Getting Stronger By Fighting

And so it began. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Officers on tall horses stormed in, whipping their mounts and charging forward. Behind these officers followed the elite warriors from the Southwest Federation Region's Martial Management Bureau and Internal Affairs Department. Each team consisted of twenty to thirty fully armed men. No matter which direction those pathetic fugitives tried to flee, they were pursued relentlessly, with no respite, as commands echoed out:

"Catch them! Don't let anyone escape!"

"Stop! If you keep running, you're an enemy of the Federation, and we have the right to execute you on the spot!"

"Go, go, go! Pin him down! If he resists, kill him immediately!"

Without a doubt, this sudden encounter allowed the soldiers of the Martial Management Bureau and Internal Affairs Department to get their first taste of battle, fully showcasing the Federation's strength.

One should know, although the clever individuals who had escaped the Ming State Underground City were astute and had sensed impending trouble in Ming State, they could never have anticipated, no matter how much they speculated, that this small Ming State City now harbored nearly thirty thousand Federal Military Department soldiers. Every single one of them was at least at the Martial Artist Realm. And what was truly deadly about these soldiers wasn't just their numbers, but the powerful firearms they wielded.

Therefore, even if these hounds of the various noble families possessed great individual strength, they were utterly defenseless against such impersonal weaponry.

Among them, one member of a noble family from Quan State, who had followed the others here, was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood. Wang Zhan… Although he didn't know who Wang Zhan was, a name familiar to so many was naturally worth remembering. So, he decided to blame Wang Zhan for this. Otherwise, how could he explain the immense losses his side had suffered in this operation?

One should know, in just that short period, his family had lost at least three Martial Generals to those soldiers, destined to be dealt with by the Federation. Unfortunately, he himself was only a Grandmaster. The gap to the Martial King Realm was enormous. Against such ferocious soldiers, escape would be nearly impossible; his strength wasn't quite enough. If he wanted revenge, he'd first have to escape, then find a chance to return to his family and request reinforcements.

However, that thought was fleeting. He gritted his teeth and made his decision. Then, just as a fierce whistling sound approached, he used his momentum to lunge to the side, and then roared, his entire body pressed face-down on the ground, hands clasped over his head, "I surrender!"

Then, a sharp CRACK! The officer, who had been relentlessly tracking him with a horsewhip, waved his hand decisively and ordered in a deep voice, "Go! Shackle him!"

Immediately, a soldier at the Martial Master Realm and four at the Martial Artist Realm stepped forward and shackled the teeth-gritting Grandmaster. Yet, peace eluded the Grandmaster's heart for a long time. Such a huge loss!! They had followed Wang Zhan to the Ming State Underground City. Not only had they gained nothing, but they had also lost several Martial Generals, two Grandmasters, and another Grandmaster! Even a fool could tell that with the Military Department involved, their families would have to pay an astronomical price to ransom them! Moreover, he had surrendered because he understood perfectly well that for a minor figure like himself, resisting the Federation was pure delusion. The Federation had become what it was not through overt benevolence, but through its iron grip. Therefore, there was no need for him to fight to a bitter dead-end; he believed that sooner or later, someone from the Federation Aristocratic Conference would speak up for them.

Yet, he considered himself fortunate. Because on the other side of the vast wilderness, he saw a group of Grandmasters, led by two other Grandmasters, desperately trying to break through the soldiers' encirclement.

"Follow me! Kill, kill, kill! We absolutely cannot fall into the Federation's hands!"

One should know that even if they had committed crimes and violated Federation law, as long as there was no irrefutable evidence, or if they could escape into an Underground City before trial, they might ultimately save their own lives! But if they fell into the Federation's hands, the best outcome was being sent to the Star War Battlefield as a suicide squad; the worst was imprisonment until death!

So, they fought with their lives on the line, their eyes turning bloodshot. They didn't care in the slightest that the soldiers before them represented the Federation. At the same time, they lacked the surrendered Grandmaster's adaptability, knowing only that they absolutely could not be captured.

For instance, one burly fellow even leaped high into the air, axe raised, and as he descended, roared at the Federation's "ants," "Go to hell!"

The targets in front of this man, within his axe's range, were just a few lowly figures, merely at the Martial Artist Realm. If these soldiers of humble origin had encountered such influential figures in the past, despite their boundless contempt, they wouldn't have dared to offend them. After all, these seemingly bloated, useless individuals—these losers—represented powerful families!

