The boss fight had been raging for twenty minutes.

Twenty minutes of constant movement, coordination, and near-death experiences. My Qi reserves were dropping steadily, my injured arm screamed with every block and parry, and the Crimson Serpent Guardian showed no signs of tiring.

[STAMINA: 41%]

[QI RESERVES: 52%]

[TEAM EXHAUSTION: HIGH]

[SERPENT STATUS: STILL TERRIFYING]

[ZHAO FEI PROGRESS: 67%]

"You persist," the serpent observed, sounding almost pleased. "Most thieves die within minutes. You have lasted... considerably longer."

"Compliments later!" Chen Rou shouted, her Azure Dragon technique clashing with the serpent's tail strike. "Zhao Fei, status?"

"Almost there! Two more minutes!"

"Two minutes," the serpent mused. "Can you survive two more minutes, little cultivators?"

The serpent's attacks intensified. Its tail became a blur, forcing our defensive formation to its absolute limits. Yun Xia and Su Mei worked together to redirect strikes while Han Feng and I covered the gaps.

Zhou Ming had positioned himself strategically, not trying to fight the serpent directly, but creating barriers with his Qi that disrupted its attack patterns just enough to buy us precious seconds.

[ZHOU MING: LEARNING FAST]

[SMART POSITIONING]

[HE'S GOING TO BE GOOD IF HE SURVIVES THIS]

Tang Bolin's fists hammered at the serpent's scales, each impact creating shockwaves. His Stage 7 cultivation was enough to actually hurt the beast, forcing it to divide its attention between him and Chen Rou.

"Lin Tian!" Yun Xia called out. "Combination strike, pattern seven!"

Pattern seven, we'd practiced it dozens of times. A synchronized attack where my Infinite Tide Scripture's offensive flow combined with her Flowing Water Palm's defensive redirection to create an opening.

We moved as one.

I struck high, Qi spiraling in my blade. Yun Xia struck low, her palm creating a pressure wave that disrupted the serpent's defensive scales. The combination forced the serpent to shift position, exposing its flank to Chen Rou.

She didn't waste the opportunity. Azure Dragon Ascension manifested with full power, the spectral dragon's claws raking across the serpent's exposed side.

The serpent hissed, the first sound of actual pain we'd heard from it.

[SERPENT HEALTH: 87% → 79%]

[FIRST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE]

[COMBINATION ATTACKS WORKING]

"Interesting," the serpent said, its mental voice carrying notes of genuine surprise. "The bonded pair creates openings. The dragon leader capitalizes. Coordination beyond your cultivation levels."

"We're full of surprises," I gasped, my Qi reserves dipping below 50%.

"Indeed. Perhaps... you are worthy after all."

The serpent suddenly stopped attacking. It coiled around the pedestal again, regarding us with those ancient, intelligent eyes.

"The test is complete," it announced. "You have proven yourselves adequate."

"Test?" Chen Rou lowered her guard cautiously, though she remained ready to attack. "This was a test?"

"All who seek the crystals are tested. Most fail within minutes, insufficient strength, poor coordination, or simple cowardice. You," its gaze swept across Team 7, "demonstrated all three requirements: strength, unity, and courage."

[BOSS FIGHT: ACTUALLY A TRIAL]

[PLOT TWIST]

[THE SERPENT IS INTELLIGENT AND HONORABLE]

[WHO SAW THAT COMING?]

"So we can take the crystals?" Zhao Fei asked hopefully, his hands still on the pedestal's formation.

"You may. But first, a question." The serpent's attention focused on Chen Rou. "Why do you seek them? Power? Wealth? Advancement?"

"To save lives," Chen Rou said immediately. "Our sect brothers were injured. The extraction point was sabotaged. We need the crystals to repair it so they can return home safely."

"Selfless purpose. Rare among cultivators." The serpent seemed satisfied. "Take the crystals, dragon leader. And take also... additional compensation for your performance."

The serpent's scales rippled with light. Three objects materialized from thin air and floated toward Chen Rou.

[BOSS REWARDS: UNLOCKED]

[ANALYZING...]

A jade slip, advanced cultivation technique. A small crystal vial, containing what looked like liquid Qi. And a token made of crimson stone with formation script.

