Chapter 308 - 179: Either Scram, or Lie Down

Chapter 308: Chapter 179: Either Scram, or Lie Down

He wasn’t the only one.

Xiao Yunkai, Brother Liu beside him, the bald brute, and the man with the ponytail were all stunned as well.

Rage erupted instantly!

Tian Guipu narrowed his eyes.

He didn’t speak, merely opening his half-closed eyelids completely.

In that instant, the sharp glint in his eyes was so intense it almost seemed tangible, like a pair of Spring Thunder Sabers hidden in their sheaths, finally being drawn a fraction of an inch.

When it came to arrogance, his Divine Martial Society had never feared anyone!

Ma Chongshan snapped back to his senses, the fury in his chest ignited, a ROAR of rage threatening to blow the top of his skull off.

"Come on! If you’ve got the guts, fight me!"

He roared, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles let out a series of sharp CRACKS.

The qi and blood in his body surged, and a ferocious aura erupted from his burly frame.

Utterly enraged, Ma Chongshan’s face twisted into a savage sneer. "Let’s see what’s tougher—your mouth or my fists!"

The moment he finished speaking, he lunged forward.

But before he could even take a step...

Suddenly, a hand was pressed against his face.

Fingers spread, the warm palm covered Ma Chongshan’s mouth, nose, and half his cheek, the pressure neither light nor heavy.

The hand wasn’t large, yet it completely halted his forward momentum, freezing him in place.

Ma Chongshan’s expression froze.

Peering through the gaps between the fingers, he saw clearly who it was.

It was Wan Ze!!!

’But...how is this possible?!’

’One second ago, he was clearly standing ten meters away! How did he get in front of me in the next instant?’

He hadn’t perceived the movement at all—hadn’t even heard a whisper of wind. Wan Ze had appeared like a ghost, completely silent.

’How... How is this possible!!!!’

Ma Chongshan was utterly horrified.

He tried to struggle, only to find the hand on his face was immovable.

He tried to exert his strength, but his center of gravity was already under control. He was lifted up by his head, unable to muster an ounce of power, his neck feeling like it was about to snap.

In the next moment, Wan Ze swung his arm.

Ma Chongshan’s massive body, weighing nearly two hundred and twenty pounds, became a cannonball. With a deafening BANG, he shot through the gate behind him, a whistling sound in his wake, and crashed heavily into a distant rockery.

BOOM!

The ground shook as shattered rocks flew and dust plumed three or four meters into the air.

The half-man-high rockery was smashed to pieces. Ma Chongshan lay buried in the rubble, motionless, either unconscious or dead.

The explosive crash was deafening.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

The courtyard fell silent for a full three seconds, so quiet you could hear the flapping wings of a night bird on a distant wall.

Tian Guipu frowned, saying nothing. For the first time, a grave expression appeared in his wide-open eyes.

The Divine Martial Society disciples beside him looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy, each one assuming a defensive stance. Someone even subconsciously took half a step back.

Only Xiao Yunkai’s face was deathly pale, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. It seemed he was once again recalling the terrifying sight of being utterly crushed by Wan Ze that day...

That feeling of utter helplessness, of an insurmountable gap in power—even now, the memory of it inspired a visceral fear of Wan Ze in him.

Wan Ze slowly retracted his arm and looked up, his expression impassive, as if he had just done something utterly trivial.

He swept his gaze around the courtyard, and everywhere he looked, not a single person dared to meet his eyes.

"I’ll give you two choices. Either get out now, or you can all lie here with him."

"Wan Ze, you! You’ve gone too far!"

The bald brute at the front had an ashen face, his glare so intense he looked like he wanted to swallow Wan Ze whole.

His name was Zhou Hai, and he was Ma Chongshan’s junior brother. The two had joined the Divine Martial Society together and were extremely close.

Now, seeing his senior brother smashed into a rockery in a single move, he was burning with rage!

’He wanted to rush over and smash Wan Ze’s head in.’

’He really, really wanted to.’

But before he could take that step, Wan Ze’s gaze shifted and landed on his face.

It was just one look!

Those who follow the Martial Dao speak of the "Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit." The eyes are the windows to the heart, and the spirit is the edge of one’s intent.

With that one look, Wan Ze focused his entire Essence, Qi, and Spirit into a single point, so tangible it was like an invisible Divine Sword cleaving straight into the bald brute’s mind.

The bald brute felt his heart clench, as if he’d been targeted by a ferocious tiger.

It was a primal, instinctual fear—the terror of prey locked in the sights of an apex predator.

The bald brute’s pupils contracted violently. His breath caught in his throat, and his legs went so weak he nearly collapsed to his knees on the spot.

