C18 Interception

After his engagement to Qin Xue, Yang Rui settled down in Brittlecoast. By day, he and Qin Xue enjoyed exploring the city together, and by night, he would return to the former Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters, now the Yang family's annex, to partake in medicinal baths that would enhance his strength.

As time flew by, half a month had passed in the blink of an eye. During this period, Yang Rui and Qin Xue's bond deepened significantly. They progressed from walking side by side to holding hands as they strolled, and even shared parting kisses at the County Seat. It wouldn't be long before they crossed the final threshold to become husband and wife.

Witnessing their growing closeness, Qin Ming grew restless and summoned Yang Rui to his study. "Yang Rui, Wang Peng has returned to Duskmond with his men, and I've already spoken with Mayor Wang Qi. You can safely go back to Oakenbreak Town," he advised. "You and Xue are still young, not yet of marriageable age. I intend for you two to marry when you turn eighteen. So, I hope you'll wait for two more years, and during this time, focus on improving your martial arts skills. Ideally, you should reach the level of an Innate Warrior!"

"Father-in-law, rest assured, I will certainly become an Innate Warrior within two years!" Yang Rui, with the legacy of the nine-story tower, responded confidently.

"That's the spirit! I look forward to hearing your good news," Qin Ming said, his face beaming with encouragement before he gestured for Yang Rui to leave.

After departing from Qin Ming's study, Yang Rui bid farewell to Qin Xue and returned to the Yang family's annex. Accompanied by Yang Ann and over ten Yang family guards, they left Brittlecoast and headed back towards Oakenbreak.

Some two hundred miles from Brittlecoast, amidst a verdant forest, Yang Rui and his entourage rode their horses, guiding a caravan of more than ten wagons laden with various supplies along a forest trail, slowly making their way to Oakenbreak. These wagons carried gifts from the powers of eleven small cities, including precious century-old herbal medicines and other essential resources for cultivation, all of which Yang Rui needed. Thus, he took these valuable gifts with him as he returned to Oakenbreak.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A series of sharp whistling sounds pierced the air, erupting from both sides of the narrow forest path. Arrows, gleaming with an icy chill, flew straight toward Yang Rui and his companions with lethal intent.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ah! Ah! Ah!

Amidst the sharp reports and agonized screams, the coachman and the Yang family's guards, mounted on their horses, were caught unawares. Struck by the piercing arrows, they collapsed to the ground, their cries of pain echoing through the woods.

"Enemy attack!"

"Enemy attack!"

"Enemy attack! Protect the Patriarch!"

"..."

The Yang family guards who had evaded the arrows swiftly dismounted and rushed to Yang Rui's side, shouting loudly to alert their comrades.

Just then, over ten figures clad in black, with only their eyes visible, emerged from the trees flanking the path. They raised their Shattering Bolts and aimed at Yang Rui, pulling the triggers without hesitation.

Instantly, a barrage of sharp arrows formed a dense net, hurtling toward Yang Rui as if to turn him into a porcupine.

Confronted with the relentless volley, Yang Rui had no time to retrieve the Tyrant's Halberd strapped to his warhorse. He quickly leapt off and darted aside to evade the onslaught.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Sharp arrows continued to fly, mercilessly embedding themselves into Yang Rui's warhorse, which was transformed into a porcupine-like figure in an instant. Blood sprayed as the horse fell lifelessly to the ground, becoming nothing more than a cold carcass.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Noticing Yang Rui had narrowly escaped the arrow storm by using the commotion as cover, the black-clad assailants discarded their Shattering Bolts and drew their sharp longswords. They bellowed fiercely, channeling their internal energy into the blades and slashing ferociously at Yang Rui.

In an instant, a series of lethal sword glows burst forth from the longswords, aiming to cut Yang Rui down.

"Twelve first-rate warriors, quite the grand gesture!" Yang Rui exclaimed, his eyes blazing with ferocity as he faced the onslaught. With a chilling shout, he swiftly drew the Tyrant's Halberd from his fallen horse and executed the Tyrant's Halberd Technique, shattering the deadly sword glows that were aimed at him.

Immediately, Yang Rui sprang into action, unleashing the Gale Steps and charging toward the assailants like a swift wind.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

As Yang Rui advanced, the twelve black-clad men let out furious roars, channeling their internal energy and brandishing their sharp longswords, ready to confront him head-on.

When they were mere meters away, the men split up, wielding their longswords and lunging at Yang Rui from three different directions.

Given their status as first-rate warriors, their longswords, empowered by their internal force, could easily pierce through Yang Rui's body and kill him instantly.

"Tyrant's Halberd Technique!"

Unfazed by the vicious onslaught, Yang Rui called out as he activated the Ninefold Body Forging Technique. His muscles swelled, and a surge of power erupted within him. The Tyrant's Halberd in his grasp gleamed menacingly as he swept it toward his attackers with the speed of lightning.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of metal clashing rang out as the longswords of the twelve assailants were struck by the Tyrant's Halberd, snapping in half.

Then, with a flurry of afterimages, Yang Rui's Tyrant's Halberd sliced through the necks of the twelve men, decapitating them in a spray of blood, leaving behind a dozen headless bodies.

At that moment, a sword light imbued with immense power fell from the sky, crackling with brilliant lightning, and sliced through the air toward Yang Rui's head.

"Shatter!"

Yang Rui's face tensed as he witnessed the descending blade of lightning. With a thunderous roar, he swung the Tyrant's Halberd, unleashing its formidable force to obliterate the lightning sword light, reducing it to mere sparks that vanished into thin air.

"Wang Lei!"

Having vanquished the lightning sword light, Yang Rui gazed at the figure hovering above, a lightning longsword in hand, and bellowed with a fierce glint in his eyes.

Having mastered the thunder element inner force and achieved the status of a peerless warrior, Wang Lei was the only one with a grudge against Yang Rui. Thus, it was clear that the man clad in black before him was none other than Wang Lei.

"Yang Rui, the humiliation you once inflicted upon me will be paid for with your blood and life! Thunder Sword Technique!"

With his identity revealed, Wang Lei let out a cold snort. A glint of icy light flashed in his eyes as he summoned the thunderous power within him. Brandishing his lightning-infused longsword, he unleashed streams of electrifying sword energy at Yang Rui.

Aware of Yang Rui's formidable physical strength and his own incomparable power, Wang Lei took to the skies, wielding the Thunder Sword Technique. He prepared to launch a barrage of ranged attacks, aiming to gradually wear Yang Rui down until his demise.