Chapter 9: The Grandmaster Appears

"Heavy crossbows!" Wang Yu’s expression darkened as he assessed the situation outside the tent.

In the Apocalypse Continent, martial artists were not exactly ubiquitous, but they were a significant segment of the population. Consequently, the regulation of weaponry was relatively lax. As a martial artist, one could walk through the city streets with swords, spears, or halberds without drawing much notice.

However, such leniency applied only to common weapons. Bows and crossbows were strictly controlled items, especially heavy crossbows. Even the hundred Black Cavalry under Wang Yu’s command were equipped with standard crossbows, not the heavy variety.

To be able to procure so many heavy crossbows and mobilize such a well-drilled elite force spoke volumes about the resources and influence of the mastermind behind this. At that moment, Wang Yu’s curiosity about the person pulling the strings intensified.

Moreover, it wasn't just the heavy crossbows; the soldiers were clad in iron armor—equipment far beyond the reach of any ordinary military unit.

The appearance of this force led Wang Yu to conclude that this assassination attempt was likely not internal to his own family. He was currently in Hebei Province, not Yanbei. Even within his own clan, very few possessed the power to muster such a force in this region. Furthermore, if he were assassinated, those individuals would gain nothing; the position of family head was not theirs to inherit. Since there was no benefit, they would not risk the catastrophic consequences—should the plot be exposed, their entire branch of the family would be implicated.

Wang Yu surmised that if it wasn't his own family or some foreign power, the culprit must be a high-ranking figure in the capital—his final destination. Yet, he could not fathom why he would have provoked such a person, or perhaps the attack was aimed at his family as a whole.

"Advance!" The leader of the three hundred armored soldiers rode a magnificent warhorse. A faint, reddish glow emanated from his body—a sign that a martial artist’s vitality had reached a certain threshold. While his internal cultivation was unknown, this aura confirmed his external mastery had reached the Heaven Realm.

If a martial artist’s aura turned entirely blood-red and could envelop their entire body, it signified they had reached the God Realm. At that stage, one could coat their weapons in this aura, vastly increasing the lethality of every strike.

"Master Tong, I fear Zilong alone may not be a match for this man," Wang Yu said, turning to Tong Yuan.

"Young Master, allow this old man to test his mettle!" Tong Yuan bowed, grasped his spear, and strode out of the tent. Since Zhao Yun was his disciple, Tong Yuan was even more anxious about his safety than Wang Yu.

"System, display his attributes!"

"Ding! Zheng Zhen: Command 62, Might 101, Intelligence 58, Politics 52, Charisma 60."

"Interesting. It seems the main course has finally begun," Wang Yu remarked with a wry smile, watching the scene unfold outside. With Zhao Yun and Tong Yuan present, this Heaven Realm initiate would not be able to stir up much trouble.

However, Wang Yu was not naive enough to think this was the end of it. A Heaven Realm expert, especially one not at the peak of the realm, was hardly worth the reward of a God-tier summon.

Outside, a fierce melee had erupted. Tong Yuan engaged the Heaven Realm general, while Zhao Yun led the remaining Black Cavalry against the attacking soldiers. Though Zhao Yun’s potential surpassed that of the enemy general, he was young and struggled against such an experienced foe. Even Tong Yuan, with his mid-stage Grandmaster cultivation, could not defeat his opponent in a single stroke.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

As the battle intensified, three shadows suddenly darted forth, aiming directly for Wang Yu’s tent. Tong Yuan noticed them instantly. Each of their auras was at least equal to his, and one was even stronger. It appeared that two were mid-stage Grandmasters, while the third was at least a late-stage or peak Grandmaster.

Alarmed, Tong Yuan attempted to intercept them, desperate to buy Wang Yu time to escape. But the general, Zheng Zhen, was relentless, pinning him down and refusing to let him disengage.

Though Tong Yuan could not reach them, another dark figure suddenly blocked the entrance to the tent.

"Who dares to attack the son of General Zhendong!" The man, in his early forties, stood his ground, his expression vigilant as he shouted.

"Ding! Chen Zishu: Command 48, Might (Late-stage Grandmaster), Intelligence 62, Politics 58, Charisma 65.
Chen Zili: Command 52, Might (Mid-stage Grandmaster), Intelligence 60, Politics 60, Charisma 72.
Chen Ziyi: Command 50, Might (Mid-stage Grandmaster), Intelligence 60, Politics 52, Charisma 78.
Wang Tong: Command 78, Might (Mid-stage Grandmaster), Intelligence 65, Politics 62, Charisma 72."

The system, seemingly having learned its lesson, proactively reported the attributes. Wang Yu was not surprised by the appearance of Wang Tong. Though it had not been formally declared, he was the heir-apparent. With him traveling abroad, the family would naturally have hidden guards protecting him.

"Old man, since you seek death by blocking our path, the three of us will kill you first. You can keep that little brat company on the road to the underworld!" Chen Zishu sneered.

They had reached the rank of Grandmaster; they were not fools. They had done their research. While the Zhendong General’s mansion was a terrifying name, the person who had hired them was someone they feared even more.