Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit
Chapter 186 - 150 Am I this strong? I really am strong! [Thanks ’AMOS Brother’ for the 10000 reward!]

Chapter 186: Chapter 150 Am I this strong? I really am strong! [Thanks ’AMOS Brother’ for the 10000 reward!]

Zhu Biao was fully focused on the battle, not noticing much else.

Unlike Wang Yan, he had a general understanding of his own capabilities—

"Guu Kaifa ranks on the Earthly List, and a year ago, I was slightly better than him."

"Over the past year, my strength has improved considerably. If I were to challenge an Earthly List expert, I might make it into the top 100."

The mountain bandits he had dealt with in the Northern Captain’s unit included a few with some fame, but they turned out to be all bark and no bite, unable to last more than a few rounds against him. If it wasn’t for Commander Wang Shan, the ’Black Tornado,’ being a greater force above him, constantly crushing him in real combat, Zhu Biao might have deluded himself into thinking he could sweep the Earthly List.

With Wang Shan as the benchmark, Zhu Biao did not dare to overestimate his strength.

He conservatively estimated his ranking to be around the 100th mark on the Earthly List.

"At most, the 90th spot."

"No higher."

As for the leaders on Yangjiao Mountain, the strongest among them, Boss Gongyang Shun, seemingly ranked 67th on the Earthly List—someone Zhu Biao definitely couldn’t handle.

Zhu Biao could only silently pray, hoping this formidable Boss wouldn’t show up.

His resolve remained vigilant.

His anxiety was overwhelming.

But what must come will inevitably arrive.

Thud-thud-thud!

Rumble-rumble!

Hooves stormed as the earth trembled. From afar, Zhu Biao could already see plumes of smoke rolling in from the northwest. At this distance, the enemy’s banners were visible, yet they showed no signs of pausing or turning away.

"There’s no escape now!"

Looking at Wang Yan beside him, Zhu Biao whispered, "Governor Wang, stay close to me later."

"Alright."

Wang Yan nodded.

Zhu Biao then turned to Zhang Chi of the third battalion and the three dependable subordinates he had brought from the first battalion: Deng Xuan, Jiangj Zhen, and Lvu Fangquan. He ordered them, "When charging later, prioritize protecting Commander Zhu’s safety. If there’s any mishap, see me with your head!"

At this critical moment, Zhu Biao couldn’t afford to consider Wang Yan’s feelings and bluntly pointed out the top priority was ensuring her safety.

"Yes!"

Zhang Chi and the others replied in unison, riding their horses over to shield Wang Yan.

Having given his orders, Zhu Biao hesitated no further. Pointing his long spear forward, he shouted, "Brothers, charge with me!"

A single shout.

He galloped ahead, leading the charge.

Wang Yan followed closely behind him. Zhang Chi and the other four quickly joined the momentum. Behind them came the 200 Northern Captains on this mission.

"Kill!"

Armed with long spears or heavy sabers, they charged toward the 300 horse bandits.

The cavalry moved swiftly.

The Northern Captain’s forces had just built up speed when they collided head-on with Yangjiao Mountain’s 300 horse bandits.

BOOM!

A thundering crash, as the 200 Northern Captains instantly tangled with the 300 horse bandits.

"Kill!"

With a long spear in hand, Zhu Biao unleashed the ferocity of his ’Tiger and Leopard Spear,’ derived from the forms of the tiger and leopard. Each fierce thrust guaranteed a bandit’s death—sometimes even piercing the throats of three to five men in a single stroke, stringing them together like skewered candied fruits.

Wildly savage.

He was like a god of slaughter.

Following right behind, Wang Yan wielded her sword, emphasizing speed above all.

Light and agile, each strike of her sword resembled a lightning flash, sometimes stabbing three to five times in an instant, other times unpredictably thrusting eight or nine times.

Each slash was brief yet precise, leaving a bloody hole on the enemy—either piercing their throats or puncturing their hearts.

None who faced her survived; they died instantly, falling lifeless from their horses.

With her face icy-cold, Wang Yan had initially felt tension and apprehension, even fear. But as more horse bandits fell under her blade, her fear faded unconsciously, and she immersed herself completely in her swordsmanship.

Sometimes employing ’Lightning Nine Swords’ for lethal efficiency.

Other times deploying ’Soft Cloud Swordsmanship’ to guard against deadly strikes.

Both sword techniques had been refined under the guidance of her Junior Master.

