Rigid and Flexible Conversion

Jiang Dali watched as the health bar and inner energy bar above Du Dajin's head flickered continuously. He continued his broad, sweeping attacks, keeping his hands nimble and his steps quick, striking from afar. "Chief Escort Du, if you still refuse to use your ultimate move, I'm afraid we won't be able to determine a winner even after a hundred exchanges."

Du Dajin was so stifled and frustrated he nearly spat blood. He also knew that he had underestimated this Black Wind Stronghold Master.

If he did not use Shaolin's ultimate techniques now, it would truly be difficult to defeat Jiang Dali.

In terms of fist and foot techniques, Jiang Dali did not fear him.

As for hidden weapon techniques, even if Jiang Dali was inferior to him, he could easily guard against them. Besides, the Iron Cloth Skill also countered hidden weapons to some extent.

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

However, the great saber Jiang Dali carried on his back clearly was not merely for show. It meant he surely possessed an exquisite saber technique.

That was what depressed Du Dajin the most.

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

His fist and foot techniques were formidable, his Iron Cloth Skill was astonishing, his hidden weapons were superb, his movement technique was not bad either, and he even seemed to know a powerful saber technique.

He was developed far too comprehensively.

At this point, Du Dajin did not even have the leisure to speak. Jiang Dali completely suppressed him in strength, and the longer they fought, the more the impacts churned his Qi and Blood. The people from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency watching from nearby all looked grim and broke into cold sweats. None of them had expected a mountain stronghold master to be this formidable.

Bang—

Another clash of fists.

Thud, thud, thud... Du Dajin retreated again and again, unable to steady himself. He suddenly let out a furious roar and drew his saber. His killing intent condensed as he rushed forward five steps, pressing in.

"Kill!"

The saber left its sheath, stabbing out in a flash. Saber light glinted as waves of blade force followed one after another, reflecting the sunlight overhead. It was like a rising sun appearing over the surface of water, dazzling clouds of light unfolding amid surging waves.

"Fine saber technique!"

Jiang Dali laughed loudly. His body suddenly moved like a flying cicada, darting diagonally one moment and sideways the next, slipping out from the saber radiance that resembled waves and sunlight.

"Chief Escort Du, take one of my saber strikes too—Golden-Backed Tiger Fiend!"

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

At once, this saber technique broke through its modest mastery and reached the realm of practiced proficiency.

Buzz—

Jiang Dali drew his saber fiercely. All nine rings on the golden-backed broadsaber trembled, letting out a long cry like a tiger's roar. He swung the saber in his hand and chopped down furiously.

Saber light burst forth, golden radiance dazzling to the eye. It was like a small sun exploding from the east and abruptly appearing, its brilliant light making many of the surrounding people unable to open their eyes.

"Ah!?"

Du Dajin had never expected Jiang Dali's saber technique to be so fierce and refined. The blinding radiance blooming from the golden saber and the tiger roar erupting from the humming nine rings not only affected his vision, but also his hearing. He felt as though a glowing ferocious tiger were truly pouncing upon him. For a moment, his mind faltered, and every hair on his body stood on end.

An unprecedented sense of danger enveloped him in an instant. The aura of death descended with chilling force!

Du Dajin screamed wildly and slashed three times in succession to block the attack. The three arcs of saber light contained nearly all the power of his life, drawing out every bit of his potential under the threat of danger.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A dense eruption of violent sounds, like iron being hammered, exploded forth. The fierce impact split Du Dajin's tiger's mouth, forcing him to retreat without stopping. The saber in his hand nearly flew from his grasp.

When enemies met on a narrow path, the braver one won. At this moment, the saying was perfectly embodied!

The two exchanged three heavy saber clashes in succession. Jiang Dali's strikes grew stronger with each blow, his arm muscles bulging and his wild momentum becoming even more overwhelming. The bandit players around them were filled with burning excitement and cheered madly.

Du Dajin, however, retreated again and again, his Qi and Blood churning so violently that he nearly vomited blood.

As he took his third step back, a flying dagger suddenly shot from Jiang Dali's hand like a startled swan.

Flying Star Spreading Hatred!

"Despicable!"

Du Dajin cried out in terror, his soul nearly leaving his body. In haste, he spun his saber to deflect it while pushing off with his feet and leaping backward.

