Li Dageng and Lin Jinghua were organizing some brave men to try to fend off the demon beast’s assault.
But how could their attacks possibly harm the Iron-Horned Demon Bull?
"Beast! Stop hurting people!"
A clear and sharp shout echoed from the Inner Valley!
Only to see a figure clad in light blue, controlling a flying sword like a stream of light, arriving instantly!
It was none other than Li Qiuyun!
She looked at the rampaging demon beast in front of her, and the spirit plant cultivators suffering under its iron hooves, her pretty face turning cold.
She made a spell gesture with her hand, and the flying sword transformed into a streak of cold light, aiming straight for the beast’s throat!
"Clang!"
However, the beast’s skin was incredibly tough, and the sure-strike sword from Li Qiuyun only left a faint white mark on its neck!
"Roar!"
The Iron-Horned Demon Bull, in pain, became even more ferocious!
It abandoned chasing the spirit plant cultivators, changed direction, its blood-red eyes locked on Li Qiuyun in mid-air, and stomped its four hooves, charging at her like a moving mountain!
Seeing this, Li Qiuyun’s expression grew increasingly calm.
Though she was at Qi Cultivation Seventh-Layer, confronting the Iron-Horned Demon Bull which was known for its strength and defense was like crushing an egg against a rock!
She maneuvered her flying sword and managed to draw an arc in the air, barely avoiding that deadly charge.
However, before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the Iron-Horned Demon Bull, relentless, stomped the ground fiercely, its sharp horns glinting darkly, screeching as they tore through the air, charging at her once again!
This time, Li Qiuyun had nowhere to evade!
At that critical moment.
A silent, tall dark figure, like a phantom, appeared right in front of her without warning.
"Boom!!"
A deafening explosion erupted in the silent night sky!
The tremendous force of the charge was effortlessly blocked by that dark figure with just one hand!
The Iron-Horned Demon Bull’s horns, capable of shattering mountains, were stopped in the palm of that dark figure, unable to advance an inch!
"What... what is this?!"
Everyone present, whether the panic-stricken fruit farmers or the narrowly escaped Li Qiuyun, stared incredulously at the astonishing scene before them.
The tall figure in a black robe slowly raised the other hand.
Then, a clenched fist.
A punch was thrown.
There was no trace of spiritual power fluctuation, nor any fancy techniques.
Only the purest, most primal absolute power!
"Bang——!"
The incredibly hard bull’s head, under that punch, shattered like a watermelon!
Red and white splattered everywhere.
This arrogant Iron-Horned Demon Bull at Qi Cultivation Seventh-Layer couldn’t even let out a wail before it crashed to the ground, its vitality cut off.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Everyone stared in a daze at the black-robed figure like a demon god.
A sharp-eyed medicinal farmer recognized that this was the very guard who had followed Steward Chen around a few days ago.
"Indeed."
Chen Ye walked out slowly, patting the tall shadow’s shoulder.
This black-robed person was Qingzhi!
But in the eyes of others, it was merely mistaken for a cultivator.
After killing the demon beast, it stood silently like an iron tower, respectfully waiting behind Chen Ye.
"Gulp."
Li Dageng swallowed hard, looking at Chen Ye, then back at the demon-like Qingzhi, feeling completely bewildered.
That... that was a Qi Cultivation Eighth-Layer Iron-Horned Demon Bull! Taken down with just... one punch?
And the newly arrived fruit farmers looked at Chen Ye with a completely changed attitude.
If previously they admired Chen Ye’s meandering spirit plant technique,
Then this moment, Qingzhi’s punch instilled awe in them.
Though "admire" and "awe" differ by a word, the meaning behind them is vastly different.
Chen Ye’s actions, naturally, were to reassure the medicinal farmers.
He glanced around, observing their expressions shifting from terror to shock, and finally to reverence, aware that his goal had been achieved.
He spoke loudly: "Everyone, don’t panic. This is Qingzhi. Though he is not eloquent, his cultivation is more than enough to protect Lisong Valley. From now on, he will guard this place day and night, never allowing any villains to take advantage."
"With... with this immortal master around, we... we naturally feel at ease!"
"Yes, yes, thank you Steward Chen! Thank you Immortal Master Qingzhi!"
The fruit farmers, having survived a calamity, bowed deeply, grateful and reassured.
They were no fools. Aware that though Lisong Valley was protected by a grand array, the sudden appearance of a Qi Cultivation Eighth-Layer demon beast must surely involve a conspiracy!
Which meant, Lisong Valley would become unsafe...
Causing unrest in their hearts.
Yet seeing Qingzhi’s divine power, their worries dissipated.
"Uncle Chen."
Li Qiuyun landed on the ground, looking at Chen Ye, still a bit shaken on her pretty face.
"Are you alright?" Chen Ye asked with a smile.
"No... nothing."
Li Qiuyun shook her head. She looked at the giant demon beast’s corpse, her delicate brows slightly furrowing,
"It’s just... this demon beast’s appearance is suspicious. Lisong Valley is protected by the Mountain Protection Array. Logically, such high-tier demon beasts shouldn’t have been able to enter."
Chen Ye nodded, a trace of cold light flashing through his eyes.
He knew for sure it was the Wei Family’s doing behind the scenes.
And Wei Cheng, who had long worked in Lisong Valley, though the grand array was now in Chen Ye’s control, he likely knew of some flaws, allowing the demon beast to infiltrate.