CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: HE CHOSE TO PROTECT THE FUTURE

Zhang Yingjie looked at the impending beast tide with an extremely grave expression.

Contemplating briefly, he seemed to have made some sort of decision.

"Taozi, stay close to me," Zhang Yingjie said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Li Zitao seemed to think of something and quickly advised, "No, using the Gigantification Talent will weaken the Forest Giant Python. What will we do next?"

"Stop talking nonsense. If we can’t get past this hurdle, there won’t be a next," Zhang Yingjie replied sternly.

At this moment, the Forest Giant Python suddenly let out a hiss, and its enormous body began to swell, extending from its original fifty meters to seventy meters, and its girth expanded from the width of an ordinary water barrel to the width of a tile barrel.

The explosive growth of its body also meant its power and speed were enhanced.

The Forest Giant Python crazily twisted its body, its speed abruptly increasing by thirty percent, knocking down rows of trees along its path.

Seeing this, Li Zitao sighed helplessly, as he couldn’t stop it now and could only follow its demands.

The Earth Spider shot out a thread of silk that stuck to the Forest Giant Python’s body, and by leveraging its power, its speed also increased by thirty percent.

Within a few breaths, the Forest Giant Python finally broke through the range of the beast tide.

However, it did not relax at all, instead, it fled even more strenuously.

Because seven Star Beasts had broken away from the beast tide and were pursuing them.

These Star Beasts were from the Shadow Wolf Clan, most of which were of Outstanding Level Lower Grade to Middle Grade quality.

Their realms had all reached War General Level, with the strongest of them being the Shadow Wolf King, whose realm had already stepped into Commander Level.

Two hundred meters after escaping, the Forest Giant Python immediately changed direction and charged toward the Gray Rock Ant Nest.

Li Zitao looked at the relentless Star Beasts and issued another command to the Earth Spider.

The Earth Spider quickly shot several threads of silk toward the giant trees behind, severed them from its abdomen, and then connected them, forming a simple trap.

This all happened in an instant. The Shadow Wolf Pack had no time to react and ran headlong into it.

The webs had excellent resilience, and the wolves struggled several times before breaking free.

By this time, the seven had already fled dozens of meters away.

The Shadow Wolf King roared in fury upon seeing this and continued pursuing Chu Chen and the others.

The speed of the Shadow Wolf was a tad bit faster than that of the gigantified Forest Giant Python, but the distance of dozens of meters could not be closed in a short time.

Looking back at the trailing Shadow Wolf Pack, Zhang Yingjie’s expression turned grimmer, realizing that the Gigantification could last at most for about two minutes.

From the moment of Gigantification, over ten seconds had passed, meaning there was just over a minute left before the Forest Giant Python would become weak from exhaustion.

By then, the only hope would be the Earth Spider, but it was in a similarly bad state, with its internal Star Power and silk nearly depleted, its combat power reduced by at least fifty percent, leaving it with no chance in a fight.

By now, some students on the forest’s furthest edge had already broken free.

Under the care of school teachers, they were returning to Celestial Star City one by one.

The rescue team, composed of the school and the City Defense Army, was fully committed to rescuing students involved in the assessment.

The beast tide’s scale was too massive for their strength to withstand; currently, all they could do was evacuate the students from the forest as quickly as possible.

Ye Qing, eyes red, fixed his gaze on the communication bracelet in his hand, quelling his inner sorrow to concentrate fully on directing the rescue operation.

Most of the students involved in the assessment had been rescued; some were still at a distance, but rescuers were on their way, and results were expected soon.

There were, of course, some less fortunate students who had already been mercilessly swallowed by the beast tide.

The most casualties were from the City Defense Army; they gave their lives to buy time for the students’ escape.

At this time, Chu Chen and the other six were still running for their lives, and Zhang Yingjie was constantly counting time in his head, his expression growing ever more severe.

The Earth Spider set another simple trap before its silk ran dry.

This time, the Shadow Wolf Pack was not caught. Instead, they reduced their speed and circled around from both sides.

Seeing this, Chu Chen’s heart sank. The situation was far more dire than he anticipated.

They were still several minutes away from the ant nest, yet the wolves would catch up within a minute. All signs pointed to a dead end.

While Chu Chen pondered intensely, another terrible news arrived.

The gigantification period for the Forest Giant Python had ended, its speed suddenly waning, and even its aura had weakened.

Zhang Yingjie showed no change in expression; he waved his hand and summoned another Guardian Beast.

This was a Green Poison Scorpion, of Ordinary Level Middle Grade quality, at the Peak of Servant Level, about two meters long and one meter tall. Its insect armor was dark green, with a raised scorpion tail, looking intimidating.

Zhang Yingjie grabbed Gangzi and tossed him towards the Earth Spider, then picked up Chu Chen and Wang Lu, leaping onto the back of the Highly Poisonous Scorpion.

The whole process was fluid as if rehearsed hundreds or thousands of times.

The speed of the Highly Poisonous Scorpion was slightly slower than the Forest Giant Python, but now it was the only means of transport.

"Yingjie, quickly retrieve the Forest Giant Python," Li Zitao shouted.

His words made Zhang Yingjie’s body shudder violently, as though it struck the softest part of his heart.

"Forget it, let’s go, these kids are the future hope of Celestial Star City. As long as they can survive, I’m willing to give it all,"

"I didn’t mean to abandon you, I’m sorry..." Zhang Yingjie choked as he murmured.

The latter words were said to the Forest Giant Python, but it could no longer hear.

Luckily, their minds were connected, and Zhang Yingjie’s inner grief was felt by the Forest Giant Python.

It lifted its massive head to gaze at its departing master, with no hint of hatred but a deep sense of reluctance in its eyes. This might be the last time it saw its master, its mind filled with happy memories with him.

At this moment, a wolf howl broke its reverie.

Looking at the Shadow Wolves eyeing it covetously, there was no fear in the eyes of the Forest Giant Python.

With difficulty, it lifted its head and let out a liberating hiss, fearlessly charging toward the wolves first.

The Forest Giant Python, as if having one last burst of energy, unleashed its full potential, disregarding any attacks from the Shadow Wolves, it directly advanced to a Seventh Rank War General Level Shadow Wolf.

Using all its strength, it coiled tightly around that Shadow Wolf.

The other Shadow Wolves saw this and quickly launched attacks, trying to rescue their kin in this way.

Unfortunately, they underestimated the Forest Giant Python’s resolve.

It had long disregarded life and death; its goal was simple, to protect its master with its life.

Moments later, Zhang Yingjie suddenly grunted, feeling a stabbing pain in his soul, his face turning pale instantly.

With difficulty, he turned his head towards the direction of the Forest Giant Python, tears uncontrollably streaming from his eyes.

Seeing this, a mist appeared in Chu Chen’s eyes as well. He wiped his eyes and said softly, "My father is also with the City Defense Army. In the past, I never quite understood him. As a Beast Master at the Peak of Soul Warrior Level, he could have lived much better, but he chose to be with the City Defense Army on a meager salary. Now I understand, he chose to guard the future."