57: Aid from all directions

While the beast tide and the Fallen Demon Tamer attack broke out in Flower City, a group of people also arrived outside the Secret Realm.

"Who goes there?!"

A guarding Soldier shouted angrily, raising his gun, while the War Wolf crouching beside him also stood up, assuming a combat stance.

To their surprise, this group of people possessed Extraordinary strength. The leader was limping, but his hands were not slow as he summoned a transparent Demon Tamers Beast.

The next second, the Soldier's body swayed. He turned his gun, aimed it at his own head, and with a 'bang,' he collapsed to the ground.

The loud gunshot attracted everyone's attention.

Other Soldiers opened fire one after another, and the War Wolf Demon Tamers Beast also pounced forward.

Unfortunately, although the Soldiers were brave and fearless, the enemies were clearly well-prepared. They threw black balls from their hands—these were not bombs, but instead, uncontracted fierce Yao Beasts that emerged from within.

In an instant, gunshots rang out everywhere, and the Yao Beasts were ferocious. Soldiers were torn apart one by one. Some, as they fell, pulled grenades to perish together with the Yao Beasts.

Despite this, they still could not stop the enemies' progress.

"Quick! Sound the alarm! Notify the base and all candidates!"

The Lieutenant Colonel in charge of guarding the Secret Realm had just finished speaking when his body stiffened uncontrollably. Trembling, he slowly pulled out his pistol and aimed it at the Soldier who was reporting.

Ultimately, the Lieutenant Colonel gritted his teeth and forcefully moved the muzzle away.

"Oh? You are quite determined. In that case, just die."

As soon as the words were spoken, the Lieutenant Colonel's head was tossed up, separated from his body. He died before he could summon his own Demon Tamers Beast.

The Signalman who was about to report the situation to the base was suddenly splattered with blood. Turning around, he saw the moment the Lieutenant Colonel fell.

"Sir!"

The Signalman summoned his Demon Tamers Beast, but it was easily slaughtered by the enemy.

After dealing with everyone, the group cut off the online live streaming function and turned off the Recorders of all candidates, then skillfully put on the remaining Recorders.

"Hurry up! Reinforcements from other cities will arrive soon. Kill as many as you can, especially Xie Ning and Lu Bingyun—they must be killed! Leave none alive!"

After the leader finished speaking, he limped along with the others toward the Secret Realm Portal. Under the effect of the Recorders, they disappeared into the wilderness one after another.

However, they didn't notice that when they killed the Lieutenant Colonel, a Soldier had used the cover of gunshots to run into the Secret Realm ahead of them using a Recorder... As the live stream suddenly shut down, many netizens were confused and realized something was wrong.

"Are there any experts out there who can tell us what's going on?"

"It's not just the Secret Realm; even the nearest Flower City can't be contacted." Some netizens had made countless calls, but none went through.

"Damn! Could something have happened? Who would be so bold?"

"@Flower City City Defense Force, @Flower City Official Weibo, @Flower City College Entrance Examination Office, @Flower City... @Flower City Women's Federation, are you guys okay? What happened to Flower City and the Secret Realm Trial?"

This strange event quickly attracted the attention of other cities and other College Entrance Examination Secret Realms, and they all arranged for personnel to strengthen security checks.

The central authorities also received the news quickly.

"The Energy Monitoring Bureau has detected strong combat fluctuations in Flower City, with an energy intensity of Half-step Platinum."

"Satellites show large, dense black shadows in the north and south of Flower City. It is suspected that the north and south city gates are facing a beast tide."

"The communications department replied: The Flower City signal cannot be accessed for unknown reasons; there may be a signal jamming device."

"Unable to establish contact with the temporary camp outside Secret Realm No. NA41ZY3X..."

Message after message was passed to the center, alarming the upper levels.

Soon, the upper levels arranged for an investigation team to go to Flower City to investigate. At the same time, they issued orders for all cities closest to Flower City to send troops to support Flower City.

And the place closest to Flower City was none other than Lingnan Academy.

The Old Dean looked at the issued order with a grave expression: "Girl Yan, take some students with good combat strength and make a trip to provide support to Flower City and the Secret Realm.

You must protect the citizens of Flower City and the students participating in the College Entrance Examination!"

"Yes!"

Soon, the neighboring first- and second-tier cities located in all directions of Flower City dispatched rescue teams to rush to Flower City.

