Passing the corner, we beheld a large contingent of Zumas Guards and Zumas Statues standing utterly motionless, like figures sculpted from clay. According to the Ranger's Handbook, the Zumas Guards and Zumas Statues within the Zumas Temple generally remain in a strange, petrified slumber. Upon the approach of living beings, they would awaken from this dormant state and launch ferocious attacks on the encroachers. Thus, as long as one kept a safe distance, they would not strike first. Flanking them was a dense crowd of Zumas Archers, constantly pacing back and forth. Unlike the dormant Guards and Statues, the Zumas Archers were undoubtedly the most astute sentinels.

Whoosh! Whoosh!!!

In the blink of an eye, we were detected by the Zumas Archers, met immediately by a dense volley of arrows.

“Watch out!” Yan Luo and I instantly moved to shield Qian Yue. Yan Luo deployed her magic shield while I circulated my protective Battle Aura.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Amidst the rapid drumming of impacts, the formidable arrow rain from the Zumas Archers was squarely blocked by Yan Luo and me. Even with my initial-stage Scarlet Moon Battle Aura, enduring the Zumas Archers' arrow storm was a taxing ordeal.

Although their arrowheads couldn't penetrate my armor or my protective Battle Aura, the sheer concussive force nearly shook every bone in my body apart. In contrast, Yan Luo seemed considerably more composed. Her golden magic shield repelled every arrow that struck it. While blocking the barrage, she simultaneously hurled out an Ice Roar. Truly worthy of a high-stage Scarlet Moon super-mage.

Boom! As a flash of white light erupted, the massive, swirling vortex of the Ice Roar descended, slamming heavily into the Zumas Archers.

Hee-ee-ee-ee!!!

Accompanied by a series of sharp cries, the gigantic, two-and-a-half-meter-tall bodies of the Zumas Archers were jolted backward several paces. A scattering of grayish-brown fragments flew up from all around—these were shards chipped off the outer armor plating of the Zumas Archers.

Good heavens! What astonishing defensive power! Yan Luo and I were both taken aback! Bear in mind, while Yan Luo’s Ice Roar couldn't instantly kill the Zumas creatures encountered between the first and fourth floors, a single blast was usually enough to immobilize them, sending them sprawling. Yet, these mutated Zumas Archers merely staggered back a few steps before composedly drawing their bows again, loosing another round of potent arrows.

Crash! Boom! Another violent collision! Yan Luo and I were struck dead center once more, all within the span of a mere second.

It seemed these fellows weren't easy to deal with. Instantaneous kills were completely out of the question, especially since we had Qian Yue trailing behind us; with her cultivation level, she stood no chance of blocking the Zumas Archers' arrows.

“Let's fall back first!” Realizing this, I swiftly scooped up Qian Yue and ducked back around the corner.

Yan Luo clearly grasped the gravity of the situation, retreating into the corner just as I moved with Qian Yue.

Swish-swish-swish-swish! The dense arrow rain we dodged slammed heavily into the wall before us, scattering harmlessly onto the ground.

“Incredible,” Yan Luo murmured, her face grim. “These must be mutated Zumas creatures.”

“I’m sorry,” Qian Yue whispered quietly. “I’m slowing you both down.”

“Good that you know it,” I retorted sharply. “Don’t be so reckless next time. This place is nothing like up top.”

“Understood,” Yan Luo nodded seriously. “If you want to watch the show, stay hidden here. Don't peek out.”

“Got it.” Though Qian Yue was reluctant, she knew that to protect her, Yan Luo and I couldn't fight the mutated Zumas creatures with our full capabilities. She dutifully crouched in the corner.

Our evasion did not provoke the Zumas Archers into pursuing us. Apparently, their intelligence was not low; they knew it was best to stay near the Zumas Guards, maximizing their long-range advantage. This presented a headache for Yan Luo and me; our strategy of breaking them down individually was now impossible.

After long deliberation, we could devise no way to separate the Zumas Archers from the Zumas Guards. If the Archers alone were this difficult, the remaining Guards and Statues must be even more formidable.

