Chapter 335: Scarlet Blood Bat

As they all had awakened, they were feeling much more relaxed, but no one dared to lower their guards.

If they did lower their guards, it was obvious that they would not know how they had died, especially now that they were preparing to enter the narrow mountain passage.

While Xue Wei was completely unaware of what might wait for them within the narrow passage, Gu Yan had a slight idea, but he was not going to share his experiences with Xue Wei and his friends.

Initially, he had also entered without knowing anything, and he knew that the majority would die within. Even some of his comrades were likely to lose their lives through this advance, but when they got through the passage, they could start gathering items and treasures, herbs, and ores.

These people likely had some secrets as well, and many manuals, treasures, and resources on their bodies and in their storage treasures, so getting them would be no small harvest at all.

Unfortunately, things rarely went according to plan. Xue Wei was not just going to watch while they plotted against him, he too had already begun plotting against them also.

This narrow passage would be the perfect place to fight off against Gu Yan.

The reason was simple. Although they might be able to defeat Gu Yan in a battle, he was, after all, an Ordinary Saint.

A strength that was way above their own, so if they wanted to stand a chance, they had to wait for a chaotic encounter, a time when a lot of deaths were happening around them, and then they should be able to turn the situation around.

Xue Wei smiled slightly as he, Lin Xiao, Bai Tianyi, and Hei Gou went to the front of the group. Instead of arguing with Gu Yan about walking at the front, he might as well just take the task and take the position as the front guard.

Luoluo was placed behind them. Although she could burst out with the most damage, she was also the one they had to look after the most. She had to store energy, and this energy was not only stored for fighting but also to allow her to grow bigger.

If they ended up in a true life and death situation that could not be resolved by Xue Wei, Lin Xiao, Hei Gou, and Bai Tianyi working together, then they would ask for her help, but only in the last moments before death. They were too worried about her otherwise.

Luoluo understood their worries, and while she was feeling slightly lost by the fact that she could not fight side by side with them, she was even more determined to grow up fast so that she could fight alongside her brothers.

The others were unaware of the reason that they had put Luoluo behind them. They had no idea of her real strength, nor did they know of her identity as a spirit.

To them, all they saw was that her cultivation base could not be easily seen through, and while some thought it was a unique method she had trained, others just assumed that she was a mortal who had survived up until now because the others of the group had saved her.

They were unaware of how many originally had been in Xue Wei's group. If they had known that they were as many now as when they began the journey, they would have failed to believe it.

Their group, which seemed many times stronger, had already lost a lot of members, so how could their small group not also have casualties?

Xue Wei had long since known that their entire group being alive still was an oddity and that no one would believe him if he said anything. Not to mention they were not on friendly terms, so there was no way he would share information with them.

"Okay, everyone focus!" Gu Yan called out, his usually arrogant voice was strained, and his hands were clenched. Although he was an Ordinary Saint, he only had slightly better chance of survival than the others, and thus he was also feeling how his palms were getting sweaty.

Inner Might: Sword Style!

Xue Wei summoned a sword in his hand that he could hold onto while diving into the passage.

As they entered, they found that it was completely dark. The two towering mountains on either side were blocking out all light, and a dense feeling of death and disaster was spreading from the passage.

Xue Wei was tensed. All his senses were heightened to their limits, and his eyes were continually sweeping his surroundings.

His spiritual energy was incapable of sensing anything, but he knew instinctively that this place was the most dangerous one they had encountered so far.

"They are coming soon," Gu Yan muttered as he too clenched the hold on the two-handed axe he held in his hands.

Xue Wei did not bother asking what he was referring to, as he knew he would get no answer, but he had already received the info he needed. Something was within this passage, and it was coming for them.

All of a sudden, he heard a very loud screech sounding, and when one sounded, thousands of screeches suddenly rung out throughout the entire passage.

What happened next made Xue Wei snicker. Thousands upon thousands of Scarlet Blood Bats came flying towards them; their eyes were utterly red from the bloodlust they felt.

But when Xue Wei saw that it was Scarlet Blood Bats, he relaxed completely. Scarlet Blood Bats were Fierce Beasts. They were of a high tier and were almost impossible for ordinary Primordial Beasts to control, but it was possible for a few of them with extremely pure bloodlines.

However he was not a Primordial Beast, he was a Sovereign Beast, and a mere Fierce Beast was an ant in front of him.

As long as he released his bloodline pressure, none of them would dare to even advance towards him and his friends. As long as he willed it, this Scarlet Blood Bat horde could become his army.

