I Can Strengthen Everything

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Exterminating Bandits

After reading through the document, Fang Xing felt a weight in his heart.

"Just remember this information. Don’t tell anyone else," Shen Ye said, looking at him.

Fang Xing nodded.

Shen Ye then rose, walked over to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Fang Xing snapped back to reality as Shen Ye rested a hand on his shoulder, probing it carefully.

"Peak of Dark Force... Your strength has improved quite quickly."

A flicker of surprise showed in Shen Ye’s eyes.

Fang Xing’s heart tensed, but his expression remained unchanged. "You praise me too much, my lord. I have only been cultivating diligently."

Shen Ye lowered his hand and stood with his arms at his sides. "To reach the Peak of Dark Force so quickly, you must have worked very hard. Unfortunately, your Root Bone is rather poor—only a Lower Grade Root Bone. I’m afraid your chances of breaking through to the Neutralizing Force realm are slim."

Fang Xing was silent.

’Poor Root Bone...’

’This is my weakness, but it doesn’t affect me much.’

’A Lower Grade Root Bone might be a huge problem for others, but for me, it’s not the be-all and end-all.’

’With my exceptional Comprehension and sufficient resources, I’m confident I can leap over this Dragon Gate, even with a poor Root Bone.’

"Going from the Early Stage of Dark Force to the Peak of Dark Force in a single month with a Lower Grade Root Bone? Are you sure you didn’t misjudge?"

Just then, Baili Yanran spoke up from the side, her tone curious.

"You can come and feel for yourself." Shen Ye glanced at her.

Baili Yanran pursed her lips and said no more.

Shen Ye looked at Fang Xing. "Go and give the notice. Change into your Official Uniforms and gather outside the city in an hour."

Fang Xing nodded and then left the Inner Hall.

Watching Fang Xing’s departing figure, Shen Ye sighed. "What a shame. Such a promising talent, yet he has a Lower Grade Root Bone."

Hearing Shen Ye’s sigh, Baili Yanran blinked. "What, have you taken a liking to him?"

Shen Ye nodded. "I had the thought, but forget it for now. If he joins the Observatory, it will be very difficult for him to achieve anything great with that Root Bone." ƒreewebɳovel.com

Baili Yanran smiled. "Root Bone is only thirty percent of the equation; it’s not everything. Have you forgotten? Our very own Commander started with a Lower Grade Root Bone. And what of it? The Commander’s power is something you and I can only gaze up at in awe."

Hearing this, Shen Ye fell silent. After a long moment, he finally said, "Someone like the Commander is a rare exception, after all."

"What if he’s one of those rare exceptions?" Baili Yanran blinked.

Shen Ye’s gaze flickered as he looked at Baili Yanran. "Are you suggesting I should take him in?"

Baili Yanran had a calm expression. "I didn’t say that. If you want to recruit him, then recruit him."

"But he’s only at the Dark Force Cultivation level, which is a bit lacking. If he can reach Neutralizing Force, then I’ll give him a chance."

"You’ve really got it all figured out, haven’t you?" Baili Yanran rolled her eyes.

"If he can enter the Neutralizing Force Realm, it will prove he has high Comprehension. This is also a test."

Shen Ye had a nonchalant expression.

"Tch~"

"Easy for you to say." Baili Yanran looked disdainful.

Shen Ye: "..."

「County Yamen, General Guard Room.」

After Fang Xing issued the order, a group of Constables soon arrived in the guard room.

The four Constables and four Deputy Constables, plus the other Constables who were Bright Force Martial Artists.

Eighteen people in total.

Including him, nineteen people in total!

"Lord Fang, why the hurry? What’s going on?" one of the Constables couldn’t help but ask.

"Bandit extermination," Fang Xing said flatly.

Huh?

Bandit extermination?!

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Why the sudden order to exterminate bandits?

"Lord Fang, why the sudden mission to exterminate bandits?" Yang Bo asked.

"Do you have a problem with it?" Fang Xing looked at Yang Bo, his expression calm.

Yang Bo immediately lowered his head. "I wouldn’t dare. I just find it a bit strange."

Fang Xing swept his gaze over them. "These are orders from above. You will all go with me. The others are not required."

