Chapter 25: Mental Power

Watching the intense collisions in the distance, with their violent, tornado-like aura, Shen Xing could hardly believe that this was a display of power humanly possible, had he not seen it with his own eyes. Perhaps because he had saved Yang Qing once before, he had subconsciously underestimated her strength. But seeing her fighting at full capacity now, Shen Xing realized that it was difficult to even call them the same species anymore. Yang Qing could kill him in a thousand different ways, while he probably couldn't even touch the hem of her garment.

That such a powerful woman had fallen for him at first sight? Shen Xing felt a strange sense of being targeted by a wealthy woman. Though Yang Qing might not be rich in money, wealth in power is still wealth, isn't it? Yet, this also brought a pressing sense of crisis to Shen Xing. If even Yang Qing felt the situation was grave, then undoubtedly, he was nothing but a pawn to be toyed with.

"There's just no reasoning with fate; I shouldn't have stepped out that day!" Shen Xing felt utterly speechless. His original life and plans had been completely upended by that single, unexpected event. Even now, it seemed destined to continue influencing his future. Even if it weren't entirely a bad thing, this feeling of being tossed about by fate, unable to control his own trajectory, was far from pleasant.

While Shen Xing was lost in these chaotic thoughts, the battle in the distance shifted two minutes later. The two blurred figures, previously locked in a frantic struggle, suddenly separated following a thunderous blast. Yang Qing was sent flying backward, slamming directly into a wall. A mouthful of blood sprayed out instantly. The red-haired woman fared no better; although she hadn't been knocked back, her entire right arm was charred black and completely mangled.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!" The red-haired woman looked down at her arm in disbelief, letting out a miserable, hate-filled roar at Yang Qing. Yang Qing, pale-faced, wore a triumphant smile. She hooked a finger at the red-haired woman in provocation, her eyes conveying that she had her victory secured. Whether out of rage or agony, the red-haired woman trembled all over, then, after a moment's hesitation, lunged at Yang Qing again.

Apollo, watching from not far away, frowned slightly. He reached out as if to stop her, but ultimately said nothing, his expression returning to cold indifference. On the other side, Ouyang Lin and Song Yuanqing exclaimed in unison, filled with shock: "Psychic bomb!"

"It seems she has truly awakened her psychic power! Although she doesn't appear very skilled yet, being able to unleash a psychic bomb in the early stages shows that her talent for psychic power is at least excellent!"

Song Yuanqing was thrilled, as this meant the military would gain another true elite. "This Yang Qing! With such potential after awakening her psychic power, she could have had a brilliant future. Instead, she had to get herself into this mess for that little man. It’s infuriating! How could she be so impulsive? Can she really fall in love after just one meeting?" Ouyang Lin scolded, clearly frustrated by her lack of restraint. Song Yuanqing opened his mouth as if to retort, but ultimately remained silent.

Nearby, Yang Qing, embedded in the wall, struggled to free herself as the red-haired woman charged toward her with unbridled hatred. However, the excruciating pain wracking her body made her face even paler and her movements sluggish.

"You destroyed my body! I will kill you!" The red-haired woman seemed unable to accept her impairment. Even with only one fist left, the aura she unleashed was more intense than before. This scene caused the expressions of Ouyang Lin and his companion to change drastically. If that punch landed, it was uncertain whether Yang Qing would survive. Was such a promising talent, having just awakened her psychic power, about to die here?

For a moment, both of them were tempted to intervene. But soon, they felt themselves locked onto by a powerful, menacing presence. They turned in unison toward the source, only to see Apollo flick away his half-smoked cigarette, watching them silently. His gaze clearly communicated: if you move, I move. Ouyang Lin and Song Yuanqing instantly extinguished their impulse. The situation was still manageable, but once Apollo joined the fray, things would quickly spiral into a catastrophe they couldn't afford. The worst-case scenario—a failed mission and heavy casualties—was not only possible but highly likely. Thus, they could only watch as events unfolded.

The red-haired woman reached Yang Qing in an instant. Her punch, fueled by rage and accompanied by sonic booms, smashed toward Yang Qing's forehead. A single hit would shatter her skull! A single strike would send her to repent in hell! A single blow would earn her a great merit, and make Apollo truly look upon her with favor, rather than treating her as a mere temporary bedmate! She felt she had thrown the most peak punch of her life—a heavy blow filled with sheer will that no one could stop!

Boom!

Yang Qing failed to break free from the wall and had to take the hit head-on. A powerful shockwave sent a massive surge of air sweeping across the surroundings! The flimsy structure collapsed directly into ruins. The previously level ground was carved with deep gullies by the destructive air currents.

A massive cloud of dust obscured the vision of everyone nearby. They anxiously strained to see clearly, but before the dust could settle, a shrill, heart-wrenching scream pierced the air: "Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"

It was Yang Qing's voice. She was still alive, which startled Ouyang Lin and the others. Yet, her scream clearly conveyed immense agony. Soon, the dust settled. They were able to see the situation clearly: the two figures remained in their previous positions. However, between them now stood a semi-transparent shield of light. The shield was covered in spiderweb-like cracks, but it had not shattered.

The red-haired woman’s expression was one of pure disbelief; she continued to lash out in frustration, hammering at the shield. But the power behind her fists now was far inferior to that peak, charged strike from moments ago. She struck many times, but the shield remained. The only effect seemed to be causing Yang Qing even greater pain. Yang Qing held out her hands, her expression almost ferocious as she maintained the shield, and slowly, she pulled herself from the wall.

"It’s a psychic shield!!!" Ouyang Lin could not help but exclaim!

"Her psychic power is actually this abundant?! She is truly a natural-born powerful warrior!" Song Yuanqing made no effort to hide his admiration. Because he had only recently awakened his own psychic power, he knew he couldn't have achieved such a feat without systematic training. Even Apollo, who had remained calm until now, couldn't help but reveal a look of appreciation for her talent.

A mid-tier martial artist like the red-haired woman was not exactly common, but it all depended on who you compared her to. Compared to the current Yang Qing, she was nothing. The higher the level of a martial artist, the more they understood the importance of psychic power. And for someone like Apollo, a renowned expert, the awakening of psychic power was an essential step.

"Should I kill all these people and snatch her away?" A dangerous thought suddenly crossed Apollo’s mind.