Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 412: Chapter 398: Want to Run Now? Too Late!

The figures of five people clashed and intertwined under the setting sun, Yang Zhenshan concentrated his mind, focusing solely on countering every single attack from his four enemies.

The battle grew increasingly fierce, and Yang Zhenshan’s situation became ever more perilous.

Yet Yang Zhenshan showed no sign of fleeing; instead, he continuously searched for opportunities to counterattack amidst his defense.

Amidst the flashes of swords and shadows of blades, he was like a small boat in a storm, tossed about by the surging tides.

The attacks he faced grew increasingly domineering, stronger, more dangerous, and chillingly cold, but his heart remained utterly calm.

A long spear danced amidst the dull roar of thunder, with strands of Innate True Qi surging continuously within his body.

“Just a bit more!”

Yang Zhenshan’s hair and beard fluttered, his eyes flashing like lightning.

“Is that all you’ve got? Can’t even push me to my limits?”

He bellowed loudly.

“Arrogant!” Fu Shanhong shouted angrily, his Sword Force becoming even heavier.

With a clang, the blade heavily chopped down on the Mystical Iron Spear.

“Useless trash, that strike had no strength at all!”

Yang Zhenshan flicked his long spear, flinging Fu Shanhong aside.

In terms of strength, to put it mildly, three Fu Shanhongs wouldn’t match up to one Yang Zhenshan.

With a flick of his spear, Fu Shanhong felt a tremendous force transmit from the blade, nearly losing grip of the handle, retreating more than a dozen steps before stabilizing.

The next moment, a streak of sword light slashed diagonally from below Yang Zhenshan, thrusting past his chest towards his throat, forcing Yang Zhenshan to retract and retreat just in time to narrowly evade.

“This sword strike is not bad! However, it is cunning but lacks force,” Yang Zhenshan remarked.

“Your sword is too slow!”

“Heh, Heart Shattering Palm? My punch carries the weight of thousands, is your Heart Shattering Palm trying to fan me?”

Even though Yang Zhenshan’s situation was dangerous, his mouth was filled with endless mockery.

Ye Changkai and his group, listening to Yang’s words, became so enraged they almost smoked, their moves growing increasingly fierce and ruthless.

But Yang Zhenshan’s long spear was too overbearing, making it extremely difficult for them to get close.

The five exchanged moves for several breaths, yet the battle remained deadlocked.

However, Yang Zhenshan clearly felt the pressure increasing, his body’s vitality surging more vigorously.

In an instant, Yang Zhenshan felt as if all the muscles and blood in his body were trembling.

“Yes, this is the feeling!”

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes lit up, his mind involuntarily becoming excited.

His heart boiling, blood surging, muscles trembling, every inch of his body felt full of vitality at this moment.

It was as if a long-dormant machine had started operating at full power.

Why did Yang Zhenshan, knowing that many masters would attack, still brazenly head towards the Capital City?

Was it just because of his arrogant self-confidence?

Of course not!

He wasn’t masochistic enough to seek misery!

Nor would he face several experts from the worldly society just to make a name for himself!

He chose to confront these worldly society experts because he needed a thoroughly invigorating battle.

Since his cultivation had reached the Half-step Innate, he had not experienced such an invigorating battle.

Even when he faced Zhang Yu, the old eunuch at Chongshan Pass, he was merely chasing Zhang Yu without feeling any pressure.

For years, he hadn’t felt any external pressure.

Every battle left him feeling unfulfilled.

Now, he faced the threshold of the Innate Realm; he wanted to step into the Innate Realm, but felt it hard to break through with mere meditation.

He believed he needed some external pressure to push himself through the threshold of the Innate Realm.

The greater the pressure, the stronger the rebound.

Surging, impassioned, like deadwood meeting spring, brimming with vitality, flourishing, as vigorous as a dragon or tiger.

“HAHAHA~~”

Feeling the changes in his body’s functions and experiencing the vigorous vitality of that strand of Innate True Qi, Yang Zhenshan let out a hearty laugh.

His laughter echoed over the dock, above the river, mingling with the vast sky’s twilight, stirring endless heroic spirit.

“Your attacks are too weak!”

“Don’t make me look down on you!”

Yang Zhenshan again issued a challenging mockery.

“Damn it!” Fu Shanhong cursed angrily.

Ye Changkai’s expression grew solemn.

The four’s onslaught became even more fierce and urgent.

Yang Zhenshan felt the pressure growing heavier, but his spirit was blazing, as if his entire being was boiling.

Suddenly, Ye Changkai retreated, withdrawing from the fight.

He stood not far away, his expression dark and unsettled, watching Yang Zhenshan.

Seeing him withdraw from the battle, the others also stopped.

Yang Zhenshan looked surprised, “Why stop now, come on!”

“Can’t you keep up?”

Ye Changkai, looking gloomily, said, “You are using our force to condense Qi!”

Condensing Qi, meaning condensing Innate True Qi.

The breakout from Half-step Innate to the Innate Realm is essentially a process of condensing Innate True Qi and pervading it through the body’s meridians.

This process is filled with uncertainties; some people meditate deeply for over a decade, inch by inch opening their meridians, some burst through in moments of life and death crises, and some break through after a silent half-lifetime of realization.

No one can know in advance when they will breakthrough, but that doesn’t stop people from trying various methods.

Since ancient times, martial artists who chose to force themselves into desperate situations to break through to the Innate Realm are many.

Most of them failed!

The reason was simple.

It is not easy to push oneself into a desperate situation without risking losing one’s life.

Previously, Ye Changkai was uncertain of what Yang Zhenshan intended to do, but as Yang Zhenshan continued his provocative words, he finally understood.

