Book 2 Chapter 60: The Might of One Strike - Martial God

Chapter 60: The Might of One Strike As dawn broke, a silk-like rose tint unfurled across the pristine blue sky. With a hushed emergence, the azure gleams of dawn seeped silently through perilous mountain passes, filtering through the trees and slipping under fallen leaves. These glowing beams swept every hidden corner, embellishing the earth with grandeur in anticipation of the sun's glorious arrival. Before Xu Family Fort, an impending sense of fierce battle permeated every corner. As if aware that today marked the final confrontation, those on and off the ramparts silently awaited the moment. Yet, as sunlight bathed the earth, what they encountered was not a fierce and bloody melee, but a thunderous roar splitting the heavens. Within this single roar, the very hue of the world seemed to shift, leaving a reverberating hum in the ears of every listener. Every gaze turned towards the origin of the sound, each person feeling the ominous weight of impending disaster. Abruptly, the roar, echoing through every corner of the earth, ceased. So sudden was its arrival, and so unexpected its ending, that the abrupt silence left a deep discomfort. Anyone with internal strength below the seventh tier found themselves unable to keep their legs steady. Hai Huijiao was the first among them to regain clarity. Her inner strength may not have been the strongest among the bandits, but her composure and quick response were unsurpassed. Her face, now devoid of color, bore deep unease. But this expression fleetingly passed. She soon resumed an air of nonchalance and said, "This person is formidable. We cannot face him alone. Brother Xu Hanbai, please lead the two hundred strong of the Fierce Tiger Suicide Squad to intercept as the first wave. Brother Zhong Wei, lead the Wolf Fang Reserve. If this person breaks through the two hundred, step in. He must not hinder our grand attack plan. Master Guan Qing and Deputy Guo Shaofeng, commence the assault as per the original plan. As for my husband and me, we will assist from the center, ready to support as needed." Everyone hesitated for a moment, an ominous cloud of foreboding rising in their hearts—as if something was amiss. Yet, having found themselves blocked before Xu Family Fort, they had depended on Hai Huijiao as their strategist, leaving all tactics to her. Because of her efforts, the fort was nearing defeat in a mere five days by these chaotic bandits, marking her as an essential contributor to their success. Thus, despite the unsettling intuition, a pause in doubt was followed by a choice to trust her judgment. Four thousand bandits—all formidable practitioners—could hardly be frightened away by a single roar. Those named were all esteemed tenth-tier masters, moving swiftly to their designated positions. Once they departed, Hai Huijiao quietly took Lan Hanyang's hand, blending into the crowd. In hushed tones, she urged, "We need to change clothes and go quickly..." Lan Hanyang blinked, asking, "Why must we leave?" "If we don't go now, it'll be too late," she whispered in alarm, "The person who approaches is an innate powerhouse." Even though his expression remained mostly unchanged, Lan Hanyang had felt an ominous sensation after the ear-splitting roar. As a tenth-tier post-celestial master himself, on the brink of attaining the legendary innate state, he recognized that such a roar could only herald an innate opponent. He lowered his head slightly, pondering, "Madam, we have four thousand men here. How can we not match up against a single innate master?" The name of the innate had long been steeped in legend among great noble houses and elite cultivators. Countless tales spoke of their peerless prowess, seeming invincible by virtue of numbers alone. Yet, without having witnessed innate strength firsthand, a certain hope lingered in the hearts of all. Not only Lan Hanyang, but others too must have harbored such thoughts. Otherwise, they would have scattered in panic by now. Hai Huijiao's face turned dreadfully pale. "Master, heed my words. Change and leave swiftly!" she urged, "Except when in the plains of Tai'a County with ten thousand elite cavalry attacks, mere numbers can't contend with an innate master." In her mind, she left something unsaid: even in such conditions, only the most basic innate could be defeated. Any further progress within the innate tier rendered opposition by numbers futile. Fortunately, from the roar, she discerned the approaching innate was the most basic level. Otherwise, escape would've been futile no matter what disguise they wore. Lan