Netizens who had been following the development of the situation soon saw the official notice and were buzzing with discussion.

For a time, most of the country's attention was focused on Flower City and the Secret Realm outside Flower City.

The candidates inside the Secret Realm also soon realized something was wrong... Xie Ning's group, who were currently galloping along, found that their Recorders had malfunctioned.

The entire screen had turned black.

"This..." The several of them looked at each other.

Lu Bingyun asked, "Could something have happened outside the Secret Realm?"

"Hard to say. I've never heard of positioning Recorders malfunctioning, and it's a collective failure at that." Xie Ning's brow was tightly furrowed.

"Let's finish the task first. We'll know once we finish early and leave the Secret Realm to take a look."

Subsequently, the two Demon Tamers Beasts picked up speed and rushed toward the Earth-Splitting Beast's nest.

About an hour later, Xie Ning and the others arrived at a vast sandy area.

This sandy ground was barren, with craters of various sizes and strange rocks. In the very center, there was a giant rock nearly ten meters long. Looking around, not a single bird or beast could be seen.

Lu Bingyun's brow furrowed: "This terrain..."

"The Earth-Splitting Beast is an earth-attribute Yao Beast and has the ability to burrow. This kind of terrain is practically a blessed land for it."

After Lan Yu finished speaking, Xie Ning nodded slightly, agreeing with her statement.

"But where could the Earth-Splitting Beast be?" Xiao Ya looked left and right but didn't see any sign of a Yao Beast.

Xie Ning tilted his chin: "There, isn't that fellow in front of you that looks like a big rock it? It's waiting for us."

Xiao Ya's eyes widened: "The Earth-Splitting Beast is a rock monster?"

"Actually, it's not a rock monster. The rock in front of you is just its camouflage and protection. This is a rather clever and cunning Yao Beast. The thick rock wrapped around its body serves as defense."

After Lan Yu finished speaking, Xie Ning nodded in agreement.

Looking closely, one could see that the giant rock vaguely resembled a Yao Beast prone on the ground. The vertical and horizontal lines all over its body were Scales covered in Mud Armor. Counting along the Scales to the left and right, the slope on the left went all the way down—that was its tail, which went straight into the ground. On the right, there was a high protrusion—that was its neck, wrapped in a layer of Mud Armor several times thicker. Further forward was a slope, which was its head.

[Yao Beast Name] Earth-Splitting Beast

[Yao Beast Grade] Extraordinary Low Grade

[Yao Beast Rank] Silver Level 7

[Yao Beast Attribute] Earth

[Yao Beast Weakness] Wood

[Yao Beast Status] Alert

[Yao Beast Introduction] A cunning Insect Type Yao Beast, good at camouflaging itself to launch a swift strike. Its retractable tail is even more terrifying than its fangs.

[Evolution Path] ...When Xie Ning read out these attributes, the three girls couldn't help but gasp.

Xiao Ya blurted out in shock: "My goodness, Silver Level 7..."

"If it were Silver Level 5, we could still put up a fight, but crossing the watershed of Rank 6... the risk is too high." Lu Bingyun's brow twisted into a 'river' shape, her face full of gravity.

No one expected that in the Secret Realm Trial, there would actually be a Yao Beast as high as Silver Level 7.

"Hmm... actually, we can still fight it." Lan Yu looked carefully for a good while. "The Earth-Splitting Beast is covered in hard Scales that are difficult to break for anyone not of the same Rank, except for its neck, where the Scales are extremely fine and the defense is insufficient. That's why it wraps the thickest Mud Armor around its neck."

The group looked over, and indeed, the thickest part of the Earth-Splitting Beast's body was its neck.

Xie Ning first nodded. "Correct, the neck is the part the Earth-Splitting Beast is most unwilling to have attacked. This point can be put to good use. However, we must also be wary of its tail, which has not appeared yet."

"Tail?" The three girls were taken aback.

Just then, a very slight vibration came from the ground.

Without time for much thought, the Poison Flame White Wolf, having received Xie Ning's warning, jumped to the side.

On the other side, the Supersonic Mantis also threw a kick. Under the activation of the Vibration Strike technique, it moved the Flowing Fire Ice Lion several meters to the side, then turned around, crossing its two blade-arms in front of its body.

Clang~

A melodic sound of metal clashing rang out.