Rowan and the group raced across the terrain at incredible speed. At the same time, Babata began briefing them on the current locations where the Wind Horn Stones might appear.
At this point, the Wind Horn Stones had become a rare treasure within the Wind-Thunder Canyon, a perilous region in the vast Thunder World. Even before entering the Thunder World, Babata had already copied key intelligence about the area.
With the general location confirmed, Rowan naturally directed their team at full speed toward Wind-Thunder Canyon.
"This is too easy! I didn't expect that the thirty-something horned rhinos we fought together would be so weak!"
Lei Shen's face radiated exhilaration after the recent battle.
He had not anticipated that everything would go so smoothly. Initially, he had expected a grueling fight. Yet, as soon as the battle began, it unfolded flawlessly.
"That's only natural. We've become far stronger than when we left Earth," Hong said, a broad grin on his face.
The recent battle had been nothing like the duel arena. In the arena, one could spar recklessly to practice techniques. Real life-and-death combat, however, truly awakened latent potential.
"Hey! Hey! Stop! We have a serious problem! There are so many armored rhinos surrounding us. You need to run now!"
Babata's monitoring system immediately detected a dense herd of armored rhinos rapidly encircling their position.
The team was currently on a wide-open plain en route to Wind-Thunder Canyon, offering little cover.
Across this vast plain in the Thunder World, gales roared like wild beasts, lifting clouds of sand and dust into the air, casting the entire horizon in a murky yellow haze.
Heavy leaden clouds pressed low in the sky, lightning flashing intermittently through the storm, each strike followed by a deep, rolling thunder.
Far off, massive monsters surged toward them, numbering well over a hundred.
Rowan, however, remained perfectly calm. He narrowed his eyes, watching the approaching rhino swarm.
The dust they raised twisted into a giant yellow dragon, snaking across the plain.
Babata continued to urge them to flee, warning that this place was too dangerous.
Yet a confident smile tugged at the corners of Rowan's mouth. "No rush. We'll stay and fight these beasts."
"What?" Lei Shen's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why would we face so many rhinos head-on? We already have enough horns," he said, puzzled.
Hong frowned, concern crossing his face. "Third Brother, even with our improved strength, these creatures outnumber us by tens of times. If we fight directly, we could all be wiped out."
Rowan remained calm, speaking steadily. "Big Brother, Second Brother, think about it. In life-or-death situations like this, we have the perfect chance to awaken our true potential. The bloodline enhancers we consumed haven't fully absorbed yet. Engaging in combat now will help us understand power, control, and breakthroughs better. These beasts are simple-minded, driven purely by instinct they're ideal sparring partners. Each of us can pick a few to practice on. This is a rare opportunity to strengthen ourselves."
Hong nodded slowly, recognition flickering in his eyes. Memories of past breakthroughs during battles surfaced. "Third Brother's right. Life-and-death battles like this… we've fought these rhinos before, so we know their habits and basic attack patterns. This is the perfect chance to refine our skills."
Lei Shen laughed heartily, thumping his chest. "Alright! If that's the case, we'll give these guys a good fight! It's been ages since we've had such a thrilling battle. Time to let loose."
Luo Feng clenched his fists. Though his voice was quiet, it carried unshakable determination. "I want to get stronger too. I'm staying! I can't always hide behind you guys."
Rowan looked at Aogu and Tie Nanhe. "Protect Luo Feng. His safety is up to you." He handed Aogu a shard of the Red-Hybrid Bronze Mother, explaining, "This fragment is powerful enough to kill the surrounding rhinos. Use it without hesitation in an emergency. Keep Luo Feng safe."
Aogu and Tie Nanhe knelt on one knee, their voices unwavering. "Boss, rest assured. We swear to protect Luo Feng with our lives!"
With everyone positioned, the armored rhinos were nearly upon them.
Rowan spread his arms, summoning three silver guardians from their storage space.
"Split them up!" he shouted.
Instantly, the three guardians transformed into a liquid-like state, their bodies stretching and forming barriers. The rhinos charging from every direction were channeled into separate zones, with a dozen of them isolated for combat.
"Kill!"
With the silver guardians' help, the hundred-plus rhinos were divided into manageable groups, perfect for training purposes.
Rowan struck first, a black streak in the chaos, targeting an especially massive rhino.
The beast exuded a raw, untamed aura. Rowan's Dun Tian Shuttle glimmered with icy light as he executed the Mountain-Piercing Drill.
His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, body moving like a ghost to strike.
The shuttle pierced the rhino's skull in an instant. Blood spouted like a fountain, and the colossal creature collapsed, dust rising around it.
Lei Shen enveloped himself in a triple lightning domain. Blue arcs of electricity danced around him like countless serpents. He roared, each bolt striking rhinos with surgical precision. The creatures convulsed, their thick hides charred, their movements sluggish, until they fell dead under the relentless assault.
Hong activated a triple-light domain. Speed surged within the field, his spear carving devastating wounds through the rhinos. Within moments, the creatures fell, riddled with gaping holes, lifeless.
Luo Feng controlled the Skyblade. All 472 blades swarmed like a lethal hive, targeting the weak points of the rhinos.
One creature shrieked as the blades struck its eye. Luo Feng's hands moved with unmatched control, the twelve key blades unleashing their full power. Each strike carved deep into its tough hide. Though the remaining blades were decoys, the twelve true blades were enough to fell a stellar-grade nine monster.
Rowan, Lei Shen, and Hong had already dispatched several beasts, while Luo Feng fought fiercely, killing his target after a grueling effort.
Aogu and Tie Nanhe remained by Luo Feng's side, fending off approaching rhinos to ensure he could fight alone.
Aogu wielded the Red-Hybrid Bronze Mother shard. If a powerful rhino broke through, he struck without hesitation, the fragment slicing through the air and knocking enemies back several meters, a force the rhinos dared not challenge.
As the team battled, groups of trainee mercenaries passed nearby. They froze, stunned by the hundred-plus rhinos and the small team fearlessly fighting them.
"How is this possible?" one soldier exclaimed, eyes wide. "Just a few people, and they're taking on so many rhinos? Are they insane?"
"Who are they? How are they this strong?" another muttered, shock and disbelief written across his face.
Rowan and the others wove through the herd, their overlapping domains forming multiple battle zones. Intense fire, violent lightning, blazing beams, and sharp blades ensnared the rhinos in a living hell.
The beasts, powerful as they were, fell like prey under such coordinated assault.
Even other teams searching for Wind Horn Stones paused, awestruck by the spectacle.
The Ninth Princess of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire had ordered her own squad elsewhere, deciding not to interfere after witnessing the team's overwhelming power.
Meanwhile, in the Virtual Universe, Immortal Tianxu smiled. "These youngsters are amusing. Using monsters as sparring partners…"
Cang Bo chuckled. "Not bad at all. I like them more each day."
Tianxu's attention lingered on Lei Shen. "That lightning user… perhaps I should recruit him. I train in lightning and Earth law; he'd be perfect."
Cang Bo, however, refused. "No. You need to discuss it with the higher-ups. Lei Shen is talented, but he belongs here."
Back on the battlefield, Rowan's team had slaughtered the hundred-plus rhinos within hours. Rowan rubbed his temple, weary.
"Thirty-five… too taxing on my psychic energy. The Dun Tian Shuttle is starting to feel inadequate."
As they rested, cooking the rhino meat over a simple fire, Rowan asked Babata, "Which of the nine psychic weapons would suit time and fire law best?"
The team's next stage of growth was about to begin. The Red-Hybrid Bronze Mother shard and the Dun Tian Shuttle would not be enough. A more specialized psychic weapon was needed.