Dividing the Spoils

Several Cocoon Breaking Stage Hunters were about to strike again, intending to snuff out the Immortal Salamander's last trace of life.

No matter how strong the Immortal Salamander's regenerative ability was, once it had been chopped into eight pieces—or even eighty—it surely could not survive.

But at that moment, the Immortal Salamander had recovered from the effects of the mental attack. A blinding orange Evolutionary Light suddenly flared across its body, and surging life energy instantly filled its entire body.

The next moment, as if by a miracle, its limbs and tail, even its heart and head, were instantly restored to normal!

All the injuries across its body had healed in an instant!

Whether having its head cut off or its heart shattered, such injuries would have been fatal to any other animal, killing it instantly. Yet the Immortal Salamander had not only survived, but had also used a skill to instantly heal all its wounds. It truly deserved the name "Immortal" Salamander.

After recovering, the Immortal Salamander immediately broke through the encirclement formed by the Cocoon Breaking Stage Hunters and put some distance between itself and them.

Even with such a heaven-defying recovery skill, it could not use it a second time within a short period. Forced to expend its life-saving ability, the fairly intelligent Immortal Salamander realized the danger and no longer acted as recklessly as before.

The six Cocoon Breaking Stage Hunters all looked regretful that they had failed to kill the Immortal Salamander while they had the chance. Still, it had not been entirely pointless. Having forced it to use its life-saving skill, they had reduced the Immortal Salamander's desire to attack to rock bottom.

If not for the effects of Beast King's Roar, the Immortal Salamander would likely have fled long ago.

Without the fearless Immortal Salamander charging at the front, the pressure on the six Cocoon Breaking Stage Hunters eased considerably. Furthermore, more and more Pupal Stage Hunters were freeing up to assist them, and the situation actually began to turn around.

Not long afterward, with the cooperation of several Cocoon Breaking Stage Hunters, Liu Wenyin struck another Tier 2 Exotic Beast with the Head of the Wailing Ones.

This D-grade Tier 2 Iron Claw Crab was nowhere near as tough as the Immortal Salamander. It was beaten to death by the Hunters.

"Hold on! Less than two minutes left!"

By this point in the battle, nearly half the Hunters had been injured.

Two Cocoon Breaking Stage Hunters had completely lost their ability to fight and retreated to the rear to treat their injuries. Three Pupal Stage Hunters had died, while several others were seriously wounded.

On the Exotic Beast side, Tier 1 Exotic Beast corpses carpeted the ground. One Tier 2 Exotic Beast had also died, while three more were visibly injured and, like the Immortal Salamander, had lost their will to fight and were slacking off at the side.

The situation gradually became clear. The Hunters should have no trouble lasting through the final two minutes.

At that moment, Su Ze sharply noticed a figure limping out of the nearby forest.

It was actually the missing Li Gaojie. He was covered in blood, his clothes were tattered, and his body was covered in wounds. He was dragging an Exotic Beast corpse in each hand.

Su Ze was not the only one to notice Li Gaojie. The Hunters all turned toward him with surprised looks... This guy had not run away?

"Li Gaojie, where did you go?" someone asked.

"I went to take a dump nearby during the night, then suddenly found that you were surrounded by the Beast Swarm. I couldn't charge in either, so I could only intercept and kill some of the Exotic Beasts coming to reinforce them outside."

Li Gaojie casually tossed the two Exotic Beast corpses onto the ground and wiped the blood from his forehead.

"So that was it." Seeing his condition, no one doubted him.

Was I overthinking it...? Su Ze frowned. He was somewhat uncertain, but he still remained wary of Li Gaojie.

There were not many Exotic Beasts still alive now, and they could no longer encircle Su Ze's group. They only needed to hold on for a little over a minute to be safe.

Seeing that his scheme had failed, the suited man, who had been locked in combat with Aunt Yun, looked increasingly grim.

There had been nothing wrong with his plan. The only variable had been that damned Tier 2 Marvel!

Without the Head of the Wailing Ones helping the Hunters kill a large number of Tier 1 Exotic Beasts, Su Ze's group would have fallen long ago. They could never have held out until now.

"When did you get this Marvel?" the suited man asked through gritted teeth. "The last time we fought, you didn't have it!"

Aunt Yun remained silent, sighing inwardly. Indeed, if they had possessed this Marvel during their last encounter, their losses would not have been so devastating. Only she and Liu Wenyin would not have escaped to Mu Kingdom.

The Head of the Wailing Ones was powerful because it could crush lifeforms below the Cocoon Breaking Stage, making it the perfect counter to the Beast Swarm tactics enabled by Beast King's Roar.

The suited man suddenly drifted backward, opening the distance between himself and Aunt Yun. Wind rose beneath his feet as he vanished into the forest.

With the plan having failed, he could only retreat early. Otherwise, once Beast King's Roar wore off and the Beast Swarm withdrew, he would have to face everyone's combined assault.

Aunt Yun quickened her pace, intending to chase after him, but ultimately stopped. Her foremost duty was to protect Liu Wenyin, and leaving now might place Liu Wenyin in danger.

"Sister Yun, help me out!" Su Ze hurriedly shouted, pointing at the Immortal Salamander lingering around the outskirts and frantically making pleading gestures.

"Don't call me that. I'm old enough to be your mother," Aunt Yun said, glaring at him.

"Mom Yun," Su Ze obediently called out.

Anyway, Clones were born without fathers or mothers in this life. What was wrong with recognizing a mother?

He wanted to experience a mother's care too.

Aunt Yun was helpless, but Su Ze's antics diluted the faint sadness in her heart.

Under Su Ze's expectant gaze, Aunt Yun leaped over to the Immortal Salamander.

Sensing danger, the Immortal Salamander's four short legs moved furiously as it prepared to flee. But before it could run more than a few steps, Aunt Yun grabbed it by the back of its neck.

Holding up the over-two-meter-long Immortal Salamander, Aunt Yun used her Butterfly Transformation Stage body to withstand its venom without the slightest fear. Before the Immortal Salamander could struggle, electric currents burst from her palm. One blast of 100,000 Volts made Su Ze smell the scent of cooked meat from far away.

No matter how powerful the Immortal Salamander's self-healing ability was, it could not function at this moment. It went straight to see the God of Evolution.

At last, ten minutes had passed. Beast King's Roar expired, and the remaining Exotic Beasts scattered and fled.

The Hunters were all utterly exhausted and did not pursue the fleeing Exotic Beasts. With the crisis over, they all collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. They did not even have the energy to deal with the spoils scattered everywhere.

Liu Wenyin and Aunt Yun immediately began treating the injured. They had brought along quite a few healing potions and antidote serums produced by Life Pharmaceutical.

Su Ze felt that he was still too inexperienced. He had not even considered preparing such medicine.

After everyone had rested briefly, they began the part everyone cared about most: dividing the spoils.

Because the battle had been too chaotic, aside from a small number of Exotic Beasts whose killers could be clearly identified, the spoils from the rest could only be divided evenly.

Everyone first counted the Exotic Beast corpses covering the ground. In this battle, they had killed two Tier 2 Exotic Beasts and fifty-six Tier 1 Exotic Beasts.

The two Tier 2 Exotic Beasts were the D-grade Iron Claw Crab and the S-grade Immortal Salamander.

Su Ze kept his eyes fixed on the Immortal Salamander's corpse. He did not care about any of the other spoils. He only wanted Immortal Salamander extract.