[Creature: Ancient Azure Feathered Eagle eliminated. The host gained 500 EXP!]
[…Resource: 33000 EXP…]
It was extremely difficult to kill an ancient remnant beast surviving from an olden era. They were extremely powerful and had lived a carefree life with an abundance of resources to cultivate their strength.
In order to save some time, as well as his team's spiritual energy, Aiden did not hesitate and struck down with his sword in the crudest, yet most effective manner. His own resource, Soul Power could be restored much easier by relying on all this delicious life essence, but the rest of the group would need several hours to achieve somewhat similar.
Most of the group could not understand why Aiden suddenly attacked. However, it did not take long before a bird's tragic cry could be heard from the fog ahead.
The dark beam that managed to even scatter the heavy fog vanished without a trace, returning to its resting place at the sword marking on Aiden's chest and his expression was unchanged as if nothing has happened at all.
As the group ventured deeper into the valley, there were no longer large swarms of ancient lifeforms. Instead, ancient remnant beasts started appearing.
Most of the time, it was their leader, the gray robed Aiden that had attacked preemptively and killed the ancient remnant beasts before the latter could reach them.
In the meantime, his points kept on steadily increasing… Passing the 35000 mark, then the 40000 and it did not show any signs of stopping by the looks of the situation…
Although they merely had close encounters as they ventured deeper, everyone's expressions turned grimmer.
The one thing they feared the most has happened. The skies had gradually darkened, the night has descended upon this Fog-covered Valley.
Everyone's vision was reduced once more. In the dark and empty valley, smelling the thick scent of blood in the air, everyone's heartfelt incomparably depressed and uneasy.
They had yet to find the Ancient Burial Ground ruins. This meant that the group would have to continue in the night!
Before long, night finally fell and their surroundings were pitch-black.
Initially, everyone could still see a distance of a hundred feet in front of them. But now, that range had shrunk to at around a lousy thirty feet!
Before they knew it, their surroundings had gone silent.
There were no longer birds crying or beasts roaring in the distance. In fact, there weren't even screams of other martial artists reaching their ears anymore.
It was as if all the wild beasts hid themselves in an instant and vanished without a trace. For sure, most could understand what was going on.
It was like the calm before a storm.
The silence was so eerie, sinister and frightening!
Under Aiden's lead, everyone proceeded forward and could even hear their own hearts pounding. The rustling of the withered leaves they stepped on sounded particularly piercing.
"[Reptilian] W-what was that?!"
"[Reptilian] W-What's going on?"
"[Reptilian] Why aren't there any wild beasts left? What happened?" Finally, someone could not bear the pressure and asked with a quivering voice, panting slightly.
Even Tai Liu was a little afraid as well. She could even sense the aura of death in that darkness.
Right now, the only thing that could calm her down was that back view in front of her that was sturdy even if it was not broad. It was as if their hope would not be extinguished as long as that figure did not fall.
The darkness before them was filled with unknown dangers. However, Aiden's footsteps did not stop at all as he continued advancing.
Suddenly, he came to a stop and his deep voice sounded. Although it sounded calm, its content was shocking!
"[Reptilian] Weapons at the ready! Prepare for a difficult battle! A beast tide is coming our way!"
"[Reptilian] A w-what?!"
A beast tide!
The sound of those few words caused everyone's hearts to skip a beat.
Narrowing his golden gaze focusing to something at the distance with squinted eyes, Aiden looked over and a cold glint flashed through his eyes as he said slowly.
"[Reptilian] Also, not just any beast tide… it's a beast tide made up of ancient remnant beasts only!"
"[Reptilian] Huh?!"
"[Reptilian] W-what!"
The crowd was in an uproar.
A single ancient remnant beast was more than enough to give them all headaches. In this ancient battlefield, in this mysterious valley, who could survive if an ancient remnant beast tide swarmed over them?
Well, not just them either. Which sect, which clan or which top faction could live to see the next day against such an opponent?
