Zhang Er Gou did not offer much explanation regarding this.
Standing atop a giant ancient tree, he watched the hundreds of figures rushing towards them with cold eyes.
The direction from which those people were charging was, naturally, their campsite.
Initially, Liu Yue had harbored some doubts about Zhang Er Gou's strength.
However, seeing Zhang Er Gou so calm, he gradually let go of his reservations.
He found himself increasingly unable to fathom this young sect disciple.
Previously, he had only believed Zhang Er Gou possessed a strength of at least the mid-stage Golden Core.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been defeated in a single move.
Now, it seemed he had underestimated Zhang Er Gou's power.
Even an ordinary late-stage Golden Core cultivator would not be able to remain as composed as Zhang Er Gou when facing so many powerful cultivators.
Could Zhang Er Gou be at the peak of the late-stage Golden Core?
Liu Yue was startled by his own conjecture.
Yet, only this could explain how Zhang Er Gou could face so many enemies with such ease.
As for the Golden Core stage and above.
Liu Yue had considered it, but to him, it was simply preposterous.
Why would a Nascent Soul stage powerhouse mingle with a bunch of Golden Core stage scums like them?
But Zhang Er Gou was an exception.
"Brother Er Gou, should we make a move?"
As the approaching figures drew nearer, almost reaching their camp, Liu Yue felt a twinge of nervousness.
"Let's wait a bit longer."
Just as those people were about a mile away from them.
Zhang Er Gou moved.
Liu Yue saw only a black shadow flash before his eyes.
Zhang Er Gou had arrived amidst the crowd, positioning himself before the foremost runner.
Then, Zhang Er Gou casually extended a palm. The person immediately vomited blood and died, beyond any hope of revival.
Liu Yue's face turned ashen. At that moment, he finally understood that Zhang Er Gou had shown him mercy that day.
But Zhang Er Gou's actions did not cease.
The people still rushing towards their camp had not even reacted.
They were stealthily approached by Zhang Er Gou.
And what awaited them was Zhang Er Gou's seemingly harmless palm strike.
*Pfft!*
A sound of spitting blood erupted, and the charging bodies were sent flying backward.
At first, the commotion here did not draw the attention of others.
But as more and more people fell silently.
This group finally realized something was amiss.
Zhang Er Gou was like a phantom in the night, his figure eluding all grasp.
The robbers, who had come to pillage, were now thoroughly panicked.
They stopped in their tracks, nervously surveying their surroundings. The night was eerily quiet.
Even the commonly encountered demonic beasts seemed to have vanished.
The entire demonic beast forest was filled with an unspeakable dread.
Those who had not yet encountered Zhang Er Gou, out of fear, huddled together.
Their objective was the same, and with the current anomaly, they naturally chose to cooperate.
*Pfft...*
*Bang!*
The person on the outermost periphery fell inexplicably without anyone seeing who had struck.
"Who, who is it? What fiend, reveal yourself!"
The crowd cried out in terror, shouting into the demonic beast forest.
However, their response was endless darkness and terrifying silence.
"Who is it, stop playing these phantom games."
Someone unleashed a palm strike towards the void.
Though it hit no one, it alleviated their fear.
Following suit, others began to unleash their techniques in all directions.
In an instant, lightning surged and sparks flew, illuminating the pitch-black forest.
Zhang Er Gou calmly found a tree and watched the group's performance.
After a flurry of aimless, chaotic attacks.
Several ancient trees swayed, and surrounding rocks were sent flying.
Beyond that, no damage was inflicted. Not a single creature, not even a mosquito.
"Are we being toyed with?"
Someone finally realized.
Upon hearing this, the others immediately stopped their attacks.
Casting spells consumed spiritual energy, and this was no safe Lin Hua Town.
It was a demonic beast forest where dangers lurked at every turn.
If their spiritual energy was depleted, their predicament would be exceptionally perilous.
They were not Zhang Er Gou.
They did not possess an inexhaustible supply of spirit-recovery pills.
However, shortly after they stopped, two more people silently fell.
Their breaths ceased.
The crowd panicked once more.
This time, they no longer cared about the depletion of spiritual energy. With their lives at stake, what use was spiritual energy?
They unleashed their signature techniques with all their might into the air.
After a fierce barrage of attacks.
*Crack, crack!*
Several ancient trees nearby, no longer able to withstand the assault, finally broke completely.
"These are truly madmen. What wrong did these ancient trees do to grow so well?"
Zhang Er Gou was filled with disdain for these individuals.
He scorned their futile rage.
To prevent these fellows from perpetrating such heinous acts again, Zhang Er Gou decided to confront them.
He would absolutely not admit that he had deliberately created panic.
Causing these people to expend a large amount of spiritual energy.
"Greetings, everyone. Good evening."
Zhang Er Gou's sudden appearance startled everyone.
"Zhang Er Gou? What are you doing here?"
Someone exclaimed in shock.
"Weren't you looking for me?" Zhang Er Gou asked in surprise.
How were they supposed to answer this? This brat was playing by his own rules!
Since he had discovered them, there was no point in pretending any longer.
"Haha, Zhang Er Gou, since you've shown yourself, surrender obediently, and we will show you mercy."
Upon seeing Zhang Er Gou appear, after a brief silence.
Greed once again triumphed over fear for the crowd.
"What if I don't?"
"Heh heh, this brat dares to refuse? Haha, what a joke."
"Haha."
A group of members from various monster-slaying teams burst into laughter.
It seemed at that moment, they had completely forgotten their companions who had mysteriously lost their lives moments ago.
"Should I say you're unlucky, or perhaps foolish?"
A man who appeared to be a leader stepped forward from the group.
"Why, instead of staying with the Crimson Fire Monster Slaying Team, you decided to act alone."
"It seems today you cannot stop us brothers from getting rich, haha."
After a bout of unrestrained laughter, the group failed to notice that Zhang Er Gou on the opposite side remained utterly composed.
In fact, they were somewhat fortunate that the previous unexplained deaths of their companions.
Meant fewer people to share the spoils, allowing the survivors to take a larger portion.
The crowd's gaze towards Zhang Er Gou was filled with greed, as if looking at a treasure.
"Can you tell me how you found our whereabouts?"
Ignoring their brazenness, Zhang Er Gou asked the question that concerned him the most.
"Although you're about to die, why should I tell you?"
Zhang Er Gou produced a jade bottle.
It was identical to the one he had given Liu Yue that day.
The man recognized that it contained the coveted Grade Three pills.
He swallowed hard. "Kid, when you're dead, all this will be ours. Stop with these pointless tricks."
"Oh, is that so?" Zhang Er Gou sneered.