Soon.
Everyone was forced to huddle together, with the distance between them no more than three zhang!
If it were peacetime.
They would naturally be on guard.
However, at this moment, no one cared about that; everyone's mind had only one word.
Run!
The faster, the better!
"Roar!"
Suddenly.
Another roar came!
This time... it was extremely close to everyone!
Gu Han subconsciously looked back.
A Yao Beast, over ten zhang long with a body covered in dark scales, stared with blood-red eyes, breaking countless giant trees as it continuously approached the crowd!
"Ah!"
Suddenly.
A scream came.
It was a Cultivator who had fallen behind, instantly hit head-on by it, directly turning into a mist of blood!
"Run! Hurry and run!"
"This is a fifth-tier Yao Beast, the Iron-Armored Beast!"
...
Someone recognized the Yao Beast's identity and felt despair.
Fifth-tier!
Gu Han's heart sank.
Judging by the Yao Beast's size and speed, it was definitely one of the best among fifth-tier Yao Beasts. If one was hit by it... if they didn't escape immediately, they would probably be completely trapped in the beast tide!
Gritting his teeth.
His speed increased by another three points!
"Ah!"
"Help... help me!"
...
Behind him, screams rang out one after another.
However, everyone was too busy saving themselves; how could they possibly help others?
After an unknown amount of time.
The screams gradually thinned out.
And the original large team of dozens of people now only had about ten left, and the lowest Cultivation Base among them was at Acupoint Opening Sixth Layer. Those with insufficient Cultivation Base were either smashed to pieces by the Iron-Armored Beast or directly swallowed by it.
However.
At this moment, they were also at the end of their rope.
The Spirit Profound Qi in their bodies was almost exhausted, but they dared not stop to take Medicinal Pills. They could only desperately squeeze the remaining Spirit Profound Qi in their bodies, relying on their survival instincts.
The only one who still had strength left.
Was Gu Han!
His Extreme Realm liquid Spirit Profound Qi, several times thicker than that of Cultivators of the same rank, was naturally far from being depleted.
Of course.
Even so.
He was panting slightly, sweat on his forehead, clearly not having an easy time either.
On his back.
A Sha tightly clutched his clothes, her small face filled with worry.
Whoosh!
Just then.
A figure suddenly darted out from the dense forest beside them!
It was a Fatty!
"Ah?"
Seeing the Iron-Armored Beast relentlessly pursuing them from behind, he couldn't help but let out a wail.
"How is there one here too?"
Despite his complaints.
His speed was not slow at all. Although his body was bulky, his movements were extremely agile. In just a few breaths, he surpassed everyone else, his speed only slightly slower than Gu Han's.
And his face wasn't red, nor was he out of breath, looking as if he still had strength to spare.
"Brother."
The Fatty glanced at Gu Han, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, and actually started to greet him.
"What's your name?"
Gu Han ignored him, running headlong.
...
The Fatty was a bit awkward and looked at A Sha again.
"Little girl, has anyone told you that you're very pretty?"
"Hmph!"
A Sha glared at him and instantly turned her head away.
...
The Fatty felt rebuffed and stopped talking.
"Kill!"
Suddenly.
That long-silent voice once again reached everyone's ears. Even though it was extremely far away, everyone could still feel the brutality and killing intent contained within the voice!
"Hiss..."
The Fatty gasped, muttering incessantly.
"No way."
"Is this Fatty's Human Tribulation?"
"Roar!"
As if stimulated by that voice, the Iron-Armored Beast suddenly went berserk, its speed increasing by several points!
Whoosh!
Seemingly finding the people in front extremely bothersome, it swung its long tail, sweeping it over instantly!
Pfft!
Pfft!
...
In a flash.
Several people were swept by the huge tail, not even letting out a groan, instantly exploding into a mist of blood!
Oh no!
Sensing the strong wind behind him, Gu Han's scalp tingled. Gritting his teeth, the Spirit Profound Qi in his body circulated wildly, and he leaped a full ten zhang forward!
With this leap.
He narrowly dodged the giant tail's attack!
However.
He dodged it.
The Fatty wasn't so lucky.
"Ouch!"
A scream.
He was instantly hit head-on by the Iron-Armored Beast's giant tail.
Bang!
A loud bang.
In front of Gu Han, a round object instantly fell, creating a deep pit in the ground!
A Sha couldn't bear to look.
Gu Han had no time to look and directly leaped over the deep pit.
And just then.
A plump hand suddenly reached out from within the deep pit, pressing lightly. The ball-like body shot out rapidly, once again closely following Gu Han!
"Oh?"
A Sha was a little surprised.
"You... you're not dead?"
"Pfft!"
The Fatty's face was pale. He spared a glance at the Iron-Armored Beast behind him.
"Want Fatty's life? Dream on!"
Gu Han was secretly astonished.
That attack from the Iron-Armored Beast was definitely comparable to a full-power strike from a Ling Xuan Realm person, yet the Fatty only suffered minor injuries. His Physical Body... why was it so strong?
"Hehe."
Noticing Gu Han's gaze, the Fatty really wanted to show off.
"Brother..."
"Roar!"
Just as he was about to speak, a roar came again, and the Iron-Armored Beast caught up once more.
"I..."
The Fatty's face went pale, and he lost all desire to show off. His round, plump face turned crimson, and his speed actually increased by a large margin, instantly surpassing Gu Han!
Hm?
Gu Han instantly saw through his intention.
At this moment.
Everyone else in the area had already perished, leaving only the three of them. The Fatty's action was naturally to make Gu Han stay behind and attract the Iron-Armored Beast's attention.
Dream on!
He cursed inwardly, frantically urging the Spirit Profound Qi in his body, seemingly oblivious to the constant swelling pain in his Meridians.
