale gray halo with a radius of one zhang flashed and vanished!

The pouncing "Hound" rushed into the range of the interference field, its movements suddenly stalling as if it had fallen into a quagmire, and the direction of its pounce shifted slightly! The red light flickering in its head's sensor hole became chaotic!

Good opportunity! Wen Youyi was battle-hardened; seizing this fleeting flaw, he sidestepped the pounce and struck a palm infused with Star Power heavily against the "Hound's" flank!

"Bang!"

A dull sound rang out, and the "Hound" was sent flying, snapping a few small trees, with a clear palm print left on its metallic carapace. But after rolling once, it seemed completely fine, shook its head, and locked onto Wen Youyi again!

Such a hard shell! Wen Youyi's heart sank. His previous palm strike was enough to shatter stone monuments, yet it only made this thing shake?

And just as he attacked the first "Hound," two more "Hounds" pounced silently from two other directions, targeting Zhao Iron Pillar and Senior Brother Zhang directly!

"Get lost!" Zhao Iron Pillar roared, his heavy sword sweeping out with a gale! He dared not use spiritual energy, relying purely on his Physical Body strength and swordsmanship!

"Clang!"

The heavy sword struck the "Hound's" carapace, producing the sound of clashing metal and sending sparks flying! The "Hound" was sent flying by the immense force, but its carapace remained intact, only its movements slowed slightly.

Another "Hound" was exceptionally cunning; it avoided the edge of the heavy sword and, like a loach, drilled toward the blind spot of Zhao Iron Pillar's defense, targeting Senior Brother Zhang, whom he was protecting behind him!

Senior Brother Zhang's face turned deathly pale; he was not good at fighting to begin with, and now he was flustered, subconsciously throwing out a few low-grade Talismans.

Fireballs and ice cones hit the "Hound's" carapace like they were tickling it, completely unable to stop it in the slightest!

Watching as those cold, gleaming sharp claws were about to touch Senior Brother Zhang's throat—

"Hum!"

At the critical moment, Wen Youyi forcibly activated the "Spirit Disturbance Array" once again! This time the range was smaller, covering only the area in front of Senior Brother Zhang!

The "Hound's" movement instantly distorted, its sharp claws brushing past Senior Brother Zhang's lapel, tearing away a few strips of cloth.

"Go!" Wen Youyi grabbed the shaken Senior Brother Zhang and roared at Zhao Iron Pillar, "We can't get bogged down in this fight! These things can't be killed! They're just stalling for time!"

He could already feel more heart-palpitating auras closing in from all directions! The individual strength of these "Hounds" might not be top-tier, but their defense was extremely high, their concealment was excellent, and... their numbers were likely far beyond their imagination!

Once they were completely surrounded, they would be exhausted to death!

Zhao Iron Pillar also understood and stopped trying to fight head-on. Waving his heavy sword, he forced back the two "Hounds" that had pounced again, and while protecting Wen Youyi and Senior Brother Zhang, he forced a breakout in a direction where the encirclement was relatively weak!

The three of them fought as they retreated; the "Spirit Disturbance Array" became their most important life-saving means, with each activation briefly disrupting the "Hounds'" attacks and creating a moment of breathing room.

But the "Spirit Disturbance Array" consumed a massive amount of energy, posing a severe test for Wen Youyi's Mental Energy and Star Core Power. His face grew paler and paler, and his speed began to slow down.

The "Hounds" behind them were like maggots on the bone, chasing relentlessly, and in the dense forest around them, those unsettling rustling sounds grew more numerous.

The desperate escape seemed to have turned into a hopeless war of attrition.

Wen Youyi's heart kept sinking. Could it be that they were truly destined to be buried in this unknown wilderness?

(End of Chapter)