The temple loomed before us like a monument to a forgotten age.

Massive stone pillars, each carved with intricate formations that still pulsed with faint Qi, supported a structure that defied the Wastes' decay. While everything else in this cursed place crumbled and corrupted, the temple stood pristine, a testament to Immortal Era craftsmanship.

"It's beautiful," Zhou Ming whispered.

"It's dangerous," Wei Long corrected. "I'm detecting at least three guardian signatures. Stage 7 minimum. And something bigger inside, Stage 8, maybe higher."

[TEMPLE ANALYSIS COMPLETE]

[GUARDIAN BEASTS: 3+ CONFIRMED]

[BOSS ENTITY: STAGE 8 MINIMUM]

[DUNGEON DIFFICULTY: RAID-TIER]

[YOUR TEAM AVERAGE: STAGE 5.9]

[THIS IS GOING TO BE ROUGH]

Chen Rou studied the temple's entrance, massive bronze doors adorned with guardian statues. "Standard formation. Tang Bolin and I handle the Stage 8 boss. Everyone else manages the smaller guardians and protects our formation expert while he retrieves the crystals."

"What about Team 4?" Feng Yue asked. Her team had insisted on helping despite their injuries.

"You maintain perimeter security. If we fail and retreat, you cover our escape." Chen Rou's tone left no room for argument. "Your team has suffered enough. Don't add to the casualties."

[PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP]

[PROTECTING THE WOUNDED]

[SMART]

We approached cautiously. The moment we crossed the temple's threshold, the guardian statues' eyes began to glow.

"Here we go," Han Feng muttered.

The statues moved.

Three constructs, each three meters tall, carved from crimson stone, animated by ancient formations. They stepped down from their pedestals with grinding sounds that echoed through the temple halls.

[CRIMSON GUARDIAN CONSTRUCTS]

[STAGE 7 EQUIVALENT POWER]

[ENHANCED DURABILITY, FORMATION-BASED ATTACKS]

[WEAKNESS: QI DISRUPTION AT CORE POINTS]

"Zhao Fei, the cores!" Chen Rou commanded. "Everyone else, keep them busy! Don't try to destroy them, just distract!"

[TACTICAL APPROACH: INTELLIGENT]

[CONSTRUCTS ARE NEARLY INDESTRUCTIBLE]

[DISABLING IS SMARTER THAN DESTROYING]

I engaged the first guardian with Han Feng. The construct moved with surprising speed for something made of stone, its fist crashing toward us with enough force to crater the floor.

"Left!" Han Feng shouted.

We split, the guardian's attack missing us by inches. The Infinite Tide Scripture flowed through my movements as I struck at the construct's joints, not trying to damage it, just keeping its attention.

[COMBAT ASSIST: ACTIVE]

[TACTICS: EVASION AND DISTRACTION]

[DO NOT ENGAGE DIRECTLY]

Han Feng's attacks were more aggressive, his fists hammering at the guardian's torso in combinations designed to draw aggression. "Come on, you oversized brick! Look at me!"

The guardian obliged, turning its full attention to Han Feng. Its stone fists blurred in a devastating combination that would have pulverized a normal cultivator.

But Han Feng was Stage 6 and specialized in close combat. He weaved through the attacks with practiced ease, laughing. "Too slow!"

Meanwhile, Su Mei and Yun Xia coordinated perfectly against the second guardian. Su Mei's staff strikes redirected its attacks while Yun Xia's Flowing Water Palm created openings for Zhao Fei to analyze its core structure.

"Third guardian!" Wei Long called out. "Heading for our formation expert!"

Zhou Ming and Liu Yan intercepted it, not with overwhelming power, but with smart positioning and teamwork that forced the construct to divide its attention.

[TEAM COORDINATION: EXCELLENT]

[EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR ROLE]

[THIS IS WORKING]

"Found it!" Zhao Fei shouted. "First core location, center of the back, beneath the formation script!"

Chen Rou moved like lightning. Her Stage 9 cultivation allowed her to literally appear behind the first guardian, her palm striking precisely where Zhao Fei indicated.

The guardian froze, its formations disrupted. It remained standing but immobile, disabled rather than destroyed.

