24: Is he really human?

The insect tide's offensive still hadn't stopped, wave after wave.

The Great Horned Golden Scarabs were like madmen, using their bodies and horns to frantically charge the defense line formed by the beast pets.

Although Bai Ye, the super healer, was constantly restoring their health from behind.

The beast pets' energy was, after all, limited.

Long periods of high-intensity combat rapidly depleted their energy and stamina, and their movements began to slow.

"No, if this continues, we'll be exhausted to death sooner or later."

"Why isn't the support here yet?"

Li Wei's expression grew uglier and uglier. His Blazing Meow and Wave Shadow Meow were panting heavily, already nearing their Transcendent Limit.

These two Phantom Cats, at the Transcendent Limit, weren't afraid of these Extraordinary Level Great Horned Golden Scarabs in a one-on-one fight, or even one against ten.

But a multitude of ants can kill an elephant; the energy consumption was simply too terrifying.

"Listen up, you guys."

Li Wei gritted his teeth, preparing for the worst.

"Once you can't hold on, immediately take the Phantom Cat cubs and break through. Don't worry about me."

"No, Brother Li!"

Wang Lei immediately roared.

"If we go, we go together!"

"That's right, there's no way we'd abandon you and run."

Seeing their resolute gazes, Li Wei felt a warmth in his heart, but also grew more anxious.

His gaze pierced through the chaotic battlefield, locking onto the rear of the insect tide.

There was a giant scarab, a full size larger than its kin, with a dark golden carapace.

It was coldly observing them with a pair of scarlet eyes.

Elite Rank!

Li Wei judged that it was the Scarabaeus Leader of the Great Horned Golden Scarabs.

Even Demonic Beasts like the Great Horned Golden Scarabs, which weren't very intelligent, would have enough wisdom to suppress their instincts once they advanced to Elite Rank.

This guy was doing it on purpose!

Did it want to dominate Xuxia Forest by taking advantage of its species' frenzy?

Then, to catch the bandits, first catch their king.

Using a Beast Tamer's Talent in conjunction with a beast pet, it wasn't impossible to fight above one's Rank.

As long as it could be dealt with, the crisis would naturally be resolved.

"You all hold the defense line!"

Li Wei made up his mind: "I'll go ambush that leader."

"I'll go too,"

"Count me in."

Chen Yang and Zhao Qian spoke almost simultaneously.

Li Wei glanced at them. Now was not the time for sentimentality, so he made a decisive call:

"Good! Chen Yang, Zhao Qian, you two come with me."

"As long as we make it back alive, I will definitely apply to the association for the highest merits and compensation I can secure for you."

"Yes!"

Before his words fell, Chen Yang's Blazing Flame Lion and Zhao Qian's Wind Speed Falcon, accompanied by Li Wei's two Phantom Cats, shot out like four arrows from a bowstring from the flank of the defense line, directly towards the Scarabaeus Leader.

The four powerful beast pets formed a commando squad, heading straight for the enemy's head.

Before they even reached the Great Horned Golden Scarab, they saw its mouth, full of sharp teeth, open.

It was actually smiling?!

Li Wei's pupils contracted.

He had underestimated the intelligence of the Great Horned Golden Scarab Leader.

They had fallen into a trap!

The Great Horned Golden Scarab Leader let out a piercing shriek.

Immediately, dozens of equally robust Great Horned Golden Scarabs around it abandoned their assault on the defense line and turned back to defend.

One by one, they closed their bodies, forming an impregnable golden barrier in front of the leader.

"Damn it!"

Li Wei cursed under his breath, extinguishing the idea of a sneak attack.

They were firmly held back by dozens of Extraordinary Level scarab guards, completely unable to get close to the leader.

In the few seconds they were held up, something happened to the main defense line.

Having lost three main beast pets, the already tottering defense line was torn open, creating a huge gap.

An exceptionally strong Great Horned Golden Scarab, at the Transcendent Limit, seized this fleeting opening.

Its massive body transformed into a giant battering ram, violently knocking Wang Lei's Rock Armor Tortoise flying, and charging through the gap.

Its target was the few Phantom Cat cubs they were protecting behind them.

During mating season, Great Horned Golden Scarabs loved to capture the young of other species as gifts to win over their desired females.

"Oh no, stop it!"

Wang Lei and Sun Fei, who remained, had their expressions drastically change.

Wang Lei's Rock Armor Tortoise was dazed and struggled to get up.

Their second beast pet couldn't stop a Transcendent Limit Great Horned Golden Scarab.

Watching that Transcendent Limit scarab get closer and closer.

Everyone's hearts sank to the bottom.

"Xiao Hei, stay here and don't move."

He gently placed Xiao Hei on the ground, instructing it.

He thought he could act as a support, but now it seemed he had to take action himself.

It felt like trouble followed him wherever he went.

It must be the world's fault.

Under everyone's horrified gaze, Bai Ye didn't retreat but advanced, charging towards that Transcendent Limit Great Horned Golden Scarab!

"Bai Ye, are you crazy? Come back quickly!"

Chen Yang, seeing this from afar, was so anxious his eyes were about to pop out.

"What does he want to do, block it with his Physical Body?!"

Zhao Qian also exclaimed.

They couldn't understand Bai Ye's actions.

Even if humans gained some power feedback after contracting a beast pet.

For a first-Rank Beast Tamer to try and contend with a Transcendent Limit Demonic Beast with just his Physical Body was pure fantasy.

A full-force charge from a Transcendent Limit Great Horned Golden Scarab, even Chen Yang's Transcendent Limit Blazing Flame Lion might not dare to take head-on!

What else could it be but suicide?

Unbeknownst when, a gap in the dark clouds was torn open, and the scorching afternoon sun shone down.

Bai Ye felt every cell in his body cheer under the sunlight.

"Good timing!"

Bai Ye let out a low roar, not retreating but advancing!

An extremely subtle emerald green light flashed from his right fist.

"Energy-Storing Nature Fist!"

Under everyone's incredulous gaze, his fist collided violently with the Great Horned Golden Scarab's massive horn!

Boom!

A deafening roar, as if the air was instantly sucked out, exploded.

A terrifying energy wave swept out in all directions from the point of impact.

What kind of power is this?

Can a human erupt with such strong power in an instant?

The violent energy wave exploded like a tsunami, kicking up dust that completely swallowed everyone's vision.

That power even caused a momentary pause in the battle between the two sides fighting in the distance.

When the dust slightly dispersed, the entire scene was dead silent.

Bai Ye still stood in place.

The ground beneath his feet cracked and sank, forming a terrifying crater.

Yet he himself remained motionless.

The Great Horned Golden Scarab beneath his fist had its charging momentum come to an abrupt halt.

No, it wasn't stopped.

It had vanished.

Its proud, massive horn, along with the upper half of its body, was utterly blasted into countless fragments of carapace and green pulp by that single punch!

The remaining half of its mutilated body twitched weakly twice, then crashed to the ground, utterly silent.

A Transcendent Limit Demonic Beast, just gone like that?

Li Wei felt his throat so dry it was almost smoking. He looked at the figure slowly retracting his fist.

Bai Ye... is he really human?

He couldn't be some special Demonic Beast disguised as a human, could he?