Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

At the campsite, the campfire crackled and popped.

Pharmacist Chen moved silently among the team members, some sitting and some lying down.

A warm, emerald-green aura swirled around her fingertips. Whenever this light brushed against Li Hao and Wu Laodao's wounds, the injuries would lessen. Her movements were precise and steady, devoid of any hint of frivolity.

"You're all too impatient." Gao Yuan's voice broke the silence, echoing between the rock walls, carrying a hint of weariness.

His gaze swept over Cheng Jin's tightly pursed lips and Chu Xin's lowered eyes, "She was blinded by her previous victory and forgot to weigh her own strength."

Spirit stones, elixirs, and barrier-breaking pills—you can only enjoy these things if you're alive.

When a person dies, all is vanity; they are nothing more than a few more skeletons added to this Cloud and Mist Mountain Range.

Upon hearing this, Old Wu raised his head, his cloudy eyes filled with self-reproach and pain: "I was too arrogant. The [Mysterious Light Returns to One Formation] is no match for the Ironclad Rhinoceros. The best course of action would have been the [Dragon Trapping Formation]. We should have waited for the Dragon Trapping Formation to be repaired before taking action. With the Dragon Trapping Formation, things would not have come to this." His last words turned into a long sigh.

"No, it's my fault," Cheng Jin interrupted abruptly, his voice hoarse but firm. "I was blinded by greed, only seeing the high value of that suit of armor, but failing to assess whether our strength was sufficient. I chose the wrong target."

Chu Xin, who had been silent all along, quietly added a new piece of firewood to the fire: "The materials used to make the Ironclad Rhinoceros, when converted, just cover the cost of the talismans we've used."

Aside from the injuries, the losses weren't too great. I lost my composure earlier, my Dao heart was disturbed by the words "Breakthrough Pill," and I wasn't calm enough." Her words were like her sword, concise and direct.

A spark suddenly burst from the campfire, then went out immediately, as if to provide context for this reflection.

Gao Yuan stood up, his tall shadow cast on the rock wall: "Since you're not going to die, don't look so dejected. Remember today's lesson, but don't let it crush you."

He walked up to Old Wu, picked up a damaged array flag, and said, "If the flag is broken, find a way to repair it; if the magic weapon is destroyed, gather materials and reforge it."

As long as a person is alive, as long as there is still breath in their dantian, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.

Li Hao grinned through the pain: "The captain is right. I was too reckless this time. I was only thinking about toughing it out. I'll definitely dodge faster next time."

In the days that followed, the atmosphere at the camp did indeed undergo a subtle change.

The restlessness born of a brief victory, like something washed away by a mountain rain, subsided. The invisible barrier created by the struggle for interests quietly dissolved after sharing setbacks and pain.

This allows their relationship to return to the state it was when they were fighting side by side, and even adds a sense of composure and trust that comes with trials and tribulations.

Two weeks later, the team packed their bags and silently embarked on their journey again.

In the days that followed, the Po Jun squad became increasingly cautious in their movements.

However, some encounters cannot be avoided simply by being careful.

It was midday, and the group was crossing a dry, rocky river valley.

Suddenly, a huge shadow, like flowing ink, swept across the valley and enveloped everyone.

A chilling pressure descended from the sky, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on everyone's soul.

Lin Zhao looked up abruptly and saw a giant bird gliding slowly in the sky, its wings outstretched.

Its wings are a deep purplish-black, with a faint cloud-like luster flowing around the edges. Its wingspan is ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), and each flap of its wings brings up a low, rumbling sound.

Its sharp gaze, almost tangible, swept across the valley below, carrying a cold indifference that looked down upon all living beings.

"Purple Cloud Eagle, Commander-level." Gao Yuan's voice was dry, almost as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

He gripped the sword hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, yet he dared not make the slightest movement to draw the sword.

Everyone froze in place, even the circulation of spiritual energy within their bodies nearly stopped, for fear that the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy would attract the attention of the overlord of the sky.

Fortunately, the Purple Cloud Eagle seemed to be just passing by. Its cold gaze lingered on them for a moment before moving away, and its massive body, accompanied by the howling wind, gradually disappeared into the distant horizon.

The Purple Cloud Eagle is a commander-level demonic beast. Judging from its aura, it is almost at the second level. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would have a hard time defeating it.

Only when the oppressive aura completely dissipated did everyone breathe a sigh of relief, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

"Go! Get out of here!" Gao Yuan shouted, his voice trembling slightly.

Without a word, the group left the valley silently and swiftly, at a speed several times faster than usual.

Having been frightened by the purple cloud eagle, the group became even more cautious, almost always hiding during the day and going out at night.

However, fate's cruel joke was far from over. Just when they thought they could safely get through the last month, a new hunt unexpectedly began.

They had inadvertently stepped into the territory of a Crimson Tiger on the edge of a sparse woodland.

This ferocious beast was more than twice the size of an ordinary tiger, its entire body fiery red, with lava flowing across its fur. A golden stripe on its forehead shone brightly, and it exuded a scorching and violent aura.

His cultivation level is at the ninth level of Qi Refining, just one step away from the Commander level.

A deafening tiger's roar heralded the start of the chase.

The Crimson Tiger was incredibly fast. Wherever its hooves trod, the grass and trees withered, leaving behind burning claw marks. Sometimes it would charge forward at lightning speed, forcing everyone to defend themselves in a sorry state, and sometimes it would breathe out streams of scorching fire, forcing the team to scatter and hide.

The next two weeks became the most miserable period for the Po Jun Squad in the Yunxia Mountains.

They began to flee for their lives. Li Hao's Xuan Tie Shield was completely destroyed, Cheng Jin's Bronze Seal dimmed after trying to withstand a fatal fire breath, and Chu Xin's full-force Ice Storm was completely useless against the Crimson Flame Tiger. Only Lin Zhao's Four Elements Pearls combined made it wary.

Everyone's face was etched with exhaustion, their robes were torn, and they all bore burns to varying degrees.

Gao Yuan's brow never relaxed. He had tried several ambushes and counterattacks, but neither the formations nor the combined attacks of the group could inflict fatal damage on this thick-skinned, flame-protected beast. On the contrary, it nearly broke through their defenses several times; its speed was simply too fast.

Lin Zhao's Four Elements Beads need to be charged up, and talismans cannot break through his defenses; his defense is no worse than that of the Ironclad Rhinoceros.

The turning point came on a stormy night.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, thunder roared wildly, and torrential rain lashed down on the mountains and forests.

The team hid in a narrow cave. Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared; inside, the atmosphere was oppressive. Amidst the wind and rain, they lost track of the Crimson Tiger.

But everyone believes that it has not given up and will come back after the storm.

"This can't go on!" Cheng Jin slammed his fist against the cave wall, raindrops dripping from his tangled hair. "Our talismans are almost exhausted. If it keeps chasing us, we'll be dragged to our deaths sooner or later!"