Battle Through the Heavens: Heavenly comprehension

In the early morning forest, sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting patches of golden light on the ground.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, producing a soft, whisper-like sound.

The morning dew made the air fresh and moist, and the fragrance of grass and flowers blended together, creating a pleasant aroma.

The entire forest seemed vibrant and full of life under the morning sun, brimming with new hope and energy.

But for the members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, none of this held any beauty.

The terrifying explosion from the night before still seemed vivid in their memories, as if it had just happened.

Reaching the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's camp, Xiao Yan leaped down from a tree branch and strode forward with determined steps.

"Wait, are you just going to walk in like that?" Yao Lao asked in astonishment, noticing Xiao Yan's bold actions.

Xiao Yan drew the heavy black ruler from his back. "The Wolf Head Mercenary Group's camp is in a forested area, but it's too far to approach silently unless I grow wings. This time, it's all about raw strength!"

Raw strength? What nonsense! Yao Lao said no more.

Seeing Xiao Yan boldly appear outside their camp, alone and unarmed except for the massive ruler on his back, the mercenaries of the Wolf Head Group gasped in shock. Though they were stunned, their hands instinctively tightened around their weapons.

"It's that black-robed kid!"

"The black-robed boy is here!"

"Third Captain, the black-robed boy is here—avenge our brothers!"

Their rallying cries echoed loudly. Despite their numbers being more than ten times Xiao Yan's, not a single one dared to make the first move.

None of them approached too closely, either, fearing another mysterious explosion that would leave them dead and clueless about what had killed them.

Xiao Yan paid them no mind. With a forceful step, his figure shot forward like a cannonball, targeting the smallest group of mercenaries.

Among them was a towering, muscular man whose physique was like solid rock. He never imagined that his imposing size would make him Xiao Yan's first target.

Caught off guard, the man froze in shock, unable to react in time.

A heavy black ruler whistled through the air and struck his head with a deafening thud.

His skull shattered instantly, and a fountain of blood erupted. The scalding heat of the blood jolted the other mercenaries awake. Fear was useless—only fighting could keep them alive.

"Yellow-rank low-level Dou Technique: Whirlwind Blade!"

A nearby mercenary wielding a saber coated in green Dou Qi slashed fiercely at Xiao Yan.

The strike created a gust of wind, lifting sand and stones from the ground and forming a semicircular arc of energy.

Regaining his fighting spirit, the middle-aged mercenary unleashed the strongest attack he had ever performed in his life.

Xiao Yan rotated the heavy ruler in his hand and responded with a pure, forceful swing—like a mountain being cleaved in half.

The ruler and blade collided with a sharp metallic sound.

The mercenary's face turned pale as an overwhelming force traveled up his blade and into his hands. With a loud crack, his palms split open, blood spilling out.

At the same time, his saber emitted a sharp snap and broke cleanly in two. The break was smooth as a mirror.

The heavy ruler continued its descent without slowing and smashed into the mercenary's shoulder.

The immense force penetrated his body entirely. As his shoulder bones shattered, his internal organs were ruptured from the impact.

Coughing up a mouthful of blood, the mercenary collapsed lifelessly to the ground

This group of mercenaries was down to their last man.

Staring at the massive black ruler capable of slicing through blades, his heart was filled with dread. He recognized this was no ordinary weapon!

"Want it? Take it!" Xiao Yan smirked as he casually tossed the ruler toward the mercenary.

The mercenary, still shaken and overwhelmed by Xiao Yan's dominance, instinctively reached out to catch the weapon.

But the moment his hands grasped the heavy black ruler, he realized its terrifying weight. His body lurched downward as he lost his balance, falling toward the ground.

"Eight Extremes Collapse!"

Now unburdened by the weight of the ruler, Xiao Yan felt light and agile. His speed increased noticeably, and he turned into a blur, appearing behind the mercenary in an instant. With a sharp motion, his elbow crashed heavily into the mercenary's back.

Even without harnessing internal energy, Xiao Yan's full-strength strike was lethal to an unguarded target.

Though this sequence seemed complex, it all occurred in a split second.

The remaining mercenaries, witnessing Xiao Yan kill three of their comrades in just a few breaths, broke into a cold sweat. Is this even a human?!

At this moment, He Meng slowly emerged from the central tent. He stood tall and proud, exuding an imposing aura filled with arrogance.

"A six-star Dou Fighter?!" Xiao Yan's pitch-black pupils contracted sharply. The man had only been a five-star Dou Fighter yesterday!

Yao Lao's voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind:

"Only at the edge of life and death can a person's potential be fully unleashed. Just like a blade sharpened to its peak, the more polished, the sharper it becomes. That's why I only intervene in critical moments."

"Yesterday, this man nearly got himself killed. He survived only by using two mercenaries as meat shields and relying on his rock-attribute Dou Qi for defense. After brushing so closely with death, it seems his potential has been awakened."

One of the mercenaries, trembling all over, muttered, "Third Captain, let's retreat. This boy isn't human! He killed three of our brothers in an instant—three brothers!"

"Retreat?!" He Meng's brows furrowed in anger, his expression turning thunderous. His large, fan-like hand struck the mercenary's cheek with a resounding slap.

The crisp sound echoed, and three of the mercenary's teeth flew out. Blood trickled down the corner of his mouth.

"If anyone dares suggest retreat again, I'll kill him myself before that kid even gets the chance!" He Meng snorted coldly, his icy gaze sweeping across the mercenaries showing any sign of hesitation.

Under He Meng's steely gaze, the mercenaries seemed to find their backbone. Their morale rekindled, their fighting spirit surged once more.

Watching this dramatic turnaround in the mercenaries' attitude, Xiao Yan thought to himself: A six-star Dou Fighter leading a group of mercenaries… This just got a lot trickier.

Seeing his reinvigorated comrades, He Meng fixed his fiery gaze on Xiao Yan.

"Kid, you've got some skills, I'll admit. But the stronger you are, the more valuable the treasures you're carrying! Let me tell you, I've already broken through to become a six-star Dou Fighter. Alongside my brothers here, even if we have to grind you down, we'll kill you eventually!"

Six-star Dou Fighter! The mercenaries were stunned by the revelation. Their spirits lifted even higher.

Based on their Third Captain's cultivation speed, they'd expected it would take another year for him to break through. But now, with this sudden leap in strength, paired with his rock-attribute Dou Qi's formidable defenses, he was sure to lead them to an easy victory over this black-robed boy!

To the mercenaries, Xiao Yan was no longer a terrifying opponent. Instead, he had become a glittering treasure trove, a golden mountain that they couldn't wait to claim.

He Meng chuckled inwardly. Revealing his newfound strength wasn't just for intimidation—it was to boost his comrades' confidence.

Planting the heavy black ruler firmly into the ground, Xiao Yan laughed lightly. "You've got the numbers, sure. But…"

As he spoke, Xiao Yan retrieved two fiery red orbs from his robe.

"Die! Fire Bombs!"

(End of Chapter)

────────────────────────────────────

"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [One Piece: General Blue]."

"If you're interested, please support me in my other novel [Battle Through the Heavens: Heavenly comprehension]."

"If you want an early access join my patreon:- patreon.com/BaDwYGaMeR"