Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 165: Chapter 128: He Has Come, Like a God

’I never would have thought...’

’This guy has it so rough. To think he was captured by the Secret Palace again, and even turned into... a test subject???’

Wan Ze frowned.

Just then, Copper Mountain bowled over several guards in pursuit. His massive body, like an out-of-control bulldozer, tried to draw the chase away.

But he had only charged a dozen or so meters...

”BANG!”

A figure slammed into him from the side.

It was Black Panther.

The man with the perpetually cold expression.

He attacked personally, his movements clean and efficient, as if he’d killed many people.

Copper Mountain tried to defend himself but was no match. A single strike from the man sent him flying like a cannonball, smashing through the wall and tumbling into the adjacent workshop.

Instantly, bricks and masonry collapsed as dust and smoke billowed up.

But Black Panther didn’t immediately follow to finish him off.

Instead, he stood his ground, his gaze sweeping over the spot where Copper Mountain had just been, a slight frown on his face.

’He didn’t understand... The man could have clearly broken through just now. Why did he suddenly fall back?’

Black Panther felt that something wasn’t right.

But as his eyes scanned the area, the corridor was empty, save for the fallen guards and the billowing dust.

There was nothing unusual.

...

In reality, however...

Behind the shipping container... out of Black Panther’s line of sight.

Wan Ze and Zhai Jia were pressed flat against the container’s Iron Hide, holding their breath.

Black Panther’s gaze swept past their hiding spot without lingering.

Zhai Jia spoke in a near-whisper, his expression one of surprise. ”What’s going on? I get the feeling that unlucky bastard the Secret Palace is cornering... is deliberately drawing their attention for us.”

Wan Ze did not answer.

He was silent for two seconds, then turned his head to look at Zhai Jia.

His gaze held no hesitation, no explanation.

It contained only a single sentence: ”Brother Jia, I think... I need you to do me a favor.”

Zhai Jia froze.

Looking at Wan Ze’s eyes, he seemed to understand something.

No follow-up questions, no nonsense.

He simply gave a solemn nod.

Everything was understood without a word.

...

Copper Mountain let out a roar.

The sound was no longer human.

It was a sound ground out from the depths of his chest, carrying with it a hint of frenzy.

In that instant, his entire demeanor changed. His eyes turned bloodshot, veins bulged on his cheeks, and his whole body seemed to steam with vital energy, visible even through his clothes.

Divinity Transformation!!!

But right now, Copper Mountain didn’t give a damn what state he was in.

He stomped his feet hard on the ground, shattering the floor tiles. He became a raging tiger, tearing through the air as he charged straight at Black Panther!

Black Panther was expressionless.

He raised a hand.

His palm met Copper Mountain’s charging shoulder.

”THUD!!!”

A muffled impact exploded outwards.

The tiles under Black Panther’s feet exploded. His body slid back uncontrollably. One step... then two.

’Two steps?’

Black Panther halted his retreat.

He had stopped Copper Mountain’s bull-like charge dead in its tracks with a single hand.

But he felt no relief.

Instead, he looked down at his feet, then looked up at Copper Mountain before him.

He was stunned for a moment.

The stunned expression lasted only for a split second, but it was there.

Then, he smiled.

It was a light smile, as if he had seen something interesting.

But it was also very cold.

”Somewhat interesting.”

The moment the words left his lips, Black Panther moved.

The hand he’d extended remained on Copper Mountain’s shoulder. Instead of pulling back, he pressed down, simultaneously snapping his knee up in a strike aimed straight for Copper Mountain’s gut!

Copper Mountain sucked in his gut and retreated quickly, but the palm was stuck to his shoulder, following his every move.

Fortunately, he dodged the knee strike.

The missed knee strike didn’t faze Black Panther. He followed the motion, twisting at the waist as his other hand shot out from an impossible angle with shocking speed.

A palm strike landed on the side of Copper Mountain’s head.

”SMACK!”

Copper Mountain’s vision went black. His ears rang as he staggered back two steps.

Before he could regain his footing, Black Panther’s second attack was already upon him.

He pressed in close, getting right inside Copper Mountain’s guard.

He struck with his shoulder, elbow, and knee all at once.

The three blows landed almost simultaneously on Copper Mountain’s chest, ribs, and outer thigh.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The three dull thuds blended into a single sound.

Copper Mountain sprayed a mouthful of blood and staggered backward.

This time, Black Panther gave him no chance to fall. He shot out a hand, grabbed Copper Mountain’s arm before he could retract it, and yanked him forward. At the same time, his other hand balled into a fist and smashed directly into Copper Mountain’s chest.

”PTHOO!!!”

Copper Mountain’s entire back arched. His eyes bulged, and blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and his nostrils simultaneously.

His body lifted off the ground. Like a top sent flying, he spun half a circle in mid-air before crashing into the laboratory wall over ten meters away.

BOOM!

Half the wall collapsed.

Rubble and broken bricks rained down on Copper Mountain’s body, throwing up a cloud of dust.

Black Panther stood where he was, not even a corner of his clothing out of place.

He merely glanced down at his hand, then at Copper Mountain struggling to rise from the rubble, his expression unchanged.

”Who were you warning just now?”

His tone was casual, as if he were asking what was for dinner.

Copper Mountain pushed himself halfway up, his mouth filled with bloody foam as he gasped for air.

He didn’t answer the idiotic question. He just raised his head and stared daggers at Black Panther.

Black Panther took a step forward.

”I’m asking you...”

He repeated himself, his tone still casual, ”Just now, who were you talking to?”

Copper Mountain was silent.

Bracing himself on the rubble, he slowly stood up, blood trickling down from his forehead, smearing half his face.

His right hand hung limp at his side, pierced through by a piece of rebar. The sharp tip protruded from his palm, and beads of blood dripped down the steel rod.

He glanced down at it.

Then, his left hand grabbed one end of the rebar and pulled hard.

”SHHHNK—”

Blood spurted out.