Qu Yi leaped up the moment she saw it, cheering brightly,

“Uncle, you’re so awesome!”

Lai Yingxin covered her crimson lips with a hand, voice trembling in disbelief,

“One… one-shot?!”

Even the usually silent Han Xiangxue couldn’t hold back her shock,

“Is that… Mage Hand?!”

Mage Hand wasn’t a Demonhunter’s skill—it was a universal ability of the mage class.

Reach a certain strength, train properly, and most could master it!

But wasn’t Mage Hand just for fetching tea or trivial chores? Since when could such a basic support ability one-shot monsters?!

Unbeknownst to the three girls, Ye Thirteen hadn’t just one-shot the Dragon Lizard Warrior—he’d deliberately held back to preserve its value.

This wasn’t mere one-shotting. It was absolute, precise control.

The second Dragon Lizard Warrior, clueless and proud, marched boldly out of the Minor Sky Rift.

An instant later—it met the same fate.

Watching Fourth Rank Dragon Lizard Warriors fall one after another like swatted ants, Qu Yi’s excitement faded into numbness. Lai Yingxin’s face froze in stunned disbelief. Even Han Xiangxue’s perpetually icy expression cracked with awe.

After swatting down twenty, Ye Thirteen finally paused.

Because the next wave was Third Rank.

Third Rank demon—Face Tree Demon!

Seeing them burst out in clusters, the three girls instinctively shrank back.

They’d severely underestimated the Minor Sky Rift’s horror.

Even at Fourth Rank themselves, they couldn’t have handled it.

A few Third Rank demons at once? Instant kills would be impossible.

Give them a second—and waves would pile up endlessly.

Running would be their only option.

No matter how hard they fought, dozens or hundreds of Third Rank demons were utterly hopeless.

As the girls grappled with the reality, Face Tree Demons multiplied.

Over three meters tall, trunks twisted with grotesque human-like faces, lined row after row down the street—a chilling sight.

Lai Yingxin and Han Xiangxue ducked behind Qu Yi.

Though barely older, in crisis, they instinctively leaned on her.

Qu Yi stayed calm. Brave-hearted.

And she trusted Uncle.

Noticing their subtle shift, Ye Thirteen acted. His pure-energy Mage Hand shot forth!

In a flash, thirty-plus Face Tree Demons roaming the street were hoisted skyward by an invisible grip.

From the girls’ angle, it looked as if they floated cradled in Ye Thirteen’s palm.

Then his giant hand slightly compressed.

A chorus of miserable wails erupted—their bodies visibly caved inward.

Another one-shot!

A mass one-shot!

All three girls swallowed hard.

Lai Yingxin, recovering slightly, muttered,

“He’s definitely not just Soldier Rank…”

Even quiet Han Xiangxue added,

“Among Seventh Rank General Rank mages, he’d rank near the very top.”

Qu Yi and Lai Yingxin stared at her, stunned. Han Xiangxue rarely praised anyone—let alone Ye Thirteen.

Yet neither doubted her. His effortless display was that staggering.

What they didn’t know: Ye Thirteen had held back *for them*.

Otherwise, he could’ve wiped out all Third Rank demons from the Minor Sky Rift in one move—even the max limit of one hundred.

No General Rank Demonhunter could do that.

Only Eighth Rank Monarch Rank and above.

Still, his current power left them breathless.

A Seventh Rank General Rank Demonhunter ranked top ten in Southgate Garrison.

Qu Yi’s mother, Xia Qing, was a legendary Seventh Rank General Rank Demonhunter there.

And their randomly chosen practice instructor… seemed her equal.

Before they could linger on it, Ye Thirteen casually one-shot twenty more Face Tree Demons and said,

“That’s enough. These four are yours.

Fighting diverse opponents builds crucial combat experience.”

Most high-rank demons evolve from low-rank roots—battling them offers vital insight.

Even across types, similar demons share traits. Facing variety is essential.

If you truly wish to stand strong on your own.

…

The girls hadn’t expected a turn.

Snapping to attention, they gripped their weapons and charged the four spared Face Tree Demons.

Ye Thirteen watched their fight while sparing a sliver of focus on the rift.

Truth was, it needed no more watching.

Twenty Fourth Rank Dragon Lizard Warriors. Nearly sixty Third Rank Face Tree Demons.

That was the Minor Sky Rift’s near limit.

Still, deep in the city district, Ye Thirteen stayed cautious. He monitored ten full minutes before relaxing, then casually set a mana band.

Logically, the rift would now sleep—reactivating only after twenty-four hours.

But just in case.

The mana band had no attack or defense. Undisturbed, it’d last over a day.

Not a skill—just a tiny trinket born of Ye Thirteen’s profound magic control.

For Ye Thirteen to use a real skill? Only an Entry-Rank demon would qualify.

And even a Soldier Rank demon granted that honor… would die gloriously.