Into the Core

Lu Heng stepped out of the Stone Cave Shelter.

The layers of snow underfoot were formed by days of heavy snowfall, frozen solid and showing no sign of melting. Stepping on it produced only a crisp, heavy sound. The paths through the woodland remained flat and hard, completely frozen in the dead of winter.

Before the blizzard stopped, the cold wind, carrying snowflakes, ravaged the entire forest area. Even in such harsh conditions, ferocious beasts could still be seen roaming and wandering in the woods from time to time.

At that time, he felt that the activity level in this forest was frightening enough.

But at this moment, the wind and snow completely stopped, and the shackles of the bitter cold that had been pressing down on all living beings were suddenly released. The strange movements that rose and fell all around were far more intense and noisy than those on a snowy day.

Underground, in snowdrifts, and in dense forests, creatures constantly dig through the snow, move around, and dart about.

Lu Heng knew in his heart that the Frost Forest had truly come alive.

He walked steadily forward, looking at the intact and unobstructed hard snow road surface.

There's no need to overthink the subsequent changes.

As long as the weather continues to warm up and another round of rain and snow falls, the thick snow in the entire forest will melt quickly, and the permafrost will be completely soaked and turned into muddy silt.

At that time, the land will be muddy and full of potholes, and the forest land that was originally easy to pass through will be completely ruined, with every step sinking into the mud and making it difficult to move.

The thought of that scene fills me with an indescribable sense of unease.

The muddy forests after the snow melts are far more difficult to explore and move through than the snow-covered plains in winter.

The window of opportunity for safe exploration is extremely short.

After a moment's consideration, a decision was made.

While the road conditions are still acceptable, let's head straight into the Central Ring Layer One the Frost Forest's central area and give it a try.

Lu Heng returned to the cave and quickly organized all the stored supplies. All kinds of instant food, medicine, and arrows were put into the storage on his Wristband, leaving only the Bronze Hunting Blade to be worn close to his body. After checking the simple security arrangements of the Shelter and confirming that it was safe, he turned around and steadily moved towards the depths of the forest.

The closer you get to the inner circle, the more secluded and tranquil the forest becomes.

The ancient trees are thick and clustered together, their branches intertwined and tightly locked in the forest. The density of the trees far exceeds that of the surrounding area. The air around them is cold and stagnant, and an invisible sense of danger and oppression accumulates layer upon layer, completely severing the atmosphere from the surrounding forest area.

Upon officially entering the Central Ring Layer One area, Lu Heng subconsciously slowed his pace and looked down to scan the ground.

As far as the eye could see, the marks were unusually dense.

A large number of herbivorous wild animals that originally lived in the middle and outer layers of the forest have migrated and gathered in this border area.

The ground was covered with dense footprints, and the branches of low shrubs, grass roots, and tree bark edges were all marked with fresh bite marks and tiny tooth marks, indicating that the entire area was filled with traces of animal foraging activities.

Following the trail of animal tracks deeper into the forest, after passing through a dense canopy of trees, a group of wild boars was suddenly gathered in the clearing ahead.

The beast has a sturdy and robust body, covered in coarse black fur, and two long, hard white tusks protruding from its snout. It looks very similar to an ordinary Tusked Boar, but exudes a more ferocious wildness.

Not daring to subjectively determine the category and grade with the naked eye, Lu Heng immediately raised his wrist, and the light screen on his Wristband lit up slightly as he scanned and identified the herd of beasts.

The information for each entry pops up one by one.

[Tusked Boar]

Grade: Black Iron Tier

Species Introduction: A variant subspecies of the Tusked Boar, it is more robust and far more ferocious than the ordinary Tusked Boar. It lives in groups and has a very strong sense of territory.

The moment the identification information was released, Lu Heng's subtle movements as he stealthily approached completely revealed his location.

The entire group of Tusked Boar, which had been digging in the snow for food, suddenly stopped.

A series of heavy, rumbling snores rang out, and all the wild boars raised their heads and turned, their scarlet eyes locking onto Lu Heng at the edge of the dense forest.

Several adult Tusked Boar, with their limbs firmly planted on the ground and their bodies low, slowly dispersed and moved outwards.

They maneuvered left and right, gradually shrinking the area and sealing off the escape routes on both sides little by little, while the beast horde behind them slowly advanced in sync.

In just a few breaths, the encirclement was quietly taking shape.

The air in the entire forest suddenly became tense and still.

Four adult Tusked Boar completed their flanking maneuver, with the two largest individuals blocking the front, firmly locking down the only path forward. Their coarse, black bristles clung tightly to their skin, and their broad hooves crushed the hard snow, producing a dull, muffled sound of compaction. Their pale, outward-facing tusks, stained with a few fragments of frozen soil, gleamed coldly.

