They didn't have much time to ponder and 'speak' to discuss their thoughts since the ignored camouflaged monster finally appeared!

Even if their sense of hearing was 'blocked', but their sense of touch didn't. And so, everyone felt the whip of an air behind them and they tacitly jumped away from their position. Not even a second later and the place where they stood, there appeared deep cracks from being smashed by something hard.

It was the tail of the monster that struck the marbled floor. When they all landed on the feet and turned, they were dumbstruck to see a large creature standing on its hind legs with its webbed hands raised and its red, slick tongue wiggling at them. They felt all their hair stood on its end when they saw that the saliva of the monster dripped down on the marbled floor and the floor was corroded.

HISSSSS –

Their face became dark as they all leapt back when the monster jumped at them. Xi Xing, the weakest persimmon in their group, was the monster's target. Fortunately, Xi Xing still has a high cultivation and although his reaction is slow, but his speed isn't. And so, Xi Xing rolled away when the monster tried to stump him with its forelegs.

Gong Xian and Xi Ming saw Xi Xing was attacked and they went back, only to hunch down to dodge when the monster swung its tail at them. No one can call out to the others, since their voice was being absorbed by the monster's whiskers now quivering as they try to open their mouth.

Sun Yi frowned and he raised his Thought Talisman. "We can't work altogether without the command. Cut the monster's whiskers first!" he said and swung his sleeve, where fire talismans flew out and struck the monster's face.

The monster opened its mouth wide, probably to roar in pain, yet even its own voice can't be heard. However, Sun Yi's distraction let Xi Xing had the chance to breathe and Xi Ming and Gong Xian pulled him away from the monster.

However, before Xi Xing could successfully escape, he felt his leg was tugged and he stumbled on the floor. Xi Ming and Gong Xian turned, only to widen their eyes in horror when they saw Xi Xing's leg was wrapped by the monster's tail.

But, that's not what's terrifying. It was the spikes on the monster's tail! Those sharp spikes were digging through Xi Xing's leg!

Xi Ming opened his mouth to cry. It was that same, terrifying tail that wounded him. Yet, fortunately it was only a scratch. However, Xi Xing… damn it! He cursed in his mind as his usually gentle eyes narrowed in anger and his sword flew out of its scabbard, then stabbed the monster's tail before it sliced it!

The monster's mouth opened wide again, and Gong Xian stabbed its throat to avenge Xi Xing who Xi Ming successfully retrieved. Yet, Xi Xing was now limping and his leg is bleeding profusely. Fortunately, there wasn't poison on the monster's tail.

Gong Xian was unsuccessful in stabbing the monster, since its skin is thick as a leather. Even its shell on its back, which Sun Yi and Kang Ce were attacking, is hard as a wall.

They all leapt back away from the monster, but now it was them surrounding it. They all looked at each other as the Thought Talisman flew back and forth between them five. "What should we do?" they all asked each other.

"The monster is too hard to kill. We can only suppress it." Xi Ming proposed.

"Do any of you knows a Suppressing Array?" Kang Ce asked.

Speaking of array…. "…" among them, contestants, only Cheng Sheng knows making arrays the most. But, Cheng Sheng wasn't there to help them by making a Suppressing Array for them.

"Run." was all they could say and immediately started to sprint.

Xi Ming and Gong Xian immediately carried Xi Xing and followed Sun Yi and Kang Ce. They knew that the odds of fighting against the monster is slim. The monster has a shell that as hard as a steel. Its skin is even thicker than the leather, and it can camouflage. Not to mention that its saliva can corrode the stone, but it is also fast. Added to the fact that the monster is more familiar with the terrain than them, and one of them was injured…

They can only run, outran the monster. They can't even hide since the monster can creep behind them by camouflaging with the surrounding. And so, they can only run. It is a battle of stamina. Fortunately for Xi Ming, Gong Xian was here to help him carry Xi Xing.

"Xi Ming… I'm sorry." Xi Xing mouthed as he held Xi Ming's hand tight.

Xi Ming felt his heart ached. This younger brother of his is the one he personally raised, since Xi Ning was raised by the others. Thus, Xi Ming devoted his entire time and attention raising the young Xi Xing, and so he felt fatherly and brotherly love towards Xi Xing despite not related by blood with him. he knew, although Xi Xing wore an expressionless face and is slow with his emotions, but the child he raised is innately good and was easily swayed by his emotions.

"Don't worry. I won't leave you." Xi Ming mouthed at Xi Xing and smiled as he, Sun Yi and Kang Ce strike back the monster chasing behind them. Although they knew that their attacks are futile, but they could at least slow down the monster with their attacks.

Suddenly, they saw a light from afar. If they could speak, Kang Ce would have cursed loudly. "What now?! Another enemy?!" his thoughts were shown on the Thought Talisman.

"If it is, we're gonna be caught between a rock and a hard place." Sun Yi said as his eyes narrowed when the light is nearing at them. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Wait… they are footsteps!" he exclaimed as he turned to the others.

"… the other contestants?" Gong Xian glanced at Xi Ming and Xi Xing before he squinted to try to peer at the newcomers.

Who could they be?