"Splash!" A muddy demonic beast several zhang long, its exact shape obscured but resembling a demonic rhinoceros, leaped out of the swamp with a huge fish tail trailing behind it. It opened its jaws, revealing two rows of sharp fangs, and lunged at the shabby Daoist in front.
"Help!" the shabby Daoist cried out. He fled far faster than he had when scouting ahead, but he still couldn't outrun the muddy beast.
Clack! The beast's enormous jaws snapped shut, biting down on the shabby Daoist. He let out a scream, but Lu Xiaotian saw that as the wooden armor on his body shattered, he slipped out of it like a loach.
Clang, clang!
Wu Xiao'ai, Sun Shoucai, He Rushuang, and the others all summoned their magical artifacts and struck the beast. Jin Changdao opened his mouth and spat out a centipede-shaped staff. It grew from small to large, and the centipede head atop it snapped its jaws like a living creature as it smashed heavily into the beast.
Its aura was truly formidable. Lu Xiaotian's heart tightened, and he summoned the Earthsplitter Saber to slash at the beast.
With several people attacking at once, a number of magical artifacts struck the beast in succession. It cried out in pain, then splashed back into the mire, sending mud flying everywhere.
"That nearly scared the life out of me! Many thanks to Fellow Daoist Jin and the rest of you for your generous assistance." The shabby Daoist, having narrowly escaped disaster, patted his chest and spoke with lingering fear.
"If you're all right, keep scouting," Jin Changdao said, recalling his artifact.
"But, Fellow Daoist Jin, I've already lost a defensive treasure. Can someone else take over now?" the shabby Daoist asked anxiously.
"Fellow Daoist Ma, you can't put it that way. Fellow