He considered his options. He could try to sneak around the boar and grab the mushrooms, but that would be risky. The boar was too close, and if it detected him, he'd be in for a tough battle. Alternatively, he could wait for the boar to leave, but there was no telling how long that would take.

As he weighed his choices, an idea began to form in his mind. The boar was clearly focused on the mushrooms, its attention divided between guarding them and searching for any potential threats. If Chen Yu could create a distraction, he might be able to draw the boar away long enough to grab the mushrooms and make a quick escape.

He reached into his pack and pulled out a small pouch of dried herbs. It wasn't much, but it might be enough to create a diversion. He carefully took a handful of the herbs and tossed them into the air, letting the wind carry them toward the boar.

The dried herbs scattered in the breeze, their scent wafting through the air. The Spirit Boar's ears perked up, and it lifted its head, sniffing the air with curiosity. It took a few steps forward, moving away from the mushrooms as it followed the scent.

Chen Yu took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "Alright, now's my chance," he thought, slipping out from behind the tree and moving quickly toward the mushrooms. He kept his movements light and silent, his eyes never leaving the boar as he approached the glowing fungi.

He reached the base of the tree and carefully began to pick the mushrooms, his fingers moving quickly but delicately. The mushrooms were soft and fragile, their caps glistening with a faint blue light. He could feel the spiritual energy emanating from them, a warm, tingling sensation that flowed through his fingertips.

Just as he finished gathering the last of the mushrooms, he heard a loud snort behind him. His heart skipped a beat, and he turned to see the Spirit Boar staring directly at him, its eyes blazing with fury.

"Uh oh," Chen Yu muttered, clutching the mushrooms tightly in his hand. The boar let out a deafening roar, its muscles tensing as it prepared to charge.

With no time to think, Chen Yu darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the boar's charge. The beast crashed into the tree, splintering it with its immense strength, but Chen Yu didn't stop to watch.

Chen Yu stared at the Spirit Boar, his fingers tingling with the familiar hum of Qi as the massive beast pawed at the ground. The boar's tusks gleamed in the dim light, and its breath was like a furnace—hot, heavy, and full of fury. He could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the coming clash pressing down on him.

The Spirit Boar charged, tusks gleaming, shaking the earth with every step. Chen Yu narrowed his eyes, feeling the crackle of Qi in his fingertips. To anyone else, the boar might have seemed slow—a lumbering beast whose only trick was brute force. But through his Universal Eyes, enhanced by the Qi of lightning coursing through his body, Chen Yu saw the truth.

The boar wasn't slow at all. It was moving like a freight train, fast and deadly, but his heightened perception from the lightning element made everything seem to drag. It gave him just enough time to react, barely enough to dodge.

"Let's see how fast you really are," Chen Yu muttered.

The boar roared, lowering its head as it charged forward, shaking the earth with every step. Chen Yu widened his stance, raising one hand as the Qi in his dantian surged into his arms, crackling to life. Lightning sparked between his fingertips, coalescing into a spear of pure energy. Raijin—a spear of condensed lightning, sharp and deadly. As the Qi flowed through him, he felt his reflexes sharpen, his senses heightening. Everything seemed to slow down, giving him just enough time to plan his next move.

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The boar closed the gap fast, but Chen Yu was faster.

With a quick sidestep, he narrowly dodged the beast's tusks, the speed granted by Raijin giving him just enough of an edge. The ground quaked beneath his feet as the boar barreled past, slamming into a tree that exploded into splinters. Chen Yu's heart pounded in his chest, his fingers tightening around the crackling spear of lightning.

He spun on his heel, locking eyes with the boar as it turned, angrier now, but slower. "Not bad. But try this on for size." With a flick of his wrist, Chen hurled the lightning spear straight at the boar. The spear struck its side, lightning dancing across the creature's fur, seizing its muscles with a violent crackle.

The boar staggered, its legs giving out for a moment as the electric surge rattled its body.

Chen Yu smiled. "Down, but not out, huh?" His breathing was ragged, his Qi draining fast. But the boar wasn't done—it shook off the lightning, snorting in fury as it got back on its feet.

"Of course," Chen muttered, his body screaming in exhaustion. "One more shot…"

It turned, its eyes glowing red with fury, and charged again—slower, but more determined. Chen Yu felt the pressure rising as he saw the power in the creature's movements. He'd been lucky to dodge the first attack, but this boar wasn't going to give him any more free passes.

Chen Yu gritted his teeth, planting his feet. With a swift motion, he launched the Raijin Spear straight at the boar's charging form. The spear sizzled through the air, a blur of blue light, before slamming into the boar's flank with a crack of thunder.

For a moment, the boar faltered. Lightning danced across its body, arcing through its muscles, locking them in place. Chen Yu's heart leapt—he'd hit it! The boar stumbled, shaking its head, its legs buckling under the electric assault. But before he could celebrate, the beast let out a guttural roar, its body twitching violently as the residual lightning burned through its system.

Chen Yu's eyes widened. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, watching as the boar regained its footing, shaking off the paralysis. The lightning had only slowed it down temporarily, and now it was angrier than before.

[Warning: The Raijin Spear has temporarily increased your reaction speed, but continued exertion will drain your Qi reserves.]

"Of course it will," Chen Yu growled, frustration bubbling up inside him. He could feel his Qi dwindling with each second, his body starting to slow down despite the boost Raijin gave him. If he didn't finish this quickly, he was going to be out of energy—and out of luck.

The boar charged again, and this time, Chen Yu had no room to dodge. Gritting his teeth, he raised his hand once more, summoning the last bit of lightning he could muster. Another spear formed, flickering and unstable, but there was no time for precision.

With a desperate cry, Chen Yu hurled the unstable Raijin Spear at the oncoming beast. The spear struck home, right between the boar's eyes. The impact was immediate—lightning erupted from the point of contact, surging through the boar's body with a force that sent shockwaves through the clearing.

The boar let out a final, ear-splitting roar, its legs buckling as the lightning coursed through it one last time. It collapsed, smoke rising from its body as the last of the energy dissipated.

Chen Yu stood there, panting, his heart hammering in his chest. His hands trembled, his Qi nearly depleted. He glanced at the fallen beast, still wary, waiting to see if it would get back up.

It didn't.

[Congratulations! The Spirit Boar has been defeated. Qi reserves critically low. Rest recommended to avoid damage.]

Chen Yu let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, a shaky grin spreading across his face. "You know, for a second there, I really thought I was gonna be pig food."

[Note: Reckless usage of Raijin Spear may lead to unintended consequences.]

"Yeah, thanks for the tip," Chen Yu muttered, sinking to his knees as the exhaustion hit him. "I'll keep that in mind for next time… if I live long enough for there to be a next time."