Chapter 359 343: Harvesting the Spoils

The instant Su Yu produced the Thunder Talisman, Feng Han disappeared from the high platform, ducking into a house in a flash.

He poked his head out of a window, observing furtively as his thoughts churned.

'Damn it, he really still has that Thunder Talisman.'

'That kid actually dared to come right up to the stronghold. Looks like that Thunder Talisman really works. With an ace like that up his sleeve, it's no wonder he's so audacious!'

'But would he really be willing to use that Thunder Talisman?'

'If I were him, I'd save a trump card like that for a life-or-death situation!'

'But that Thunder Talisman is just too powerful. I don't dare gamble my life on it.'

'Now he's killed my Third Brother, and Second Brother still hasn't returned... looks like he met a grim end too.'

'The men in the stronghold are enough for defense, but if we go out to surround him, we'd be no match for him.'

'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!'

'To think that I, a mighty expert at the peak of the Muscle Forging Realm Perfection, would be forced to cower in my own stronghold by some little brat!'

'If anyone saw this, the Wind Evil Stronghold's reputation would be utterly ruined.'

KABOOM!

After posturing for a long while, Su Yu finally heard another clap of thunder ring through the sky.

He immediately raised his voice several notches. "Draw the thunder of the nine heavens, unleash the might of the world... BOOM BOOM BOOM..."

But along with the thunder, the rain, which had been light, became heavier.

Su Yu was a bit careless and almost let the rain soak the Thunder Talisman in his hand.

He hurriedly activated his Qi and Blood to dry the rainwater, his gaze darting toward the stronghold. Fortunately, with the loud thunder and heavy rain, no one noticed.

"Feng Han, I'm giving you one last chance. Hand over my things. Are you going to or not?"

His gaze snapped toward the building. With his Five Senses Divine, he had already pinpointed Feng Han's hiding spot long ago.

He pointed at the building from afar and shouted, "Feng Han, if I call down heavenly thunder, a mere house won't be able to stop it!"

Hearing this, Feng Han was shocked. 'This kid isn't really going to do it, is he?'

He hesitated for only a moment before the memory of that terrifying heavenly thunder flashed through his mind, and his heart leaped into his throat.

'No. Wealth is fleeting. I can't risk it!'

...

Watching Su Yu continue his act, the bandits in the stronghold roared with laughter and mockery.

"Haha, what an idiot! Still putting on a show. I'll just sit back and watch you try!"

"So what if you're in the Muscle Forging Realm? Come and attack the stronghold if you've got the guts! We'll give you another taste of our Wind God Crossbows!"

One man even strutted smugly to the stronghold gate, hawked up a thick glob of phlegm, and spat in Su Yu's direction. "PTUI! You piece of trash! How dare you act so high and mighty at the gates of our Wind Evil Stronghold! Just wait till the Chief comes out. He'll flay you alive!"

...

"Get out of the way!!!"

A moment later, a voice boomed from behind the man. A large, bare-chested man kicked him aside, sending him sprawling face-first into the mud and splashing dirty water everywhere.

The large man seemed to be a minor leader in the stronghold. Behind him were six bandits, carrying three large chests in pairs.

THUD!

The three large chests hit the ground almost simultaneously, sending up a huge splash of rainwater.

The burly leader wiped the rain from his face, his vicious scowl instantly melting into a fawning smile.

"My good hero, we at the Wind Evil Stronghold have always believed in making money through peace. As they say, we didn't know each other until we fought. This whole business today was just a misunderstanding. Our Chief says that as long as you're willing to be merciful, any of your future caravans passing through Tiger Leap Gorge will have our Wind Evil Stronghold's protection!"

As he spoke, he kicked open the stronghold gate and gestured for the bandits to carry the chests out.

The other bandits stared, stunned, watching the scene unfold in disbelief.

'Hey, hey, what's wrong with the Chief? Was he really scared by that kid?'

'This... This... Am I seeing things? That leader is sending out so much treasure? And on the Chief's orders?'

The area instantly fell silent, with only the roar of the downpour and the sound of splashing footsteps in puddles.

A few bandits carried the chests to Su Yu in the distance, their eyes filled with fear. After putting down the three large chests, they immediately turned and ran back into the stronghold.

After hearing the Chief's orders, they understood that the man before them was a true God of Slaughter.

The Chief's ghoulish appearance was because this man had struck him with lightning.

Su Yu paid the grunts no mind. He stepped forward and opened the chests one by one, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

The first chest was filled with silver ingots, at least five or six thousand taels by a rough estimate.

The second chest contained Treasure Medicines. There were two layers, with at least twenty plants in total!

Although most were Mid or Low Grade Treasure Medicines, there were also three High Grade plants and one Supreme Grade, making them exceptionally valuable.

The final chest was filled with various materials and Pills: a piece of meteoric iron, several chunks of ore, seven or eight porcelain vials, and a large pile of silk cloth.

With a satisfied wave of his hand, Su Yu stored the three large chests in his Storage Ring.

Then his gaze turned to the group of bandits at the stronghold gate.

As his gaze swept over them, the bandits who had been incredibly arrogant just moments ago all felt a chill in their hearts.

By now, how could they not understand? This man truly had the power to wipe out their stronghold; otherwise, the Chief would never have backed down so easily.

Recalling the Chief's state when he returned—looking more like a ghost than a man—it was obvious he'd been struck by lightning.

Someone couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

"Can this person really summon heavenly thunder?"

With this thought in their minds, they looked at the Thunder Talisman in his hand and instinctively flinched, pulling their necks in.

BOOM!

As if on cue, another thunderclap exploded across the sky, making everyone jump in fright.

The more cowardly ones instantly scrambled for cover inside the buildings, completely forgetting their pride. The rest scattered like frightened animals.

It was clear this band of bandits was completely disorganized. If not for their Wind God Crossbows, the Wind Evil Stronghold's fighting strength would be nothing special.

This might have been a good opportunity to storm the stronghold, but since his goal had already been achieved, Su Yu didn't actually press the attack.

He simply turned calmly and departed swiftly into the distance.

Inside the Wind Evil Stronghold, Feng Han breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this.

'Son of a bitch,' he thought. 'What rotten luck, running into someone so unreasonable.'

'That divine thunder is a technique of the ancient masters, a long-lost art, and yet he can actually use it.'

'But he's finally gone. In the future, I won't mess with that White Ape caravan anymore.'

He was now genuinely terrified of being struck by lightning again.

...

「Half an hour earlier, at the Wild Fox Inn on the outskirts of Black Stone City.」

A woman in black, her face hidden by a veil, stood in a secret attic at the very top of the inn. Her gaze pierced through the half-open window to the world outside.

The next moment, her beautiful eyes widened. With a flip of her hand, she produced a compass, seemingly from the white jade necklace tucked into the collar of her robes.

The compass was pitch-black, exuding a faint, cold gleam. It was clearly no ordinary item.

At this moment, the needle on the compass began to spin wildly, emitting a brilliant white light.

"The person from the divine oracle has appeared!"

"This direction, this distance... it's in the direction of Snow State!"

"Someone, prepare the horses, quickly! We're going to Snow State!"

Behind her, the large man wearing a ghost-face mask appeared in response, kneeling respectfully on one knee.

"Miss, what about the matters here in Black Stone City? And Su Yu's initiation ceremony..."

The black-veiled woman immediately said: "This is the oracle of my God, how can it be delayed! Quickly summon all the Black Lotus Divine Guards and head to Snow State immediately!"

"Yes, Miss!"