Chapter 282: Scattered Action

One of the most ferocious leaders charged over first, its tentacles as flexible and powerful as whips. With a light flick, it sent several large boulders flying. Lin Xuan and the others reacted quickly, each unleashing their ultimate techniques to counter.

"Everyone, scatter and act!" Lin Xuan gave the order, leaping into the air first to dodge the offensive while releasing a sea of fire, attempting to burn the opponent; Wang Zhenqiu relied on his powerful martial arts for close-quarters combat; while Xiao Qing used her nimble footwork to weave through the enemy ranks, seizing opportunities to unleash a series of rapid attacks.

Yet even with such effort, facing opponents that were extremely fast and numerous still felt overwhelming. The leading Giant Yellow Octopus was especially cunning, dodging the group's fiercest counterattacks time and again, and instead using the surrounding environment as cover to launch sneak attacks from time to time.

"This won't work; we must think of a way," Lin Xuan said, panting heavily during a brief lull in the fighting.

"I noticed those guys seem particularly sensitive to high temperatures," Xiao Qing said after observing for a while. "We can try concentrating our power to increase the temperature of our fire attacks; perhaps it will have an unexpected effect."

"Then it's settled!" Wang Zhenqiu nodded vigorously. "I'll hold off the other guys to buy you enough time to prepare the final ultimate move."

Following the plan, the three split up again. This time, their cooperation became even more seamless: Lin Xuan gathered all his energy to create a massive fireball; meanwhile, Xiao Qing summoned countless tiny but intensely hot micro-flames; and Wang Zhenqiu, responsible for pinning down the enemies, charged into the fray valiantly despite being wounded...

Finally, after an intense contest, the super fireball, burning with golden light, was successfully launched toward the target area...

Boom—!!!

The shockwave generated by the explosion swept through the entire space instantly, shattering even the rock-solid walls. After the smoke and dust cleared, the once arrogant Giant Yellow Octopus had been roasted into a pile of charcoal, and the remaining few were so frightened they scattered in all directions, having completely lost their will to fight.

"We did it!" Wang Zhenqiu cheered excitedly.

"But it's not time to relax yet," Lin Xuan said, looking in all directions vigilantly with a slightly grave tone. "There must be more unknown secrets hidden here; we must be doubly careful..."

Just then, a new voice interrupted their conversation: "Oh? You guys are actually quite impressive. But don't be happy too soon, because the real show has only just begun."

"Everyone, be careful; these octopuses don't seem to be simple creatures!" Lin Xuan warned while staying alert to his surroundings. The three of them quickly stood back-to-back, forming a small circle, ready to face the unknown danger ahead.

In the darkness, glowing tentacles approached silently, like snakes lurking in the shadows, ready to launch a fatal strike at any moment.

"It's coming!" Wang Zhenqiu shouted, and suddenly, thinner, faster vine-like objects shot out from those tentacles, aimed directly at the nearest person, Xiao Qing.

She reacted quickly, swinging the sword in her hand to sever the tentacles attempting to wrap around her one by one, but more came from every direction. "We need to find a way to attack their Core," Wang Zhenqiu suggested loudly, while also using his special ability to interfere with the enemy's sensory system, slowing down their offensive rhythm.

Lin Xuan nodded in agreement, "But first, we must protect ourselves. My power can try to destroy the ground to create obstacles." Having said that, a powerful force surged from within him, flowing through his arms into the ground beneath his feet; cracks spread instantly, and as gravel flew, it formed terrain that was difficult to traverse. However, the Giant Yellow Octopus did not give up the pursuit, instead accelerating as it charged over, the light around its body becoming even more blinding. At the same time, a faint green mist permeated the air—this was the so-called toxin, which could cause people to fall into a weakened state in a short time; clearly, this was a method the enemy used to lower their resistance.

"This poisonous gas is not easy to deal with... we must find a way to avoid or purify it."

Xiao Qing frowned as she spoke, but before her words had faded, a figure flashed past her field of vision like lightning.

"I'll do it!" It was Wang Zhenqiu, who had been ready and waiting, having taken action the moment he sensed the opponent was about to release toxic substances.

He leaped high into mid-air and quickly unfolded a massive fan-shaped shield condensed from air, skillfully blocking the oncoming green gas. Afterward, he spun rapidly, using centrifugal force to make the shield even sturdier and larger, effectively isolating the harmful substances in the surrounding environment.

Seeing this, Lin Xuan immediately understood what Wang Zhenqiu wanted to do and struck the ground with all his might, triggering another intense tremor. This chain reaction caused the entire space to shake uncontrollably, and many of the octopuses that had been holding their positions to attack them were shaken away, unable to pose a threat for the moment. "Now is the chance!"

Taking advantage of this opening, the three made a decision in an instant and charged at the nearest monsters respectively. The battle then entered a white-hot stage; blades flashed, explosions sounded incessantly, and the air was filled with a tense and stirring atmosphere...

"Whew—safe for now." When the last ray of sunlight shone into this enclosed space, Lin Xuan finally let out a sigh of relief. Looking at the tired yet determined eyes of his two companions, he knew they had weathered the crisis together once again. "But we cannot let our guard down," Wang Zhenqiu said with a serious tone. "The encounter just now was only the beginning. The secrets hidden beneath this place are likely far more complex than we imagined."

"That's right; since we've already come here, there's no reason to stop," Xiao Qing said firmly, gripping her weapon. Just then, a faint but distinctly unusual sound came from afar. "Sounds like... is there water coming?" The three exchanged a glance, and the unease in their hearts rose once more—a new challenge seemed to be slowly approaching.

"Regardless, we must act with greater caution." Lin Xuan took a deep breath, regained his spirit, and led the team slowly toward the direction of the mysterious sound, every step taken with the desire to explore the unknown world and the determination never to admit defeat in the face of hardship.

The giant body of the Huang Zhangyu, after a brief stiffness, became active again. Its eyes flashed with anger and murderous intent, and with a wave of its long arms, the massive tentacles whipped toward Lin Xuan, Wang Zhenqiu, and Xiao Qing like iron lashes.