In truth, Li Yuan was not much less capable than Tang Changsheng... provided, of course, that Tang Changsheng did not use a Treasured Artifact.
Li Yuan had originally been strong enough to fight Tang Changsheng. But Tang Changsheng had seized the initiative. The first thing he had said upon appearing in the cellar implied that Li Yuan was no match for him and would need someone to rescue him...
And once Li Yuan followed that line of thought, he had already accepted its premise! His confidence and momentum were suppressed from the start. Then Tang Changsheng's words led him to realize that he was nothing more than a pawn to be sacrificed. Even though Li Yuan had long suspected as much, his confidence and momentum could not help sinking to their lowest point.
For a Yang Spirit Expert, mind and body were one. Once his confidence was suppressed, he could not bring out even thirty percent of his strength. In that respect, he was worse off than an ordinary mortal.
Tang Changsheng struck at the very moment Li Yuan's confidence hit rock bottom. Poor Li Yuan parried in a panic. Blood flashed, and one of his arms was severed, blood pouring out like a fountain.
For an ordinary person, that would certainly have been a fatal wound without prompt treatment. But for a Yang Spirit Expert, not necessarily. The bleeding stopped on its own in the blink of an eye, and the wound sealed shut. Given enough time, the arm could even grow back...
But Tang Changsheng's sword flashed past again, and one of Li Yuan's legs fell away.
Clearly, Tang Changsheng meant to take him alive!
Even a Yang Spirit True Person who suffered such grievous wounds in so short a time would lose the strength to fight back.