Boom!
The entire Cloudfire Sect quaked as a colossal claw tore through the southern peak. Mountains crumbled. Trees were flung into the sky like feathers in a hurricane. The crimson moon burned brighter than ever, bathing the world in a blood-drenched glow.
From the heart of the devastation, a pair of burning crimson eyes opened—each the size of a spirit beast carriage.
A low growl, deep as the abyss and ancient as the heavens, echoed across the peaks.
"The Crimson Moon Beast," the Sect Master said grimly, floating high above with several elders. "It really exists…"
Its body was covered in black scales streaked with crimson lightning. Six legs, each as thick as an ancient tree. Two tails that thrashed like whips. Its maw opened—revealing rows of jagged teeth and a deep red core burning in its throat.
Feng Yuling's expression darkened. "That thing's aura… it's stronger than a Nascent Soul beast!"
"It's no beast," Bai Xueyao said, appearing beside Wang Li and the girls. "It's a remnant of a fallen Divine Beast. A creature born during the battle between the Primordial Gods."
Wang Li cracked his knuckles, eyes narrowed. "So it's got divine blood, huh?"
Mu Qingling stepped forward, her jade sword humming with pure qi. "Then let's remind it what happens when it messes with the wrong sect."
"Together," Lin Ruoyan added, lifting her halberd, the blade sparking with red lightning.
The four women took formation instinctively, surrounding Wang Li at the center like petals around a flower. They hadn't fought together in years—but some bonds never faded.
The Crimson Moon Beast let out a roar, and in an instant, a massive pillar of black flame shot toward them.
"Formation—Heavenly Phoenix Array!" Yuling shouted.
The four women moved as one. A blinding formation bloomed around them—a spinning lotus of spiritual energy. Wang Li stood in the center, his own flame qi surging upward to merge with theirs.
Boom!!
The black flame smashed into the formation—but instead of breaking, it redirected the force, sending the fire skyward like a reversed waterfall.
Wang Li smirked. "You girls really have gotten stronger without me."
"Of course we have," Qingling said, her tone icy. "Some of us didn't spend the past year flirting with junior sisters."
"I didn't—!"
"Focus!" Yuling barked. "It's coming again!"
The beast lunged forward. Its massive claws tore through buildings and peaks. Its mouth opened—and this time, it unleashed a howl infused with soul power.
Wang Li felt his head split open for a moment. Qingling's formation trembled. Ruoyan gritted her teeth.
"He's trying to break our minds!"
But Bai Xueyao raised her hand, her own qi forming a snowy crescent moon in the air.
"Moonlight Suppression."
A wave of ice-blue energy swept over the battlefield. The beast's howl faltered for a breath. That was enough.
"NOW!" Qingling shouted.
"Frost Lotus Strike!"
"Phoenix Flare Lance!"
"Crimson Lightning Slash!"
"Wind Piercing Petals!"
Their attacks hit simultaneously, converging on the beast's chest. Wang Li surged forward with Shadowfang in hand, his dual-element core glowing like a miniature sun.
"Divine Flame Spiral!"
He drove the blade into the exposed core of the beast. An explosion followed that sent tremors across the region.
The beast reeled back, howling in pain. Its scales were cracked. Blood the color of molten gold dripped to the earth.
But it wasn't dead.
Its aura surged again—this time with fury.
Suddenly, the ground cracked open. Dark tendrils of qi rose from the earth like grasping claws.
"Demonic energy!" Lin Ruoyan cursed. "This thing is absorbing the Crimson Moon!"
"That's why the ritual awakened it," Bai Xueyao muttered. "The moon is its catalyst."
"If it finishes absorbing the moonlight… it will evolve," Feng Yuling said grimly.
Wang Li took a deep breath. "Then we kill it before that happens."
Mu Qingling raised a brow. "Got a plan?"
"Yeah," he said, turning to them. "But it's reckless. Dangerous. Possibly suicidal."
"Sounds like every other day with you," Ruoyan smirked.
"Let's hear it," Bai Xueyao said, her eyes locking with his.
"I'll go inside."
The girls all stared at him.
"Inside what?" Yuling asked slowly.
"The beast," he said. "That core in its chest—it's a corrupted divine furnace. If I go in and overload it with my dual core energy, I can force a rupture."
"You'll die," Qingling said immediately.
"Not if you girls distract it long enough for me to finish."
"No," Ruoyan said. "You're not doing this alone."
"You're not listening," he snapped. "If I don't go in, this thing ascends to a full Divine Beast and wipes out this entire region."
Silence.
Then Yuling stepped forward. "We'll hold it."
"I'll keep its head busy," said Ruoyan.
"I'll protect your body while you're inside," Bai Xueyao added.
"I'll heal you when you crawl out half-dead," Qingling muttered. "Idiot."
Wang Li smiled. A wild, fearless smile.
"I always knew I dated the right women."
With that, he charged forward—straight into the maw of the beast.
The girls exploded into action.
Feng Yuling summoned a massive phoenix illusion that screeched and clawed at the beast's eyes.
Lin Ruoyan used her halberd to pin its front leg.
Mu Qingling stood on its back, slashing at the dark tendrils trying to pierce Wang Li's aura.
And Bai Xueyao hovered above them all, raining frozen moonlight like celestial spears.
Inside the beast's core, Wang Li found himself surrounded by chaos—molten divine energy clashing with demonic fire.
No fear now, he thought, kneeling and placing both hands to the corrupted heart.
System—engage core overload.
A voice echoed in his mind:
> [WARNING: Core Overload at 300% Capacity. Fatal Risk Imminent.]
"I've died once already," he muttered. "What's one more time?"
His spirit sea erupted. Dual cores surged—fire and lightning, twisting like twin dragons. The corrupted divine furnace began to shake violently.
The beast screamed.
Outside, the girls pushed harder, refusing to let it escape.
Then—
A brilliant explosion.
The beast let out one final roar… and burst into golden ash.
Wang Li fell from the sky like a shooting star.
Feng Yuling caught him midair, her arms trembling. "Idiot. Idiot. Idiot!"
"I'm alive," he mumbled.
Ruoyan smacked his arm. "Barely!"
Mu Qingling sighed in relief. "You reckless bastard."
Bai Xueyao hovered above, her lips curved ever so slightly. "Interesting."
Wang Li looked up at all of them. "Did we win?"
"We did," Yuling whispered, hugging him tightly.
The crimson moon faded.
Dawn broke.
And the legend of the Cloudfire Sect grew even brighter.