The Three Great Protectors had started fighting.
Although the possibility had not been entirely unexpected, the two girls were still somewhat surprised to see them actually throwing punches over the spoils. But when they took a closer look, they discovered that the three were fighting barehanded.
That was right—no tokens, secret arts, or weapons. Even with their cultivation foundations, as peak third-turn experts of the current age who might have already absorbed the Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend, their fight still looked no different from a brawl in the countryside. At most, they were a little fiercer and faster.
Beiyou was the first to fall. It was not that he was weak, but that he was too strong. Bore's martial arts lay entirely in the use of long weapons, while Blood Minister was proficient in hand-to-hand combat but relied wholly on his token to inflict damage. Only Beiyou could split mountains and shatter rocks with his legs alone. No wonder the others had ganged up on him.
Blood Minister and Bore then fought one-on-one. Bore was tough and durable, while Blood Minister was an expert at evasion, leaving the battle deadlocked for a time. Suddenly, Blood Minister trapped Bore's neck between his legs with a deadly scissor kick, then clamped both arms around Bore's arm. He had formed a cross armbar. In a fight between mortals, that was practically a killing move.
Bore held out for more than ten seconds, but finally could not endure any longer and activated the Defense Barrier. Blood Minister immediately released him and backed away. Even with his face battered and swollen, he could not hide his good mood. "Last time, you managed to wrench yourself free from my cross lock. How come you admitted defeat so quickly this time?"
"If not for my mistake,