Chapter 51: Section 52: It’s Lord Zhenjin!


    “We’re finished!”


    “Those green-skinned beasts are everywhere, what do we do?”


    “We can’t get away.” Cang Xu panted heavily, the old man’s face also lacking its usual composure.


    Surrounded by more and more green-skinned lizards, the members of the exploration team fell into despair, many of them letting out desperate roars.


    “This can’t be happening!”


    “Lord Cang Xu, didn’t you say these green-skinned lizards would go out to forage at dawn?!”


    ...


    “That’s exactly why we chose this opportunity to break through.”


    “The lizards in front of us are the main hunting party. But they’ve come back too early.”


    “There’s no use talking about this now, we can retreat, go back to the cave we passed earlier!”


    “We can’t go back, rather than that, we might as well take a risk and head forward.”


    “Have you gone mad? The lizards in front are the strongest in the herd, otherwise why would they go out to hunt?”


    Cang Xu remained silent.


    Zi Di gritted her teeth: “Let’s get to the top of this sand dune first.”


    Saying this, she took the lead.


    Despite being in a desperate situation, the instinct to survive drove everyone to follow Zi Di.


    The exploration team climbed the sand dune with the green-skinned lizards closely pursuing them.


    Whenever the lizards got close, Zi Di would throw a packet of powder, creating a thick green smoke to block the lizards.


    Though the green smoke would disperse quickly, thinning out and no longer hindering the lizards, the exploration team still managed to reach the top of the dune.


    And then, their despair deepened.


    From their vantage point, they could see clearly.


    The sand dune was surrounded by a dense throng of green-skinned lizards, two to three thousand strong.


    Most were ordinary wild beasts, and the lizards remaining near the nests were mostly old, weak, or ill. The elites were those that had gone out to hunt but returned early, nearly all radiating a Black Iron Life Breath.


    “Why struggle? We might as well wait here to die.” Someone simply sat down on the sand with a thump.


    “Rather than being eaten by these green-skinned lizards, I’d prefer to die in a sandstorm.” Someone else said with a bitter smile.


    The lizards gathered at the base of the dune, increasingly densely packed.


    Soon, more lizards surged up the slope.


    Zi Di took out some medicine powder and, from her high position, scattered it, creating a thick green mist once again.


    The swirling mist formed a temporary wall, repelling the attacking lizards.


    Witnessing this, Bai Ya sincerely admired, “If it weren’t for Lord Zi Di, we would’ve been dead by now!”


    Someone saw the full stack of medicine packets in Zi Di’s belt pouch, their eyes lighting up with hope, and suggested, “We have so many potions. We can wait for a strong wind and scatter these packets in it to completely kill these lizards! Even if it doesn’t kill them all, it can carve us a path out.”


    Zi Di, however, shook her head: “With wind, this smoke won’t gather together but will quickly disperse. Moreover, the lizards aren’t stupid; they’ll flee when they encounter the green smoke. The most crucial point is that we’re more fragile than these lizards; this green smoke is even more harmful to us.”


    The people were all at a loss: “Then what do we do?”


    Zi Di sighed longly, looking at the endless green-skinned lizards around the dune: “We can only hope that these lizards can’t break through for a long time and disperse on their own.”


    The situation the young girl had hoped for did not happen.


    The lizards maintained their encirclement and continually attempted to ascend the sand dune, though each attempt was repulsed by the green fog.


    Wherever the green mist thinned, Zi Di promptly replenished it.


    This special medicine powder was rapidly depleting. Although Zi Di had produced a lot of it, at this rate, it would be completely exhausted in a day or two.


    Watching the green-skinned lizard monsters screeching and clamoring, failing to climb up the dunes, many members of the exploration team relaxed.


    But Cang Xu and Zi Di both looked worried.


    They were acutely aware of just how perilous their current situation actually was.


    The lizard monsters had merely been frightened off by the green mist for now. The range covered by the mist was limited; if they charged recklessly without regard for their own lives, they could still storm through. In fact, if the lizards held their breath, they could also rush through the green mist.


    But after all, they were wild beasts and lacked human intelligence, not understanding how to adapt extensively.


    Time passed, and the sun climbed higher, reaching its zenith at noon.


    Seeing that the lizards had all lain down beneath the dunes, each one listlessly languishing, with the stronger ones monopolizing the shade, the old Scholar furrowed his brows deeply and shared his speculation, “I estimate that these lizards won’t give up on killing us. I have observed that there are no lizards of the Silver Level among them. This is almost impossible. To maintain such a large pack, there must be at least one Silver Level Lizard Head.”


    “Look at those lizards; they are the strongest in the group, almost all exuding a Black Iron Aura. But these Magic Beasts are almost all injured, many severely so. I suspect that this hunting pack of lizards encountered a formidable enemy this morning, not only failing to find food but also suffering heavy losses in a hunt, resulting in the death of their leader.”


