Jiang Tao landed lightly on the other side of the ravine, the rocky ground crunching softly beneath his feet. His mind raced with calculations—if the beast was beyond the Foundation stage, then he was in for a fight far more challenging than he had anticipated. But he couldn't bring himself to abandon the village.

No matter how much he tried to justify it, leaving those people to die felt wrong.

Behind him, he heard the soft thud of Yixing landing as well. “You're stubborn, Brother Tao,” Yixing called out, his tone a mix of frustration and admiration. “But I promised to look out for you,”

Jiang Tao didn’t turn back, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "And here I thought you’d finally see some sense," he quipped, his voice tinged with relief.

He was glad Yixing had decided to stay, even if the younger cultivator was reluctant.

Another roar split the air, this time closer, sending a tremor through the ground that reverberated in their bones. Jiang Tao’s heart raced as he steadied himself. He could feel the oppressive aura of the beast growing stronger with each passing moment.

It felt like he was baring his neck for an unseen blade.

“Let’s go,” he said trying not to lose his nerve.

Yixing swallowed thickly and followed Tao with a reluctant nod. The two cultivators moved swiftly and silently through the rocky terrain, each step deliberate as they advanced towards the peak.

With each step, the pressure in the air increased, pressing down on them like an invisible weight. The roars became more frequent and more desperate, and the ground trembled with each thunderous sound.

It was clear that whatever beast awaited them was not only powerful but also agitated.

“I swear you’re going to get us killed. That does not sound like something foundation stage cultivators should face”

"You’re not wrong," he admitted quietly, eyes scanning the horizon. "But if we don’t stop it, who will?"

“The local cultivator in charge of the village?” Yixing said in a deadpan manner.

He snorted. “Lord Bai isn't the fighting type"

"A coward you mean”

Tao suppressed a chuckle at Yixing's bluntness. “Perhaps,”

As they neared the peak, the oppressive aura thickened, clinging to their skin like a heavy fog. The rocky landscape around them grew sharper, more jagged as if the very earth was reacting to the beast's fury.

The air was thick with tension, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Finally, they reached a clearing near the summit. The source of the roars was unmistakable now.

A massive shadow loomed ahead. The creature was easily twice the size of any beast they'd encountered before. Its silhouette was monstrous, with scales that glistened like dark obsidian and eyes that burned with a fierce, malevolent light.

It lay on its side on a bed made of broken boulders, its massive form stirring the debris with each restless movement

Dragon. He thought in awe.

“A lesser wyvern,” Yixing uttered in terror.

"Brother Tao, this... this isn't something we can handle on our own."

He swallowed. “We've already made it this far.”

The beast roared again shaking the air with the force of its cries.

“Besides look it's wounded,” he said pointing at its right wing which had a massive bloody gash.

“Wounded or not there is a massive difference in its strength compared to us, it’s at least a peak core formation level beast”

He stayed silent at that knowing he couldn’t say anything to counter that.

Yixing just sighed “Let's come up with a plan, the right approach might see us leaving with our lives,”

They inched closer to the wyvern, crouching so as not to end up in its sights. The creature itself was still in the throes of pain occasionally roaring to show its displeasure.

“We can try seizing its movements with my flag?” Tao suggested.

“Would that work? Your artifact is powerful but would that not annihilate all your internal energy?”

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He thought about it and sighed. He's Right.

“What do you suggest?”

Yixing was about to answer when all of Jiang Tao's senses went on alert. He acted quickly and leaped backward as did Yixing.

“MOVE!”

The tail of the wyvern crashed into the ground where he and Yixing had been standing, sending shards of rock and dust into the air. The wyvern had noticed their presence.

The creature’s eyes, now focused with a fierce intensity, locked onto them with a predatory gaze.

Aw shit.

The crimson flag of five infinities appeared in his hand as he summoned it from his storage ring. Yixing also had summoned a saber to his hands.

Tao and Yixing readied themselves as the wyvern’s furious eyes bore down on them. The beast’s tail thrashed again, demolishing more of the rocky terrain, while its roars echoed like thunderclaps.

“Now or never,” Jiang Tao muttered, gripping the crimson flag tightly. "Yixing, distract it while I prepare the flag!"

“First Rays of Dawn,” Yixing said as his form took on a bright glow. Then he broke into a flurry of movement.

Yixing darted in and out of the wyvern's line of sight, his movements a blur of precision and agility. Each swing of his saber seemed to draw the wyvern’s attention, forcing it to snap its head towards him.

