Chapter 51: One Against A Hundred (part 2)
In the Inner Courtyard of Moon Embracing Garden, four exquisitely and elegantly constructed pavilions blazed fiercely. Under the gusting fierce winds, fire serpents danced wildly, and flames shot into the sky.
The sounds of roof tiles and wooden beams collapsing boomed incessantly.
Rolling heat waves surged out.
Even though deep autumn had already arrived, and Moon Embracing Garden was located at the confluence of Jade Belt River and Dragon Spine River, many of the sturdy men who had gathered were scorched until their bodies were burning hot, drenched in sweat.
Yet not one of them paid it any mind. All of them looked up in stunned astonishment, their gazes uniformly fixed on one spot.
Atop the rockery over two zhang tall, amid intertwining hot air and cold winds, a slender and upright youth in green robes with handsome and heroic features had his long hair flying, his robes flapping loudly. His silver spear reflected the sky’s light as he looked down imperiously at the crowd.
His posture was leisurely, his expression calm, as if he were ascending to a high vantage point to gaze into the distance and appreciate the garden’s scenery, only to have his interest disturbed by the crowd.
The vast majority of people were dazed, their faces showing shock.
These people had come from the outer arena, ordered by their masters to surround and capture that so-called “madman,” but they did not recognize Hong Yuan.
Only the noble clan nobles who had escaped from the Inner Courtyard, as well as Guo Zhen who had arrived under the guard of numerous armored soldiers, had red eyes. Cries of shock and roars of anger rang out one after another.
“It’s him!”
“This man is that extremely vicious fierce person!”
“Quick! Surround him, don’t let him escape!”
“Kill him!”
“Whoever can capture and kill this man will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver and granted ten major shops in the county…”
Mingzhou was rich beyond the world, Linjiang Prefecture was a land of fish and rice with prosperous grain transport and salt transport, full of merchants with immense wealth, and these noble clans rooted in the local area for a dozen or more generations were even richer than princes.
Having been frightened out of their wits by a mere grassroots thug this time, nearly perishing in the fire, they felt both humiliated and terrified with lingering fear. Now they all sternly shouted orders, offering all sorts of temptations.
In an instant, the scene was like a pot exploding, completely boiling over.
The noble clan guards, gang thugs, and Jianghu martial artists were all exhilarated, their eyes burning with fanaticism, unanimously directing their fervent gazes at Hong Yuan.
To them, this was the stepping stone to future wealth and glory.
“Kill!”
Amid the angry roars, right at the foot of the rockery where he was closest to Hong Yuan, several people were already scrambling up hand and foot toward the top.
Some were bare-handed, others had steel sabers in their mouths, but all had bulging veins, exerting full force, fearing to be one step slow and let others seize the advantage.
Farther away, martial artists with superior skills dashed over swiftly. Some, confident in their leaping kung fu, took unconventional paths, leaping up and stepping on others’ crowns of the head and shoulders amid waves of curses and slashing weapons, sweeping over like a gale.
Hong Yuan swept his gaze and saw densely packed heads from all directions closing in, surging forward competitively.
Even so, behind them, those noble clans, great families, and gang bosses still retained large numbers of guards and thugs.
Around that Commander Guo, nearly a hundred armored soldiers drew their steel sabers, guarding him while rapidly advancing forward. No one dared to stand in their way.
Amid the encirclement of these hundreds of people, Hong Yuan’s mind was serene, without the slightest ripple.
The reason he had turned back to Moon Embracing Garden was not only to test his own martial power and see if he could truly face a hundred enemies alone, but Hong Yuan had other considerations as well.
The current scene, for him, was a rare simulated minor exam!
To open【Great Year Blessed Land】 and take control within, he needed both martial power and power to reach the peak of perfection.
For martial power, unless he beat the world’s masters into submission, why would others acknowledge him as the world’s number one?
Power was even more troublesome.
In the eight-hundred-year Great Yin World, local state governments were already full of noble families everywhere and clustered with noble families. Without fighting and seizing, without overturning this old era, how could he ascend to the top of the world?
Whichever one it was, it represented facing stronger opponents and larger scenes in the future, far beyond the current comparison.
Now, these hundreds surrounding him seemed imposing, but in reality, those noble clan guards, gang thugs, and Jianghu martial artists came from countless forces, rife with internal conflicts and past fights.
Stimulated by heavy rewards, it would be impressive if they didn’t stab each other in the back, let alone cooperate wholeheartedly.
In truth, this was just a mob of rabble.
But even rabble was only relative to their corresponding force groups.
For one person, hundreds charging to beat and kill, even if scattered sand, was still a sandstorm that could wear down bones and erode flesh.
Even a Microscopic Level Grandmaster facing this scene would retreat and avoid direct confrontation.
Hong Yuan had fought his way from Wushan County into the prefecture city, clashing with dozens of masters, including several at the “balance of hardness and softness, freely control” level.
