Waiting! . . .
At that moment, Xuan Bing's words dripped with arrogance, her tone an embodiment of her elevated status, condescendingly surveying the entire world. Her aura exuded cruelty and frigidity, seeming to cast a freezing chill across the entirety of the Mountain of All Medicines.
Under the oppressive weight of her presence, the four men scarcely had time to gather their thoughts before blurting out in response, "We didn't notice anything unusual about that man... Perhaps things just transpired too swiftly, and he didn't have the chance to..."
Xuan Bing emitted a disdainful huff before quietly taking her seat.
The oppressive atmosphere instantly dissipated, leaving those subjected to it with a lingering sense of its potency. Among them, the most formidable was Cha Tianchen, a Dao Origin Stage cultivator of the second level. Yet, even he couldn't ascertain the full extent of Xuan Bing's power.
Nonetheless, Xuan Bing cared little about whether they recognized her strength; she had gleaned the answer she sought, rendering everything else inconsequential.
"Didn't have time to react?" she pondered.
"If a top-tier Dao Origin Stage cultivator didn't have time to react, how could they have had time to flee?"
Satisfied with her conclusions, Xuan Bing felt a sense of relief. She was certain that if circumstances had truly spiraled out of control, Han Bingxue would have swiftly retreated with Cha Eun Xiao.
Thus, Xuan Bing remained remarkably composed.
However, the Cha Clan and Li Clan representatives harbored no such composure. They were deeply agitated, unlike Xuan Bing, who was unperturbed.
For the members of both clans, Han Bingxue's identity and strength remained a mystery. The prospect of a horde of level-nine spiritual beasts was akin to an existential threat, and they assumed that anyone caught within would be in grave peril.
"All of them are trapped inside? Oh dear..."
Despite their hushed tones, the collective murmur of hundreds created a bustling ambiance.
Cha Tianchen, the most authoritative figure among the group, observed Xuan Bing closely, sensing the momentous shift that had occurred. As an experienced cultivator, he comprehended that something remarkable had transpired. Xuan Bing's calmness was not lost on him, and it eased his own apprehensions.
He took a deep breath and delivered a calming directive to the assembled crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm and composed. Opening the entrance to the third layer is a blessing from the heavens. We mustn't despair just yet. Let us maintain our patience."
The elder of Li Clan concurred, and together they assumed the mantle of calm and steadiness in the face of adversity.
Over an hour passed, and still, there was no word from within the mountain.
It had now been over two hours since their departure.
Amid the expectant silence, a sudden exclamation pierced the air.
All eyes turned skyward, where a white figure plummeted from an astonishing altitude, arms outstretched. Before anyone could process the scene, Xuan Bing had already vaulted into the sky.
With tremendous swiftness, she closed the distance in a fraction of a second, generating a sharp "whoosh" with her velocity. Within moments, she ascended thousands of meters into the air, arriving at the white figure's location.
Waving her hand, she harnessed a gentle yet potent force to slow their descent, allowing them to land gradually, minimizing the impact.
The sight of the miraculous rescue astonished both Cha Tianchen and the Li Clan elder. The latter stroked his beard, almost ripping it out in sheer shock.
"[That woman in black] possesses such incredible power... The speed at which she ascended... she must be a formidable figure in Qing-Yun Realm!"
Cha Tianchen and the Li Clan elder comprehended that neither of them could replicate such a feat, leaving them with the realization that this enigmatic woman surpassed them in strength.
It became evident to the observers that she was likely at least a level four Dao Origin Stage cultivator.
In an instant, beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads, induced by a paralyzing fear.
"[I'm fortunate I didn't utter any impolite words to her...]" they thought, fully aware that such an act could have spelled their doom.
With her overwhelming power, it would be child's play for her to annihilate them within seconds. Not only them, but also to erase Cha Clan and Li Clan entirely from existence.
Yet, amidst this collective trepidation, not everyone's attention remained affixed to Xuan Bing. Most gazes were directed at the white-clad man who had descended from the sky, a bizarre and bewildering sight.
[How could this man, who entered the mountain earlier, now be plummeting from the heavens? It's utterly incredulous, peculiar, and mystifying.]
As the crowd grappled with this perplexing spectacle, Xuan Bing landed gracefully with Han Bingxue. With brisk and unhesitating movements, she administered two resounding slaps to Han Bingxue's face, jolting him from his unconscious state.
Disoriented and disheveled, he slowly regained consciousness, confusion clouding his gaze.
Xuan Bing's displeasure was palpable as she extended a hand. In an instant, a crystal shard of ice materialized and struck Han Bingxue squarely in the forehead, causing a shiver to course through his body.
Startled, Han Bingxue leaped to his feet, his voice filled with outrage. "What in the world... What are you doing?"
Xuan Bing stood before him, her tone frigid as she demanded, "Are you awake now? Explain. What happened? Why did you fall from the sky?"
Still befuddled, Han Bingxue mumbled, "Hmm... Why did I... Why am I... Right... How did I get out..."
Clearly vexed, Xuan Bing extended her hand once more, conjuring a snowball that collided with Han Bingxue's face, serving as a wake-up call. "Are you still not lucid? Very well, let me help you regain your senses."
Han Bingxue shivered from the sudden chill, finally emerging from his mental fog. He approached Xuan Bing and began recounting the events that had transpired between himself and Cha Eun Xiao.
Yet, as he spoke, Xuan Bing's expression grew increasingly dark and intense.
"Wait," she interjected, her face a study in cold blankness.