Hanyang's face changed several times before he reluctantly agreed, "But, what about them…" "At this point, what's the use of speaking of righteousness?" Hai Huijiao said, clutching his hand tightly. "We came to aid, not to throw away our lives. Treasures are valuable only if one lives to enjoy them." Finally, Lan Hanyang followed her lead, concealing themselves in the crowd and changing into ordinary attire with the help of trusted companions. ※※※※ Guan Qing and Guo Shaofeng took to the frontline, waving their large swords and bellowing loudly, "Men, ahead is Xu Family Fort! Inside lies endless gold, endless beauty. Overcome it, and all within is yours." Guan Qing’s words were brutally direct, invigorating the bandit horde with ferocity unnatural to them. With a roaring cheer, the bandits seemed to forget the heart-stopping roar as they charged under Guan Qing and Guo Shaofeng’s command towards several openings. In mere moments, they reached the breaches. Before them stood the last line of defense, formed by the fort’s servants and followers. Even Guan Qing and Guo Shaofeng sought out the two patriarchs—they knew it was a line between life and death. Each gripped their weapons tighter as the gap closed, anticipation in their eyes. No one could back down now. The closest could already discern the enemy’s reflection in their eyes, hear the heavy breaths emanating from their own comrades and the foe. Battle was imminent. Suddenly, another explosion echoed—a cry beyond human capacity. Even amidst an atmosphere so tense it chilled the spine, the front line shivered, tension eased by this inhuman roar. Everyone turned abruptly, casting their gaze beyond thousands of bandits to the rear. There, a solitary figure had arrived, confronting the infamous two hundred-strong Fierce Tiger Suicide Squad. In its wake, a blinding light, an endless, all-consuming brilliance, filled their eyes... ※※※※ "Form ranks, draw blades..." In the roar’s aftermath, Xu Hanbai stood powerfully at the road’s edge, wielding a grand nine-ring saber. Behind him, two hundred warriors he personally trained stood ready. In Tai’a County, this death-defying squad was enough to instill fear in any power. These elite, handpicked and painstakingly trained, formed a unit akin to a small army. Even the weakest among them possessed seventh-tier internal strength. They heeded his every command with utmost reverence. With this formidable unit, the Fierce Tiger’s prestige soared; even against Red Banner Bandit’s leaders or the Lan couple, he dared to counter them head-on. On his command, two hundred swords simultaneously unsheathed. Their movements were synchronized, as if of one body. A deadly aura coalesced in that moment, such that even a tenth-tier master might hesitate before such a formidable front. Before this suicide squad, the lone man sped onward. His presence elicits grimacing visages among them. Their fierce demeanors revealed teeth clenched with defiance, unleashing every ounce of savagery. They firmly believed under their leader, the death squad was unstoppable, undefeatable. No one who came before them could shunt past their line; all would be brutally repelled and meet a bloody end. This confidence was not born of arrogance but built on decades of combat experience, a towering edifice of trust in themselves as unyielding as the highest peaks. Suddenly, the figure advanced. With a toss of his hand, something seemed to soar skyward. He leaped high, and as everyone looked up, they saw... A burst of radiant light! ※※※※ He Yi Ming moved with incredible speed, his form an amalgamation of cloud and rain, mastering their art to its utmost limit. From the county town to Xu Family Fort was neither too near nor too far, yet he had set off quite late. Fortunately, by the time he sensed the imposing black fort walls in the distance, the sun's first rays had barely begun to peek through. His mighty roar vividly expressed the mix of frustration and anticipation within him, propelling his speed to new heights. Ahead was a formation of two hundred men—not overly formidable at a glance, but once they drew their blades, an intimidating aura of seasoned battle experience emanated like a towering mountain. To He Yi Ming, this energy felt like an indestructible, sprawling mountain—firm and immense. Before him, the front rank of bandits proceeded steadily. They were closing in on the walls, marked by numerous breached spots—a testament to the intense battles fought in recent days. His heart surged wildly, as if an extraordinary force exploded from it, pervading every cell of his body in an instant. His