The wyvern, momentarily distracted by Yixing’s relentless attacks, let out a pained shriek as a precise strike of Yixing’s saber struck its wounded wing.

The beast staggered, its massive form lurching with the impact. Jiang Tao seized the opportunity, swinging the flag.

The toll was immediate as he felt half of his stormed energy drain but it was worth it as the spiritual energy from the flag connected with the wyvern.

It seized up as the flag effect took hold. Taking advantage of the opportunity he joined Yixing in attacking the beast.

Using the flag to send sharp blades of wind, that left shallow cuts in the creature's hide.

It isn't working. He thought with mild panic.

He had very few techniques at this stage. At least nothing that would do adequate damage. The south wind heralds the storm technique was the strongest technique he had and would see his remaining reserves halved again but he had no choice.

With a deep breath, he steadied himself and focused on channeling his remaining energy. The wyvern, still partially immobilized by the crimson flag, roared in frustration, thrashing its tail and snapping its jaws in anger.

“Yixing, keep it distracted!” Jiang Tao shouted over the cacophony of the beast’s rage.

The surrounding air started to pick up as he gathered his spiritual essence, his eyes locked onto the wyvern.

“The south wind heralds the storm,” He chanted swinging the flag.

The wind blade cut through the air, gathering momentum and power as it streaked toward the wyvern. As it connected with the wyvern’s wounded wing, a violent burst of wind erupted, sending shards of scales and blood into the air.

The beast let out a deafening roar, its agonized cry echoing across the mountains. It staggered, its massive form collapsing momentarily as the pain from the combined assault overwhelmed it.

Yixing, seizing the moment of vulnerability, leaped forward, his saber glowing with a pale, ethereal light. He struck with all his might, aiming for the wyvern’s exposed neck. The blade dug deep, but not deep enough to end the creature.

The wyvern thrashed violently, sending his friend sprawling backward. He landed with a harsh thud, gasping for breath.

“We can’t keep this up!” Yixing shouted, pain lacing his voice. “We’re outmatched!”

Jiang Tao knew he was right. The wyvern, though weakened, was still far beyond their capabilities. But retreat was no longer an option. The beast had seen them as a threat, and it would not rest until they were dead.

Damn, why won’t it go down!

The creature reared up spreading its wings wide before letting out an ear-splitting roar! The roar was deafening, sending a shockwave that knocked both Jiang Tao and Yixing off their feet.

Dust and debris filled the air, momentarily obscuring their view of the enraged wyvern. Jiang Tao could feel the sheer power radiating from the beast—raw, uncontrollable, and terrifying.

He struggled to stand, his legs trembling under the weight of his own exhaustion and the oppressive force of the wyvern’s presence.

Yixing coughed, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he staggered back up, his saber still clutched tightly in his hand.

“This is suicide, Brother Tao!” he shouted, his voice hoarse. “We have to retreat and find another way.”

Jiang Tao shook his head, his grip on the crimson flag tightening. He couldn’t bring himself to back down.

He glanced at his comrade, seeing the same fear mirrored in his eyes. But beneath that fear, there was something else—a flicker of determination, a shared resolve to see this through no matter the cost.

Yixing seeing his resolve nodded, his grip on his saber tightening. “Alright,” he said, his voice hardening. “One last push.”

Tao focused inward, feeling the last vestiges of his spiritual energy swirling within him. He had little left, but he had to make it count.

He raised the crimson flag once more, its ethereal glow pulsing with the remnants of his power. Beside him, Yixing steadied himself, his saber raised in a defensive stance.

The wyvern lunged, its massive jaws snapping shut just inches from Zhou Yixing. He leaped to the side, barely avoiding the strike.

With a roar of defiance, he countered with a sweeping slash aimed at the beast’s injured wing, drawing another agonized shriek from the creature.

The flag’s power surged, unleashing a spiraling tempest of wind blades that tore through the air, each strike aimed at the wyvern’s weakened form. The creature reeled, its roars of pain blending with the howling winds.

With a desperate, guttural cry, the wyvern collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a thunderous impact that shook the earth.

For a moment, everything was still—the beast’s labored breathing the only sound breaking the silence.

“Did we get it?” Tao asked out loud watching the still form of the creature. He moved closer to wyvern’s fallen form.

"Jiang Tao no!" Yixing shouted, but it was too late. The wyvern’s massive tail lashed out with a sudden, powerful swipe, catching Jiang Tao off guard. The impact sent him sprawling across the rocky ground, pain, and dust blurring his vision.