Of course.
The effect was also significant.
His speed immediately caught up, once again leaving the Fatty behind.
Damn it!
The Fatty stared at Gu Han, his expression unfriendly.
Only you can run fast?
Fatty I'm not slow either!
He gritted his teeth and, like Gu Han, desperately increased his speed.
For a time.
The two seemed to be competing, constantly alternating between chasing and overtaking, gradually building up their competitive spirit.
Behind them.
The Iron-Armored Beast was being left further and further behind by them.
However.
At this point, the two were already so caught up in their competition that they no longer cared about the Iron-Armored Beast.
Their eyes met.
Sparks flew.
Neither was willing to admit defeat first, determined to prove who was superior.
As for A Sha...
She only felt the wind whistling past her ears, making her small face ache, but she had no idea why the two were trying so hard.
After an unknown amount of time.
Whoosh!
The three of them saw their surroundings brighten, having completely run out of the Barren Forest!
Another few dozen li.
And they would be at the Great Qi Royal Capital!
After running for a while longer, the majestic, towering giant city was already distantly visible!
"Wait... wait!"
The Fatty finally couldn't hold on anymore.
"Fatty... Fatty I... I can't take it anymore! Let... let Fatty I rest... rest for a bit!"
"Heh!"
Gu Han's eyes were red.
"Admit... admit defeat, right? Compared... compared to my speed, you... you're still a bit lacking!"
Thump! Thump!
The two of them both sat on the ground.
It wasn't that they didn't want to run.
It was that they simply couldn't run anymore.
"Young Master..."
Seeing Gu Han panting heavily, A Sha glared fiercely at the Fatty.
Of course.
It naturally had no deterrent effect whatsoever.
"Nonsense!"
The Fatty was still stubborn.
"If it weren't for... Fatty I... *cough, cough*, you... could you have outrun me?"
"Heh heh, I carried... a person, and you still didn't... didn't outrun me, and... and you still have the nerve to say that?"
As they spoke.
Both of them simultaneously stuffed large handfuls of Spirit Medicine into their mouths.
After stuffing them in.
They glared at each other again.
From their expressions, if they could still move, they would probably have already pinned each other to the ground and given them a good beating.
After a while.
It seemed they had recovered some Cultivation Base.
"Heh heh."
The Fatty stood up.
"Brother, I see you're still a bit unconvinced!"
"The feeling is mutual!"
Gu Han's expression was unfriendly.
"I also think that you are very annoying!"
Boom!
Boom!
...
Just as the two were eager to give each other an unforgettable lesson, the ground beneath their feet trembled once again!
Along with it.
Came the roars of many Yao Beasts!
"Oh no!"
Gu Han's face changed drastically.
Those Yao Beasts were catching up!
"Go!"
He ignored the Fatty, picked up A Sha, and ran towards the giant city ahead!
That was the Great Qi Royal Capital, with many experts; there must be a way to resolve this Yao Beast problem!
"Dead Fatty!"
A quick glance.
Seeing the Fatty still trailing behind him, Gu Han's face darkened.
"Why are you still following me!"
"Nonsense!"
The Fatty was exasperated.
"Don't flatter yourself! Within a few hundred li, that's the safest place. If Fatty doesn't go there, where else can... bah! Fatty can go wherever I want, why should I explain to you!"
Despite their bickering.
Their speed was naturally extremely fast.
In just a moment, they arrived at the base of the hundred-zhang-tall giant city!
The city walls were grayish-green, with countless runes carved on each ten-foot-long city brick. Driven by yuan crystals, they cast a faint milky-white glow over the city wall.
On top of the city wall.
Rows of city guards, clad in standard armor and wielding heavy crossbows, stared intently downwards, ready for battle.
At this moment.
Not just Gu Han and his group.
Chased by the Yao Beasts, more and more people gathered beneath the city walls.
There were Loose Cultivators.
There were people from within the city.
And there were people like Gu Han, from various places, rushing to the Martial Academy.
However, upon seeing it.
Everyone felt enraged.
The city gate, several zhang high and forged from exotic metal, was tightly shut, showing no intention of letting anyone in!
Boom!
Boom!
...
The Yao Beasts behind them were getting closer and closer; some with good eyesight could even vaguely see the outlines of the Yao Beasts!
"Young Master."
A Sha's small face was pale.
"What do we do?"
"The city wall!"
Gu Han stared at the grayish-green city wall, his expression slightly grim. "If they don't open the gate, we'll go up from here..."
Before he could finish speaking.
Several quick-reacting individuals beside him had already darted out!
Leading the way.
Was none other than the Fatty!
"Hahahaha! Brother!"
The Fatty looked back at Gu Han, a triumphant look on his face.
"Fatty is going first! We'll meet again... Oh no!"
Before he finished speaking.
He let out a scream.
His round body was directly bounced back!
It turned out that three zhang outside the city wall, a transparent light screen had appeared at some point. The Fatty, unluckily, was the first to crash into it, falling dazed and disoriented. As for the few people who followed him, they were even worse off; everyone suffered broken bones and lay on the ground wailing, unable to stand up again.
"Bastards!"
The Fatty jumped up and cursed at the city wall.
"Are you trying to kill Fatty!"
"Roar!"
Just then.
The roar came again, only a few li from the crowd!
For Yao Beasts.
This distance was almost instantaneous, if not exactly so!
"Please, open the gate!"
"I'm from the Hengyuan Chamber of Commerce, let me in!"
"Open the gate quickly! I am the son of the Wuding City Lord! My second uncle is a Martial Academy instructor!"
...
Everyone was in a panic.
Pleas, threats, and curses rose and fell.
However.
The city gate remained motionless.
