Chapter 176: Siege Battle
Most forces, especially the martial artist forces in the towns.
When developing to a certain extent, all secretly prepare black gloves or hidden forces.
This is the principle of three burrows of a cunning rabbit; no one is unaware of it.
Moreover, in the world of martial artists, there has never been absolute justice or fairness.
To develop, it has always been survival of the fittest; plundering has forever been a shortcut.
Compared to other forces, the Ma Family is even more massive.
Ma Dingshan relied on the power of the Hundred Caves Witch Sect to become a Dan Qiao True Person.
Although with the passage of time, he is increasingly suffering deeper backlash.
But without a doubt, with his such power, he is already stronger than the other two families.
The benefits the Ma Family wants to obtain must be pried bit by bit from the mouth of the Beast King Sect.
The Beast King Sect is certainly not afraid of a Dan Qiao Realm True Person appearing among its subordinate forces, but it absolutely will not allow one family to dominate and absorb all the resources of a certain area.
The Ma Family hides even more, concealing all its tentacles.
At the same time, it also trained a group of dead men led by Cheng Han who cultivated Demonic Path cultivation manuals.
Sometimes, when Beast King Sect and great sect disciples discover clues, this group of people will strike.
Ma Tianhong is not a soft-hearted person.
It’s just that he has seen Su Yan take action and knows how formidable this guy is.
Even a single Cheng Han, even if fighting desperately, might not be able to take him down.
This means that ambushing Su Yan would require more of their power and more people would die.
“Led by Cheng Han, there are still thirty-two dead men who cultivated Sacred Weapon Dao Cultivation Manuals, the strongest being no more than Condensing Momentum Stage strength. Su Yan’s strength is overwhelming; I’m afraid we can’t suppress him.”
Ma Tianhong’s face was solemn as he said in a deep voice: “Moreover, we must clear our current suspicion. Otherwise, even if he dies, the Beast King Sect will definitely continue investigating.”
“You and Tianming go together.”
Ma Dingshan’s voice was ice-cold as he said: “I will strike in secret, but you and Tianming must die there and fake your deaths to escape.”
If the Ma Family’s family head and his own blood brother die in battle, with countless disciples dead or wounded, in such a situation, as long as the Ma Family pleads guilty and pays some price, the Beast King Sect has no reason to continue investigating.
You must know, if even in such a case they cannot tolerate the Ma Family, then the Beast King Sect should not expect any other affiliated forces under its rule in the future.
Ma Tianhong’s face changed slightly; Ma Dingshan’s gaze swept over: “You unwilling?”
“Tianhong is willing!”
Ma Tianhong immediately agreed, a flash of fear deep in his gaze.
After the old ancestor became like this, his violent and bloodthirsty nature intensified; even his own sect’s descendants, if they displeased him, could be devoured alive.
He had no possibility of refusing at all.
——
Corpses hung at the city gate, but mere days had passed.
Su Yan used thunderous methods to root out more than a dozen large and small forces.
The Mountain Guard swept through like thunder; these forces had no way to resist and were almost entirely dealt with from sect leader to the lowest underlings.
Not necessarily all slaughtered, but prison disasters or even crippled martial arts were inevitable.
Su Yan did not personally strike, but his fierce reputation had already spread throughout the entire county town.
The heaven-slaying killing star.
Clearly just a Ruyi Stage True Intent Martial Artist, yet he turned all of Ma Wang Town upside down, with heads rolling.
Originally, if the investigation continued like this, even more people would be killed.
But a piece of news quietly changed the entire situation.
“The entire Tianhe Real Estate Agent was wiped out. We caught two sparrows there; they are Old Temple Entrance people, and both bear traces of Sacred Weapon Dao Cultivation Manuals.”
In the tent, Bai Yun sat on the chair next to Su Yan and told him this news.
“How were they discovered?”
“The two identities: one is the real estate agent’s steward, the other its deputy. Neither knew the other’s identity, but both rooms had a broken-headed Bodhisattva plaque. Following the vine led to discovering something wrong.”
Bai Yun is meticulous, and the Mountain Guard disciples in the team are no pushovers; these inconsistencies could not escape their eyes.
“Can you find the people behind them?”
Su Yan slightly raised his gaze; Bai Yun said: “Yes. Normally, they are responsible for procuring supplies and setting guide markers for the black path bandit cultivators; they are the eyes and ears of that group to the outside. Though the two wouldn’t talk, they couldn’t withstand Hundred Tiger Peak’s methods. The people are hiding in Blustering Wind Valley, only about a hundred miles from Ma Wang Town.”
“Then let’s go to Blustering Wind Valley.”
Su Yan’s gaze brightened, a smile appearing on his face.
News of Blustering Wind Valley grew increasingly intense; clearly not deliberately leaked, but rumors had already spread in the black path.