Everyone’s expression changed at the sight.

"Wan Ze, don’t be rash! Please, don’t be rash!"

Xiao Yunkai hurriedly stepped forward, spreading his arms to stand between the two sides.

He had been dealt with by Wan Ze before, so he knew better than anyone present just how terrifying the young man was.

Xiao Yunkai’s intention was simply to step in and defuse the atmosphere, to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

But before he could finish speaking, Brother Liu reached out from behind and shoved him aside.

Brother Liu’s full name was Liu Chongyue. With a square face, thick brows, and large eyes, he looked quite honest and dependable.

But the force he used to push Xiao Yunkai aside was undeniable, sending him staggering back two steps.

"Cut the crap!"

Liu Chongyue shot Xiao Yunkai an impatient glare. "He’s already walking all over us, and you’re still here trying to keep the peace? Get out of the way!"

"Brother Liu!" Xiao Yunkai looked anxious and tried to dissuade him, but Liu Chongyue ignored him completely and strode forward. Left with no choice, Xiao Yunkai turned and pinned his last hope on Tian Guipu...

"Brother Tian, we came here to investigate the cause of Brother Sun’s death. Since we’ve figured it out, why don’t we... just go back and report as soon as possible? The masters have been urging us for days."

Tian Guipu slowly rose to his feet and looked at Xiao Yunkai, his gaze a mixture of scrutiny and pity. "The business, of course, must be handled."

But then he paused, his gaze shifting back to Wan Ze as his voice grew heavy.

"But how can we just leave like this? Since Dragon Eagle’s Junior Brother Wan wishes to test himself against my Divine Martial Society, how could I simply ignore it?"

"Brother Tian..." Seeing things were taking a bad turn, Xiao Yunkai quickly spoke up.

"Shut up!"

The man with the ponytail snapped, his eyes filled with contempt for Xiao Yunkai.

His name was Su Heng. His seniority in the Divine Martial Society was not low, and he was quite famous among his peers for his Capture techniques.

He especially despised Xiao Yunkai’s spineless behavior.

’So what if he got beaten once? How could he lose all courage to face his enemy?’

’What a waste!’

Tian Guipu walked over to Xiao Yunkai and raised a hand to pat him gently on the shoulder.

The force wasn’t heavy, but it made Xiao Yunkai freeze in place.

"You’re injured. Stand back."

Tian Guipu’s voice was gentle, even holding a hint of brotherly concern.

But Xiao Yunkai could tell that beneath the gentleness was an undeniable command. He feared that from now on, he would be completely ostracized.

His lips moved a few times, but in the end, he said nothing.

Supported by Tie Feiyang, Tie Qingyang limped to Wan Ze’s side. He was still injured and his face was pale, but his eyes were still sharp. He lowered his voice and said to Wan Ze, "I’ll take the two younger ones."

He was referring to Liu Chongyue and Su Heng.

"No need."

Wan Ze refused on the spot, looking at the members of the Divine Martial Society. "Since you’ve made your decision, I’ll grant your wish."

Tian Guipu chuckled as if unconcerned. He turned to the bald brute, Zhou Hai, and said, "Dragon Eagle’s junior brother is eager for a lesson, so grant him his wish. Let’s see what the disciples taught by Dragon Eagle are really made of."

Zhou Hai accepted the order and strode forward.

He had just been so frightened by Wan Ze’s glare that his legs had gone weak; now his heart was filled with shame and indignation.

In that instant, this shame and indignation transformed into a violent killing intent, making his movements even more vicious than usual.

As he charged, he roared, "Zhou Hai of Divine Martial! I’ve come to test you!"

Wan Ze remained standing where he was, not even assuming a defensive posture. He just calmly watched the charging Zhou Hai and said coolly, "Then please, don’t hold anything back."

To Zhou Hai’s ears, these words were like adding fuel to the fire.

He flew into a rage out of sheer humiliation, his footsteps quickening as he shot toward Wan Ze in just a few strides.

Zhou Hai feinted with his left hand while his right formed a hook, like an eagle’s claw. His fingertips were thick and deformed from years of practicing External Martial Arts, his knuckles protruding sharply.

This claw attack was exceptionally fierce, aimed straight at the pulse point on Wan Ze’s wrist.

If this strike landed, it could cripple his hand.

When the Eagle Claw Skill was practiced to a high level, a mere clench of the five fingers could shatter bricks and stones, let alone the bones of a human wrist.

But Wan Ze didn’t even bat an eyelid.

He casually raised his right fist and, keeping it close to his body’s centerline, punched straight out.