It didn't take long for Renault to finish collecting the ten horns he needed. Just as he was about to return to the **Tianji Stone Chamber** to turn in the quest, the ground began to shake violently, causing him to stumble.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed through the bamboo forest as a massive **Centipede Beast** burst out of the ground. This centipede was several times larger than the ones Renault had been hunting earlier, and its horn wasn’t white but an eerie green.

Renault's expression changed drastically—this was the **boss** of the Centipede Beasts. Using his game-like abilities, Renault quickly checked the beast’s attributes.

- **Name:** Centipede Beast (Leader)  

- **Level:** 11  

- **Element:** Wood  

- **Spiritual Cultivation Level:** Initial Stage of **Spirit Gathering**  

- **Skills:** Bamboo Thorn, Poisonous Giant Tail, Horn Strike

Renault was shocked. This beast was at level 11 and in the **Spirit Gathering** stage. While Renault had formidable strength, his spiritual cultivation level was far too low to defeat such a creature.

Spiritual cultivation was the true source of power, and even with his physical strength, it would be challenging to win against this spirit beast.

Having completed his quest already, Renault decided it wasn’t worth risking his life. After all, killing a "boss" here wouldn’t drop any exciting loot like in a game—at most, he would just end up covered in the beast’s foul insides, which was hardly a reward.

Without hesitation, Renault turned and bolted. "If my spiritual level were higher, I'd fight you, but right now, running is the smart choice," he muttered, sprinting away as fast as he could.

Thankfully, his **body cleansing** had increased his speed significantly, making it possible for him to outrun the centipede. Otherwise, this beast would have easily caught up to him.

Seeing Renault flee, the Centipede Beast Leader roared angrily. This human had killed many of its kind, and it couldn’t allow him to escape.

With a harsh screech, the ground in front of Renault suddenly erupted with sharp **bamboo thorns**. He reacted just in time, dodging the deadly spikes. Had he been slower, they would have pierced his feet.

The Centipede Beast was closing in, and as Renault tried to avoid the bamboo thorns, the beast's giant tail lashed out at him, its poisonous barbs gleaming. Trapped in the bamboo thorn field, Renault couldn’t escape in time and was struck hard by the tail.

He was sent flying through the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

The bamboo thorns pierced his body as he landed, sending waves of pain through him. Renault quickly rolled to his feet, but he had already lost 500 health points from the combined attack of the tail and the thorns. If it weren’t for the **body cleansing** process he had undergone, his level 10 health pool wouldn’t have been enough to survive.

Not only that, the poison from the tail and the continuous damage from the bamboo thorns caused his health to steadily decline.

Within moments, Renault was left with less than 100 health points. If it weren’t for his quick use of healing pills, he would have died already.

Fortunately, his years of gaming experience had honed his reflexes. In critical moments, every second counted, and Renault had mastered the art of using items at the perfect time.

Despite retreating as fast as he could, Renault was trapped in the bamboo thorn field, unable to escape. The **Spirit Gathering** stage beast was proving too much for him to handle.

The Centipede Beast’s poisonous tail struck again, and Renault barely managed to recover his health to 500 points. But he knew that another series of attacks like the previous one would spell his end.

Gritting his teeth, Renault made a decision. "If I can’t escape, I’ll have to fight to the death!"

With a burst of energy, Renault punched with all his strength, the bones in his fist cracking under the immense pressure. This was the limit of his physical power, and the cracking sound of his bones was proof of that.

A loud explosion rang out as Renault’s fist collided with the centipede's poisonous tail.

The bamboo thorns pierced through Renault’s foot, but the force of his punch was so great that it shattered the thorns embedded in his flesh.

Renault's punch, powered by sheer physical might, was something even a cultivator in the **Spirit Core** stage would struggle to replicate. But this fight wasn’t just about raw strength—his opponent’s spiritual energy was at the **Spirit Gathering** stage, and the centipede’s tail was coated in venom.

Renault’s fist turned dark purple as the venom took effect. The force of the collision sent him flying backward, crashing into the ground once more.

His health hit zero, and for a moment, it seemed like Renault was finished. However, just as his health reached one point, he managed to swallow a healing pill, bringing his health back from the brink of death.

But the bamboo thorns and venom continued to drain his health, leaving him barely clinging to life.

Renault’s health hovered precariously at a few points, and with the item cooldown still in effect, he was unable to use another healing pill right away.

He was teetering on the edge of death, his life hanging by a thread.

Luckily, Renault’s timing was perfect. The bleeding and poison effects wore off, and the cooldown on his healing items ended just in time.

Though he recovered some health with a pill, the Centipede Beast was already in mid-air, launching itself at him. Its ten legs kicked off the ground as its body curled into a strike, the deadly horn on its head aimed directly at Renault.

The sound of the air whistling as the horn cut through it was terrifying. Air currents exploded from the horn’s tip, cracking the ground as it descended.

If Renault took this hit, he would be dead for sure.

In a desperate move, Renault flung a cloud of powder into the air. It was **anesthetic powder** from crushed pills, a trick he had learned from his earlier battles. At the same time, he swallowed a **Wind-Chasing Pill**, a reward he had received from completing his apprenticeship quest.

After taking the pill, Renault’s speed increased by 50 points.

This pill was incredibly valuable, which was why it had been a reward for a hidden quest. While using it now might seem like a waste, Renault knew it was a matter of life and death.

With his newfound speed, Renault quickly dodged, while the Centipede Beast, slowed by the anesthetic powder, began to move sluggishly.

Seizing the moment, Renault leaped onto the back of the Centipede Beast. He punched its side, shattering part of its armor, but the exertion caused him to cough up blood due to his injuries.

He coated his dagger with anesthetic powder and stabbed it into the exposed flesh beneath the beast’s shattered shell.

The Centipede Beast roared in pain, its muscles contracting so tightly that the dagger was snapped in half.

Despite the success of his attack, Renault had to retreat immediately. With his increased speed from the pill, his movements left afterimages, making it difficult for the centipede to track him.

As the Centipede Beast’s movements grew slower from the anesthetic, Renault knew he had to end the fight quickly. The effects of the Wind-Chasing Pill would wear off soon, and once they did, he would be dead.

He had only 30 seconds left, and killing the Centipede Beast seemed almost impossible in that time.

Renault rolled forward, his body slipping across the ground like a snake, using a technique he had perfected during his gaming days. This technique had helped him defeat many high-level players in the game.

With time running out, Renault’s only hope was to strike the centipede’s weak spot one last time.