With the sudden heat wave, the air was unbearably dry .

Gao Peng couldn't help but lick his lips .

The fighting also quieted down . Now that there was a common enemy, a ceasefire was only logical . Even so, they were still in an extremely precarious situation .

The mountain spirit wasn't done evolving, so there was no way to tell what kind of abilities it had .

However…

The puddles of water beneath his feet were evaporating at an alarming rate . Even the few lucky plants in the surrounding that had survived the inferno before were wilting quickly .

Stripey couldn't tear his gaze away from the cavern, which loomed closer and closer…

The acrid smell of sulphur permeated the air .

Stripey suddenly started fidgeting with anxiety .

The Winged Thunder Ape who had been silently observing from the side exploded in a blur of movement . Glowing with purple lightning, he delivered a mighty blow to the rock wall .

Boom…

Nothing happened .

A couple of large rocks were jarred loose and came tumbling down from above .

How hard was this thing? This was a Commander-tier familiar, for crying out loud! Would a Lord-tier familiar even be able to put a dent in it?

After seeing this, Gao Peng gave up on the idea of breaking through the wall .

The Mountain Spirit King wasn't a fool . There was no way it would let its prey tunnel out from under his nose . They couldn't break down the walls any faster than the Mountain Spirit King could create them .

As the cavern drew closer and closer, rock, stones and even dirt were swallowed whole by the Mountain Spirit King . As the cavern flared a blinding crimson, it rumbled for a bit before unleas.h.i.+ng a scorching wave of heat .

Behind Gao Peng, Flamy was furiously pecking away at Goldie .

Goldie flashed with purple light at odd intervals, and his body kept growing and growing…

Because Flamy stood on two feet, it couldn't grow much even after being attacked .

Flamy unleashed a flurry of punches against the wall to no avail . Every time it seemed like it had made a breakthrough, it was still greeted by a dark wall of granite .

The cavern was almost upon them . The waves of heat felt like the Devil was fanning them himself .

The Wooden Peac.o.c.k didn't feel so good . Its crown transformed into a giant tree and backed as far away from the heat as it could, but to no avail . The withering tree cut a sad sight that was exacerbated by the plaintive cries of the Wooden Peac.o.c.k . It was barely recognizable as the magnificent figure it had been in combat before .

The Winged Thunder Ape continued unleas.h.i.+ng a rain of frenzied blows at the wall . The closer the Mountain Spirit King drew, the faster his punches seemed to be .

Stripey closed his eyes and laid silently on the ground . His jet-black sh.e.l.l glowed faintly red in the light .

Huang Ya was terrified . Why wasn't Director Ji there yet…?

Any longer and Director Ji would be picking up their corpses… or their ashes .

"Young master Gao, let's go all the way to the back . We might stand a chance there . " Huang Ya's teeth were chattering as he spoke .

Stripey looked up at Gao Peng and Huang Ya as if he was about to say something before lowering his head quietly .

At the very back of the cave, Jia Lu and her men were standing . Seeing the both of them come over, mischief glinted in some of the men's eyes, but Jia Lu held a hand up . "Keep your guard up . "

Turning around, she spoke to Gao Peng in fluent Mandarin . "We need to work together . If we have our familiars attack the wall at the same time, we might have a chance . "

In the face of death, Jia Lu chose the path of cooperation . There was no point in beating Gao Peng if they all ended up dead .

"What we need is time . " Jia Lu's tone was grave .

"I know that, but how can we buy more time?" This whole mess was her fault to begin with, so she might have actually had a useful idea . However, she was still an enemy . They might have agreed on a truce, but the moment they resolved the situation, they would start fighting again .

"A sacrifice . " Her voice brooked no argument .

"A sacrifice?" Gao Peng looked at her suspiciously . Was she trying to pull a fast one?

"Now that the Mountain Spirit King is evolving, it needs an insane amount of energy .  That's why it's been after us this whole time . We're a d.a.m.n feast for it!"

"Where are we going to find a sacrifice—" Gao Peng paused and eyed her warily .

"Relax . We can't afford to fight among ourselves right now . " She said hurriedly .

"How about this? We'll take turns sending in our familiars as a sacrifice to buy us some time . How does that sound?"

"I refuse . "

He would rather die than agree to those terms .

Jia Lu smiled . "As proof of my sincerity, let me go first . " A familiar stood out from behind her and charged right into the cavern .

After consuming it, the Mountain Spirit King slowed down a little .

"I have proven myself . " Jia Lu shot Gao Peng an intense look .

"I'm sorry . They're all my friends . I would never sell them out just so that I could live a little longer . " Gao Peng turned his back on her .

Suddenly, a dark shadow slipped out from their midst and shot straight at the cavern like a bullet before anyone could react in time .

"Stripey, what are you doing?!" Gao Peng was furious once he identified the shadow .

"Gao peng, let me slow down this big chunk of rock… I'll be back in a sec . "

Swallowed by the black mist, Stripey gradually disappeared into the inky darkness of the cavern .

The girl with wine-red hair snorted derisively . "You Huaxia people are really something else . Acting like you care so much when you were actually planning to sacrifice that crab all along . "

Trembling slightly, he turned around to face her, his eyes bloodshot . "It wasn't a crab… It was a spider . "

"I don't give a sh*t whether it's a crab or a spider…" Thud!

As quick as lightning, an enraged Gao Peng unleashed a vicious right hook on the girl .

The girl collapsed to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut with a loud wail . Her right cheek swelled to the size of an apple and mottled an ugly shade of purplish-black . Blood ran down her face in tiny rivulets .

"Another word out of your mouth and I will kill you . " His voice was pure ice .

He turned towards the cavern entrance . It was still belching out clouds of thick smoke .