    Zi Di had a sudden realization, “So, we are the only food in the eyes of these lizards?”


    Cang Xu nodded, then shook his head slightly, “It’s not just that. We also destroyed their eggs. The scent of those lizard eggs still lingers on us, and the lizards utterly hate us for it. I’m afraid even if we fled to the ends of the desert, they would chase us down there, intent on tearing us apart, the murderers of their offspring!”


    Everyone fell silent.


    Bai Ya couldn’t help but feel indignant on behalf of Zi Di, “But if we hadn’t destroyed those lizard eggs, without the egg liquid as a material, Lord Zi Di wouldn’t have been able to create this medicine powder mist. Without it, we would have died long ago; how could we possibly still be alive now?”


    Cang Xu shook his head, “I’m not criticizing Lord Zi Di at all. In fact, I’m filled with gratitude toward the Lord. I’m merely sharing everything I know with you all.”


    The group lapsed into silence once again.


    There wasn’t even a hint of a breeze.


    The sunlight was like thousands of piercing arrows shooting down. The temperature in the air grew very high, and those exposed at the top of the dunes found it increasingly unbearable.


    They resembled fish that had fallen onto a scalding hot iron plate.


    They were truly being roasted alive!


    Many stripped off their outer garments to make small tents, propping them over their heads.


    They dared not sit, as the sand beneath their feet was scorching hot. At this moment, if a lizard egg were cracked, its contents spilling out, it would instantly steam and scramble.


    “If only we had enough bows and arrows. Standing on the dunes, from such a commanding position, we could completely shoot down these lizards. Let these lizards become our food,” someone murmured.


    Regrettably, the exploration team had lost almost all of the short bows and arrows in the sandstorm.


    And only half of the team members remained.


    Not everyone still had weapons, and even fewer had short bows on them.


    This was the desert, where there was no wood to make new ones.


    “Making short bows was Lord Zhenjin’s idea. Where exactly is the Knight Lord now? If he were here, he might think of a solution,” another voice spoke up.


    Zhenjin had previously led everyone to victory, guiding the exploration team out of a survival crisis. His prestige had reached deep into the hearts of the people. So, at this moment, everyone looked forward even more to his wise and powerful leadership.


    Bai Ya gazed towards the horizon, “I feel that Lord Zhenjin wouldn’t die so easily; he’s just temporarily separated from us. He will definitely appear, he’ll come here to save us!”


    Bai Ya’s tone was filled with certainty, which struck the others as quite strange.


    Therefore, someone asked, “Why do you say that? Can you get in touch with Lord Zhenjin?”


    Bai Ya shook his head and widened his eyes, his face marked with a hint of confusion, and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “Because Zhenjin is a Knight, and moreover a Holy Temple Knight. He must come back, he will lead us out. Because that’s what Knights do!”


    The others gave a wry smile, and Cang Xu shook his head slightly.


    Having spent time with Bai Ya, the group realized this young man seemed to have an inexplicable faith and reverence for Knights. The extent of his trust and admiration far exceeded common norms, to the point it appeared somewhat naive and foolish.


    But at this moment, no one wanted to refute such naivety and foolishness with common sense.


    Because they, trapped in a desperate situation, were also longing for such a knight to step forward when they were most helpless and in danger, to use superior abilities and wisdom to help these weak ones escape the crisis.


    After this brief exchange, there followed a long silence.


    The blazing sun was exceedingly harsh, domineering to the point where one could hardly lift their eyelids, and could only look down at the sand beneath their feet.


    People were both hungry and thirsty, with many having chapped lips.


    Although there was food and water, the supply was not abundant, and under Cang Xu’s suggestion, they had already started rationing.


    “Eh?!” An exploration team member suddenly showed a look of surprise, then quickly rubbed his eyes.


    After confirming again, he shouted, “Everybody, come look, is that a person?”


    This cry immediately drew everyone’s attention.


    “There is someone.”


    “Who is it?”


    “Can’t make it out clearly yet.”


    “He’s running towards us!”


    Cang Xu narrowed his eyes. “The foot of the sand dune is full of green-skinned attractions, this person still charges over, clearly has great skill and boldness.”


    “It must be Lord Zhenjin,” Bai Ya shouted excitedly.


    As the distance closed, the throng could finally make out the newcomer’s face.


    Cheers erupted instantly.


    “It’s him, it definitely is Lord Zhenjin!”


    “I told you I was right,” Bai Ya laughed heartily.


    “Lord Zhenjin, we’re here!!”


    “Have you finally come to save us?”


    Many people couldn’t help but cry tears of joy at this moment.


    Zi Di’s breathing also became rapid, her crystal-like eyes now showing surprise and anticipation, but soon the young girl slightly furrowed her brows, her heart tightened. “Ah, he’s injured!”


