This drum was personally bestowed by Grandpa Zhu of the Zhu Family; it is one of the Guanshan Three Drums, the Evil Heart Drum.

Inside the drum is a living human heart, constantly beating.

Human leg bones are fashioned into drumsticks, and once it sounds, the echo reverberates through the mountains, awakening the great mountains to devour the living.

It can be said that wherever there are mountains, the King of Chaos's army can stand invincible.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

The Evil Heart Drum resounded, its sound spreading for miles, within the vast and endless shadows of the hundred thousand mountains, the drumbeat echoed between the peaks.

As if awakening the ancient forest, some overwhelming yet mysterious transformation was occurring among the mountains.

At first glance, the mountains appeared continuous, but upon a second look, there seemed to be changes; like chess pieces, once here, now moved to another position.

...

...

"They are coming, coming..."

Near Bald Zhang and his group, the Bamboo Formation Army was exterminated in a puff of smoke, emboldening those left behind.

Yet, a thousand men were thrown into the mountains and disappeared without a trace, treading carefully, facing the lurking depths of the mountain with unshakable awe, speaking in hushed tones.

Treading carefully, suddenly from the depths, drumbeats emerged.

The sound of the drum beat like a heartbeat, deep, heavy, with a mournful and sinister air.

The entire army looked up sharply, the series of mountains seemed to have changed, the lush pines now looked like humans, the withered vines like hair, rising and dangling like waves.

Clearly, just moments ago after crossing the peaks, now the same formations appear ahead, strange cliffs and eerie valleys as if opening eyes and gazing back at them.

"The mountain... the mountain is alive again..."

Someone whispered out loud, and everyone seemed to lose their spirits, their voices trembling uncontrollably.

There were even those ready to throw down their weapons and flee.

The Bamboo Formation Army is terrifying, but at least they were human. No matter how terrifying humans may be, there is always a limit. What terrified Bald Zhang's troops the most was these mountains.

Previously, numerous troops had strategically camped within, using the terrain and creating positions where one man could hold out against ten thousand, but what happened next shattered their defenses.

The King of Chaos's troops were not the strongest, nor were their armor the toughest.

Only this Mountain Awakening Skill, which could awaken the mountains to consume people, inexplicably hanged enemy troops in the mountains.

It's something indescribable and unbearable, impossible to block or escape, the easiest way to undermine morale.

Now the drum sounded again, and the fear in their hearts was uncontrollable, eyes wide open, watching the mountain mist grow thicker, deeper, amidst the haze, seeing ropes hanging under the ancient trees.

On them hung bodies, some fresh, some half-rotten.

Now turning their heads slowly towards their former comrades, showing an eerie bluish smile as if inviting them to remain on the slopes.

...

...

"Things are serious..."

Sweet Potato couldn't care less to speculate on Monkey Wine's skills now, furtively glancing here and there, cautiously saying: "How did this mountain become so evil?"

"More wicked than even the brothers under my command..."

Others may not know, Sweet Potato understood well, bringing only 500 Cloth Army with her, but in reality bringing thousands, hidden from living eyes.

Yet now inside the mountains, the troops felt elusive to her senses, little ghosts wandering aimlessly as if lost.

She knew all too well; they encountered ghost walls.

But her brothers brought along were ghosts themselves, and if ghosts encounter ghost walls, is there justice?

Some matters were beyond her comprehension, making her humble suddenly, cautiously looking at Monkey Wine, speaking tentatively: "Big brother, do you have any solutions?"

Monkey Wine slowly jumped down from the wagon, saying: "Indeed it's tricky."

Sweet Potato heard, thinking he was stumped?

Feeling slightly pleased, puffing her chest to reveal her well-thought-out idea.

Then she heard Monkey Wine looking at the ominous and haunting mountains, saying slowly: "How can they be so foolish, awakening the hundred thousand mountains and deploying their hundred thousand troops to act as a Dingzi for this Mountain Awakening Skill?"

"Back when we agreed to duel with the Ten Families, it was to reduce casualties."

"Now, if this hundred thousand army perishes here in a blink, wouldn't it seem somewhat..."

"..."

He pondered for a moment before finding the right word: "Wasteful?"

His words caused the surroundings to become abruptly quiet, everyone stunned, thinking they misheard.

Sweet Potato's mouth gaped open: "My goodness, are you serious?"

"I don't enjoy killing,"

Monkey Wine didn't elaborate, simply shook his head, then asked Bald Zhang to unload a bamboo basket from his wagon, carrying a flute, standing before the basket, exhaling softly.

Looking up at Sweet Potato, kindly saying: "But I'm here to duel with the Zhu Family; the Zhu Family is a worthy opponent, so I must give my all."

"To give my all means holding nothing back, I cannot consider these people's lives while breaking Zhu's dharma method."

"Fortunately, you are here."

As if remembering something, he turned to Sweet Potato, smiling: "I also know your Cloth Army is just a guise; you have hidden skills, so you can disperse the King of Chaos troops!"

"If you can help one more escape these mountains, it's another life saved for this new world."

"..."

After speaking, he gently raised his head; the forest fell silent, even the deep mountain drumbeats seemed to lighten.

Beside him, Sweet Potato was bewildered: "Me? Save people?"

"Yes!"

Monkey Wine looked at her, smiled warmly, saying: "I can tell you're a warm-hearted girl."

"Since I can't think of everything, then the troops accompanying us into the mountains, and those driven by the Zhu Family, will rely on you for protection!"

"I'm sure you won't have any issues!"