48: Chapter 48 Guoo Shanfeng’s Wealth (Vote for recommendation!)
48: Chapter 48 Guoo Shanfeng’s Wealth (Vote for recommendation!)
The mountain ridge was about one meter wide and uneven, with treacherous terrain that was difficult to navigate.
On both sides of the ridge were bottomless abysses, with sheer drops of ten thousand zhang deep.
To make matters worse, the high altitude brought swift winds, and one could only move in small increments, half a step at a time, to ensure stability.
If one’s stride was too large, a strong wind could blow past and, with a single misstep, one would tumble off the ridge.
Hence the name “Half a Step More”, and this mere twenty-some meters long mountain ridge became a natural barrier for Guoo Shanfeng’s bandit gang.
When Ye Zhen reached Half a Step More, it was completely dark, and the mountains and forests became even more shadowy!
After seeing the full view of Half a Step More, Ye Zhen could not help but take in a cold breath—it was too dangerous.
Although his Snake Bounce Grass could cover a distance of forty meters with each bound, Ye Zhen did not feel confident about using it safely on Half a Step More.
The uneven mountain ridge was narrowest at half a step, and near the entrance to the bandit’s lair, it was densely scattered with Iron Tribulus.
Rushing across carelessly could lead to a fatal fall from the cliff!
With his left hand, he lifted the neck of the bearded third-in-command, straightening the hanging head, and with the right, gripped his waist.
Ye Zhen shrank behind the third-in-command’s corpse and stepped onto Half a Step More, slowly advancing towards Guoo Shanfeng’s hideout.
“Who’s there?”
“Who is it?”
“Speak up, or I’m gonna shoot an arrow!”
The moment Ye Zhen stepped onto Half a Step More, the bandits on the other side spotted him—or more precisely, they spotted the bearded third-in-command.
They started shouting questions at him.
Speaking would definitely give him away.
Ye Zhen made up his mind to remain silent, considering that this body of the third-in-command must have some influence among the bandits.
Figures moved about on the gate of the bandit stronghold.
Seeing that the newcomer did not respond, they shook their torches vigorously.
Under the torchlight, one sharp-eyed fellow recognized the identity of the person approaching.
“It’s the third-in-command, the third-in-command!
Where are the others, the boss said you’d bring back a great deal of loot soon.
Why can’t we see anyone else?”
Ye Zhen did not answer, carefully moving his feet.
In this short time, he had already made it halfway across the twenty-some meters of Half a Step More with the third-in-command’s body.
“Third-in-command, why aren’t you speaking?
Are you hurt?” The torch on the other side was waved even more frantically, its light now revealing the blood at the corner of the third-in-command’s mouth.
“Third-in-command?”
But the bandits on the opposite side were extremely cautious.
After repeatedly calling out with no reply, they threw a torch high from within the gate towards Ye Zhen’s side.
The moment the torch was thrown, Ye Zhen knew he was about to be discovered!
In an instant, the thrown torch illuminated the third-in-command’s appearance with stark clarity: his closed eyes, ashen face, blood-stained mouth corner, the large hole in his chest, and feet hovering inches off the ground were all clearly revealed.
Almost simultaneously, Ye Zhen bellowed like thunder, “Open the gate for me; I’m injured!” As he roared, he instinctively made the third-in-command’s limp head shoot up straight.
“Ghosts!” A bandit with less courage cried out pitifully upon seeing this.
In the darkness of night, the torch shone brightly, and the floating third-in-command on the mountain ridge seemed like a malevolent ghost.
Luckily, the bearded third-in-command had some prestige among the bandits.
Confused by Ye Zhen’s inexplicable roar, several guards at the gate instinctively pushed it open a crack.
Seizing the moment of shock and confusion among the bandits, Ye Zhen quickly moved several steps under the light of the torch, coming within five meters of the gate.
“No good, the third-in-command is dead, someone’s sneaking up on us, shoot, shoot arrows!” A quick-reacting bandit yelled urgently.
“Quick, close the gate, it’s not the third-in-command!”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The sound of arrows suddenly filled the air.
Almost at the same instant the bandits cried out, Ye Zhen’s body abruptly crouched down, then with a spring, he charged at the gate like an arrow, shielding himself with the corpse of the third boss.
As he burst out, he fiercely hurled the body at the dozen or so sharp arrows coming from above.
Ye Zhen’s fists were already wrapped in True Yuan as he smashed them against the wooden gate!
Bang!
The wood splintered in all directions.
Ye Zhen’s fists, like siege hammers, brutally hammered the wooden gate, not only smashing open the gate that was about to close but also breaking two large holes in it, sending four bandits who were guarding behind the gate flying out, coughing up blood.
Upon entering the gate, torches were stuck all around, instantly brightening the view and erasing the danger of falling off the cliffs at any moment.
Ye Zhen’s figure flickered, and he immediately charged at two bandits who were about to shoot arrows at him.
