Chapter 2 The Second Move
The second move was no different from the first. After the three demonic beasts turned into "corgis" and landed, they were swept away by the shockwave of Bai Qingcheng's "sweeping leg" technique. This time, it was dire. How to describe it? It was as if a ten-ton sledgehammer had smashed horizontally onto an animal's body, or, on a different scale, a regular hammer smashing a beetle trapped on a cutting board—only a beetle, not even a mouse, would produce such an effect.
Fortunately, Bai Qingcheng was far from me when she landed, and I wasn't splattered. The only piece, a lion's head flying towards Yaoyao, was shot by my qi blast, diverting its path and landing behind a rock. Wu Qian, startled, screamed and ran out from behind, then quickly hid behind me again.
"It's over, stop hiding," I pulled her out and asked with a smile, "Learned something new this time, huh? 'Tearing apart demons with bare hands' is nothing compared to the 201 Palms."
Wu Qian nodded tremblingly, no longer daring to look towards Bai Qingcheng.
After finishing the fight, Bai Qingcheng leaped from the foul matter and returned before me. Strangely, her body was not stained with any blood or filth, remaining perfectly clean, as if nothing had happened.
"Palms, there's another wave coming from behind," I reminded her. It should be the engineering convoy, with the highest aura being a minor demon with green qi. "But I can handle it. You go on with your business, don't let it delay your cultivation."
"I have nothing urgent to do," Bai Qingcheng said with her hands behind her back. Suddenly, she extended her right hand, dug her pinky finger into her nose, and blew twice. I wasn't sure if any residue had flown in. "This chessboard is set up very strangely. Once people enter, it's hard to get out. Your Daji and that eagle demon are still trapped within."
"Is that so?" I asked doubtfully. Was it truly a confounding formation?
Daji being trapped was understandable, but Ya Nan could fly. How could she be trapped within? Unless there was a confounding formation in the air as well.
Fortunately, qi sensing techniques could still be used within the chessboard.
Just then, a muffled groan came from Yaoyao's side. I ran over. Yaoyao was panting heavily, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead. It seemed she had successfully opened her Zhongwan acupoint.
The engineering convoy was still a kilometer away. The convoy in front had already disappeared, and I didn't know where they had gone. I decided to capture one of them for interrogation. They were working inside, so they wouldn't get lost and must know how to get out of the confounding formation.
I shared my thoughts, and both Bai Qingcheng and Yaoyao agreed. I stood by the roadside to wait. Soon, a yellow engineering vehicle, also with snow chains on its tires, appeared. I waved it down. The driver, unaware of the situation, stopped and asked me what was going on and why I was there.
"Brother, we are backpackers, here for an adventure in the mountains. But this area, for some reason, after wandering for a whole day, we can't seem to get out. We keep going in circles!"
The driver frowned, "Who let you in? Didn't you see the sign at the entrance saying 'Animal Reserve, Visitors Prohibited'?"
I really hadn't noticed such a sign. I shrugged, "No, we didn't. We didn't come this way, we came over from the mountains."
The driver pointed behind him, "Follow this road all the way, and you'll get out."
"But I have a few friends who lost contact, they can't get out, and I can't find them. I can only contact them by phone. How can I instruct them to get out?" I asked again.
"Phone? There's no mobile signal here!" the driver became alert.
"Satellite phone," I said, pointing to Bai Qingcheng, who had one clipped to her waist.
"You guys are really bored, with such complete equipment," the driver shook his head. After a moment's thought, he said, "Tell your friends not to look at the cement road on the ground. The roads inside are all circular and interconnected, making it impossible to get out. They only need to look at each intersection to see if there's a pine tree. Turn right at a pine tree, and you can get out of the maze inside and reach this place. Once here, follow the cement road forward, and you'll be out."
So, this place was the entrance to the maze.