Inside the quiet factory.
Countless fragments of shattered concrete lay scattered everywhere. Zane Zhou stared wide-eyed, copper-bell eyes brimming with shock, utterly speechless.
A giant eagle Demon had appeared from who knows where, its monstrous body stretching nearly fifteen meters long—like a small fighter jet. Especially its metallic, gleaming silver wings, which only added to its imposing presence.
But now—
Its monstrous body lay scattered on the ground, utterly lifeless.
And the source of all this devastation was nothing more than a light, effortless slap.
"Terrifying!"
"Th-this is Mr. Han's power!"
Gulp.
Zane Zhou swallowed hard.
When Andrew Han unleashed that palm—
He felt all the air inside the warehouse come under terrifying pressure; the world within his gaze seemed to twist slightly, and the sky above felt as if it had turned into a flipped jade seal.
"Sigh."
"Such overwhelming power—how could mere 'strength' begin to describe it?" Zane Zhou covered his eyes, quietly wiping away sweat from the battle, his emotions too complex for words.
Especially with Andrew Han's face so sincere.
It was as if a savage beast from the wild was pretending to be a gentle, harmless little animal. Overthinking it—really, just overthinking it!
So—
Zane Zhou tugged at the corner of his mouth, cautiously walked over to the giant eagle, and nervously kicked its nearly shattered, sturdy demon body.
With one kick, a wing fell off.
With a second kick, the eagle's head broke off.
"Utterly defenseless."
"Such fragile lives, really."
Andrew Han gazed at Zane Zhou with a hint of melancholy, offering a candid assessment.
...
Standing beside the giant eagle, Zane Zhou fell silent once more.
Gulp.
He swallowed dryly again, forcing a smile and whispering, "Sir, with a gentle slap, you could probably kill a Martial Lord."
...
Inside the dimly lit bunker.
Boom!
The final thunderous crash shook the entire chamber. Clearly, the Demon had stopped its assault.
"That's a relief."
"It must be that big shot Martial General that Aunt May knows—he's come in person." Everyone was overjoyed, holding their breath to listen.
Immediately after—
A fierce, indescribable shockwave pierced the outer wall.
"Ha!"
Ryan Long's eyes lit up, revealing a row of yellowed teeth: "I knew it—a high-tier Martial General would still find it tough to deal with this eagle Demon."
Given that—
He could seize the moment, open the bunker passage, and make his escape.
"But," Ryan hesitated, "should I take these ordinary people with me? Never mind, I'm destined to make my name in the Martial Arts World—how could I risk my precious life for a few civilians?"
At worst,
he could always reminisce about them from time to time.
Besides, Ryan Long genuinely believed he'd already done all he could for these ordinary people! He hadn't treated them with cruelty—he'd explained things with a smile, offered friendly reminders.
"Hmph."
Ryan sprang toward the bunker exit like a hunting leopard.
That's right.
He was going to open the passage and escape alone.
That's right.
The fate of these civilians lay entirely in the hands of the Martial General outside.
If he defeated the giant eagle Demon, these people would escape with their lives. If he lost, they'd die anyway—just a little sooner.
But in that instant—buzz!!!
An overwhelming shockwave surged in from outside, shaking the entire bunker as if the heavens themselves trembled. Caught off guard, Ryan crashed straight into a nearby pillar.
Thud.
Clutching his head, he collapsed onto the cold floor.
"What just happened?"
"What on earth is going on?"
Ryan Long, bewildered, rubbed his nose in embarrassment. How could someone at the very peak of the Martial Artist Realm end up crashing into a pillar like this?
No matter how hard he listened, he couldn't hear a single sound from outside.
It was as if the entire area had turned into a dead, silent wasteland.
Silence.