The Great Vajra Palm

"If the Chief Escort Leader orders me to release them right off the bat, wouldn't that make me, Jiang Dali, a laughingstock? How would I face my brothers?"

Jiang Dali watched Du Dajin, who had arrived in a fury, and let out a wry chuckle. He remained seated on his large chair, refusing to stand, and sneered, "Our Black Wind Stronghold is a harmonious stronghold that does business openly.

When your Dragon Gate Escort Agency passed by, I personally approached to collect some toll fees, but I encountered someone blind who treated me like a beggar.

So, I confiscated a batch of your Dragon Gate Escort Agency's goods. This was done according to the rules.

But you, Chief Escort Leader Du, not only sent people to secretly kill my men, but you also sent people to sneak onto the mountain to shoot arrows. This, however, is not according to the rules, is it?"

Du Dajin coldly stared at Jiang Dali, appraising him. Instead of anger, he laughed in exasperation, "It seems that today, Chief Jiang of Black Wind Stronghold is determined to twist the truth and go against my Dragon Gate Escort Agency?

I am very clear about the original cause of the incident.

My Dragon Gate Escort Agency has traveled north and south for over twenty years, and we are well aware of the rules of the road.

Back then, my subordinates didn't pay you Black Wind Stronghold a small amount for protection, did they? Yet you still attacked and hijacked our goods. Is that considered following the rules?"

"Hahaha."

Jiang Dali suddenly stood up. His mountain-like, robust physique exuded an oppressive aura as he coldly stated, "A mere fifty taels of silver for protection is not enough for our stronghold to have a single meal. I wonder if Chief Escort Leader Du is looking down on your Dragon Gate Escort Agency, or looking down on me, Jiang?"

"Exactly, are you looking down on our Chief?"

"What is the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, to look down on our Black Wind Stronghold like this?"

Many mountain bandits were stirred by Jiang Dali's domineering and powerful response. Some emotional and hot-blooded simpletons all stood up and roared in agreement.

Seeing this, the players exchanged glances and could only follow suit, shouting along and flattering Jiang Dali profusely.

With hundreds of people gathered, shouting so loudly, it immediately created a tremendous momentum on the mountain, giving a sense of roaring waves.

And Jiang Dali, surrounded by the crowd in the center, possessed an aura of rallying followers like a general addressing his troops.

A group of Dragon Gate Escort Agency's escorts and guards saw this and nervously reached for their weapons.

Suddenly.

The atmosphere became tense and ready to break.

Du Dajin let out a cold snort that silenced the entire crowd. His face ashen, he glanced at the Bronze Bull not far away and narrowed his eyes, "Young man, you should be careful with your words. This martial world isn't a place where you can make a name for yourself through brute force alone. Now, if you release my people, I can spare your life."

"Hehehehe." Jiang Dali's eyelids drooped slightly as he chuckled, "Chief Escort Leader Du, why don't we make a bet?"

Du Dajin asked, "What do you want to bet on?"

Jiang Dali said calmly, "I've long heard that you, Chief Escort Leader Du, are a senior in the martial world. You studied under Zen Master Yuan Ye of Shaolin for twelve years and mastered two of Shaolin's ultimate skills, cultivating both internal and external strength.

I, a mere leader of the outlaws, haven't learned any ultimate skills.

If today I can force you to reveal your Shaolin ultimate skills, then all grievances between you and my Black Wind Stronghold will be settled, and you will stay at Black Wind Stronghold for two days to drink and spar with a junior, how about it?"

Du Dajin let out a deep, angry laugh, "Are you afraid that I'll easily subdue you by using my Shaolin ultimate skills, and you're deliberately provoking me?"

Jiang Dali scoffed, "All martial arts originate from Shaolin. To say I'm not afraid would be a lie. But you, Chief Escort Leader Du, have been wandering the martial world for so many years, yet your fame rests only on your Repeating Steel Darts, not on any Shaolin ultimate skills.

I'm very curious, is it because you're not skilled enough and unwilling to display them, or are you so powerful that no one can force you to reveal your ultimate skills? I'm about to find out."

"Hahaha. Well said, you arrogant Black Wind Stronghold Chief. What if you fail to force out my Shaolin ultimate skills?" Du Dajin laughed coldly.

Jiang Dali made a gesture with one hand, inviting him, "If I fail to force out your Shaolin ultimate skills today, not only will I release your people, but I will also take my own life as an apology."

