Chapter 966: Breaking the Bandits (Part 2)

Gazing at Wang Chen not far ahead, who hoisted the muscular man aloft with his spear, Zhao Quan, standing at the end of the walkway, felt his body stiffen and his limbs turn icy, nearly dropping the powerful bow he clutched.

As the leader of the archers in the Qianfeng Bandits, Zhao Quan not only excelled in archery but also boasted the cultivation level of a fourth-level martial general.

A man of his caliber could thrive anywhere, but after offending powerful figures and becoming a wanted man, he had no choice but to turn to banditry, joining the Qianfeng Bandits to eke out a living in the vast expanse of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Zhao Quan didn’t feel that leading the archers was beneath him, for the Qianfeng Bandits were led by two fifth-level martial sect masters, making them the most formidable among the many bandit groups in the Ten Thousand Mountains.

This time, the two leaders personally led the charge, setting a trap to capture the Blood Guard Qiandu.

Zhao Quan had initially thought it was overkill—using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. A mere Qiandu could be dealt with by a team of elite archers; why go to such lengths and devise such an intricate plan?

Now, the archer leader realized that their preparations were not only justified but had grossly underestimated their foe.

The muscular man, just slain by Wang Chen with a single spear thrust, was none other than the second-in-command of the Qianfeng Bandits.

A fifth-level martial sect master!

With just one strike, and despite the second-in-command having launched the ambush first, Zhao Quan felt as though he were trapped in a nightmare—a terrifying one at that!

How could this be!?

His heart echoed the same cry as the muscular man.

A young Blood Guard Qiandu, alone, faced the elite ambush of the Qianfeng Bandits yet held an overwhelming advantage.

Zhao Quan desperately wished this were just a dream, that he would wake up and find everything as it should be.

But when Wang Chen turned and fixed his piercing gaze on the archers blocking the end of the walkway, Zhao Quan snapped back to reality and shouted without hesitation, “Retreat!”

Such a formidable opponent was beyond the capabilities of mere “underlings” like them!

Whoosh!

No sooner had Zhao Quan spoken than Wang Chen swung his spear, hurling the second-in-command’s body toward the archers.

The second-in-command, a hulking figure weighing over three hundred pounds, was flung like a dark cloud, crashing down with a whistling roar.

Screams erupted!

Several archers, caught off guard, were crushed, their bones shattered, collapsing to the ground in agony.

The archers’ formation instantly fell into disarray!

At that moment, Wang Chen charged forward on horseback.

In the blink of an eye, he closed the hundred-step gap.

The bandits, finally snapping out of their daze, scattered in all directions, fleeing without the courage to engage.

Yet their reaction was a fraction too slow; Wang Chen rode in, his spear movements as fluid as a dragon’s, instantly piercing through four or five archers.

The efficiency of the slaughter sent shivers down everyone’s spine!

Zhao Quan, the quickest to react, sprinted desperately into the dense forest, only to hear a deafening bang. It felt as though a heavy hammer had struck his back, propelling him forward uncontrollably.

He crashed heavily several steps away, a gaping blood hole now in his back!

At the walkway’s entrance, Wang Chen holstered the recently drawn flintlock rifle and swiftly switched to a loaded one.

Most of the bandits who had ambushed Wang Chen had fled into the mountains; unable to pursue effectively on horseback, he opted for the flintgun as his weapon.

Wang Chen had stored over a hundred flintlock rifles in his storage space, each one fully loaded and ready to fire.

These rifles had been custom-made and assembled over the past six months. Though he hadn’t spent much time on them, they were perfectly suited for the current situation.

While the flintguns held little significance for Wang Chen at his current cultivation level, he had invested a considerable amount of money to create these firearms. It wasn’t just a frivolous way to burn through his silver notes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The gunfire echoed relentlessly, one shot after another, as bandits charging into the dense forest were struck down on the spot, each meeting a gruesome end.

Wang Chen’s self-made flintlock rifles were masterfully crafted, boasting a large caliber, ample powder, long range, and devastating power. Not only were these low-level bandits no match for them, but even a fourth-level martial general would struggle to withstand their force.

Moreover, with the advantage of his storage space, Wang Chen was able to fire the rifles in rapid succession, mimicking the effect of a repeating firearm!

Most importantly, these bandits had never encountered such a weapon from another world, leaving them utterly unprepared to defend or evade.

As a result, Wang Chen swiftly took down over a dozen of them.

When no more fleeing bandits remained in sight, Wang Chen stowed his flintlock rifle, mounted his yellow steed, and continued forward.

His instincts told him that this battle was far from over.

After advancing along the Sky Road for some distance, Wang Chen arrived at a wide hillside, where he indeed spotted a new wave of enemies ahead!

A dark mass of bandits, numbering at least three to four hundred, stretched across the mountains and fields, completely blocking the passage of the Sky Road.

Clad in grayish-blue uniforms, these bandits had formed orderly ranks and unfurled their banners, each prominently displaying the character "Qing."

At the forefront stood a burly man astride a warhorse, clad in armor and wielding a halberd.

The bandits stood in formation, their fierce killing intent palpable, exuding an aura as formidable as a thousand-strong army!

From a distance of about a hundred paces, Wang Chen reined in his horse and halted, calmly observing the bandits without a flicker of emotion.

The burly man spoke in a deep voice, “Wang Chen, I truly underestimated you!”

Wang Chen smiled faintly and asked, “And who might you be?”

The man took a deep breath and declared, “I am Dan Tai Xiong, the leader of the Qianfeng Bandits!”

“I’ve never heard of you,” Wang Chen replied lightly. “But isn’t it better to stay alive?”

Dan Tai Xiong paused for a moment, then grasped Wang Chen’s meaning and let out a hearty laugh.

“Bold words!”

In the next instant, his tone turned fierce. “You killed my second brother and over a dozen of my men. Today, either you die, or I do!”

The bandit leader’s hatred for Wang Chen burned fiercely.

He deeply regretted setting the ambush on the walkway, believing that his second-in-command and a team of elite archers would be enough to secure their target.

With his own presence as backup, he had been certain of success.

Yet, the first step of that plan had gone disastrously wrong, costing the life of a fifth-level martial sect master!

Dan Tai Xiong realized he had gravely underestimated Wang Chen’s strength, a mistake that now weighed heavily on him.

But this only hardened his resolve to kill Wang Chen.

If he failed to avenge his second-in-command, his hard-earned reputation would be shattered, and he would have no way to answer to the Qianlong Society.

Wang Chen had to die today!

With that, Dan Tai Xiong abruptly raised his arm, and the bandits behind him swiftly drew their longbows.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, a rain of arrows—hundreds of them—descended upon Wang Chen.

And this was merely the prelude to the grand battle that lay ahead!