Chapter 333: The Hidden Beast

He dragged his heavy steps, each one pulling a whole‑body pain like something broken, and walked toward the direction of the Shelter.

Yet at this moment, the equally scarred Lingling actually woke up.

Lin Yifan, seeing it awake, couldn't help but sigh in relief, and hurriedly asked with concern:

"How do you feel now? Can you still hold on?"

Lingling weakly nodded: "Brother Yifan, I'm okay, but my injuries are a bit severe; I must return to the cave where I grew up to heal. Can you take me there as soon as possible?"

"Where is the cave you mentioned?" Lin Yifan asked immediately.

He had already planned to go to the cave; although the surrounding danger was still uncertain, given Lingling's injuries, he would go regardless.

Following the direction Lingling pointed, Lin Yifan cradled Lingling and staggered forward.

He dared not use the gliding board any more; its noise was too great, and no one knew whether danger still lingered, so he could not be careless.

At this moment, concealment and speed—he could only choose the former.

The ruined ground was uneven and rough, and the burning wreckage emitted high heat.

Lin Yifan walked with extreme difficulty; sweat mixed with blood soaked his tattered clothes.

The Lingling in his arms occasionally let out a painful whimper, tightening his heart.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they finally left the core inferno District; the surrounding trees were still twisted and strange, but at least not completely destroyed.

The air seemed a bit fresher.

At that moment, the Bloodsucking Vine bracelet on Lin Yifan's wrist suddenly jolted!

Buzz!

A strong, ice‑cold murderous thought instantly entered Lin Yifan's mind!

Target—dense fern thicket with saw‑toothed leaves to his left‑front!

Almost as the Bloodsucking Vine warned, Lin Yifan's enhanced vague life sense also caught it!

Behind that fern thicket lurked three… no, four lifeforms exuding a chilling, blood‑thirsty aura!

They moved at extreme speed, silently surrounding him!

Are they surviving Dark Slaughter Flies! Or other predators attracted by the explosion?!

Lin Yifan's pupils contracted sharply! In his current state, not even fleeing was easy, let alone fighting!

Without hesitation, Lin Yifan lunged to the ground, using his remaining Yuan force to firmly mask his and Lingling's aura.

At the same time he curled his body into the shadow of a massive, oddly scented fungal root cluster nearby.

He held his breath, his heart pounding like a drum.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several black silhouettes, like ghosts, sprang out from behind the fern thicket!

Their bodies were slightly smaller than the Slaughter Flies previously encountered.

Yet they were faster; their carapace was a deep gray that blended into the night, compound eyes flashed with eerie green light, and their mouthparts resembled poisoned daggers.

Indeed they were Dark Slaughter Flies!

And they were scout types skilled at stealthy assassination!

Clearly they were drawn by the explosion and the scent of blood, now acting like the most seasoned hunters, scanning the ruins' edge for possible prey.

One of them was less than five meters from the fungal cluster where Lin Yifan was hidden.

Its slender antennae vibrated at high frequency in the air, its eerie‑green compound eyes scanned the ground, seemingly distinguishing scent and trace.

Lin Yifan's heart rose to his throat.

He could feel Lingling in his arms, even while unconscious, still trembling slightly from instinctive tension.

He clenched his fist, the Bloodsucking Vine bracelet on his wrist warmed slightly, transmitting a cold, blood‑thirsty battle intent.

It craved to devour these offered "snacks"!

No!

Lin Yifan forced the Bloodsucking Vine's agitation to subside.

Once he acted, even if he instantly killed these scouts, the combat energy ripple would surely attract more, more terrifying things!

He couldn't afford that gamble now!

That Slaughter Fly scout seemed to smell something, slowly stepped toward the fungal cluster, its compound eyes locked onto the shadow!

Lin Yifan's whole body tensed, his spirit highly focused, ready to unleash a thunderous strike the instant he was exposed.

At this hair‑trigger moment!

"Wu—!"

A low, long, beast‑like roar that seemed to come from ancient wilderness suddenly echoed from the deepest part of the silent forest!

The roar carried supreme authority and terrifying pressure, piercing layer upon layer of dense forest like a tangible wave of sound!

The Slaughter Fly scout that was about to approach Lin Yifan, upon hearing the wave, froze rigidly.

In its eerie‑green compound eyes, an indescribable terror instantly filled them.

Not only it, but the other scouts likewise were struck as if by lightning, abandoning the search without hesitation.

All the Dark Slaughter Flies, like startled birds, beat their wings in a rapid buzz, fleeing at a speed faster than their arrival, without looking back, scrambling away opposite the direction of the roar.

As if that roar represented an unbeatable natural enemy!

In an instant, the crisis was resolved!

Lin Yifan still lay prone, daring not to breathe. His back was soaked with cold sweat.

That beast roar just now…

So terrifying!

Even its aftershock contained an Overwhelming Pressure that made his very soul shiver!

That is definitely a terrifying entity far surpassing the Dark Gold Giant Cocoon; deep within this silent forest realm, indeed hides an unimaginable beast.

Only I don't know where this beast truly comes from.

Even less certain is whether this beast will, when Eternal Night falls, raid the Survivors' Shelter.

What frustrates Lin Yifan even more is that, even if the beast were to raid the Shelter, he has absolutely no ability to resist.

Just the roar from afar already pressures him so much; if the beast were actually before him, he would have no strength to fight back.

So now he can only pray that the beast won't strike these low‑level Survivors.

As for why the beast is stirring now, it's understandable—it was clearly awakened by the explosion just now.

We must leave even faster!

That cave has already become their Unique hope!

He dares not delay any longer, gritting his teeth against the pain, lifts Lingling, checks the direction, and once more heads toward the cave that Lingling had pointed out, stumbling forward and quickening his pace.

He must reach that safe haven before Eternal Night fully descends, or before something even more terrifying is roused!

The Bloodsucking Vine bracelet on his wrist still exudes a cold touch, its dark‑gold pattern flickering faintly in the dim light.

It seems to have also "heard" that beast's roar; the transmitted intent is no longer merely blood‑thirsty, but carries a hint of… solemnity and instinctive aversion.

The road ahead remains dark, but the goal is clear—find the Spirit Crystal Cave and heal Lingling!

On this death‑laden wasteland, every second of breathing is a luxury.

Lin Yifan's silhouette, amidst the twisted forest shadows, looks utterly tiny yet bears an unyielding resilience, laboriously moving toward that unknown refuge.

He, with his last ounce of will, cradles Lingling and, stumbling, throws himself into the vine‑shrouded cave entrance.