The sun had barely risen over the Hua Sect when the northern ridge erupted in chaos. Ye Feng's scouts reported that the legendary war-beast from last night had not only survived the encounter but seemed to have summoned reinforcements—a massive horde of high-tier monsters, more coordinated than any they had faced.
Ye Feng stood at the peak of the sect's outer wall, twin swords strapped across his back, observing the looming threat. His eyes scanned the horizon, calculating distances, patterns, and the likely strategy of the monsters. Even veteran disciples looked to him for guidance, knowing his tactical mind was their greatest asset.
"Master Ye Feng!" Li Wei ran up, panting. "There's no way our forces can hold them alone. They're too many, and… the war-beast is moving at the head!"
Ye Feng's jaw tightened. "Then we don't fight them head-on. We draw them into traps, use terrain to our advantage, and split their formations. Focus on scouting first, not recklessly engaging."
The disciples nodded, their confidence in him palpable. Even the outer ranks—apprentices and novices—watched, eager to learn from his strategy.
From the ridge, the monsters surged forward, their coordinated advance shaking the ground. Trees toppled, rocks fractured, and the sheer force of their approach sent smaller patrols scrambling. Ye Feng signaled to the Elite squads. "Hold positions. Wait for my command. Use ranged strikes to slow them. Only the team under me will engage initially."
The first clash began near the valley entrance. Ye Feng leapt forward, twin swords gleaming in perfect arcs, slicing through armored limbs of the monsters. Each strike was precise, combining speed, timing, and strategy. His squad followed seamlessly, a symphony of blades, coordination, and calculated movement.
Yet even as they fought, the intelligence of the monsters became apparent. Smaller beasts flanked, others retreated only to counterattack from unexpected angles. The war-beast, massive and imposing, stalked behind, studying their every move.
Ye Feng's Devour power tingled faintly. He resisted the urge to consume the smaller monsters, knowing patience was crucial. Observing patterns, predicting movements—this battle was a lesson as much as a fight.
Suddenly, a mountain tremor erupted from the east, far larger than the initial horde. Ye Feng froze, realizing that the legendary war-beast had allies—or perhaps something even greater was approaching. The battlefield had just escalated beyond anything they could have anticipated.
"Prepare!" Ye Feng shouted, eyes blazing. "This is only the beginning of the war. Every life here will be tested. Stay alive. Learn. Adapt. Fight!"
The scene ended with shadows moving over the horizon, an army of monsters advancing, and Ye Feng at the forefront, ready to face the chaos with strategic genius and Devour power awakening slowly within him.
The valley trembled as the monsters advanced, a wave of claws, scales, and teeth converging on the Hua Sect's defenses. Ye Feng leapt down from the ridge, landing silently atop a jagged boulder. Twin swords in hand, he scanned the battlefield—every movement, every shadow a potential threat.
"Archers! Hold fire until they're in range!" Ye Feng commanded, voice cutting through the chaos. The Hua Sect's outer archers nodded, restraining themselves despite the fear in their eyes. Ye Feng knew a premature strike would alert the monsters and break their pattern.
From the left flank, a pack of nimble beasts darted forward, attempting to flank the sect's defenses. Veteran squads moved to intercept, but the monsters' speed was astonishing. Ye Feng's Devour aura shimmered faintly. With a burst of insight, he lunged forward, twin swords slicing a clear path, cutting down the first wave before they could reach the archers.
He signaled Li Wei to flank the right. The disciples moved with precision, pushing back smaller beasts while avoiding the war-beast's line of sight. Each clash was calculated—every death of a monster added to Ye Feng's understanding of their intelligence and patterns.
The war-beast finally entered the valley, each step cracking the earth. Its crimson eyes scanned the battlefield, tracking every movement. Smaller monsters adjusted immediately, a coordinated maneuver that demonstrated intelligence far beyond instinct. Ye Feng's mind raced, calculating angles of attack and optimal positioning for maximum impact with minimal casualties.
Suddenly, the earth erupted as a massive claw struck the cliffside near the sect, sending boulders tumbling. Two veteran disciples were thrown off balance, barely catching themselves. Ye Feng reacted instantly, leaping to shield them, twin swords slicing through incoming monsters midair. The Devour aura surged slightly, a reminder of the latent power growing within him.
From the eastern ridge, another tremor shook the valley. Shadows loomed—larger, faster, and more terrifying than the first horde. Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. This battle isn't just about survival; it's a war of learning. Every strike, every death, every movement teaches me—and strengthens me.
