After obtaining the rune, Baiyu didn't hesitate and immediately used the power of the rune to instantly stop the pursuing barbarians.
The four resumed their escape mode once more.
Although Baiyu could wield the power of the rune, it was not endlessly usable; each use consumed a significant amount of spiritual power.
Rune power is not without cost.
Using it a few more times, Baiyu felt he could be completely drained.
"Grandmaster Long, do you really not remember the path from that time? The building complex where you woke up is very likely our exit from this place."
Jiang Han was somewhat unwilling.
If they could find the buildings, it would at least prove that this place had developed a civilized structure, so they wouldn't have to face these fierce barbarians.
In fact.
A grandmaster, two warband leaders, being hunted by a group of barbarian cannibals, each of them felt repressed frustration inside.
But unfortunately, they had no solution.
Hence, Jiang Han was eager to find an exit and escape this predicament.
Or regain their strength.
And wipe out this tribe of cannibals.
Except, upon entering here, Grandmaster Long also became clueless. Being knocked unconscious by the barbarians and dragged around their settlements, he was completely unaware of the route.
But staying here wasn't a solution.
Quickly, Baiyu led the three, forging ahead and gradually distancing themselves from the barbarian settlement.
This jungle was immense.
The four wandered through it for ages, seeing no boundaries but instead encountering many plants and animals they had never seen before.
Baiyu speculated.
This might be a Tidal World, perhaps even controlled by the Divine Spirit of the forest.
The other side was clearly a core confidant of the Divine Spirit.
Having this ability was not surprising.
What Baiyu didn't understand now was what the test they spoke of truly meant.
Is it about leaving here alive?
Or accomplishing some other things?
Regardless, the four needed to find a place to rest, and also, the whereabouts of Grandmaster Mu were best found.
Since entering.
Only Grandmaster Mu had no news.
"It seems there's something up ahead."
At this moment, Wulin, who was scouting ahead, said in a deep voice.
As the warband leader was a Shadow Warrior, though he had lost his Blood Qi now, his past experiences remained.
He was the most suitable for scouting ahead.
Upon hearing there was something, the group instantly became alert, wholly focused, cautiously creeping forward.
Stepping out of the hunting range of the barbarians.
Constant roars of beasts echoed, one after another.
This signified that the vast jungle was not as tranquil as it seemed but was filled with many predators and prey.
The reason Wulin said something was unusual.
Is because ahead, the beasts gathered far too many.
The four looked ahead.
This was a river, not wide, about six or seven meters across.
Continuous flow of water in the river.
Every so often, fish could be seen darting through the water.
On both banks of the river, trees were very dense, lush and verdant, and many animals could be seen drinking at the riverbank.
Evidently.
This river was the drinking spot for animals in this region.
Such places are usually frequent spots for predators because there is so much food here.
Thus, it's an accident-prone area.
However.
Even at a drinking spot, the number of beasts assembled here now was excessive, and many might not be ordinary beasts.
There could also be Exotic Beasts.
All of them gathered on both sides of the riverbank, roaring, their gaze directed at the center of the river where a flower bud was about to bloom.
It looked like a lotus flower.
Currently still closed, not yet opened, but around it wafted a strange exotic fragrance.
This exotic fragrance.
Was the source attracting these animals.
They gathered here clearly because of this bizarre plant. Although its identity was unknown, it appeared Baiyu might have encountered some form of nature's treasure.
Seeing such a scene.
The other three were also somewhat envious.
In this strange place, they urgently needed some form of power for self-protection, and perhaps what lay before them could grant some ability.
They all saw Baiyu's process of acquiring the rune power earlier.
It's false to say they weren't envious.
But unfortunately, their talent wasn't enough to grasp the power of rune technology, so they had to look for other ways.
With insufficient talent, they could only make up for it through acquired means.
Thus, upon seeing the bizarre plant, the four instinctively hid, none of them proposing retreat.
People like Jiang Han, Wulin, lived with their blades licking blood all year round, experiencing countless life-and-death junctures from weakness to strength.
Naturally, they wouldn't back down because of this.
"It seems these animals are waiting for the plant in the river to mature and blossom, and it seems this plant is about to mature.
We'll wait a while.
If things seem wrong, we'll retreat immediately."
Grandmaster Long's eyes shone with excitement as he whispered.
The others nodded in agreement.
Time ticked by minute by minute, and the exotic fragrance in the surroundings grew even stronger.
At this moment.
The closed bud in the river's center gradually opened, revealing slits.
An irresistible fragrance wafted out.
The surrounding beasts instantly went berserk, jumping collectively into the water, swimming towards the plant fiercely.
The scene was rather spectacular.
Like dumplings being dropped in water, these beasts, whether herbivores or carnivores, had no interest in their competitors, focusing all effort on closing in on the plant.
Yet as the first batch of animals reached close to the flower.
Thud.
A pair of gigantic crab pincers emerged from beneath the water, clamping two tank-sized wild dogs to death.
The water's surface became stained with blood.
Smelling the scent of blood, the beasts became even crazier, not retreating but instead swimming toward those pincers.
And at this moment.
The owner of those pincers revealed itself from below the surface.
No mistake.
It was indeed a crab.
But its size was tremendously large, akin to a submarine underwater, only revealing its forehead as large as a truck.
Glug glug.
The crab emerged from the water, its light blue shell shedding water droplets continuously.
Its eight eyes spun continuously.
Truth be told.
Though Baiyu had encountered numerous other species, this mutated crab still appeared revolting.
Especially its eyes, constantly oozing various yellow fluids.
This creature guarded the plant, seemingly waiting for the moment it fully opened, exterminating all creatures approaching it with those massive claws.
In an instant.
One after another, corpses floated, then sank again on the river.
Blood flowed and spread feverishly.
The river turned crimson.
The overpowering scent of blood reached Baiyu and the others even from afar.
Yet.
The animals behaved as if crazed, utterly fearless of death, even knowing they were no match for the giant crab, they still charged forward without hesitation.
After an hour of such confrontation.
Corpses almost filled the river's surface.
And most animals that had gathered were already dead, but then a roar echoed from the dense forest.