Among these people were no lack of those who had encountered Microscopic Level Grandmasters.
Though Hong Yuan had not truly clashed with a Microscopic Level one yet, through interrogating many martial artists, he had gained considerable understanding of it.
What made Microscopic Level stronger than him was just a layer higher in force and technique, reaching the level of “force like drawing silk.”
As for muscles and bones physique, or even spiritual sense perception, they could not compare to him.
Of course, mere forced confessions could not be fully trusted. To truly ascertain the details of Microscopic Level, he still needed a real clash of steel and iron.
Amid his racing thoughts, a vicious wind assaulted his face.
The first to arrive were not those climbing the rockery, but the martial artist who had bounced over using the crowd’s heads and shoulders as footholds.
“Kid, your head is mine, ‘Chase Wind Leg’ claims it!”
Those who made a name in Jianghu were no ordinary people.
This “Chase Wind Leg” planted one foot on the head of a sturdy man climbing the rockery. As the latter groaned in pain and tumbled backward, he leaped up like a great bird. Still in midair, his right leg shot out fiercely, straight as an arrow, suddenly stabbing toward Hong Yuan’s heart.
“Damn! ‘Chase Wind Leg’ got the first move!” The other charging martial artists were a step slow, their faces anxious.
Yet several martial artists lurked in the shadows. Amid the surging chaos, they merely watched coldly, eyes locked on Hong Yuan’s direction, waiting for an opportunity.
Seeing “Chase Wind Leg” strike, someone curled their lips in a cold smile, as if looking at a dead man.
These few were precisely the martial artists who had survived from the Inner Courtyard.
Having witnessed that fierce person’s might firsthand, they were both terrified and drawn by the heavy rewards, unwilling to leave easily.
They only hoped others would exhaust that fierce person’s strength first, allowing them to reap the benefits.
Atop the rockery.
“Chase Wind Leg” thrust out like a javelin, the swift assault whipping the airflow into a howl. In Hong Yuan’s eyes, it was like slow motion, even clearly showing the process of the opponent’s leg bending, springing, and straightening like a spear.
Matching his eyesight was his speed.
Hong Yuan reached out and grabbed empty-handed, like scooping a fish from a dry pond, grasping the opponent’s calf in one grip.
“Chase Wind Leg” immediately felt his leg bone in agony as if clamped by iron pliers. Then his body spun rapidly, smashing fiercely into two sturdy men who had just climbed to the rockery top and poked their heads out.
Amid the sounds of muscles and bones shattering, the three collided. Those two were directly smashed flying down, while “Chase Wind Leg” let out a shrill scream, his body exploding with flesh and blood, tumbling down like a rag doll.
Hong Yuan suddenly leaped up, jumping down from the rockery. Spear in hand, he swung it backward in a reverse grip.
The dozens of jin heavy refined steel spear whipped around, striking three rockery-climbing sturdy men head-on. In an instant, they were sent flying, crashing heavily into the crowd below.
Bang!
Hong Yuan’s figure landed on the ground, making it tremble. Immediately, chilling force came from all sides—saber, sword, spear, lance… all sorts of weapons came at him together, hacking or stabbing at his body.
Silver light flashed as Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear swept out horizontally.
No need for exquisite techniques; Hong Yuan wielded the spear like a club. With his immense strength combined with the dozens of jin heavy steel spear, it truly had a thousand jin of force.
In just an instant, those weapons killing toward him snapped and shattered. Amid the clanging of metal, accompanied by a series of screams, one arm after another was smashed by the long spear, flesh and blood splattering in a moment!
Hong Yuan’s figure flickered, charging swiftly toward the densest cluster of people.
In a flash, he was submerged in the crowd.
But merely a breath later, a chilling silver light spilled out, shooting into the sky. The great spear was like a soaring dragon, howling and roaring as it swept and swung, invincible against blockers, shattering all in its path.
The others only heard bursts of hair-raising screams as one figure after another flew back even faster, tumbling and smashing into all directions.
Most of these people were merely strong-bodied, but some had reached the qi and blood control stage, even entering force martial artists. Yet facing the Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear in Hong Yuan’s hands, they were all powerless to resist, with no distinction.
With Hong Yuan’s immense strength swinging the long spear, it was no exaggeration to say touching meant death, brushing meant crippling. Those smashed flying immediately exploded with flesh and blood, muscles and bones pulverized.
And he deliberately struck toward crowded areas, the carried force immediately smashing many others injured, even the unlucky ones having their necks snapped outright.
In a moment, a dozen or twenty people were blasted flying, clearing a space in front of Hong Yuan.
As panicked screams rang out everywhere, those directly facing Hong Yuan had their courage broken, eyes filled with terror, like beholding some primordial beast. They forgot all about the rewards, desperately retreating.
Spear shadows spread out in sheets, whistling continuously, already piercing two men’s throats. With another flash, amid exploding silver light, it pierced two men’s chests.
