Before Ling Qingxue could finish speaking, a rustling sound, so eerie it made one's teeth ache, came from deep within the thick fog. It sounded like countless arthropods crawling rapidly, sending chills down one's spine.

Su Lan and her team members immediately tensed up, quickly spreading out into combat formation, pointing their guns in the direction from which the sound came, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Zhang Shaozhong's heart also tightened, and the chaotic energy of the Foundation Establishment stage automatically circulated to his eyes as he tried to look into the fog.

A thick, grayish-white fog billowed up, and a distorted black shadow, about half a person's height, was rushing towards them at an extremely fast speed!

That thing looks absolutely disgusting!

Its body seemed to be haphazardly kneaded together from rotten tree roots and soil, its surface covered with sticky moss and wriggling, unidentified fungi, and seven or eight long, thin, arthropod-like legs with sharp barbs swiftly slicing across the ground.

It has no obvious head, only a mouth full of fine fangs split open at the front of its body, making a strange "hissing" sound, and a strong stench and evil aura hit you!

"Fire!" Su Lan ordered decisively!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Specially made bullets, glowing with exorcising runes, rained down on the monster!

However, when the bullets hit its body, which was made of mud and tree roots, they only splashed a few filthy sap and left a few shallow dents, which could not cause any fatal damage. Instead, they enraged it even more!

"Hiss—!" The monster let out a sharp hiss, its speed increasing as its long legs pierced towards the two team members at the front like javelins! Its speed was so fast that it left afterimages!

"Watch out!" Su Lan exclaimed, but it was too late to rescue her!

The two team members turned pale and were about to be stabbed through!

At this critical moment—

"Get out of my way!"

A roar exploded like thunder!

Standing to the side and behind Ling Qingxue, Zhang Shaozhong's chaotic energy suddenly erupted!

He didn't use any fancy moves; it was just the simplest, most direct straight punch, infused with the power of his entire body!

A gray current of energy enveloped his fist, carrying a wild, primal aura that seemed capable of crushing everything. It struck first, then slammed into the monster's "body"!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a dull thud like the sound of leather being struck!

Pfft!

Zhang Shaozhong's fist, like a red-hot iron piercing into butter, went straight through the monster's body without any resistance!

The gray, chaotic energy instantly invaded, and the monster's body, composed of yin and filthy energy, seemed to have encountered its natural nemesis. It emitted a sizzling sound, like cold water dripping into hot oil, and centered on Zhang Shaozhong's fist, it rapidly turned gray, cracked, and then...

Whoosh!

It shattered and disintegrated instantly!

It turned into a pool of foul-smelling black mud and a few broken, withered branches, scattered on the ground, and remained motionless.

The whole process was lightning fast!

From the moment the monster appeared until Zhang Shaozhong shattered it with a single punch, only two or three seconds had passed!

The scene was deathly silent.

Su Lan and her team members stared in disbelief at Zhang Shaozhong, then at the stench-filled wreckage on the ground.

The monster they couldn't defeat despite unleashing so many special bullets was actually reduced to dust by this young man who still looked somewhat like a student with just one punch...?!

Even Ye Meier raised an eyebrow, glanced at Zhang Shaozhong with some surprise, and transmitted her voice: "Oh? Kid, not bad! That punch had a bit of my old style back in the day! Although the power control is still a bit rough."

Ling Qingxue nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in her clear, cold eyes: "The chaotic energy is indeed remarkably effective against such filthy things."

Zhang Shaozhong himself was a little dazed. He withdrew his fist, looked at the few black stains on it, and felt the chaotic energy in his body that was slightly surging due to the full force of his previous burst. An indescribable excitement and pride welled up in his heart!

Foundation Establishment Stage! This is the power of the Foundation Establishment Stage!

Combined with the domineering power of chaotic energy, it's absolutely amazing!

"Are you... alright?"

He looked at the two still-shaken team members and scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

The two team members then came to their senses, quickly shaking their heads, their eyes filled with gratitude and lingering fear as they looked at Zhang Shaozhong: "No...it's nothing! Thank you, Mr. Zhang!"

Su Lan also walked over, looking at Zhang Shaozhong with complicated eyes, then at the puddle of mud on the ground, her voice somewhat dry: "Mr. Zhang... impressive skills."

Although she knew Zhang Shaozhong was extraordinary, she didn't expect him to be so powerful! The force and effect of that punch completely exceeded her understanding.

This instantly dispelled any slight contempt and displeasure she felt towards Zhang Shaozhong, replacing it with an indescribable sense of awe.

At the same time, she unconsciously glanced at Ling Qingxue beside her, and felt even more gloomy.

If even Zhang Shaozhong is this powerful, then the fairy's strength... is probably even more unfathomable.

He had previously boasted that he would protect the fairy, but now it seems like a complete joke.

"It seems there's something fishy going on in this forest. Everyone, be extra careful!"

Su Lan suppressed her distracting thoughts and reminded her teammates again.

After this little incident, the atmosphere in the team became more serious, but they also gained a more direct understanding of the strength of Zhang Shaozhong and his two companions, and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

The group continued cautiously into the depths. The further they went, the thicker the fog became, the stronger the cold, damp atmosphere grew, and the path became more difficult to traverse. Every now and then, they could see scattered remains of monsters similar to the ones they had just encountered, suggesting that many battles had taken place here.

Ling Qingxue's divine sense remained extended outwards. Suddenly, she stopped again and pointed to a cave entrance half-hidden by vines and rocks to her right:

"The spatial fluctuations are strongest there, and the Yin energy is also the strongest. The missing person is very likely inside."

The cave entrance was pitch black, like the gaping maw of a monster, exuding an unsettling aura.

The real adventure seems to have only just begun.