91: Unexpected incident

The arrest warrant from the Government, personally signed by Martial Uncle Chen Chuan and stamped with the double crimson seals of the Jiuqu Prefecture Constabulary and the Qinghe County Yamen, exuded a chilling Killing Intent in the morning light.

The Yamen Runners, Constables, and some garrison soldiers, who had already assembled and were on standby, drew their swords, nocked their crossbows, and menacingly surrounded the Black Mountain Gang's main altar, making it impenetrable.

Li Xunya, dressed in a brand-new official uniform, walked at the forefront of the team, full of vigor.

He wore a long saber at his waist, his steps were steady, and while his Qi and blood were hidden, a powerful and fierce Aura, far stronger than before, emanated from him.

Just yesterday, relying on years of accumulation and a touch of luck, he finally broke through the bottleneck and successfully entered the Jiaojin Realm!

Although he had just entered this realm and his tendons had not yet been fully tempered and strengthened, the sense of power brought by the leap in his life's essence filled him with confidence, making him feel capable of facing any challenge.

County Commandant Wang followed closely, his face grave with a hint of determination.

Things had come to this; his past connection with Zhang Zhifeng had long vanished. Only by completely taking down the Black Mountain Gang could he account to the Prefecture and to Martial Uncle Chen Chuan, and secure his own future.

"Zhang Zhifeng! You are suspected of colluding with the White Lotus Evil Cult and murdering multiple people, with irrefutable evidence! I am ordered to apprehend you; why do you not come out and surrender quickly!"

Li Xunya, channeling his inner Qi, spoke with a voice like rolling thunder, booming deep into the Black Mountain Gang's main altar, carrying the unique pressure of a Jiaojin Realm Martial Artist.

Almost simultaneously with Li Xunya's shout, on the Qinghe Waterway, several fast boats from the Water Patrol Division, like sharp blades, cut through the calm water, firmly blockading all docks controlled by the Black Mountain Gang and all waterways leading out of the city.

Soldiers on the boats held strong bows and powerful crossbows, their sharp eyes scanning the water and the shore for any possible unusual movements.

Chen Linsheng, dressed in a Water Patrol Division Youjiao uniform, stood holding a Solid Iron Long Spear at the bow of one of the fast boats.

He was ordered to lead a team to intercept this water area in the eastern part of the city, to prevent core members of the Black Mountain Gang from escaping by water.

The gentle breeze ruffled his clothes, and his eyes were calm, as if the approaching event was not a battle, but an ordinary patrol.

Senior Brother Shi Poyue, Second Senior Brother Di Moyu, Third Martial Sister Liu Ruyan, and Fourth Martial Sister Zhao Linger also led Martial Arts Hall Disciples to deploy in different areas, coordinating with the Water Patrol Division.

Their gazes occasionally fell upon Chen Linsheng's boat. For this Junior Brother, who joined last but progressed astonishingly fast, they harbored both affection and curiosity.

They all knew his strength was not weak, but few had personally witnessed the extent of it.

Inside the main altar, there was a deathly silence.

Facing the Government's encirclement outside and the intimidation of a Jiaojin Realm expert, the ordinary gang members were already terrified, and no one dared to respond.

Seeing this, Li Xunya's lips curled into a proud, cold smile. He exchanged a glance with County Commandant Wang, then waved his hand: "Stubborn fools! Charge in! Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

"Kill!"

The Government soldiers roared and surged towards the Black Mountain Gang's main altar gate like a tide. Battering rams thundered, arrows pierced the air, and fierce fighting erupted instantly.

At the same time, the calm on the water was also broken.

Perhaps knowing that the land route was cut off, several fast boats shot out from the Black Mountain Gang's private dock like arrows from a bowstring, attempting to forcefully break through the blockade by relying on their familiarity with the waterways. On each fast boat stood several fierce-looking Black Mountain Gang elites, all with cruel eyes, clearly experienced fighters, many of whom were Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artists.

"Stop them!"