eyes widened with determination as he let out a thunderous shout, one that echoed like a bolt from the blue. In the presence of this mountain-like death squad, an unusual scene played through his mind. It felt as though he was back atop the peak from the day he gained enlightenment. The towering mountain stood firm beneath the gentle, persistent drizzle, seemingly without force, yet it covered everything flawlessly—from ancient trees to fragile sprouts. At this moment, realization dawned upon He Yi Ming. He grasped the essence of the soft mountain rain—subtle yet all-encompassing. The muscles on his back tensed subtly, and the 360-pound guan dao (halberd) was suddenly propelled upwards by his muscles. In the air, with a burst of strength, he unsheathed the great weapon, seamlessly assembling its three parts in an instant. The blade's massive, fearsome head caught the spreading sunlight, reflecting a dazzling beam. In that split second—merely a brief instant— The light transformed... One split into two, then three, multiplying into infinity. Like gentle mountain rain, countless reflections scattered, pervasively soft. The entire two hundred-man death squad fell under this cascade of light! Gone was the overwhelming might. Following He Yi Ming's ear-splitting shout, his aura shifted instantaneously from sheer force to subtle yielding. Countless rays descended like raindrops, saturating every inch below, turning the road into a mountain peak at dawn, drenched by the drizzle. ※※※※ Yet, beneath the mountain's drizzle lay fresh air, while beneath the sword light lay blood and slaughter. Abruptly, all light vanished. He Yi Ming, weightless, soared past the road section, continuing onward at breakneck speed. The two hundred elite warriors led by Fierce Tiger Xu Hanbai had failed to obstruct him for even a moment—he sliced through them in an instant, breaching their ranks effortlessly. Xu Family Fort was built across a slope—with increasing altitude towards the fortress. Within and beyond its walls, all eyes turned to the scene. When the light disappeared, the battlefield seemed momentarily frozen. Where once stood the 201-man suicide squad, nothing remained. They vanished, all of them. In their place, a horrific mixture of flesh and blood, where only red met the eye. The 201-man squad—renowned across Tai’a County's elite bandits—was obliterated, dismantled by this single strike of He Yi Ming's guan dao into a mass of flesh and fluids. In that instant, none could say how many blows were struck within the light, but everyone saw it clearly. The vaunted 201 members of the Fierce Tiger daredevil squad, famed throughout Tai’a County, vanished without a trace. An icy chill gripped every person present. Not only did the bandits turn pale, losing their courage in an instant, but even the garrisoned servants atop the wall mirrored their fear. The might of the single strike was unstoppable… Under their wide-eyed gaze, the figure airborne became a looming presence, indelibly etched into hearts as a demon king from the underworld. ※※※※ A dark silhouette suddenly leaped from the rear of the group. With a sharp, taciturn expression, he darted swiftly towards the side like a fleeing panther. His speed was unparalleled, covering over ten meters in mere moments. In the deathly still battlefield, amid woodenly stunned crowds, his agile escape drew the gazes of countless. In a single breath, all recognized him—it was Zhong Wei, leader of the Wolf Fang. Cautious and cunning by nature, Zhong Wei harbored uncertainty upon Hai Huijiao's order for him to serve as the second line of defense. Though he hadn’t seen an innate powerhouse before, he’d heard tales of their capabilities. Regardless of belief, he avoided the arrogance and bravado that marked Xu Hanbai. Thus, while gathering the bandits, he remained vigilant of the front. Whatever an innate strongman’s prowess truly was, he aimed to see for himself. Yet the unforeseen events surpassed expectations entirely; the might of He Yi Ming’s strike utterly shattered Zhong Wei’s resolve, erasing any thought of resistance. Seeing He Yi Ming flying along the road, nearing his direction, Zhong Wei's heart leaped into his throat. Now, his sole thought was to escape—to distance himself from this harbinger at any cost. Without hesitation, he spun to flee sideways, daring not to delay. However, He Yi Ming’s airborne vantage let him size up the entire battlefield. Amidst those paralyzed by his prior strike, this sudden evader was a glaring beacon. Having unleashed a blow as overwhelming as scattered rain, He Yi Ming's momentum peaked; even