C11 Fighting the Demonic Beast

Yan Fei quickly realized that the Heavenly Fortune Formation was not containing the Demonic Beast as intended, so he immediately activated the auxiliary formation without a second thought. The moment he employed his life blood talisman, the formation's power surged, and at last, the Demonic Beast was drawn into the center of the array.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Yan Fei scanned the formation for Ge Bin and spotted him seated on the ground, not far from the Demonic Beast, reciting the Wind Avoidance Spell. "That was too close. If the Demonic Beast had broken free again, Ge Bin might have been ripped to shreds!" With a single gesture from Yan Fei, Ge Hong felt the fierce winds around him subside. Looking up, he caught sight of the world beyond the array and, without a moment's delay, he sprang forward in a series of leaps, freeing himself from the confines of the formation.

With Ge Bin safely out, Yan Fei regained his focus, his lips moving silently with the incantation, as he concentrated on subduing the Demonic Beast within the array. The creature inched closer to the blood-red disk at the base of the array. Yan Fei estimated that in half an hour, the Demonic Beast would be completely enveloped by the disk. Once covered, the beast would effectively be trapped.

However, the success of the next half hour was critical.

After a brief rest, Ge Bin took off towards the cave. Yan Fei watched his figure disappear into the darkness, a wave of anxiety washing over him. The Demonic Beast was proving to be far more formidable than he had anticipated. He could only hope that Ge Bin would make it back in time. If the beast were to lash out in rage and shatter the formation, Yan Fei would have no choice but to flee. And if Ge Bin didn't succeed, they would be in a world of trouble.

Wu Shanbao, concealed within the trees, watched the fierce battle unfold with a mix of awe and fear. The Demonic Beast's overwhelming power had completely overturned his understanding of such creatures. He had never before witnessed such savagery, and it left him utterly astonished.

Yet, even more astounding to Wu Shanbao was Yan Fei's prowess. Despite his youth, Yan Fei had mastered the intricate workings of the array and demonstrated a remarkable ability to command the situation. Wu Shanbao couldn't help but admire Yan Fei's formidable skills.

"If only I had Yan Fei's abilities!" Wu Shanbao lamented as he caressed the fan in his embrace. "If my master could impart such skills to me, there would be nothing to fear on my solitary travels around the world."

In Wu Shanbao's eyes, Yan Fei's Heavenly Fortune Array was the pinnacle of achievement, making Yan Fei the very goal he aspired to reach.

Little did he know, Yan Fei's status and his master were beyond his reach, figures he could only dream of emulating. The array Yan Fei wielded was a privilege gained through his father's connections with a senior elder of the Heavenly Tao Sect. Despite its sophistication, the array could only be activated three times. Beyond that, the talisman's power would diminish, and the array's effectiveness would be severely compromised, rendering it virtually ineffective.

As the time for an incense stick to burn passed, Yan Fei realized his strength was waning. Yet, the Demonic Beast was still a mere ten feet from the blood-red light disc. Over the prolonged struggle, the beast seemed to be growing accustomed to the array's influence, its steps toward the disc perceptibly slowing.

Yan Fei's gaze was fixed on the cave entrance with urgency, speculating whether Ge Bin had already achieved his goal. Success for Ge Bin was crucial for Yan Fei to strategize his next move.

Unable to contain the Demonic Beast, Yan Fei was prepared to sacrifice several treasures if it meant securing the Seven Stars Diagram and making a safe retreat. He considered such an outcome a success.

Still, Yan Fei was unaware of the actual situation inside the cave. All he could do was watch the entrance with bated breath, eagerly awaiting the sight of Ge Bin's portly figure emerging from within.

Suddenly, a faint tremor emanated from the cave.

Both Yan Fei and Wu Shanbao, concealed in the shadows, turned their attention to the cave as a plume of dust billowed out.

But in the moment Yan Fei's concentration faltered, the Demonic Beast, as if jolted by fear, surged with brute force. It halted its descent toward the glowing blood disc and took a defiant step in the opposite direction.