The helmsman of Chen Linsheng's fast boat shouted loudly, and the boat quickly adjusted its direction to intercept head-on.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Before the boats could even grapple, arrows were already flying through the air, shooting at each other. The Water Patrol Division soldiers were well-trained, their bows and crossbows firing in unison, suppressing the enemy so they couldn't raise their heads.

Chen Linsheng's gaze locked onto one of the fastest boats, which had three Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artists standing on it.

He lightly stepped, and the fast boat subtly dipped almost imperceptibly. He then used the force to leap into the air, like a swallow skimming the water, drawing a graceful arc in the sky, and landed directly on the enemy boat!

"Junior Brother!" Liu Ruyan, on another boat, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Those were three Flesh Refining Realm experts!

No matter how strong Chen Linsheng was, rushing into the enemy formation like that was too dangerous!

Shi Poyue, Di Moyu, and Zhao Linger also instantly felt their hearts leap into their throats.

The three Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artists on the enemy boat were first stunned to see someone dare to board their boat alone, then their faces turned ferocious.

"Seeking death!"

The burly man in the center, wielding a Ghost-Head Saber, roared. His saber light, like a bolt of silk, carried a chilling whistle as it cleaved down towards Chen Linsheng, who had just landed!

To his left, a tall, thin man flicked his wrist, and three Bone-Piercing Nails shot out in a triangular formation towards Chen Linsheng's lower body!

To his right, a short, stout man lowered his stance, his fists like cannon hammers, directly striking at Chen Linsheng's exposed chest and abdomen!

The three coordinated perfectly, striking viciously, instantly sealing off all of Chen Linsheng's escape routes, clearly intending to kill this arrogant young man on the spot with a single move!

However, facing this encirclement that would have flustered an ordinary Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artist, Chen Linsheng's eyes showed no ripple.

He didn't even use the long spear on his back.

Just as the saber light, hidden weapons, and fist force were about to strike, Chen Linsheng moved!

His footwork changed mysteriously, like a White Crane stepping on waves, or a Spirit Monkey twisting its body, passing through the gaps of the saber light and fist force in the blink of an eye. The three Bone-Piercing Nails were casually flicked away by his sleeve, emitting a few crisp "ding-ding" sounds, yet they couldn't even scratch his sleeve!

The agility of the White Crane Wind and Cloud Song and the nimbleness of the Spirit Monkey Hundred Changes were now showing their initial power!

"What?!" The pupils of the three Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artists contracted sharply, their hearts filled with terror.

But Chen Linsheng gave them no time to react.

Having passed through their encirclement, his figure, like a ghost, closed in on the burly man with the Ghost-Head Saber. His right hand, with fingers pressed together like a sword, struck out like lightning!

On his fingertip, the Python Dragon Strength, fused with icy Evil Qi, was highly concentrated, and even contained a hint of the Profound Truth of Layered Waves' force!

"Puff!"

A soft sound, like a hot knife cutting into butter.

The burly man's protective Qi and blood were pierced through like paper. A blood hole instantly appeared on his forehead, the horror and ferocity in his eyes completely frozen. His body fell straight backward.

Instant kill!

The other two were scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering and tried to struggle, but Chen Linsheng was already on them like a shadow.

He spun his body, his left leg sweeping out like a steel whip, with a fierce whooshing sound, accurately kicking the tall, thin man in the neck!

"Crack!"

A bone-chilling crack echoed. The tall, thin man didn't even grunt, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and he collapsed limply.

Almost simultaneously, Chen Linsheng's right fist, like a cannonball, struck after the fact but arrived first, colliding head-on with the short, stout man's fists!

"Boom!"

Qi exploded!

The short, stout man felt an irresistible, terrifying force containing three layers of strange vibrations surge into his body through his fists. The bones in his arms emitted a cracking sound from being overloaded. He himself was sent flying back, spitting blood, as if struck by a stampeding giant elephant. He crashed through the side of the boat and fell into the water, clearly not alive.

In a flash of lightning, three Flesh Refining Realm Martial Artists were killed!