Pondering for a bit, Xue Wei was not in a hurry. He released a bit of his bloodline pressure, just enough to cover himself and his friends, and the many incoming Scarlet Blood Bats suddenly looked fearful as they changed their direction and rushed towards Gu Yan and his people.

Using a borrowed knife to seal the deal was not a bad idea, Xue Wei thought to himself. He then no longer bothered to try and hide his aura, and it erupted from within like a fountain, and he was like a king suddenly overshadowing everyone else.

While humans were unable to sense the majesty, every beast present, including Hei Gou, felt the sudden need to kneel in front of him. It did not matter whether or not they were Primordial Beasts or Fierce Beasts; all of them were under his control at this very moment.

The charging Scarlet Blood Bats all stopped right in front of them, their eyes were filled with pure reverence.

Gu Yan quickly noticed the strange behavior of the Scarlet Blood Bats, and then he also saw the same odd behavior amongst all his own Primordial Beast members in the group.

He started to feel cold sweat trickle down his neck, as he looked at the one they all revered.

Xue Wei had also noticed the sudden discomfort that Gu Yan was feeling, but he did not care in the least.

Gu Yan had intended for them to die, and thus it was only natural that they would kill him in return.

"Do you have something you wish to say?" Xue Wei inquired as he picked up one of the Scarlet Blood Bats to look closer at them.

They were not significant, around twenty centimeters long wingspan, but their teeth were immensely sharp, and they had many of them. They were like razors, and when they attacked in groups like this, no one could survive, not even an Ordinary Saint.

"I... I failed to recognize Mount Tai," Gu Yan stuttered. "Please excuse this old man for his mistake; he will never do it again."

"You wanted us dead," Xue Wei stated with a flat and emotionless voice as he gently caressed the Scarlet Blood Bat in his hands, it showed immense pride and satisfaction from being able to be in such proximity to their king.

"I... I can explain!" Gu Yan tried to argue, but when Xue Wei waited for him to explain he could not find any suitable words.

When he finally seemed able to find some words, Xue Wei shook his head casually, "Well, don't try too hard," he said. "I am not going to forgive you no matter what reason you have. Go forth!"

Xue Wei sent out all the Scarlet Blood Bats and was merely watching from the side as they gathered in a swarm and attacked Gu Yan first. The Primordial Beasts of the Mercenary group were also completely swayed by his domineering and royal aura, and they ended up fighting against their own brothers in an attempt to stall them from helping Gu Yan out.

Seeing the bloody battle, all of them had calm expressions on their faces; in fact, they were feeling relieved. Every one of these Scarlet Blood Bats could rival a Heavenly Knight, and there were thousands of them, so although hundreds were dying in the hands of a maddened Gu Yan, they were continuously attacking in waves, drowning him with their sheer numbers.

"You! If I survive this, I will kill you!" Gu Yan's furious scream could be heard in the entire passage; it was so filled with fury and force that eleven Scarlet Blood Bats died straight away from the sound shockwave alone.

He kept screaming curses and threats, but as time went on and his powers were diminishing, he realized that he did not hold the upper hand.

"I swear that even if I die, I will never let you go even as a ghost!" was the final words that came out of Gu Yan's mouth before he was chewed into a meaty pile of flesh.

His flesh contained a lot of energy, and by eating this, the Scarlet Blood Bats would be capable of enhancing their own strength.

When he had finally run out of Qi to protect his body, he was gobbled up by the bats in a heartbeat, leaving only a white skeleton.

After which the bats set their eyes on the members of the mercenary group. They did not hesitate to attack, not distinguishing between friend and foe amongst the members, killing and consuming indiscriminately.

Xue Wei did not stop them. He knew that he could exert his bloodline pressure and force them to do his bidding, but these Primordial Beasts did not wish to help him, they were not loyal to him, they were only doing as their bloodline was telling them. They hated him with a vengeance after seeing how he was making them kill their friends and brothers.

As such, Xue Wei had no intention of bringing them with him. Since he was not bringing them with him, he might as well let the bats consume them as a gift for having helped him get rid of Gu Yan.

When the last person had died, Xue Wei picked up the storage treasures that had fallen to the floor.

He was not being lazy and picked up every single one before he turned to look at the bats.

Suddenly one of the bats transformed into a young woman. She was wearing a black silk dress, and her black hair was tied in a bun on the top of her head.

Her eyes were dark as ink, and she was immensely attractive, but also cold like an ice sculpture.

"Dear King," she said, her voice like a stream of clear water, "We have a request to make."