Old Temple Entrance people are hiding in Blustering Wind Valley; if you want to find them for money, you must act early.
The news source is unknown, but for some bandit cultivators, having news is a good thing.
They were fooled by Old Temple Entrance and went to ambush Beast King Sect disciples for the dark flower.
The deed was done, but then they couldn’t find the Old Temple Entrance people.
This resentment, especially among those bandit cultivators who suffered the heaviest losses in battle, was pent up in their hearts.
Although it was just some news, people were already heading there.
Ma Tianhong rushed over upon hearing the wind, bringing his own blood brother Ma Tianming.
The two hurriedly said: “Young Master Su, the group that destroyed the Bai Shan Town formation is now in Blustering Wind Valley.”
“Everyone knows now; the people in Blustering Wind Valley have probably fled long ago.”
“Impossible.” Ma Tianming said firmly: “Blustering Wind Valley is a hiding place, but not easy to enter or exit. The news might not have reached there yet, and with so many black path people in the valley, if they fled, someone would know.”
“Second Master Ma speaks reason.”
Su Yan raised his gaze to look at him; Ma Tianming slightly turned his head away and snorted coldly: “We Ma Family are willing to send a hundred troops to quickly capture them. If this drags on, Ma Shan Town is finished.”
If Ma Shan Town is finished, then the Ma Family is gone too.
“Then let’s move out and seal Blustering Wind Valley.”
Su Yan finally gave the order; in less than an hour, a Mountain Guard squad assembled, along with a hundred-man guard from the Ma Family.
The crowd marched grandly straight toward Blustering Wind Valley.
This Blustering Wind Valley is truly a dangerous place, situated between two snow peaks like knives or swords, with sheer cliffs on both sides like countless blades; biting cold winds whistled through, almost slicing the travelers’ skin.
This place is not too far from Sword Hanging Peak; high mountains with accumulated snow, extremely low temperature.
As Su Yan’s team stepped into this snowy ground, they felt a bone-chilling chill.
The team continued advancing and had now entered Blustering Wind Valley.
Some black path bandit cultivators searching for clues here hurriedly fled.
But Su Yan’s group struck even more decisively and fiercely, leaving these people behind right there.
Heading further into the depths, the Mountain Guard disciples and Ma Family juniors at the vanguard had already discovered some traces.
Following these traces, the team gradually reached the deepest part of Blustering Wind Valley.
Whistling wind sounds came, sharper than swinging knives.
“Tread tread tread.”
Footsteps suddenly rang out; in the wind and snow, Cheng Han’s figure in a black robe finally appeared before Su Yan.
“Beast King Sect pursues so relentlessly; I underestimated you.”
Cheng Han’s gaze was ice-cold, the soul locking chain beside him coiling like a venomous snake.
“You did underestimate.”
Su Yan nodded: “Otherwise, you wouldn’t dare to attack Beast King Sect disciples.”
“Why waste words with these trash; capture them.”
Ma Tianming’s temperament was irritable; at this moment, he directly spouted mad words at Cheng Han.
Seeing them about to charge, but Su Yan remained still, merely saying faintly: “Strike.”
“Pfft.”
With the order, Mountain Guard disciples almost simultaneously thrust their long sabers through the chests of the nearest Ma Family disciples.
Intentional against the unprepared.
This time, the sudden strike caught seven or eight out of ten Ma Family guards and disciples off guard.
Blood gushed from their hearts, their bodies gradually losing strength.
“What are you doing?!”
Ma Tianming flew into rage; Su Yan merely smiled faintly: “Doing what you prepared to do, isn’t it?”
His figure moved, charging straight at the two.
Not good!
The two men’s faces changed; almost simultaneously, one black and one white robust Back-through Ape True Intents appeared before everyone.
Su Yan’s Star Picking Hand condensed mid-way, the massive palm dotted with starlight, fully two zhang wide.
“Boom.”
The two brothers’ True Intents hard-blocked, but Su Yan had the first move advantage, striking them flying over ten zhang away.
True Intent shook, even affecting the true essence in their bodies, blood spilling from their mouths.
“Good, good, good, what a fine scheme!”
Ma Tianhong and his brother came to their senses, their icy gazes at Su Yan now full of hatred.
Su Yan waved his hand; Mountain Guard disciples formed formation to seal the entrance.
“You were scheming against me, not the other way around.”
As Su Yan’s voice fell, the Six-Winged Blood Centipede was directly released by him, charging straight at the two brothers.
Mere Ruyi Stage martial artist!
Ma Tianming charged fiercely, a broad-backed saber in hand, old ape lifting saber, slashing directly at Su Yan.
Su Yan was not afraid at all; rolling poisonous mist from the Six-Winged Blood Centipede surged forth, completely blocking this assault.
Ma Tianming crushed over with Back-through Ape True Intent; the massive figure roared, nearly shattering the mountain peak’s snow cap.
