Rescue

The Sword is forty meters long, forcing people to run for 39 meters.

Zhou Tianba was immobilized by the intense coercion, cold sweat forming on his forehead, and his fear intensifying.

Wang Jun chuckled as he watched, 

"It seems even the mighty master is afraid for his life."

Zhou Tianba wasn't particularly afraid of death. After all, being a pirate carried a certain level of risk.

However, under the weight of the imposing sword, he experienced an unprecedented terror, feeling as if he were in hell!

At that moment, he desperately wanted to live!

Wang Jun often chuckled, saying, "Today, I'll avenge those who died in Azure Sun County."

"Don't do it!" 

Zhou Tianba pleaded, "Master Jun, I'm willing to release your disciples!"

"Do you want more money?"

"No, no!"

The forty-meter blade hung perilously over him. Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to ask for anything more. He regretted the momentary lapse in judgment when he kidnapped the disciples and provoked such a formidable adversary.

Zhou Tianba now had no doubt. If the other party had murderous intent, his more than two hundred men would be slaughtered!

Wang Jun often chuckled, "Big Master, I'm curious. How do you know my name?"

"This…" Zhou Tianba hesitated and then admitted, "I heard some rumors about the recent recruitment of the Hundred Schools."

"Swish!" 

Wang Jun often laughed and pushed the blade closer to his forehead, pressing hard. He spoke sternly, "I hope you're telling the truth."

The guillotine was just inches away from his forehead, its crushing force making Zhou Tianba's face turn pale.

At this point, he had no choice but to spill the truth, his voice trembling, "Yes... it was Spirit Spring Sect!

Spirit Spring Sect paid me to kidnap your disciples and take your life!"

"Meet your end." With the answer he sought, Wang Jun swiftly swung his sword.

"Crash!" Zhou Tianba's head tumbled to the ground, and the disciples, who were fearless, were similarly decapitated.

"Big Master..." As Zhou Tianba's headless body fell, the bandits of Black Mountain Stronghold trembled in fear.

"Swish!" 

Wang Jun often turned around with a sinister smile, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

With the leaders gone, Black Mountain Stronghold was left without direction. However, letting these robbers go free was out of the question. What about those who had been beaten to death? What about the corpses hanging, drying by the fire? What about the despair, fear, and helplessness in their eyes? Most importantly, what did Wang Jun often laugh think?

He disagreed.

Letting these inhuman beasts go free would be like letting a tiger return to the mountain. So, today, they borrowed a forty-meter blade to seek justice for the dead!

"Prepare to meet your fate," Wang Jun often chuckled darkly.

In that moment, an overwhelming aura of death enveloped him.

"No, no..." Hundreds of mountain bandits felt their scalps tingle, overwhelmed by horror. The specter of death loomed over them.

"Swish!" 

"Swish!" 

The blade moved swiftly, and blood sprayed.

The desperate bandits could never have imagined that their supposed savior would turn out to be their executioner, a true demon.

"Swoosh!" Flames unexpectedly erupted from the braziers, casting an eerie light on the terrified and despairing faces of those about to die. Wang Jun often laughed, his face momentarily appearing to smile in the flickering flames.

But deep down, he was not smiling.

Wang Jun often laughed with a blood-stained sword, his hair dancing in the wind. Around him lay countless corpses, their blood pooling into a river. The air was thick with the stench of death.

And so it was done.

Ten heads of Black Mountain Stronghold, along with more than two hundred robbers, had met their end.

"You've killed a total of 226 people," the System announced.

Wang Jun, who had never taken a life before, felt a heavy weight on his conscience. Today, he had killed many.

"Was it necessary?" he wondered.

"In the world you once knew, even the worst criminals would face judgment and punishment by law," the System replied.

"But this is a different world with different rules. Never mind evil, they wanted to kill me and my disciples," Wang Jun often chuckled.

"The host has adapted to the Starfall Continent," the System stated.

"It's not my style to adapt to it. I'll make the Starfall Continent adapt to me. Anyone who deceives or insults me will pay the price, including... the Spirit Spring Sect."

"Swish!" 

The enormous blade glowed and shrank from forty meters to a mere half-foot, returning to its miniaturized form.

"It's hard to imagine rescuing our abducted disciples without this," Wang Jun often chuckled.

"Swish!" 

As he sheathed the blade, it trembled slightly, as if something was binding the hilt and scabbard together.

Wang Jun often smiled and remarked, "Could this sword be sealed again?"

"Yes!" 

the System confirmed. "The Hard-to-Receive Sword is massive, a double-edged weapon that can harm its wielder. After use, it will automatically seal itself, and the host must unseal it using the Seal of Opening."

"..."

Wang Jun often laughed in silence. Using such a powerful weapon made him a bit apprehensive. It was better to keep it sealed to prevent any accidental harm to himself.

But then, a thought struck him. "A double-edged sword? It can harm its wielder?"

"Didn't you feel fatigued?" the System inquired.

"Fatigued? I didn't feel..." Wang Jun's words trailed off, and suddenly, he felt drained and weak, collapsing on the ground.

"After using the Hard-to-Receive Sword, the host will experience weakness for 30 minutes. During this time, you'll have no energy or defense. Even a three-year-old child could defeat you," the System explained.

"These settings are..." Wang Jun often lay on the ground weakly, smiling wryly. "Thank goodness I managed to eliminate them all, or I'd be in trouble."

Thirty minutes passed swiftly, and Wang Jun often laughed as he gradually regained his strength. He then jumped up and led his disciples to the inner chambers of the hall, finding the Stone Prison in the back.

"Head?" the disciples exclaimed. 

"The head is here! The head is here!"

More than thirty detained disciples, upon seeing Wang Jun smiling, were initially dumbfounded but then shouted with elation.

"Clang!" 

The iron chains broke, and the prison doors swung open.

Wang Jun often smiled, sheathed Han Fengjian, and said affectionately, "My dear disciples, you've been through a lot."

In the world of the Strongest Martial Arts System, disciples were the key to success. And to Wang Jun often laugh, they were more than just disciples; they were like family.

More than thirty disciples, their goosebumps fading, burst into tears, deeply moved by their Head's arrival.

But Wang Jun often laugh was not concerned with basking in their admiration. At that moment, he had discovered a secret passage leading underground in Zhou Tianba's bedroom.

Descending the stairs, he locked the iron door behind him, broke the chain with a swing of his sword, and entered a chamber filled with gold and silver treasures.

"Jackpot! I'm rich!" Wang Jun often laughed, his eyes sparkling as he looted the room.

Returning with a full load, he carefully stowed the Blue Dragon Long Sword into his spatial ring and led his disciples away.

"Whoosh!" Black Mountain Stronghold, once a formidable stronghold, was engulfed in flames. The bandit's hideout, wooden stakes, watchtowers, and even the corpses turned to ashes.

"Ding!" 

The System chimed in, "Congratulations to the host for completing the hidden task [For the People], rewarding 50 contribution points!"

"Ding!" 

"Martial Contribution: 50/100."

"Wow!" 

Jun Chang smiled in astonishment. "Destroying Black Mountain Stronghold was a hidden task, and it awarded such a high contribution value!"