Chapter 120: Crushing

As the news spread, a large contingent of the Black Tiger Army swiftly converged, encircling the courtyard and the alley it resided in, forming an impenetrable barrier.

Simultaneously, the villagers dwelling within the alley were roused from their slumber and discreetly relocated.

"Are you certain the individual is within?"

Shen Changqing, his complexion calm, gazed at the dimly lit alley ahead.

Wen Ce, standing beside him, nodded. "Indeed. I’ve ensured that every inch of this alley is surrounded. There’s no possibility of escape."

"Good."

Wen Ce’s response brought clarity to Shen Changqing’s mind.

In certain aspects, the Black Tiger Army’s actions surpassed his expectations in thoroughness.

"Since we’ve confirmed the Barbarian’s location, there’s no need for hesitation. You all hold your positions here. Leave the rest to me!"

"Lord Shen, please exercise caution."

Wen Ce spoke in a deep voice.

The alley was narrow, making it difficult for the Black Tiger Army to effectively engage in combat.

Without the ability to form a proper military formation, the individual strength of a Black Tiger Army soldier peaked at the Body Forging Realm.

Consequently, casualties would be inevitable.

Therefore, it was imperative for a powerhouse like Shen Changqing to enter and fight, while the Black Tiger Army maintained their watch outside, ready to suppress the enemy the moment they attempted to flee.

Without taking anyone along, Shen Changqing strode into the alley alone.

Knock knock!

The courtyard door was struck once more.

"Who is it?"

A wary voice called from behind the door.

Shen Changqing replied calmly, "Routine night patrol."

"Wasn’t there a patrol just now? Why another one?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Are you teaching the Imperial Court how to do things?"

Shen Changqing’s voice turned icy.

Hearing this, the voice behind the door dared not say another word, reluctantly opening the courtyard gate.

The moment the door opened, the man’s eyes fell upon Shen Changqing standing at the entrance, noting the absence of anyone else behind him.

Instantly, a sense of unease washed over him.

However, recalling that he had revealed nothing suspicious, the man barely managed to suppress his restless heart, forcing a smile as he faced Shen Changqing.

"Lord, may I ask what you’re here to check on this time?"

"Checking isn’t important. It’s taking that matters."

"Taking what?"

"Taking your life—"

As Shen Changqing’s words faded, he took a step forward, his right palm slamming out with overwhelming force. The man’s expression instantly changed.

Without any hesitation, and disregarding any need for concealment, the man’s body instantly darted away from his original position. The palm wind howled past, shattering the courtyard gate on one side.

"How did you discover me?"

Pulling away a distance, the man’s complexion was gloomy.

A powerful Yin and evil aura rose from his body, his eyes shifting from their normal black to a bilious green.

He couldn’t fathom how he had been exposed.

From beginning to end, he had concealed himself well, revealing no trace of his presence.

Yet, the fact that someone had come knocking on his door indicated that everything had been laid bare.

"Barbarians deserve death!"

Shen Changqing’s expression was indifferent as he unsheathed the Cold Moon Saber from his waist. A fierce saber aura cut through the air, aimed directly at the man’s fatal point.

Sensing the threat of the saber aura, the man’s expression changed once more. Lightly tapping his toe, his body vanished from its original spot like a ghost.

The next instant, a gust of Yin wind swept in as a palm struck towards Shen Changqing’s back.

Gang Qi protection!

The palm struck the Gang Qi, instantly shattering it. Then, with undiminished momentum, it landed on Shen Changqing’s body.

Boom—

A strong wind scattered in all directions.

The man’s expression changed drastically. The palm that landed on the other party’s back felt as if it had struck not flesh and blood, but an extremely hard diamond.

"How is that possible!"

He had never seen anyone withstand his attack with just their physical body and protective Gang Qi.

However, no matter how unwilling the man was to believe it, the truth was before his eyes, leaving him no choice but to accept it.

One strike failed, and he wanted to withdraw.

However—

The man wanted to retreat, but that didn’t mean Shen Changqing would allow him to leave. The moment the attack landed on his back, he had already turned around. The Cold Moon Saber cut through the air, slicing through the man’s body with lightning speed.

Instantly, a shower of blood sprayed outwards.

The man clutched his shoulder as he retreated explosively.

Shen Changqing stomped the ground hard with his right foot, his body shooting out like a cannonball, his offensive following like a shadow, giving the man no room to retreat.

Seeing this, the man dared not face him head-on, dodging left and right, trying to evade Shen Changqing’s attacks.

The person before him.

His strength completely exceeded the limit he could withstand.

His physical body was strong, impervious to attacks.

Moreover, his speed was extremely fast, and his attacks were exceptionally fierce.

If it weren’t for the absence of any Martial Arts True Intent, the man would have thought that Shen Changqing was a Martial Arts Grandmaster in the flesh.

Suddenly!

A thought emerged in his mind.

Half-step Grandmaster!

The other party was a Half-step Grandmaster level expert.

