The war drums thundered across Twilight Fortress like roaring beasts.
Lu Feng swung his arm fiercely, bellowing, "Brothers, fall back!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAhp6TMuNSMD
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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA1rvSB2Ushu
"Shadowcat, scout ahead! Tark, guard our rear—don’t let them flank us!" Lu Feng barked orders mid-sprint.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAwpS7yZ4IfX
The Blood Fiend Sect’s disciples clung to their heels like sharks scenting blood.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA3tXxBIG8Ui
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."
128Please respect copyright.PENANALh7TFYRigW
"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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAs2e6mYG6CH
"Raphael! How’s the barrier?!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAR9vqL59u5E
"Almost done, sir! Ten minutes—just ten more!" Raphael’s voice crackled through the comms, strained and dripping with sweat.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA0PLEQdxLRe
*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.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAgHlkBd6Q60
"On it, Boss!" Tark roared, hefting his warhammer like a charging tank.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAGq65sa0AV1
"Ares, with me!" Lu Feng hissed, ducking behind a boulder. His lips curled into a feral grin. "Blood Fiend trash! Been waiting for this!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANALXOKbREhaf
*Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!*
128Please respect copyright.PENANAgYNdaRBCf0
Crossbow bolts sliced through the air. Ares darted through the shadows like a phantom, each arrow finding its mark.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAADgPZaKjZm
"Argh!" Blood Fiend disciples collapsed, screams echoing.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA26Q92e0T5T
"Not bad." Lu Feng smirked. Most disciples were only at the second level of the Beast Control Art—manageable, for now.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAbaDnRGgdq3
"Arrogant fool! Today, you die!" A raspy voice cut through the chaos as a crimson-robed elder emerged, reeking of rot.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAG63bbOYaJD
*A Blood Fiend elder.* Lu Feng’s eyes narrowed.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAUom4ZdGI6f
"Surrender now, and I’ll grant you a quick death," the elder sneered.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAGINKfnasfB
"Quick death? Save it for yourself!" Lu Feng spat, sword aimed at the elder’s throat.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAlW9LwgiMO3
"Fool!" The elder’s hands flickered, summoning a blood-red wave that reeked of decay.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAqLX2hrdEwG
"Shadowcat, purify this filth!" Lu Feng commanded. The cat’s silver gaze erupted, scattering the miasma.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAm8YXzk8tDv
"Pathetic tricks!" The elder swiped his bloodied horsetail whisk, unleashing crimson claws that shredded the air.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAw2xzmX52Dh
Lu Feng ducked, countering with a blade thrust. *Clang!* The whisk deflected his strike.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAb0XO6gw3Fx
"You’ve skill, boy—but not enough!" The elder laughed, a surge of energy blasting Lu Feng backward.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAbu9YeUD7KL
"Lu Feng!" Aelia shouted, her staff blazing as a crescent moon blade shot forth.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAjnKnAzwIL4
The elder batted it aside. "Weak!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANA7sS6vElegc
"Careful, Aelia!" Lu Feng warned.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAeWYPXNIkGQ
Ares materialized behind the elder, dagger aimed at his spine—only to be swatted away like a fly.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA1iFUTtQzLu
*Thud!* Ares crashed to the ground, blood spilling from his lips.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAiPRrcZp94M
"ARES!" Lu Feng’s rage spiked. "Raphael, status?!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAkWIIU1He3u
"Almost—!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANA5JmCL4o7ua
"Damn it!" Lu Feng inhaled sharply, channeling spiritual energy into his blade. "Beast Control Art—First Layer: Spirit Infusion!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAT1adTvNTKi
The sword blazed with runes. "Blood Fiend scum! Today ends here!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAPb2qgsHe7m
The elder sneered, summoning a net of bloody claws. "Die struggling!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAkzmC9HXtUf
"BREAK!" Lu Feng’s sword clashed with the claws in a blinding explosion. His organs screamed, but he pushed forward.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAL1FY85GOMS
"Second Layer: Beast Merge!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANADdsAfadwcZ
Shadowcat dissolved into silver light, merging with Lu Feng. His speed tripled.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAv0rrh8r4Tc
"What?!" The elder paled.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA1aKyChTNqH
"Die!" Lu Feng’s blade pierced toward his throat. The elder dodged, but the sword gashed his arm.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAf4gdIvAONL
"Old fool! This is your end!" Lu Feng pressed the assault, strikes relentless.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA5oWB47B4On
Ares suddenly lunged, locking the elder in a grapple. "NOW, LU FENG!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAJUvsfKyvG8
"ARES!" Lu Feng poured every ounce of energy into his sword. "Third Layer: Unity of Man and Steel!"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAxae8mcqXne
He became light—a single lethal thrust.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA8qMTpykgNa
*Thunk!*
128Please respect copyright.PENANATfrSVa6BrR
The blade pierced the elder’s throat. Blood gushed as the corpse slumped.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA0cIRuB8znc
Lu Feng collapsed, heaving.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAR7O4as20QN
"We… won!" Tark roared.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAjJNkmzFKuC
"Lu Feng!" Aelia rushed to his side.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA5JygPWFe33
"Alive… barely," he croaked.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAkjTRLLaqcJ
"Barrier’s… up," Raphael panted.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAJ33Pn8djA2
Lu Feng nodded weakly.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAxwemhByQGW
Ares coughed blood. "Sir… their base… in the Cursed Valley… protected by… an ancient barrier… unbreakable…"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAQLb49Sgu4s
Lu Feng’s eyes snapped open. "Cursed Valley? Barrier?"
128Please respect copyright.PENANA9QouVZZLBd
"To destroy them… you must… break it…" Ares fell unconscious.
128Please respect copyright.PENANA5PvLqQbDgp
Lu Feng’s mind raced. *The Sect’s lair in such a place?*
128Please respect copyright.PENANASy4Zne2Kd0
"Simulator, activate!" he mentally commanded.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAFkQor7U7K0
**[Deduce method to breach the Blood Fiend barrier.]**
**[Cost: 100 Spirit Points.]**
**[Simulating…]**
128Please respect copyright.PENANAyF33TR7ZfX
Agony lanced his skull as knowledge flooded in.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAnaUU8sSRYT
"Found it!" Lu Feng gasped. "But the cost…"
128Please respect copyright.PENANA66IULIsp6q
Over the following days, the group trained relentlessly. Tark honed close combat, Aelia purified moonlight, Raphael mapped the valley, and Ares recovered.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAfmswwBXh89
As preparations finalized, a voice boomed in Lu Feng’s mind: *"Boy… turn back from the Cursed Valley…"*
128Please respect copyright.PENANAIhe7QKCRre
He ignored it.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAAOlYk3yOV4
At dusk, they advanced. The valley loomed ahead—a nest of shadows.
128Please respect copyright.PENANAGvT7vUZ47r
Ares froze. "Sir… something’s—"
128Please respect copyright.PENANAA9h7LOrjmk