With a swift movement of his hands, he caught two arrows, rushed forward, and with a backhand thrust, the arrows penetrated the chests of the two bandits.
In no time, Ye Zhen was like a tiger among sheep, slaughtering the bandits who wailed like ghosts and howled like wolves, some even kneeling to beg for mercy.
But Ye Zhen showed no mercy.
Whether it was bandits with Third to Fourth Stage Blood Training or ordinary bandits with rudimentary skills, he ruthlessly cut them down without exception.
The scene in the forest had given Ye Zhen an extremely cruel and bloody lesson.
Not to mention the dozen or so shriveled corpses hanging in the fort’s yard now.
All this turned the young man’s heart to stone in an instant!
Ye Zhen did not completely kill all the bandits at the gate, leaving two to flee into the fort.
He just followed closely behind them.
Along the way, two bandits spared by Ye Zhen screamed frantically, and occasionally, bandits unaware of what was happening rushed over.
But in front of the current Ye Zhen, anyone below the True Essence Realm stood no chance in his hands and was killed with a single slap amid his fluttering silhouette.
Following along, as they passed a vaguely visible building, a bandit who didn’t even have time to put on his trousers suddenly sprung out and chopped at Ye Zhen with a knife.
On the large knife, a pale bluish True Yuan flowed like water.
Without even a glance, Ye Zhen casually unleashed a Five Mountains Divine Fist from afar.
Before the fist even reached, the bluish fist imprint exploded the bandit’s head into a mess like a burst watermelon.
“Second boss...”
The two bandits ahead, running helter-skelter, suddenly shrieked as if their throats were clenched, one of them collapsing weakly to the ground in terror.
It turned out the one Ye Zhen had casually killed with a single punch was this Guoo Shanfeng’s second boss.
After crushing the throat of the bandit who had collapsed to the ground, Ye Zhen fiercely grabbed the neck of the last remaining bandit in his sight and hoisted him into the air, demanding, “Where is Guoo Shanfeng?”
As the bandit rolled his eyes and weakly pointed toward the only compound there, a series of loud cracks were heard – Ye Zhen had already snapped his neck.
The moment Ye Zhen stepped into the compound, a bare-chested, hairy man also stepped out from the Inner Hall.
“Miss Hee, give it another half a quarter-hour of thought.
If you submit to me, Guoo Shanfeng, I will certainly not disgrace you, and even your father will benefit greatly!
Once I dispose of this fly, if you’re still unwilling, don’t blame me, Guoo Shanfeng, for using force!”
As Guoo Shanfeng stepped out, he was still trying to persuade a young girl tied up with ropes inside the Inner Hall.
“I’m a fly, then you try and see!”
Whoosh!
Ye Zhen burst forth in an instant, with a Snake Bounce Grass and Five Mountains Divine Fist assaulting the air and striking from above.
Hmm?
His eyes narrowed, facing the ferocious momentum of Ye Zhen’s assault, Guo Shanfeng’s expression suddenly became extremely grave, his palms blurred with a fist skill that seemed slow but was actually incredibly fast, meeting the attack head-on.
Bang!
Two waves of True Yuan collided fiercely, setting off a small whirlwind.
Ye Zhen remained unmoved in his position, while Guo Shanfeng was forced to take a small step back.
“True Essence Second Realm Cultivation?” Ye Zhen snorted coldly.
At present, Ye Zhen’s cultivation had barely reached the Late First Stage of the True Essence Realm, but with his exceedingly pure True Yuan, the only people who could clash with him were those at the True Essence Second Realm or even stronger beings.
Guo Shanfeng’s brows furrowed sharply, deeply shocked by Ye Zhen’s strength.
“Brother, which path do you hail from, why do you interfere with my business?
Have we offended you in some way?
Speak your demands, and I, Guo Shanfeng, will certainly be clear about them.” Having taken a slight disadvantage in the exchange, Guo Shanfeng’s eyes flickered.
“I want your life, would you give it?” Ye Zhen sneered coldly.
“Young man, don’t be ungrateful!
I don’t even take your cultivation level seriously, it’s best that you wise up.”
“Is that so, then come on!”
With a roar, Ye Zhen charged forward like a whirlwind, unleashing his recently learned Thunder Leopard Lightning Fist.
“An ignorant fool!”
Guo Shanfeng bellowed furiously, altering his fist skill.
The previously used seemingly slow yet swift fist skill met Ye Zhen’s killing move once more.
This time, however, Guo Shanfeng executed his skill with even greater expertise.
The fist seemed slow but was actually swift, with continuous and unending force, one wave stacking upon the next, reminiscent of surging waves.
Unseen to the eye, Guo Shanfeng’s True Yuan even turned a faint water-blue color, displaying the remarkable level of his fist skill.
What was even more deadly was that once this fist skill made contact, its lingering force trapped one within layers of odd and continuous force-fields, making every movement taxing and preventing full strength exertion.