I instinctively glanced at Yan Luo, only to find her wearing the same grave expression. She had clearly considered the same issue.

“We need to ascertain the strength of the mutated Zumas Guards first,” I decided. Know your enemy and know yourself for a hundred battles without peril—when the situation is unclear, restraint is the most basic survival rule for a capable Ranger.

“Agreed,” Yan Luo replied. “But luring out a single Zumas Guard won’t be easy.”

We had witnessed the scene earlier: five Zumas Guards in their dormant state were clustered tightly together. If we accidentally awakened them all, the situation would turn dire. Moreover, the dormant Zumas Guards seemed completely immune to magical attacks; whether it was Ice Roar, Thunder Strike, or Fireball, the spells had zero effect on them. To draw one out, we had to get relatively close.

“We’ll have to fight brute force then!” Out of options, I resolved to use the most direct method. Then, a memory surfaced of the technique I used with Yan Luo to dispatch Hua Yu in the Biqi Mining Area; perhaps it could be adapted for this situation. “Wait! You use your area-of-effect magic to tie up the Zumas Archers, and I’ll lure out one Zumas Guard.”

“En,” Yan Luo nodded. “Be careful, and maintain distance control.”

“Don't worry, if things go south, I can always run away.”

“You’re already thinking of escaping before the fight even starts—I can’t stand you,” Yan Luo chided.

“You can’t say that,” I argued righteously. “Running away is a profound art. As long as my life is spared, there will always be chances to turn the tables later.”

“Whatever you say,” Yan Luo conceded, dropping the argument. “Be cautious. The mutated Zumas Guard's power is terrifying, equivalent to a full-strength strike from a mid-stage Scarlet Moon Warrior. At your current level, taking one hammer blow would leave you half-dead, if you survived at all.”

“Got it.”

................................

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The moment I darted out from the corner, the dense arrow rain howled toward me again. There was no doubt: the mutated Zumas Archers were absolutely first-rate marksmen. This kind of fully enveloping arrow barrage was incredibly difficult to evade. However, speed and reaction time were my strengths. With a few quick evasive maneuvers, I dodged the thick volley and closed the distance to the Zumas Archers in a flash. Simultaneously, a sharp, piercing sound ripped through the air—Yan Luo timed her attack perfectly.

Thump! The moment I closed in, Yan Luo’s Ice Roar accurately struck the center of seven Zumas Archers. The icy aura, accompanied by the explosive force of the magic, violently tossed the towering Zumas Archers backward. This time, Yan Luo’s Ice Roar was fully charged, reaching her maximum destructive potential, naturally making it far more potent than before.

Before the retreating Zumas Archers could even react, my Hundred Battles Blade connected squarely. To maximize the attack's effect, I poured Battle Aura into the blade, condensing it without releasing it, causing a strange golden sheen to appear on the dark surface of the Hundred Battles Blade. It spiraled mesmerizingly around the weapon, the visible ripple of Battle Aura condensed to its extreme.

Flick! The golden light flashed! The struck Zumas Archer had its head instantly severed. In the blink of an eye, I had killed one Zumas Archer. It seemed that aside from their masterful archery, their defense wasn't excessively high—at least my full-power cleave could decapitate them. The remaining task was figuring out how to draw out a Zumas Guard.

Riding the momentum of my charge, I slightly angled my body, closing in on the nearest statue-like Zumas Guard. I approached to about five meters away. The normally dark-gray sculpture suddenly shifted to a dark-red hue tinged with brown—the appearance of an awakened statue. As the Zumas Guard opened its blood-red eyes, it let out a roar! With a muffled boom, a sharp gust of wind surged toward me, and a hammer the size of a millstone swung down toward my head with astonishing speed.

Good heavens! Such a quick reaction! I quickly retreated backward. On the other side, just as the Zumas Archers assumed their drawing posture, Yan Luo’s whistling Ice Roar slammed right into them. Naturally, those arrows never flew.

Boom! A sound like muffled thunder followed by a ground-shaking tremor enveloped the entire Zumas Temple in an echo like a thunderclap.