"[Reptilian] I-If we w-were to retreat now, c-can we escape?" Finally, a disciple could not endure the pressure and whimpered with a shaky tone.
Faint tremors were coming from the ground, as if a massive army was charging over. Although they could not see it, everyone could sense the violent aura that was coming from in front of them!
Escape?! Huh!
It was too late. Far too late.
Even the person that asked already knew the answer without Aiden replying.
The most worrying situation had arrived.
Furthermore, it was much scarier than they had imagined it to be!
The tremors on the ground were intensifying.
Even though the disciples clearly knew that there were countless remnant beasts that were charging towards them, the most frightening thing was that they couldn't see anything against the cover of the fog.
Unable to withstand it, some of the weaker willed disciples sat wasted on the cold hard rocks as their knees buckled against the tremors of the ground. They were mentally crushed as they cried helplessly.
In the face of certain death, even these trained martial artists were no different from the average mortals they used to look down upon. They were equally insignificant and helpless without a single shred of dignity.
"[Reptilian] What should we do?"
Tai Liu looked at Aiden and asked instinctively.
Aiden replied without any hint of emotion in his voice. His gaze still fixed in the distance, yet his eyes were glowing with a powerful golden luster already.
"[Reptilian] What else? Of course we welcome them."
Those simple few words contained fearless courage that overlooked everything!
Everyone, Tai Liu included, was thinking about how they should escape and survive. However, Aiden and by the looks of it, his own group's thoughts were opposite of theirs! Each of Aiden's captains were grabbing onto their weapons firmly, with their expression showing nothing but determination and zeal. There was no fear or hesitation as if their master's command was obvious.
Tai Liu was invigorated as she turned to look at Aiden's side profile.
Although it was in the night and Aiden's face was a little blurry, his eyes were still bright as always, resembling two shimmering stars that illuminated the darkness.
Sensing something, Aiden turned slightly and smiled calmly, asking.
"[Reptilian] Or, do we have any other way out?" Hearing that, Tai Liu was stunned.
That's it! He was right… what other way out did they have?
By the time the ancient remnant beast tide, this deadly stampede was charging over, they no longer had a way out.
Even if they were to turn and escape right now, they wouldn't be able to shake off the pursuit of those countless ancient remnant beasts!
"[Reptilian] Everyone, I know that you're desperate right now. However, this is a test of life and death! Those that are fearful, weak and cowardly, will only be faced with a single outcome… death."
Aiden's voice sounded, resolute with conviction.
"Reptilian] Since we have no other way out, we can only continue forward with our weapons in our hands…"
"[Reptilian] We will kill our way out."
…
*Bang!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
The rumbling sound ahead of them was deafening, resembling thousands of horses prancing!
Most of the disciples could not see it clearly yet, but Aiden could see the many ancient remnant beasts charging towards them amidst the billowing dust with endless killing intent in their eyes!
Countless fearsome looking and majestic beasts were rushing together. There was the beautiful white furred Frost Leopard that emitted a chilling aura and had a layer of frost on its fur.
Or the fiery red furred Scarlet Flaming Bull with a robust physique and a pair of crimson-colored horns that were covered in flames.
There was also the Armored Crusher Rat that despite its name was as large as a wild boar.
Every single wild beast in that tide was an ancient remnant beast!
*ROAR!*
The continuous howls of many wild beasts shook the world, causing everyone to shudder.
"[Reptilian] Those that can't keep up, good luck to you!" Aiden exclaimed.
With that said, he once again withdrew the ebony-colored thick curved saber from his body marking. With a tremble, the saber buzzed and gave off an eerie howl.
Standing right at the front of the formation, Aiden was about to endure the first wave of attacks from the beast tide head-on!
He did not shirk on his duty, he did not fear anything. He stood firmly like a lone hero against the forces of evil.
At that moment, he was the singular ray of hope in the eyes of these shaking, quivering group of martial artists…