Killing Intent Soared to the Heavens

The two servants quickly stepped forward, about to untie him.

Screech.

Accompanied by a sharp whistle through the air, a chopstick shot over and plunged into the pillar with a thud, sinking more than three inches deep.

The two servants jumped in fright, retreating again and again, their faces turning pale.

Zhao Zhi pressed a hand against the saber at his waist and strode out of Minggu Tea House. His eyes lowered slightly as he slowly swept his gaze across the Fan Family members before settling on Fan Youquan.

From his conversation with Luo Dashan inside the tea house, he had learned a little about Fan Youquan.

Among Qingfeng County's many local gentry, Fan Youquan was the least like the head of a household.

Simply put—

His abilities were utterly mediocre. He had achieved nothing in either literature or martial arts and had nothing worth praising.

The Fan Family had once stood at the very pinnacle of Qingfeng County. Even the county magistrate had to fear them three parts and show them courtesy three parts. Yet after Fan Youquan inherited the position of family head, the Fan Family had steadily declined.

If Fan Youquan had not had such an outstanding son, the Fan Family's standing in Qingfeng County could have sunk lower and lower.

"Fan Zhenqi rode his horse through the streets, deliberately killed someone, humiliated constables, and harbored evil intentions. Who dares release him without permission?"

Zhao Zhi's fierce shout rang clearly through the surrounding area.

Fan Zhenqi's eyes widened, the veins at the corners of his eyes twitching. "Zhao Zhi, release my son at once, or I will not let you off!"

Zhao Zhi curled his lip and said blandly, "Why do every one of you only know how to say that?"

"You?!" Fan Youquan flew into a rage, his voice icy. "Dou Rong, seize Zhao Zhi for me."

"Yes, Master."

The rugged man beside Fan Youquan, with a square face, high cheekbones, and a broad mouth, answered and stepped forward. A savage gleam burst from his dark brown eyes as they fixed on Zhao Zhi. An invisible aura spilled from him, pressing down like a collapsing mountain.

Dou Rong, one of the Fan Family's guards, was at the Early Innate Realm.

For martial artists, there was Acquired Strength Training, then Innate Qi Refinement.

Innate Warriors had only just entered the hall of martial arts. Through martial techniques, they gradually transformed the strength within their bodies into inner qi. Once inner qi circulated, it contained unimaginable power.

Aura was one such method.

However—

Innate Warriors had only barely stepped onto the path of martial arts, and the influence of their aura was extremely limited.

Those with firm wills would not fear it in the slightest, let alone Zhao Zhi, whose strength far surpassed Dou Rong's.

Only martial artists above the Xiantian level could project their aura outward and condense it into form, gaining the ability to reach the heavens and pierce the earth.

Facing Dou Rong's invisible aura, Zhao Zhi remained calm and composed.

Seeing the faint smile curling Zhao Zhi's lips, Dou Rong's eyes grew solemn.

The rumors were likely true.

This Zhao Zhi possessed the strength to dismantle the Gray Snake Gang.

Dou Rong drew a deep breath and bellowed. His foot slammed heavily into the ground as his brawny, towering body lunged forth like a bear charging out of the deep mountains and old forests. He raised his palm, gathering immense strength, and viciously struck toward Zhao Zhi's chest.

Such a blow could shatter even a massive boulder, much less a body of flesh and blood.

A grand gentry family.

A cold glint gathered in Zhao Zhi's eyes. His hand rose, seemingly slow yet actually swift, easily blocking Dou Rong's palm just before it struck his chest.

Bang.

Amid the dull impact, Dou Rong felt the force behind his black-bear-like strike vanish like a clay ox sinking into the sea, dissipating completely.

Before shock could appear on his face, Zhao Zhi lifted a foot and kicked Dou Rong. Terrifying force poured forth, followed by the crack of ribs breaking.

Dou Rong flew away as though struck by a heavy hammer, his body tumbling through the air like a worn sack. He crashed to the ground as blood gushed desperately from his mouth, swiftly dyeing a large patch of the ground crimson, bloody and bewitching.

The Fan Family's servants retreated once more.

Even Fan Youquan, the family head, had no choice but to dodge to one side. His foot caught against something, and he nearly fell.

"Big Brother."

Fan Youting, the Fan Family's Third Master beside him, hurriedly reached out to support him.

He looked toward Zhao Zhi, his eyelids lowering as his expression gradually turned grave.

As an Innate Minor Achievement martial artist, Fan Youting had watched Zhao Zhi's every move from the side. That seemingly simple kick had been so clean, ruthless, and decisive that even he would likely find it difficult to withstand the force contained within it.

[You took action to punish a vicious man who defied the law and attempted to assault a government constable. Merit +45]

Zhao Zhi did not even spare Dou Rong a glance. He raised his chin slightly, his gaze sweeping arrogantly over the Fan Family. "Does the Fan Family still intend to make a move?"

"Third Brother, kill this Zhao Zhi for me!"

Fan Youquan roared, looking nearly insane.

"Big Brother, we must not."

Fan Youting tried to dissuade him softly.

The strength Zhao Zhi had displayed was extraordinary. Fan Youting had no confidence at all.

Hearing this, Fan Youquan shot Fan Youting a fierce look before turning toward the Fan Family's guards and servants. He shouted, "Whoever can take down Zhao Zhi, this master will free him from slave status and reward him with one thousand taels of silver and a hundred mu of fertile land."

The moment he finished speaking, heavy breathing could be heard all around.

Being freed from slave status was already no small reward, let alone a thousand taels of silver and a hundred mu of fertile land.

With such things, they too could become masters. They too could stand above others.

Swish, swish, swish.

Pairs of burning, crazed eyes turned toward Zhao Zhi. The guards gripped their staffs, the servants clenched their fists, and they unconsciously edged closer to him.

Zhao Zhi's hand fell onto the saber at his waist, his fingers tightening around the hilt. His brow lifted as his lips parted slightly. "The Fan Family intends to assault a constable?"

Fan Youquan shouted, "Beat him to death! If anything happens, this master will bear it!"

"Ah—!"

A guard shouted and raised his staff, smashing it toward Zhao Zhi. The guards and servants behind him, each afraid the wealth would fall into someone else's hands, rushed forward after him.

Zhao Zhi's expression remained indifferent as a cold flash swept through his eyes.

The next instant—

Clang.

The constable's saber left its sheath, becoming a ray of light that tore open this chaotic, murky world.

The wooden staff in the guard's hand was severed in an instant. The saber swept across his throat, leaving behind a scarlet line as blood tore through the wound and gushed out wildly.

No matter how tightly the guard clutched his throat with both hands, trying to stop the blood that surged forth like water from an opened tap, it was useless.

Blood seeped through his fingers, quickly staining his hands red, soaking large portions of his clothes, and flowing down toward the ground.

Zhao Zhi paid the guard no attention at all. The instant his saber cut across the man's throat, his body shot out like a starving wolf hunting in the mountains and forests, charging toward the Fan Family guards and servants. Blade light flashed everywhere, cold gleams sweeping through the air.

In the blink of an eye, seven or eight corpses and more than twenty heavily wounded Fan Family members lay scattered across the ground.

Scarlet blood soaked into the ground and spread in every direction, turning the entire area before Minggu Tea House crimson.

Step.

Ordinary black constable boots stepped into the blood. Zhao Zhi carried his saber past corpse after corpse and once again arrived before Fan Youquan, the Fan Family head.

The constable's saber slowly rose and rested upon Fan Youquan's shoulder.

Ferocity burst forth, Killing Intent surging to the heavens.