To annihilate the Gao Family in one fell swoop, Chen Sheng wasted no time. He knew that speed was paramount in war and understood he must uproot them completely before the Gao Family could react, leaving no loose ends.

After purging the Military Preparation Camp, Chen Sheng immediately led five hundred elite soldiers and, with lightning speed, surrounded the entire Gao Mansion, sealing it off completely.

Without any warning, he ordered a direct assault on the gates of the Gao Mansion.

This was no Jianghu feud, but a thunderous reckoning!

As it turned out, Chen Sheng’s decision was extremely wise.

Because he had blocked all news in advance, the Gao Family was completely unaware of the impending disaster and had made no effective preparations. Before the well-trained government soldiers, the family’s guards were like mantises trying to stop a chariot—their defensive lines were torn apart in an instant.

As a Noble Family that had been in Changshan County for a hundred years, the Gao Family’s foundation was indeed extraordinary.

However, facing an encirclement by a regular army, these Jianghu Martial Artists were ultimately unable to resist. The government soldiers advanced in tight battle formations, their long spears like a forest and their arrows like a plague of locusts. They were an unstoppable force, destroying everything in their path.

That was why Chen Sheng was able to lead his elites straight to the heart of the enemy, killing his way to the outside of the Gao Family’s main hall before they could fully react.

At this moment, following the brutal death of Gao Qicheng, the atmosphere in the main hall seemed to freeze. All the Gao Family elders’ faces were ashen, their eyes unable to conceal their seething hatred and killing intent.

Chen Sheng’s indifferent gaze swept over the members of the Gao Family one by one, finally settling on Gao Yuanhe.

"’You dare?’ I told you last time. The ’Sheng’ in my name is the ’sheng’ in ’brash and overbearing.’ There’s nothing in this world I dare not do."

The moment the words left his mouth, Chen Sheng raised his hand and clamped it on the back of Gao Qinian’s neck. In front of every member of the Gao Family, he exerted his strength without the slightest hesitation.

SNAP.

The crisp sound of breaking bone echoed through the main hall, heard clearly by every member of the Gao Family.

Gao Qinian’s struggling body instantly went limp, his head lolling powerlessly. His eyes, once full of arrogance, now held only the stillness of death.

"You’re courting death!"

Gao Yuanhe’s fury completely erupted. His entire body surged with True Qi as he prepared to rush forward and fight Chen Sheng to the death. However, a Black Wood Walking Stick promptly blocked his path.

The Fourth Grand-Uncle of the Gao Family slowly stepped forward, his aged face filled with gravity.

"Commander Chen."

The Gao Grand-Uncle’s face was grim. "Today, you led soldiers to attack my Gao Mansion and slaughtered the innocent. Do you have concrete evidence of a crime? Or has the Government Office become so arrogant that it can massacre common people at will?"

"Evidence?"

Chen Sheng sneered. "Are you not aware of the crimes your Gao Family has committed? Colluding with water bandits, harming the common people, consorting with traitors—which of these is not a capital offense? Any single one is enough to have the entire Gao Family executed!"

"If you have evidence, why not show it to the public? Otherwise, how can you convince the people of Changshan County?"

"Enough."

Chen Sheng cut him off with a soft chuckle. "It’s come to this, and you’re still trying to stall for time? I won’t give you that chance. Besides, even if you wait, no reinforcements are coming for you."

"Furthermore, I am now the Grand Commander of the Military Preparation Camp. If I say the Gao Family is guilty, then the Gao Family is guilty!"

As Chen Sheng’s voice fell, the row of crossbowmen behind him drew their bowstrings in unison. The sharp arrowheads glinted with a deadly light in the sun, firmly locked on the Gao Family members in the hall.

"What a pity..."

The Gao Grand-Uncle’s eyes narrowed, a hint of regret in them. "Our two families should have coexisted in peace..."

’If only we hadn’t dealt Chen Xingzhou a fatal blow back then, perhaps this enmity would never have been forged, and this disaster would not have come. But alas, there are no ’if onlys’ in this world.’

"Save it for the Underworld."

Chen Sheng snorted coldly and raised his hand.