My goodness, what terrifying force, comparable to Li Xie! Although the Zumas Guard’s hammer missed, it drenched me in a cold sweat. Heavens, what monstrous strength was this?

The Zumas Guard, having missed its mark, immediately hefted its massive hammer and charged at me, moving straight ahead like a fully powered Yellow River truck.

I dared not be careless. Under Yan Luo's cover, I turned and fled, the Zumas Guard relentlessly in pursuit.

In a blink, I reached the corner where we were hiding. The Zumas Guard lived up to expectations and followed me right in.

Thump! Whoosh! A flash of white light signaled Yan Luo’s Ice Roar striking the Zumas Guard’s head again with perfect accuracy.

“Let me take the first hit!” Yan Luo’s intention was clear: she wanted to gauge the Zumas Guard’s resistance to magic.

Roar! This sudden turn of events elicited a heaven-shattering bellow from the Zumas Guard, and its charging momentum momentarily stalled. Upon realizing Yan Luo was the attacker, it instantly abandoned me and lunged toward her instead.

I happily stayed aside to watch the show.

“Sister, go for it! Smash him hard!” Qian Yue cheered excitedly from the sidelines, shouting encouragement for Yan Luo. She even couldn't resist tossing out a few fireballs, but alas, her magical cultivation was too low; the Zumas Guard seemed completely unaffected by the hits and continued to pursue Yan Luo relentlessly.

“What? Can’t you even give me a reaction?” Qian Yue pouted slightly in frustration.

And thus, a spectacular chase ensued.

It had to be admitted that the mutated Zumas Guard’s speed far surpassed human imagination, and its defense was outrageously strong. Unfortunately for it, its opponent, Yan Luo, was only slightly slower than me in terms of raw speed, but being a mage, she relied on long-range magical attacks. Thus, despite the Guard’s astonishing speed, it could never close in on Yan Luo. However, Yan Luo’s Ice Roar could only make the creature wobble; it couldn't inflict fatal damage. The Zumas Guard's defense could only be described as monstrous. Following this, Yan Luo maintained careful distance while engaging the Zumas Guard with Thunder Strikes. While the power of Ice Roar was formidable, the mana consumption was immense. Even with Yan Luo’s current cultivation, continuous casting would soon lead to mana exhaustion.

In comparison, the single-target Thunder Strike was weaker but consumed negligible mana, allowing Yan Luo to sustain the fight over a longer duration.

Thump! Thump! Thump!..............

Yan Luo’s Thunder Strike was almost non-stop. Thick, blue arcs of lightning ceaselessly hammered the Zumas Guard’s head. As time progressed, the Guard's movements grew slower and slower, until finally, with a resounding boom, it crashed to the ground.

By my rough count, it took about forty seconds.

“That’s an impressive beast,” Qian Yue exclaimed in awe.

“En,” Yan Luo nodded slightly. “In terms of magical defense, it rivals a high-stage Scarlet Moon level. Facing two at once would be troublesome.”

“Its speed and strength are both outstanding,” I added thoughtfully. “If combined with the Zumas Archers, they would be incredibly difficult to handle.”

“If that’s the case, our cultivation progress will take a massive hit!” Yan Luo observed.

“Relax, don’t forget I’m here too.” The Zumas Guard was indeed formidable. Based on the strength it displayed, its overall combat power was at least mid-stage Scarlet Moon. Though lacking Battle Aura, its terrifying physical attacks left a deep impression on me. Coupled with decent speed, dealing with it was strenuous. Clearly, the mutated Zumas Guard's defense was superior to that of the Evil Pincer Worms, but this very challenge ignited a strong desire within me to test my limits.

Using the same method, and with Yan Luo providing cover, I successfully lured out another mutated Zumas Guard.

Upon reaching the designated spot, I quickly spun around to face the relentless Zumas Guard.

Soon, the Guard entered my close combat range. This was the moment I waited for.

Whoosh! I rapidly adjusted my stance, lunged forward in a sidestepping charge, and immediately unleashed a powerful horizontal slash aimed directly at the Zumas Guard’s neck. In terms of speed, I held an absolute advantage; the Guard couldn't adjust its move in time.