    The cheering crowd’s expression changed with this realization.


    They too noticed the approaching Zhenjin’s left arm was in a sling, likely broken. He was also wrapped in “bandages.” These “bandages” were clearly long strips of cloth Zhenjin had torn from his clothing.


    “The Lord is injured.”


    “That sandstorm was indeed terrifying.”


    “It’s just not clear how serious Lord Zhenjin’s injuries are?”


    The explorers grew anxious, for Zhenjin’s condition was now directly linked to their survival.


    Of course, the lizards also noticed the charging Zhenjin, and soon, several lizards on the outer edge charged at him.


    Zhenjin, holding a Spider Blade in his right hand, neither dodged nor hid, charging into these lizards, slashing left and right.


    After the blade passed through, it always splattered green blood.


    These ordinary lizards were all beheaded, dying on the sand.


    Zhenjin’s slaughter immediately sparked an uproar among the lizards. More lizards charged at him, this time not just the ordinary ones, but also Bronze Level Magic Beasts.


    Zhenjin’s momentum slowed down considerably.


    Bronze Level lizards were not only larger and stronger, but more crucially, their acid spit was much more ferocious.


    Ordinary lizards, when they wanted to spit acid, would stay put, their necks bulging—after roughly two breaths, they would open their mouths and shoot out green liquid.


    This timing was ample for Zhenjin to complete a counterkill.


    As far as Zhenjin was concerned, an ordinary lizard readying to spray acid presented a prime opportunity for an ambush.


    Bronze lizards required only the duration of one breath to prepare their acid spit. In a one-on-one fight, Zhenjin would have enough time to evade and counterattack.


    But the current situation was that Zhenjin was alone while he was besieged by over a dozen lizards. It was impossible for him to find a perfect evasion path that allowed him to dodge and get close for a counterkill simultaneously.


    “He absolutely must not come into contact with this acid,” Zhenjin thought to himself with icy calmness.


    The acid spit of a Bronze Level lizard could also corrode gold mica stone swiftly. At this moment, without his Fighting Energy Armor and no armor on his body, a hit from the acid would result in immediate grievous injury.


    “Lord Zhenjin…”


    “It seems the wounds on his body greatly affect him!”


    “Lord Zhenjin continues to dodge—is it possible he cannot use Fighting Energy Armor?”


    At the top of the sand dune, the group watched from afar, their hearts gradually tightening at the sight of the battle before them.


    Suddenly, someone let out a startled cry and instinctively shouted, “Look out!”


    It appeared that one particularly sly lizard amidst those attacking had sprayed out acid.


    This acid was aimed straight at Zhenjin’s back.


    But in the next moment, as if he had heard the exploration team’s shout, Zhenjin rolled on the spot without looking back, evading the stream of acid perfectly.


    The other lizards hurriedly dodged as well.


    The acid struck empty space, hitting the sands and immediately sizzling upon impact, corroding a shallow trench into the sand and sending up pungent white fumes.


    “It seems I’ve been through a lot of similar training previously, which has endowed me with plenty of battle experience, allowing me to handle such an onslaught alone, remaining calm and collected,” Zhenjin reflected at that moment, deepening his self-awareness.


    Even though he could only see what was in front of him, when besieged and cut off, he would always find several paths for evasion.


    His vision was not limited to the front; as he nimbly dodged, his gaze constantly scanned swiftly, and his ears also discerned the wind. So even if acid came from behind, he was able to dodge in time.


    Of course, the speed at which the acid flew was not as fast as that of regular arrows.


    The exploration team members, unaware of Zhenjin’s confidence, watched the young knight enclosed tightly, danger lurking all around, their hearts filled with dread, feeling as if Zhenjin was walking a tightrope at the edge of a cliff.


    “Just one hit from this acid, and Lord Zhenjin will be in danger!”


    “He’s been injured, yet risked his life to come save us—this is what it means to be a Holy Temple Knight.”


    “Lord Zhenjin… just like he said, he’s never given up on us.”


    The members of the exploration team felt concern mixed with admiration.


    “We need to provide support to Lord!”


    “But we only have short bows, the distance is too far. We simply can’t shoot the lizards around Lord to provide assistance,”


    The exploration team members gritted their teeth.


    The range of ranged weapons is divided into maximum range and effective range.


    Within the effective range, a ranged weapon possesses lethality; the maximum range is just the farthest distance it can reach.


    The short bows were crudely made, and neither their effective nor maximum range could reach Zhenjin’s position.


    Trapped at the peak of the sand dune, for the moment, they could only watch, helpless.


    “This is bad,” their expressions darkened once more as they saw a third wave of lizards charging at Zhenjin. This group of green-skinned lizards included three Black Iron Level ones!


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