Uproot the Weeds

Uproot the Weeds

Pfft!

The Peak Superclass Martial Artist from the Datong Merchant Guild opened his mouth and spewed a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs.

That kick had crushed his heart and lungs to pieces. His eyes bulged wide, and he soon fell silent.

The other Peak Superclass Martial Artist was from the Xu Family and tried to flee. Zhou Shan inhaled, Internal Force merging with the airflow as an arrow of qi shot from his mouth. Swift as lightning, it instantly pierced through the back of the Xu Family Peak Superclass Martial Artist's skull.

With a thud.

The Xu Family Peak Superclass Martial Artist slammed face-first into the ground, confusion and incomprehension still lingering in his eyes.

Zhou Shan had reached the peak of the Aperture-Opening Realm, possessing more than two hundred years of cultivation. Killing Peak Superclass Martial Artists was as easy as slaughtering chickens.

"The Hundred Herbs Gang's leader is dead."

"President Wang of the Datong Merchant Guild, and the Xu Family's chief guard, are dead too."

At the sight, the surrounding black-clad masked men were so terrified that they kept backing away. Some even slipped and fell, then scrambled away on hands and knees.

Every martial artist felt a chill run down their spine.

The Hundred Herbs Gang's leader, President Wang of the Datong Merchant Guild, and the Xu Family's chief guard were all Peak Superclass Martial Artists. Yet before Zhou Shan, the Black Armored Army Commandant, they were incomparably fragile.

Less than ten breaths had passed since he made his move, and all three Peak Superclass Martial Artists had died.

Even Peak Superclass Martial Artists were like little chicks in Zhou Shan's hands, killed whenever he pleased. Let alone them.

"Run, run!"

"This man is a monster—we can't fight him!"

"Run!"

The black-clad masked martial artists who had come to break prisoners out were now utterly terrified, their minds collapsing.

Like startled birds and beasts, they scattered in all directions. Under pursuit from the Black Armored Army surrounding them, they screamed in terror, tears and snot streaming down their faces.

"You, leave behind a hundred men to stand guard. The rest will follow me to the Xu Family!"

The Xu Family had actually dared send Black Dragon Society assassins to kill him. Naturally, Zhou Shan would not let them off.

After crushing this group of black-clad masked men who had come to break prisoners out, the first target he would eradicate was the Xu Family.

If the weeds were not pulled up by the roots, they would grow again when the spring wind blew.

Xu Family, main hall.

Xu Hongtao and his wife, Shangguan Yun, were both waiting for news from their subordinates.

Though he did not know why the Vajra Sect elder had not replied to him, he had still chosen to act tonight in order to save his son.

Besides joining forces with the Hundred Herbs Gang and the Datong Merchant Guild, they had three Peak Superclass Martial Artists and had hired a level-six assassin from the Black Dragon Society who had reached the Aperture-Opening Realm.

This level-six assassin had successfully assassinated several Aperture-Opening Realm martial artists.

In Xu Hongtao's view, a level-six assassin from the Black Dragon Society combined with three Peak Superclass Martial Artists was more than enough to deal with Zhou Shan, a Commandant. After all, Black Armored Army Commandants were all Superclass Martial Artists.

Zhou Shan had killed Guard Geng, a Superclass Martial Artist, in one move at Moon Lake Villa. However, only the Black Armored Army present, Xu Haoyu and the other young masters, and Moon Lake Villa's guards knew of it. Those people had all been thrown into prison.

The Black Armored Army naturally would not spread word of the matter either.

Thus, every faction in Luyang County believed Zhou Shan was merely a Peak Superclass Martial Artist. Besides, at Zhou Shan's age, reaching the peak of the Superclass level already counted as extraordinary talent.

With the Xu Family, Hundred Herbs Gang, and Datong Merchant Guild fielding three Peak Superclass Martial Artists, and with Xu Hongtao having hired a level-six assassin, he believed he had already attached tremendous importance to Zhou Shan.

"Why is there still no news?"

Shangguan Yun could not sit still at all, pacing back and forth through the main hall.

"Don't worry. With three Peak Superclass Martial Artists, more than a dozen First-class Martial Artists, and the level-six assassin from the Black Dragon Society I hired, along with several hundred martial artists acting together, failure is impossible." Xu Hongtao said in a deep voice, "They should be on their way back now."

Just then...

The Xu Family steward came running in from outside in a panic. Anxiously, he said, "Master, Madam, th-this is bad! The mission failed. The Black Armored Army is heading for the Xu Family now."

"No, that's impossible!"

Upon hearing this news, Xu Hongtao sprang to his feet.

Aside from the three Peak Superclass Martial Artists, there had also been a level-six assassin from the Black Dragon Society. How could the mission possibly have failed? Could it be that the Black Dragon Society's level-six assassin had not acted?

But that was impossible. For an assassin organization like the Black Dragon Society, reputation came first.

Once they accepted a mission, they would never break their word.

"Master, it's true," the steward said. "I watched from afar the entire time. The Black Dragon Society assassin and the three Peak Superclass experts were all killed by Zhou Shan. I fled back immediately.

Master, Zhou Shan is leading the Black Armored Army toward the Xu Family right now. Leave through the secret passage at once."

"Madam, go!"

Xu Hongtao immediately stepped forward, grabbed Shangguan Yun, and rushed toward the secret passage.

As for their valuables, they could no longer worry about them.

How could worldly possessions compare with one's life?

"Master, if we leave, what will happen to Yu'er?"

Tears rolled down Shangguan Yun's face.

"We've already done everything we could. With things having reached this point, we can no longer care about so much," Xu Hongtao said. "Only if we stay alive can we avenge Yu'er."

"Zhou Shan, you little beast! I will make you die and avenge Yu'er!"

At that moment, Shangguan Yun's expression twisted into something vicious.

After returning to the Shangguan Family, she would surely beg her father to send the Shangguan Family's experts to kill Zhou Shan.

"If you want to kill me, you no longer have that chance!"

As the voice rang out, a figure appeared and blocked Xu Hongtao and Shangguan Yun's path.

"You little beast! You're the one who wants to kill Yu'er! I'll kill you!"

The moment she saw Zhou Shan, Shangguan Yun rushed at him like a crazed shrew.

"Courting death!"

Zhou Shan struck with his palm, and a palm imprint instantly slammed into Shangguan Yun's face.

Pfft—

Shangguan Yun's face exploded outright, blood and flesh flying everywhere. Then her head smashed heavily backward into the ground.

"Madam!" At the sight, Xu Hongtao's eyes nearly split apart. Looking at Shangguan Yun's unrecognizable, mangled body, he said viciously, "Zhou Shan, how cruel you are! What grudge or enmity does my Xu Family have with you that you would strike so ruthlessly? Must you wipe out my entire Xu Family?"

He did not believe there truly were good officials in this world who sought no benefit and only spoke for the common people.

"What grudge did those people your son killed have with your Xu Family? How utterly innocent were they?" Zhou Shan said calmly. "Besides, if I did not act, would your Xu Family have spared me?

The only reason I can stand here is because I am stronger. Otherwise, I would have long since become a corpse."

"Master, run! I'll hold him back!"

The Xu Family steward roared and charged at Zhou Shan.