Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 68: Chapter 67: Escape from Danger

”Roar... Roar...”

One after another, the roars of the beasts echoed as countless Desert Crocodiles attacked simultaneously.

”Protect Yi Xiao and Qianmo,” Uncle Tie Da ordered and charged forward with his sword drawn.

With his Innate Third Layer Cultivation, these Desert Crocodiles were hardly a match for him.

Swoosh... Swoosh... Swoosh...

Sword Energy burst forth, cleaving through the crocodiles, killing them instantly.

”You all go ahead,” Uncle Tie Da shouted.

”Okay,” Lin Fei and the others responded and prepared to leave.

However, just a few steps out, countless Desert Crocodiles surrounded them from all sides, even cutting off their retreat.

”Roar.” Suddenly, a Desert Crocodile launched a sneak attack from behind.

”Hmph, courting death,” Huang Yuan bellowed, activating his Huge Strength Ape Martial Soul and punching the Desert Crocodile flying.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, Lin Fei also fired one arrow after another. Though he couldn’t kill the Desert Crocodiles instantly, he managed to injure them.

”Oink...” Du Xin let out a pig’s squeal as his body’s spikes spurted out, grappling with a Desert Crocodile.

It was clear that the strength of the three men was not that much greater than the Desert Crocodiles’.

”Swallow a Giant Strength Pill to boost your combat power,” Xiao Yi shouted. ”Don’t be stingy with that elixir; I can help you refine more later.”

Roar, another beast roared.

Another Desert Crocodile emerged on the left, targeting Xiao Yi and Qianmo.

Demon beasts were stronger than wild beasts; they could absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and cultivate on their own, gradually developing spiritual intelligence.

Desert Crocodiles had limited spiritual intelligence but still knew to pick on the weaker prey.

”Ah,” Qianmo yelped in fright, her face drained of color.

”Evil creature, seeking death,” Xiao Yi pulled Qianmo to his side and swung his Purple Cloud Iron Sword, cleaving a Desert Crocodile in two with a responsive slash.

The battle was somewhat chaotic and urgent.

No one noticed that Xiao Yi had managed to kill a Desert Crocodile with a single sword strike.

Except for Uncle Tie Da, Lin Fei and the others could only hold a stalemate with the crocodiles.

”Amazing... so amazing,” Qianmo, by Xiao Yi’s side, did see it.

”Don’t get distracted; stick close to me,” Xiao Yi ordered with a grave expression, quickly assessing the situation around them.

In this current situation, Uncle Tie Da was upfront, standing alone against a large number of Desert Crocodiles.

Behind them, Huang Yuan and Du Xin teamed up to fight the crocodiles in close combat, holding their ground.

On the right, Lin Fei’s arrows continuously flew, barely managing to keep the pressure on.

It was only on the left where Xiao Yi and Qianmo stood; this position was supposed to be protected by Lin Fei and the other two, but now, they were too distracted and overwhelmed.

Of course, with Xiao Yi’s own strength, killing the mere Desert Crocodiles was not difficult.

However, looking out over the large stretch of marshland, teeming with the shadowy figures of the beasts, there were at least hundreds of Desert Crocodiles.

They attacked in waves, and soon Lin Fei and his companions would be unable to hold out.

Once the defense in any direction was breached, it would spell trouble.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, Xiao Yi’s sword strikes felled attacking Desert Crocodiles one after another.

”We need to come up with a plan quickly, or we’re all in danger,” Xiao Yi thought anxiously.

It was a pity that his main meridian was damaged; otherwise, he could have relieved some of Lin Fei’s pressure.

Qianmo, on the other hand, had never seen such a dire and bloody scene before and was momentarily frozen in fear, merely clutching Xiao Yi’s hand.

Xiao Yi noticed her condition; freezing up now would only slow down the entire team.

”Are you scared?” Xiao Yi pulled Qianmo closer and asked softly.

”Mhm,” Qianmo nodded blankly.

”Don’t be afraid. Look,” Xiao Yi slashed with his sword, bisecting another Desert Crocodile.

”Stay close to me; there’s nothing to fear,” Xiao Yi pulled her behind him, trying to shield her from the bloody sights to prevent her from fainting, which would only cause more trouble.

Sword flowers danced and blood splattered; seven or eight Desert Crocodiles were slain by Xiao Yi’s sword.

Soon after, Huang Yuan and Du Xin were injured.

”Qianmo, help them heal,” Xiao Yi instructed.

”Okay,” Qianmo, who had been hiding behind Xiao Yi, had started to calm down.

She waved her hands, and a green light flashed, casting a life-infused power onto Huang Yuan and Du Xin.

Their injuries immediately began to heal.

”What about you?” Qianmo asked.

”Don’t worry about me,” Xiao Yi replied, not turning back, focusing on slaying the Desert Crocodiles.

After a while, Lin Fei’s arrow shooting noticeably slowed down; it seemed his True Qi was exhausted, and he was close to his limit.

Huang Yuan and Du Xin were not far behind.

And the Desert Crocodiles seemed endless.

”Damn it,” Xiao Yi cursed silently.

Suddenly, an idea flashed in Xiao Yi’s mind, and he shouted, ”Brother Lin!”

Lin Fei, numb from shooting arrows non-stop, suddenly heard the loud yell and jerked alert.

”Shoot arrows in all directions—east, south, west, and north—and don’t stop until I say so,” Xiao Yi ordered.

”Huh?” Lin Fei was taken aback.

”Don’t ask, just do it,” Xiao Yi didn’t have time to explain and issued the command in a tone of urgency.