Yang Zhenshan was using their power to seize the opportunity for a breakthrough into the Innate Realm.

Fu Shanhong, Xiang Qiaohe, and Lu Ke heard this, their facial expressions darkened, casting a cold gaze towards Yang Zhenshan.

This was simply an insult!

We jointly attacked you, and yet you use our power to sharpen your skills!

Isn’t that utterly disdainful?

Yang Zhenshan stretched his limbs, feeling the abundant power inside his body.

“Hehe, shall we continue? I feel I’m just a bit short!”

Ye Changkai’s face became extremely solemn as he looked deeply at Yang Zhenshan, “General Yang is too powerful, I am no match and must bid farewell now!”

What a joke!

The recent battle had already proven that not even the four of them together could defeat Yang Zhenshan.

To continue staying here would mean only humiliation and exploitation by Yang Zhenshan, with not the slightest benefit.

Thus, Ye Changkai had already decided to leave.

He would rather not have the Jade Dew Spirit Peach than help Yang Zhenshan cross the threshold into the Innate Realm.

Hearing this, Yang Zhenshan’s eyes suddenly turned cold, and a terrifying murderous aura erupted from him.

“Come as you wish, leave as you please; who do you think I am?”

“Should you drive me away today, tomorrow I shall annihilate your entire clan!”

“Do not question my intent to kill; I’ve slain more people than you can count!”

A terrifying killing intent shrouded everyone’s hearts palpably.

Thinking of leaving now?

It’s too late!

Did you think Yang Zhenshan had no temper?

You think you can try to kill me and simply leave when you fail?

Where on earth do you get such a good deal?

“Today, you only have two choices, either fight to the death with me, or wait for the day I come knocking to annihilate your clan!” Yang Zhenshan’s voice boomed like thunder, striking deeply into everyone’s heart.

Ye Changkai and the others trembled, looking at Yang Zhenshan with pale faces.

Suddenly, they realized that this General Yang in front of them seemed to have turned into a brutal beast.

All this time, they seemed to have overlooked one thing.

Yang Zhenshan was not an entity to be slaughtered at will, but a battlefield slaughterer who had killed countless.

Since they had provoked Yang Zhenshan, it was not up to them when this matter would end.

“General Yang, why must you press this so bitterly?” said Ye Changkai in a deep voice.

Yang Zhenshan displayed a cold smile, raised his spear, and directly pointed it at Ye Changkai, “Old fool, today it’s either you die or I perish; there’s no other choice!”

As his words fell, he leapt up, pouncing towards Ye Changkai like a fierce beast.

Ye Changkai and the others, left with no choice, could only passively engage in combat.

Soon, the battle was joined once more.

However, the dynamics of the battle had imperceptibly changed.

The initially offense-heavy Yang Zhenshan became increasingly ferocious, his spear swirling with Jin Qi roaring like thunder.

The thundering roars were as if actual thunder resounded through heaven and earth.

At this moment, it seemed as if the Kui Niu Skill inside his body had turned into real thunder.

Suddenly.

A thunderous sound exploded, and the sharp spear tip, like lightning, pierced through Fu Shanhong’s chest.

Blood sprayed, staining the spear red.

Fu Shanhong, unwilling, watched the bursting blood, his face turning pale.

With a puff, Yang Zhenshan, with a cold expression, pulled out the spear, and with a kick, sent the critically injured Fu Shanhong flying.

Seeing this, Lu Ke’s pupils shrank sharply.

Without thinking, he retreated trying to escape the battlefield.

“Thinking of running now? Too late!”

The Golden Ringed Saber, previously belonging to Fu Shanhong but now held by Yang Zhenshan, flew from Yang’s hands and directly embedded itself into Lu Ke’s back.

The situation changed too quickly, and in the blink of an eye, Fu Shanhong and Lu Ke were critically injured, breathing more in than out.

Only Ye Changkai and Xiang Qiaohe were left in the battlefield.

The two exchanged glances, knowing fully well that they were no match for Yang Zhenshan, and their will to fight completely dissipated, replaced only with the intent to flee in panic.

Without a word, they turned and ran in different directions.

But Yang Zhenshan would not let them escape.

By now, Yang Zhenshan was entirely determined to eradicate them completely.

His Mystical Iron Spear transformed into thunder, piercing through Ye Changkai’s body.

Moving rapidly, Yang Zhenshan appeared behind Xiang Qiaohe, his clenched fist carrying a whistling Jin Qi thundering out.

Boom~~

Xiang Qiaohe turned to block, fist and palm collided, a crisp sound of bones breaking echoed, and Xiang Qiaohe screamed, heavily crashing into the muddy riverbank.

Yang Zhenshan steadied himself, his eyes electric, his hair flying, standing on the mud, he approached Xiang Qiaohe.

“You can’t kill me!” Xiang Qiaohe screamed in terror.

“Idiot!” said Yang Zhenshan blandly, then stepped onto Xiang Qiaohe’s chest.

The fierce force, along with the gray boots, heavily landed on Xiang Qiaohe’s body, a cracking sound ensued as ribs broke and the breastbone caved in, blood foam bubbling from Xiang Qiaohe’s mouth and nose.

The next moment, Xiang Qiaohe passed out.

Yet, Yang Zhenshan still did not stop, once more stepping on Xiang Qiaohe’s head.

The neck snapped at an odd angle, the head buried into the mud, overwhelmed by the turbid river water.

After dealing with Xiang Qiaohe, Yang Zhenshan then turned to walk towards Ye Changkai, who had been pierced by the Mystical Iron Spear.