Chapter 508

Chen Mu did not act immediately.

His spiritual sense extended again, this time more meticulously, covering the entire Shanzhai.

He swept through each wooden hut, taking in every detail within.

The common bandits' quarters were cramped, ten or more men crammed into one room, snoring loudly now.

The lieutenants' huts were better—each man had his own room, sleeping soundly.

The warehouse was piled high with looted goods: grain, cloth, silver, coins, weapons, stacked like Rushan.

At the very back were a few more wooden huts, inside which were prisoners—over a dozen women, ragged and shivering in the corners.

A few other huts held several men, dressed as passing merchants, now also covered in wounds.

Chen Mu's gaze grew colder.

Finally, his spiritual sense settled on the meeting hall.

Five men sat inside.

In the center was a middle-aged man, broad-shouldered and muscular, his face thick with fat, a long scar running down his left cheek, grotesque under the lamplight.

Before him sat a jar of liquor, which he was drinking heavily, while the four others around him smiled and spoke flatteringly.

Earth Altar Realm, Five Qi in Harmony.

That was the stockade chief.

Chen Mu memorized the qi signatures of the other four—all at Peak Primordial or early Earth Altar Realm, likely the stockade's top lieutenants.

His spiritual sense swept again—no other Earth Altar Realm cultivators detected.

Enough.

Chen Mu leapt down from the tree, landing before the Shanzhai wall.

He made no effort to conceal himself, walking forward openly and boldly.

The night watchman on the arrow tower spotted him first, rubbed his eyes, thinking he'd imagined it.

When he clearly saw a figure approaching, he immediately raised his bow and shouted harshly: "Stop! Who are you?"

The patrols on the wall also halted, drawing swords and daggers, staring at the dark shadow.

Chen Mu did not stop—he kept walking forward.

"Stop, or we shoot!" the night watchman barked.

Chen Mu still did not stop.

"Shoot!"

Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh—

Dozens of arrows pierced the air, striking straight for Chen Mu's vital points.

Chen Mu raised his hand and swept it lightly.

Hu-hong~

All the arrows struck an invisible wall and fell to the ground, not one able to come within three feet of him.

The men on the arrow tower froze.

The men on the wall froze too.

Chen Mu continued forward, reaching the stockade gate.

He raised his hand and pressed it against the stockade gate, made from a single tree trunk.

He pushed gently.

Gong—

The three-zhang-tall stockade gate collapsed with a thunderous crash, splintered wood flying everywhere, dust rising into the sky.

The men on the arrow tower finally reacted, screaming in terror: "Attack! Attack!"

The Shanzhai erupted into chaos.

Countless bandits burst from the wooden huts—some half-dressed, some bare-chested, some still rubbing their eyes—but all gripping weapons, charging toward the stockade gate like demons.

Chen Mu stepped over the fallen stockade gate and entered the Shanzhai.

Standing in the open space inside the stockade gate, he crossed his arms, revealing no aura whatsoever, yet radiating an aura that made the heart tremble.

"Who are you!"

One lieutenant charged ahead, swinging his blade and roaring: "You're asking for death!"

Chen Mu did not look at him—he simply raised his hand and swept it lightly.

Gong—

An invisible force swept outward; the lieutenant never even screamed—he and the seven or eight bandits behind him were flung backward, crashing into the crowd, dying instantly.

The remaining bandits all froze in place, eyes filled with terror.

"Y-you… who are you?" someone asked, voice trembling.

Chen Mu did not answer—he kept walking forward.

He walked slowly, yet each step felt like crushing their hearts.

Wherever he passed, the bandits retreated, none daring to step forward.

The meeting hall door burst open; the scarred stockade chief and his four top lieutenants rushed out.

He saw the collapsed stockade gate and the bodies scattered on the ground, his face darkened instantly; his gaze locked onto Chen Mu, pupils contracting sharply.

This man is deep beyond measure!

But he was the stockade chief—hundreds of men were watching—he could not retreat.

He gritted his teeth and roared: "Who are you? Why break into my Shanzhai and kill my brothers?!"

Chen Mu looked at him and said calmly: "The merchant caravan you sent to raid—I was its escort."

The Scarred Bandit Chief froze, then his face grew even darker.

That worthless fool who escaped during the day—was this the young man he described?

But that fool said the man was only Mid Innate Stage—this man here…

Is this Mid Innate Stage?

Are you trying to fool ghosts?

He knew today could not end peacefully; he gritted his teeth and shouted harshly: "Brothers, attack together! Kill him!"

Yet he himself did not move, instead stepping back one pace, letting the four major lieutenants and the surrounding bandits charge forward.

Though terrified, the bandits dared not disobey their chief's order.

Hundreds surged forward at once, swords, spears, halberds, and lances flashing, the roar of battle shaking the heavens.

Chen Mu did not move.

He merely raised his hand, fingers spread loosely, then closed them gently.

Boom—

An invisible force surged from all directions, like a colossal cage, pinning over half the bandits firmly in place.

They struggled desperately, yet could not budge, their faces filled with terror.

Chen Mu's hand turned slightly.

Crack~ Crack~ Crack—

The sound of snapping bones came thick as frying beans; two or three hundred men simultaneously had their limbs shattered, screaming as they collapsed to the ground, blood pooling like a river.

The four major lieutenants were terrified out of their wits and turned to flee.

Chen Mu raised his hand and grasped the void; the four men were lifted into the air as if choked by invisible hands, their feet dangling, struggling desperately but to no avail.

"You… you…"

One of them, face flushed crimson, gasped out a few words: "Tian… Tian…"

Chen Mu did not let him finish.

His fingers closed gently.

Crack!

All four necks snapped simultaneously, their heads drooping, bodies crashing to the ground.

The Scarred Bandit Chief turned as pale as paper, his legs trembling, barely able to stand.

He was Fifth Stage of Earth Altar Realm, a notable expert within hundreds of li.

Yet this man before him killed Earth Altar Realm cultivators as easily as crushing an ant—what realm was this?

Tiangong Realm.

Only Tiangong Realm!

"Elder… Elder, spare my life!"

The Scarred Bandit Chief fell to his knees with a thud, pounding his head against the ground: "Your humble servant had no eyes, offended Elder—please spare my life! I beg you! I will surrender all the Shanzhai's wealth to you!"

Chen Mu walked up to him and looked down at him.

"When you sent men to ambush that merchant caravan, did you ever think of sparing those people's lives?"

The Scarred Bandit Chief shuddered violently, banging his head harder: "I deserve to die! I deserve to die! Please, Elder, give me a chance—I will reform, never commit evil again!"

Chen Mu said nothing more.

He raised his hand, aiming at the Scarred Bandit Chief's skull.

Soul-Search Technique!

The Scarred Bandit Chief tried to resist, but it was already too late.

Hum~

The void rippled; immense, invisible heavenly and earthly power formed a hand that bound the Scarred Bandit Chief entirely.

Instantly, his pupils shrank, his whole body convulsed, and countless fragments of memory flooded into Chen Mu's mind.

Moments later, Chen Mu lowered his hand.

The Scarred Bandit Chief collapsed to the ground, eyes vacant, drool dripping from his mouth—he was now a Bai Chi.

Puff~

A blood hole appeared on the Scarred Bandit Chief's forehead; his body slumped lifelessly.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】