Cao Guang found it barely possible to connect his Star Pattern when the Great Warrior level Growling Earth Ape unleashed it's Sonic attack. He was sure even he would be overwhelmed if an Advancing Warrior appeared.
This realisation force the team to accept a few realities, one their Mental Strength were low as they grew protected. Two Summoners were even more important during this trip. Especially Cao Guang who could summon two Warriors to help him.
Nie Huan had a Warrior level contracted beast as well. It was a Giant Thunder Hawk a rare flying type contracted beast, it was a lightning attribute beast. It was at the Standard Warrior level.
It was five metres in size and could fly with a single person for about an hour or so. The Hawk had excellent eyesight and was capable of locating prey from a kilometres away. It's talons were sharp as an intermediate level weapon and could tear a mage in half within seconds of contact.
Cao Guang summouned Little Flame Belle and had her stay nearby in her shrunken state as Yan Liling scouted ahead. Summoning and keeping the Thunder Hawk would have provoked some beasts with its breath or wings.
It was more sensible to summon it during battle. The group avoided as many packs of the Apes as they could. However soon they found a difficult scenario, the left side ahead had a large pack of Growling Earth Apes with an Advancing Warrior and four other Warriors.
The pack also had about fifty Minion class beasts.
The right side on the other hand went too close to Fuxian Lake. It was the home of a Horde of Ferocious Gale Alligators, they had a few Commanders as well. These Alligators had strong scales for defence and great mastery of the Wind element.
They were far stronger than what the group could handle. Cao Guang didn't have a choice other than fighting the Pack of Apes.
They summouned every beast they could and charged against the Growling Earth Apes.
They were completely unfamiliar with the territory and could not scout extensively for possible ambush location. They couldn't be too seperated or they could face opponents they couldn't beat.
Cao Guang had come up with a different solution to ensure they wouldn't be affected by the Ape's Sonic attack. At least not all of them at once. It was simple be spread apart. Their attacks weren't area of effect ones or did it cover a large section. They could just be spread apart and help out teammates who were affected and couldn't cast any spells.
But they still would be hampered when they faced a large pack like they were about to.
Fenrir and the Giant Thunder Hawk spread out to fight a Warrior each as everyone opened up with a spell to cull the numbers of the enemy. The Minion level apes were fine but the Warriors were able to create slabs of Earth to block the spells restricting the damage from Zhu Li's and Cao Guang's spells.
Cao Guang even summouned a Rock type
Beast from the Summoning plane that he had a contract with. With his spiritual energy he could sustain both Fenrir and the Iron Sand Golem for some time. While it helped with handling another Warrior level Growling Earth Ape.
It was beast he was familiar with for some time now, but it was the first time he successfully managed to summon both it and Fenrir at the same time. The control afforded by a Heaven grade seed was magnificent. Albeit only Summoning another Standard Warrior, at his level it was indomitable.
Only a dozen or so Minions were dead after two Intermediate spells. Fortunately others in the group waylaid some of the Warriors attempts to save their minions or used their magic equipment to kill another dozen.
Cao Guang possessed his daughter and turned his Flame Wizard mode to face the Advancing Warrior. He had found another work around to cast spells under the Sonic attack of a Advancing Warrior rank Growling Earth Ape. Which was to posses the Little Flame Belle.
It didn't improve his Mental Strength or anything but it gave him great control over the element that he could use right now. In the Flame Wizard form he didn't need to connect stars to cast spells. It consumed his spiritual energy and both of their physical energy to produce flame spells.
It also gave him the otherworldly ability to manipulate the flames as he wished. While also appropriating a 4.5 x multiplier right now.