Chapter 579 - 396: The Reason for the Appearance of the Stone Statue

The pterodactyl that had poked half its head out of the pit immediately startled Zeng Tao and Qin Fu into exclamations.

"What is that thing?!"

Qin Fu no longer maintained his previously casual attitude, his whole body tensed up.

At the same time, he pulled out a large bow from his backpack and slung a quiver full of arrows on his back.

He drew an arrow from the quiver, nocking it on the string, ready to shoot at any moment.

"Is this... what you just mentioned, mutated creature statues and, pterodactyl statues?!"

Zeng Tao also appeared grave.

She watched the endless stream of statues emerging from the pit and the half-exposed ruthless-eyed pterodactyl head, clenching her little fist, unsure of what she was thinking.

"How did they end up here?" Lou Fei’Er instinctively moved closer to Xu Xin.

"Are the crossbow arrows in your treehouse crossbow fully loaded?" Xu Xin squinted as he looked outside the window and asked Lou Fei’Er.

Xu Xin’s calm voice carried a hint of command, which immediately caused both Zeng Tao and Qin Fu to turn their heads to him in surprise.

"Every one of them is loaded," Lou Fei’Er responded.

She had just finished restocking all the crossbows in the treehouse.

Of course, they were only loaded with some green-grade crossbow arrows, which might not be very effective against the statues.

At this moment, the crossbows in the treehouse had all automatically turned, aiming at the direction of the statues.

Xu Xin nodded, pondering.

Lou Fei’Er’s treehouse didn’t have a control panel.

With ordinary control methods, the crossbows wouldn’t be very effective.

Fortunately, the statues were relatively dense, so activating the automatic attack on the crossbows should still have some effect.

The statues around were still moving.

Those that had climbed up were moving around, and in the pit, there was still an endless stream of statues climbing up.

Yet, that massive pterodactyl head remained half-exposed, staring at them eerily.

Although it showed no intention of acting, it made Xu Xin afraid to make any rash moves.

If it were just a group of mid-level mutated creature statues, Xu Xin wouldn’t be afraid at all.

Even if these statues were stronger than ordinary mutated creatures, they wouldn’t be too powerful.

But with that pterodactyl, it was a completely different story.

The presence of that pterodactyl made him very hesitant about whether to strike first and directly launch an attack on them.

Their attack might very likely provoke the pterodactyl’s counterattack.

With the people present and the rudimentary facilities of the treehouse, he truly had no confidence,

Why have these statues suddenly appeared near Lou Fei’Er’s treehouse?

"With the crossbows, I don’t need to shoot, right?" Qin Fu slightly relaxed the bowstring, and the large bow in his hand lowered. "The crossbows’ power should be able to crush these statues, right?"

Xu Xin finally noticed the peculiarity of the large bow in his hand.

His eyelids twitched slightly.

The large bow was emanating a purple glow!

This Qin Fu actually possessed a purple-grade wooden bow!

Purple-grade weapon!

No wonder he’s ranked second in the region.

I wonder what special effects this purple-grade bow has.

"The power of the crossbows... can be tried, but don’t hold too much hope," Lou Fei’Er said, her expression tense.

Perhaps the crossbows would work on those mid-level mutated creature statues, but she didn’t think these green-grade wooden crossbows and arrows could pose a threat to high-level mutated creatures.

That pterodactyl statue isn’t something you can deal with using ordinary crossbow arrows!

Moreover, its intimidation factor is just too strong for Lou Fei’Er.

Especially when it’s still staring over here, she’s almost at her breaking point.

The intimidation from its higher level made her almost abandon any thought of resistance.

If Xu Xin weren’t here, if she were alone, she might have already turned and fled.

"What do we do? Do we stay here? What’s their target?"

Zeng Tao, looking at the statues that kept crawling out of the pit without attacking them, asked nervously.

Holding the windowsill with both hands, she applied force, and with a crack, the whole wooden windowsill was crushed by her grip.

Xu Xin’s eye corner twitched slightly again.

What’s the situation with this Zeng Tao?

So strong?

Just crushed the windowsill by gripping it?!

Could it be... similar to Wang Lei’s ability?

These two people are indeed extraordinary.

In this light, Yan Haoming, who was easily subdued by them and is now lying inside the treasure chest monster’s belly, seems really weak.

How did he even secure fourth place?

Lou Fei’Er wasn’t surprised.

After all, she had already experienced Zeng Tao’s brute strength.

Now overwhelmed with a chaotic mind, she couldn’t think and could only turn to Xu Xin, waiting for him to give orders.

Whether to strike or wait.

She herself couldn’t decide anymore.

Because if she had to decide right now, it would definitely be...

Run! Hurry and run!

She absolutely can’t be a match for this pterosaur!