He planted both swords in the ground, drawing a deep breath. "Hold the line! Focus on coordination! I will handle the war-beast!" His voice carried over the chaos, bringing order to the frightened but disciplined disciples.
The scene closed with Ye Feng rushing toward the legendary war-beast, twin swords ready, Devour aura simmering, and every muscle tensed for the first true clash of legend.
The valley floor shook with every step of the war-beast, a monstrous titan cloaked in black scales and crimson eyes. Ye Feng sprinted forward, twin swords gleaming under the rising sun, his Devour aura flickering faintly, ready to surge at the perfect moment.
Behind him, the disciples held the line against the horde of smaller monsters. Arrows rained down in precise volleys, slowing the enemies but not stopping the relentless tide. Ye Feng's eyes never left the war-beast, calculating, analyzing, predicting its movements.
With a deafening roar, the war-beast charged. Ye Feng leapt into the air, twin swords slicing through the wind, each strike leaving trails of silver light. The beast countered with a swipe of its massive claw, the force sending shockwaves through the valley. Rocks shattered, and a cloud of dust obscured the battlefield.
Ye Feng's Devour aura flared slightly, a faint whisper of the power hidden within him. He struck with precision, targeting the monster's limbs and joints, forcing it to stagger. Each blow was a lesson, each dodge a calculated step toward understanding the creature's strength and intelligence.
The beast retaliated, swinging its massive tail, knocking two disciples off their feet. Ye Feng's twin swords danced in response, slashing through the tail mid-swing, forcing the war-beast to roar in pain and surprise. It was not just brute strength—it was intelligent combat, adapting with every move Ye Feng made.
From above, smaller monsters attempted a pincer attack, but Ye Feng's team intercepted with disciplined coordination. Li Wei and the other elite disciples carved precise openings, letting Ye Feng's attacks land clean and calculated.
The battle reached a terrifying crescendo as the war-beast lunged, jaws wide, aiming to crush Ye Feng. Time seemed to slow. Ye Feng spun in midair, blades slicing through the creature's jaw, stopping it inches from his chest. Sparks flew, claws grazed his armor, but he landed flawlessly, twin swords ready for the next assault.
Ye Feng's heart raced, yet his mind remained calm, observing patterns and weaknesses. The Devour power pulsed, hungering for more, but he restrained it. Not yet. This wasn't about consuming—it was about mastering, learning, and surviving.
The scene ended with the war-beast backing slightly, reassessing its opponent, while Ye Feng planted both swords in the soil, breathing evenly, eyes gleaming with determination. The first true clash of legend had begun, but the battle for dominance in the valley had only just started.
The valley trembled with chaos. The war-beast, though staggering from Ye Feng's strikes, roared a deafening challenge, summoning reinforcements from the northern ridge. Shadows poured down—massive, agile monsters of varying forms, each radiating raw power and intelligence. The battlefield became a maelstrom of claws, wings, and teeth.
Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. He raised his twin swords, the Devour aura simmering, but still restrained. "Hold positions! Focus on coordination!" he shouted. The disciples obeyed instantly, forming strategic lines, using terrain, boulders, and fallen trees as defensive barriers. Even the outer ranks, apprentices and novices, moved with precision.
From the eastern ridge, a new threat emerged: a mountain-sized monster with crystalline armor, reflecting sunlight and radiating an oppressive aura. Its roar sent smaller monsters scattering in panic. Ye Feng recognized immediately—this was beyond the standard high-tier beasts; it was a peak-level monster, capable of obliterating the valley if left unchecked.
"Archers, focus fire on the crystal monster! Elite squads, flank the smaller beasts—do not let them regroup!" Ye Feng commanded.
The disciples obeyed, firing volleys, dodging, and coordinating strikes with near-military precision. Ye Feng leapt into the air, twin swords slashing a path through the oncoming horde. Every swing and parry was calculated, each movement a lesson in battlefield control. The war-beast attempted to intercept him, jaws snapping inches from his chest. With a graceful spin, Ye Feng evaded, cutting through a pack of smaller monsters in one fluid motion.
Suddenly, the crystal monster's massive limbs slammed into the valley, crushing trees and sending boulders tumbling toward the disciples. Ye Feng extended a hand, feeling the Devour power surge, absorbing energy from the collapsing environment. He resisted consuming the creature outright but used the force to enhance his agility and reflexes.
The disciples regrouped, forming a protective line as Ye Feng prepared for a counterattack. His eyes scanned the battlefield, recognizing that this engagement was not merely survival—it was training, strategy, and the first real test of his Devour power in a large-scale battle.