"One down!" Chen Rou called. "Two more!"

The remaining guardians seemed to recognize the threat. They moved faster, more aggressively, their attacks becoming coordinated.

[GUARDIAN AI: ADAPTING]

[DIFFICULTY: INCREASING]

[THEY'RE LEARNING]

A stone fist caught Han Feng's shoulder, not a direct hit, but enough to send him spinning. "Ow! Okay, these things can actually hurt!"

"Fall back!" I shouted, moving to cover him. The guardian pursued, and I intercepted with Tide Breaker, not trying to damage it, just redirect its momentum enough for Han Feng to recover.

[STAMINA: 67%]

[QI RESERVES: 71%]

[MAINTAINING WELL]

"Second core!" Zhao Fei located it. "Right shoulder joint!"

Tang Bolin's massive frame crashed into the second guardian like a battering ram. His strength wasn't enough to destroy the construct, but it was enough to expose the shoulder. Chen Rou's follow-up strike disabled the second guardian.

"Two down! Last one!"

The final guardian suddenly changed tactics. Instead of attacking us, it turned and charged directly at Zhao Fei.

[PRIORITY TARGET: FORMATION EXPERT]

[IT'S SMART ENOUGH TO IDENTIFY THE THREAT]

[STOP IT]

"No!" Zhou Ming threw himself in the guardian's path.

What happened next occurred in slow motion.

The guardian's fist descended toward Zhou Ming, a strike that would absolutely kill him. His eyes widened, realizing his mistake. He'd moved on instinct, on loyalty, without thinking about the consequences.

The Infinite Tide Scripture moved my body before conscious thought caught up.

I crossed the distance in a blur, Stage 6 cultivation pushed to its absolute limit. My sword intercepted the guardian's fist, not blocking it, but redirecting with every ounce of spiraling Qi I could channel.

The impact sent shockwaves up my arms. My bones creaked under the pressure. But the strike deviated just enough.

The guardian's fist crashed into the floor beside Zhou Ming instead of through him.

[DAMAGE SUSTAINED: MODERATE]

[LEFT ARM: STRAINED]

[YOU JUST REDIRECTED A STAGE 7 ATTACK]

[SHOW OFF]

"Third core!" Zhao Fei's voice cut through the chaos. "Base of the neck!"

Chen Rou and Tang Bolin struck simultaneously. The final guardian froze, disabled.

Silence fell over the temple.

"Clear," Wei Long confirmed.

I collapsed beside Zhou Ming, my left arm throbbing. "You idiot. You beautiful, loyal idiot."

"S-sorry, Senior Brother," Zhou Ming stammered, his face pale. "I just... I didn't think—"

"Exactly. You didn't think." But I smiled. "Brave though. Stupid, but brave."

[ZHOU MING: LEARNED AN IMPORTANT LESSON]

[SACRIFICE IS NOBLE]

[BUT SURVIVAL IS BETTER]

Liu Yan rushed over to check my arm. "Strained muscles, minor Qi disruption. Nothing permanent, but you'll need to rest it."

"Later," Chen Rou said. "We're not done yet. The boss is still inside."

She pointed toward the temple's inner sanctum, where massive doors stood closed. Behind them, I could feel it, a presence that made the guardian constructs seem like children's toys.

[DETECTING: STAGE 8 ENTITY]

[QI SIGNATURE: CORRUPTED BUT STABLE]

[DANGER LEVEL: EXTREME]

[RECOMMENDED ACTION: RUN AWAY]

[ACTUAL ACTION: PROBABLY FIGHT IT ANYWAY]

"Zhao Fei," Chen Rou said. "The crystals should be in the sanctum with the boss. Can you retrieve them during combat?"

"If you keep it distracted? Maybe. Probably. Hopefully?"

"Inspiring confidence." Chen Rou checked her team. "Injuries?"

"Lin Tian's arm," Liu Yan reported. "Minor strains on Han Feng and Zhou Ming. Everyone else is functional."

"Good enough." Chen Rou looked at each of us seriously. "This next fight is beyond anything we've faced. The boss is Stage 8, I can handle it with Tang Bolin's support, but it won't be easy. Your job is staying alive and protecting Zhao Fei. If things go wrong, retreat immediately. Understood?"