"Hmph?" Du Dajin was startled, his eyes flashing with cold light. "Good, very good! You don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. Then come!"

Hoo—

He suddenly swung his arm, pulling out two steel darts. With a flick of his wrist, they flew out, breaking through the air. Although the two shuttles were thrown simultaneously, their trajectories were vastly different. The one on the right whistled through the air, its momentum exceptionally fierce. The one on the left, however, dove diagonally downwards, its forward momentum slightly slower.

As he shot out the two darts, Du Dajin charged forward at the same time. With a single punch, he ferociously struck directly at Jiang Dali.

However, Jiang Dali flicked his wrist at the same time, and his willow leaf sabers flew out like venomous bees. In an instant, cold light flashed, and the sound of breaking air was deafening.

With two clangs, the steel darts shot by Du Dajin were hit by two of the willow leaf sabers and deflected from their course.

The remaining willow leaf sabers, with undiminished momentum, attacked Du Dajin from several angles.

"You can also use such exquisite hidden weapon techniques."

Du Dajin's expression changed slightly. He suddenly spun his body and swept his sleeve, his five fingers moving as if caressing harp strings.

Several willow leaf sabers were instantly redirected by his movements to other positions.

He let out a roar, like a horse leaping over a stream, and rushed to Jiang Dali's side. With a twist of his fists, he unleashed them like cannonballs, a low thudding sound of fist wind and energy filling the air as he fiercely struck Jiang Dali, who surprisingly did not dodge.

With a loud bang!

The ground beneath Jiang Dali's feet seemed to shake. In that instant, his entire body transformed as if he had become a demonic ghost. His muscles swelled by more than double, veins bulging as if about to burst. His muscular body instantly turned a dark, greenish-black, his flesh as hard as tempered steel.

Du Dajin felt as if his fist had struck a block of refined steel, his finger bones aching. His expression changed, and he exclaimed in a low voice, "Hardening technique, Iron Cloth Skill?"

"Your single punch is also quite good, just a bit lacking in power. It almost hurt me," Jiang Dali nodded in approval.

"Impossible, you've cultivated the Iron Cloth Skill to this extent?"

Du Dajin knew the power of his punch. If he hit a wall, it would crack. A person's body would definitely have its bones shattered by such a blow, yet Jiang Dali didn't even feel any pain.

"Nothing is impossible. You try taking one of my punches too!"

Jiang Dali's body moved slightly, his muscles and bones emitting a crackling sound. His limbs and spine were like a drawn bow. With his left fist, he swung out, unleashing a punch.

The simple Four Directions Fist, amplified by the Iron Cloth Skill, struck with the force of a fierce tiger descending a mountain, its wind terrifying.

Du Dajin's expression changed. He felt as if the surrounding air was being forcefully squeezed out, and an overwhelming pressure that made it difficult to breathe bore down on him.

Unwilling to be outdone, he roared and channeled his internal energy, throwing a punch to counter.

Bang!

The two fists collided heavily.

The solid ground beneath their feet cracked and crumbled from the impact.

"I..."

Du Dajin's face suddenly flushed red, his body trembling slightly. He took a deep breath to suppress it, continuing to trade blows.

Bang bang bang, bang bang bang!

For a time, their fists and palms met, exchanging blows back and forth for over a dozen rounds. It was as if two ferocious beasts were rampaging through, the surrounding ground churned and dirt flying everywhere, causing the onlookers to change their expressions.

Du Dajin grew more surprised and angry with each exchange.

Jiang Dali, in his Iron Cloth Skill state, was even harder and more resilient than a wooden dummy, his skin and flesh tough, his defense incredibly strong, and his power immense.

After more than ten exchanges, not only had he failed to gain any advantage over Jiang Dali, but he himself was shaken, his blood and qi churning, his fist throbbing with pain as if his bones were about to crack.

This situation was clearly unsustainable.

At the same time, he understood Jiang Dali's intention.

His opponent clearly intended to force him to use Shaolin's ultimate skill, the Demon Subduing Palm.

When the Demon Subduing Palm was unleashed, its palm force was extremely gentle, almost imperceptible, following a path of softness. It was a renowned soft palm technique.

This type of palm technique was specifically designed to counter hard styles.

If he were to use the Demon Subduing Palm now, he would undoubtedly be able to turn the tide.

But if he did, in reality, he would have lost.