The 42nd Chapter

The first to greet Bai Lang were the White Armored soldiers, who unleashed volleys from their powerful bows and heavy swords. These battle-hardened veterans attacked Bai Lang with direct shots rather than arcing fire—since it was just him, there was no point in trying to arc or deliver multiple volleys. They decided on a single volley of direct fire from fifty paces. Judging by the situation, they might even get another round off. Within thirty paces, the White Armored soldiers were confident in their powerful bows and armor-piercing arrows—they could even aim for the face.

Bai Lang swung his Polished Purple Gold Mace, deflecting each heavy arrow. Each of these arrows could easily pierce a person, and might even penetrate ordinary chain mail or cotton armor. Bai Lang quickened his pace. He figured the Golden Bell Shield technique should be able to block arrows that penetrated armor, especially since he was wearing mountain pattern armor and chain mail. Gradually beginning to employ his Lightness Skill, Bai Lang's charge was not much slower than that of armored heavy cavalry. Abahai and the others watching were no longer surprised—such warriors possessed great skill, and galloping at full speed in heavy armor was commonplace for them.

However, they still felt a bitter taste in their mouths. The losses would undoubtedly be significant. If only they could capture this person, it would be worth it, but if they couldn't, it would be a real loss, and they would need to find another solution. Just then, the second volley of direct fire was loosed. Bai Lang felt a slight tremor when blocking the impact of these arrows—his Purple Gold Mace weighed sixty-four catties. When the White Armored soldiers tempered their strength and cultivated their martial arts in normal times, they used similar weights with stone locks and great swords, so the heavy arrows they shot with all their might now possessed truly terrifying power.

Essentially, if a Ming soldier took an arrow, it was highly likely to pierce through their helmet. However, Bai Lang continued to strike the arrows, sending all those aimed at his face flying. As for his body, it was ultimately impossible to block everything, and a few arrows still hit him. The arrows pierced his mountain pattern armor, passed through his chain mail, and indeed penetrated Bai Lang's flesh by several inches. Not much blood flowed, but the pain ignited Bai Lang's killing intent, and he roared, accelerating his speed once more.

Wielding his twin maces, Bai Lang charged headfirst into the already-set Tiger Spears and large shields. Sweeping his maces horizontally, the Tiger Spearheads snapped off at their joints or bent completely. The White Armored soldiers holding the spears let go in time, otherwise, they might have suffered shattered Tiger Mouths. Then, White Armored soldiers wielding large shields surged forward, shrinking behind their shields and trying to constrict Bai Lang's movement space. At this point, Ge Bu Xian Chao Ha behind them began preparing to throw grappling hooks and lassos, striving to ensnare this brave Ming general and then drag him to his death with the power of multiple horses.

Bai Lang let out a great roar and suddenly retreated, using his thigh muscles to drive his shoulder and back into the shields behind him. The power of the Golden Bell Shield completely ignored the spikes protruding from the shields, and a tremendous force violently shoved the shield-bearing soldier aside. Elite soldiers formed into a military formation could indeed withstand a fierce warrior like Bai Lang, at least for the first few exchanges. But if Bai Lang used his footwork speed to force this rather clumsy formation to turn, then a weakness would emerge.

The head of the Polished Purple Gold Mace was shaped like a not-so-sharp four-sided armor-piercing cone. Under Bai Lang's powerful thrusts, it quickly broke through a large shield. However, he was too late to kill the White Armored soldier—because other shield bearers and soldiers who had re-picked up their weapons swarmed forward. Bai Lang had already dodged several lassos. Although in a sorry state, these Bayala had held on until now.

"It's time to use my true skills!" Bai Lang resolved. He took a deep breath, his internal energy circulating rapidly. He took a large stride, leaped into the air, and stomped heavily onto the shield in front of him. This step utilized the force of impact, transferring the shield's force directly into the Bayala's arms. This shock broke his arm bones and simultaneously pushed the shield further back. With a cracking sound, the shield, along with the broken arms behind it, was driven directly into the White Armored soldier's chest and abdomen.

Blood and internal organs sprayed out, and the man fell backward, clearly near death. Bai Lang seized the opportunity, bringing his twin maces together and smashing them down. The second shield bearer's large shield was directly smashed, creating a huge dent and cracks—this was a heavy shield reinforced with iron plating, and this item weighing tens of catties was essentially ruined by a single blow. Then, Bai Lang swiftly swung the Purple Gold Mace in his right hand again, smashing it down on the soldier in front of him, killing him.

Bai Lang flipped his wrists, tucking his twin maces behind his back, and lunged into the chaotic, broken ranks, stirring up a foul wind. These elite soldiers, who had honed their martial arts in military formations between the White Mountains and Black Waters, were very familiar with this foul wind. It was the scent of a fierce tiger, as if a living great cat had leaped into their midst. Bai Lang's movements became incredibly swift yet extremely powerful, his figure flashing like a true fierce tiger.

The power of his twin Tiger Claws was likely no less than that of the Purple Gold Mace. He transformed his claws into fists; with a grab from his left claw, someone staggered and lost their footing. Bai Lang grabbed the Tiger Spearhead in the soldier's hand and pulled. The sharp spear blade couldn't even cut his hand. The next second, a fist shot out, hitting the soldier's chest directly. The chest caved in, and the back bulged out—if not for the chain mail and cotton armor holding it together, the soldier's backbones and internal organs would have completely exploded outward.

Bai Lang's footsteps paused, and his figure elongated, placing him in front of Ge Bu Xian Chao Ha. These armored warriors and their horses quickly threw their grappling hooks and lassos. Bai Lang's claws snatched at the air, catching several grappling hooks and lassos in his hands. Then, he exhaled, a sound not like a tiger's roar but more like a bell. Using this sound, Bai Lang drew his arms in, immediately pulling the men and horses towards him.

Bai Lang pushed down and pulled up, using the momentum of being pulled and the counter-force to leap high into the air. He pulled his arms in again, somersaulting in mid-air to form a ball. When he unfurled again, he had used the momentum for a spinning kick. The armored soldier on horseback was not fast enough and only managed to block with his heavy sword. However, Bai Lang's leg was as if cast from pig iron; it not only snapped the heavy sword but also kicked the armored soldier into a strange, L-shaped contortion.

To him, these heavily armored cavalry soldiers wearing double layers of armor were like firewood, easily snapped. Applying more force with his foot, the dead Ge Bu Xian Chao Ha fell from his horse. The next moment, the warhorse, startled and trying to flee, had its neck snapped. Bai Lang stomped on the horse's neck, and while crushing the warhorse, he used the momentum to lunge at the second Ge Bu Xian Chao Ha. Bai Lang, employing his true Lightness Skill, had completely miscalculated the Bayala, Niulu Zhangjing, and Fende Bosiku.