They did not charge immediately.

The mutated ferocious beasts, which live in groups, are far more vigilant than lone creatures. They lower their bodies and constantly twitch their nostrils, locking onto Lu Heng's movements and slowly shrinking the encirclement, giving him no chance to break through.

Lu Heng's feet were firmly planted in the snow, his body neither advancing nor retreating.

His body, made of Black Iron Tier, was fully stretched, with the muscles in his shoulders, back, waist, abdomen, and limbs subtly tensing, every inch of his muscles ready to exert force at any moment. His palms rested on the hilt of the Bronze Hunting Blade at his waist, the cool metallic texture steadily supporting his mind and counteracting the oppressive feeling brought by the encirclement of the beasts.

He did not provoke anyone.

Having just entered the Central Ring Layer One, the hidden dangers of the unknown higher-level areas are still unclear. There's no need to waste energy and expose your status for pointless fighting. The best option right now is to wait for the stalemate, look for an opportunity to disengage and retreat, and conserve your energy to continue exploring the environment.

The silence of the standoff lasted only a few breaths.

The Tusked Boar at the front suddenly lowered its head, letting out a low, muffled growl.

The roar seemed to be a signal, and the surrounding herd of pigs instantly sprang into action.

There was no chaotic charging. The two Tusked Boar on the flanks simultaneously lowered their bodies and approached quickly with small, steady steps, skimming the snow surface. Their steps were deliberate and compact, deliberately blocking all angles for Lu Heng to dodge to the side, forcing him to stay put.

The heavy thud of animal hooves pounding the snow echoed through the silent forest, sounding particularly jarring.

Lu Heng's gaze was steady as he quickly scanned the positions of each ferocious beast.

The coordination of this group of Mutant Tusked Boar far exceeded expectations. There was no chaotic individual fighting; their advances and retreats were subtly methodical. Compared to the Blizzard Monster on the periphery that fought alone and relied on brute force, the threat posed by these group of Black Iron Tier monsters was on a completely different level.

He slightly lowered his waist and shifted his center of gravity, gripping the hard snow with his feet, ready to use it as leverage to maneuver at any moment.

Just as the herd of beasts was less than three zhang apart, the two Tusked Boar on either side suddenly accelerated, ramming and crushing each other from the front and back, their thick bodies crushing down with tremendous momentum, accompanied by a fierce wind.

Lu Heng suddenly exerted force with his feet, unleashing the full explosive power of his Black Iron Tier physical body, and his figure instantly slid half a foot to the side.

Two heavy thuds followed in quick succession.

The two Tusked Boar collided violently, their hard shoulder bones colliding, causing them to grunt simultaneously and stagger.

Seizing this fleeting opening, Lu Heng flicked his wrist, and the cold gleam of the Bronze Hunting Blade flashed and disappeared in the dim light of the forest.

He didn't rush into an attack; instead, he used the gaps in his movements to precisely avoid the blockade of the pigs in front of him, swiftly retreating and instantly escaping the core of the encirclement.

The misaligned beasts quickly regained their senses, and their previously chaotic formation rapidly reorganized.

The lead Tusked Boar roared furiously, its scarlet eyes blazing with ferocity. No longer maintaining its probing stance, the four beasts simultaneously turned around and strode quickly over him through the hard snow, their hooves thundering and relentlessly pursuing his retreat.

Lu Heng retreated while observing.

He knew that these Tusked Boar were incredibly resilient and fiercely territorial. Once entangled, they wouldn't stop chasing him until he left their territory. This place was on the edge of the Central Ring Layer One, with open and flat terrain, offering no leverage. Prolonged maneuvering would only deplete his own strength.

After a brief deliberation, he completely abandoned the idea of staying put.

His steps quickened, his body lowered, and he swiftly weaved through the gaps in the trees. The physical advantage brought by his Black Iron Tier physique was fully displayed; his steps were light and steady, nimbly dodging the dense tree trunks and constantly increasing the distance between himself and the beast horde behind him.

The roars and hooves behind us were gradually blocked out by the trees and grew farther and farther away.

A moment later, having completely shaken off the Tusked Boar's pursuit, the surroundings returned to silence.

Lu Heng slowed his pace and stood behind a thick, ancient tree, calming his breathing slightly.

His chest rose and fell steadily, without the slightest sign of heavy breathing. The brief struggle, maneuvering, and breakout just now were merely basic exertion for his current Black Iron Tier physique.

He looked up and gazed into the dense forest in the Central Ring Layer One.

The branches are denser, the yin energy is heavier, and the terrain is more complex.

The ferocious Black Iron beasts that inhabit the outer perimeter are already so troublesome; the treacherous creatures and unknown dangers lurking in the depths will only increase exponentially.

The snowstorm has stopped, and the forest is reviving.