Chapter 26: Escaping Heaven's Clutches

Thud! Thud!!

With two dull thumps, before anyone could even get a clear look at their target, two soldiers were hurled out of the room, blood gushing from gaping wounds on their foreheads.

This scene stunned everyone outside.

They realized that they weren’t dealing with petty thieves but rather, martial arts experts.

“A pebble?” General Fan scrutinized the situation closely and observed how Chen Luo had killed his two subordinates, making him increasingly apprehensive.

Killing someone with a mere pebble indicated at least a Second Realm inner cultivation master. Judging by the depth of the wounds, this adversary might be even more formidable than initially anticipated, possibly reaching the Third Realm of Bone Tempering.

‘A Bone Tempering Realm expert.’

Unconsciously, General Fan narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with surging killing intent.

How could one sleep soundly knowing such an enemy lurked in the shadows? Initially, he had planned to capture Chen Luo alive for interrogation, but now all thoughts of mercy vanished.

For enemies of this caliber, death was the most reassuring outcome.

“Set fire!”

His subordinates swiftly dispersed, and within moments, arrows dipped in fire oil appeared in the hands of the archers.

Just as they were about to release their shots, the window on the left suddenly exploded. A dense swarm of dark projectiles burst forth, accompanied by shards of stone mixed with broken wooden fragments, hurtling towards them at high speed. The front rank of archers had no time to react; wooden splinters struck their chests, causing them to topple backward en masse.

Simultaneously, the first volley of arrows was unleashed. The torrential barrage finally managed to suppress the incoming attack.

“Continue!” General Fan extended his hand, instantly grabbing a flying rock aimed at his face. The force transmitted through it numbed his palm; he barely managed to deflect it, let alone the ordinary soldiers.

Even this scattered assault displayed such power. In a direct one-on-one assassination attempt, he doubted he could fend it off himself.

A Bone Tempering Realm Expert!

The strength exhibited by that single rock confirmed his suspicions. No wonder this individual dared to act so boldly; wielding Bone Tempering Realm capabilities, Qingya County’s small defenses would indeed crumble like dust before him.

Before they could react, another wave of shattered debris flew towards them. Under the power of a Third Realm expert, ordinary stones and wooden fragments became deadly projectiles, capable of inflicting serious harm upon impact. However, due to their overwhelming numbers, these makeshift projectiles only affected those at the forefront. The archers behind continued unleashing their arrows.

Thud, thud, thud!

Arrows pierced through the room, quickly igniting the curtains. Flames spread rapidly, visible within moments.

Intense smoke filled the entire space in no time.

“Everyone, fall back! Beware the enemy’s desperate last stand—”

Before General Fan could finish his command, darkness engulfed his vision as a blazing table burst forth from the flames. Following closely was a ghostly figure.

Bang, bang, bang!

Swift!

Incredibly swift!

Almost like lightning striking, the silhouette charged into the crowd. Caught too close by the fire, many soldiers were unable to retreat swiftly enough, and Chen Luo cut through them mercilessly. With a single strike to the chest, several archers flew sideways like straw, taking down more troops in their path.

“No one retreats!”

Witnessing his soldiers scatter, General Fan erupted with fury.

If this formidable warrior broke through, would there be any peace left for them?

On the other side, Chen Luo seemed to transform into an icy killing machine. With each move, he skillfully evaded the densest assaults, ensuring no more than three opponents engaged him at once. By leveraging his agility and the sheer number of attackers against themselves, he neutralized their numerical advantage.

This demonstrated exceptional combat instincts, honed by collecting over a hundred external minds, including those with innate talent in such tactics.

However, this strategy couldn’t last indefinitely. Despite being a Bone Tempering Realm martial artist, Chen Luo was still human and could eventually exhaust his strength. Thus, as he slew enemies, he gradually moved towards the edge, aiming to escape the encirclement before depletion set in.

Noticing this, General Fan swiftly drew his iron spear and stealthily blended into the crowd, thrusting his weapon towards Chen Luo. The entire maneuver was silent; nobody even detected his attack, devoid of the typical grandeur expected from a general’s strike.

The battlefield is ruthless; ethics take a backseat. The best method is simply the one that kills the enemy!

‘Three inches to the right, target the heart.’

Having just dispatched three surrounding soldiers, Chen Luo was about to charge forward when a sudden sense of danger surged through his mind. Instinctively, he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding an iron spear aimed at his face amidst the chaotic crowd.

How did he evade that?!

General Fan’s expression darkened; he had already overestimated his opponent, yet this adversary proved even more formidable than anticipated.

With combat instincts akin to a wild beast, it seemed implausible for such keen perception to develop without thousands of brutal battles. The young man before him hardly appeared as a seasoned master. There could be only one explanation:

A genius!

“Are you the traitor who killed Wei-gonggong?!” Holding the iron spear, General Fan refrained from further attacks and swiftly retreated back into the crowd, denying Chen Luo any opportunity to counter.

The nearby soldiers, intimidated by Chen Luo’s prowess, held their swords but none dared to make a move. In mere moments, over a dozen men had fallen, with the least severe injuries being broken limbs, while others lay lifeless.

“Prince Ning?” Chen Luo’s eyes flickered as he cautiously uttered a name.

He had surmised General Fan’s identity; most likely, this was the individual who entered the courtyard earlier and Wei-gonggong’s secret ally. It seemed fate intervened - what they sought tirelessly now appeared effortlessly! If Chen Luo could eliminate General Fan here, he and Third Uncle could finally live peaceful lives.

“As expected, I cannot let you survive!” General Fan’s expression darkened, and he swiftly retreated.

“Shoot him down! Use poisoned arrows!”

His brief exchange with Chen Luo wasn’t to give him a moment of respite but rather to signal his outer ring of subordinates to set up a defensive perimeter.

Unfortunately for Fan, Chen Luo was no fool either.

Among Chen Luo’s over a hundred minds, the one most adept at evading danger had already mapped out a safe route. The initial charge was the most perilous part. Now that he had reached this position, the situation was no longer solely dictated by his opponent.

With a half-step back, Chen Luo swiftly grabbed a slow-moving soldier on his left.

In a single twist!

With a sickening crack, the soldier holding his sword instantly breathed his last. The blade clattered to the ground and was swiftly kicked away by Chen Luo, impaling another soldier mid-flight. Then, seizing the fallen comrade’s corpse, Chen Luo hurled it far into the distance. Just as this happened, a torrent of arrows rained down from outside, with most striking the lifeless body. Seizing the opportunity, Chen Luo darted through the chaos and vanished into an unburnt house beyond the wall.

Crash!

Before anyone could react, he shattered another window, disappearing into the darkness after a few swift leaps, leaving no trace behind.

When the soldiers rushed over, all they found were scattered remnants of broken wood and a gaping hole letting in cold wind. This sight left General Fan’s face grimly pale!

“Give chase!” he barked.

Having come this far, there was no turning back now. If their target escaped today, death would likely find him tomorrow at the hands of a Bone Tempering Realm assassin-a fate even he couldn’t evade.

The soldiers promptly pursued Chen Luo. These men chosen by General Fan were elite, their loyalty tested time and again; naturally, they wouldn’t be deterred by a fierce bandit like Chen Luo.