Chapter 553 Why the heck do you never listen?  

Jian let out a sigh and looked back at the exhausted group behind him. Three humans and a crimson bird lay sprawled out among them, the bird appearing utterly fatigued as if she couldn't care less about her posture. All the humans, like him, had their clothes stained with blood. Among the three humans, the one with grey hair and hazel eyes stared at him with a deadpan expression and whispered.

"I warned you that we shouldn't head in this direction! Why the heck do you never listen? Just look at the mess we have gotten ourselves into!"

Jian scratched his head with a wry smile. How could Xavier blame him? Who would have thought a fight would break out on this side!? He was merely drawn this way after catching a glimpse of a mystical spirit that vanished in this direction. He wanted to follow the spirit and capture it!

He grumbled as Bia gave him a stern look. The phoenix took a few deep breaths and properly settled on the ground.

They had been battling individuals from the demon and dark races since the conflict began between the dark side and a group of elves. Unluckily, they were the first group to join the fight alongside the elves. But now, with all of them depleted of their divine energy, they were in hiding.

Initially, the fight was minor, just between the elves and the demon and dark races. But as time went on, more and more people from various races passing by got involved, or more specifically, they were forced to join because the supreme rank demons leading the battle were not allowing anyone to leave.

Bia closed her eyes with a weary expression, her entire body was aching, longing for nothing but rest. However, she snapped them open with a flash of anger when Jian spoke up once more. "We are all alive and safe now, aren't we? So, everything's okay, no need to worry."

The three humans and one phoenix gave the red-haired man a dark look. It was only then that Jian quieted down, but right at that moment, the cramped structure built from rough rocks shook.

In a single swift movement, the entire structure above their heads was hurled into the distance. Jian's eyes widened as he looked up and saw a pair of white slit pupils staring at him, with mocking laughter dancing within them.

"Shit!"

Jian let out a string of curses and, just like the others, rolled away from the spot. He couldn't believe he had just claimed they were safe when their hiding place was already exposed!

They narrowly evaded as the owner of the white slit eyes aggressively brought down the tips of his four expansive, dark-hued wings towards their position. The moment the sharp tips stabbed the ground, a loud noise filled the air, and the demon let out a sinister laugh before turning his focus to the grey-haired human and the phoenix.

Xavier and Bia were among those who made the fight quite challenging for the dark side. The crimson phoenix, due to her imposing size, and the human, due to his exceptional combat skills.

Additionally, the three other humans in their group took out many individuals from the dark side. When the dark and demon races attempted to eliminate them, they quickly fled and disappeared from the battlefield like a merciless gust that struck down numerous demons before vanishing.

Surprisingly, who would have guessed the group was hiding right in the middle of the battlefield? They didn't flee! The demon's eyes gleamed, and after he demolished the rocky structure, many other demons and individuals from the dark race encircled the group from all sides. The demons with white slit pupils floated just like the dark race individuals with dark beady eyes. Xavier let out a bitter laugh that sounded too strained as he looked at Bia, Jian, and the two humans he had brought to the Sacred Divine Land with him. He was the strongest among them, and even though it was all because of Jian that they ended up in this difficult situation, he needed to ensure they all make it out alive.

He tightly grasped the spear in his hand and, despite his body screaming with exhaustion, he intercepted the attack of a demon who attempted to swing the blade at one of the humans beside him.

Bia flapped her wings frantically and escaped in a different direction when a demon attempted to grab her petite body. She hurled numerous curses at the woman with white slit pupils who tried to stab her with her nails. Some of the curses were so vulgar that Jian, who was in a fight with an individual from the dark race, had to look back to confirm they indeed came from their dear little Bia's mouth.

Xavier let out a pained grunt as a demon's sharp, pointy nails grazed over his thigh while he tried to fend off another attack aimed at his shoulder. Instantly, blood started pouring out from his wound.

The two humans beside him quickly came to his aid, but their faces paled as more demons began to gather around them.

They exchanged glances with panicked eyes since they couldn't seek assistance; everyone around was engrossed in their own battles, striving to survive.

The group of elves who were initially targeted by the demons were huddled together in the distance, doing their utmost to protect each other.

The newcomers who had joined the battlefield seemed indifferent to their own fates. So, who would come to their aid in this situation!? No one!

Jian clenched his jaw so tightly that he could taste the distant metallic tang of blood in his mouth as he pushed back an attack aimed at his stomach.

He excelled in close combat, but being a mage, he knew he wouldn't last long when his divine energy was already depleted!

Xavier, Jian, and the two humans' eyes widened when they heard Bia's pained shriek. The phoenix couldn't shift into her larger form as she had depleted her energy later than the others. So, even though they had gathered some divine energy, they knew that in such a short time, even if Bia had gathered some, she wouldn't be able to transform into her original form instantly!