Chapter Sixty-One: The Final Blow

Li Yunfei had long anticipated such a move; after all, judging by the characteristics of his Crescent Blade, projecting energy externally for long-range attacks was basic technique. How could the White Boar King lack similar methods? Yet, this maneuver consumed an enormous amount of demonic power, and the donkey-headed wolves were famous for their agility. If the attack missed its mark, the White Boar King would not waste its energy, so it rarely employed this tactic unless enraged beyond reason, as it was now.

Li Yunfei pushed off with his left foot, darting swiftly to the right. The White Boar King’s spectral body, fueled by demonic energy, swept past him in a torrent of violent air, gouging a trench three meters wide and half a meter deep into the earth. Such commotion naturally drew the attention of the donkey-headed wolves behind him; they abandoned their opponents and scattered to either side. The boar monsters, however, were not so fortunate. Their cumbersome bodies proved fatal; unable to evade, dozens were instantly obliterated under the White Boar King’s spectral charge.

When struck by Li Yunfei’s blade energy, they were merely cleaved in two, leaving behind corpses. But those hit by the White Boar King’s spectral body shattered instantly, vaporized into a mist of blood with not a bone remaining. The sheer destructive force stunned Li Yunfei—this was nothing less than a boar-shaped tank. At his current level, he could never withstand such a blow, not even with his armor’s protective aura at full strength. The best he could hope for was to leave a whole corpse, avoiding the fate of the boar monsters.

Not daring to delay, Li Yunfei quickly formed a spell, recited incantations, and flung another handful of talismans, then began circling the White Boar King. “Bang! Bang! Bang!” Under the talisman’s assault, the White Boar King’s demonic energy drained away like water, helpless to do anything but rage. Whether it charged, rolled, or leaped, its attacks were earth-shattering, but always too slow and imprecise to land a hit.

The Donkey-headed Wolf King also began circling the White Boar King, keeping a position opposite Li Yunfei at all times. When Li Yunfei was on the left, it was on the right; when Li Yunfei was at the boar’s head, it was at the tail; when Li Yunfei ran to the right, it had already moved to the left. During this maneuvering, it would occasionally swipe with a claw or snap with its jaws.

Man and wolf moved like two grinding stones, with the White Boar King caught between them. By breaking through at a single point, the entire layer of defense would collapse. Thus, one unit of demonic energy could yield three, even five units of results. The Donkey-headed Wolf King understood the technique of projecting its spectral body, but to match the White Boar King blow-for-blow would be as foolish as martial artists competing solely in internal power—it was simply not worth it.

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Since it could deplete three to five units of the enemy’s energy for every one of its own, why fight on equal terms? Just as a human martial artist, equally matched in internal strength but superior in technique, would never waste time in a direct contest of force.

So, the White Boar King’s demonic power drained rapidly; defeat was only a matter of time. Among the two beast tribes, though the boar monsters outnumbered the donkey-headed wolves, the wolves' individual strength was greater, keeping the battle fairly balanced. But this was only temporary—wolves consumed less energy than boars, and as time wore on, victory would inevitably tilt toward the wolves.

Meanwhile, the battle between the lesser donkey-headed wolves and the boar monsters had completely reversed, with wolves now crushing the boars. Though only about 800 wolves remained, more than 4000 boar monsters still survived, thanks to the little fox’s slaughter. Yet in the chaos, a single wolf was worth ten boars. Without the boar herd’s ability to charge as a group, they simply could not contend with the wolves.

At last, fear overtook the White Boar King, and its boundless rage turned to terror. Though the boar tribe still numbered nearly a hundred thousand, most were ordinary pigs, not yet mutated or awakened, and would require time to grow strong. Previously, the boar tribe had developed quietly, scattered throughout the forest, never approaching the center, and had avoided provoking the wolves. But after today’s battle, the wolves would hate the boars fiercely, and would surely hunt them down. Though the wolves’ numbers were too few to exterminate the boars entirely, their population would be drastically reduced, and they would never rise again.

The core strength of the boar tribe was here; it must retreat to preserve itself and hope to rise anew.

The White Boar King raised its head and screamed, a shrill call echoing across the battlefield. The boar herd froze, then abruptly broke off the fight, turning to flee down the slope. The White Boar King itself, under attack from Li Yunfei and the Wolf King, thundered away on four hooves.

Seeing this, the Donkey-headed Wolf King would not relent; it immediately issued the order to pursue. Today’s battle had cost half the tribe, and if the boars escaped, they would surely return one day.

Li Yunfei’s eyes flashed—he had realized the same thing. He considered for a moment, then clenched his teeth; to keep the White Boar King today, he would have to take some risks.

He shouted to the Wolf King, “Break its spectral body if you can—even for an instant!”

The Donkey-headed Wolf King, though unsure of Li Yunfei’s plan, did not hesitate.

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The Wolf King surged forward at full speed, darting past the White Boar King to block its path. It turned, raising its right forelimb. Five claws, sharp as short swords, gathered demonic energy, extending forward like five swords of air.

The White Boar King, furious, lowered its head and charged with its spectral body.

The Wolf King leapt two fathoms high, its air-forged claws plunged fiercely into the White Boar King’s spectral back.

Li Yunfei seized the moment, leaping barely a heartbeat behind.

A thunderous blast erupted as the Wolf King’s spectral claws collided with the White Boar King’s spectral body. A wild shockwave swept out, and the White Boar King’s spectral form was instantly dispelled.

“Now!”

Li Yunfei’s eyes narrowed, and he struck, seizing the fleeting opportunity. The dispersal of the spectral body lasted only a moment, for in the next instant, the White Boar King’s demonic energy would surge forth, rebuilding its spectral form.

That spectral body was both shield and weapon—defensive aura and external force. To strike the White Boar King directly, its energy must be depleted, or the attacker must seize the instant when its spectral body vanishes.

Li Yunfei, running at the White Boar King’s side, already gripped a devastating eight-foot serpent spear in his hands, his armor’s protective aura fully activated.

With a fierce shout, he transformed into an arrow loosed from the bow, driving the spearhead hard into the White Boar King’s neck.

Spiritual energy surged into the spear, and a vicious toxin, catalyzed by the energy, was injected into the boar king’s body.

It was as if a venomous snake, biting its prey, injected its poison deep within through its fangs.