Stop grinding, I'm really just a free spirit.

Chapter 92 One Hand

Seeing Zhang Ruxue's displeased expression but not pressing for more details, Yao Ye knew that his explanation had barely passed muster.

He dared not delay any longer and quickly revealed his guesses: "Senior Sister Zhang, the situation here is probably far more complicated than the intelligence reports suggest."

I originally thought there were only a few dozen mandrills gathered here, but I never expected that there would be more than a thousand mandrills.

Given the habits of mandrill groups, the fact that such a large number of them could gather and that so many different species must mean that there is a "mandrill girl" directing them.

All these clues suggest that a "mountain girl" may have already been born on the outskirts of Tianfu Mountain.

Zhang Ruxue frowned slightly, a hint of seriousness flashing in her clear, cold eyes.

"Mountain Girl"?

If a mountain girl were to actually appear, the significance of this matter would be entirely different.

The birth of a mountain girl signifies that a mountain goblin clan has acquired the ability to continuously expand.

If not eradicated in time, it can cause harm to a region in a few months to a year or two.

If the mountain nun could be discovered and killed in advance, it would be a significant achievement within the Lingjian Sect's cultivation system.

Although Zhang Ruxue is an inner disciple, she is still one step away from becoming a true disciple. If she can report this information to the sect and personally kill the mountain nun, this merit will be more than enough to make her a true disciple!

In a flash, she had already made a decision in her mind.

The information about the mountain maiden must be reported, and these few dragon-like creatures must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Yao Ye had been observing Zhang Ruxue's expression.

Seeing the slight twitch between her brows, he knew that the bait he had thrown out had been taken, and he quickly pressed on while the iron was hot: "Senior sister, that 'mountain girl' has used up all her tricks and is now out of options."

I have a trump card. In an instant, we can wipe out the remaining mountain demons... With the two of us working together, a mere "mountain girl" is nothing to us, isn't it?

"Everyone, listen up!"

Zhang Ruxue did not respond directly, but turned around: "Those who have exhausted their fetal breathing should retreat immediately."

Wang Yuan, Fang Zheng. You two take them to the stronghold; five outer disciples will meet them along the way.

Upon arrival at the base, rest and recuperate on the spot; no further unauthorized actions are permitted.

Her tone left no room for argument, and Wang Yuanfang and Zheng hurriedly agreed. The others also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had escaped a disaster.

"Junior Brother Yao, stay behind and cover our retreat together."

Yao Ye was overjoyed, knowing that Zhang Ruxue had tacitly agreed to his proposal, and quickly nodded in agreement.

……

After an incense stick has burned.

The group had barely retreated two miles when a deafening roar came from behind them.

Chen Bai turned around and his pupils suddenly contracted.

Above the hill, a large, dark hand appeared out of nowhere, seemingly formed entirely from pure magical power.

That giant hand was hundreds of feet wide, with five distinct fingers, and the lines on the palm were clearly visible, even the wrinkles on the knuckles were clearly visible.

"Buzz—"

It slowly emerged from the clouds, blocking out the sun and casting a shadow that enveloped the entire hillside, including the foot of the mountain.

The oppressive force of that instant was like the sky collapsing, bringing endless terror to the creatures below.

Within a radius of a hundred miles, birds took flight in fright; the demonic beasts covering the mountains and plains let out terrified howls. Several one-legged mountain demons were so frightened by this oppressive aura that they bled from all seven orifices and collapsed to the ground.

The large, dark hand, with its five fingers slightly spread, slowly pressed down.

"Boom!"

The airflow was compressed, producing a muffled thunderous roar. The gravel on the hillside was swept up by the wind pressure and shot out in all directions like a torrential rain.

Those dragon-like mountain demons that were so powerful just moments before were now like insects in the face of this force.

Several animals tried to struggle and escape, but the oppressive force of the large hand pinned them firmly to the spot, their bones creaking under the weight.

Hundreds of one-legged mandrills couldn't even struggle; they were swept away by the palm wind at the edge of the giant hand and turned into clouds of blood mist.

When the giant hand truly landed, the world fell silent.

No one could hear anything—not because it was quiet, but because the sound was too loud, exceeding the limits of their eardrums, leaving only an extremely oppressive and dull feeling.

Immediately afterwards, the earth shook violently, and a shockwave visible to the naked eye spread out in all directions from the mountaintop.

Trees along the way were uprooted, and boulders were crushed into dust...

Even the stream at the foot of the mountain was shaken and swirled upwards, forming a brief curtain of water in the air.

After the smoke and dust cleared.

The sight at the mountaintop made everyone who witnessed it gasp in astonishment.

The top of that small hill was cut off in half.

The fracture was smooth and flat, and the exposed rock strata still retained traces of magical power, gleaming with a faint, mysterious light.

Whether it was the one-legged mountain demon or the few hybrid dragons that had just rushed to the foot of the mountain, they were all reduced to dust by this attack, leaving not even a complete corpse behind.

This was a strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"This is...this is Foundation Establishment magic!"

The retreating cultivators felt the terrifying pressure, and some cried out in alarm.

Wu Liang looked back at the mountain peak, which had been cut in half, and his mouth was agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

Duan Heisi stopped in his tracks, staring at the slowly dissipating mystical light. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he uttered only two words: "Damn it... this..."

An outer disciple, his face filled with shock, explained to the crowd, "I've seen similar records in the sect's scriptures..."

That massive magical hand just now was probably a technique that only a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher could unleash.

"Don't stop, everyone! This is no place to linger. Retreat immediately!"

However, Chen Bai stopped at this moment.

Earlier, when everyone left, this expedient measure was taken to avoid attracting Yao Ye's attention.

His return was not only because there were numerous monster corpses on the battlefield that he could retrieve;

More importantly, evil must be eradicated completely. Since Yao Ye already harbors resentment towards us, we can no longer remain indifferent...

He cupped his hands in greeting to Duan Heisi and the others, and said in a low voice, "Brother Duan, Fifth Sister, Brother Wu, I have some things to take care of. You can go ahead and leave. You don't need to wait for me."

Duan Heisi frowned: "Brother Chen, you—"

"Don't worry," Chen Bai interrupted him, his gaze calm and resolute. "I know what I'm doing."

Miao Wuniang glanced at him, seemingly understanding something. But she didn't ask further, only nodded and whispered, "Be careful."

Wu Liang leaned against a rock, his charred arm hanging limply at his side. He looked at Chen Bai, his lips moved, but in the end he only said, "Come back alive."

Chen Bai nodded, then turned and headed back towards the mountaintop.

His figure quickly disappeared into the twilight and bushes in the mountains.

Meanwhile, on the flattened mountaintop platform, two figures stood side by side.

Zhang Ruxue sheathed her sword, and the chilling sword intent around her slowly subsided.

She had just witnessed the power of that massive, dark hand—

With a single blow, hundreds of mountain demons were reduced to ashes, and half a mountaintop was turned to dust.

"Such power is probably a life-saving technique bestowed upon us by the Yao family of the Immortal Clan..."

A hint of apprehension flashed in her eyes, but the sword intent emanating from her remained sharp and menacing.

Yao Ye stood beside her, still tightly clutching the faded jade pendant in his hand.

Fine cracks appeared on the surface of the jade pendant, and the foundation-building magic power sealed within it was completely exhausted by this attack.

"Senior Sister Zhang..."

Yao Ye spoke first, his tone tinged with a hint of probing, "That attack just now wiped out all the alien mountain demons and dragons. The threat here is gone. Why don't we go and investigate the whereabouts of that 'mountain girl'?"