272: Chapter 272 Getting Closer and Closer

Chapter 272: Constantly Closing In...

Jin Yi ignored his words, scanning his surroundings, but he couldn't see Bai Wanwan or Zhuo Ling.

A group of Males surrounded him, yet Jin Yi appeared completely composed, showing no sign of fear.

After searching the area, his gaze locked onto Xiong Zong.

"Where are the Females?"

Xiong Zong grinned, revealing his stark white teeth, "It seems there really is one you fancy among the two Females we captured?"

Saying this, he turned and said something to the Male next to him. Upon hearing it, the other turned and entered the cave.

Bai Wanwan was straining her ears, listening to the movement outside, when she heard a series of approaching footsteps.

She and Zhuo Ling were roughly pulled up from the ground by a Male, dragged outside without any gentleness.

Bai Wanwan forcefully shook off his hand, "I can walk myself."

Having been in darkness for so long, she couldn't immediately adjust to the sunlight outside.

She squinted her eyes before opening them again.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Ling had already rushed toward Jin Yi in extreme joy.

But after only two steps, she was yanked back by the collar by Xiong Zong.

Her footing slipped, and she fell directly onto the ground.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her face looking pitiful and lovely.

"Jin Yi, save me..."

Jin Yi grunted, but his gaze quickly swept over Bai Wanwan.

Seeing that she seemed unharmed apart from being a bit dirty, he inexplicably felt a sense of relief.

Xiong Zong also turned his head, glancing at Zhuo Ling on the ground and then at Bai Wanwan, who was standing silently.

He smiled, withdrew his gaze, and looked provocatively at Jin Yi, "Young Clan Leader, I'll give you a chance. Choose one Female, and I'll let the other go, how about that?"

"Xiong Zong, I can agree to any condition you have, but I must take them both with me."

"Rules are rules," Xiong Zong held up one finger and shook it, "Release one first, and the rest... depends on your ability."

He deliberately drew out his tone, savoring the flicker of struggle in Jin Yi's eyes.

The area outside the cave fell into a dead silence; even the sound of the wind seemed to freeze.

Jin Yi secretly weighed his options. If he chose Bai Wanwan, would Xiong Zong do the opposite?

Time passed second by second, but Jin Yi had not made a final decision.

Bai Wanwan remained silent as well. She wasn't surprised by whatever decision Jin Yi made.

After all, Zhuo Ling was the one he intended to enter a Pairing Ceremony with.

Xiong Zong was growing impatient waiting, "Haven't made up your mind yet? If you don't decide soon, I'll help you."

Jin Yi frowned deeply, finally deciding to stake everything.

"Let Bai Wanwan go."

Zhuo Ling, sitting on the ground, couldn't believe it. Her voice carried a hint of shrillness, "Jin Yi, are you really going to give up on me for her?"

Jin Yi didn't want Xiong Zong to see through his thoughts, so he slightly lowered his brow, "I won't give up on you, I will save you."

"I don't believe you! You must have fallen for Bai Wanwan. You said before you wanted a Pairing Ceremony with me, have you forgotten?"

Jin Yi's frown deepened.

Xiong Zong, however, was delighted to watch the drama unfold, "It looks like the Female you like is her?"

Jin Yi didn't deny it. He didn't know what Xiong Zong was planning, but instinctively felt he couldn't let the other party see his true intentions.

"Xiong Zong, I hope you keep your promise. I've made my choice, you can let her go now."

"Hahaha!"

Xiong Zong suddenly burst into loud laughter, then stared at Jin Yi and spoke: "Since the Young Clan Leader chose to let her go..."

He suddenly pointed at the Male beside him, "This Female... is a reward for you!"

The Male next to him heard Xiong Zong's words, his face filled with disbelief and excitement.

His eyes were almost glued to Bai Wanwan, and drool was practically dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Bai Wanwan pondered whether to exchange for an item, but the timing didn't seem right yet.

Even if she exchanged for a one-time use item, she might not be able to escape the encirclement.

In that moment of hesitation, the Male had already arrived in front of her and reached out his hand toward her.

"You dare!"

Jin Yi could no longer maintain his composure. He instantly transformed into his Beast Form and rushed to Bai Wanwan in a few bounds, biting down hard on the approaching Male.

The Male narrowly avoided the attack but was still bitten on the shoulder, howling in pain.

He tried to attack Jin Yi, but their power levels were completely different.

The Golden Lion shook its head and threw the Male away like a rag doll.

Xiong Zong observed the entire process before speaking, "Jin Yi, you have injured one of my Tribe's Beastmen again. This time, it was right under my nose. Do you think I'll let you leave now?"

The survival environment in this area was becoming increasingly harsh, and the Bear Clan had long harbored ambitions to annex the Golden Lion Tribe.

If they could kill Jin Yi to establish dominance, perhaps more Golden Lions would surrender later.

Jin Yi didn't respond to him at all. He shielded Bai Wanwan behind him, then turned his head to look at her.

"Hide behind me and don't move."

"Okay, don't worry about me."

Bai Wanwan gritted her teeth secretly. She had no choice but to spend points today.

While responding to Jin Yi, her fingertips were rapidly sliding across the void.

The bear beasts were completely surrounding the Golden Lion, their heavy breaths coming one after another. None of them paid attention to this seemingly harmless Female.

Her fingers swiped back and forth across the screen, finally choosing the shared Talent of the King Cobra.

The moment the exchange button was pressed, a violent power surged into her limbs like a bursting flood.

This power was too overwhelming, making her fingertips tingle, as if a waking giant python was coiled inside her, flicking its tongue and ready to strike.

"Host, release it! Release it immediately!" peanut's urgent warning exploded in her mind.

Bai Wanwan's pupils contracted sharply, and she instinctively spread her five fingers.

Instantly, a foul wind erupted. Visible ink-green poisonous mist surged out like a tide, causing the vegetation it passed over to instantly wither.

"Jin Yi, move away!"

The Golden Lion's agile figure dodged almost simultaneously with the warning.

The poisonous mist whistled past his mane and shot straight toward the Bear Clan group.

High-level Beastmen like Xiong Zong recoiled in horror, but the bear beasts below the Green Tier hadn't reacted in time before they were swallowed by the mist.

Roar!

Seven or eight Black Bears fell one after another. They frantically clawed at their swollen throats, letting out heart-rending wails.

In just a moment, their convulsing bodies fell silent. Only their bear heads, corroded beyond recognition, were still emitting wisps of green smoke.

Jin Yi took the opportunity to break through the encirclement and flashed to Bai Wanwan's side like a golden lightning bolt.

Before he could speak, the Female nimbly leaped onto the Lion's back, her movements fluid and natural.

It was only then that the two realized Zhuo Ling had long since vanished.

"She's quite smart."

In the distance, the shadows of the trees swayed, and there was no sign of Zhuo Ling anywhere.

A light flickered in the Lion's pupils. Jin Yi no longer hesitated, forcefully pushing off with his strong hind legs.

However, a heaven-shaking roar suddenly erupted behind them.

Xiong Zong charged after them with bloodshot eyes, each step causing the nearby ground to tremble: "Kill them! Kill them all!"

Jin Yi knew that the previous action had completely enraged Xiong Zong. If they were caught, even the Female wouldn't survive.

Bai Wanwan occasionally looked back. The distance between Xiong Zong and the other Males and them was constantly closing...