Rigid and Soft Conversion

Jiang Dali watched Du Dajin's health and internal energy bars flicker, continuing his aggressive offense with agile movements and long-range attacks. "Chief Escort Du, if you don't use your ultimate move soon, we might not be able to settle this even after a hundred rounds."

Du Dajin felt so stifled and depressed he could have vomited blood. He knew he had underestimated the leader of Black Wind Stronghold.

If he didn't use his Shaolin ultimate skills, it would indeed be very difficult to defeat Jiang Dali.

In terms of pure martial arts, Jiang Dali wasn't afraid of him.

When it came to hidden weapons, even if Jiang Dali wasn't as skilled as him, he could still defend easily. Moreover, the Iron Cloth Skill offered some resistance against hidden weapons.

Now, perhaps only his saber offered a glimmer of hope.

However, the great saber strapped to Jiang Dali's back didn't seem to be just for show; it indicated he must have a mastery of saber techniques.

This was what frustrated Du Dajin the most.

How could a bandit leader know so many refined martial arts?

His hand-to-hand combat was not bad, his body refinement was astonishing, his hidden weapons were exquisite, his movement techniques were decent, and he also seemed to know a powerful saber technique.

He was just too well-rounded.

At this moment, Du Dajin couldn't even find a moment to speak. He was completely suppressed by Jiang Dali in terms of strength. The more they fought, the more his blood and energy churned. The members of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency watching from nearby looked grim, breaking out in a cold sweat. They never expected a stronghold leader to be this formidable.

Bang—

Another punch landed.

Stagger, stagger, stagger... Du Dajin retreated several steps, unable to maintain his footing. He let out a furious roar, drew his saber, and with a surge of killing intent, lunged forward five steps, pressing his attack.

"Kill!—"

His saber left its sheath and thrust forward. The saber light flashed, wave after wave of saber energy surged, reflecting the sunlight overhead like the rising sun on the water's surface, creating a dazzling sea of clouds as the waves churned.

"Good saber technique!"

Jiang Dali laughed heartily. He suddenly moved, like a flying cicada, darting diagonally and horizontally, slipping through the saber light that resembled waves and sunlight.

"Chief Escort Du, take a saber strike from me as well! Tiger Fiend Golden Ring Saber!"

In an instant, Jiang Dali consumed all his remaining 50 Potential Points on the Tiger Fiend Golden Ring Saber Technique.

Suddenly, this saber technique broke through the minor accomplishment stage and reached the stage of familiarity.

Hum—

Jiang Dali drew his saber with fierce momentum. The nine rings of the Golden Back Great Ring Saber trembled, emitting a long hum like a tiger's roar. The saber in his hand swung down with furious might.

Saber light erupted, a blinding golden radiance, like a small sun exploding in the east, its brilliant light forcing many onlookers to shield their eyes.

"Ah!?"

Du Dajin never expected Jiang Dali's saber technique to be so ferocious and refined. The blinding light of the golden saber and the tiger's roar from the vibrating nine rings not only affected his vision but also his hearing, making him feel as if a luminous fierce tiger was pouncing at him. In that moment, his mind faltered, and his hair stood on end.

A sense of unprecedented danger washed over him, the aura of death chillingly approaching!

Du Dajin roared and slashed out three consecutive times to block. These three saber strikes contained almost all his life's power, unleashing all his potential under the threat.

Clang, clang, clang—

A rapid, violent sound like a blacksmith's hammer erupted. The fierce impact caused Du Dajin's tiger's mouth to split open, and he was forced to retreat continuously. The saber in his hand nearly flew out of his grasp.

When paths cross, the brave win – this was perfectly demonstrated at this moment!

In their three consecutive saber clashes, Jiang Dali's strikes grew stronger with each one. The muscles in his arms bulged, and his imposing aura became even more unrestrained, igniting the passion of the surrounding mountain bandit players, who cheered wildly.

Du Dajin, however, retreated further and further, his blood and energy churning, nearly spitting blood.

As he retreated for the third step, a flying dagger, as graceful as a startled swan, suddenly shot out from Jiang Dali's hand.

Flying Star Spreading Hatred!

"Despicable!"