"Yes, Leader," we chorused.

[BOSS FIGHT: COMMENCING]

[PREPARE FOR PAIN]

Chen Rou pushed open the sanctum doors.

The chamber beyond was enormous, a circular space with a domed ceiling covered in formation scripts. At the center stood a pedestal containing three glowing crystals, exactly what we needed.

And coiled around the pedestal was the boss.

A serpent. Massive, ancient, its scales the deep crimson of dried blood. Stage 8 corruption radiated from its form, but unlike other corrupted beasts, this one's eyes showed intelligence. Awareness.

[CRIMSON SERPENT GUARDIAN]

[STAGE 8 EQUIVALENT]

[ENHANCED: INTELLIGENCE, FORMATION MANIPULATION, VENOM]

[BOSS-TIER DIFFICULTY]

[GOOD LUCK]

The serpent's head rose, regarding us with ancient eyes. When it spoke, the voice resonated directly in our minds.

"Thieves come for the crystals. As all thieves do. As all thieves die."

"We don't want trouble," Chen Rou said calmly. "Just the crystals. We can negotiate—"

"Negotiation ended ten thousand years ago. Now, only testing remains. Prove your worth, or perish."

[NEGOTIATION: FAILED]

[BOSS FIGHT: UNAVOIDABLE]

[THIS IS A TEST]

[SURVIVE OR DIE]

The serpent attacked.

Its speed was incomprehensible for something so large. One moment it was coiled around the pedestal. The next, its fangs were driving toward Chen Rou with killing intent.

Chen Rou met it with Azure Dragon Ascension. Her spectral dragon technique manifested fully, clashing with the serpent in an explosion of Qi that shook the entire temple.

"Now!" she shouted. "Zhao Fei, get those crystals!"

[BOSS FIGHT: ACTIVE]

[OBJECTIVES:]

[1. SURVIVE]

[2. RETRIEVE CRYSTALS]

[3. SERIOUSLY, JUST SURVIVE]

We scattered, moving into support positions. The serpent's attention was locked on Chen Rou and Tang Bolin, the only threats it actually respected. The rest of us were beneath its notice.

Until Zhao Fei started dismantling the pedestal's protective formations.

The serpent's head snapped toward him. "The crystal thief dies first."

"Everyone protect Zhao Fei!" Chen Rou commanded.

The serpent's tail whipped toward our formation expert with blinding speed.

And Team 7 moved as one to intercept.

[TEAMWORK: MAXIMUM]

[COORDINATION: PERFECT]

[THIS IS WHAT TRAINING WAS FOR]

My sword, Yun Xia's palm, Su Mei's staff, Han Feng's fists, all struck the tail simultaneously, redirecting its trajectory just enough.

The serpent hissed in what might have been surprise or respect. "Interesting. The small ones have coordination. Perhaps this will be entertaining."

"I hate boss monsters with personality," Han Feng muttered.

"Less talking, more not dying!" Su Mei shouted.

The real fight began.

[BOSS BATTLE: IN PROGRESS]

[TEAM STATUS: STRAINED BUT HOLDING]

[ZHAO FEI PROGRESS: 40%]

[SERPENT HEALTH: 87%]

[THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE]

[HANG IN THERE, TEAM 7]

Chen Rou and Tang Bolin were magnificent. Stage 9 and Stage 7 working in perfect synchronization, their attacks forcing the serpent to actually defend rather than just ignore them.

But Stage 8 was Stage 8. The serpent was powerful, ancient, and learning our tactics with every exchange.

"You fight well, little dragon," it told Chen Rou. "But you cannot win. Only survive long enough to amuse me."

"I'm not here to amuse you," Chen Rou replied. "I'm here to get those crystals and leave."

"Then you will fail. None have taken the crystals in ten thousand years."

"Then we'll be the first."

[CHEN ROU: BADASS]

[DETERMINATION: MAXIMUM]

[THIS TEAM IS NOT GIVING UP]

The battle raged on, and slowly, impossibly, we were winning.

Through teamwork, coordination, and sheer stubborn refusal to die.

Team 7, fighting a boss monster.

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