Chapter 673 - 318: Encirclement of the Fire Armadillo

The sky gradually became shrouded in thick dark clouds, and a humid sensation filled the air.

The sunset by the sea was particularly grand at dusk, with the blazing twilight intersecting with the dim gray across the sky and earth. The wind began to gust fiercely, rustling the leaves, and making the clothes flutter; everything around served as a reminder of the impending storm.

Twenty-seven cultivators of varying appearances stood orderly at the front of the formation, awaiting any movement from within the deep pit.

In the front row stood eight individuals, each a leader from forces comparable in strength to the young Saint Heir.

It’s worth noting that You Su, merely a cultivator from the Condensed Water Lower Realm, was also among them. Although he stood at the edge of the group, his position clearly surpassed that of the Condensed Water Upper Realm cultivators behind him.

"People always say the Celestial Revelation Divine Mountain in the Nanyang Continent excels in strategy, yet few realize the young Saint Heir is similarly adept."

Among those in the front row, a short-statured cultivator praised with a loud voice. Peculiarly, he had a horn-like protrusion on his forehead, engraved with intricate runes.

This individual was Lu Jie, another Water Condensation Perfection cultivator of the Demon Race from the Jiaoduan Race, reputedly endowed with most of the race’s innate divine abilities concentrated in this precious horn.

His words naturally made the cultivators from the Celestial Revelation Divine Mountain feel uncomfortable.

"Daoist Lu, your words are misguided. The Celestial Revelation Divine Mountain predicts fate; my calculations pertain merely to droughts and floods, which are incomparable."

The young Saint Heir was quite humble, clearly understanding the provocation in Lu Jie’s remarks, and wouldn’t allow this Demon Race member to succeed in sowing discord.

"Droughts and floods may aid the people, but fate cannot," Lu Jie continued to say with a smile, blatantly ignoring the peculiar gazes from the Nanyang Continent cultivators behind him.

The subtle mockery in his words even made Huo Ranhua, standing to the left of You Su, slightly frown.

"Lu Jie, say no more."

Ao Yunlie, being a fellow prodigy of the Star Shining Divine Mountain’s Demon Race, shared a good relationship with Lu Jie, so he felt no inhibition in addressing him by name.

Hearing this, Lu Jie wisely fell silent.

Just at that moment, Lu Jie’s faint smile vanished instantly as he looked down at his feet, where tiny dust particles rose:

"The Fire Armadillo is emerging!"

Upon hearing this, everyone focused their minds and stared at the deep pit with full vigilance.

The tremors of the ground intensified rapidly within a short time, causing some cultivators’ legs to weaken and entertain thoughts of retreat. Most of them had never witnessed the terrifying beast lurking underground, and it was only at this moment that they truly believed in its existence.

Suddenly, the edge of the deep pit began to crumble, with dust swirling up and an indescribable scorching sensation permeating the air. A low roar emerged from the cave, as if beckoning from the depths of hell.

In the instant everyone held their breath, a gigantic figure suddenly leaped from the pit, towering like a moving mountain, forcing the surrounding cultivators to retreat in astonishment.

The beast was covered in thick scale armor, whose scales gleamed with metallic sheen in the afterglow of the sunset, appearing exceptionally majestic. Its massive eyes, resembling two burning flames, radiated a frightening light. Its limbs were thick and powerful, and the scariest feature was its long sword-like tail, exuding a deadly threat.

The emergence of the Fire Armadillo instantly ignited the atmosphere of the entire scene. The faces of the cultivators varied, with some being astonished, others fearful, and some even retreating, fearing being affected by this ferocious beast. Its gigantic silhouette appeared extraordinarily colossal under the sun, like an insurmountable peak that made it hard for people to breathe.

"Do not retreat!"

Ao Yunlie shouted, his golden hair wildly flying, and his voice carried a motivational power that unexpectedly steadied everyone’s nerves.

"Face the enemy!"

With another command from Ao Yunlie, everyone sprang into action.

The front row leaders instantly dispersed, while those behind them either began to gather Profound Qi in their hands or took out valuable magical treasures to activate them.

A diverse array of unique lights started flashing, indicating the preliminary strategy decided by Ao Yunlie and others after their day’s discussion.

It wasn’t feasible to expect so many people to charge together and drown the Fire Armadillo merely with their collective spit. Facing such a gigantic divine beast, a reckless encirclement would only lead to a dead end.

Thus, they divided their forces into three parts: one for seizing treasures in the pit, one for long-range attack, and one for close-quarters combat.

At the onset of this battle, it was naturally up to the long-range troops to first deplete the Fire Armadillo’s health.

The Fire Armadillo let out an even more deafening roar, seemingly sensing the ants’ offense against it, declaring its majesty and wrath.

It suddenly kicked its limbs, lunging forward with a ground-shaking thundering crash, akin to the sound of thunder, shaking everyone’s hearts.

"Attack!"

The command was now issued by the young Saint Heir, clearly understanding that continuous magic against the Fire Armadillo’s sturdy defense was meaningless. Only with a simultaneous unleashing of all magic could there be a possibility of shaking this layer of dark armor.

In an instant, various spiritual lights transformed into a torrential storm, flying towards the enormous body of the Fire Armadillo.

However, the Fire Armadillo wasn’t going to wait helplessly; its limbs kicked abruptly, unleashing explosive speed as the ground trembled violently underfoot, propelling its body forward like a cannonball towards the ranged troops, kicking up a whirlwind and scattering countless sand and dust, rushing straight at the cultivators casting spells.