The coming battle
The forest fire slowly died down.
The crimson flames gradually subsided and dimmed, with only a few scattered sparks remaining embedded in the crevices of the charred tree trunks, flickering in the wind.
The entire Mist Forest completely silent.
The stench of blood, the putrid miasma, and the chaotic aura of Plane fluctuations were all burned away by the raging fire. Only dried charcoal ash remained on the ground, crunchy and brittle underfoot, and the entire forest was now devoid of any sign of life.
Lu Heng stood at the edge of the woods.
The Mist Talisman in his palm lay quietly, the black mist receding into the talisman's patterns without leaking out.
He glanced down for two seconds, then tucked his hand into his shirt.
The Blood Taisui within his body gradually returned to its source, and the complex network of threads that had spread throughout the entire forest rapidly contracted along the soil. Thousands of dark red streams flowed into his body, and he fell into complete silence.
At this point, the Misty Forest had no more enemies to kill, nor any hidden dangers whatsoever.
Lu Heng turned around and retraced his steps along the same path through the wilderness.
The evening breeze swept across the barren land, stirring up fine sand that fell silently to the ground. There was no one, no beasts, no unusual activity along the way; the entire wilderness was deathly still.
They continued walking until they entered the Moonview Valley.
The valley remains peaceful.
As a territory that has been garrisoned for a long time, every blade of grass, every stone, every fortification, and every hiding spot here is known to them by heart. There is nothing that needs to be deliberately checked; everything is as usual.
The stone gate was closed, cutting off the outside night wind.
The room was dimly lit and completely isolated from the outside world.
After days of intense battles, repeatedly controlling the silk threads and the beast tides, and maintaining a constant state of mental tension, my body was already exhausted. It wasn't the pain from external injuries, but a deep-seated soreness and fatigue emanating from my entire body.
Lu Heng sat down against the stone wall.
The room was dark and silent.
He didn't circulate his energy or hone his combat skills; he simply sat quietly, letting his body, which had been tense for many days, slowly relax.
In the darkness, countless fragmented images flashed through my mind.
A sudden ambush from the depths of the Portal, a deafening blow that sent shivers down your spine, a coordinated attack from monsters lurking in the mist, a desperate counterattack by the remnants of the Goblin army, and a deathly battlefield where the mindless horde of Puppet beasts crushes everything in its path.
Scenes flashed by, fast and cold.
What followed was a strange sense of oppression.
It's too quiet.
This ending was too thorough, so thorough it was abnormal.
The Green Demon Plane's entire force was wiped out; elites, mages, and Priest were all lost, and the Plane portal was forced to collapse, leaving the enemy with no strength left for a second sneak attack.
Logically, this should have been a period of complete stability.
But the tension that lingered in my heart never subsided.
A vague premonition took root in my heart—the calm was only temporary, and new changes were bound to occur within the next two days.
The night passed in silence.
As dawn broke, the morning light pierced through the gaps at the valley entrance, casting long, narrow beams of light into the house.
Lu Heng opened his eyes.
After a night of quiet meditation, all fatigue dissipated, and my energy and spirit were completely restored.
I got up and pushed open the door; the cold morning wind rushed in.
He stepped out of Moonview Valley and headed straight for the outer edge of the Mist Forest.
The forest was charred black after the fire, and the thick fog that used to linger year-round had completely disappeared, leaving the mountains and forests bright and clear.
The ground was covered with charcoal ash, and the trees stood upright, withered and black.
Walking slowly along the edge of the forest, my gaze swept over every mountain pass, pile of rocks, and gap in the trees.
There were no living creatures.
No unusual activity was observed.
There were no residual Plane energy fluctuations.
The entire area was excessively clean.
After confirming everything, Lu Heng walked up to the flat top of the hill.
It offers a wide view, overlooking the entire area where the mist forest meets the wilderness.
The Star Blade was drawn.
The morning light fell on the cold, white blade, reflecting a faint, chilling gleam.
There are no exaggerated moves, no explosive slashes.
It only includes the most basic thrust, horizontal slash, sweeping strike, and finishing move.
One cut after another.
The movements are repetitive, monotonous, and stable.
Every burst of force sinks deep into the bones, every strike is precise and controllable. Through numerous bloody battles, the body's instinct for fighting, its ability to spot weaknesses, and its mastery of the rhythm of force have all been subtly transformed.
The monotonous repetition is simply to maintain peak performance and prevent the feel for the game from becoming rusty.
The soft sound of blades slicing through the air echoed continuously across the open highlands.
From the moment the sun rises above the branches at dawn until it sets in the west, the light and shadow gradually lengthen.
For an entire day, the wilderness remained calm and still.
The entire world maintained an eerie, oppressive peace.
Until the sun completely sank below the horizon, twilight swallowed the earth, and night slowly enveloped the wilderness.
An invisible and intangible sound suddenly exploded across the entire world, covering an area of thousands of miles.
There was no sound source, no undulation, cold and rigid, yet it resounded throughout the heavens and earth.
[Global Region announcement.]
[Plane portal reset complete.]
[Plane teleportation will officially begin tomorrow morning.]
Two sentences settled the entire situation.
The sounds of knives clashing on the high ground suddenly ceased.
Lu Heng stood holding his knife, his figure frozen in the evening breeze.
All the relaxation in his eyes had completely vanished, leaving only a calm sharpness.
The premonition in my heart finally came true.
The peace, rest, and monotonous sword practice of this day are never the end.
It was merely a brief respite before the great battle began.
What was destroyed earlier was only the channel through which the enemy could invade.
Tomorrow, two-way Plane teleportation will be available.
It's no longer a matter of the other party invading his territory.
Rather, it marks the beginning of a true Plane counterattack.
Lu Heng slowly sheathed his sword.
The night breeze stirred the hem of his clothes, and his aura became completely still.
He stood on high ground, gazing at the dark outline of the Mist Forest, quietly awaiting dawn.
A battle that transcends Plane is about to begin.