The swift advancement of the orc army pressed down on them like a tide of darkness surging toward Mili Forest, a signaling of no good intent.
"So, what should we do next?" Ji Qian quietly asked, her palm tightly grasping Ye Shikai’s arm, fearful to hear the answer.
"You take the awakening fruit and leave the rainforest immediately, meet up with Soul Destroyer and the others. I will go notify Mona." Ye Shikai finally made up his mind, his face covered in sweat, making this decision seemed to have drained all the courage of his life.
"No, Qingyu is still waiting for you in Yanjing, what if..."
"Enough, there is no ’what if’. I will be fine." Ye Shikai cut her off decisively, judging by the distance, neither Ye Shikai nor Ji Qian had the capability to ensure that after alerting Mona of the enemy attack, they could both escape unscathed. This meant whoever went to send the message would likely be left behind.
Now, a tough dilemma lay before the two. Ye Shikai couldn’t possibly send Ji Qian to alert everyone alone, and Ji Qian was also unwilling to let Ye Shikai go. The awakening fruit had to be delivered, so one of them must leave the rainforest. However, if both left, the elves would suffer devastating impacts from the sudden orc attack, possibly even facing annihilation.
"I will go send the alert. If something happens to you, do you want Qingyu to widow you?" Ji Qian shouted emotionally.
"If only one of us can go, I would rather neither of us go." Ye Shikai roared loudly, seizing the moment Ji Qian paused, he took the awakening fruit from the Storage Ring and forced it into her hand.
"Please give this to Qingyu for me." Ye Shikai whispered in Ji Qian’s ear, then turned and ran toward the direction of Mili Forest, leaving Ji Qian alone...
On the way, Ye Shikai suddenly thought of a plan. He quietly approached the orc army, hiding in the dense forest. Pulling a grenade from the Storage Ring, he tossed it hard. The grenade landed in the midst of the army, exploding violently, throwing a dozen nearby orcs into the air. Ye Shikai leapt out of the woods, shouting loudly, intending to draw the attention of the orc troops and drag them deeper into the boundless forest, buying time.
Ye Shikai next took out a rocket launcher, firing at the dense formations, only to be met with countless javelins in return.
"Damn." Ye Shikai quickly dove back into the woods as thousands of spears fiercely thrusted forward, Ye Shikai taking cover behind a large tree, the spears densely pocking the surrounding shrubbery.
"Human body outlines, huh." Ye Shikai muttered softly, using his Inner Strength to shake off the dense spears nearby, sneaking a peek outside. The orcs still advanced in their original direction, completely ignoring him, not even sending anyone to pursue him.
"Roar roar." At this moment, a furious roar emanated from the center of the orc formation. Due to the density, Ye Shikai couldn’t discern which orc had shouted. Then, as if driven mad, the orcs charged forward ferociously.
"Damn, it’s useless." Ye Shikai powered up his Inner Strength, turning into a black shadow, speeding rapidly forward.
"Right, I have this." Ye Shikai then took a trailing light bullet from the Storage Ring, firing it with a handgun.
The trailing light bullet traced a bright line across the sky, the orcs looking up curiously at what seemed like a "shooting star." Ye Shikai fired the trailing light bullet hoping that Mona would see it, thus preparing in advance.
"Damn, no reaction." Ye Shikai glanced at Mili Forest, it was no good, the distance was still too far. From the elves’ position, it appeared only as a small bright spot, and most crucially, the elves had no idea what a trailing light bullet was, and how would they realize it was a signal from Ye Shikai.
"No, I must move forward." Ye Shikai rushed forward determinedly, at this moment, there truly was no way to stop these monsters. While the Fire Element burning the forest could halt them, it would utterly destroy the rainforest, a drastic and desperate measure.
Beastmen are fast, but they are still flesh and blood, and Ye Shikai, a highly skilled cultivator, had reached the gates of the elf tribe within just ten minutes.
"Let me in." Ye Shikai shouted from below the Wooden Village, and the elf soldiers above all raised their bows and aimed at him.
"Isn’t that the human youth?"
"He’s the one who stole our Holy Fruit."
The elf soldiers, upon seeing Ye Shikai steal the awakening fruit, steadfastly refused to open the gate, leaving Ye Shikai incredibly anxious.
"The beastmen are coming, defend yourselves quickly." Ye Shikai cursed desperately and, with a kick, scaled the wooden wall.
"Release the arrows."
Ye Shikai ignored the soldiers and jumped in, using his Inner Strength to block all the arrows.
"Stop." At this moment, a sharp and commanding voice rang out, and Mona quickly approached, striking Ye Shikai on the cheek with a slap.
"Jerk, why did you come back, just to provoke me?" Mona started berating him vehemently, which surprised the elves nearby.
"Mona, the beastman army has arrived, they’re heading straight for the Tree of Life." Ye Shikai, ignoring the pain on his face, hastily spoke.
"What, beastmen?" Mona’s eyes flickered, shocked by the news.
"There are tens of thousands of beastmen, they’re coming this way right now." Ye Shikai shouted loudly, and at this moment, the Primordial Soul Great Elder also arrived. Hearing this news, his expression grew solemn.
"Mona, have your soldiers prepare defenses quickly." Ye Shikai yelled sternly.
"Your Highness, I’ll go arrange it now." The Great Elder immediately responded, taking several elf commanders towards the Elf Temple.
"What about you, why come back to report? I’ll have the soldiers escort you out right now."
"Going out now, I’d run right into the beastman army. Are you trying to have me walk into a trap?" Ye Shikai suddenly said with a smile, "I’ll stay and defend with you."
"No, you’re not one of our elf tribe, you don’t need to do this." Mona shook her head, still refusing.
"Given the circumstances, even I can’t break through now; we can only hold our ground." Ye Shikai took out a metal sword from his Storage Ring, "Go arrange the defenses quickly, the beastmen are fierce and likely well-prepared."
Ye Shikai went up to the top of the Wooden Village, took out a military telescope from his Storage Ring, and noted that the beastmen vanguard was less than ten kilometers away, arriving in half an hour.
"Archers get ready, all Hall Guards come with me."
Ye Shikai turned around and saw Mona, in her imposing elf General’s uniform, meticulously directing the elf soldiers.