"Roar!"

The Black Bear Spirit, standing nearly two zhang tall, led the way at the front.

It encountered obstructing vines and thickets.

With two paws as large as fans, it casually swiped forward, clearing all obstacles.

Even poisonous snakes and man-eating plants fell effortlessly before the Black Bear Spirit, torn to shreds.

After crossing the river, the Black Bear Spirit underwent some changes.

Its fur became shinier and darker, its eyes more lively.

Its aura was now stronger, surpassing the Wolf Demon that Lou Yi had previously encountered; ordinary spirits were no match for it.

With the Black Bear Spirit clearing the way, their progress greatly accelerated.

Lou Yi, Overlord Chu Feng, Daoist Xuanji, and others continuously patrolled around the group to prevent being caught off guard by danger.

"This world is going mad! People are colluding with spirits?" Zhan Weida grumbled indignantly along the way.

"We don't yet know what's happening on the other side of the Longjiang River. Perhaps it's a common phenomenon," Shi Qingde said somewhat pessimistically.

"We'll find out at the town, but for now, it's all speculation," said Chen Muju, who had only one arm, calmly. "I'm only worried that the town might not be safe, either."

Hearing this, a shadow of gloom appeared over everyone's heart.

As they hurried along their journey,

they failed to notice a few pairs of withered yellow eyes quietly watching from the dense foliage high up in the trees nearby.

When the eyes emerged from the leaves, revealing the bodies, it was found to be a group of rather small monkeys.

"Chirp, chirp!"

"Chirp, chirp, chirp… chirp, chirp, chirp!"

The monkeys communicated for a moment.

The strongest amongst them darted off, heading rapidly in one direction.

After an unknown amount of time, it arrived before a gigantic tree with a diameter of over a zhang, one that seven or eight people together might struggle to embrace.

The tree's trunk was withered, and about five or six zhang up, someone had dug a hole large enough for a person to pass through; it was pitch black, and it was unclear who lived inside.

The monkey looked up at the tree hole, chirping sharply, and waved its paws animatedly as if expressing something.

Shortly after, a roar of anger echoed from the tree hole.

"Who dares to challenge me, Hei Feng, the master of Sangrong Forest..."

"Dare to kill my minions, I will skin them alive and hang them to dry!"

Then, a vast yellow-black smoke billowed out from the tree hole, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

The atmosphere it passed was permeated with an acrid stench.

Wherever it swept through, leaves turned yellow and withered instantly, and many visible dents appeared on the tree trunks, as if corroded in moments.

On another front,

Lou Yi and his party continued their rapid advance.

If the women or non-martial men couldn't walk, the martial artists would lend a hand, taking turns carrying them to escape the dense forest quickly.

They were drawing closer to the exit.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, the Black Bear Spirit, leading the way, halted, its fur bristling all over.

Its gaze turned vicious, issuing a loud roar to intimidate the opponent.

"Roar!"

The opponent returned a ferocious snarl, indicating that the Black Bear Spirit's deterrence had completely failed.

The Black Bear Spirit was extraordinary in strength, comparable to a Beast King from past beast tides in Wangjiang County, now deserving the name Bear Monster.

Any beast that it couldn't scare away was certainly formidable.

Lou Yi and others arrived to see the creature confronting the Black Bear Spirit.

It was a giant ape, standing eye to eye with the Black Bear Spirit.

Walking upright, it stood two zhang tall, its body covered in grey-white fur.

Muscles bulged like mounds, exuding an impression of immense power and solidity.

Such a giant ape, Wangjiang County might have them.

But its face was square, a feature Lou Yi and others had only seen in this region.

Seeing the square-faced giant ape unabated in momentum, the Black Bear Spirit was enraged, charging to engage in a brawl.

'Bang, bang, bang!'

The two giants clashed fiercely in the forest, using claws and mouths, breaking trees, sending rock shards flying, dust whirling, yellow earth filling the sky.

After more than ten breaths of fierce fighting, neither could gain the upper hand.

This square-faced giant ape evidently surpassed ordinary spirits, reaching the level of a monster.

"Kill it; we don't have time to stall here!"

Chu Feng hoisted his Golden Melons, intending to join the Black Bear Spirit in besieging the giant ape.

Suddenly, all around them resounded with 'whoosh' and 'rustle' sounds.

Strange beasts and raptors revealed themselves in form.

There was a giant crocodile, four to five zhang long, its entire body covered in tough scale armor like a crust, its mouth trickling with disgusting yellow mucus;

a leopard with a body full of silver spots, swift as lightning, its eyes gleaming coldly like a killer's gaze;

a massive bare vulture with wrinkled dark red skin.

Its spread wings blocked out the sun, each feather edge gleaming coldly like honed blades...

Among these beasts and raptors, many had become spirits, with a considerable number reaching the level of a monster as well.

Their numbers rivaled the scale of the past siege on Tai City!

But more than half the people here had never trained in martial arts.

Their strength was entirely incomparable to Tai City's defense forces back then.

"The few of us will hold off the spirits; you protect the others and go first!"

The situation was urgent, and Lou Yi made a swift decision.

He directed Shi Caifeng, Chen Muju, and Yan Ze to protect the group in retreat.

He, along with Daoist Xuanji, Chu Feng, and the old Shi, the strongest among them, would cover the rear.

"Understood, watch out for yourselves!" Shi Caifeng, decisive as well, immediately shielded the group as they retreated.

Then, Lou Yi flared with energy, transforming into a shining person.

With a stomp, he left a deep crater in the ground.

Like a cannonball, he shot towards a giant crocodile four to five zhang long, armored in sturdy scales.

He raised his axe, cleaving down heavily from above!

'Whoosh!'

No special skills were used, just a simple chop.

But the air-splitting sound was deep, with a visible white airflow gathering at the axe's edge, scattering madly to the sides, setting the leaves on the ground around them flying in all directions.

This chop weighed thirty-three thousand catties!

'Splat!'

The giant crocodile, akin to the wolf demon's level, had no time to counter.

In the center of its head appeared a noticeable red line, stretching down to its chin and neck.

With a 'snap,' its head split into two parts,

forming a considerable angle, exposing a mass of red flesh and gray-white brain tissue within.

You could even see its tofu-like brain tissue still slightly pulsating.

With a single ordinary strike, Lou Yi decapitated a beast nearly at the monster's level.

This skill had advanced remarkably since the battles defending the city from the beast tide.

...

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