"Agh!!!"
If the earlier demon beast's shriek was unsettling, the human scream that followed truly terrified them. Faces pale, everyone spun toward the cave's depths.
"Others deep inside? How…?"
Zheng Kai's eyes widened in shock. Their path had shown no signs of prior passage. Yet now, someone was trapped within?
Sensing with divine consciousness required Golden Core cultivation. Clueless about the situation, Zheng Kai felt an instinctive dread. He had no intention of investigating or rescuing. "Powerful beast. Not safe here. Let's—"
Before he finished, frantic footsteps echoed. A figure stumbled out from the darkness!
All stared. Zheng Kai's gaze sharpened. "He Yuan?!"
He recognized the man. He Yuan spotted them, eyes lighting up. "Zheng Kai!! You! Thank heavens! Aid me—"
Screech!!
A shriek cut him off. A massive crimson shape burst out behind him!
Lin Feng glimpsed another figure shadowing He Yuan—swept aside behind a rock as the crimson beast charged. Its focus remained solely on He Yuan.
"Tier 2 Fire-tailed Scorpion!!"
Zheng Kai's face drained of color.
The creature was monstrous—twice the size of any scorpion Lin Feng had seen, like a small car. Its raised tail, tipped with a basin-sized flame, resembled a burning blade, radiating terror.
Lin Feng needed no explanation. This was unmistakably a Tier 2 demon beast—equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Far beyond the reach of mere Qi Condensation fighters!
Screech!
As Lin Feng reeled, the scorpion shrieked again. Its tail whipped, launching a basketball-sized fireball straight at He Yuan!
Fireball projection was a basic mystical art, yet its power dwarfed Lin Feng's Tier 2 fire talismans.
Hah!!
Sensing the attack, He Yuan spun, expression tightening. He roared, true essence surging. A shimmering wall of energy materialized half a foot before him.
BOOM!
The fireball exploded against the barrier, dissipating harmlessly.
"True Essence Manifestation! Foundation Establishment!"
Lin Feng's eyes widened. This defense far surpassed the qi barrier Zheng Kai used—it required Foundation Establishment cultivation. He Yuan was a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Relief mixed with confusion washed over Lin Feng. If He Yuan was Foundation Establishment, why flee? Was he merely early-stage, while the scorpion was mid-Tier 2?
Amidst Lin Feng's doubts, He Yuan flashed to Zheng Kai's side. "Zheng Kai! It's Tier 2, Level 3! A level above me! We killed another inside, but my Foundation Establishment Level 3 companion fell! I'm injured! I can't take it alone! Aid me, and we can kill it!"
"Tch!" Zheng Kai inwardly cursed. He Yuan had deliberately led the beast to them, forcing their involvement. Fleeing now was likely deadlier. He made a snap decision. "Qin Ye! Lin Feng! Lu Cheng! Fall back! Duanmu Rui, cover me! He Yuan and I will handle this beast!"
Facing a Tier 2 beast was daunting. Yet Zheng Kai possessed a peak-grade artifact armor, a peak-grade sword, and unused protective talismans. Combined with He Yuan, finishing this weakened scorpion seemed feasible. But Lin Feng and the others stood no chance—a single glancing blow could cripple or kill.
...
Zheng Kai's entry heartened He Yuan. Solo victory was possible but perilous. With Zheng Kai and Duanmu Rui supporting, his confidence soared. He stopped retreating, brandishing his sword to counterattack.
A fierce battle erupted. Three figures darted around the colossal scorpion. Its shrieks filled the cavern as its massive tail and pincers lashed out, pulverizing boulders the size of small huts. The ground trembled with each missed strike.
While the scorpion's raw power was terrifying, He Yuan's prowess stunned Lin Feng more. This was his first glimpse of a Foundation Establishment cultivator fighting—speed and strength leagues beyond his own.
He Yuan's arsenal was equally impressive. When his sword was knocked away, he instantly drew a longsword from his spatial ring. He also hurled one-time-use Tier 2 ice-spike talismans—their potency surpassing Lin Feng's reusable ones—making the scorpion shriek in agony.
Lin Feng watched, mesmerized, anticipating a swift end. Then—
Ugh!
A choked grunt sent shockwaves through everyone.
Duanmu Rui! He'd misstepped. A massive pincer slammed into him. His spear flew from his grasp as he was hurled over ten meters, crashing against a boulder. Blood sprayed from his mouth!
"A'Rui!!"
Qin Ye screamed, rushing forward. Lin Feng and Lu Cheng followed. They helped Duanmu Rui up. "I'm… fine…" he gasped, clearly not fine—likely ribs shattered, combat impossible.
"Damn it!! I'm out of talismans!"
He Yuan's furious roar echoed—the situation rapidly deteriorating.
"Talismans… Right! Talismans!!"
Lin Feng's eyes blazed. Secrecy forgotten, he pulled out a thick stack of talismans, shoving them into Qin Ye and Lu Cheng's hands.
"Here!! Two each! Provide ranged support!!"
He gave Qin Ye two reusable ice-spike talismans, Lu Cheng two reusable wind-blade talismans. Gripping two reusable violet lightning talismans himself, Lin Feng turned, unleashing two bolts without hesitation!
CRACK! CRACK!
Violet lightning struck the scorpion's flank, staggering it. Everyone flinched.
Snapping to action, Qin Ye and Lu Cheng joined Lin Feng's side. Questions about his endless supply vanished; they activated their talismans instantly.
Wind blades, ice spikes, and violet lightning rained down in torrents upon the scorpion!
Briefly stunned, He Yuan and Zheng Kai roared with renewed vigor, launching a ferocious assault against the overwhelmed beast.
Under the relentless barrage, the Tier 2 Fire-tail Scorpion faltered. Finally, He Yuan's blade split its skull. It fell, lifeless.