A Thoroughly Satisfying Battle

Crack!

The sound of splintering wood rang out.

Amid billowing dust, the stronghold gate was blasted open by an immense force.

The many Hui Ping Town militiamen who had just rushed forward were startled.

Then they saw, beyond the shattered gate, the figure of an azure-robed youth moving at high speed, flickering in and out of sight like a ghost or deity.

The cold gleam of his sword flashed alongside the metallic glint of hidden weapons. Mountain Bandits continually fell with blood spraying from their throats.

At this point, how could they not realize that this young hero from the prestigious Hundred Flowers Valley had opened the stronghold gate from within?

"Kill!"

A Clan Elder raised his weapon high, called to the many clansmen behind him, and took the lead in charging through the gate with his sword.

Though these local militiamen were not particularly strong, they had great numbers and were led by several Clan Elders who knew martial arts.

Now they howled like wolf cubs, raising their motley assortment of weapons and charging at the elite Mountain Bandits clad in rattan armor.

All the fear and anxiety these Mountain Bandits had brought them over recent days now transformed into fierce killing intent that surged toward the bandits.

With the local militia sharing the pressure, Lin Lin no longer needed to defend himself against the attacks of so many Mountain Bandits, and his killing efficiency rose even higher.

Every swing of his sword claimed the life of a Mountain Bandit.

Whenever he unleashed a volley of hidden weapons, more than ten people were killed or injured.

Before these elite Mountain Bandits, formed into a military formation, could display their true fighting strength, Lin Lin forcibly split them apart. Before they could regroup, the many local militiamen following behind Lin Lin attacked them in groups of three or five, delivering a righteous beatdown to the elite Mountain Bandits.

In a direct confrontation, these elite Mountain Bandits could have chased down and slaughtered thousands of local militiamen as easily as chickens.

But now, Lin Lin had forcibly divided them with his formidable martial arts, leaving them outnumbered. Even with their superior equipment, they could not hold their own.

After a brief clash, they were beaten to death without causing much of a stir, leaving behind a bloody mess of mangled flesh.

Before long, all the Mountain Bandits stationed near the stronghold gate had been scattered or killed, and thousands of local militiamen poured into the stronghold.

Everyone had gone bloodshot with killing. They began chasing down the fleeing Mountain Bandits on their own.

On the stronghold wall, the bandit leaders had only just recovered from the hidden weapon attack when Xia Da, several Clan Elders skilled in martial arts, and a group of sturdy young men surrounded them.

The five bandit leaders were powerful, but Lin Lin had wounded them not long ago.

Now, facing the combined assault of so many people, they immediately fell into a disadvantage. Their defeat and death were only a matter of time.

After leading the local militia through the defenses near the gate, Lin Lin headed directly for the shacks on the right side of the stronghold.

This was where the many captured villagers were being held.

At this moment, fifty or sixty Mountain Bandits were guarding the area.

The sounds of battle from outside unsettled the bandits responsible for the watch, but before they could do anything, Lin Lin had already arrived with sword in hand.

In just a few breaths, the gathered Mountain Bandits were all scattered or killed. The local militiamen following Lin Lin immediately began beating down the scattered bandits, while another group hurried to free the villagers whom the Mountain Bandits had captured over the past while.

Seeing that matters here had been settled, Lin Lin turned and headed elsewhere with his sword.

Whenever he encountered Mountain Bandits who still resisted, he would either strike out with several sword slashes or unleash a barrage of hidden weapons.

Soon, all the captured villagers had been freed. Though their Essence, Qi, and Spirit were poor from lacking food and clothing, their intense hatred still drove them to join the battle and encircle the remaining Mountain Bandits.

Before long, the cries of battle within the stronghold had died down.

At this point, the chief culprit that had kept all of Hui Ping Town restless and anxious was finally put down.

Even after one of his arms was severed and he was captured, Hun Yuan Pi Li Wei Da Wang could not accept that such a sure victory against weaklings had turned into such a one-sided defeat.

The reversal was simply too absurd.

Whether before or now, the fighting strength of those local militiamen could only be described as a disorderly rabble.

After thinking it over, Mighty King attributed everything to Lin Lin, an existence far stronger than he could have imagined.

Leaping dozens of zhang in a single bound, one man facing a thousand and treating an army as though it were nothing.

Such a powerful existence was like the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals descending from the heavens in tales of immortals.

It was only natural that a self-proclaimed Hun Yuan Pi Li Wei Da Wang like him would lose to such an unparalleled figure, as though a celestial being had descended into the mortal world.

Fortunately, those thoughts remained solely in his heart. Had he spoken them aloud, he would only have invited laughter.

Refusing to face his own weakness, unable to understand his place in this world, and then proclaiming his opponent's strength to conceal his own inadequacy—it was truly speechless.

Lin Lin stood atop the roof of the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, looking around at the many local militiamen binding and escorting prisoners and clearing the battlefield. He let out a long breath.

That breath was mixed with heavy moisture, like a sword of qi.

Lin Lin's originally fair skin had turned red, and his whole body resembled a steamed shrimp. Sweat poured from his pores, while vapor rose from the surface of his body.

"That truly was a thoroughly satisfying battle."

Lin Lin panted heavily, and only after a long while did his breathing finally stabilize.

In the battle just now, Lin Lin had rampaged forward, cutting down generals, breaking formations, and breaching the stronghold as though no one stood in his way.

But in turn, his stamina and Inner Force had been frantically drained during the process. Only now that he had relaxed did he feel exhaustion filling his entire body.

After a battle lasting only a few quarters of an hour, Lin Lin felt as though he had cultivated continuously for an entire day and night.

Though exhausted, Lin Lin felt that his mind was exceptionally clear.

He recalled every process and detail of the battle just now, experiencing his own strength, the fruits of his diligent cultivation over the past half year, and the details of his performance in battle that could still be improved.

His confidence continued to rise, while a sense of accomplishment continuously welled up.

In the process, his spirit was elevated.

Thus, Lin Lin's resolve and motivation to continue cultivating and grow stronger became even firmer.

After repeatedly reviewing and analyzing the battle and the details that could be improved, Lin Lin stored all his insights in his heart and finally emerged from his contemplation.

He had a premonition that once he returned this time, his martial arts would undergo another tremendous leap forward.

By then, Lin Lin had recovered much of his stamina and Inner Force, while the work of clearing this battlefield was also nearing its end.

When several Clan Elders saw Lin Lin leap down from the roof of the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, they stepped forward to report on the final cleanup of the battlefield.