The fireball exploded instantly, but this time, to Ling Tian's surprise, the exploding flames didn't even manage to engulf the entire wild boar's body, indicating just how massive the beast was.
Moreover, the exploding flames seemed to have caused no fatal damage to the wild boar. Instead, the high temperature of over a thousand degrees caused the boar pain, making it even more frenzied.
This was not surprising, as wild boars were known for their tough hides and thick flesh. Besides their thick skin and layers of fat, wild boars also possessed long, stiff, and dense brown fur.
Furthermore, these animals enjoyed rolling in mud, often accumulating a protective layer of dried mud on their bodies, which rendered Ling Tian's fire talismans ineffective.
However, Ling Tian was not discouraged. He took out another talisman, this time a Diamond Talisman. A flash of white light struck the wild boar, exploding on impact. Yet, this only caused the boar's steps to falter slightly. The boar, in pain, spun around and then turned its head, preparing to charge at Ling Tian again.
Seeing the wild boar only three to four meters away from Ling Tian, Master Cheng'e gripped his staff with both hands, ready to charge forward, but Ling Tian stopped him with a hand.
"Master, please remain calm. Leave this to me!"
As Ling Tian spoke, he formed a hand seal and chanted incantations. At this moment, the wild boar was only a little over three meters from Ling Tian, and he could even feel the gust of wind generated by its charge.
He extended his hand and pointed at the wild boar. In the next instant, three stone spikes, each as thick as a bowl and about two meters long, erupted from the ground.
For most beasts, even rhinos and elephants, their abdomen was the most vulnerable part. These hard earth spikes emerged from the ground at a slight angle, perfectly aimed at the wild boar's belly.
With a *pu chi* sound, the wild boar was impaled as if it were a candied haw, the three sharp spikes piercing deep into its body, hanging it upon the stone spikes.
The wild boar let out a series of pained cries, struggled twice, and then died on the spot!
Master Cheng'e, standing nearby, was stunned. He hadn't expected this young man to possess such abilities – skilled in martial arts, talismans, and formations, and now, such advanced sorcery. What kind of monstrous talent produced such an outstanding student?
He had felt a bit proud earlier, having broken through three realms consecutively and greatly increasing his strength. But now, he couldn't feel proud. In fact, he was deeply disheartened; his sense of superiority had vanished completely in front of Ling Tian!
However, the death of this one wild boar did not scare away the others. Instead, the scent of blood made these beasts even more restless.
At this moment, another wild boar charged towards Ling Tian. Ling Tian employed the same tactic, releasing a spell, the very same earth spear thrust he had used earlier!
This wild boar, like its companion, was impaled like a candied haw, its intestines, stomach, and blood spilling onto the ground.
At this point, the herd of wild boars went completely berserk. Except for the largest wild boar, the other dozen or so wild boars charged towards Ling Tian and the others almost simultaneously!
The charging wild boars exuded immense power, like heavily armored cavalry arriving at high speed. Being hit by one of them was akin to being head-on by a large truck filled with earth and stone, with only the outcome of being crushed to powder.
Ling Tian chanted words, formed a hand seal with his left hand, and pointed at the ground before him. With his right hand, he reached into his embrace and pulled out several talismans!
"Boom boom boom!"
This time, a row of earth spikes appeared on the ground about ten meters in front of Ling Tian. These earth spikes were arranged horizontally, with several piercing the wild boars' abdomens, instantly pinning three of them to the ground.
Some other wild boars had their abdomens sliced by the earth spikes, but relying on their thick hides and the momentum of their high-speed charge, their bodies continued to surge forward.
Two wild boars, after being pierced, had their forward momentum break two of the earth spikes!
However, before the wild boars could charge forward a few more meters, a stone wall suddenly emerged from the ground!
These stone walls were about 1.5 meters high and nearly 40 centimeters thick!
The wild boars running at the front crashed squarely into the stone wall, being thrown backward and disoriented. Some unfortunate ones were even impaled by the tusks of the wild boars charging from behind!
The scene before them was incredibly tragic, akin to a multi-car pile-up on a highway.
Some wild boars were flipped over by their companions, while others, hitting the stone wall, had their tusks broken and were left dizzy and confused.
With a flash of thought, Ling Tian's Scarlet Flame Sword appeared in his hand. He took two steps forward and lightly leaped over the stone wall. As Ling Tian's figure landed, a disoriented wild boar was directly beneath his feet.
Ling Tian showed no mercy. Holding the sword with both hands, he thrust the tip downward, directly into the wild boar's nape, the junction of its neck and head, which was also one of its weak points.
The sharp Scarlet Flame Sword pierced through the wild boar's skin, penetrated its spine, and severed the connection between its brain and body. The wild boar died instantly.
The wild boar's carcass fell to one side. Ling Tian lifted his foot, kicked the boar's body, and then smoothly pulled out his sword.
At this moment, another dazed wild boar charged towards him. Ling Tian sidestepped slightly, dodging the boar's charge, and then thrust his sword again. This time, the tip of the sword entered the wild boar's left ear and exited from its right ear, directly piercing the boar's brain. The wild boar died instantly!
Almost simultaneously, Master Cheng'e also rushed forward, carrying his staff. He leaped over the stone wall, gripped his staff with both hands, and swung the over ten-kilogram staff, smashing the blade towards a wild boar's head.
Even though the wild boar's skull was very hard, this blow caused an indentation. Moreover, the immense impact force turned the wild boar's brain into a paste.
A little over a minute later, the dozen or so wild boars were dealt with by Ling Tian and Master Cheng'e. All this combat happened in the blink of an eye. The two of them maneuvered in a very confined space while exerting great effort to attack, resulting in significant exhaustion.
White mist was already rising from Ling Tian's head, a result of his internal energy circulating at high speed, while Master Cheng'e was also panting heavily beside him.
However, neither of them dared to relax, because the giant wild boar on the opposite side, the size of a rhinoceros and weighing over a ton, had its eyes turning red and was starting to act erratically!
This was a massive male boar, the leader of the herd, and the wild boars that Ling Tian and the others had killed were this boar's mate and offspring.