Killing a Black Wind Stockade Martial Artist! Body Tempering Realm Has Its Strong and Weak! Shocking News!

The birchwood arrow shot forth, carving an explosive arc through the air like a roaring thunderclap.

Su Mo didn't dare underestimate the black-clad man. A mid-stage Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist could already generate strength through flesh and skin, and every movement carried force that could deal considerable damage.

So the instant his first arrow flew, he immediately nocked a second arrow, ready to shoot, unwilling to give the black-clad man a chance to catch his breath.

But what Su Mo hadn't expected was this.

The moment the first arrow shot out, the black-clad man's expression changed drastically. In his eyes, the arrow was a deadly weapon come to claim his life. He didn't even have a chance to dodge before it shot straight toward him, tearing through the air.

The black-clad man had no choice but to raise the iron hammer in his hands to block it. With a bang, the birchwood arrow exploded. Its fine iron arrowhead struck the massive hammer, sending sparks flying. The hammer rang and trembled, as if it had taken an unimaginable impact and were about to fly from his grasp.

In an instant, the black-clad man's body shuddered violently. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression twisting as he staggered backward again and again, apparently trying to shed the force's domineering, overwhelming impact.

After retreating more than a dozen steps, the black-clad man abruptly lowered the hammer, which was still vibrating and ringing. He lifted his head and looked at Su Mo with shock and disbelief. Blood kept pouring from his mouth. The hunter's arrow had already dealt him a grave wound, leaving him almost unable to fight again.

If he hadn't had that hammer in his hands, he would almost certainly have been blasted through by the arrow and killed on the spot.

How could the black-clad man not tremble with terror? One arrow had such power—this fearsome strength was beyond anything he could imagine.

It wasn't surprising that the black-clad man couldn't withstand one of Su Mo's arrows. Even Shi Mingdong, the prefectural city's prodigy, who was nearly invincible among those of the same realm, hadn't dared to take one head-on. He could only avoid its sharp edge.

"Gravely wounded?"

Seeing the black-clad man, who looked close to death, Su Mo froze. Weren't Martial Artists supposed to be formidable? How was this black-clad man so useless that he couldn't even take one arrow?

This black-clad man from Black Wind Stockade was a mid-stage Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist, and a Major Leader to boot. The Bearded Man had told him before that every Major Leader in Black Wind Stockade had Body Tempering Realm strength and was battle-hardened, with extremely rich combat experience.

That was why Su Mo had been both cautious and serious, afraid the black-clad man might get close and hurt him.

But this was it? One arrow and he was crippled!

What Su Mo didn't know was that even without a bow and arrow, his physical strength was enough to tear the black-clad man apart in close combat.

He had underestimated Shi Mingdong and overestimated the black-clad man before him.

Because even within the Body Tempering Realm, there were strong and weak—and the gap between them could be enormous!

If the black-clad man had faced an ordinary mid-stage Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist, his rich combat experience would have let him win easily. But against Su Mo, there was nothing he could do.

Su Mo was such a freak that even Shi Mingdong, the prefectural city's prodigy, could only sigh helplessly upon seeing him.

As usual, Su Mo went forward and interrogated the black-clad man. Faced with Su Mo's terrifying killing intent, the man answered every question.

After hearing his answers, Su Mo fell into thought.

"Most of the Major Leaders in Black Wind Stockade are in the Body Tempering Realm, but the majority are in the early or middle stages. There aren't many in the late stage. As for the stockade's leaders, nearly all of them are in the late stage, and some are even at the peak. The strongest among them is Great Leader Huang Heilong, whose strength has already broken through to the Meridian Opening Realm. He's formed inner energy within his body and can unleash it to kill people from a distance."

"Also, according to this black-clad man, Black Wind Stockade seems to have ties to some gang in the county seat. That's why it has been able to stand in Qingliang Mountain to this day, with no one daring to come and wipe it out."

