Chapter 30

The iron-armored rhinos were restlessly stirring, but the commotion was not yet significant enough to draw attention.

Shen Chen had already sensed that the moment was ripe. He immediately adopted a strategy of fighting while retreating, deliberately showing signs of imminent defeat.

In fact, Shen Chen did not need to put on an overly deliberate act of decline. His current condition was truly dire, with several terrifying wounds covering his body, blood gushing out, and a sharp pain in his rib area, possibly indicating broken ribs!

This was too brutal!

Since joining the Flowing Cloud Sect, Shen Chen had never suffered such severe injuries. It wasn't that he wasn't strong enough, but rather that the number of opponents was too great, and each one was an inner sect disciple with considerable cultivation.

"Is he already at the end of his strength..."

Watching Shen Chen's swaying figure, Lin Hai's face was filled with a cold sneer, and he pressed forward even more aggressively. Every time he swung his sword, Shen Chen was forced to retreat, leaving a trail of blood.

"Boy, stop struggling. You won't have a chance. Spirit Eagle Sky Splitting Grasp!"

"Watch this, Mountain Breaking Hammer!"

"Phantom Sword!"

...

The dozen or so inner sect disciples who followed Lin Hai were equally ruthless, unleashing all the powerful techniques from the Flowing Cloud Sect's library. It was as if they were staging a grand hunt!

Around Shen Chen, sand and stones were flying, and the clash of blades and the force of punches and staffs rose and fell in waves, each more intense than the last, determined to bring Shen Chen down.

"Ah! Vast Sea Tidal Force, Vast Sea Infinite!"

As he continued to retreat, Shen Chen roared, his blood energy surging to its peak. His right hand thrust forward, and his left hand pushed out, combining the power of the Vast Sea Tidal Force to its utmost, creating a formidable and shocking force!

These inner sect disciples were too ruthless, showing no mercy to their fellow disciples, each move aimed at drawing blood.

This was far from the usual sparring within the sect. A single misstep could mean death.

"Boom!"

With a powerful strike of Vast Sea Infinite, a deafening sound echoed, with a force of several thousand pounds, directly sending two Blood Fusion Realm Fourth Stage disciples flying, spewing blood.

However, this formidable attack did not scare off the other inner sect disciples; instead, it made them even more frenzied, charging forward one after another.

"This won't do, I can't wait any longer!"

Shen Chen fought with blood, knowing that if he continued like this, his plan would fail, and he would be the one to fall to these bloodthirsty opponents.

Realizing this, in the next moment, Shen Chen no longer hesitated. He unleashed the Phantom Fox Steps to their fullest, swiftly retreating toward the place where the twelve iron-armored rhinos were resting.

"What is that boy doing, seeking his own death..."

Lin Hai and the group of inner sect disciples were all shocked. Shen Chen's actions were truly abnormal. They had already seen the dozen or so iron-armored rhinos a few hundred meters away. Normally, such a terrifying formation would make any ordinary disciple flee, but that boy seemed to have gone mad, desperately heading toward them.

Was he not valuing his life?

"Could it be that he has fallen into despair and wants to end his life with the help of the iron-armored rhinos?"

"If so, this boy has some backbone, preferring to take his own life rather than die at our hands..."

"Should we chase him or let him end his own life? It would be too easy on him!"

The dozen or so inner sect disciples debated, none believing that Shen Chen had any chance of survival. With twelve iron-armored rhinos, even they, along with Lin Hai, would be hard-pressed to handle the situation!

Iron-armored rhinos were known for their formidable defense and fierce charges. In a group, they formed a terrifying killing formation, capable of challenging stronger spirit beasts or human warriors.

"Chase! We must chase. This boy is not seeking death but setting a trap. He wants to use the iron-armored rhinos to scare us and then escape south along the river. Don't let him get away!" After a moment of contemplation, Lin Hai's expression hardened, and he quickly ordered the inner sect disciples to chase after Shen Chen.

Lin Hai's judgment was not without reason. The iron-armored rhinos were still playing in the river and had not come ashore. If Shen Chen was just feigning, he could suddenly change direction near the riverbank and head south, potentially escaping.

Other Blood Fusion Realm Third Stage disciples might not have the skill to slip away from under the iron-armored rhinos' noses, but Lin Hai and the inner sect disciples had already experienced Shen Chen's ghostly movements, and they couldn't rule out the possibility that he had the ability.

Moreover, while Lin Hai hated Shen Chen to the core and wanted to kill him, he still coveted the Phantom Fox Steps. He did not want Shen Chen to die without obtaining that skill!

The dozen or so inner sect disciples, not knowing what Lin Hai was thinking, found his words reasonable and immediately pursued Shen Chen.

"Chase! Don't let that boy get away!"

"Capture him, and I'll tear him apart. This boy is too cunning!"

"Yes, if not for Lin Hai's wisdom, we would have fallen for his trick. It's infuriating!"

The inner sect disciples had lost their patience. The longer they delayed, the more likely it was that something would go wrong. It was broad daylight, and there was a risk that someone from the sect might come to complete a task.

Therefore, they had to act quickly!

With a common goal, the dozen or so inner sect disciples moved swiftly, covering several dozen meters in the blink of an eye.

"Kill!"

Lin Hai's speed was even more astonishing. Despite starting a bit later, he quickly caught up to the others and charged ahead, sword in hand, aiming for Shen Chen.