The remaining Skin Quenching Realm gang members on the fast boat were already scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, their limbs icy cold, unable to hold their weapons steadily. They were easily subdued by the Water Patrol Division soldiers who subsequently boarded the boat.

The entire battle process took only three to five breaths.

On the water, a strange silence fell.

Whether it was the Water Patrol Division soldiers or the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall Disciples fighting the Black Mountain Gang members on other boats, all were dumbfounded.

Shi Poyue gasped, muttering, "This... this is Junior Brother's true strength?"

Di Moyu stopped wiping his flying dagger, his eyes gleaming: "Such speed, such explosive power! His control over his Dragon Force far surpasses ours!"

Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes widened, and she covered her mouth, both surprised and proud: "Junior Brother... when did he become so powerful?"

Zhao Linger even excitedly waved her small fists: "Wow! Junior Brother is so cool! Well fought!"

Chen Linsheng stood alone at the bow of the boat, his robes fluttering, his expression still calm, as if he had just casually swatted a few flies.

His gaze swept over the other Black Mountain Gang boats attempting to break through. Every enemy caught in his gaze felt their hearts turn cold, and their offensive stalled.

The situation of the battle on the water instantly became clear due to Chen Linsheng's overwhelming performance.

The Black Mountain Gang's plan for a waterborne breakout was completely foiled.

However, just when everyone thought the overall situation was settled, with only Zhang Zhifeng stubbornly resisting inside the main altar—

"Boom!!!"

An earth-shattering roar suddenly came from the core area of the Black Mountain Gang's main altar in the eastern part of the city!

That tremendous sound was not an ordinary building collapse, but an explosion containing terrifying energy collisions, like a sudden clap of thunder on flat ground, shaking the entire ground slightly and even causing ripples on the distant water surface.

Immediately after, a black cloud, thick as ink, constantly churning, filled with deathly silence, filth, and a predatory Aura, soared into the sky from deep within the main altar like a demon!

Chen Linsheng would never forget the Aura of that black cloud—it was precisely that Evil Daoist!

"Not good!" Chen Linsheng's face drastically changed, and a frantic warning rang in his heart.

Almost simultaneously, a shrill scream, filled with pain and disbelief, pierced the sky, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.

That voice... was Li Xunya!

Everyone looked in horror, only to see a figure flying backward from the direction of the main altar, amidst the sky-filling smoke and black Qi, like a broken rag doll. A huge hole was in his chest, blood and internal organs sprayed into the sky. Who else could it be but Li Xunya, who had just broken through to the Jiaojin Realm and was full of vigor?

Before his corpse even landed, the soaring black cloud quickly converged, forming the figure of a pale-faced middle-aged Daoist wearing a tattered Daoist robe.

He floated in mid-air, surrounded by chilling Evil Qi. The wound on his chest, entangled with seven-colored flowing light, seemed to have shrunk slightly, but his Aura was several times stronger than when he was in Black Water Ravine! He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes flickering with cruel and playful light, as he overlooked the chaotic Government soldiers and Martial Artists below.

"Ant-like beings, dare to disturb this Venerable One's healing? Good, I'll use your essence, blood, and souls to help this Venerable One recover some of his cultivation!"

The eerie, hoarse voice was like a cold wind blowing across the battlefield, making everyone feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

The one who killed Li Xunya was actually the Evil Daoist, who was supposed to be severely wounded and on the verge of death!

How could he appear at the Black Mountain Gang's main altar? And his strength seemed to have recovered quite a bit?

Immense shock and fear spread like a plague through the encirclement team.

Everyone, who had just been high-spirited due to the great victory on the water, now felt their hearts sink to the bottom.

A Jiaojin Realm Zhang Zhifeng, fighting desperately, hadn't even been subdued yet, and now an even more terrifying Iron Bone Realm Devil Head, capable of instantly killing a Jiaojin Realm expert, had appeared!

County Commandant Wang's face was ashen. Zhao Zheng and Chen Chuan exchanged glances, both seeing unprecedented gravity in each other's eyes.

The situation instantly reversed!