Hearing this, the men exchanged glances. Although they were confused, they didn’t overthink it. With Lord Fang personally leading the team, and with this lineup, exterminating bandits shouldn’t be a big problem.

"Go back, change your clothes, grab your weapons, and then gather outside the city," Fang Xing ordered.

"Yes, sir." The men nodded and then left the General Guard Room.

Fang Xing also left the County Yamen, went home, and changed into a set of Profound Black Martial Attire.

Then he headed out of the city.

...

He arrived outside the city, and before long, Xu Zhengxiong and his group arrived as well, gathering together.

"Lord Fang, did this order come from the Observatory?" Chen Shan looked at him, a little curious.

Fang Xing nodded lightly.

Seeing this, everyone was inwardly shaken.

’An order from the Observatory... This probably isn’t a simple bandit extermination mission.’

’There must be something more to this.’

But even if there was something fishy, they had to obey the orders from above.

The Observatory had the authority to mobilize anyone. If necessary, not just them, but even the County Magistrate and the County Town’s garrison would have to obey.

"They’re here."

Just as Fang Xing and the others were waiting, two figures soon appeared in the distance.

Everyone’s gaze shifted toward them.

They were recognized at a glance.

However, behind the two of them was a donkey cart carrying some goods.

Soon, Shen Ye and Baili Yanran arrived before the group.

After sweeping his gaze over everyone, Shen Ye spoke directly:

"Let’s move out."

Shen Ye gave the order and immediately started walking off into the distance. Seeing this, the others quickly followed.

The group of more than twenty people quickly disappeared.

...

At 1:30 PM, Fang Xing and his group arrived at their destination.

In the distance, a mountaintop came into view.

This mountaintop was the hiding place of the Black Wolf Stronghold.

The mountain was steep and well-hidden!

The Black Wolf Stronghold’s main camp, a fortified village, was built on the mountain.

The group arrived.

Shen Ye arranged for some people to guard several key positions, then led the rest directly up the mountain.

The mountain path was rugged and difficult, but for them, this wasn’t a problem.

Everyone who came was a Bright Force Martial Artist, so such a rugged mountain path had little effect on them.

They didn’t try to hide their movements. Halfway up the mountain, a sound suddenly came from the woods.

It sounded like the call of a partridge.

WHOOSH—!

However, just as the call sounded, a sound of something tearing through the air shot into the dense forest.

THUD!

A small, thin figure fell from a tree, blood trickling from between its eyebrows.

A sharp stone was embedded in its brain.

The one who had acted was Fang Xing.

At the Dark Force Cultivation level, one could kill with a plucked leaf or a thrown flower.

A single pebble became a Flying Locust Stone, capable of killing an ordinary person with ease.

"Quite perceptive." At his side, Shen Ye smiled in satisfaction.

"You praise me too much, my lord," Fang Xing said politely.

Shen Ye smiled, then his figure suddenly accelerated. Baili Yanran also picked up her pace. Seeing this, the others immediately sped up to follow.

They continued onward, taking out a few more bandit lookouts along the way.

The group arrived outside the stronghold’s walls.

On the ten-foot-high stockade walls, bandits with bows and arrows watched them warily.

"Mighty heroes, why have you come here?" a voice called out from the wall.

"Too much talk," Baili Yanran grumbled. As soon as she spoke, her figure vanished from her spot.

Like a bird, she soared into the air.

FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH!!!

Seeing this, the bandits frantically shot their arrows, which pierced through the air.

But as the arrows neared her, they were blocked by a wave of Power and fell to the ground.

"Protective Force!"

Watching this, Fang Xing’s pupils contracted.

’The signature defensive technique of a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist.’

’A layer of Power envelops the body All Around, just like a natural shield.’

’If you can’t break through the Power, all attacks are useless.’

BOOM!!!

In an instant, with a loud bang, the stronghold’s main gate was smashed to pieces by Baili Yanran.

Splintered wood flew everywhere.

The terrifying force shook the stockade walls, causing the bandits to lose their balance and fall.

For an ordinary person facing a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist, it was like an attack from a higher dimension.

"Take care of these small fry." Shen Ye’s voice rang out. As soon as he finished speaking, he and Baili Yanran charged into the depths of the stronghold.

"Move out!" Fang Xing waved his hand, leading the men into the stronghold.