The tremors grew stronger with each passing second, and the glow of unstable Qi ahead began to pulsate erratically, casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. Wei Liang and his team exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of readiness and apprehension.
"We've fought worse," Han Xun said, trying to sound confident as he readied his spear.
"Don't lie to yourself," Zhang Fei muttered, her daggers already drawn. Her sharp eyes scanned the flickering light ahead, calculating. "Whatever's coming… it's different."
Wei Liang gripped his sword tighter, his heart pounding in rhythm with the tremors. The System chimed softly in his mind.
[Warning: Significant Qi disturbance detected. Threat level elevated. Enemy traits unknown.]
Before they could prepare further, a deafening roar echoed through the cave. From the shadows emerged a hulking, beast-like figure—a Crimson Fang Bear. Its massive body glowed faintly with an ominous red Qi, its eyes gleaming like molten embers.
Wei Liang felt his breath hitch. He recognized the creature from the farmer's memories—it was a mid-tier spirit beast, but far stronger and more aggressive than the serpent or wolf they'd faced before.
"That's… not good," Han Xun muttered.
"Understatement of the year," Zhang Fei snapped, her stance shifting. "Stay spread out. It's strong, but it's slow."
---
The Fight for Survival
The bear charged, its claws raking the air as it barreled toward Han Xun. He barely managed to dive out of the way, his spear striking at its side. The weapon glanced off its tough hide, leaving little more than a scratch.
"It's like stabbing a mountain!" Han Xun yelled, scrambling to his feet.
Zhang Fei darted forward, her daggers flashing as she aimed for the creature's exposed joints. One blade struck true, embedding itself in the bear's shoulder. The beast roared in pain, swiping at her, but she ducked under the blow with practiced precision.
"Wei, flank it!" she shouted.
Wei Liang moved without hesitation. Channeling his shadow-enhanced Qi, he struck at the bear's back leg. His sword sliced through the muscle, forcing the creature to stumble.
The System chimed.
[Weak Point Identified: Crimson Fang Bears are vulnerable at the base of the spine. Exploit opening for maximum damage.]
"Zhang, the spine!" Wei Liang called.
Zhang Fei nodded, her daggers flashing as she repositioned herself. But the bear wasn't done. With a roar, it reared up on its hind legs, its massive claws raking the air.
Han Xun lunged, his spear aimed for the creature's chest, but the bear swatted him aside like a ragdoll. He crashed into the cave wall, groaning as he slumped to the ground.
"Han!" Wei Liang shouted, his chest tightening.
"I'm… fine," Han grunted, forcing himself to stand. "Just… stall it!"
Wei Liang focused, drawing the creature's attention as he channeled more Qi into his blade. His movements felt smoother, faster—an effect of the Abyssal Core Shard's lingering influence. He danced around the bear, landing shallow cuts to keep it off balance.
Zhang Fei seized the opening, leaping onto the bear's back. Her daggers struck at the base of its spine, driving deep into the vulnerable joint. The beast roared, its massive body shuddering as red Qi began to leak from the wound.
"Keep going!" Wei Liang urged.
The bear lashed out in desperation, forcing Zhang Fei to leap off its back. Wei Liang surged forward, his blade glowing with a mix of shadow Qi and his Earth Root's steady endurance. With a precise strike, he drove the sword into the weakened joint, twisting it for maximum damage.
The Crimson Fang Bear let out a final, pained roar before collapsing, its massive body hitting the ground with a thud.
---
Aftermath
The cave fell silent, save for the labored breathing of the team. Wei Liang stumbled back, his arms trembling from exertion. Zhang Fei wiped her daggers on her sleeve, her expression calm but tense.
Han Xun limped over, leaning heavily on his spear. "Remind me to never fight anything that big again."
"No promises," Zhang Fei said, though her faint smirk betrayed her relief.
Wei Liang crouched by the bear's corpse, his eyes narrowing as he noticed a faint glow emanating from its chest. He hesitated before activating Appraisal.
[Item Detected: Crimson Fang Core]
[Type: High-Grade Qi Artifact]
[Description: A core formed from condensed Qi within the Crimson Fang Bear. Absorbing it may enhance strength and Qi reserves, but only if refined properly.]
He reached into the beast's chest, retrieving the glowing, crimson orb. It felt warm in his hand, pulsing faintly with latent energy.
"What is that?" Zhang Fei asked, stepping closer.
"A core," Wei Liang said, showing it to her. "It's powerful, but risky to use without refining it first."
Zhang Fei nodded, her gaze lingering on the orb. "Keep it for now. We'll figure out what to do with it later."
---
Echoes of the Past
As they gathered their gear and prepared to leave, Wei Liang found himself reflecting on their fight. Each of them had revealed something deeper about themselves in the heat of battle.
Han Xun's stubborn resilience reminded Wei Liang of the woodcutter's son he had described—someone who refused to fall, no matter how hard the world struck.
Zhang Fei's precision and calm under pressure spoke of her fishing village roots, where survival depended on quick decisions and steady hands.
And Wei Liang? He had fought like a farmer defending his field—not with finesse, but with raw determination.
The System chimed softly in his mind.
[Team Synergy Identified: Strengths and weaknesses complement one another. Potential for future growth: High.]
Wei Liang smiled faintly. The path ahead was still long, but they were learning—together.
---
As they exited the cave, the faint sound of voices reached their ears. Wei Liang tensed, recognizing one of them immediately.
Lin Ziyan and his entourage stood nearby, their satchels filled with obsidian ore. Lin Ziyan's eyes narrowed as he spotted Wei Liang's group.
"Still alive, farmer?" he said, his tone dripping with condescension.
"More than that," Zhang Fei replied coldly, stepping forward. "We took down a Crimson Fang Bear. What about you?"
Lin Ziyan's smirk faltered, just for a moment, before he regained his composure. "We've collected more than enough ore. Some of us don't waste time picking fights with beasts."
Han Xun snorted. "Sounds like you ran away."
Lin Ziyan's expression darkened, but he didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he turned to Wei Liang, his voice low. "You may think you're getting stronger, but you're still leagues behind me. Don't forget that."
Wei Liang met his gaze, unflinching. "I don't need to be stronger than you now. I just need to keep growing."
Lin Ziyan scoffed and walked away, his entourage trailing behind.
---
As they returned to the sect, Wei Liang's thoughts turned to the Crimson Fang Core in his satchel. Like the Abyssal Core Shard, it was a symbol of potential—but also of danger.
He glanced at Zhang Fei and Han Xun, their camaraderie a steadying presence. The journey to the ninth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm was far from over, but they had proven that strength wasn't just about raw power.
It was about trust, perseverance, and learning from every step. And Wei Liang was determined to take those steps—no matter how steep the climb.