The war drums thundered across Twilight Fortress like roaring beasts.
Lu Feng swung his arm fiercely, bellowing, "Brothers, fall back!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhivP3W89xc
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.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeKMAXj7qZ
"Shadowcat, scout ahead! Tark, guard our rear—don’t let them flank us!" Lu Feng barked orders mid-sprint.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnjw7PawwL
The Blood Fiend Sect’s disciples clung to their heels like sharks scenting blood.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhecJTV97F
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."
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO8dnKO7A2
"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.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjT1CI7jEGG
"Raphael! How’s the barrier?!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayzePTjYnj
"Almost done, sir! Ten minutes—just ten more!" Raphael’s voice crackled through the comms, strained and dripping with sweat.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtRG2juj4h
*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.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITPy4y8Bn6
"On it, Boss!" Tark roared, hefting his warhammer like a charging tank.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JOJOhB73e
"Ares, with me!" Lu Feng hissed, ducking behind a boulder. His lips curled into a feral grin. "Blood Fiend trash! Been waiting for this!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwefKSPNYAt
*Whizz! Whizz! Whizz!*
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rH1Lue71q
Crossbow bolts sliced through the air. Ares darted through the shadows like a phantom, each arrow finding its mark.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFEXF4p5Yb
"Argh!" Blood Fiend disciples collapsed, screams echoing.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsN0IzXoDK
"Not bad." Lu Feng smirked. Most disciples were only at the second level of the Beast Control Art—manageable, for now.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaH37crfgF
"Arrogant fool! Today, you die!" A raspy voice cut through the chaos as a crimson-robed elder emerged, reeking of rot.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9ANUXk7bO
*A Blood Fiend elder.* Lu Feng’s eyes narrowed.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnW6lDOiOh
"Surrender now, and I’ll grant you a quick death," the elder sneered.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGSeSFvee4
"Quick death? Save it for yourself!" Lu Feng spat, sword aimed at the elder’s throat.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8emFm8g3f2
"Fool!" The elder’s hands flickered, summoning a blood-red wave that reeked of decay.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOzIJiOBj9
"Shadowcat, purify this filth!" Lu Feng commanded. The cat’s silver gaze erupted, scattering the miasma.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEvcBI7Y4i
"Pathetic tricks!" The elder swiped his bloodied horsetail whisk, unleashing crimson claws that shredded the air.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml2yWxtmMc
Lu Feng ducked, countering with a blade thrust. *Clang!* The whisk deflected his strike.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTFlWxeDuI
"You’ve skill, boy—but not enough!" The elder laughed, a surge of energy blasting Lu Feng backward.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoqLGUUgrh
"Lu Feng!" Aelia shouted, her staff blazing as a crescent moon blade shot forth.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bcBqVSCBt
The elder batted it aside. "Weak!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEHjV3QDJ3
"Careful, Aelia!" Lu Feng warned.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlMIbKyNSv
Ares materialized behind the elder, dagger aimed at his spine—only to be swatted away like a fly.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9cQPyOFDc
*Thud!* Ares crashed to the ground, blood spilling from his lips.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnsfyAeXEE
"ARES!" Lu Feng’s rage spiked. "Raphael, status?!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWNJcykvzR
"Almost—!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwGmCgREPv
"Damn it!" Lu Feng inhaled sharply, channeling spiritual energy into his blade. "Beast Control Art—First Layer: Spirit Infusion!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz6LKDRHWO
The sword blazed with runes. "Blood Fiend scum! Today ends here!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlbRhmcrLW
The elder sneered, summoning a net of bloody claws. "Die struggling!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwLqWbPl08
"BREAK!" Lu Feng’s sword clashed with the claws in a blinding explosion. His organs screamed, but he pushed forward.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUidzfBpp3
"Second Layer: Beast Merge!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpHzRRbJhu
Shadowcat dissolved into silver light, merging with Lu Feng. His speed tripled.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3jD1UT315
"What?!" The elder paled.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzXwxhMGpd
"Die!" Lu Feng’s blade pierced toward his throat. The elder dodged, but the sword gashed his arm.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa1OYl82nP
"Old fool! This is your end!" Lu Feng pressed the assault, strikes relentless.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lWA8y2l6t
Ares suddenly lunged, locking the elder in a grapple. "NOW, LU FENG!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKEAJ20u0v
"ARES!" Lu Feng poured every ounce of energy into his sword. "Third Layer: Unity of Man and Steel!"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqvYXXBz81
He became light—a single lethal thrust.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JHoHaN1hj
*Thunk!*
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGGGN7NXTb
The blade pierced the elder’s throat. Blood gushed as the corpse slumped.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLjzI5qhbM
Lu Feng collapsed, heaving.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGyvqbZFw2
"We… won!" Tark roared.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDGZko8Wuf
"Lu Feng!" Aelia rushed to his side.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1vQ0A6Tuy
"Alive… barely," he croaked.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iBUTeJtwh
"Barrier’s… up," Raphael panted.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRgAkBJAZl
Lu Feng nodded weakly.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHQF0U9SVt
Ares coughed blood. "Sir… their base… in the Cursed Valley… protected by… an ancient barrier… unbreakable…"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuwleF5qth
Lu Feng’s eyes snapped open. "Cursed Valley? Barrier?"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoSJOsnH4Z
"To destroy them… you must… break it…" Ares fell unconscious.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9LZZG9poH
Lu Feng’s mind raced. *The Sect’s lair in such a place?*
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0itWwvv8p8
"Simulator, activate!" he mentally commanded.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvNJQfW53c
**[Deduce method to breach the Blood Fiend barrier.]**
**[Cost: 100 Spirit Points.]**
**[Simulating…]**
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhi8B8RKLj
Agony lanced his skull as knowledge flooded in.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU313JohGG
"Found it!" Lu Feng gasped. "But the cost…"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cZ84qeaTG
Over the following days, the group trained relentlessly. Tark honed close combat, Aelia purified moonlight, Raphael mapped the valley, and Ares recovered.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3ANj5psrW
As preparations finalized, a voice boomed in Lu Feng’s mind: *"Boy… turn back from the Cursed Valley…"*
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzqY0Its8F
He ignored it.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNh6PCMiIQ
At dusk, they advanced. The valley loomed ahead—a nest of shadows.
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrPRLtcv4t
Ares froze. "Sir… something’s—"
155Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNs4FgEeOu
and then Add to home screen.