Thump! Roar! The blade connected squarely with the Zumas Guard’s neck, but the instant of impact sent a fierce counter-recoil shooting up my wrist. The violent vibration almost ripped my grip apart—it felt like striking a steel plate. The astonishing rebound force immediately sent the Hundred Battles Blade flying back toward my face. I quickly retracted the strike, dragging the blade back, using the rebound force to carve a wide arc, successfully diffusing the immense recoil. What incredible defense! My Hundred Battles Blade couldn't pierce its defense and nearly injured me in the process.

Having taken the hit, the Zumas Guard paused momentarily, but quickly raised its great hammer again, swinging it at me. The millstone-sized hammer blocked nearly all my escape routes. I swiftly performed a backflip to spring clear.

Boom! A deafening crash sounded as the solid ground was gouged open by a circular pit the size of a millstone. Its divine strength was truly astonishing. The Zumas Guard, having missed its target again, swung the hammer to pursue me. I dodged while searching for its weak spot. Clearly, the strike to the neck hadn't caused significant damage. Its weakness wasn't the neck—so where was it?

Subsequently, relying on my agility, I engaged the Zumas Guard in a drawn-out battle of maneuvering. I slashed its head, arms, thighs, and waist, hacking everywhere with the Hundred Battles Blade. However, the Guard’s physical defense was simply too incredible; my blade couldn't even scratch it. Instead, my wrists grew numb from the shock, leaving me in a sorry state.

My conclusion was that killing it solely with the Hundred Battles Blade, while not impossible, would demand an unsustainable amount of stamina. Out of necessity, I switched to my fencing rapier. Up to this point, my most potent offensive technique was the piercing attack learned as the Three Swords in a Line from the Evil Forces, a move I had some confidence in—it had slain Hua Yu, a super-expert. However, in later confrontations with Li Xie, the Three Swords in a Line failed to penetrate Li Xie's defense, forcing me to recognize the vast gulf separating me from peak masters. Now, facing the Zumas Guard, which lacked Li Xie’s Battle Aura control and technique but possessed such absurd defense, I wasn't confident that my piercing attack with the rapier could kill it.

Clang! I dodged the millstone-sized hammer again by sidestepping. Seizing the opening, I closed the distance with an Electric Step, and the Three Swords in a Line finally struck.

Ding-ding-ding! Following a series of rapid, crisp sounds, it felt as if these three thrusts had landed on reinforced steel again—no discernible effect. But this time, I avoided the pain of the intense counter-recoil because the rapier's remarkable flexibility allowed the rebounding force to merely bend the blade. This effectively absorbed and neutralized the recoil. Finally, using the sword's spring-back force, I leaped backward a distance of five meters.

Roar! The Zumas Guard let out a howl of pain. Upon closer inspection, although the attack hadn't pierced its body, my thrusts had managed to etch a pinky-finger-sized indentation into its hard outer shell, leaking a brownish fluid—the blood of a Zumas creature. Clearly, the Zumas Guard was wounded.

Wounded, the Zumas Guard flew into a greater rage, swinging its massive hammer at me like a hurricane. Alas, while its strength was freakishly potent, its speed was significantly slower than mine. All it managed to strike were my afterimages.

Thump! Another missed swing. Taking advantage of this rare lull, I thrust my sword forward again, aiming squarely for that pinky-sized, still-bleeding puncture.

Shush! With a soft sound, the blade met slight resistance before plunging straight through. A single thrust pierced the Zumas Guard’s body. Instinctively, the Battle Aura within me followed the sword and flooded into the Guard’s interior. Simultaneously, I retreated using the Electric Step.

Roar! Ugh! Boom! After a world-shaking bellow, the Zumas Guard’s colossal body finally collapsed. The jet of blood spurting from the hole shot up like a high-pressure hose, reaching the temple ceiling fifteen meters high.

“Phew! Finally dealt with it.”

Attack Power: 90 Attack Speed: 80 Technique: 70 Overall Strength Assessment: 80

This was the conclusion I reached.