Her original ’Green Light Electric Sword’ was revised into ’Lightning Nine Swords,’ which, upon mastery, allowed her to unleash nine consecutive thrusts and merge them into a single line called ’One-Line Pass,’ with unparalleled destructive power.

’Soft Cloud Swordsmanship,’ improved from the ’Cloud Tide Swordsmanship,’ was as dynamic as gathering and scattering clouds, excelling in defense. Upon mastery, one could shroud themselves in seemingly misty clouds, making them difficult to locate and nearly impossible to attack.

A year’s worth of relentless training exploded into this battle without reserve. With flashes of her sword, she claimed the lives of over ten bandits before encountering a formidable opponent.

"Prepare to die!"

A thunderous shout erupted from a bandit, whose saber light surged and encircled Wang Yan.

Wang Yan parried as she scrutinized her attacker amidst the chaos of blade and sword. The man’s face bore a gruesome scar, spanning from his forehead past his nose, down to his lips.

Menacing in appearance.

But what was truly terrifying was his saber technique. It was simple yet swift, every strike filled with immense energy and overwhelming force, each saber faster and heavier than the last.

"Mastery of both inner and external skills!"

Wang Yan instantly discerned that the man possessed considerable prowess in both Inner Strength and external skills—not only was his inner power robust, but his physical strength was extraordinarily formidable.

Coupled with his saber technique, his abilities were no less powerful than Zhang Chi’s.

The scarred swordsman’s strikes with his saber grew increasingly aggressive. Unsatisfied with battling on horseback, the two leapt off their horses and engaged in a ground duel instead.

"Zhang Chi is no match for me."

"Nor are you!"

Clutching her longsword, Wang Yan focused her footing and honed her swordsmanship. She began by using the cloud-like, continuously flowing ’Soft Cloud Swordsmanship’ to counter his saber strikes. After seven or eight exchanges, she dragged his saber into the rhythm of her relentless sword intent and abruptly transitioned into the ’Lightning Nine Swords.’

Swish, swish, swish!

Nine consecutive sword strikes burst forth in an instant, like lightning.

Clang, clang, clang!

The man danced his saber to block Wang Yan’s attacks.

But ultimately, he faltered, managing to deflect the first eight strikes but failing to stop the final one.

"No—"

Before he could beg for mercy, Wang Yan pierced his throat, his eyes wide with shock as he collapsed backward.

Even in death, he seemed unable to comprehend how a young girl had ended his life.

"Huff!"

Having slain her fearsome adversary, Wang Yan took a deep breath.

The man’s strength had been exceptional, and the life-or-death duel allowed no margin for error. Though she had a slight edge over him, a single mistake could have ended with her being killed instead.

Fortunately.

She was the one who survived.

Wang Yan stood with her sword, ready to mount her horse and rejoin the battle.

Just then.

A cry emerged from within the horse bandits: "The Boss is dead!"

Interspersed cries followed: "The Second Boss is dead!" "The Third Boss is dead!"

The remaining horse bandits began to panic.

No one refuted the claim, Boss Gongyang Shun didn’t shout to deny it, nor did his shadow appear. The entire band of horse bandits fell apart instantly.

"The leaders are all dead!"

"Retreat!"

"Run for it!"

...

The collapse was immediate. Without the leaders to hold them together, the Yangjiao Mountain horse bandits couldn’t withstand the pressure anymore.

With a loud roar, they scattered in all directions.

"Kill!"

The Northern Captain forces pursued and slaughtered dozens more bandits.

Once the bandits had fled far away.

"Don’t chase cornered enemies!"

Though the Northern Captain soldiers shouted with bloodlust to continue the pursuit, Zhu Biao’s voice rang out from the formation.

"Halt!"

The troops immediately stopped, letting the horse bandits escape.

Zhu Biao rode over to Wang Yan and asked, "Governor Wang, are you alright?"

"I’m fine."

Wang Yan shook her head and glanced around. Unbeknownst to her, Zhang Chi and the other four had already scattered to a distance. Of the 200 Northern Captain forces who charged into battle, fewer than three-fourths were still standing, many of them bearing injuries.

She looked at the ground.

More than 100 corpses lay haphazardly, mostly horse bandits.

Clearly, they had won the battle!

"That’s good."

Zhu Biao exhaled deeply and then ordered the troops to collect the corpses.

After taking stock:

The Northern Captain forces had suffered 35 fatalities, 22 serious injuries, and 107 minor injuries.

The Yangjiao Mountain horse bandits had left behind 112 corpses, 4 critically wounded individuals nearing their deaths, and 15 captured alive.

"Sirs."