Hong Yuan was somewhat dissatisfied, once again using the Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear like a stick, swinging it through the air. With ‘puff puff’ sounds, several heads exploded directly.
This way, the killing speed was much faster.
As brains splattered, Hong Yuan’s body flickered, turning to another direction.
He never discriminated, treating all equally.
In a few breaths, the others enjoyed the same treatment. Hong Yuan seemed to transform into a steel war chariot, spear shadows crisscrossing wherever he went, screams everywhere, flesh and blood flying.
Suddenly appearing and vanishing, striking from all sides—wherever people were, screams and wails erupted there.
“Evil demon! He’s an evil demon!”
“Run fast!”
In a short moment, wails filled the fields. The survivors cried for parents, having lost all courage and bravery, throwing down their weapons and scattering in all directions.
They even ignored their own masters.
Of course, those noble clans and great families were fleeing too, each wishing their parents had given them two extra legs, scrambling away in panic!
Each was shocked in their hearts: how could there be such a terrifying person?
Clearly just one man against hundreds, yet he charged back and forth, now in the crowd, now behind the rockery, now east now west, now left now right, coming and going like the wind, completely unpredictable…
With the power of one man, he actually split the hundreds apart. Before him, the hundreds seemed like lambs to the slaughter!
Hong Yuan breathed slightly heavily. With his physique, this bout of beating and killing still made his qi and blood surge, somewhat uncomfortable.
The damage caused was actually only around a hundred people.
Moreover, few true experts were killed or injured; they were all sly. Except for the initial unlucky ones, the rest had hurriedly retreated upon seeing his might.
If the remaining people charged all at once, even Hong Yuan would have to evade first.
But this was impossible; it wasn’t about locking morale—such massive casualties without collapse would be strange.
It was precisely because Hong Yuan killed too fast that many didn’t have time to flee; otherwise, after dozens died, the rest would harbor thoughts of retreat.
Moreover, even if they truly fought fearlessly one by one, Hong Yuan had countermeasures.
He didn’t have to clash head-on; with his movement speed, he could injure dozens then swiftly retreat to recover before charging again.
Even now, under the【Qi Flows Through the Hundred Skeletons】 talent, Hong Yuan’s consumed stamina was rapidly recovering, likely returning to peak state in less than ten breaths.
Suddenly, a chill ran down his back. His body abruptly shifted, flashing a zhang away. Only then came ‘chi chi chi’ sounds—greenish light flashed, and on the large stone ahead of where Hong Yuan had stood, ‘ding ding’ crisp rings sounded as over a dozen fine velvet needles embedded, with even more falling to the ground.
Whoosh!
Hong Yuan threw backhand, the long spear in his grip turning into a silver beam piercing the air, instantly piercing the chest of a middle-aged man several zhang away holding a long black box-like object, his face full of shock. The massive force lifted his body off the ground.
The Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear flew another four or five zhang before slamming into a large green stone with a bang.
This hidden weapons middle-aged man’s body fell to the ground. Behind a nearby rockery, several figures guarded a short fat man in hasty retreat—it was none other than Third Master Jin of the Grain Transport Gang.
Hong Yuan kicked off with his foot, his figure shooting out like an arrow. In the blink of an eye he caught up, claws thrusting forward with whistling winds. Several figures had their throats torn open, tumbling dead to the ground.
Third Master Jin crashed face-first to the ground with a ‘bang.’ A foot stepped on his back, and a faint voice sounded: “Was that one of yours just now?”
“No no no…” Third Master Jin hurriedly denied, his heart filled with utmost regret. Everyone else was running—why had he lost his head and believed that man could succeed with an ambush?
Actually, it wasn’t his fault; it was just Hong Yuan’s spiritual sense being keen. For other martial artists in such a great battle amid chaotic noise on all sides, after intense fighting, even a Microscopic Level one might not escape.
“Young hero, I am a member of the Grain Transport Gang, third in the seating order. Our Grain Transport Gang has hundreds of thousands of brothers—you must be cautious…”
Third Master Jin was dirt-covered and choked on dust, but quickly revealed his identity.
“I know you, Third Master Jin of the Grain Transport Gang. Do you know about the earlier bet? You cheated me out of three thousand taels,” Hong Yuan said.
“Young hero, rest assured. I am willing to compensate you thirty thousand taels to show my sincerity!”
Third Master Jin said urgently.
“You’re only worth thirty thousand taels?” Hong Yuan smiled and asked.
“Whatever young hero says is the amount. I, Jin San, have nothing else but plenty of money. As long as young hero spares my life, not just thirty thousand—three hundred thousand, I’ll scrape together for you!”
Third Master Jin hurriedly professed to save his life.
“You’re worth not a single wen!”
With a ‘crack,’ Hong Yuan snapped his neck. His figure flashed, and with a ‘clang’ he retrieved the long spear from the green stone, striding forward to meet the nearly hundred armored soldiers under Commander Guo.
The previous bout of beating and killing was mere foreplay; what followed was the main course.
