"Patriarch, we need to retreat!" One cultivator screamed in fear. The more they fought the less hope they saw of leaving alive.

After taking down the Furious Roaring Red Lizard and Triple slas.h.i.+ng Dragonfly, the Patriarch Lin Huangfu and Second Elder thought about resting but had no time to do so. More Spirit Beasts kept coming.

They needed to retreat, but how? Those Spirit Beasts prevented them from doing so, cutting off their retreat. Many of their Cultivators lost consciousness although no one died yet. Their fighting force dwindled at each pa.s.sing breath.

"Don't retreat! Stand your ground! When the other Clans are done reinforcements will come!" Although the Patriarch tried raising morale, he too was unsure. Since taking the field himself, although weaker than the Flame Commander and White Clan Elder, their strengths could be comparable. The other Clans would also be in trouble.

Soon a strong presence fell from the above in front. A huge green ape with an armored body and a long Spirit Beast Spine as a weapon. The other beats lowered their heads in reverence.

Green Armored Ape King, Peak of The Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm!

Some Spirit Beast Kings possessed higher intelligence and wisdom. In rare cases, they would mimic humans and use weapons, specially in species that somehow resembled human physique, such as Apes.

"Be careful!" Patriarch Lin Huangfu and the others moved right away into defensive positions. Yet the beast didn't attack. It looked at them and snorted as if it found insects in its path.

With a glare, all the other beasts retreated out of range.

"It's coming!!!!" The second Elder roared and moved to block, protecting his body with a layer of Spirit Energy. The Patriarch did the same with his axe.

But the Large Spirit Beast Spine moved irregularly. It had over five meters, dense Spirit bone, its might comparable to a First-Rank Fifth Layer Weapon. Not only both the Second Elder and Patriarch together couldn't block and took damage, but it even hit the many Cultivators behind, throwing them cras.h.i.+ng into the branches.

Such a powerful strike!

"What's going on…? That's not the Spirit Beast we saw!" The Forest Clan Scout trembled. It belonged to the same realm at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Sea, but the one before was not such a powerful existence. He'd never dare to lead his clan to face such a Spirit Beast.

The Spirit Beast raised his weapon and struck downward. The Patriarch and Second Elder dodged, but one Cultivator got smashed to a pulp. Lin Huangfu pressed on the attack, hacking with [Woodland Fury], but the Spirit Beast parried with the weaponized spine with no trouble. The Second Elder moved in to attack, and hit its sides with [Leaf] and all his might, spending a large amount of Spirit Energy. A strike at the Peak of the Spirit Realm!

The beast screamed in pain, not enough to break its defenses.

"Impossible!" Before the Second Elder could end his astonishment, a strong hand hit his chest, sending him straight to the ground, coughing a lot of blood.

"We're doomed!" The scout cried.

And it seems like the heavens heard him.

From another side, a fierce looking red Lizard-like bipedal Spirit Beast came, with three horns and two tails. Its cultivation base at the peak of the middle stage of the Spirit Sea Realm.

"T-that's the one!" The scout recognized the beast, "Three Horned Salamander!"

The Patriarch grit his teeth, hope vanis.h.i.+ng. When the Green Armored Ape raised his weapon to strike it suddenly glanced sideways as if it had a scare, even taking a step back. The Three Horned Salamander also did the same.

Lin Huangfu and the rest: "???"

The Ape then shook its head as if thinking "only my imagination" and raised his weapon again to strike. Once more, it s.h.i.+vered and jumped back even further. The Salamander hissed and jumped back.

"What is going on…? Are they… afraid? Is another powerful Spirit Beast coming?" Lin Huangfu held his ax and thought about taking advantage of this moment, but looked around and gave up. The Second Elder stood with difficulty, his body battered with a single strike. All other living Cultivators had varying wounds.

Lin Huangfu sighed. He didn't do right as the Forest Clan Patriarch, leading so many people to their deaths just to save his son. No matter what, he needed to hold those beasts back. When his determined eyes wanted to burn every bit of blood essence to fight, a few figures rushed from the forest with great speed, landing in front of him.

Elder Lin Dong clasped his hands and bowed, "Lin Dong greets Forest Patriarch, Second Elder!"

Lin Qiang did the same, "Junior Lin Qiang greets Forest Patriarch, Second Elder!"

Ming Ren stood behind them but only clasped his hands and said nothing.

"Lin Dong…?" Hope flashed across Lin Huangfu eyes, "Little Fu…?"

"He is fine! He's coming with the others, they couldn't keep up!" After greeting the Patriarch, Lin Dong turned around and glared at the Green Armored Ape and the Three-Horned Salamander. No sign of fear in his eyes.

"That's East Elder…? And Qiang'er…?" Second Elder couldn't believe his eyes. Peak of the Third Layer of The Spirit Sea Realm and peak of the Second Layer. Just a week before Lin Dong was only at the Peak of The Body Tempering Realm, unable to break through, and Lin Qiang at the Body Tempering Realm. What kind of heaven-defying encounter did they have?