The only solace Gao Peng could find was the fact that Stripey was still alive . He could still feel Stripey's strong and steady heartbeat through their Blood Contract .

With the sudden heat wave, the air was unbearably dry . Gao Peng couldnt help but lick his lips . The fighting also quieted down . Now that there was a common enemy, a ceasefire was only logical . Even so, they were still in an extremely precarious situation . The mountain spirit wasnt done evolving, so there was no way to tell what kind of abilities it had . However… The puddles of water beneath his feet were evaporating at an alarming rate . Even the few lucky plants in the surrounding that had survived the inferno before were wilting quickly . Stripey couldnt tear his gaze away from the cavern, which loomed closer and closer… The acrid smell of sulphur permeated the air . Stripey suddenly started fidgeting with anxiety . The Winged Thunder Ape who had been silently observing from the side exploded in a blur of movement . Glowing with purple lightning, he delivered a mighty blow to the rock wall . Boom… Nothing happened . A couple of large rocks were jarred loose and came tumbling down from above . How hard was this thing? This was a Commander-tier familiar, for crying out loud! Would a Lord-tier familiar even be able to put a dent in it? After seeing this, Gao Peng gave up on the idea of breaking through the wall . The Mountain Spirit King wasnt a fool . There was no way it would let its prey tunnel out from under his nose . They couldnt break down the walls any faster than the Mountain Spirit King could create them . As the cavern drew closer and closer, rock, stones and even dirt were swallowed whole by the Mountain Spirit King . As the cavern flared a blinding crimson, it rumbled for a bit before unleas.h.i.+ng a scorching wave of heat . Behind Gao Peng, Flamy was furiously pecking away at Goldie . Goldie flashed with purple light at odd intervals, and his body kept growing and growing… Because Flamy stood on two feet, it couldnt grow much even after being attacked . Flamy unleashed a flurry of punches against the wall to no avail . Every time it seemed like it had made a breakthrough, it was still greeted by a dark wall of granite . The cavern was almost upon them . The waves of heat felt like the Devil was fanning them himself . The Wooden Peac.o.c.k didnt feel so good . Its crown transformed into a giant tree and backed as far away from the heat as it could, but to no avail . The withering tree cut a sad sight that was exacerbated by the plaintive cries of the Wooden Peac.o.c.k . It was barely recognizable as the magnificent figure it had been in combat before . The Winged Thunder Ape continued unleas.h.i.+ng a rain of frenzied blows at the wall . The closer the Mountain Spirit King drew, the faster his punches seemed to be . Stripey closed his eyes and laid silently on the ground . His jet-black sh.e.l.l glowed faintly red in the light . Huang Ya was terrified . Why wasnt Director Ji there yet…? . Any longer and Director Ji would be picking up their corpses… or their ashes . Young master Gao, lets go all the way to the back . We might stand a chance there . Huang Yas teeth were chattering as he spoke . Stripey looked up at Gao Peng and Huang Ya as if he was about to say something before lowering his head quietly . At the very back of the cave, Jia Lu and her men were standing . Seeing the both of them come over, mischief glinted in some of the mens eyes, but Jia Lu held a hand up . Keep your guard up . Turning around, she spoke to Gao Peng in fluent Mandarin . We need to work together . If we have our familiars attack the wall at the same time, we might have a chance . In the face of death, Jia Lu chose the path of cooperation . There was no point in beating Gao Peng if they all ended up dead . What we need is time . Jia Lus tone was grave . I know that, but how can we buy more time? This whole mess was her fault to begin with, so she might have actually had a useful idea . However, she was still an enemy . They might have agreed on a truce, but the moment they resolved the situation, they would start fighting again . A sacrifice . Her voice brooked no argument . A sacrifice? Gao Peng looked at her suspiciously . Was she trying to pull a fast one? Now that the Mountain Spirit King is evolving, it needs an insane amount of energy .  Thats why its been after us this whole time . Were a d.a.m.n feast for it! Where are we going to find a sacrifice— Gao Peng paused and eyed her warily . Relax . We cant afford to fight among ourselves right now . She said hurriedly . How about this? Well take turns sending in our familiars as a sacrifice to buy us some time . How does that sound? I refuse . He would rather die than agree to those terms . Jia Lu smiled . As proof of my sincerity, let me go first . A familiar stood out from behind her and charged right into the cavern . After consuming it, the Mountain Spirit King slowed down a little . I have proven myself . Jia Lu shot Gao Peng an intense look . Im sorry . Theyre all my friends . I would never sell them out just so that I could live a little longer . Gao Peng turned his back on her . Suddenly, a dark shadow slipped out from their midst and shot straight at the cavern like a bullet before anyone could react in time . Stripey, what are you doing?! Gao Peng was furious once he identified the shadow . Gao peng, let me slow down this big chunk of rock… Ill be back in a sec . Swallowed by the black mist, Stripey gradually disappeared into the inky darkness of the cavern . The girl with wine-red hair snorted derisively . You Huaxia people are really something else . Acting like you care so much when you were actually planning to sacrifice that crab all along . Trembling slightly, he turned around to face her, his eyes bloodshot . It wasnt a crab… It was a spider . I dont give a sh*t whether its a crab or a spider… Thud! As quick as lightning, an enraged Gao Peng unleashed a vicious right hook on the girl . The girl collapsed to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut with a loud wail . Her right cheek swelled to the size of an apple and mottled an ugly shade of purplish-black . Blood ran down her face in tiny rivulets . Another word out of your mouth and I will kill you . His voice was pure ice . He turned towards the cavern entrance . It was still belching out clouds of thick smoke . The only solace Gao Peng could find was the fact that Stripey was still alive . He could still feel Stripeys strong and steady heartbeat through their Blood Contract .