The Fall of Black Wind Stockade

After bidding farewell to the trembling "Half-Immortal Liu," Yan Kui hoisted the Bone Shattering Hammer and strode northward with long, powerful steps, heading straight for the Black Wind Stockade deep in Sunset Mountain.

The mountain path was rugged, the woods dense.

But for Yan Kui, this was nothing more than an ordinary stroll. Every time the muscles in his legs exerted force, the ground trembled beneath him, his speed astonishing.

About half an hour later, a crude stockade built against the mountain came into view.

The gate was constructed from thick logs, with a few tattered banners stuck on top, each painted with a snarling boar's head. A faint smell of blood and rotting meat drifted out from the stockade, mingling with the mountain wind, making one want to vomit.

"Black Wind Stockade..."

Yan Kui narrowed his eyes.

Without any attempt to conceal himself, he walked straight toward the gate.

"Who goes there?!"

Two bandits on the gate spotted Yan Kui. When they saw that iron-tower-like figure and the massive Bone Shattering Hammer resting on his shoulder, their weapons trembled in their hands, nearly dropping them from the stockade wall.

"This Seat, Yan Kui."

Yan Kui's voice boomed like a bell, making the stockade walls hum.

"Your boss owes me a debt. I'm here to collect."

"A... a debt?"

The two bandits exchanged glances. When had their boss ever owed a debt to such a fearsome fiend?

"Quick... go report to the chief!"

One bandit scrambled off to deliver the message.

Moments later, hurried footsteps and rough curses sounded from inside the stockade.

"What lowlife dares to trespass into my Black Wind Stockade?!"

"Boom!"

The gate swung open violently.

A giant man, two meters tall with broad shoulders and a thick waist, strode out. He wore a bloodstained beast-hide vest, his arms as thick as buckets, his face covered in dense black fur, a sunken nose, and turned-out lips revealing two sharp fangs.

This was no man—it was clearly a half-man, half-pig monster!

"Chief!"

The bandits called out.

This giant was none other than the chief of Black Wind Stockade—"Zhu San."

His small eyes locked onto Yan Kui, a fierce glint flashing within.

"So you're the one who killed my One-Eyed brother?!"

Zhu San's nose twitched, as if catching the lingering scent of blood on Yan Kui.

"If he was called One-Eyed Dragon, then yes."

Yan Kui replied flatly.

"Good! Very good! You kill my brother and still dare to barge through my gate!"

Zhu San roared in fury, hoisting his spiked club, a full two hundred jin in weight.

"Men! Chop him up! Throw him to the wolves in the back mountain!"

"Kill!"

A horde of mountain bandits, led by Zhu San, surged forward, brandishing blades, spears, and clubs.

Yan Kui stood motionless.

He let the bandits' attacks land on his body.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Swords and axes struck Yan Kui's Mysterious Iron Body, producing harsh metallic clashes. Sparks flew, and the bandits' weapons shattered one after another, their hands split open.

"What... what kind of monster is this?!"

The bandits were scared out of their wits.

"Is this all you've got?"

Yan Kui sneered, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

He lightly tapped the Bone Shattering Hammer on the ground.

"Boom!"

An invisible shockwave erupted from him, sending the surrounding bandits staggering, their eardrums ringing. Many bled from seven orifices and dropped dead on the spot.

Brute Bull Strength!

"Now, it's my turn."

Yan Kui moved.

He strode forward, the Bone Shattering Hammer in his hand sweeping out with a whistling wind.

The dozen or so bandits at the very front were sent flying by this single hammer blow, crashing to the ground like torn sacks, their bones shattered to pieces.

He moved as if through an empty field, each swing of the Bone Shattering Hammer stirring up a bloody storm of flesh and wind.

In just a few breaths.

All the bandits, except for Zhu San, had been slaughtered to the last.

[Killed bandits x20, plundered Life Essence.]

[Origin Power: +4.0]

Yan Kui rested the Bone Shattering Hammer on his shoulder, his gaze landing on Zhu San.

Zhu San's face had lost all color, his eyes filled with terror.

"You... what kind of monster are you?" he asked, trembling.

"I am Yan Kui," Yan Kui said flatly. "A debt collector who's owed."

"Owed?" Zhu San was taken aback.

"You killed my men, destroyed my stockade." Yan Kui pointed at the corpses on the ground. "Now, hand over everything valuable you have, along with that Savage Boar Ramming Technique of yours."

"Savage Boar Ramming Technique?!" Zhu San's pupils sharply contracted.

How did he know about this cultivation technique? This was the Black Wind Stockade's treasured heirloom, never taught to outsiders!

"This technique has been passed down in my Black Wind Stockade for generations..."

"Too much talk." Yan Kui impatiently raised the Bone Shattering Hammer, making as if to strike.

"No! No! I'll give it! I'll give it!" Zhu San, terrified, hurriedly dropped his spiked club and fumbled out a greasy animal hide scroll from his bosom, handing it over while shivering.

"Smart enough." Yan Kui took the animal hide scroll and casually tossed it to the system.

[Detected Mortal Hard Skill Savage Boar Ramming Technique (Fragment). Accept recording?]

"Record!" Yan Kui felt a surge of joy. A fragment, indeed. But a fragment was better—it meant room for improvement.

"Not enough." Yan Kui looked at Zhu San, a glint of ill intent flashing in his eyes.

"Huh?" Zhu San was stunned.

"Your flesh and blood... and your Demon Core..." Yan Kui grinned. "Leave them all behind for me."

"You... you dare?!" Zhu San finally realized—Yan Kui wasn't here to steal the technique, he was here to... butcher a pig!

He erupted, his muscles bulging all over, two short tusks sprouting from his head.

"Roar—!" He let out a beastly howl and charged straight at Yan Kui.

This was his strongest move—Savage Boar Charge!

"Too bad, you charged the wrong person." Yan Kui didn't dodge or evade.

He raised the Bone Shattering Hammer, as if splitting a mountain and breaking a peak, and brought it down with savage force.

Brute Bull Strength!

Savage Charge!

This wasn't a collision of two wild bulls, but a tank slamming into a tractor.

"Boom!" A deafening explosion shook the air.

Zhu San's massive body was smashed half a foot into the ground by the Bone Shattering Hammer, blood spraying wildly from his mouth as his eyes rolled back.

He struggled a few times, then went still.

[Killed Black Wind Stockade's Great Chieftain (Body Refinement Realm peak / Half-Demon). Plundered Life Essence.]

[Origin Power: +1.0]

[Discovered Demon Core (Mortal Grade). Devour?]

"Devour!"

Yan Kui didn't hesitate.

[Devoured Demon Core. Origin Power: +2.0]

Yan Kui pulled the Bone Shattering Hammer from Zhu San's body.

With this, Black Wind Stockade was completely wiped out.

Yan Kui ransacked the stockade, but aside from a small amount of stolen valuables, he found nothing else of worth.

"Tianwu City..."

He glanced at the incomplete Savage Boar Ramming Technique in his hand.

Now that he had a new external technique, it was time to head to Tianwu City and gather more.

Without a trace of reluctance, he set the Black Wind Stockade ablaze.

The roaring flames cast his silhouette against the night sky, like a Demon God.