Driven by some hidden motives, he was in a hurry to intercept Shen Chen before he reached the iron-armored rhinos, determined to stop him!

Whether Shen Chen truly wanted to die or was feigning to escape, Lin Hai would not tolerate it. The boy's fate could only be decided by his own hand.

Not far ahead, due to his severe injuries, Shen Chen's movements were not as sharp as before. His initial escape was swift, but after several dozen meters, his speed significantly decreased, seemingly giving his pursuers a chance to catch up.

This made Lin Hai elated, and his movements became even more agile. By his calculations, it would take only a few breaths to catch up to the boy.

"Injured prey, even with the Phantom Fox Steps, you won't escape from this young master. Such a mysterious technique, you don't deserve to possess it!" As he drew closer to Shen Chen's back, Lin Hai felt a sense of triumph, his sword ready to strike.

However, Lin Hai and the inner sect disciples could not have anticipated that the opportunity to catch up to Shen Chen, known for his Phantom Fox Steps, was entirely due to Shen Chen's deliberate actions.

Just as the group was about thirty meters from the river, a change occurred!

"Rage, my companions!"

Shen Chen roared, and his movements suddenly accelerated, leaving a trail of afterimages as he charged toward the iron-armored rhinos.

"Bad! Retreat quickly!"

Lin Hai was the first to realize what Shen Chen was planning, but it was too late. For Shen Chen, who had mastered the Phantom Fox Steps, the thirty-meter distance was covered in an instant.

In the next moment, just as Shen Chen was about to reach the iron-armored rhinos, he suddenly changed direction, moving horizontally to the south, avoiding a direct collision.

This high-difficulty maneuver was not difficult for Shen Chen, who had a good grasp of the Phantom Fox Steps.

As he moved horizontally, Shen Chen did something that nearly made Lin Hai and his group vomit with rage.

As Shen Chen moved, he raised his iron sword, unleashing a powerful energy wave toward the nearby iron-armored rhinos.

"Roar..."

"Roar!"

"Roar!!!"

In the next moment, the entire group of iron-armored rhinos was thoroughly enraged. The earlier commotion had already made them restless, and now, the humans had dared to provoke them!

This was unbearable!

The adult male iron-armored rhinos near the riverbank, with their low intelligence and explosive tempers, charged forward, their massive hooves shaking the ground, creating a terrifying scene!

In an instant, the large iron-armored rhinos charged onto the riverbank, colliding with Shen Chen.

But there was no Shen Chen there, only afterimages.

The enraged iron-armored rhinos, having lost their reason, continued to charge forward, causing chaos.

At this moment, the other iron-armored rhinos, including the young ones, also charged onto the riverbank, following the adult males in a furious rampage. Twelve iron-armored rhinos together formed a mobile iron-armored killing formation!

The ones who suffered were Lin Hai and the dozen or so inner sect disciples who had been chasing Shen Chen.

Shen Chen had deliberately slowed down, giving them the chance to catch up. They were not far from the riverbank and had no time to dodge.

"Boom!"

Especially Lin Hai, who was the fastest, was the first to be hit. In an instant, he was sent flying by an adult male iron-armored rhino, spewing blood in the air and landing on the ground.

The enraged adult male iron-armored rhino was far more terrifying than the old and weak one Shen Chen had faced earlier. Even Lin Hai, ranked fifth among the inner sect disciples and at the Blood Fusion Realm Sixth Stage, was forced to spew blood and could not resist!

However, this blow also sent Lin Hai flying to the back of the dozen disciples, making him the safest among them.

The other dozen inner sect disciples were not so lucky. The enraged iron-armored rhinos charged at them, causing them to pale with fear.

"Ah! These beasts are mad! Shen Chen provoked them, why are they taking it out on us!"

"Run! With a dozen iron-armored rhinos charging together, staying here means certain death..."

"Thud... Ah—"

"Rip..."

The惨烈的叫声 and deafening sounds quickly enveloped the valley. Blood and flesh flew everywhere around the riverbank. The dozen or so inner sect disciples, who had been arrogant and domineering moments ago, now had no resistance.

Several of them were torn apart by the iron-armored rhinos the moment they charged, their internal organs and limbs scattered on the ground, a gruesome sight!

"Truly a formidable Blood Fusion Realm Sixth Stage expert, even a dozen iron-armored rhinos couldn't kill you..."

On a small hill to the south of the riverbank, Shen Chen coldly observed the scene, his eyes filled with indifference.

Although they were fellow disciples, these people had wanted to kill him, and Shen Chen felt no pity for them.

The only regret was that he couldn't kill Lin Hai. However, Lin Hai was indeed formidable. Shen Chen had noticed that although Lin Hai was the first to be hit, he was very smart and quick to react. As the iron-armored rhinos charged, Lin Hai channeled his blood energy to his arms, adopting a defensive stance.

Thus, although Lin Hai was sent flying, it was more of a survival tactic. Based on Shen Chen's observation, Lin Hai probably still retained about 90% of his combat strength and could recover with a bit of rest.

In other words, despite the successful plan, he still faced a formidable enemy.

"Since the iron-armored rhinos couldn't kill you, let's settle this in a final battle!"

Shen Chen, not one to be easily discouraged, gave a final cold glance and then quickly moved toward the cave where he had agreed to meet Wang Yue.

This plan had largely achieved his initial goal, and Lin Hai's group had been scattered.

Next, he finally had the chance for a fair fight, to decide his fate.