As the sun rose higher, casting light on the carnage, Ye Feng felt the weight of responsibility: lives, kingdoms, and the balance of power in the region depended on their actions. The war-beast, the crystal monster, and the horde were only the beginning. The true war had begun, and only those who could adapt, learn, and strike with precision would survive.
The valley had become a battlefield of shattered trees, broken rocks, and bloodied earth. The combined forces of the Hua Sect disciples and Ye Feng clashed with the monsters, each side refusing to yield. The war-beast and the peak-level crystal monster advanced side by side, a terrifying display of brute force and intelligence.
Ye Feng leapt onto a crumbling boulder, twin swords ready. His Devour aura flared, pulsing with power as he analyzed the battlefield. Every move, every pattern of the monsters, every gap in their coordination—it all became data he could exploit.
The war-beast lunged at him, jaws wide. Ye Feng spun, blades slicing through the beast's massive arm, but not without taking a heavy blow that sent him skidding across the ground. Pain burned, but his mind remained calm. Focus. Observe. Strike.
The crystal monster slammed the earth with a colossal claw, sending debris flying. Ye Feng caught a fragment mid-air, redirecting it to shield a group of outer disciples. Then, he channeled a controlled surge of Devour energy, enhancing his speed and strength without fully consuming the monsters.
With a cry, Ye Feng charged. Twin swords became a whirlwind of steel, precision strikes tearing through monster after monster. The war-beast roared in fury, staggering under the assault, while the crystal monster's crystalline armor began to crack under repeated blows.
Li Wei and the elite squads coordinated flawlessly, exploiting openings Ye Feng had identified. Each strike, each parry, pushed the monsters back, but the cost was high—wounded disciples littered the battlefield, and exhaustion clawed at the warriors.
Suddenly, the war-beast lunged one final time, aiming to crush Ye Feng under its sheer weight. Time slowed. Ye Feng's Devour aura surged explosively, consuming the momentum of a smaller horde nearby to amplify his strike. He twisted midair, twin swords colliding with the beast's chest in a blinding flash. The war-beast staggered, a scream of fury and pain echoing across the valley.
At the same moment, Ye Feng delivered a precise strike to the crystal monster's weak point, shattering part of its armor and forcing it to retreat with a deafening screech. The remaining monsters, seeing their leaders falter, scattered into the mist.
Breathing heavily, Ye Feng stood atop the battlefield, twin swords dripping with monster ichor. Around him, disciples began to regroup, tending to the wounded, their faces filled with awe and fear.
"This… this is just the beginning," Ye Feng muttered, his eyes glowing faintly with the lingering Devour energy. "We survived today, but the war has only begun. Stronger monsters, cunning foes, and greater challenges await us."
The scene closed with the rising sun casting long shadows over the battlefield, the valley scarred but the disciples alive, and Ye Feng standing as both strategist and warrior, ready for the next trial.
The dust of battle still hung in the valley, a gray haze that masked the destruction left behind. Ye Feng stood at the center, twin swords planted in the ground, chest heaving as his Devour aura simmered faintly. Around him, the disciples tended to the wounded, their exhaustion apparent, yet their eyes gleamed with renewed determination.
"Master Ye Feng…" Li Wei approached cautiously, pointing toward the distant eastern ridge. "Another tremor… larger than before. Something is coming."
Ye Feng's eyes narrowed. He could feel it—an immense presence, far beyond the war-beast or the crystal monster. This was not just another horde. This was something ancient, intelligent, and terrifyingly powerful.
A low rumble shook the valley. Trees snapped like twigs, and the ground quaked beneath their feet. Shadows stretched across the horizon—gigantic, winged silhouettes that blocked the rising sun. Even the outer disciples stumbled back, fear etched across their faces.
Ye Feng's lips curved slightly into a confident, yet grim smile. "So the real war begins now… Let them come. Every life we saved today, every strategy we executed, was preparation. We will not falter."
He sheathed one sword and held the other ready, eyes scanning the horizon. A faint shimmer of Devour energy flickered over his body, a warning and promise of the power that would awaken fully when the time came.
From the shadows, a deep, echoing voice resonated across the valley—a voice that seemed to pierce the soul itself:
"Ye Feng… you have survived… but you will not survive what comes next."
The disciples froze. Even the most seasoned veterans felt a chill run down their spines.
Ye Feng's eyes burned with resolve. "Then let them try."
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