The heavy gates slowly swung open.

Outside lay a gray, misty wilderness. Further off, beneath the western horizon, the dark silhouette of the Stone Forest crouched like a giant beast.

The gazes from within the camp felt like needles against their backs.

Lin Feng gripped the hilt of his newly acquired long saber, took a deep breath, and stepped out of the gates.

Tie Dun, carrying a war hammer and a round shield, led the way with heavy yet steady steps. Jian Yan had his longbow slung over his shoulder, his eyes alertly scanning the surroundings.

Shadow Snake clung to the team's flank like a ghost. Uncle Wu walked in the center, his medicine basket swaying gently with every step.

Zhao Hu walked at the rear, glancing back at the camp.

Behind the window of the two-story building, the silhouette of the Bald Boss was faintly visible.

Zhao Hu turned back, his voice low but clearly reaching every member's ears: "The Stone Forest is dangerous, but we aren't made of clay. Remember three things:

First, maintain formation and never scatter;

Second, if you're unsure what to do, follow orders; and third—"

He paused, stressing each word: "If we're going to die, we make it count."

There were no grand or heroic words.

But those words weighed on everyone's hearts like a stone—heavy, yet strangely grounding.

A fight with no retreat.

Then fight they would.

About an hour after leaving the camp, the terrain began to change.

The flat wilderness was gradually replaced by rolling hills. The soil turned from a withered yellow to a dark red, and the vegetation grew increasingly sparse. A faint scent of sulfur began to permeate the air.

After another hour of walking, they reached the Stone Forest.

Looking in from the edge, the sight was breathtaking.

Countless gray-black stone pillars rose from the ground. Some were dozens of meters high, while others were only three to five meters tall. They were densely packed and scattered about, forming a natural labyrinth.

The surfaces of the pillars were riddled with wind-eroded holes and cracks, with dark red moss clinging to them in places.

The light here became eerie.

Shaded by the stone pillars, the forest was dim despite it being broad daylight. Only scattered patches of light leaked through the gaps, casting flickering spots on the ground.

"Keep close," Zhao Hu whispered. "Jian Yan, get onto that short pillar on the left and scout a hundred meters ahead.

Tie Dun, lead the way and watch your step. Shadow Snake, watch the flanks and the rear. Lin Feng, stay three meters behind my flank, ready to provide support at any time."

The team slowly entered the Stone Forest in a combat formation.

As soon as they entered, the temperature dropped noticeably. The passages between the stone pillars were narrow and winding, some barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through sideways.

Footsteps echoed between the stone walls, creating layers of reverberation that interfered with their hearing.

Jian Yan climbed the designated stone pillar, peered through a monocular for a moment, and signaled:

Clear ahead, but the path forks. Suggest taking the wider one on the left.

Zhao Hu nodded.

The team trudged through the labyrinth. As they walked, Uncle Wu used a charcoal pencil to quickly sketch the terrain on parchment, marking the distribution of stone pillars and the direction of the passages.

After about half an hour, the first danger arrived silently.

"Stop!" Jian Yan suddenly slid down from a pillar ahead, his expression grim. "Three o'clock position, two hundred meters. There's a reflection behind the stone pillar; could be scales."

Everyone immediately crouched down, using the stone pillars for cover.

Lin Feng held his breath and looked in the direction Jian Yan pointed. In the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) dim

light, he could indeed see faint, dark-red reflective spots moving slowly behind several distant stone pillars.

"How many?" Zhao Hu asked.

"At least two, and they're not small. Judging by the reflective area... they might be Fire Lizards." Jian Yan's voice was tense.

Level 7 Fire Lizard, pack-dwelling, fire breath inflicts continuous burn damage.

"Bypass them," Zhao Hu ordered decisively. "Head right, and try to stay quiet."

The team changed direction, tiptoeing into the right-hand passage. The rock crevices overhead were almost closed, making the light extremely dim.

Just as a slightly open clearing appeared ahead of the team...

"Screee!"

A piercing screech came from above!

Lin Feng looked up abruptly. Perched on a horizontal stone beam above was a dark-red lizard-like creature nearly three meters long.

Its body was covered in sharp, angular scales. Its open maw revealed rows of fine, sharp teeth, and a faint red glow pulsed in its throat.

It had been there all along, waiting for the team to enter the clearing!

