The war drums thundered across Twilight Fortress like roaring beasts.
Lu Feng swung his arm fiercely, bellowing, "Brothers, fall back!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegaTEqw31p
A piercing whistle shattered the forest’s silence, reverberating until ears rang. The crude whistle, scavenged from the Lord’s Realm, proved unexpectedly vital in this desperate hour.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwxPMkK6gl
"Shadowcat, scout ahead! Tark, guard our rear—don’t let them flank us!" Lu Feng barked orders mid-sprint.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsMMRtUd33
The Blood Fiend Sect’s disciples clung to their heels like sharks scenting blood.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4KllwDmuU
Aelia followed closely, her staff glowing with faint moonlight that cast a protective aura over the group. "Lu Feng, their numbers are overwhelming. This isn’t sustainable."
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvZs7iTjjA
"I know! Damn it, they’re like rabid dogs!" Lu Feng spat, eyes darting across the jagged terrain—a maze of twisted boulders offering meager cover.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYQHcSX6nm
"Raphael! How’s the barrier?!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKALxaOqm42
"Almost done, sir! Ten minutes—just ten more!" Raphael’s voice crackled through the comms, strained and dripping with sweat.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRJvi8Cg0f
*Ten minutes? We don’t have ten minutes.* Lu Feng gritted his teeth. "Tark! Buy us five! Hold the line!" He unsheathed his steel sword, its edge glinting coldly.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdeCZUoNHC
"On it, Boss!" Tark roared, hefting his warhammer like a charging tank.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80hVOcAqil
"Ares, with me!" Lu Feng hissed, ducking behind a boulder. His lips curled into a feral grin. "Blood Fiend trash! Been waiting for this!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXgT9ZgzfW
*Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!*
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc2tN7Mduz
Crossbow bolts sliced through the air. Ares darted through the shadows like a phantom, each arrow finding its mark.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibUH0gDlS6
"Argh!" Blood Fiend disciples collapsed, screams echoing.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WLkw21Jv5
"Not bad." Lu Feng smirked. Most disciples were only at the second level of the Beast Control Art—manageable, for now.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oznFMGEZ8
"Arrogant fool! Today, you die!" A raspy voice cut through the chaos as a crimson-robed elder emerged, reeking of rot.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSjOW4GNve
*A Blood Fiend elder.* Lu Feng’s eyes narrowed.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkHt6kiAr9
"Surrender now, and I’ll grant you a quick death," the elder sneered.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Bmi3cUXK
"Quick death? Save it for yourself!" Lu Feng spat, sword aimed at the elder’s throat.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTCU5asa2k
"Fool!" The elder’s hands flickered, summoning a blood-red wave that reeked of decay.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq0ylAPQNz
"Shadowcat, purify this filth!" Lu Feng commanded. The cat’s silver gaze erupted, scattering the miasma.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw8jiTKKq0
"Pathetic tricks!" The elder swiped his bloodied horsetail whisk, unleashing crimson claws that shredded the air.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLSCPVUV88
Lu Feng ducked, countering with a blade thrust. *Clang!* The whisk deflected his strike.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehNQ01tX79
"You’ve skill, boy—but not enough!" The elder laughed, a surge of energy blasting Lu Feng backward.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z4Gw32xXg
"Lu Feng!" Aelia shouted, her staff blazing as a crescent moon blade shot forth.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmDKRMfij0
The elder batted it aside. "Weak!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklMp9W7IyR
"Careful, Aelia!" Lu Feng warned.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrMyxeiHrV
Ares materialized behind the elder, dagger aimed at his spine—only to be swatted away like a fly.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYPGQPnvzi
*Thud!* Ares crashed to the ground, blood spilling from his lips.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLQLmyOcPP
"ARES!" Lu Feng’s rage spiked. "Raphael, status?!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0gn8OBTQx
"Almost—!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5gJh53jdC
"Damn it!" Lu Feng inhaled sharply, channeling spiritual energy into his blade. "Beast Control Art—First Layer: Spirit Infusion!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL9xCnSd4g
The sword blazed with runes. "Blood Fiend scum! Today ends here!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkERZ0QIWQf
The elder sneered, summoning a net of bloody claws. "Die struggling!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhDY3JgE6c
"BREAK!" Lu Feng’s sword clashed with the claws in a blinding explosion. His organs screamed, but he pushed forward.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGBPPgcXAK
"Second Layer: Beast Merge!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg4VQrNsza
Shadowcat dissolved into silver light, merging with Lu Feng. His speed tripled.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP0zO8OHBY
"What?!" The elder paled.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oYdt4chpd
"Die!" Lu Feng’s blade pierced toward his throat. The elder dodged, but the sword gashed his arm.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyKEB3MxTR
"Old fool! This is your end!" Lu Feng pressed the assault, strikes relentless.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1dfuzcx2t
Ares suddenly lunged, locking the elder in a grapple. "NOW, LU FENG!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAuuTYBqiC
"ARES!" Lu Feng poured every ounce of energy into his sword. "Third Layer: Unity of Man and Steel!"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO4rAN5WHS
He became light—a single lethal thrust.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexwF6kkl5u
*Thunk!*
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwSKUbYMAm
The blade pierced the elder’s throat. Blood gushed as the corpse slumped.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKNTHEZonF
Lu Feng collapsed, heaving.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR39A9TWVm
"We… won!" Tark roared.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgv3ftN1vG
"Lu Feng!" Aelia rushed to his side.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLCVLdlNGJ
"Alive… barely," he croaked.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXwNUENjjH
"Barrier’s… up," Raphael panted.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjAWViB76p
Lu Feng nodded weakly.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6QhB4K8vr
Ares coughed blood. "Sir… their base… in the Cursed Valley… protected by… an ancient barrier… unbreakable…"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcukXdHrm4
Lu Feng’s eyes snapped open. "Cursed Valley? Barrier?"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbfwB3EoMd
"To destroy them… you must… break it…" Ares fell unconscious.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtXNolBMZB
Lu Feng’s mind raced. *The Sect’s lair in such a place?*
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pwkGyx22B
"Simulator, activate!" he mentally commanded.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8UGCG8lZU
**[Deduce method to breach the Blood Fiend barrier.]**
**[Cost: 100 Spirit Points.]**
**[Simulating…]**
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsBKiB4gJU
Agony lanced his skull as knowledge flooded in.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNfmotN4Fx
"Found it!" Lu Feng gasped. "But the cost…"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAnY3M8pBc
Over the following days, the group trained relentlessly. Tark honed close combat, Aelia purified moonlight, Raphael mapped the valley, and Ares recovered.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwz2q8xo8y
As preparations finalized, a voice boomed in Lu Feng’s mind: *"Boy… turn back from the Cursed Valley…"*
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrq6LQJsqU
He ignored it.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhs1aeueYg
At dusk, they advanced. The valley loomed ahead—a nest of shadows.
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOArA6DbHR
Ares froze. "Sir… something’s—"
205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUlHgVIsqR
