King Against King, General Against General

Jiang Dali was somewhat surprised to see Du Dajin and the Dragon Gate Escort Agency personnel actually daring to ascend the mountain despite the obvious danger.

He had only relied on the advantage of holding hostages earlier to deliberately probe their bottom line.

Who would have thought Du Dajin would actually dare to bring his subordinates up the mountain.

This courage alone was worthy of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency's fame throughout Jiangnan and the southeastern region. No wonder Yin Susu would later choose Du Dajin to escort the Wudang's Third Hero Yu.

As he was pondering, the attribute box in Jiang Dali's eyes flickered, and he received a new mission prompt.

"You have triggered the Comprehensive Martial World's Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber series side quest: 'Deal with Du Dajin' (Mandatory).

Mission Content: Du Dajin, the chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, is displeased with Black Wind Stronghold for hijacking his cargo and has decided to challenge the stronghold.

Mission Requirements: Stall Du Dajin until reinforcements from Prince Ruyang's Mansion arrive.

Mission Difficulty: Grade A, Level D

Du Dajin: Veteran Inner Qi Realm. Strength: Shaolin Lay Disciple, skilled in the Twenty-Four Demon Subduing Palms and a fragment of the Great Vajra Palm. His three signature skills are 'Repeating Steel Darts,' his fists, and his saber.

Mission Rewards: Prince Ruyang's Mansion Reputation +50, Trust of the Mansion's Experts, 200 Cultivation Points, 200 Potential Points, 200 Jianghu Reputation.

Extra Reward: (Chance to comprehend Shaolin ultimate skills after fighting Du Dajin)."

After reading the suddenly appearing mission prompt, Jiang Dali couldn't help but be startled.

"This Du Dajin can actually use the Twenty-Four Demon Subduing Palms and a fragment of the Great Vajra Palm?"

Seeing the prompt from the mission, Jiang Dali knew things were not good and his heart immediately grew heavy.

Originally, he only knew that Du Dajin was a Shaolin Lay Disciple, but he didn't know that this person could also use two of the Shaolin's Seventy-Two Ultimate Skills.

Even in his previous life, although he had encountered many Jianghu experts, he had never met Du Dajin and was completely unfamiliar with him. He was caught off guard this time.

One must know that ultimate skills provide a tremendous boost to combat power, making them worlds apart from ordinary martial arts.

Even if the Twenty-Four Demon Subduing Palms might only be a Human-tier ultimate skill, the Great Vajra Palm could potentially be an Earth-tier ultimate skill, and even a fragment of it would be remarkable.

Compared to the renowned experts in the Jianghu, Du Dajin was an unknown figure, yet he possessed two ultimate skills, which completely exceeded Jiang Dali's expectations.

"No wonder Du Dajin, despite only being in the Inner Qi Realm, could lead the Dragon Gate Escort Agency to such fame, and even earn the respect of escorts like Hu Ling. Turns out he's quite a significant figure."

"However, this is both a danger and potentially an opportunity. Du Dajin actually knows two ultimate skills, the Twenty-Four Demon Subduing Palms and the Great Vajra Palm. He must be aware that these two skills are quite complementary. Perhaps he even acquired these two skills by chance. If I could capture him..."

In an instant, thoughts raced through Jiang Dali's mind, various ideas surfacing, yet he felt something was amiss.

Ultimate skills.

Such an excellent opportunity lay before him.

As long as he could take down Du Dajin, or capture him, he might obtain the ultimate skills. Even just one ultimate skill could immediately elevate his strength significantly.

But after considering all the possibilities, Jiang Dali regained his composure and chose to give up.

Setting aside whether he could defeat Du Dajin right now, even if he could, he couldn't kill him if he wanted to take on future missions from Prince Ruyang's Mansion.

And if he were to interrogate him about the Shaolin ultimate skills.

Firstly, he didn't know if he could force the information out of him.

Even if he could, as long as Du Dajin was alive, the news would spread, and his Black Wind Stronghold would completely offend Shaolin.

For his small Black Wind Stronghold, it was still no match for a martial arts titan like Shaolin. He couldn't act rashly.

However, the mission also hinted that by engaging Du Dajin in combat, there was a certain chance of comprehending Shaolin ultimate skills. Even if the probability was low, there should still be some hope.

As his thoughts churned, a mountain bandit ran over in a panic to report, "Great Mountain Lord, the Dragon Gate Escort Agency people have already reached the mountain. They are moving very fast and are already halfway up. Our brothers are awaiting your orders."

"What's the rush?"

Jiang Dali coldly reprimanded. His gaze also fell upon the Dragon Gate Escort Agency group. Led by Du Dajin, they moved like mountain apes through the terrain, their speed impressive. They advanced and retreated with discipline, their weapons drawn and ready, each a skilled fighter.

Under such circumstances, even if his Black Wind Stronghold held the advantage of terrain and ordered his brothers to fire arrows, their meager seven or eight bows and crossbows would hardly inflict significant casualties on this group of skilled fighters.

Jiang Dali had no intention of completely falling out with them and pushing the situation to an irreversible point.

Perhaps before he knew Du Dajin possessed two ultimate skills, he wouldn't have minded the irreversible outcome.

But now the situation had changed. Jiang Dali adjusted his strategy, planning to focus on stalling. If he could subdue Du Dajin, that would be a win-win.

"Let them come up the mountain. Bring the two Dragon Gate Escort Agency captives into the Bronze Bull!"

Jiang Dali waved his hand and issued the order, then led a group of men to the small clearing in front of the stronghold, sitting imposingly on the tiger-skin rosewood armchair.

The mountain bandits shouted and immediately escorted the two from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency into the Bronze Bull, stuffing them inside and locking them up.

The so-called Bronze Bull was a bull-shaped cage cast from bronze and iron.

When the Bronze Bull was placed over a pile of firewood and a prisoner was locked inside, the firewood was lit. The person inside the Bronze Bull would feel an intense heat and be steamed to death. Even the sounds they made before death, emitted through the specially designed bull's mouth, would only sound like a "moo," a terrifying sound.

Jiang Dali naturally had no intention of killing the two captives directly.

However, locking them in the Bronze Bull would, firstly, effectively prevent the Dragon Gate Escort Agency from launching a surprise rescue, and secondly, it would apply psychological pressure on them.

Not long after.

A clear voice echoed from the mountain path.

"Great Village Chief Jiang is truly formidable. I, Du Dajin, have traveled far and wide for many years, and I've truly never met a ruthless and powerful figure like you. Today, I have witnessed it."

From afar, a voice echoed from the mountain path. The speaker was none other than Du Dajin, and his voice, still hundreds of meters away, carried clearly into the area.

It came in a straight line, direct and focused, its cohesion and lack of dispersion a testament to his Inner Qi Realm cultivation.

Instantly, the expressions of the assembled mountain bandits shifted, a slight commotion stirring among them.

Xiong Ba himself felt uneasy, a sense of trepidation washing over him.

To experienced individuals like Jiang Dali, Du Dajin, the chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, wasn't considered a formidable figure.

However, in the eyes of the mountain bandits and others like Xiong Ba, who ranked low in the Jianghu, he was quite an influential martial artist. Furthermore, his background from the prestigious Shaolin made him part of a notable family.

Who wouldn't fear someone with both strength and connections?

Jiang Dali's expression remained calm and composed as he spoke plainly, "As the saying goes, we get to know each other through conflict. Chief Escort Du, your unruly escort, Hu Ling, injured and killed my men, and you even dispatched your daughter and disciple to sneak up the mountain and plant explosives.

We at Black Wind Stronghold have certainly witnessed the underhanded tactics of your Dragon Gate Escort Agency.

Chief Escort Du, are you also here today to resort to some low-class tricks?"

With these words, Jiang Dali had laid bare all the points where the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was in the wrong.

His statement also served as a subtle warning to Du Dajin to protect his reputation and not to ruin himself with despicable schemes.

The rhetoric was undeniably clever. Immediately, shouts of anger and reprimand could be heard from the mountain path.

Du Dajin, enraged like a ferocious lion or a fierce tiger, charged up the mountain, roaring, "You scoundrel! Black Wind Stronghold Master, who twists black and white! Today, I must witness your 'superior' methods. Release my Dragon Gate Escort Agency personnel at once!"

Seeing Du Dajin charging up the mountain, Jiang Dali noted his name, which was a shade of green bordering on black, and his equally lengthy health bar. He immediately understood that this was a clash of equals, a confrontation with a formidable opponent of his own kind.