One Golden Scale Beast was easily manageable for a Saint Hunter with their abilities, but two could put a Saint Hunter in danger, and three would mean total annihilation.
Therefore, the Saint Hunters dared not clear the area; they wished more people would appear to share the risk.
However, even with the top-ranked Saint Hunter and the Berserk Hunter present, dealing with three Golden Scale Beasts would be extremely perilous. They would only have a better chance of success if the second-ranked Thunder Killer also showed up.
But the Thunder Killer did not appear, leaving only the Saint Hunter and the Berserk Hunter.
Even if the Berserk Hunter could handle one Golden Scale Beast for them, it would still be very difficult for the Saint Hunter to simultaneously fight two. Without extreme care, heavy casualties would be inevitable. Out of the thousand people, it was unlikely half would survive, which was not the outcome the Saint Hunter desired.
At this moment, Yang Qianrou was also in a dilemma, unsure whether to lead her people away or stay and fight the Golden Scale Beasts alongside the Saint Hunters.
If they left, they would lose the opportunity to fight the Golden Scale Beasts, thus forfeiting a ticket to the Ancestral Land Trial.
But if they stayed, there were three Golden Scale Beasts present. This situation was extremely dangerous, as the Golden Scale Beasts would not distinguish allies from enemies.
They might face one Golden Scale Beast, or perhaps two, or even all three.
Furthermore, the Saint Hunter Hunting Group was not comprised of good people. When they fell into danger, one could not expect the Saint Hunters to help; they might even kick them while they were down.
To leave, yet reluctant.
To stay, yet fearing annihilation.
This was Yang Qianrou's current state of mind.
However, Yang Qianrou would soon not have to make a choice, as the Golden Scale Beasts made the decision for them.
Two Golden Scale Beasts engaged the Saint Hunter Hunting Group, while another charged towards their Berserk Hunter Hunting Group, leaving the Berserk Hunter Hunting Group no chance to escape.
In such a place, it was suicidal to try and outrun a Golden Scale Beast.
"Prepare for battle!"
Yang Qianrou had no choice but to order her subordinates to prepare to fight the Golden Scale Beasts.
Meanwhile, the Saint Hunter Hunting Group was already in disarray.
With two Golden Scale Beasts attacking simultaneously, even with skilled individuals in the Saint Hunter Hunting Group, heavy casualties soon occurred.
The primary issue was the Golden Scale Beasts' wide attack range; a single strike could inflict substantial damage on the Saint Hunter Hunting Group.
In contrast, the smaller Berserk Hunter Hunting Group had yet to suffer significant casualties. With fewer numbers, they could disperse more easily, making them less susceptible to widespread damage.
And for some reason, they wondered.
The Golden Scale Beasts appearing this time were somewhat different from those of the past.
Even when Golden Scale Beasts appeared before, they did not attack with such ferocity. Sometimes, if they were not provoked, they would not even attack.
In the eyes of the Golden Scale Beasts, humans were too insignificant, like a pile of ants. Would humans bother with the ants beneath their feet?
Similarly, Golden Scale Beasts did not care about humans unless they were attacked first and provoked.
However, the three Golden Scale Beasts at Flame Lake were behaving abnormally. As soon as they appeared, they charged aggressively at the Saint Hunter and Berserk Hunter Hunting Groups, exhibiting a desperate intent to fight to the death.
In reality, they were unaware that it was all Ning Beichen's doing. He, along with the newly formed Kings of Darkness, had been slaughtering Golden Scale Beasts in the Divine Realm.
This had led the Golden Scale Beasts to lose their composure upon seeing humans, launching relentless and frenzied attacks.
Just as the Saint Hunter and Berserk Hunters were locked in a desperate struggle with the Golden Scale Beasts, Ning Beichen and his group arrived near Flame Lake. Through scouts, they learned about the situation.
Those who had pledged allegiance to Ning Beichen were ecstatic. To date, they had already hunted five Golden Scale Beasts, all single-handedly by Ning Beichen. They hadn't needed to risk their lives.
"Commander, should we go and help?"
A subordinate said excitedly, as helping them would mean hunting at least one more Golden Scale Beast.
This would bring their total to six Golden Scale Beasts, equivalent to six entry tickets for the Ancestral Land Trial.
This was an unprecedented achievement in history, something even the top-ranked Saint Hunter Hunting Group couldn't accomplish.
"No rush. Let's go and watch the show."
Ning Beichen's lips curved into a sly smile.
He desired more than just one Golden Scale Beast.
As Ning Beichen and his followers arrived at Flame Lake to observe, the Saint Hunter Hunting Group was in a dire state. More than half of their members had been killed or injured under the frenzied assault of two Golden Scale Beasts.
The Berserk Hunters had also sustained casualties, but due to their smaller numbers and the skillful containment by leader Yang Qianrou, they were managing to hold off the Golden Scale Beasts.
It was evident that this woman's strength was considerable, explaining how she had led a team of only ten people to the third-ranked position.
The two hunting groups battling the Golden Scale Beasts on the field showed signs of relief upon seeing the arrival of the Thunder Killer's group, including members of the Berserk Hunter Hunting Group.
This was because if the Saint Hunter Hunting Group could not withstand the Golden Scale Beasts, then the Berserk Hunter Hunting Group would also be in dire straits, facing the attacks of three Golden Scale Beasts themselves.
The Saint Hunters, in particular, were most thrilled by the appearance of the Thunder Killer.
However, after waiting for a long time, they saw no one from the Thunder Killer's group descend; they merely observed from a distance, leaving the Saint Hunter and Berserk Hunter groups bewildered.
What was the Thunder Killer Hunting Group doing?
Were they planning to just watch?
But what benefit would watching bring them?
Could it be they were waiting to strike when the mantis stalked the cicada, and the oriole was behind?
But if the Saint Hunter and Berserk Hunters couldn't defeat the Golden Scale Beasts, did they think they could handle three of them?
Regardless of their speculations, the Thunder Killer's group remained inactive, watching from afar with an attitude of detached observation.
Eventually, the leader of the Saint Hunter Hunting Group could no longer hold back and sent a message to the Thunder Killer group in the distance, urging them to enter the fray and deal with one Golden Scale Beast.
But no matter how he pleaded, the Thunder Killer group remained unmoved, not even bothering to send a reply.
Their stance was clear: we are here to watch, and do not disturb us.
"What is Xia Houde doing? Can't he see the current situation on the battlefield?"
The leader of the Saint Hunter Hunting Group frowned. He believed that if Xia Houde wasn't a fool, he would know that only with his team's participation could they possibly defeat these three rampaging Golden Scale Beasts.
After all, the failure of the Saint Hunter and Berserk Hunters would benefit no one. No one believed that the Thunder Killer had the strength to hunt all three Golden Scale Beasts simultaneously.
Yet, Ning Beichen remained remarkably calm, showing no intention of joining the fight.