However, from this moment on, that reality seemed to be changing. For these ordinary soldiers, facing the brute who had leaped above them, about to crash down with the force of a mountain, showed no concern; their expressions remained steady and calm.

Then, as they watched the attacker get so close they could even see the big man's nostrils, the targeted soldiers finally dropped to one knee and raised their guns. Meanwhile, about twenty more soldiers rushed in from the distance to provide support. In the blink of an eye, a total of twenty-three guns were aimed squarely at the Grandmaster still in mid-air.

In that instant, the hearts of the axe-wielder's companions lurched. This is bad! Even the Grandmaster above, who had practically dedicated his entire life to his axe, sobered up instantly, his face aghast. This is bad!

When Martial Artists fought each other, holding the high ground was an advantage. However, when Martial Artists faced an army, that so-called high ground instantly turned them into a perfect target!

And so...

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

A volley of deafening gunshots erupted, the sound reverberating, echoing endlessly and stunning everyone.

Then, the Grandmaster, who had been a hair's breadth from reaching these lowly Federation pawns he once despised, was seen. His entire body convulsed! Riddled with bullet holes and still smoking, the terror in his eyes had yet to dissipate, his murderous aura seemingly frozen solid. Then, he crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. He died with his eyes wide open!

Only the crimson blood flowing from the twenty or thirty bullet holes riddling his body bore witness to what had just transpired. However, while those who witnessed this scene might still have a future, the dead Grandmaster had none.

At this sight, the remaining attackers felt a chill in their hearts and were instantly jolted to their senses. These soldiers weren't playing around; the Federation was truly determined to eliminate them! Thus, even though they were still in the midst of battle, their actions faltered. They raised their hands, about to shout, "Surrender! Surrender! We surrender!"

Unfortunately for them, they were too late. Just as they were about to surrender, an officer in the distance, responsible for overseeing this sector, sat firmly on his horse like an unshakeable mountain. He roared angrily at the soldiers behind him, "Those who disrespect the Federation—kill! Those who disobey orders—kill! Those who dare to resist—kill! Kill! Kill!"

Their fate was thus sealed. Even as they struggled and begged for mercy, in the next instant, only boundless bewilderment remained on their faces. "No—!"

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Another hail of gunfire erupted.

Nearly a hundred soldiers began to form up. Although their individual realms and strength were inferior to these powerful villains, they were, after all, soldiers. Soldiers possess spirit, and with that spirit, they are invincible!

Not to mention the Federation's efforts and achievements over the years in militarizing groups of Martial Artists. Forget a mere Grandmaster; so what if it were a Martial King? Once they provoked the Federation, they would discover that their usually proud martial arts and supposedly impenetrable defenses were utterly vulnerable before the Federation's firearms! This was the Federation's greatest marvel.

"KILL!"

Then, another wave of battle cries suddenly erupted from the field, even reaching the small cave where Yao Yao and her four companions were hidden. The very earth of the cave trembled and shuddered, causing loose stones and dirt to continuously fall from its walls and ceiling.

As a descendant of the Lu Family, Lu Pan could keenly sense the potent killing intent and terrifying pressure within those battle cries. Compared to this, what meaning did his so-called close-combat martial arts or his supposed invincibility hold? It was merely like an egg striking a stone—courting death!

Lu Pan, hailing from one of Jing State's Close Combat Aristocratic Families, felt a shiver run down his spine even from nearly a mile away. One could only imagine the terror felt by the Martial Artists still fleeing for their lives out on the wilderness.

Just moments ago, at least thirty percent of those Martial Artists had died at the hands of the joint forces of the two departments. The remaining seventy percent had scattered in all directions, escaping into caves, various mountain hideouts, and even entrances to underground rivers, thus temporarily evading disaster. However, they no longer dared to approach the battlefield. Their only thought was: Flee, flee, flee!

"Get back to the Family! Tell the Old Ancestor that some people in the Federation aren't willing to wait any longer! They're going to make their move, even if it means risking universal condemnation!" Among those fleeing was the Lu Family's Ninth Master, frantically carrying Lu Jade.

It was only at this moment that the Lu Family's Ninth Master truly understood the meaning behind Wang Zhan's earlier words. So many soldiers… He had already heard gunfire no fewer than ten times. This proved that the situation on the field was far more brutal than he had ever imagined.