The Chief turned at the sound of footsteps. Seeing Shen Fei and Xiao Ning'er, he showed no surprise, merely nodding slightly before turning his gaze back to the front.
Across from them, where the wasteland met the forest, the Black Gold Rank 3-Star Demon Beast stood at the very center of the pack.
It was grayish-brown all over, a full size larger than an ordinary Black Gold Rank Demon Beast. Its thick limbs resembled stone pillars, and a row of short, closely packed bone spurs rose along its spine, running from its neck to the base of its tail. Its head was broad, and its dark red eyes gleamed eerily in the twilight.
Its jaws hung slightly open, exposing two rows of interlocking fangs. Dark red blood stained the gaps between its teeth, as though it had just torn into some prey. Its breathing was heavy and steady, and it stood utterly motionless, like a low hill crouching in the middle of the wasteland.
Five Gold Demon Beasts were spread out on either side of it: a Gray-Furred Giant Wolf, an Ironclad Rhino, two Shadow Leopards, and a slightly smaller Red-Mane Beast. All of them kept their heads lowered, growling deep in their throats and scraping the ground with their forepaws, poised to charge at any moment.
The Chief did not attack immediately. He continued releasing his oppressive aura, keeping the Black Gold Rank Demon Beast's attention firmly fixed on him so it could not spare the focus to order the Gold Demon Beasts to charge.
But he did not take the offensive either. He knew that once he charged in and became locked in combat with the Black Gold Rank Demon Beast, the Deputy Chief and the three Gold Guards might not be able to withstand the five Gold