This scene, if witnessed by ordinary people, would undoubtedly be incredibly shocking.
After all, the gap between a martial novice and a martial master was immense, like an insurmountable chasm.
Zhou Yan's current combat strength was equivalent to a second-tier martial master.
Within the entire Yunling County, he was considered to be at the pinnacle.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a branch shook, and an arrow pierced the air, shooting towards Zhou Yan.
"Hmm?"
Sensing the approaching danger, Zhou Yan frowned and quickly dodged to the side.
Swish!
The sharp arrow grazed his ear, bringing with it a chilling gust of wind.
Immediately after, hundreds of arrows, like a swarm of locusts, descended from all directions, raining down on him.
"A mere trick!"
Zhou Yan sneered, leaped up, and soared onto a towering ancient tree.
"Hmm?"
Soon, a surprised voice echoed from the treetop, clearly someone had spotted him.
"Kid, where do you think you're going!"
Following that, a figure soared into the air, stepping on branches as they moved rapidly closer.
"Hmph!"
Zhou Yan let out a cold snort, killing intent flashing in his eyes. His body flickered, and he charged towards the approaching person.
"Hmm?"
The other party was stunned, not expecting Zhou Yan to charge instead of flee. He was overjoyed and burst into laughter, "This guy is actually attacking to his own death?"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Yan closed in, his iron fist like a cannonball, launching a fierce blow.
Bang!
The martial novice was caught off guard and took the full force of the punch. He was sent flying back like a sandbag, crashing into the tree trunk, spitting blood and his face turning deathly pale.
"You... you're not a fourth-level martial novice?"
The martial novice struggled to lift his head, his eyes filled with despair.
"What? Fourth-level martial novice?"
Hearing their conversation, the nearby martial novices were terrified, their hearts trembling, and their faces turned ashen.
A fourth-level martial novice. Such immense strength was beyond their wildest imagination.
"Hmph!"
Zhou Yan snorted dismissively, sweeping his gaze over them with disdain. "You are nothing but ants, daring to block my path. Truly seeking your own demise!"
"Don't... don't kill me! I'll be your ox and horse..."
"Spare my life!"
"It has nothing to do with me, it was the Li family who sent us to guard the mine..."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan's brows furrowed.
The Li family!?
No wonder these people were blocking his way. They were servants of the Li family.
However, Zhou Yan showed no mercy, stating indifferently, "Dogs of the Li family, you still dare to bark?"
"Heh heh, this is not the Li family's territory, but Blackwater Village!"
"If you know what's good for you, hand over your wealth obediently, otherwise, you'll wish you were dead, but you can't be!"
As he spoke, his words were bone-chilling, sinister, and filled with malice.
"Blackwater Village?"
Zhou Yan's gaze was cold, a mocking smile on his lips. He said indifferently, "You, with your capabilities, dare to occupy Blackwater Mountain?"
Blackwater Mountain was one of the three peaks outside Dongyue City. Although it was remote and its resources were meager, it was, after all, a place with some renown outside Dongyue City.
Furthermore, the stronghold of Blackwater Village was in Blackwater Pool. Normally, these bandits would plunder, burn, kill, and rob, being ferocious and brutal.
Zhou Yan had always disdained such local bullies, which was why he had dispatched one of them with a single punch.
"Heh heh, brat, I know you're powerful, but don't forget, this is Blackwater Village."
The martial novice grinned sinisterly and said in a chilling tone, "As long as you dare to enter Blackwater Village, you'll surely die!"
As his words fell, the other martial novices also let out sinister chuckles.
"Oh? If that's the case, I'd like to try!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan was not only unafraid but instead showed great interest.
Buzz!
The next moment, Zhou Yan's body trembled, his bones crackling. A vast pressure emanated, engulfing the surroundings.
At this moment, the bandits' faces contorted in fear, their legs buckled, and they involuntarily knelt on the ground, trembling.
Stomp, stomp, stomp...
In just a moment, all these martial novices had gone limp on the ground, beads of sweat covering their foreheads.
Zhou Yan stood tall and straight, like a deity, looking down upon his enemies.
"Hiss... Such powerful aura!"
"We're doomed, we've kicked an iron plate today..."
"What should we do? If we don't agree to his terms, won't we lose our lives..."
"This kid doesn't seem like an ordinary person!"
Everyone exchanged glances, filled with fear, and retreated continuously.
"Little brother, what do you want..."
One of the martial novices, gathering his courage, asked.
"What do I want..."
Zhou Yan touched his nose, a sinister arc curving on his lips. "You scums are not qualified to know!"
"Indeed!"
Suddenly, a clear voice came from afar.
Shua!
Immediately, a green robe fluttered, and a figure stepped through the air, landing in front of Zhou Yan. It was Zhang Wenjie.
"Young Master Zhang!?"
Seeing this, the martial novices' eyes lit up, as if they had found a savior.
"This young brother, this is the heir of our Zhennan Marquis's mansion, Young Master Zhang Wenjie. He's here to escort you on the Marquis's orders!"
The martial novice scrambled to Zhang Wenjie's side, bowing and scraping as he spoke.
"You are Zhang Wenjie!?"
Zhou Yan's gaze swept over Zhang Wenjie, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He had never expected Zhang Wenjie to come to Dongyue City.
"Little brother, do you know me?"
Looking at Zhou Yan, Zhang Wenjie was somewhat perplexed. In his memory, he had never met Zhou Yan before.
"Zhang Wenjie!"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's pupils contracted. He stared at Zhang Wenjie and said in a deep voice, "You are Zhang Wenjie!?"
"Uh... that's me!"
Zhang Wenjie scratched his head, looking rather confused.
"So it's you!"
Zhou Yan sneered, then his gaze shifted to the Lin family's manor not far away, and he shouted, "Where are the Lin family? Get out here and die!"
Roar!
As soon as the words left his mouth, a deep beastly roar sounded.
Following that, a giant wolf, pure white from head to toe, galloped forward.
This white giant wolf was incredibly massive, standing over ten feet tall. Its fur was glossy and lustrous, emitting a cold metallic sheen, as if cast from steel. Its sharp fangs gleamed with a ghostly light.
Most notably, the wolf's eyes were a strange scarlet, filled with bloodlust and savagery.
It raised its head and howled, its ferocious aura spreading, tearing up the ground, overturning plants, and sending碎石 flying.
"Silver Demonic Wolf!?"
Zhou Yan's eyes widened, a tempest of shock surging in his heart.
This Silver Demonic Wolf's cultivation had reached the peak of the ninth level of Body Tempering.
"Kid, I'll deal with this demonic wolf!"
Abruptly, a man in black robes spoke.
"You?"
Zhou Yan was somewhat disbelieving, chuckling coldly.
"What, you can't handle it?"
The man in black robes raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "Don't you forget, back then, when your father was being chased by the man in black, who was it that saved your father, and who avenged you!"
"If I hadn't given my all back then and killed the man in black, you probably would have died long ago..."
Hearing this, Zhou Yan's heart trembled violently. He looked at the man in black robes with a complex expression.
"Man in black?"