With a ringing explosion.

The flying dagger was barely knocked away, but Du Dajin's saber also flew from his hand.

Jiang Dali sneered, a sharp gleam flashing repeatedly in his eyes. "Chief Escort Du, if you still refuse to use your ultimate technique, you'll die beneath Jiang's saber!"

Whoosh—

The golden-ringed broadsaber followed close behind, slashing toward him once more!

"Bastard! You forced me to do this!"

The veins on Du Dajin's face bulged as he roared and abruptly struck out with his palm.

Great Vajra Palm!

His hand seemed to instantly grow firm and swollen with muscle, his Qi and Blood surging full. With the slightest movement, it produced the sound of steel clashing.

He took one step forward, and his palm slammed heavily against the back of the golden-ringed broadsaber.

With a resounding clang.

Jiang Dali's arm shook violently.

The nine rings on the golden-ringed broadsaber buzzed and trembled wildly, nearly flying out of his hand.

In that instant, Du Dajin charged forward as if possessed. He suddenly shifted from the Vajra Palm to the Twenty-Four Demon Subduing Palms, unleashing a blur of strikes.

"Rigid and flexible conversion!?"

Jiang Dali's eyes narrowed. He also extended one hand, raising his palm and channeling force into it. His arm strangely swelled by a full circle, veins bulging as he likewise struck out fiercely with his palm.

Eight Directions Palm.

Using rigidity against flexibility!

Bang!

The two palms collided like lightning.

Du Dajin's palm went numb, and his body stalled.

Jiang Dali's face suddenly flushed red. His enormous, burly body swayed like an iron tower several times, while his feet violently crushed the ground beneath them and sank into the soil, sending dirt flying.

For a moment.

The two stood facing sideways, their bodies forming almost a forty-five-degree angle.

It happened to be an angle from which neither could easily attack the other.

Du Dajin gave a sharp shout, turning to strike again.

Jiang Dali suddenly laughed. "Chief Escort Du, you've already lost. Don't tell me you intend to break your word to a bandit leader like me?"

Du Dajin's eyes narrowed. His expression shifted unpredictably, ugly and stiff as he stood in place with a cold sneer. "Village Lord Jiang, you have already been injured by my Demon Subduing Palm. If I wanted to kill you now, it would be effortless."

Jiang Dali's burly body suddenly trembled. His frightening bluish-black physique returned to its normal skin tone as he exited the Iron Cloth Skill state. The skin on one of his arms even suddenly split open, blood vessels bursting beneath it in a horrifying sight that made the surrounding bandits cry out.

The players' expressions changed drastically at the sight.

If their stronghold master truly fell, the tree would fall and the monkeys scatter. Those who had just joined Black Wind Stronghold would be finished.

"Ha ha ha." Jiang Dali laughed boldly, seeming completely unconcerned by his injuries. "Chief Escort Du, there's no need for you to endure it so painfully either. Internal injuries are worsened by holding them in, so don't let yours get worse. If you think you can take me down now, why not try and see whether the hundred-odd brothers of this stronghold agree?"

As soon as he said this, the more than one hundred bandits who had been somewhat fearful began banging their weapons and roaring in response. Some of the bandits who had already been stationed there even raised bows and crossbows, aiming them into the field.

Second Boss Xiong Ba decisively lit the firewood beneath Bronze Bull and called for the brothers to surround it, roaring, "Chief Escort Du, I, Xiong Ba, respect you as a man. But if you break your word today, then us brothers need not speak of honor with you. Your daughter and disciple will all be buried with us."

"You lot...!"

Du Dajin glared furiously, grinding his teeth. He could no longer suppress the injuries within him, and several streaks of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, staining his beard.

This only further confirmed that he was putting on a brave front.

The bandits immediately became even more brazen.

Meanwhile, everyone from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency grew especially panicked.

Jiang Dali lowered his eyelids slightly and gave a low snort. "Chief Escort Du, before the Shaolin Demon Subduing Palm reaches great mastery, one cannot cultivate similar hard techniques such as the Maha Finger alongside it. You cultivate two ultimate techniques at once. I'm afraid each time you use them, your whole body suffers, doesn't it? Do you truly think you can kill your way safely out of Black Wind Stronghold?"

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