It reacted with particular violence to the energy fluctuations from Xu Wuyi setting up the seventh base station. It practically roared as it charged out of a collapsed fissure in the ground, bringing with it a searing heatwave and thick, sulfurous smoke.

This time, Xu Wuyi got a little more serious. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He didn’t rush in. Instead, he used his Step Technique to maneuver, evading the beast’s frenzied pounces and acid bombardments while focusing his Spiritual Power to carefully perceive the mutated lizard’s defensive weak points.

After a few exchanges, he found it.

There was a subtle lag in the flow of the fiery patterns at the junction of its lower jaw and neck.

The moment it reared its head again to spit another ball of acid, Xu Wuyi made his move.

He pushed his Instant Shadow Step to its limit, his figure blurring into an afterimage. In the instant before the acid ball left the lizard’s mouth, his spear plunged with absolute precision into that lagging point!

PSHHHT!

The sound of the spearhead sinking into flesh was drowned out by the explosion of the acid ball.

But the Undying Flame had already surged down the spear’s shaft, pouring unimpeded into the creature’s core.

The massive body of the mutated lizard leader went rigid. Dark golden flames erupted from its mouth, nose, eyes, and even the cracks in its skin. It thrashed wildly, slamming into the surrounding charred rock pillars, but it couldn’t stop its Life Force from rapidly draining away.

Ten seconds later, it collapsed with a crash.

Xu Wuyi pulled out his spear, glanced at the flickering numbers on his personal terminal, and continued onward.

His pace never slowed in the slightest, from start to finish, despite the increasing number and strength of the Star Beasts.

...

「At the same time, inside the temporary command tent.」

Beside the holographic sand table, Major Zhao Zhen and several technical officers stared intently at the multi-panel screen before them.

The screen displayed the real-time movement trajectories of the six teams, the status of the base stations they were deploying, and partial combat footage shared from their personal recorders.

The atmosphere was somewhat tense.

"Lei Lie’s squad is advancing fifteen percent slower than projected," an officer reported.

"They’ve encountered three waves of Star Beasts. One wave included two Level 33 Lava Lizards. Martial Artist Lei Lie engaged them head-on while the other two Martial Artists flanked. They succeeded in killing them, but it cost them extra time. One of the Martial Artists also sustained minor injuries and needs a short rest."

Zhao Zhen’s gaze swept over the green dot representing Lei Lie’s squad. It was indeed falling behind the projected vanguard position.

He nodded without a word.

’This is what’s normal.’

For a three-man squad with an average Energy Level of around 34, killing a Level 33 Star Beast wasn’t difficult. But to do so as easily as chopping vegetables, while also taking no damage and maintaining their pace—that was asking too much.

His gaze moved to the other screens.

The other two two-man squads were even slower.

Their average Energy Level was around 33. They could handle one or two Level 32 or 33 Star Beasts reliably, and with proper coordination, they could dispatch them relatively quickly.

But when faced with slightly larger numbers or unfavorable terrain, they had to be more cautious, even taking detours. Their speed was inevitably slowed.

"Target Six, solo operative, speed remains stable. Base station deployed... A10." Another officer’s voice held a trace of surprise. "He just killed another Level 33 Mutated Lava Lizard. Time taken... less than thirty seconds? The recorder footage shows it was a one-hit kill."

The tent fell silent for a moment.

The gazes of the several officers all focused on the screen belonging to Xu Wuyi.

On the screen, the young figure in the dark gray cloak walked calmly past the massive lizard corpse, his spear tip pointed at the ground as if he had just done something trivial.

His trajectory was almost a perfectly straight line forward. Whenever he encountered an obstacle or a Star Beast, he simply steamrolled right through it without any detours.

"Have his Energy Level stats synced yet?" Zhao Zhen asked.

"Synced... Life Energy Level 34.8, Spiritual Strength... 36.9!" The officer in charge of the data couldn’t help but raise his voice.

"A Spiritual Strength of 36.9?" Zhao Zhen’s pupils constricted slightly.

’No wonder!’

’His Spiritual Perception, far exceeding others of his rank, allows him to preemptively avoid numerous environmental risks, efficiently locate targets, and even perceive weak points during combat.’

’Combined with that flame which counters Regeneration Ability and his calm, efficient Spear Technique, it forms a perfect combat system for crushing Star Beasts of the same level.’

"His rate of accumulating battle merits is the fastest of all the teams. It has already surpassed Lei Lie’s squad," another officer added.

Although Xu Wuyi was earning points, the military was definitely calculating his contributions in terms of merit.

Zhao Zhen’s finger slid across the holographic sand table, comparing the real-time positions of each team.

The green dot representing Xu Wuyi had pulled ahead from behind, overtaking Lei Lie’s squad, which had been the original vanguard. And it was advancing steadily toward the final, designated rendezvous point for all six squads.

That was a relatively safe patch of high ground, approximately one and a half kilometers from the core of the fissure.

"What about the solo target to the southeast?" Zhao Zhen asked, looking at the screen for the man with the saber.

"His speed is second only to Target Six. It fluctuates slightly, but he’s fast overall. Latest Energy Level data... Level 35.1," the officer reported. "He seems to be encountering less resistance than Target Six. His combat style leans more toward precision and hit-and-run tactics. His efficiency is also very high."

Level 35.1. ’That explains it. Strength is what really matters.’

"At this rate, Target Six will be the first to reach rendezvous point K7," Zhao Zhen concluded.

He stared at the sand table, his mind rapidly weighing the options.

The original plan was to have the strongest, Lei Lie, act as the vanguard. He was to clear a relatively safe path first, removing the main obstacles for the subsequent teams deploying base stations and exploring.

But now, a "spearhead" had emerged—one who was more efficient, faster, and equally capable of handling risks alone.

’The battlefield is ever-changing. A commander must be flexible.’

"Connect me to Target Six," Zhao Zhen said in a low voice.

...

On the scorched earth, Xu Wuyi had just activated the eighth base station (A13).

This point was located at the edge of a "stone forest" formed by solidified lava, where the terrain was complex.

But relying on his Spiritual Perception, he had detected four Shadow Claw Mongooses lurking in the shadows of the rock pillars ahead of time. He silently circled behind them and quickly picked them off with his spear tip, which was wreathed in the Undying Flame, without causing any commotion.

His personal terminal vibrated slightly, indicating an incoming communication request.

"This is Zhao Zhen," the serious officer’s voice sounded. "Martial Artist Xu Wuyi, your speed and mission efficiency have exceeded Command’s expectations. Based on the current progress of all teams, you will be the first to arrive at the final rendezvous point, K7."

"Understood," Xu Wuyi replied curtly, his pace unwavering.

"Now, Command is changing your mission directive," Zhao Zhen’s voice was filled with resolve. "After you reach K7, you do not need to wait for the other squads to rendezvous."

"Your new mission is this: using K7 as a starting point, continue advancing toward the core of the fissure. You are to conduct pathfinding and preliminary clearing for the final, most hazardous, section of the route."