“My Frost Rain Arrow should be able to limit the fire bear’s power, and I can also set up a Xuanming Ice-Sealing Formation outside the cave,” Edward Reed said.

Linda Cooper added, “I’m carrying the ebony bow, so I can shoot at its vital points from a distance. There are also seven long ropes here, which can be arranged into a simple trap to restrict the fire bear’s movement.”

George Carter said, “I have poison feather needles.”

Susan Baker frowned slightly, “No, your poison needles are too weak. If you can’t hit its eyes, they’re useless. I have Soul-Leaving Powder here, which can not only confuse its mind but also block its five senses.” After thinking for a moment, she continued, “The terrain inside the cave is spacious. We’ll make our move inside first. William Grant and Linda Cooper will hold off the fire bear, Edward Reed will use spells to restrain it, and George Carter and I will harass it. When things get dangerous, we’ll retreat from the cave and use the narrow terrain outside to trap the fire bear…”

Chapter 005: Bloody Battle with the Fire Bear

The inner disciples of Honglian Temple were young, but all had grown up through battle after battle, each possessing a strong fighting will. The huge lure of profit also filled them with fighting spirit.

Fortune favors the bold. As long as they succeeded this time, they would have a huge advantage in the year-end competition.

While Edward Reed was setting up the Xuanming Ice-Sealing Formation on the other side of the passage, Susan Baker said to Linda Cooper, George Carter, and Henry Clark, “Edward Reed is cunning and vicious, and will definitely not be willing to share the fire crystal with us. If we manage to kill the fire bear, everyone must be wary of Edward Reed’s treachery. If Edward Reed makes a move, the three of you must fight back with all your strength if you want to survive. I’ll pretend to help Edward Reed, then look for a chance to kill her.”

George Carter said hatefully, “That Edward Reed is the most vicious. Thanks to senior brother for warning us. Why don’t we agree on a secret signal and strike first to take out Edward Reed?”

Linda Cooper agreed, “Yes, strike first.”

Henry Clark knew that Susan Baker and the other two had definitely discussed this beforehand, and most of what they said was for his ears. With the three of them staring at him, not taking a stand was as good as courting death. Henry Clark said decisively, “Edward Reed and I have an old grudge. I’ve been stationed outside the temple for years just to avoid her. Now that there’s a chance, how could I miss it!”

Hearing Henry Clark say this, Susan Baker and the others finally smiled.

Susan Baker smiled and said, “Edward Reed is ruthless, so she can’t blame us. Let’s call this plan ‘Sunrise.’ When I say the words ‘It’s dawn,’ everyone attacks together. Don’t give Edward Reed a chance to cast spells.”

Henry Clark and the others responded in unison, “Yes.”

Once everything was ready, Linda Cooper took out a long ebony bow from a leather pouch. Linda Cooper practiced the Earth Fiend Fist, which emphasized power as solid as the earth. Among the group, his strength was second only to Henry Clark.

Linda Cooper’s expression was solemn as he stuck three eagle-feathered arrows into the ground beside him, took a bow stance, and slowly drew the five-foot-tall ebony bow. The arrow was aimed at the fire bear’s abdomen.

The fire bear stood over ten feet tall, thick and fierce, its fiery red fur gleaming. At this moment, it was curled up on a pile of fiery red, gleaming stones, its vital chest area tightly guarded by its huge paws, leaving only a small gap at its lower abdomen exposed.

“Twang, twang, twang!” Three sharp bowstring sounds almost merged into one as the eagle-feathered arrows shot out like three streaks of shadow. Linda Cooper’s archery was superb, and the three arrows came in quick succession without any pause.

The sleeping fire bear was struck by the first arrow and immediately woke up. Its massive body rolled, and the next two arrows only grazed its back.

In the dim red stone cave, two arrows could be seen scraping sparks off the fire bear’s fur. Linda Cooper’s ebony bow was a three-stone heavy bow, its arrows able to pierce metal and armor. But when shot at the fire bear, they could barely penetrate its skin.

Even more terrifying was the fire bear’s agile and swift movements, its reactions completely at odds with its massive size. The fire bear’s toughness and agility made everyone’s faces turn grim.

A fourth-rank demon beast truly was extraordinary.

Henry Clark also sighed inwardly, “This guy really is tough. Good thing I didn’t try to act tough and brought a few people along.”

The fire bear took an arrow to the abdomen. Even with its tough hide, the eagle-feathered arrow sank nearly a foot into its flesh. For the massive fire bear, this was only a minor injury. But the fire bear was thoroughly enraged, and a red light flashed in its small eyes as it lunged at Linda Cooper.

The stone cave where the fire bear was located was extremely spacious, with cracks, fissures, and holes all over the rock walls. Linda Cooper was hiding in one such crack to shoot arrows. The crack was so narrow that not even Linda Cooper, who was rather plump, could squeeze through, let alone the fire bear.

But the fire bear charged with ferocity, showing no intention of holding back. The rock walls here were thin and brittle, and Linda Cooper dared not take any chances. He rolled aside and quickly retreated.

“Boom…” Nearly two feet of rock wall was smashed through by the fire bear. In an instant, the entire cave shook and trembled. Amidst flying stone chips, the fire bear, with its fiery red fur, had already burst through the crack and entered the passage where Linda Cooper was.

This passage was extremely narrow, and the fire bear’s massive body simply couldn’t get through. The fire bear wasn’t stupid; it quickly realized it couldn’t catch the hateful intruder ahead. Taking a deep breath, its abdomen swelled, and all its fur stood on end.

Linda Cooper knew things were bad. He lowered his body and shot forward along the ground.