Yet Su Yan was even more ferocious, joining hands with the Six-Winged Blood Centipede; in this flash of lightning, he pressed down with Star Picking Hand.
Ma Tianming was struck solidly, spitting out even more blood.
He was merely a Condensing Momentum Stage martial artist, not comparable to his brother Ma Tianhong.
“Little brat, die!”
At this time, Ma Tianhong had fully unleashed his aura; after Spirit Merging Stage, the Back-through Ape infused with divine charm, the beast spirit transformed, reaching a hundred meters tall.
The massive hand like a heavenly pillar smashed down fiercely.
Su Yan coldly raised his gaze, his figure flickering like a ghost, then condensed Star Picking Hand to strike back.
Rumbling echoed; Su Yan was sent flying backward, his figure plunging into the mountain valley snow.
Ma Tianhong laughed maniacally: Knowing my scheme, yet you dare come alone.
He suddenly reacted: “Where is Hao Yi?!”
Su Yan’s figure reappeared, grinning: “Probably above your Ma residence, of course, perhaps with others.”
Ma Tianhong’s face changed drastically, but Su Yan swept his gaze around and suddenly nodded: “Finally all gone.”
Ma Tianhong looked around; where could he see any Mountain Guard disciples’ figures?
Right after the executions ended, they had already scattered like birds and beasts toward outside Blustering Wind Valley.
Seeing this, Ma Tianhong waved to attack, but the next moment, a massive resistance blocked his arm.
Su Yan merely slightly raised his gaze, but this aura and suppressive force came crashing down.
The Insect Consciousness Seed constantly increased his power at all times.
“Kill!”
Cheng Han saw the situation turn bad; more than thirty dead men under him directly chased toward outside Blustering Wind Valley.
They must kill as many Beast King Sect disciples as possible.
Otherwise, if even one escaped, the Ma Family would surely be bloodwashed.
“Star Constellation Profound Beast, formation rise.”
Su Yan revealed a cold smile; Star Moon Centipede, Poison Star Ape, and Green-scaled Poisonous Flood Dragon appeared, streams of starlight converging to form a great formation barrier, sealing off this area.
Overreaching!
Ma Tianming and Cheng Han directly joined hands, attacking toward this barrier.
Yet as the thick true essence poured out, it was immediately blocked mid-air by a strange pattern.
True essence surged; after dissipating, surprisingly a white-jade-like insect beast stood before them.
The earlier patterns were all insect patterns, the insect patterns used by the Gold-Eating Demon Insect for defensive resistance.
Tap tap tap.
Sharp appendages landed on the snowy stone slabs, massive snow melting under blazing high heat, even turning into sight-obstructing steam.
The Flame Armored Scorpion’s figure gradually approached, raising its head in a long howl of violent roar.
The Blood Fiend Mother Worm flew in, trailing a sky-covering blood-red mass behind.
Looking fixedly, within the blood curtain were countless blood bees; just one glance showed no fewer than thirty to fifty thousand.
The Shadow Horn Spider also emerged, landing before Su Yan, its icy spider eyes fixed on the few before it.
Pfft.
Many dead men had yet to react before being pierced through the heart by shadow silk hidden in the snow.
“Hiding your depths! You actually have so many contracted beasts.”
The formation and five fierce insects linked with three True Intents, a star curtain-like barrier isolating this place.
Plus Blustering Wind Valley’s two sheer cliff walls, there was nowhere to flee.
Su Yan had turned this place into a dead zone.
Either kill Su Yan, or be trapped here.
Even Ma Tianhong, this Spirit Merging Stage expert, True Intent Realm Fourth Stage, stronger than Su Yan this True Intent Realm Second Stage Ruyi Stage martial artist.
At this moment, he also felt a suppressive force from the formation.
“Since you seek death, I’ll kill you first; worst case, the whole clan defects to the Demonic Sect.”
Ma Tianhong spoke sinisterly, then controlled the Back-through Ape True Intent to crush toward Su Yan.
Hundred-meter figure, even if just a virtual body, even if just an ordinary punch, the contained terrifying strength was enough to destroy a small mountain peak.
Su Yan was dauntless, his gaze becoming even calmer.
Hand that can pluck the stars!
His true essence condensed; a massive palm print pressed directly upward.
With a boom, it blocked the Back-through Ape’s giant hand.
Su Yan’s figure shook, retreating a good distance.
That attack had completely suppressed him; the full two realm gap made it hard for him to parry.
“Overreaching.”
Ma Tianhong was about to attack again when Su Yan’s eyes flashed with sharp light; his body instantly covered in pitch-black insect armor, Insect Consciousness Seed constantly urging, his figure levitating, spirit surging with several-fold amplification, his aura suddenly surging.
Insect Bone Armor Body.
Insect Consciousness Seed.
