Chapter 14: Courting Death
Editor: Atlas Studios
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In the central region of the Forest of Death.
Xun Chengwu led his army of men, charging with all they had got.
Having pushed his body to the limit, took a toll on his body and Xun Chengwu's forehead was covered in sweat.
There was a sudden burst of static. "Captain!"
Suddenly, Qin Feng's voice came from the wireless intercom.
"Su Hei and the others suddenly changed their direction. Now, all of them have entered the Occlude Valley."
"What!"
Upon hearing that, Xun Chengwu's eyes were wide open in astonishment.
There was a distance of 300 miles between the west and east of the mountain. Occlude Mountain was located in a straight line in the central region of the Forest of Death, dividing the forest into two sections.
The cliff was nearly a thousand meters tall. It was so steep that it was almost vertical. Even agile martial artists could not climb it. That meant that Xun Chengwu and his men had to take a hundred-mile detour to continue with their journey.
There was another way, which was for them to travel through the valley that was located in the middle of Occlude Mountain. They only needed to travel several miles, passing through the mountain, to reach the center of the Forest of Death.
However, in the Occlude Valley, a dire beast called the Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf lived there.
It was a beginner-level Spirit dire beast, which was equivalent to a martial artist who was already a Grandmaster!
"Damn it! This is pushing us to a corner, leaving us with no way out!"
Xun Chengwu was silent for a long time before he finally said that.
That was a beginner-grade Spirit beast! Even if all the martial artists from Team One—including him—attacked it together, they would still die.
Grandmasters were incredibly powerful. Everyone who was at a lower level than them was akin to ants in their eyes. As for a beginner-level Spirit beast, it could create hell on earth.
The gap between an ordinary martial artist and a Grandmaster was immeasurable.
"Actually, there's still a way."
Qin Feng's voice sounded again from the wireless intercom.
"I remember that when the Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf was still a Savage, the City Defense Team had placed a scroll inside the valley as a trial for the recruits. At that time, no one managed to obtain the scroll. Thus, Su Hei and the others will be safe so long as they manage to get the scroll."
Xun Chengwu listened as Qin Feng gave that suggestion.
After that, he quickly asked, "You want those brats who are still participating in the recruit examination to fight Spirit dire beasts?"
On the other end of the intercom, Qin Feng was silent. He did not know what to say.
Everyone knew that this was impossible.
But at the same time, Xun Chengwu knew that Qin Feng was right. Obtaining the scroll was the youths' only hope of survival.
"Kids, it's up to you now," thought Xun Chengwu.
He felt helpless about the situation. He moved at full speed, raising lots of dust behind him.
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At the entrance to the Occlude Valley.
The black-ringed leopards ignored Wang Dong and the others' provocations, but they did not leave. They retreated to 500 meters away and sat down, staring fixedly at Su Hei and the others.
Realizing that he could not incite a response from them, Wang Dong felt bored.
"Su, they are guarding the entrance. We won't be able to leave. In that case, why don't we go inward?" he asked.
"No."
Su Hei shook his head.
"We will stay here," he added.
Wang Dong felt confused about Su Hei's decision.
"But we don't know when these black-ringed leopards will leave. Moreover, they can hunt for food outside. There aren't any wild fruits to be found here. If this impasse continues, we'll starve," argued Wang Dong.
Li Hua slapped the back of Wang Dong's head.
"Food is the only thing on your mind. Su Hei naturally has his reasons for wanting us to stay here. If you want to leave, you may leave by yourself," chided Li Hua.
Wang Dong immediately cowered when he heard Li Hua berating him.
Just as his butt touched the ground…
A howl sounded.
It was an eerie, bone-chilling howl that came from the depths of the valley.
At the same time, after hearing that howl, the group of black-ringed leopards that had settled outside the valley was startled. Their fur instantly stood on end.
The Black Ring Leopard King roared at Su Hei indignantly and hurriedly fled with its tribe.
"Su, those beasts have run off!" remarked Wang Dong.
He cheered, despite not knowing the reason for that.