"Scatter!" Zhao Hu roared.

But it was too late.

The red light in the Fire Lizard's throat flared intensely, and a cone of flame erupted downward, engulfing the center of the team!

Tie Dun roared, turning to raise his shield. Most of the flames slammed into the round shield; the wood-covered iron surface charred instantly, and flames ignited along the edges.

However, a few stray tongues of fire splashed out, brushing past his leather-armored shoulder. The leather immediately began to smoke, emitting a scorched smell.

-25! -8 (Burn)!

Two damage numbers popped up in succession above Tie Dun's head.

"Tie Dun!" Shadow Snake darted out from the side and threw a waterskin, which smashed against the flames on the shield.

It contained spare drinking water, which slightly dampened the fire.

Just then, from behind the surrounding stone pillars, the silhouettes of two more Fire Lizards appeared simultaneously! They flanked from different directions, cutting off the team's retreat.

Three Fire Lizards!

"Circle formation!" Zhao Hu unsheathed his long saber. "Tie Dun, hold the front! Jian Yan, find high ground! Shadow Snake, roam and support! Lin Feng, protect Uncle Wu!"

The battle erupted instantly.

Bearing his burning shield, Tie Dun roared and charged at the nearest Fire Lizard, swinging his war hammer in a wide arc.

The Fire Lizard nimbly leaped aside and retaliated by spitting a blast of fire at Tie Dun's face.

Jian Yan had already climbed a stone pillar. He fired a volley of Armor-Piercing Arrows, accurately striking the second Fire Lizard in the eye. -18! -21! But the Fire Lizard only howled in pain and charged even more frantically toward the pillar Jian Yan was on.

Shadow Snake was like a phantom, weaving between the stone pillars. Her twin blades occasionally stabbed at the first Fire Lizard's joints and flanks from bizarre angles. However, the Fire Lizard's scales were extremely hard; the blades only left faint white scratches, dealing limited damage.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng faced the third Fire Lizard—the one that had initially ambushed them.

Seeing Lin Feng as the "softer" target in the group, it pounced directly at him, claws swiping for his neck as a foul stench filled the air.

General's Instinct activated instantly!

Lin Feng didn't try to block it head-on. His 10.5 Agility allowed him to dart to the right, narrowly avoiding the Fire Lizard's claws.

At the same time, he swung his long saber upward in a fluid motion, slashing at the Fire Lizard's relatively soft underbelly.

【Attack Check: Total Attack Power 49.5 (Strength 7.5*5 + Saber 12)】

【Target Defense: 12 (Fire Lizard Scale Armor)】

【Damage Dealt: 37.5】

-38!

A hit! The Fire Lizard cried out in pain, its long tail sweeping across like a steel whip. Lin Feng ducked and rolled; the tail smashed into the stone pillar where he had just been standing, sending stone chips flying.

"We can't fight them head-on," Lin Feng's mind raced. "The Fire Lizards have high defense and their fire breath has a wide area of effect. We're at a disadvantage in this clearing."

His gaze swept the battlefield. Tie Dun was tied down by one Fire Lizard, the flames on his shield still unextinguished, and his left shoulder armor still smoking.

High up, Jian Yan was being suppressed by the continuous fire breath of another Fire Lizard, the surface of his stone pillar already charred black.

Shadow Snake was roaming to distract them but couldn't deal effective damage. Zhao Hu was trying to break through to support Jian Yan.

"We need a topographical advantage." Lin Feng looked around.

To the right was a dense cluster of stone pillars with narrow, winding passages. The Fire Lizards' large bodies would have trouble maneuvering there, and the straight-line range of their fire breath would be blocked by the pillars.

"Brother Zhao!" Lin Feng shouted while dodging the Fire Lizard's lunges. "Lure them to the dense area of the Stone Forest on the right! It'll restrict their fire breath!"

Zhao Hu understood instantly. "Everyone, move to the right! Use the stone pillars for cover!"

The team began to retreat while fighting.

Lin Feng took the initiative to act as bait. He deliberately left an opening, allowing the Fire Lizard chasing him to close the distance, then darted between two closely set stone pillars an instant before it could breathe fire.

The Fire Lizard chased after him in a rage, but the narrow passage only allowed half of its body to squeeze through.

Most of its fire breath was blocked by the stone pillars, with only a few stray sparks splashing inside.