126: Chapter 126 The Thirty-Six Stratagems: Retreat is the Best Stratagem
"Have you heard? That Zerg Beast Emperor is dead."
"I have to admit, that giant eagle is truly incredibly strong. To be able to forcefully suppress and kill a Zerg Beast Emperor right after advancing... With it taking action, the disaster might soon be over."
"Although I don't want to say it, given the nature of fierce beasts, with that kind of strength, it's hard to imagine it won't turn on humans..."
"Don't say such unlucky things. Everything will turn out fine."
After learning that the Lord of the Far East had forcefully suppressed and killed the Zerg Beast Emperor, they were both joyful and worried. Joyful because a Tier 6 Zerg Beast Emperor—their enemy—was dead; worried because they feared Bai Xuan might turn around and attack the Dragon Country.
If that happened, what kind of power could they use to stop him?
Suddenly, a massive figure flew over the city, blotting out the sun. The temperature plummeted, making the crowd below tremble with cold; they were all civilians fleeing to other places.
No one wanted to leave, but there was no choice; staying where the Zerg outbreak occurred was far too dangerous.
Seeing the figure flash across the sky, they cried out in surprise and began to discuss it fervently.
...
"He's here." General Wang Zhuo slew a Tier 3 minor demon, turned his head to look at the sky behind him, and murmured to himself.
"I didn't expect him to slay the Zerg Beast Emperor so quickly. It's truly shocking," the Earth Nether Flood Dragon said.
It had rejoined the battlefield after a brief period of healing. Although it was heavily injured and had a third of its body severed, its combat power was still formidable; ordinary Tier 5 Zerg Beast Kings were no match for it.
During this time, the humans, fierce beasts, and spirit beasts were still being pushed back as before. The situation had not changed just because the Heavenly Centipede Beast Emperor had left.
Meanwhile, Xiong Yan, Hu Zi, and Xiao Hei were still in a coma.
They had been sent to the rear for treatment by military doctors and had narrowly escaped with their lives.
However, their foundations were damaged, which would have a significant impact on their future cultivation.
This was unavoidable.
Being able to survive the Heavenly Centipede Beast Emperor's hands was already quite a feat.
"It's Brother Bai, he's finally here." Hu Da was currently fighting a Tier 5 Zerg Beast King. Upon hearing the news from the Far East Region, he was overjoyed.
"Your Beast King—no, he should be called a Beast Emperor now—is quite impressive." The Azure Wolf King arrived to support, working with Hu Da to deal with the Tier 5 Zerg Beast King.
The Azure Wolf King was massive, eighty meters long, with a diamond-shaped patch of white fur on its forehead. The rest of its body was pale green. It was a wind-attribute fierce beast that could wrap gale-force winds around its limbs to achieve Flight.
"Of course." Hu Da laughed heartily.
"Our Azure Wolf Clan hopes to befriend the Eagle Emperor. I ask Brother Hu to introduce us. If possible, please put in a good word for me; I will certainly thank you with a heavy reward."
The Azure Wolf King intended to befriend the Eagle Emperor, but only to befriend him, not to join him. After all, it had already reached a cooperation agreement with the Dragon Country's high-level officials and could not go back on its word.
"Sure, but whether you can befriend him isn't for me to decide. It depends on your intentions and the Eagle Emperor's." After a moment of hesitation, Hu Da agreed.
During this time, the Azure Wolf King had helped him quite a bit, and they had coordinated well to defeat many opponents.
"Then many thanks, Brother Hu. Once it's successful, there will be a great reward." The Azure Wolf King let out a hearty laugh.
"Damn it!" The Zerg Beast King fighting them cursed under its breath.
How could the Heavenly Centipede Beast Emperor die at that guy's hands? What infuriated it even more was that Hu Da and the Azure Wolf King were ignoring it while they talked, showing no respect whatsoever.
But now was not the time to sulk; it had to pull away and leave quickly.
Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best.
The Zerg Beast King turned and flapped its wings, flying rapidly toward the seaside.
"Not good, we can't let it escape!" Seeing this, Hu Da gave chase and pounced, pinning the Zerg Beast King to the ground like a tiger on its prey.
"Get off! Get off me!" The Zerg Beast King struggled to push Hu Da away and continued to flee; it didn't want to stay here for another second.
"There's no way you're escaping." The Azure Wolf King followed closely behind, leaped up, and lunged at the Zerg Beast King, pinning it down.
"I beg you, let me go! I promise never to step foot near here again. Right, I can hide in the sea and never come out. Just let me go." The Zerg Beast King struggled to push the Azure Wolf King away while pleading piteously.
"It's too late to beg for mercy now. Die!" Thinking of his brother's tragic state, Hu Da grew even more furious and would never let the Zerg beast before him go.
He swung a paw toward its head. The Zerg Beast King reacted quickly, dodging the incoming tiger claw. Then, at the cost of sacrificing the flesh on its back, it forcefully pushed the Azure Wolf King away and swung its scythe, leaving a deep wound on the Azure Wolf King's chest that bled incessantly.
"You forced my hand! Since you won't let me have it easy, I won't let you have it easy either. You're all coming to the grave with me!"
The Zerg Beast King sensed that Bai Xuan was already very close. Flying into a rage, it knew that once Bai Xuan arrived, the first ones he would target would be the Tier 5 and Tier 4 beasts; it would definitely not be able to escape then.
Instead of that, it might as well perish together with these two fierce beasts blocking its way!
Red light began to emanate from its entire body, its energy surged upward, and its frame bloated beyond recognition.
"Not good! It's going to self-detonate and take us with it!"
Hu Da was the first to notice the Zerg Beast King's abnormality and spoke up quickly.
"Let's go, quickly!" Without hesitation, the Azure Wolf King turned to run; it had no intention of perishing with the Zerg Beast King!
"It's too late to run! All of you, come to the grave with me! Hahaha!" The Zerg Beast King laughed maniacally, having fallen into a frenzy. Self-detonation was by no means what it wanted.
If possible, it wouldn't want to self-detonate in its entire life, but now there was no choice; it had truly been driven to a dead end. Rather than sitting and waiting for death, it might as well drag some enemies down with it.
The power of a Tier 5 beast's Self-detonation was immense; all living things and buildings within a hundred miles would be affected.
Even though Hu Da and the Azure Wolf King were also Tier 5 powerhouses, they were too close, and the Zerg Beast King was at a higher level than them. The power of the Self-detonation was terrifying and not something they could withstand; they would likely die because of it.
Even if they managed to survive by luck, they wouldn't be in good shape—it might even be a fate worse than death!
"It's too late, activate defenses quickly!" Hu Da curled his body, wrapping himself tightly with his wings until there were no gaps, then covered the surface with several layers of ice shields, putting everything into his defense.
The Azure Wolf King did the same, wrapping itself tightly in a wind-attribute defense: "Damn it, it actually self-detonated."
Now they could only leave it to fate and hope they wouldn't be too badly injured.
But the attack from the Self-detonation never came.
Instead, a voice entered their minds. It was Bai Xuan's voice, transmitted through the defensive barriers so that the Azure Wolf King and Hu Da could hear him:
"Come out. It's already dead."
...