surpassing the time he defeated Lü Xin Wen. With a flick of his wrist, his guan dao vibrated, as innate qi surged through like galaxies flowing, transmitting to its blade. Instantly, great power coalesced—a thread of blue flickered at the blade’s tip. Unlike before, this aura wasn’t metallic, but an azure like the boundless ocean. The light flickered thrice, then with a swing of his arm, He Yi Ming directed the blade toward the fleeing Zhong Wei. As if sentient, the energy clinging to the blade shot forth. A streak of blue cleaved the sky. The strike appeared to rend reality itself, traversing immense distance in an instant. The moment it left the blade, a vivid azure trail etched through the air, reaching Zhong Wei’s back. Though not innate himself, as a tenth-tier adept, Zhong Wei sensed impending doom. Almost by instinct, his hand darted to his waist, drawing a flexible sword, channeling inner force until it stood rigid, hissing like a serpent. Defensively, without turning, he thrust toward the threat behind him. Years as a bandit honed his skill with the slim sword to unmatched perfection. With the support of his powerful internal strength, Zhong Wei's flexible sword formed an impenetrable web behind him, able to deflect any projectile. The two, one airborne with his blade, the other on the ground with his sword, collided in a mere fraction of a breath. The blade light and sword web intertwined. "Crack…" A violent sound erupted, as though a massive stone had shattered a glass wall. The dense web of swords broke instantly. The blade light cut through as if encountering no resistance—like a razor through paper, it sliced effortlessly across Zhong Wei’s swiftly running form. He continued sprinting, seemingly unaware, when suddenly his top half arched backward. Blood sprayed into the air as he was flung skyward, while his legs kept running forward at lightning speed. As he sprinted, a torrent of blood erupted, drenching the land so ferociously that even those on the distant walls seemed to smell its dreadful scent. A hundred meters farther, the lower half of his body collapsed to the ground, twitching until all blood drained from it. That so much blood could flow from one body was unimaginable. Witnessing this scene invoked a bone-chilling horror in anyone. A horrific scream suddenly pierced the air, emitted from the remaining upper half of Zhong Wei. His cries, filled with heart-wrenching agony and despair, echoed like a torrential flood unleashed upon the world. This scream acted as a signal, shattering the current standoff completely. "Run!" Someone’s voice, uncertain but chilling, spurred the four thousand bandits to turn, fleeing to either side like desperate dogs. Outside the walls, those bandits not yet entangled with the three household forces forgot the enemies within reach, spinning around to escape faster than they had arrived. Those with inner strength of the eighth or ninth tier, finding the road blocked by their own numbers, raised their weapons high, mercilessly cutting a path through. In no time, the cries of agony filled the air as the bandits trampled over each other. Though all were skilled practitioners, precisely this training magnified the chaos and destruction they wrought. In a mere moment, over a hundred fell, casualties of their own fellows. As He Yi Ming descended, he witnessed the scene of chaos and desperation. Watching as they fled with the speed of four-legged beasts, a query arose in his mind. How had Lü Xin Wen, the Bloody Butcher, exterminated thousands of people from a millennium-old family? Were they fools, not fleeing after witnessing the overwhelming strength of an innate master? Just then, a thunderous voice cut through: "Yi Ming, Guan Qing and Guo Shaofeng are here. Don’t let them escape." He Yi Ming turned, spotting four figures grappling near the walls. He halted momentarily before shooting forward like a comet. His speed, as he harnessed it to its peak, transformed into a fleeting shadow, sprinting toward the battlefield. Guan Qing and Guo Shaofeng had long noticed He Wu De and Xu Yin Jie. Just as the two elders focused their eyes on them, the elders recognized He Yi Ming's terrifying weapon. Though they couldn’t understand his newfound incredible strength, they made the wisest choice, engaging Guan Qing and Guo Shaofeng tightly. These two villains must not be allowed to escape today, as their presence would ensure perpetual unrest in Tai Cang County. He Yi Ming rushed forward with ghostly agility, arriving at the wall's base with unrivaled speed. Raising his guan dao, it shone like the blazing sun overhead…