Zeng Tao was nervously watching the movements of the stone statues outside, not noticing Lou Fei’Er’s expression.

But Qin Fu noticed.

He glanced at Lou Fei’Er standing behind Xu Xin, then withdrew his gaze thoughtfully.

Xu Xin didn’t notice Qin Fu’s gaze.

He was pondering why these stone statues suddenly appeared here.

This place is obviously more than ten kilometers away from that light pillar.

Even if these stone statues wanted to attack the treehouse, they should choose his closer treehouse.

Coming to a treehouse where no one lived before today surely has other reasons.

The most likely reason is being attracted by Xiaohong in his wristband.

Considering Xiaohong’s strange behavior at the edge of the giant pit, it’s most likely that this group of stone statues came for Xiaohong.

But...

Xiaohong is not only in his wristband but also within the stomach of the mimic chest monster.

He checked once before, Xiaohong still maintained the walking posture when the mimic chest monster swallowed it, motionless.

So he didn’t bother him anymore.

He even had the mimic chest monster swallow it again, to prevent any accidents.

So are these stone statues really coming for Xiaohong?

Xiaohong’s position is in the mimic chest monster’s mouth inside the wristband, with double protection, can it still be detected?

Wait...

Hiss—!

He suddenly thought of something.

He had just let the mimic chest monster out!

He let the mimic chest monster out, swallowed Yan Haoming into it, and then put it away again.

At that time, the chest monster’s mouth...

Was wide open!

Does that mean...

At that moment, Xiaohong’s position was exposed?!

It’s possible.

Very possible!

Thinking of this, Xu Xin took a deep breath.

The reason seems to have been found.

These stone statues are very likely here for the Xiaohong currently on him!

That should be it, no doubt!

The reason why these stone statues have been watching them but haven’t attacked yet is obvious.

Because now Xiaohong is in the wristband, they can’t detect Xiaohong’s position.

So they are hesitating whether they arrived at the right place and whether to attack the treehouse where Xu Xin and the others are.

But if they are really here for Xiaohong, then this matter would be much easier to resolve.

"So, do we just wait here?" Zeng Tao looked out the window, frowning, "These stone statues should be coming for Qin Fu and me, right? Should I just go down and take care of them!"

She looked at Lou Fei’Er: "If, as you said, these stone statues are all of intermediate mutant strength, I can still take care of them."

It’s normal for her to think like this.

The two of them just came over from that side, and these stone statues appeared around the treehouse.

They must have followed them here.

"...Stay in the treehouse for now, don’t go out."

Lou Fei’Er was silent for a moment before speaking, "These stone statues may not even attack. Besides, even if they do, the treehouse’s offensive and defensive capabilities are much stronger than if we personally went down."

"The treehouse stronger than me?" Zeng Tao pouted, "Not necessarily stronger than me if it weren’t for that pterosaur stone statue, I’d have gone down already."

"I think Zeng Tao has a point," Qin Fu spoke, "Since these monsters are here for us, the best thing to do is for us to go out now and lead these stone statues away, so your treehouse won’t get caught up."

"I feel the same," Zeng Tao nodded, "The mess we caused, we should solve it ourselves."

"What are you talking about?" Lou Fei’Er immediately rejected, "Since you came here, I must protect you. If I hadn’t asked you to come, you wouldn’t have encountered this. Besides, that pterosaur, can you deal with it?"

Lou Fei’Er didn’t believe these stone statues were here for Qin Fu and the others.

So many people were around the light pillar yesterday, but the stone statues didn’t follow them to Xu Xin’s treehouse.

It was evident that these stone statues’ target should be Xu Xin.

Letting them go out to divert the attention, whether the stone statues attack them or not, will only make the situation more chaotic.

"...How do we know if we don’t try? Can staying in the treehouse solve it?" Zeng Tao looked at the pterosaur outside the treehouse, clenching her small fists.

"What are you talking about?" Xu Xin frowned at them, "We should definitely stay in the treehouse, right? Isn’t that the safest way? If even with the treehouse we can’t win, going out is like seeking death."

"Heh, my combat strength is way stronger than yours." Zeng Tao sneered coldly, "If you’re a coward, don’t make excuses."

"...No, we’ll just stay here." Qin Fu glanced at Xu Xin, suddenly smiled, and spoke, "You’ll protect us, right?"

"Ha?" Zeng Tao frowned and looked at Qin Fu, "What are you talking about? What do you mean you? Forget Lou Fei’Er, you’re expecting this useless guy to protect us?"

As she said this, she pointed at Xu Xin’s nose, "Him?"

She was really annoyed with Yan Haoming and even more irritated with her own previous feelings.

So, to reduce that strange closeness, no matter what he said, Zeng Tao wanted to refute it.

Just as Xu Xin was about to say something, the stone statues around them made new movements.