The cave shook as the demonic beast roared, its four crimson eyes burning brighter as it spread its claws wide. Dark energy rippled off its body, corroding the stone beneath its feet.
Feng Lihan moved first.
Wind surged violently around him, spiraling upward in a screaming vortex. His crimson wings snapped open as he lifted from the ground, eyes cold and merciless.
"Mo Shan," he said sharply. "Left flank."
Mo Shan didn't waste a word.
The markings along his arms ignited with a sickly emerald glow. From beneath his sleeves, spectral serpents burst forth—long, translucent coils formed of condensed venomous energy. Their scales shimmered like liquid jade, eyes glowing gold.
Snake-binding magic.
The demonic beast lunged upward toward Feng Lihan, jaws opening unnaturally wide.
Feng Lihan spread his arms.
"Gale Severance."
The wind compressed in an instant—then exploded forward.
Blades of razor-sharp air tore through the space between them, slashing across the beast's chest. Black blood sprayed against the cave walls as the demonic beast howled, its body slammed backward by the force.
Before it could recover, Mo Shan struck.
"Venom Constrict."
The spectral serpents shot forward, wrapping around the beast's limbs and torso. They tightened instantly, coils digging deep as corrosive poison seeped into its scales, smoke rising where venom met flesh.
The demonic beast snarled, muscles bulging as it fought the bindings.
Crack—!
One serpent shattered under brute force.
Another followed.
Mo Shan's feet slid back across the stone as the backlash hit him hard. He spat blood but didn't retreat.
"Tough bastard," he muttered.
The beast slammed its tail into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Feng Lihan twisted midair, wings cutting through the wind as he redirected the force away from Lin Yue and the injured warriors behind him.
His eyes flicked back briefly.
Lin Yue was still there.
Safe—but too close.
Feng Lihan's killing intent spiked.
"Storm Domain."
The temperature dropped instantly.
Wind roared from every direction, obeying his will as pressure crushed inward. The air grew so dense it became visible, spiraling violently around the demonic beast, pinning it in place.
The beast struggled, claws carving trenches into the stone as it tried to move.
Mo Shan took a deep breath, eyes narrowing.
This was his chance.
He slammed his palm into the ground.
"Serpent Grave."
Dark green sigils erupted beneath the beast, forming an enormous magic circle. From the ground burst dozens of shadowy snakes—solid this time—fangs dripping with lethal toxin. They latched onto the beast's body, biting again and again, injecting poison meant to rot even demonic flesh.
The beast screamed, thrashing wildly.
Cracks spread along its scales.
But then—its eyes flared.
A pulse of corrupted energy exploded outward.
The wind domain shattered.
Mo Shan was thrown back violently, smashing into the cave wall with a sickening crack.
"Mo Shan!" Feng Lihan shouted.
The demonic beast surged forward, ignoring the venom eating through its body, driven purely by bloodlust. It swung a claw straight for Feng Lihan's chest.
Feng Lihan didn't retreat.
He met it head-on.
Wind wrapped tightly around his arm, compressing until it screamed.
"Sky Breaker."
He punched forward.
The impact was catastrophic.
A deafening boom shook the mountain as compressed wind detonated on contact, shattering the beast's claw and blasting its massive body backward into the cave pillars. Stone collapsed as the demonic beast crashed to the ground, its roar turning into a strangled howl.
Feng Lihan landed heavily, breathing controlled but sharp.
Behind him, Mo Shan forced himself upright, blood trailing down his chin.
"Don't let it regenerate," Mo Shan said hoarsely. "Its core—neck, just below the jaw."
Feng Lihan's gaze locked onto the beast as it struggled to rise, black blood pooling beneath it.
"Understood."
Wind gathered once more—silent this time, deadly calm.
The demonic beast looked up.
For the first time—
Fear flickered in its eyes.
Feng Lihan raised his hand.
And the mountain itself seemed to hold its breath.