Yan Fei was drenched in sweat. The array was at its breaking point, and if he couldn't keep the Demonic Beast at bay, it would escape. The recent tremor from the cave left him uncertain: had Ge Bin triumphed, or had something gone awry? Yan Fei couldn't tell, and there was no time to dwell on it.

"Ge Bin, if you don't come out now, I won't be able to save you!" Yan Fei internally cried out. He closed his eyes and channeled every last bit of his Spiritual Energy, reciting the incantation with even greater speed.

Yan Fei was prepared to risk everything, tapping into his meager Spiritual Force!

As Yan Fei threw everything he had into the fray, desperately trying to entangle the Demonic Beast, it seemed to only provoke the creature further. In this escalating battle of attrition, the Demonic Beast clearly had the upper hand.

Wu Shanbao, watching covertly, realized that if the struggle persisted, the Demonic Beast would inevitably break free. By then, Yan Fei would be spent, likely facing a gruesome end at the hands of the beast.

Sweating with concern for Yan Fei, Wu Shanbao's gaze was fixed anxiously on the cave entrance.

Seconds ticked by, and the confrontation between the Demonic Beast and Yan Fei was drawing to a close. The beast was a mere step away from breaking the formation.

"Yan Fei! I've succeeded!" a familiar voice called out.

Yan Fei's spirits lifted. Without pondering why the voice sounded so weary and weak, he immediately prepared his next move.

Yan Fei was about to cast the spell to shatter the formation. Destroying it would, at the very least, wound the Demonic Beast and buy them time to escape.

But just as Yan Fei was poised to break the formation, the Demonic Beast stepped out. Before Yan Fei could even react, the beast charged at Ge Bin, who had just emerged from the cave.

"Watch out!" Yan Fei managed to shout, but the Demonic Beast was already alarmingly close to the cave entrance.

Ge Bin had crawled out, seemingly at his limit, and sat at the entrance, unable to dodge. He could only watch in horror as the Demonic Beast's massive claw reached for him...

In that critical moment, a slight figure darted forward, pushing Ge Bin several meters away.

Regaining their senses, Yan Fei and Ge Bin turned to see the small figure—a boy even younger than themselves, standing defiantly before the Demonic Beast, his clothes in tatters, yet bravely retreating step by step.

Yan Fei and Ge Bin wanted to come to the rescue, but they were helpless against such a formidable Demonic Beast. Yan Fei, who had already been weakened to the extreme by using his formations to combat the creature, was in no position to challenge the beast once it had broken free.

No one knew what Ge Bin had encountered inside the cave. Yet, judging by the noises emanating from within, it was clear that the cave was fraught with peril. Now, Ge Bin appeared even more weakened than Yan Fei.

Wu Shanbao acted on impulse. Witnessing Ge Bin on the verge of being crushed by the Demonic Beast, he leaped forward to save him. Although Ge Bin was momentarily out of harm's way, the Demonic Beast's gaze, reminiscent of glowing lanterns, was now fixed on Wu Shanbao.

Without any magical artifacts to defend himself, Wu Shanbao could only retreat instinctively as the Demonic Beast prepared to unleash its fury on him.

The Demonic Beast extended its massive claw, slowly bearing down on Wu Shanbao, who closed his eyes, accepting his fate. Yan Fei and Ge Bin turned away, unable to watch the impending doom.

But then, a miracle occurred! Beams of sword light burst forth from Wu Shanbao's chest, relentlessly stabbing at the Demonic Beast. The creature screeched, trying to evade the assault, and eventually retreated into the cave with a mournful cry.

Wu Shanbao opened his eyes to find the Demonic Beast gone, and he was overwhelmed with a sense of being given a second chance at life.

"Quick, let's get out of here!" exclaimed Yan Fei, the first to snap back to reality.

His words jolted Wu Shanbao and Ge Bin into action. They quickly got to their feet and fled with Yan Fei, putting distance between themselves and the cave.

Only after running for over five kilometers did the trio stop, realizing the Demonic Beast was not in pursuit. They had all been driven by a desperate will to survive, and now, finally safe, they collapsed on the ground, each of them panting heavily from the ordeal.