Tang Xi fixed her gaze on the bush ahead, sensing the greedy presearing at her as if she were prey. Her entire body tensed, muscles coiling as her Lunar Umbrel stood ready to be summo any moment. The silence of the forest grew heavier around her, as if even the winds had held their breath in anticipation of the immi battle.

  Would this be her first real fight against a spirit beast, or perhaps against a cultivator, since she had officially begun her practice? The thought brought a mix of excitement aened caution.

  For a brief moment, time seemed to stretch.

  Then, the attack came.

  A shadow shot out from the bush, moving at terrifying speed. Before she could fully react, the enemy was already mere meters away. Tang Xi leaped backward, trying to create distance, but she realized there wasn't enough time.

  Without hesitation, she summoned her Lunar Umbrel from within her Dantian.

  With a sihought, the umbrel's structure expanded and positioself defensively before her. At the exaent the beast struck, the impact occurred. The Lunar Umbrel absorbed part of the ford transferred it into the ground.

  A tremendous shockwave spread through the earth, crag the soil around the impact site. The force sent Tang Xi skidding backward, but instead of losing her bance, she used the momentum to propel herself gracefully toward a nearby tree. Her feet met the sturdy bark, and with an agile motion, she rebouo the ground, nding at a safe distance.

  That was when, for the first time, she got a clear look at her oppo.

  The creature snorted furiously, its hooves sinking slightly into the earth as it repositioself. It was a Cloud-Furred Boar, a mid-level spirit beast, equivalent to a fourth-level Body Training cultivator.

  Tang Xi quickly recalled what she knew about it.

  'These boars are on in the region, but their aggressiveness makes them the terror of careless hunters. Their fur is incredibly thick, capable of resisting on bdes. Moreover, their impact force surpasses that of a human of the same level. The real danger lies in their speed when charging in a straight line.'

  Her sharp eyes analyzed the creature's robust body, searg for any weakhe boar snorted, scraping its hooves against the ground before charging again.

  This time, Tang Xi did not retreat.

  A glint fshed in her eyes as she activated the S Phoenix Teique.

  Her body seemed to gain a supernatural lightness as she propelled forward, her Lunar Umbrel snapping shut in an instant, enveloped by a goldeallic aura.

  The distaween them closed rapidly.

  The boar charged with brutal force, its tusks aimed to tear through her, but Tang Xi used the enemy's ow against it.

  With a swift movement, she sidestepped at the st moment and, in resporuck the beast's side with the sharp tip of her umbrel.

  Precise cuts appeared across its tough hide.

  The boar roared in pain, but the wounds were superficial. Its physical resistance was truly formidable!

  The creature grew even more enraged, swinging its massive body in an attempt to strike her, but Tang Xi stuck to her strategy—remaining in motion and exploiting her superiility.

  As the boar us relentless charges, she retaliated with tinuous strikes, taking advantage of her speed.

  Yet, something her.

  'It's not enough. Just attag like this won't bring it down.'

  Her blows were accumuting injuries, but they were far from incapacitating the beast. She needed a decisive attack.

  That was wheiced the boar's movement pattern.

  'Its weight is its greatest strength… but also its greatest weakness.'

  Tang Xi observed carefully. Every time it itted to a full charge, it couldn't ge direid-attack.

  And then, the moment came.

  pletely ehe boar let out a deafening roar before hurtling toward her at full speed, determio crush her.

  But this was exactly the opportunity Tang Xi had been waiting for.

  The instant the beast lunged, she twisted her body and leaped aside, slipping out of its deadly path.

  Then, in one fluid motion, she eled her Fming Aura into the closed Lunar Umbrel and struck directly at the boar's oint—its neck.

  The bzing bde cut deep.

  The impact threw the boar off bas unstoppable momentum being its own downfall.

  The beast crashed violently into a nearby tree, shattering it into pieces. The ground trembled from the impact, leaving deep scars in the soil. A cloud of dust and dry leaves rose into the air, momentarily obsg the se.

  Then, the final, agonized squeal echoed through the forest… before everything fell silent.

  Tang Xi remaiill, breathing deeply as she observed the falle. The battle was over.

  After a brief moment of tension, she finally allowed a sigh of relief to escape her lips.

  But she couldn't rex for long.

  'The sound of battle has surely attracted unwatention.'

  She quickly retrieved a Qi pill and swallowed it, replenishing some of the energy she had spent in the fight.

  Her gaze fell upon the boar's body. This battle had taught her a great deal.

  'Spirit beasts truly possess incredible resilience… Even though I mao evade its charges, it took me too long t it down. This means my spiritual energy usage still isn't effit enough.'

  She furrowed her brows slightly.

  'I o focus more on this. My body's endurance has grown much strohan my energy efficy. In the long run, this could bee a disadvantage.'

  Lost in thought, she swiftly retrieved the boar's body from the ground and stored it in her spatial ring, usie pouch merely as a disguise.

  With everything ready, Tang Xi turned, prepared to leave the area swiftly.

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