"After questioning these prisoners, we identified the corpses of Yangjiao Mountain’s leaders: Boss Gongyang Shun, Second Boss Xue Pengju, Third Boss Yangg Heng, and Fourth Boss Ruan Xiaoqing."

Several Northern Captain soldiers carried four bodies to Zhu Biao and Wang Yan, lining them up side by side.

Wang Yan looked at the scarred-faced corpse with its throat pierced and thought she had misheard. She promptly pointed and asked, "Which leader was this?"

"Reporting, ma’am."

"This was the Third Boss, ranked 96th on the Earthly List—’Rolling Dragon Saber’ Yangg Heng!"

The Squad Leader answered with an expression of admiration as he gazed at Wang Yan.

After interrogating the captives, he had learned that Yangg Heng, Third Boss of Yangjiao Mountain, ranked 96th on the Earthly List and was reputed for his Chain Saber technique, earning him the nickname ’Rolling Dragon Saber.’

Yet such a figure.

The Squad Leader had witnessed his own Commander slay single-handedly with a sword. This indicated that their third battalion had produced another Earthly-List-caliber Commander in addition to last year, elevating them even higher than their previous Commander Guu Kaifa or their Colonel.

Any previous disdain or dissatisfaction for Wang Yan, who had seemingly gotten her position through connections, vanished into thin air.

It wasn’t just him.

The other soldiers looked at Wang Yan, their eyes full of respect.

"Earthly List 96th?"

"I—"

"Am I really that strong?"

For a moment, Wang Yan stood frozen.

The Earthly List 96th ranking surpassed even the record her Junior Master had set years ago. She recalled how her Junior Master’s famed duel was only against the Earthly List’s 100th-ranked ’Double Spear General’ Zhu Ning.

Beside her.

Zhu Biao stared at the corpse of the rugged-looking man on the ground, his expression unsettled, and pointed as he asked, "Is that Gongyang Shun?"

"Reporting to Commander Zhu, this is indeed the Boss of Yangjiao Mountain, ranked 67th on the Earthly List—’Three Mountains Blade’ Gongyang Shun!"

At these words, Zhu Biao’s face changed color.

Earlier, his fights with this man had felt troublesome.

Yet when he killed this man, it hadn’t felt especially taxing.

He hadn’t imagined this man to be Gongyang Shun or any of the other leaders from Yangjiao Mountain; he thought he was just dealing with a run-of-the-mill headman.

After all, how could an Earthly List expert be so unimpressive?

To think this man wasn’t just an Earthly List expert but the infamous bandit chief Gongyang Shun!

"Ranked 67 on the Earthly List—killed this easily by me?"

Zhu Biao, like Wang Yan, fell into deep doubt.

First, he questioned Gongyang Shun’s reputation, then he suspected the credibility of the Earthly List rankings, and finally, waves of realization surged through his mind: "Perhaps, maybe, possibly... I am actually really strong?"

He remained dazed.

Both Wang Yan and Zhu Biao stood stupefied.

From the first battalion, Centurion Lvu Fangquan stepped forward, determined the identities of the four corpses from the Squad Leader, and announced loudly—

"Mr. Zhu Biao killed Yangjiao Mountain’s Boss, ranked 67th on the Earthly List—’Three Mountains Blade’ Gongyang Shun."

"Deng Centurion killed Yangjiao Mountain’s Second Boss, ranked 92nd on the Earthly List—’Doom Spear’ Xue Pengju."

"Governor Wang Yan killed Yangjiao Mountain’s Third Boss, ranked 96th on the Earthly List—’Rolling Dragon Saber’ Yangg Heng."

"Centurion Zhang Chi killed Yangjiao Mountain’s Fourth Boss, ranked 99th on the Earthly List—’Wave Rider Sword’ Ruan Xiaoqing."

As his voice fell, silence blanketed the area.

Merchants from the distant caravan, who approached to inquire about the battle’s outcome, froze upon hearing this.

Four Earthly List experts!

A mere City Guard unit—a seemingly insignificant Northern Captain force from Xiyu City—had produced four individuals capable of taking down Earthly List-ranked enemies?!

In that moment.

The soldiers were overwhelmed by shock and excitement. Even their sorrow for the thirty-plus fallen comrades was somewhat dispersed.

"Earthly List—"

Zhu Biao, Deng Xuan, and Zhang Chi stood frozen.

Wang Yan stared at Yangg Heng’s lifeless body, then at the 35 fallen Northern Captain troops nearby. Her emotions swirled between elation and sorrow—a complicated mix.

...