Early the next morning, the deep blue of the night had not yet fully faded from the sky when an ominous dark red quietly crept along the eastern horizon. Within the camp, the embers of the campfire still radiated a faint warmth, yet they could do little to dispel the sudden chill and urgency that had congealed in the air. Everyone awoke from their deep sleep with an unspoken sense of crisis welling up in their hearts, as if some colossal beast were silently closing in.
With a deafening roar, the earth trembled and dust flew into the air as a massive, thick-skinned Entelodont, resembling a moving hill, abruptly appeared in everyone's field of vision. Its eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty gleam, and its exposed tusks made it abundantly clear that it regarded these uninvited guests as its next meal. Operating at the Qi Condensation Realm Late-stage, it had few rivals across this wasteland, and its current frenzied state filled the air with an atmosphere of despair.
Haofeng, as the standout member of the group, was the first to react. His figure unfolded with the swiftness of a leopard, instantly leaping in front of the others. The longsword in his hand wove a brilliant, dense net of sword light, attempting to block the Entelodont's unstoppable charge. With every light tap of the sword tip, the air emitted a sharp whistling sound, and each strike embodied his profound understanding and relentless pursuit of the path of the sword. However, the Entelodont's hide was tough and thick; though the sword Qi was sharp, it merely left a few shallow scratches on the beast without inflicting any substantial damage.
Seeing this, Limo moved, transforming into a wisp of clear breeze as he flanked the Entelodont's side. Wielding a long staff that looked ordinary yet harbored hidden depths, he unleashed a flurry of staff shadows accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, striking directly at the Entelodont's vulnerable spots. This staff was a treasured heirloom passed down through his family for generations, named the Wind-Thunder Staff, and every blow carried the formidable power of wind and thunder. Yet the Entelodont seemed entirely unperturbed by this onslaught; with a slight tilt of its head, it easily evaded Limo's fierce strike. At the same time, using its massive body as a weapon, it whipped around viciously, sending Limo stumbling back repeatedly with a pale face.
Wang Yan chose a much more direct approach: a head-on collision. His muscles bulged fiercely, as though explosive power were concealed beneath every inch of his skin. With a loud shout, he clenched his fists tightly—as if capable of tearing space apart—and charged fiercely at the Entelodont, raining blow after blow upon it like a violent storm. The force of his punches whistled through the air with a piercing sound, every strike drawing a painful roar from the beast. Yet this seemingly ferocious assault was nothing more than an itchy scratch against the Entelodont's impenetrable defense.
Chen Yuxuan, the only female in the group, was nonetheless a presence that could not be ignored. Wielding a slender, flexible whip, she moved as lightly as an elf darting through the forest. Instead of joining the frontal assault directly, she utilized her agility to weave flexibly across the battlefield, searching for the Entelodont's flaws. Her whip lashed out like a spirited snake, alternately wrapping and striking; while it failed to deal a crippling blow to the beast, it distracted it enough to prevent it from going on the offensive with full force.
As the battle reached its white-hot climax, the four of them coordinated with increasing synergy, each unleashing their signature skills in an attempt to find the key to defeating the Entelodont. However, the beast was no ordinary foe either. Roaring, it unleashed its ultimate technique: a savage charge. With all four hooves leaving the ground, its massive body slammed toward the group like a meteor, flattening vegetation and kicking up billows of dust in its wake.
At this critical juncture, a flash of resolute determination crossed Haofeng's eyes. He knew all too well that if he failed to deliver a fatal blow to the Entelodont right now, all of their lives would hang by a thread. Taking a deep breath, he channeled his spiritual energy frantically, converging it upon his longsword. At the tip of the blade, a brilliant light flared, as though falling stars had descended to condense into a dazzling beam of sword Qi.
"Heavenly Star Strike!" Haofeng let out a low cry, swinging his longsword as the beam of sword energy cleaved the air, carrying a world-destroying momentum straight for the Entelodont's vital point. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and everyone's gaze locked onto that single flash of sword light. Wherever the sword Qi passed, space itself appeared to tear open, leaving a slender black fissure in its wake.
The Entelodont sensed an unprecedented crisis and tried desperately to dodge, but the sword light pursued it like a shadow, ultimately piercing fiercely into its chest. Accompanied by a deafening shriek, the beast's massive form crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Once inside the body, the sword Qi instantly destroyed the beast's spiritual energy core, draining its mighty life force until it perished completely.
With the battle over, everyone stood panting, their clothes soaked through with sweat, yet their eyes gleamed with the joy and pride of victory. They knew this battle had been not only a test of their strength, but also a crucible for their teamwork. Across this perilous wasteland, only by standing united could they overcome all hardships and march toward a broader horizon.
Haofeng put away his longsword and gazed down at the fallen Entelodont, feeling a mix of deep emotion and gratitude. He knew that had they not faced the danger together with one heart, some of them might not have survived today. Turning his head to look at Limo, Wang Yan, and Chen Yuxuan, the four of them exchanged a smile. No words were necessary; that mutual understanding and trust were already deeply engraved in each other's hearts.
In the days to come, the journey through the Yanshan Mountains would continue...