“This fist skill executed by Guo Shanfeng is definitely a Human-Level Mid-grade Martial Skill!”
Ye Zhen’s face grew more solemn by the moment.
Whether he used Five Mountains Divine Fist, Thunder Leopard Lightning Fist, or Inch-step Crashing Fist, he was unable to break through Guo Shanfeng’s incessant fist waves.
The unending force fields were even capable of restraining Ye Zhen’s fist skills.
If it weren’t for Ye Zhen’s reliance on his incredibly pure True Yuan, which allowed him to overpower Guo Shanfeng, Ye Zhen would have likely been defeated.
After half an hour passed, Guo Shanfeng’s fist skill remained as relentless as ever, like surging waves, while Ye Zhen, trapped within them, appeared increasingly despondent.
“Pity, I haven’t perfectly fused Thunder Leopard Lightning Fist with Inch-step Crashing Fist.
Otherwise, one punch would defeat him!”
With an inward sigh of regret, Ye Zhen’s figure suddenly carried through Guo Shanfeng’s unending fist waves.
His shoulder shook unstably, revealing an opening.
Guo Shanfeng, who had been anxiously engaged in the prolonged fight, had his eyes suddenly blaze with intent.
Lunging forward, his palm aimed straight for Ye Zhen’s throat.
Almost simultaneously, Ye Zhen’s figure slightly swayed, as he deliberately collided his shoulder with Guo Shanfeng’s.
In an instant, his shoulder was enveloped in dense True Yuan, vibrating at a bizarre frequency.
Snake Wandering Step’s Sliding Snake Style!
“No good!”
Guo Shanfeng exclaimed in alarm having noticed the sudden turn, but his palm uncontrollably made contact with Ye Zhen’s shoulder.
Yet, taking advantage of the situation, Ye Zhen bumped his way into Guo Shanfeng’s embrace.
However, Guo Shanfeng’s palm strike was not to be underestimated.
Even though Ye Zhen had already fortified himself with True Yuan and used the Slippery Serpent Stance to dissipate the force, that strike still caused Ye Zhen’s right arm to become numb.
With his right arm numb, Ye Zhen’s left hand swiftly launched sixteen points of blue light: the Spirit Snake Vein Severing Hand’s Meridian-Sealing Force.
Visibly, Guo Shanfeng’s body stiffened slightly, as sounds like popping beans burst within him, indicating his struggle against Ye Zhen’s True Essence Sealing Technique.
In that fleeting moment of opportunity, Ye Zhen swiftly seized it.
He moved, and his left fist powered through with an Inch-step Crashing Fist that landed squarely on Guo Shanfeng’s chest.
Thump thump thump thump!
There was an almost audible series of shattering noises from within Guo Shanfeng, the sound of his five internal organs and six hollow organs being crushed by the Crashing Force of the Inch-step Crashing Fist.
After making several gurgling sounds in his throat, Guo Shanfeng collapsed backward with a boom.
Watching Guo Shanfeng fall, Ye Zhen inwardly voiced his own shame, having had to resort to his old tactic of baiting and using Snake Wandering Steps to land the decisive blow; his own martial skills were still too meager.
In the nearby Inner Hall, Miss Hee, struggling and crawling to the doorway to watch the battle, saw Ye Zhen kill Guo Shanfeng with a single punch.
Her eyes sparkled with a brilliant light.
Casually tending to his shoulder wound, Ye Zhen crouched and began searching in Guo Shanfeng’s embrace, knowing well that Guo Shanfeng’s assets were bound to be substantial.
To Ye Zhen’s surprise, his search came up empty.
Just as Ye Zhen felt disappointed, his gaze suddenly swept over a rustic bracelet partially hidden by Guo Shanfeng’s sleeve.
The style of this bracelet greatly resembled the storage treasure on Golden Yuanbao’s wrist.
“Could it be?”
With a thought, Ye Zhen moved to remove the bracelet from Guo Shanfeng’s wrist, when, almost at the same time, a dense series of footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard, accompanied by the noises of bow and crossbow mechanisms being drawn.
In a flash, Ye Zhen’s back tensed, and an extreme sense of danger surged in his mind.
PS: I must clarify, today’s update is very late, truly sorry, no matter the reason, I bow to my brothers first.
However, I, Zhu San, am helpless, as my daughter came down with hand-foot-and-mouth disease, kept us up all night, and we had to head into the hospital this morning.
It was well past three o’clock when I returned from the hospital, only now can I present a chapter to my brothers.
The second update for today will definitely be posted, but it will probably be very late, around midnight.
Once my daughter gets past this illness, I will try to maintain a regular and stable update schedule.
Last but not least, I have to shout: A big 4,000-word chapter is here; young people, where are your votes?
Just a reminder, you can cast your Sanjiang votes in the Sanjiang category channel below!

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