"The technique is Serpent's Flow, a movement art from the Immortal Era. The vial contains Essence of Ascension, it will aid one cultivator in breaking through their next bottleneck. And the token..." The serpent's mental voice carried amusement. "That is a sanctuary key. It will grant you access to five safe havens throughout the Crimson Wastes. Use them wisely."

[LOOT ACQUIRED: LEGENDARY]

[TOTAL VALUE: EXTREME]

[CHEN ROU'S CAUTIOUS APPROACH: COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED]

[THIS WAS WORTH THE RISK]

Chen Rou bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Guardian. Your generosity is unexpected."

"It is reward for worthiness. Few teams demonstrate such coordination. Fewer still fight for reasons beyond greed." The serpent's gaze swept over us one more time. "Go, little cultivators. Repair your extraction point. Save your wounded. And remember, true strength lies not in individual power, but in bonds forged through shared trial."

The serpent began to fade, returning to whatever dormant state it maintained between testing visitors.

"One final warning," its voice echoed as it disappeared. "The sabotage of extraction points is not random. Someone hunts disciples in these wastes. Be cautious. Trust your bonds. Survive."

[CRYPTIC WARNING: RECEIVED]

[CONSPIRACY CONFIRMED]

[SOMEONE IS DELIBERATELY TRAPPING DISCIPLES]

[THIS IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT]

The journey back to the extraction point took half the time, partly because we weren't escorting wounded anymore, partly because we had the sanctuary token to avoid dangerous areas.

Team 4 had maintained the perimeter perfectly. Feng Yue's expression shifted from worried to relieved when she saw us approaching.

"You made it! And you have the crystals?"

"Three Grade 6 Qi Condensation Crystals," Zhao Fei announced proudly, holding them up. "Plus some bonus loot. Give me an hour and I'll have the extraction formation operational."

True to his word, Zhao Fei worked methodically, replacing damaged crystals and repairing sabotaged formation lines. Chen Rou and Wei Long examined the sabotage more carefully now that we had time.

"Professional work," Wei Long concluded. "Whoever did this knew exactly which components to disable for maximum damage with minimal evidence."

"A formation expert," Zhao Fei agreed. "Someone with Immortal Era knowledge. Not many people have that."

[SABOTEUR PROFILE: SKILLED, KNOWLEDGEABLE, DANGEROUS]

[MOTIVATION: STILL UNKNOWN]

[BUT DEFINITELY MALICIOUS]

The formation activated with a hum of power. Zhao Fei stepped back, satisfied. "Operational. Team 4, you're clear to extract."

Feng Yue gathered her remaining team members, three survivors out of ten original. They looked haunted, traumatized, but grateful to be alive.

"Thank you," Feng Yue said to Chen Rou, bowing deeply. "Team 7 saved us when no one else would. We owe you our lives."

"Just sect loyalty," Chen Rou said. "When you return, report the sabotage to the elders. They need to know someone is targeting disciples deliberately."

"We will." Feng Yue hesitated. "Chen Rou... be careful. Team 4 wasn't the only team to suffer heavy casualties. We heard rumors before our communications failed. At least three other teams have been wiped out completely."

[CASUALTY UPDATE: WORSE THAN EXPECTED]

[3+ TEAMS ELIMINATED = 30+ DISCIPLES DEAD]

[MORTALITY RATE: EXCEEDING PROJECTIONS]

"Wiped out?" Tang Bolin's deep voice rumbled with concern. "By corrupted beasts?"

"Some, maybe. But others..." Feng Yue's expression darkened. "We heard screaming on the communication talismans before they went silent. Not beast attacks. Cultivator attacks. Organized. Deliberate."

[PLOT THICKENS]

[ORGANIZED ATTACKS ON DISCIPLES]

[THIS IS BEYOND NORMAL SECT RIVALRY]

Chen Rou's expression became grim. "Return to the sect. Report everything. We'll continue investigating on this end."

Team 4 stepped into the extraction formation. Light enveloped them, and they vanished, teleported back to Azure Peak Sect and safety.

Leaving Team 7 alone in the Wastes once more.

That night, we camped in one of the sanctuary safe zones the serpent's token had granted us access to. The sanctuary was a small valley shielded by ancient formations so powerful that even corrupted beasts gave it a wide berth.