Lin Fei took a deep breath and said, ”Okay, I’ll listen to you, Brother Yi Xiao. Here goes.”

Lin Fei geared up and began shooting arrows quickly.

However, when he aimed at other directions, he could no longer defend against the Desert Crocodiles in front of him.

Xiao Yi was prepared, he quickly embraced Qianmo, leaped to Lin Fei’s side, and started to fend off the Desert Crocodiles for him.

Swoosh... Swoosh... Swoosh...

After seven or eight seconds, dozens of Cloud Piercing Arrows were fired in every direction.

”I’ve found it,” Xiao Yi suddenly exclaimed with joy.

”Uncle Tie Da,” Xiao Yi called out loudly, ”Go thirty meters to your left, quickly.”

”Huh?” Uncle Tie Da was also startled.

While fighting the enemy with his sword, Xiao Yi shouted, ”The Desert Crocodile King is there. To capture the bandits, first capture their leader. Go!”

”Found the Desert Crocodile King’s location?” Uncle Tie Da was evidently pleased, ”Alright then.”

Tie Da infused his feet with True Qi and walked across the marsh as if it were flat ground, and in a flash, he arrived at the spot.

There lay a Desert Crocodile that was several times larger than the ordinary ones.

That was the Desert Crocodile King, a Second-level Demon Beast with the power of Postnatal Ninth Layer.

The surrounding Desert Crocodiles immediately became agitated and churned, kicking up a flurry of mud.

At the same time, the Desert Crocodiles that had been relentlessly attacking Xiao Yi and the others immediately retreated.

They rushed towards Uncle Tie Da’s direction, desperate to protect the Desert Crocodile King.

In an instant, the Desert Crocodiles surrounding Xiao Yi and the others cleared out.

”Now’s the time, run,” Xiao Yi shouted and took the lead, scooping up the bewildered Qianmo and rapidly retreating.

Once everyone had left the marsh and returned to firm ground, they finally took a breath of relief.

In the distance, Uncle Tie Da was still fighting a group of Desert Crocodiles in the marsh.

Tie Da’s bravery was unmatched, and soon after, he too retreated from the marsh back to solid ground.

Being of Innate Third Layer, if he wanted to leave, no amount of Desert Crocodiles could stop him. It was only before that he had to ensure everyone’s safety.

”Huff... Huff...” Uncle Tie Da caught his breath and said, ”Thanks to you this time, Yi Xiao.”

”Hey,” at that moment, Du Xin noticed Xiao Yi holding Qianmo, and said angrily, ”Yi Xiao, what are you doing? We’re safe now, put Qianmo down quickly.”

Xiao Yi glanced at Qianmo and asked, ”Are your legs still weak? If not, I’m letting go.”

”No... not anymore,” Qianmo’s cheeks had turned a rosy red at some point.

But the next second, she immediately regained her lively demeanor and said, ”Yi Xiao, you’ve done a great service this time. Once we leave Thundering Desolate Marsh, this lady will reward you handsomely.”

Xiao Yi put her down and rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, If it weren’t for this damn recruitment task, I wouldn’t bother with you.

Ahead in the marsh, countless Desert Crocodiles thrashed about, their eyes cold.

But they dared not come up onto the solid ground; otherwise, their strength would be greatly reduced, and they would simply be courting death.

”Hmph, a bunch of vile creatures, still daring to show off. I’ll shoot you all down with my arrows,” Lin Fei said indignantly.

If it weren’t for Xiao Yi’s quick reaction just now, all of them might have become food in the Desert Crocodiles’ bellies.

”By the way, Yi Xiao, how did you discover the Desert Crocodile King?” Qianmo asked curiously.

Xiao Yi curled his lip and said, ”If I were to shoot arrows at you, what would you do?”

Qianmo’s eyes widened, ”Why would you want to shoot arrows at me?”

Xiao Yi was speechless and said, ”Are you a pig?”

Qianmo, confused, said, ”I’m not, but Du Xin is.”

”Alas.” Xiao Yi sighed and said, ”Qianmo, has your brain been addled by all those storybooks?”

”If I shoot arrows at you, wouldn’t you dodge?”

”But when Brother Lin was shooting arrows in all directions, I noticed that some Desert Crocodiles didn’t dodge. Instead, they moved forward to block the shots.”

”That proves they were protecting something, or there was something important there.”

”Whichever it was, if Uncle Tie Da went there, he could attract all the Desert Crocodiles away.”

Xiao Yi finished explaining in one breath.

”So that’s how it is.” Qianmo nodded and then asked, ”But Yi Xiao, you still haven’t told me why you would shoot arrows at me.”

”I...” Xiao Yi slapped his forehead and said, ”Forget it, I need some quiet. Don’t bother me.”

At that moment, Uncle Tie Da approached Xiao Yi and asked with confusion, ”Brother Yi Xiao, have you had experience in marshes before?”

”A little,” Xiao Yi nodded.

”Oh?” Uncle Tie Da said, still puzzled, ”You spotted the problem just by glancing at the mud and knew the Desert Crocodile King’s location so quickly. That doesn’t seem like a newcomer but more like an experienced Demon Hunter.”

Xiao Yi just smiled and said, ”Just luck.”

In his previous life, he had encountered many dangerous places; if he didn’t have some experience and adaptability, he would have died countless times over.

Uncle Tie Da smiled, as everyone has their secrets, and he didn’t press further.

”Let’s rest here for a while before moving on,” Uncle Tie Da suggested to everyone, ”Although Thundering Desolate Marsh is vast, according to the information, we should be close to Bloodthirsty Profound Monarch’s Cave Mansion.”