Su Hei threw a glance outside. He made sure that the black-ringed leopards had run off.
After that, he shouted, "Let's run too! Run in the opposite direction from the black-ringed leopards."
However, it was too late.
At this moment, blood drained from everyone's faces and their pupils dilated in fear. All of them were staring into the depths of the valley.
Su Hei turned around and his heart skipped a beat.
From the depths of the valley, a massive black shadow stepped out.
It was a wolf-shaped dire beast. Its boulder-like head was seven to eight meters above the ground, and its body was covered in ebony fur. Every tuft of fur glinted like steel needles.
The wolf had a total of eight eyes, and its eyes were arranged into vertical rows on either side of its face. Its eyes were blood-red, and it was staring coldly at Su Hei and his companions.
Its gaze was so chilly that many people's legs gave way under them. They could only stand with the support of the people beside them.
"The Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf is different from ordinary wolves. Though it enjoys a solitary life, it's very powerful. Most of the time, such beasts are superior-grade Savage," informed Jiang Jinyu.
She was holding onto a manual. On the cover of the manual was the title "Encyclopedia of Dire Beasts".
Hearing her words, many people's hearts shuddered within them.
"This Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf is not that simple," Su Hei thought to himself.
The Black Ring Leopard King was also a superior-grade Savage beast.
It could not be afraid of dire beasts of the same level.
Su Hei looked at the Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf warily.
Though he was looking at it from afar, Su Hei could still sense a bloodthirsty aura emitting from the eight scarlet eyes.
The intensity of its aura alone was enough to render a strong blow to beginner-level martial artists.
That was the reason why many people's legs went weak.
"Can you guys run?" Su Hei asked loudly.
He did not turn around as he was afraid that the Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf would seize the chance to pounce on him if he did so.
Li Hua quickly shook her head.
"Seven of them can't move at all. Additionally, for four of them, their legs' have turned gooey beneath them. Their speed will decrease drastically," she whispered.
The situation was not optimistic.
"We only have two ways out of this," Su Hei said in a low voice.
"Preserve your strength first and then flee if you're able to. Either that or all of us will fight to the death together."
After he finished his sentence, Wang Dong, Li Hua, Jiang Jinyu, and Chu Chen immediately responded at the same time.
"Fight to the death!"
"We will not leave behind any of us!"
"All of us transmigrated to this world together. We won't do something like leaving our teammates behind just so that we can live!"
Su Hei gave a pleased smile.
This was a different world from their previous world. More than anything, it valued capability and strength.
However, from the look of things, his classmates had not changed.
"Guys, listen to me!" hollered Su Hei.
He made a heroic pose. The more everyone panicked, the more he had to show that he was composed.
"This Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf is very powerful. It's even more powerful than the Leopard King. None of us is its match!"
"However, please remember that all of us transmigrated to this world together! We're family, and we're the only ones who have otherworldly blood in us!"
"I'll be the first to state my stance. I, Su Hei, will never abandon my brothers and sisters and leave you to fend for yourselves while I escape by myself," Su Hei swore.
He spoke in a very loud voice. As he made his speech, it was as if a glow had enveloped him. Everyone's eyes were glued to him.
That was the core talent of the Leader talent. It was the ability to stir up everyone's emotions.
"Those who have the same thought as me, follow me and charge! Fight our way out of here!" Su Hei added.
He stepped out. Su Hei's body was brimming with power. At that moment, he was like an armored train whose brake failed to work. His body exploded with an appalling and horrifying momentum.
Su Hei strode forward. With one step, he moved 10 meters closer to the Eight-Eyed Blood Wolf. With 10 steps, he was 100 meters closer to it. In the blink of an eye, he hammered his fist into the beast's head. The impact of his fist was like a meteorite hitting the ground.
"Bloody hell! In terms of fighting, the Senior Class One has never backed down. Kill that damn beast!"
"Kill it!"
"Follow the class president and fight our way out!"
Su Hei boosted the students' morale and inspired them to fight. They had ferocious looks on their faces and their war cries resounded throughout the valley.
-- Gift
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