"Distribution time," Chen Rou announced. "The serpent's rewards go to those who can use them best. Serpent's Flow movement technique, Lin Tian, you have the cultivation speed to master it quickly. Take it."

"Are you sure? You're the leader—"

"And as leader, I decide what benefits the team most. A faster you means better combat effectiveness." She handed me the jade slip. "Study it."

[ITEM ACQUIRED: SERPENT'S FLOW (IMMORTAL ERA TECHNIQUE)]

[RARITY: LEGENDARY]

[COMPATIBILITY: EXCELLENT WITH INFINITE TIDE SCRIPTURE]

[THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING]

"The Essence of Ascension," Chen Rou continued, holding up the vial. "One dose, one breakthrough. We'll save it for whoever needs it most when they hit a bottleneck. Agreed?"

Everyone nodded. It was too valuable to use casually.

"And the sanctuary token stays with me for team navigation purposes."

"What about the Qi Condensation Crystals we retrieved?" Su Mei asked. "We only needed three for the extraction point, but Zhao Fei grabbed five."

"Team resource pool," Chen Rou decided. "We'll use them for emergency cultivation or trade them for other necessary supplies."

[FAIR DISTRIBUTION]

[NO HOARDING]

[GOOD LEADERSHIP]

That evening, I studied the Serpent's Flow technique. The jade slip contained not just the movements, but the philosophy behind them, how serpents moved through the world, striking from unexpected angles, flowing like water but hitting like lightning.

[ANALYZING: SERPENT'S FLOW]

[COMPATIBILITY WITH INFINITE TIDE SCRIPTURE: 94%]

[SYNERGY POTENTIAL: EXTREMELY HIGH]

[THIS WILL ENHANCE YOUR COMBAT ABILITY SIGNIFICANTLY]

[ESTIMATED MASTERY TIME: 2-3 WEEKS WITH YOUR LEARNING SPEED]

Yun Xia found me practicing the first forms. "New technique?"

"Serpent's Flow. Immortal Era movement art." I demonstrated a strike, faster, more fluid than my normal attacks. "It complements the Infinite Tide Scripture perfectly."

"Show off," she teased, but her eyes showed admiration. "You're already Stage 6 and learning legendary techniques. Soon you'll be too powerful for me to keep up with."

"Never," I said firmly, taking her hand. "We advance together, remember? Partners."

She smiled. "Partners."

[RELATIONSHIP: SOLID]

[ROMANTIC SUBPLOT: DEVELOPING WELL]

[THEY'RE CUTE]

[SYSTEM APPROVES]

We sat together, watching the sanctuary's formations shimmer in the crimson twilight. Somewhere beyond the safe zone, the Wastes continued their endless danger. Corrupted beasts hunted. Rival sects schemed. And whoever was sabotaging extraction points continued their mysterious work.

But here, now, we were safe.

Team 7, having survived a boss fight and saved another team.

"Eighty-three days left," Yun Xia said quietly.

"Eighty-three days," I agreed. "We'll make it. All of us."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

[BOSS, STOP MAKING PROMISES]

[SERIOUSLY]

[YOU'RE TEMPTING FATE]

But I didn't care about tempting fate. I cared about the people beside me, the team that had become something more than just survival partners.

We'd face whatever came.

[CHAPTER 27 SUMMARY]

- BOSS FIGHT: VICTORY (VIA TRIAL)

- LOOT ACQUIRED: LEGENDARY TIER

- TEAM 4: SUCCESSFULLY EXTRACTED

- CONSPIRACY: CONFIRMED AND DEEPENING

- CASUALTIES SECTOR-WIDE: 30+ DISCIPLES

- TEAM 7 STATUS: INTACT AND IMPROVING

- DAYS REMAINING: 83

- SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: 64%

- NEXT OBJECTIVE: INVESTIGATE SABOTAGE

[ALSO: CONTINUE NOT DYING]

Somewhere in the Crimson Wastes, the saboteur continued their work.

Teams were dying.

A conspiracy unfolded.

But Team 7 was ready.

Armed with legendary techniques, sanctuary access, and unshakeable bonds.

---

[PLOT THICKENING: DRAMATICALLY]

[TEAM POWER LEVEL: INCREASING]

[COMPLICATIONS: INEVITABLE]

[STAY TUNED]

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