"What?"
"Hellblood?"
"This… how is it possible?"
Hearing his words, everyone was both shocked and enlightened.
An octopus, possessing Hellblood within its body, what kind of situation was this?
No wonder it was so difficult to deal with.
Ordinary martial artists, upon consuming diluted Hellblood, could instantly surge to become Grandmasters, or even experts of the Core Formation realm.
Not to mention this octopus that had been in the sea for who knew how many years.
"Splash!"
Just then.
Countless bubbles and rolling waves emerged from the sea.
This was the octopus brewing a new round of attacks.
"Not good, it's coming again!"
"The octopus is too formidable in the water, let's get to shore!"
"Yes, on land, the octopus's movements are greatly hindered, and its deterrent and destructive power will be significantly reduced!"
"Split up!"
The many experts made their decision in an instant.
Immediately.
The False Emperor, Irina, Hand of God, White Reaper, and others, all rushed towards the shore.
As they rushed, they remained wary of each other, fearing a sneak attack.
Bai Zihe also led his men ashore.
Fortunately.
After a period of fighting, the distance from the ships to the shore was already very close.
Estimated… only a few hundred zhang.
This was nothing for experts who were mostly at the peak of the Grandmaster or Core Formation realms.
"Splash!"
Just as Bai Zihe and the others were hurrying ashore.
A wave dozens of zhang high suddenly crashed down from the sky, followed by four tentacles like steel whips, striking directly at Bai Zihe.
Bai Zihe inwardly groaned, but could only dodge and weave as best he could.
"Splash…"
The next moment, the tentacles lashed at the spot where he had been.
Bai Zihe had dodged, but a elite soldier from the Wolf Army was split in two and died instantly.
Bai Zihe's heart ached.
But in this critical moment, he couldn't afford to dwell on it.
Any delay would lead to the complete annihilation of his entire force.
"Swish!"
"Swish, swish!"
The seawater greatly increased Bai Zihe's resistance, and he could only move towards the shore as quickly as possible, while also keeping an eye on the many experts.
Doing his utmost to ensure no one was left behind.
"Splash…"
Just then, the octopus attacked again.
The familiar scene, the familiar moves.
Bai Zihe was utterly unable to resist.
He could only dodge.
Fortunately, this time many experts were prepared and did not fall behind.
"Swish!"
The octopus attacked for the third time.
Bai Zihe couldn't help but want to curse. This thing was really targeting him!
Suddenly, he understood.
This creature had Hellblood within it, and it must have smelled the purest Hellblood in his body, hence its desire to consume him!
The thought of this possibility sent a shiver down Bai Zihe's spine.
His footsteps quickened.
But no matter how fast he was, he couldn't outrun the octopus.
"Swish!"
The next moment, two tentacles appeared in front of Bai Zihe, separating him from the shore dozens of zhang away.
The other two tentacles attacked from behind.
A pincer movement!
No escape!
"Young Master!"
"Young Master, you must go!"
"Young Master, we'll hold it off!"
In this moment of crisis.
The elite soldiers of the Wolf Army behind him took out the potions containing Hellblood and injected them into their blood without hesitation.
"Buzz!"
"Splash!"
"Splash, splash, splash…"
Instantly, streams of powerful auras permeated the air.
Although they still couldn't contend with the octopus, it was the limit of the Wolf Army elite soldiers.
"Swish!"
The next moment, the two tentacles in front of Bai Zihe descended, about to drag him into the depths.
"Whoosh!"
A figure suddenly appeared before him, an enhanced elite soldier of the Wolf Army.
"Crack…"
With immense force, he was instantly thrown back.
Mid-air, he was split in two, falling freely amidst a spray of blood, his life extinguished in the sea.
Bai Zihe witnessed this scene with his own eyes, his eyes splitting with rage.
His eyes turned blood red.
"Young Master, go!"
"Hurry and go!"
"Go!"
From behind, desperate shouts echoed.
"Ahhh…"
"Ugh…"
"Oh…"
And also, chilling, heart-wrenching wails.
These elite soldiers of the Wolf Army were sacrificing their lives, their mortal bodies, to buy Bai Zihe time.
"Ahhhh…"
Bai Zihe's eyes were filled with tears, and he let out a long howl to the sky, but could only run towards the shore.
Fifty zhang.
Thirty zhang.
Ten zhang!
He had reached it!
On land, this distance might have been covered in a few thoughts, but it had become Bai Zihe's lifeline, a lifeline bought with the lives of the Wolf Army elite!
A moment later.
Bai Zihe finally arrived.
He looked back and saw a scene of utter carnage.
All the elite soldiers of the Wolf Army had perished, not a single one survived.
Only…
Their corpses floated on the sea, only to be swallowed one by one by the octopus.
Cruel, bloodthirsty.
"I will remember you."
Bai Zihe watched the octopus, its form appearing and disappearing, his eyes a bloody red, filled with sorrow and rage.
"One day…"
"I will surely tear you into eight pieces and make a statue to be erected before the Wolf Army, to comfort the heroic souls of the Wolf Army warriors in heaven."
Bai Zihe bowed thrice to the sea.
First, for the heroic souls of the Wolf Army.
Second, for the hatred of this place.
Third, for the vow witnessed by heaven and earth.
"Bai Zihe…"
Zhuge Sheng said in a deep voice, "Time waits for no one, let's go, it's time to go ashore."
Bai Zihe nodded, and together they headed towards Dragon Island.
No matter the cost, they had finally come ashore, and neither Zhuge Sheng, the three elders, nor Irina had been lost.
It was a small blessing in the midst of misfortune.
As they walked.
Bai Zihe suddenly felt a sense of surprise.
Logically, given that he had been entangled by the octopus, the False Emperor and the others, who had reached Dragon Island earlier, should have immediately gone in search of treasure.
Yet now…
They were lagging behind the group.
This was highly unusual and made Bai Zihe perplexed, and he inwardly remained on guard.
"Crack!"
"Crack, crack…"
Just then, a dull sound suddenly echoed.
This sound…
Seemed distant, yet also close.
Like an ancient sigh, or like a slumber across time and space.
It evoked surprise, solemnity, and unease.
"Crack, crack…"
"Crack, crack, crack…"
The sound intensified, and everyone began to shake.
It turned out that it was not the sky roaring, but the earth trembling. A violent earthquake had struck Dragon Island.
The entire Dragon Island.
Having stood here since time immemorial, it began to tremble.
"It's here."
From the group behind Bai Zihe.
The Sword Saint Liu Wen, Guardian of the Imperial City, suddenly had a strange gleam in his eyes.
He looked up at the sky, then gazed into the distance, his gaze deep, with a hint of reminiscence and apprehension, murmuring to himself, "The island's taboo has arrived!"