"Fire!"

In an instant, dozens of sharp arrows tore through the air, whistling shrilly as they flew toward the Gao Family members inside the hall.

"Fight our way out!"

Almost at the same time, the Gao Grand-Uncle let out a furious roar. Fierce Qi erupted madly from his body, his white hair and beard flying wildly in the surging True Qi. Like a cannonball fired from its barrel, he shot forward.

He displayed astonishing strength, completely ignoring the incoming volley of arrows. He blocked them all with just his external Protective Fierce Qi. Unless Chen Sheng used a Breaking Gang Crossbow, ordinary arrows could hardly penetrate such a defense.

The Black Wood Walking Stick in his hand transformed into a black shadow, stabbing straight for Chen Sheng’s heart.

At this moment, the old man who had led the Gao Family for decades was putting everything on the line, wringing out the last dregs of his depleted Blood Qi and Inner Breath in exchange for a single fatal blow against Chen Sheng.

He believed that if he could kill Chen Sheng on the spot, the disciples of the Gao Family might still have a chance at survival.

Otherwise, today would be the day the entire Gao Family was annihilated.

The Gao Grand-Uncle’s judgment was indeed accurate. Given the authority Chen Sheng had only just established, if he were truly killed in action on the spot, the Military Preparation Camp would surely descend into the chaos of being a dragon without a head.

However, he had miscalculated one thing—Chen Sheng’s true strength.

Faced with this do-or-die attack, Chen Sheng did not retreat. Instead, he advanced to meet the challenge head-on.

’Before breaking through to the Marrow Transformation Realm, I might have had to evade such a sharp attack. But now, with my Cultivation greatly improved, if I don’t even dare to face a declining old man head-on, wouldn’t my breakthrough have been for nothing?’

BOOM!

Chen Sheng took a step forward. Fierce Qi surged wildly around him, and torrential Blood Qi rushed endlessly through his body. Even more shockingly, the skin visible beyond his robes instantly took on a dark golden luster, as if forged from metal.

CLANG!

Driven by the powerful Fierce Qi, the Cold-Intimidating Blade let out a clear, sonorous hum.

Only now was Chen Sheng truly displaying a portion of this Treasure Soldier’s might.

With a single slash, the blade’s light condensed as if it were solid. The overflowing Force empowering the blade extended a full two inches from its edge as it crashed thunderously against the Gao Grand-Uncle’s oncoming walking stick.

BANG!

The two powerful streams of Fierce Qi collided violently, creating a deafening roar. But surprisingly, the Black Wood Walking Stick that had accompanied the old man for decades snapped the instant it touched the blade’s light.

"Marrow Transformation!"

The Gao Grand-Uncle’s heart pounded in shock, his eyes filled with horror. He never imagined that Chen Sheng had already broken through to the Marrow Transformation Realm! ’How is this possible?’

But this was clearly not the time to dwell on such things. The moment the walking stick broke, the old man immediately changed his move, spinning to retreat. However, Chen Sheng was faster, closing the distance in the instant the old man turned.

A violent Fierce Qi gathered on Chen Sheng’s fist. He threw a punch straight at the old man’s chest. The blow was unstoppable, heavy as a mountain, and it instantly shattered the old man’s Protective Fierce Qi.

HACK!

The Gao Grand-Uncle was sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string. The horror in his eyes had yet to fade as blood sprayed violently from his mouth.

"Grand-Uncle!"

Seeing this, Gao Yuanhe’s eyes nearly split from rage. He was about to rush forward to help when he saw Chen Sheng move again.

A flash of the blade, as swift as a fleeting shadow.

The Gao Grand-Uncle, still in mid-air, was sliced in half by the blow. Blood rained down, dyeing the green flagstones before the main hall a deep crimson.

The old man who had led the Gao Family for decades died on the spot, without even a chance to leave behind any last words.

Chen Sheng landed steadily. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the beads of blood sliding smoothly off his blade. He glanced impassively at the mutilated corpse on the ground, his expression unchanged.

Before his blade, there was no distinction between old and young.

All who are enemies must be slain!

————