Du Dajin cried out in terror, his soul nearly leaving his body. He hastily spun his saber and pushed off the ground with his feet, leaping backward.

With a ding-dong explosion.

The flying dagger was grudgingly deflected, and at the same time, the saber in Du Dajin's hand flew out of his grasp.

Jiang Dali sneered, his eyes flashing with sharp light. "Chief Escort Du, if you don't use your ultimate move soon, you'll die by my saber!"

Swish—

The Golden Ring Great Saber followed, attacking again!

"Bastard! You're forcing me!"

Veins bulged on Du Dajin's face as he roared and suddenly thrust out his palm.

Great Vajra Palm!

His hand seemed to instantly become firm and swollen with muscle, filled with surging energy. With a slight vibration, it produced the sound of clashing steel.

Taking a step forward, he slammed his palm heavily onto the back of the Golden Ring Great Saber.

With a clanging explosion.

Jiang Dali's arm vibrated violently.

The Golden Ring Saber's nine rings hummed and vibrated, nearly flying out of his hand.

In that instant, Du Dajin attacked like a madman, suddenly switching from the Vajra Palm to the Twenty-Four Demon Subduing Palms, striking with blinding speed.

"Alternating between Hard and Soft!?"

Jiang Dali's eyes narrowed. He also extended a hand, raising his palm and channeling force. His arm expanded unnaturally by a fist's width, veins bulging, and he struck out with a palm of his own.

Eight Directions Palm.

Meeting Soft with Hard!

Bang!

The two palms collided like lightning.

Du Dajin's palm went numb, and his footwork faltered.

Jiang Dali, however, his face suddenly flushed red, his massive, sturdy frame swaying like an iron tower, stomped his feet, sinking into the ground as mud flew.

Instantly.

The two stood facing each other at a forty-five-degree angle, each in a position difficult for the other to attack.

Du Dajin roared and turned, preparing to attack again.

Jiang Dali suddenly burst into laughter, "Director Du, you've already lost. Are you going back on your word with me, a mountain bandit leader?"

Du Dajin's eyes narrowed. His expression was grim and uncertain as he stood frozen, sneering, "Chieftain Jiang, you're already injured by my Demon Subduing Palm. If I wanted to finish you off now, it would be easy."

Jiang Dali's sturdy body trembled. His terrifying black and blue physique returned to its normal skin tone. He exited his Iron Cloth Skill state, and one of his arms even cracked, blood vessels bursting, a horrifying sight that made the surrounding mountain bandits cry out in alarm.

The players' faces changed drastically upon seeing this.

If their stronghold lord truly fell, it would be like the tree falling and the monkeys scattering. They, who had just joined Black Wind Stronghold, would be finished.

"Hahaha." Jiang Dali laughed wildly, seemingly unconcerned about his injuries. "Director Du, you don't need to endure so hard. Internal injuries are all from holding back. Don't worsen your condition. If you think you can take me down now, feel free to try. Let's see if my over a hundred brothers agree."

As soon as he said this, hundreds of mountain bandits who had been hesitant began banging their weapons and roaring in response. Some of the deployed mountain bandits even raised crossbows and aimed them at the arena.

The Second Boss, Xiong Ba, decisively lit the firewood beneath the Bronze Bull and called his brothers to surround the Bronze Bull, shouting, "Director Du, I, Xiong Ba, respect you as a man. If you break your word today, then we brothers won't bother with any righteousness. Your daughter and disciple will all be buried with you."

"You group of—!!"

Du Dajin's eyes widened in fury. Gritting his teeth, he could no longer suppress his internal injuries, and a few wisps of blood trickled from his lips, staining his beard.

This further solidified his image of being outwardly strong but inwardly weak.

The group of mountain bandits became even more rampant.

The Dragon Gate Escort Agency members, however, were extremely flustered.

Jiang Dali's eyelids drooped slightly. He let out a low hum and a deep voice, "Director Du, Shaolin's Demon Subduing Palm, before reaching great accomplishment, cannot be cultivated concurrently with other hard techniques like the Maha Finger. You are cultivating two ultimate skills. It must be difficult for you every time you use them, right? Do you really think you can leave Black Wind Stronghold safely?"

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