Zhang Zhi was sent flying by the beast, crashing heavily onto the ground with a dull thud. For a moment, he felt as though every bone in his body had been shattered, the intense pain blurring his consciousness. Panic-stricken, Lin Wan'er rushed over without a second thought and helped him up.
"Zhang Zhi, are you alright?" Lin Wan'er asked, her voice choked with tears, which welled up in her eyes. Her hands trembled slightly, and her face was full of worry and fear, her delicate features somewhat distorted by anxiety.
Enduring the excruciating pain, Zhang Zhi gritted his teeth and managed a faint smile to comfort Lin Wan'er. "I'll manage. Don't worry about me, go help the others." His gaze remained resolute, imbued with an unyielding spirit; despite his severe injuries, his willpower had not wavered in the least.
By now, the middle-aged man and the young man were also panting heavily. Their clothes were already in tatters, their bodies covered in wounds from which blood continuously seeped. The middle-aged man wiped a mixture of sweat and blood from his face and shouted, "This beast is too powerful, we cannot fight it head-on!" His voice was filled with helplessness and exhaustion, his usually resolute face now written with despair.
Panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot with rage, the young man said bitterly, "Are we just going to give up like this? I refuse to accept this! I'd rather die than accept this!" He had always been impulsive and stubborn, and at this moment, his eyes were red, as if he intended to perish together with the beast.
Just as everyone plunged into despair, vast dark clouds suddenly drifted across the sky, spreading at a breakneck speed and instantly blocking out the sun. The battlefield, which had been fairly bright, grew dim and gloomy, as if enveloped by a thick black curtain. Howling gales swept in, making it impossible for everyone to keep their eyes open, while gravel and leaves danced wildly in the air.
"What is happening now?" Lin Wan'er cried out, her figure appearing so tiny and helpless in the fierce wind.
"What is happening now?" Lin Wan'er cried out. Her voice seemed so minuscule and helpless in the gale, like a weightless fallen leaf instantly swallowed by the howling wind.
Lin Wan'er widened her eyes, her face a mask of terror and bewilderment. The gale, like an out-of-control beast, mercilessly whipped at her hair and the hem of her clothes. She tried to make her voice louder, wanting to express her inner panic and incomprehension amid this chaotic situation.
Her voice trembled with an irrepressible tremor and a sob. "Why is this happening all of a sudden? This gale, these dark clouds—do they mean something even more terrifying is about to happen? We are already struggling so hard against this beast, and now we have to face this unknown, harsh weather. Is Heaven deliberately trying to make things difficult for us?" Lin Wan'er's body swayed unsteadily in the fierce wind, and she clung tightly to a nearby tree trunk as if it were her only lifeline in the turbulent storm. Her eyes were filled with fear of the unknown, her once-bright pupils now shrouded in terror and helplessness, appearing so fragile and small amidst this wind-ravaged world.
At that moment, a mysterious old man appeared before them. He was dressed in a black robe that snapped loudly in the fierce wind. The old man had white hair and a face lined with wrinkles, yet he was full of vigor, his gaze as deep as the sea, as if he could see through everything.
"Do not panic, all of you. I am here to lend you a hand." The old man's voice was steady and powerful, seemingly carrying an intangible strength that somewhat calmed everyone's frantic hearts.
It was as if they had seen a lifeline, and the spark of hope reignited in their eyes.
It was as if they had seen a lifeline, and the spark of hope reignited in their eyes. The gazes that had grown dim and lifeless from despair instantly brightened. They stared fixedly at the mysterious old man, as if trying to glimpse the dawn of victory through him.
The middle-aged man's tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly, his eyes filled with anticipation as if this old man were the long-awaited savior they had been searching for. The young man slowly unclenched his fists, his tense body relaxing a bit; his gaze no longer held only anger and despair, but carried a hint of longing for the future. Lin Wan'er bit her lip, the tears in her eyes replaced by hope, and she silently prayed in her heart that this truly would be a turning point. Zhang Zhi also forced himself to straighten his back, the determination in his eyes intensifying, as if a glimmer of hope gave him sufficient strength to fight once more.
The middle-aged man hurriedly said, "Senior, thank you for your help. This beast is truly formidable, and we are completely powerless against it." His tone was filled with respect and expectation, hoping that this mysterious old man could bring a turning point.
The old man nodded slightly, looking at the ferocious beast with a grave expression, and said, "This beast is controlled by a curse and has lost its mind. Only by finding a way to break the curse can it be subdued." His voice carried clearly into everyone's ears amidst the gale.
"How do we break this curse?" the young man asked eagerly, impatient to know the method, his eyes filled with longing.
The old man glanced at him and slowly said, "We must find the source of the curse and neutralize it with pure power."
Everyone looked at each other in dismay, having no idea where to begin looking.
The old man pointed to the beast's forehead and said, "It is right there, but approaching it will not be easy."
Zhang Zhi gritted his teeth, struggled to his feet, and said, "No matter what, we have to try." His gaze was resolute, his mind made up.
Lin Wan'er pulled him back and said, "Zhang Zhi, your wounds are not yet healed, be careful." Her voice was filled with concern and worry.
Zhang Zhi gently patted her hand and said, "Wan'er, don't worry, I won't let everyone down." With that, he took a deep breath and charged at the beast once again.
Sensing his approach, the beast launched its attacks even more frantically. Its massive claws swept through the air with a sharp whistling sound, and black flames spewed from its mouth. Dodging left and right like a ghost, Zhang Zhi struggled to get close to the beast's forehead.
Just as he was about to reach it, the beast lashed out with a claw, and Zhang Zhi was sent flying once more. His body flew through the air like a kite with a severed string before crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Zhang Zhi!" everyone cried out in unison, their voices filled with terror and worry.
However, by this time, Zhang Zhi had lost consciousness and lay motionless on the ground.
Seeing this, the old man sighed and said, "It seems I must take action myself."
He walked slowly toward the beast, every step appearing so heavy. Would he succeed? Could the curse be broken? Could the beast be subdued? Everything remained unknown, leaving a deep sense of suspense that left everyone's hearts hanging in the balance once again.