Where was the county seat? Su Mo didn't know. He only knew that Qingshan Town lay a dozen or so li from Shuanglin Village. The village hunters often took their game there to trade for money. As for the more distant county seat, Su Mo had never visited it.

Shi Mingdong had told Su Mo earlier that he came from Northern Cold City. From the name alone, Su Mo knew it was probably farther away than the county seat—and certainly far more prosperous and grand.

Rumble!

Just as Su Mo was about to press the black-clad man further and ask whether he had any Body Tempering Cultivation Techniques, dense footsteps suddenly came rushing through the mountain toward them.

Su Mo guessed that Black Wind Stockade had discovered its guards had been killed and sent a large force to comb the mountain. Judging by the sound, there were quite a few of them.

Su Mo decisively chose to leave. Then he killed the black-clad man and pulled a booklet from inside his clothes.

"Basic Hammer Technique?"

"Why doesn't he have a body-tempering technique?"

Su Mo was disappointed. He had thought he could get a Body Tempering Cultivation Technique from the black-clad man, but because a large number of Black Wind Stockade's guards and followers had come out to comb the mountain, all he found on him was a manual for the Basic Hammer Technique.

The Basic Hammer Technique was practically useless to him.

After all, the Basic Saber Technique he had obtained from the Bearded Man had already reached perfection under his training. Every slash flashed with cold light, and saber shadows flew in all directions.

It was a pity that no one had yet forced him to use this perfected technique. Mm, the perfected Basic Saber Technique!

What Su Mo didn't know was that body-tempering techniques were extremely precious. Even though the black-clad man was a Major Leader among Black Wind Stockade's guards, the leaders had only given them half of the body-tempering technique, not the whole thing. They would only receive the next part after reaching a higher level of cultivation.

Such a precious thing was not something the black-clad man would casually carry around. As for the Basic Hammer Technique, he hadn't mastered it yet, so naturally he kept it with him to study and practice from time to time.

Swish, swish!

A rush of dense footsteps drew near. Several Major Leaders from Black Wind Stockade arrived and found the black-clad man's corpse.

Su Mo had already carried the Green Wolf Meat back to Shuanglin Village.

The people from Black Wind Stockade were left raging in the mountains, unable to find whoever had killed their men.

"Something's wrong in the village. Looks like outsiders have been here?"

When Su Mo returned, he sensed that something was amiss. The village was unusually quiet, with many villagers keeping their doors shut. There were also numerous footprints in the snowy road, clearly showing that outsiders had entered the village.

Su Mo returned home and put the Green Wolf Meat in the cellar where he stored meat. Just as he was about to go out and see what had happened in the village, Uncle Chen Shan came to his house.

"Su Mo, you're back from the mountains. Good, you're back. I was worried sick."

Uncle Chen Shan came in looking flustered, no longer his usual steady self. Only when he saw Su Mo did the panic in his expression gradually ease. Clearly, something had happened in the village.

Just as Su Mo was about to ask what was going on, Uncle Chen Shan spoke first. "Black Wind Stockade's men came into the village."

"Did they come down the mountain to collect taxes?" Su Mo's gaze sharpened. The people from Black Wind Stockade probably didn't know he had killed their guards, so their reason for coming to the village was most likely to collect taxes.

But Uncle Chen Shan's reply surprised him. "No. After entering the village, the people from Black Wind Stockade went straight to Zhang Tieshan's house. They beat Zhang Tieshan and his son, stole the Plum Deer, and then happened to discover Zhang Tieshan's daughter, Zhang Qian. Seeing how pretty she was, they tried to abduct her and take her up the mountain. Zhang Tieshan and his son, Zhang Hai, fought desperately to resist, and only then did Zhang Qian avoid being taken away on the spot."

"But the people from Black Wind Stockade said they'd come down the mountain again. Next time, they wouldn't just come themselves—they'd send a Major Leader among their guards to Shuanglin Village to take Zhang Qian. You know, those Major Leaders are usually powerful Martial Artists. Zhang Tieshan's family may be finished."

Su Mo now understood the whole story.