The Green Armored Ape glared at Ming Ren. The fear felt before came from this youth. A weakling like him?

But, no matter how they increased their strength, Lin Huangfu thought it was still nothing in front of those two powerful Spirit Beasts, "East Elder, quickly, you grab Little Fu and run away with the rest of our Clan! I'll hold this beast back!"

Second Elder also stood, "I'll hold the other one! Everyone, run away with all your strength!"

"No need!" Ming Ren stepped forward, taking out his sword, "Forest Patriarch, you join that Elder and kill the Three-Horned Salamander. Lin Dong, Lin Qiang, follow my lead!"

"Yes!" Both Lin Dong and Lin Qiang answered in unison.

"Wait, what are you doing?!" Lin Huangfu almost went crazy. Nevermind Lin Dong sudden surge of power, now a boy at the sixth layer of the Body Tempering Realm is taking lead against such a powerful Spirit Beast? Did the world go crazy?

"Snort, young man, who do you th-" Second Elder never got to finish his question. The Green Armored Ape struck first, swinging down his weapon at the three. Lin Dong favored blocking but sidestepped to avoid the blow. Ming Ren and Lin Qiang also dodged to the same side, starting the [Sword, Beast, and Fist Trinity Formation].

Lin Dong Rushed forward, revolving the joined Spirit Energy within the formation to increase his power to the limit, striking forward with [Branch] at the Green Armored Ape.

The Ape didn't bother with dodging. He withstood a strike from Second Elder at the peak of the Spirit Sea Realm, why would he fear someone at the peak of the third layer?

But it didn't take long for him to regret it.

The amount of burst power generated from the formation far surpa.s.sed what one could expect. Lin Dong used his [True Element of Wood] to reinforce his meridians and channels, while Lin Qiang channeled both her [True Element of Wind], increasing speed, and [True Element of Earth], increasing Body Toughness and Resistance for the entire group.

The True Element of Wood worked best with unusual Mystic Arts as opposed to physical and Martial Arts, but Ming Ren taught Lin Dong it could also be used internally to avoid critical damage and even amplify the might he could withstand. By reducing the strain a whole level of power would appear.

Using a [True Element] to augment others was difficult, but the path within the Formation worked flawlessly for that end. Although consuming a lot of Spirit Energy, by working together their power increased a lot.

When [Branch] hit the Ape, Ming Ren also activated his [Dragon Light Divine Physique], and the power in the formation skyrocketed. The strike shattered the Spirit Beast's natural armor and tore some of its flesh.

'Not deep enough!' Lin Dong lamented while the Patriarch and the Second Elder almost few to the ground in shock.

JUMP!

Everyone in the area of the strike received Ming Ren's Spirit Sense transmission.

The Ape staggered but soon struck sideways. Some Cultivators didn't follow the youth's warning and got struck once again. Lin Dong, Lin Qiang, Lin Huangfu, and the Second Elder had better reflexes. Both the Patriarch and the Elder couldn't tell what happened but their instinct told them to jump, avoiding the strike.

Before the Ape could continue Lin Dong grabbed his arm with a jump forward, and a battle of strength ensued. At the side, the Three-Horned Salamander made its move, running to stab Lin Dong in the back.

INTERCEPT!

The Forest Patriarch and Second Elder somehow joined and blocked its advance, preventing the Spirit Beast from hitting Lin Dong.

DODGE THE TAILS!

Once again, they both threw themselves to the side, dodging the Salamander's tail attack.

STRIKE!

Their bodies moved forward, hitting both [Woodland Fury] and [Branch] at the chest of the Salamander, throwing it back with a lot of damage.

"T-this…?" Lin Huangfu was lost. Somehow that voice appeared in his head. He followed out of instinct, but what the h.e.l.l was he doing?

While Elder Lin Dong did his best to hold back the Green Armored Ape, he still lost in raw strength. Ming Ren once again flicked with [Flash Step], slas.h.i.+ng at both of the Beast's eyes and making it roar in pain.

Lin Qiang and her summoned beasts also made their move, the young lady thrusting with precision at the wounded spot on the beast's chest. This time she summoned a Green Scaled Beast, a Flood Mantis, and a Saber-Toothed Cat. The summoned Spirit Beasts had different roles, but they took turns hara.s.sing and striking the Ape.

The Green Armored Ape, a mighty beast that even the Forest Patriarch and the Second Elder couldn't match, felt so feeble and harmless.

The trio completely dominated it.

'It's that youth!!' Lin Huangfu had a sudden realization, and every hair on his body stood up. Somehow that youth relayed commands to them. Somehow he could predict the Spirit Beast's attacks. He couldn't even explain how this was possible.

However, their chance to survive had come!