Protect Our Clan Leader

"These Wild Marsh Fierce Crocodiles don't seem to be voluntarily migrating, but rather appear frightened," muttered a young Spirit Platform Realm clansman on the exploratory boat, looking askance at the Level Three Wild Marsh Fierce Crocodile that was quickly swimming past the boat, seemingly oblivious to its presence.

He couldn't help but wonder, "Old Ancestor, do you think a Great Yao could have been born in the Great Wilderness Marsh?"

The term 'Great Yao' is a legacy from the Divine Martial Dynasty Era, usually referring to a Level Seven or Eight Fierce Beast, equivalent to a human cultivator at the Purple Abode Realm.

"There's an old saying, 'No Great Yao in shallow waters.' The waters of the Great Wilderness Marsh are inherently shallow, and its aquatic beasts are frequently hunted by independent cultivators, thus their numbers are far fewer than outside the region. It has been several hundred years since a Great Yao could be nurtured here," the middle-aged scholar at the helm of the boat replied indifferently.

He was the Second Old Ancestor of the Wang Family in charge of the Marsh, Old Ancestor Chengye.

Fierce Beasts can be broadly classified into three categories based on their diets: herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.

In most cases, the level of herbivorous Fierce Beasts wouldn't be very high, a mere Level Four at best. Only a small fraction with special bloodlines could exhibit potent potential.

The majority of Level Five and higher Fierce Beasts were carnivorous or, at the very least, omnivorous.

In essence, the level ascension of Fierce Beasts wasn't much different from human cultivation. Without an adequate supply of meat, their powers could not increase. This was the origin of the saying "No Great Yao in shallow waters."

When the Old Ancestor spoke, the young clansman scratched his head, with a somewhat abashed smile: "I was just making a wild guess. Just a wild guess~".

On another boat sat the incumbent Clan Leader of the Marsh's Wang Family, Wang Xingzu.

Hearing the young man's words, he chuckled and shook his head, subsequently reminding everyone: "Although the Great Wilderness Marsh is unlikely to nurture a Great Yao, it doesn't mean a powerful Fierce Beast from elsewhere couldn't break in. I suspect that this situation is exactly that. We just don't know the level of the Fierce Beast. If it's Level Five, we could manage.

But if it's Level Six, we may be in trouble. Everyone stay alert."

"Rest assured, Clan Leader."

They were the first squad of the exploratory team.

Due to the shallowness of the Great Wilderness Marsh, large river boats couldn't navigate it. They had to use smaller ones to venture in. The first wave consisted of two boats, each carrying three cultivators, with the Second Old Ancestor Chengye in charge.

A few miles away was the second squad, also with two boats, each carrying three cultivators, overseen by the Wang Family's First Old Ancestor, Old Ancestor Kunyuan.

This method of deploying exploration squads in smaller teams mitigated risks and prevented the entire team from being wiped out at once. As the smaller squads were not too far apart, they could support each other promptly in case of an emergency.

This was a standard exploratory formation and standard protocol. If there were more cultivators in the exploratory team, they could be divided into a third and fourth squad.

Every so often, one or two members from each boat would leave to scout the surroundings. After ensuring there were no problems, they would continue their journey.

At this moment, both boats were missing a member each, presumably out on a scouting mission. They were waiting for these scouts to return.

Just as they were talking, suddenly, a roar echoed from the distance.

"Roar~~"

The cry was magnificent and piercing, with strong resonance.

Simultaneously, a figure shot up from the water surface in the distance.

His clothing was stained with blood, and he appeared very disheveled and terrified. He seemed to have not noticed the boats and continued to dash forwards.

People on the boat were taken aback, but they quickly recognized him as a member of the Wang Family who had been out exploring.

Old Ancestor Chengye instantly flashed forward to halt him, asking, "What happened?"

The clansman finally snapped out of his daze, grabbing hold of the Old Ancestor's arm in fear: "Old Ancestor, a Dragon… There's a dragon! Run!"

As he was speaking, the water behind him exploded with a 'bang,' and a massive Green Jiao leaped out, tilting its head and letting out a long howl.

A robust force was emitted from it, exuding dominance, ferocity, and violent aggression.

Its size was truly massive, with just its head being about the size of a small building. Most of its body was submerged under the water, obscuring its true length. The magnitude of it alone was overwhelmingly intimidating.

Its body, covered in shimmering green scales, its sharp claws, and those pointed teeth still dripping water, all amplified its immense power and ferociousness.

However, Old Ancestor Chengye's attention was instantly drawn to its eye color and the color of the scales on its cheeks.

A typical Green Jiao would have green eyes encircled by golden irises, and its cheek scales would be a mix of colors instead of a solid hue. The Green Jiao in front of them, however, had pure golden eyes, and the scales on its cheeks were an unblemished blue-green color, quite unlike any other Green Jiao.

Blue-green scales, golden eyes, and a pair of horns at the top of the head are the characteristics of the legendary True Water Dragon.

This Green Jiao, with its single horn yet to shed, seemed almost indistinguishable from the legendary True Water Dragons in tales. It was a sign that it was about to morph into a dragon!

"Peak Level Six!"

Old Ancestor Chengye's pupils contracted rapidly, and he reacted almost instantly. He held up the distracted clansman and swiftly retreated.

"Retreat quickly!"

Wang Xingzu also trembled, and without hesitation, yelled out the command. At the same time, he swept up the junior member next to him, rapidly retreating.