232: Luring the enemy away from the mountain and seizing the bridge

Zhao Iron Pillar and Wang Wu's feint squad were dancing on the edge of a blade.

They could not retreat too quickly, lest they arouse suspicion, yet they could not get too bogged down, lest they be swallowed by the tidal waves of Corrupted creatures.

"Come on! You hairless, mangy dogs! Come at your grandpa here!"

Zhao Iron Pillar swung his heavy sword, smashing a lunging Corrupted Wolf away while roaring at the top of his lungs, spittle practically spraying onto the face of the Corrupted Lizard opposite him.

His ferocious appearance and surging Qi and blood were truly effective at drawing aggro.

Wang Wu was much calmer.

He held a longbow reinforced with Star Power, and each sharp arrow seemed to have eyes of its own, specifically targeting Corrupted creatures attempting to flank or unleash ranged vile attacks, reducing the pressure on Zhao Iron Pillar and the others.

The group of Corrupted creatures was enraged by this sudden provocation, especially the low-level Corrupted Wolves and lizards, which hissed and broke away from the bridgehead position, swarming toward the feint squad.

However, the Corrupted Wolf King, with the growth on his forehead, remained steadily entrenched in the center of the bridge, his scarlet eyes coldly watching the battlefield without moving easily.

He was surrounded by dozens of exceptionally strong and varied elite Corrupted beasts, clearly his personal guards.

"Boss, that guy with the growth isn't taking the bait!"

Zhao Iron Pillar shouted through the communication talisman.

The pressure on his side was mounting; the feint squad had been fighting while retreating and was about to fall back to the designated defensive position.

Wen Youyi stood on a giant rock in the rear position, observing calmly.

He knew that relying solely on the provocation from Zhao Iron Pillar and his team's Qi and blood was not enough to make that cunning Corrupted Wolf King leave his "throne."

"Is the bait ready?"

He looked at the two busy Formation team members behind him.

"Give us another thirty breaths! The energy resonance needs to stabilize!"

One of them did not even look up, his hands carving runes rapidly into several specially made Star Stones.

A complex, small-scale Formation was gradually taking shape, and the center began to emit an increasingly intense, pure energy fluctuation that simulated a high-level life form.

Time ticked by, second by second.

The defensive line on Zhao Iron Pillar's side had merged with the main position, relying on the giant rock to resist stubbornly.

Corrupted creatures were crashing against the rock like a tide, and the vile energy constantly collided with the Star Domain shields, emitting sizzling sounds.

Just as the defensive line was in jeopardy, and even the Corrupted Wolf King seemed to think victory was in his grasp, slightly raising his forelimbs to launch an all-out attack—

"Bait, activate!"

Following a low shout from the Formation member, the Formation set up in the hidden spot behind the giant rock suddenly lit up!

A pure, surging fluctuation of Star Power, as if containing infinite vitality, burst forth like a beacon in the night!

This fluctuation, for the Corrupted creatures that relied on sensing energy and life essence, was akin to a starving wolf seeing the fattest piece of fresh meat, or a drunkard smelling the most mellow wine!

"ROAR—!!!"

The ever-composed Corrupted Wolf King let out a roar filled with shock, greed, and rage for the first time!

The growth on his forehead writhed violently, emitting even stronger vile fluctuations, seemingly suppressing the restless desires of his subordinates, but his own gaze was locked tightly onto the source of the "bait" fluctuation!

That was not just food; to him, that pure energy was like a natural enemy, yet also an opportunity for evolution!

He had to obtain it, or destroy it!

"Now!"

A sharp light exploded in Wen Youyi's eyes!

The Corrupted Wolf King could finally hold back no longer, roaring to the sky.

His massive body suddenly stood upright, and with his dozens of elite guards, he rushed down the stone bridge like a torrent of filth, sprinting toward the direction of the "bait"!

Once he moved, most of the remaining Corrupted creatures at the bridgehead seemed to lose their restraint and followed him madly!

Luring the tiger away from the mountain, success!

"Assault team, follow me!"

Wen Youyi gave a loud roar and led the charge, shooting toward the now-weakened stone bridge like an arrow released from a bow!

Zhao Iron Pillar, Wang Wu, and four other fastest team members immediately broke away from the main position and followed closely!

Mu Wanqing and the rest remained behind to hold the position, attracting and delaying the large force that had been lured away.

Seven figures, like seven silver lightning bolts tearing through the fog, instantly rushed onto the empty stone bridge!

The bridge deck was wide and ancient, and the giant stones underfoot gave a cold sensation.

On both sides were bottomless chasms filled with rolling, vile mist, and strong winds carrying a nauseating stench blew up from below.

Their speed was pushed to the limit, and their goal was clear—rush across the stone bridge and enter the ruins on the opposite bank!

However, a centipede dies but never falls.

On the bridgehead, there were still a dozen or so Corrupted creatures that had reacted slowly or had been ordered to stay behind.

They hissed and lunged, attempting to block them.

"Get lost!"

Zhao Iron Pillar was in the lead, his heavy sword sweeping across like a door plank, directly swatting two Corrupted Wolves into the chasm below the bridge!

Wen Youyi held his hands in a void grip, and his Star Domain instantly expanded.

Although the range was not large, it precisely shrouded the few Corrupted lizards blocking the way.

The powerful binding force caused their movements to instantly lag, allowing Wang Wu and the others to easily finish them off.

The seven worked with tacit understanding, like a red-hot knife cutting through solidified grease, tearing a path through the remaining Corrupted creatures on the bridge and sprinting toward the opposite bank!

Behind them was the deafening, furious roar of the Corrupted Wolf King, filled with the feeling of being played, as well as the rumbling footsteps triggered by him leading his army to turn around and chase!

Fifty zhang, thirty zhang, ten zhang!

The outline of the ruins on the opposite bank became clearer and clearer.

It was a cluster of collapsed stone palaces, full of desolation and decay, yet it was also a symbol of hope!

"Faster!"

Wen Youyi roared in a low voice.

He could even feel the thick, fishy breath exhaled by the Corrupted Wolf King behind him!

Just as the Corrupted Wolf King's sharp claws were about to touch the back of the team member at the end of the line—

"Hum—!"

Seven figures, in a hair-raisingly close call, simultaneously crossed the end of the stone bridge and stepped onto the solid, ancient land of the opposite bank!

And just as they stepped onto the opposite bank, a sudden change occurred!

The massive stone bridge seemed to have triggered some ancient Restriction, and the runes on the bridge body that had originally been dim suddenly lit up!

An invisible, powerful energy barrier rose at the bridgehead like a floodgate, instantly blocking the pursuing Corrupted Wolf King and his minions on the other side of the bridge!

"Boom!"

The massive body of the Corrupted Wolf King slammed heavily into the invisible barrier, emitting a dull, loud noise.

The barrier did not budge, instead shaking him until he stumbled backward, and the growth on his forehead dimmed somewhat.

He could only roar in impotent rage from behind the barrier, his scarlet eyes staring fixedly at Wen Youyi and the others on the opposite bank.

Safe!

The seven, including Wen Youyi, leaned on their knees, panting heavily.

Looking at the Corrupted army outside the barrier that was jumping with rage but unable to cross the line, they all felt a sense of relief at having survived a disaster.

Luring the tiger away from the mountain, bridge assault, success!

They had finally stepped onto the land of these ancient ruins!