"When did Jincheng gain a Half-step Grandmaster expert? Impossible. If there really was a Half-step Grandmaster expert here, it’s impossible that there would be no information at all—"

As the man dodged Shen Changqing’s attacks, his mind raced, trying to recall something that he had overlooked.

Unfortunately.

No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t understand why there would be a Half-step Grandmaster expert in Jincheng.

However—

There was no point in thinking too much at this moment. The most important thing was how to survive under a Half-step Grandmaster level expert.

With this thought in mind, the man retrieved a palm-sized small black flag from his sleeve as he dodged.

Then, he waved the small flag, and a black fog poured out from it, a Yin and evil aura instantly sweeping outwards.

The next moment, evil creatures emerged from the black mist, attacking Shen Changqing.

"Ridiculous—"

Seeing the evil creatures emerging from the black mist, Shen Changqing’s expression remained unchanged. The Cold Moon Saber directly cut through the air, a mighty Heavenly Martial Gang Qi affixed to the blade, instantly tearing apart the evil creatures and the black mist.

Ah!!

The evil creatures let out a miserable scream as their bodies directly dissipated into the air.

A familiar sensation surged.

Shen Changqing didn’t pause for even half a breath, continuing to kill towards the man.

The long saber cut through the air.

A blazing aura swept out, and the moment the saber aura fell, an arm landed on the ground.

Before the man could cry out, he stepped forward, slamming a palm onto the man’s body. The terrifying palm force instantly caved in the other party’s chest, and large mouthfuls of blood spewed from his mouth.

His body was already flying out like a discarded weed.

Upon landing, the man was breathless, as if he would die at any moment.

From the start of the battle until now, he had been completely suppressed, with no room to fight back.

The strength that Shen Changqing displayed made people despair.

Seeing the other party slowly approach, the tip of the knife pointing diagonally to the ground, the snow-white blade with blazing True Qi flowing on it, a threat of death surged into his heart.

"Don’t—"

"Don’t kill—"

The man opened his mouth, struggling to speak.

But before he could finish speaking, the long saber had already fallen, and a big head fell off his neck, the blood corroding a large area of the ground like terrible poison.

Kill the man.

A surge of slaughter points poured into the status panel.

However, Shen Changqing didn’t let down his guard. Instead, he turned to look at the location of the house.

There.

He sensed a powerful aura reviving.

At the same time.

In the blood pool.

The moment the man was slain, Zhou Qin, who was immersed in the blood pool, suddenly opened her tightly closed eyes, her pupils completely occupied by scarlet.

Boom!!

The blood pool shook.

Zhou Qin transformed into a blood shadow, directly heading outside the secret room.

Bang—

The wall shattered, and an extremely strong bloody smell rushed towards them.

Shen Changqing slammed out with a palm, colliding heavily with the blood shadow.

The two terrifying forces collided.

Shen Changqing’s feet seemed to be rooted to the ground, standing still, while the blood shadow flew out horizontally.

When the blood shadow landed.

He was able to see the specific appearance of the blood shadow.

"Corpse puppet?"

Shen Changqing didn’t recognize Zhou Qin, but the appearance of the person before him made him instinctively associate it with a corpse puppet.

But different from ordinary corpse puppets.

The strength Zhou Qin had just displayed was no weaker than the man he had slain.

After a brief daze.

Shen Changqing immediately came back to his senses, raising his saber and killing towards Zhou Qin.

Regardless of what it was.

Just behead all of them.

The man was not Shen Changqing’s opponent, and Zhou Qin was not his opponent either.

In just a few rounds, the other party was beheaded with one knife.

Looking at Zhou Qin’s separated corpse, Shen Changqing glanced at his status panel. The slaughter points had not increased at all, and he couldn’t help but shake his head.

"What a pity!"

With Zhou Qin’s strength, if she could have contributed slaughter points, it would undoubtedly have been a great harvest.

Unfortunately.

The other party didn’t belong to the category of evil spirits, but rather to some kind of powerful puppet, and there was no way to contribute slaughter points at all.

Standing in place.

Shen Changqing spread his perception outwards, thoroughly checking the inside and outside of the courtyard. After confirming that there were no remaining problems, he turned and left the place.

Outside the alley.

The Black Tiger Army was still surrounding the area.

The sounds of the battle inside could be clearly heard by the people outside as well.

"Lord Wen, is it okay to let Lord Shen go in alone?

Listening to the sounds of the battle, a Jianghu person couldn’t help but ask.

Hearing this.

Wen Ce shook his head. "You underestimate Lord Shen too much. There is no one in Jincheng who can contend with Lord Shen. A mere Barbarian, Lord Shen’s strength is more than enough to deal with it.

We just need to stay here and guard against the Barbarian escaping."

Wen Ce had great confidence in Shen Changqing’s strength.

Although he had never truly seen Shen Changqing take action, based on all aspects, the other party’s strength was extraordinary.

Although that Barbarian’s strength was strong.

But not necessarily is Shen Changqing’s opponent.

End of Chapter