Xu Rong dodged to the side, his longsword spinning as he slashed diagonally towards Wu Shuangren's neck.
Wu Shuangren neither dodged nor evaded, letting Xu Rong strike his neck guard. He used his Leakless Golden Body to withstand the blow, and then slashed at Xu Rong with his long-handled broadsword.
Xu Rong immediately dragged his sword and retreated, the tip of the longsword slicing through the armor plates on his chest, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound.
After only a few exchanges, Xu Rong was completely at a disadvantage!
He is indeed skilled in leading troops into battle, but in terms of one-on-one combat skills, he can be considered the weakest of the First Rate masters that Wu Shuangren has fought so far.
Xu Rong's breathing rhythm changed accordingly, and he also used a secret technique to stimulate potential.
Wu Shuangren strode forward, his Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) thrusting, swinging, and slashing in a continuous barrage, employing the fastest offensive technique from the "Cloud Tiger Seven Kills" manual, "Flowing Clouds Like Wind."
Xu Rong retreated while quickly parrying with his sword.
Bang bang bang bang--
The two blades clashed repeatedly, sparks flying everywhere.
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged seventeen blows. Xu Rong's arm went numb, and he was horrified!
He had assumed that Wu Shuangren was at his limit, which was why he hadn't been able to unleash the full power of First Rank expert.
But as his own strength increased, Wu Shuangren's strength also increased accordingly?!
After the two exchanged thirty-nine blows, Wu Shuangren's Mo Dao (陌刀) suddenly spun rapidly, using the force of the impact, after a clash with Xu Rong's longsword. The hilt of the blade pointed upwards, striking Xu Rong's left knee heavily through his protective skirt.
Bang!
Xu Rong grunted, staggered, and became unsteady on his feet.
He doesn't possess martial arts like the Leakless Golden Body!
Wu Shuangren seized the opportunity, his Mo Dao spun again, and slashed down diagonally.
Xu Rong parried with his sword, but due to his unstable posture and incomplete exertion, he was slashed and forced to kneel on one knee!
Wu Shuangren immediately grazed the hilt of Xu Rong's sword and slashed at the fingers holding the sword. Xu Rong had no choice but to release his right hand and, with one hand, slash at Wu Shuangren's waist.
Wu Shuangren neither dodged nor evaded, and took the blow head-on, the Mo Dao slamming heavily onto Xu Rong's helmet.
Because of the Leakless Golden Body defense, this strike lacked power.
Bang!
The immense force still left Xu Rong dizzy and disoriented. He reacted a beat too late, and Wu Shuangren had already struck his neck guard!
Xu Rong immediately rolled to the side to absorb the force, thus avoiding having his neck severed.
Wu Shuangren chased after him and slashed at him.
"Stop! Or I'll kill him!"
In a corner of the city wall ahead, one of Xu Rong's personal guards held a steel knife to Guo Jiwang's neck and shouted loudly at Wu Shuangren.
This was Xu Rong's precautionary measure. He had instructed his personal guard beforehand to pull Guo Jiwang to the back and hide him, so that he could use him to threaten Wu Shuangren at a critical moment.
Although he didn't think Wu Shuangren would be so foolish as to be threatened, he still kept a backup plan for himself.
What if it works?
Wu Shuangren glanced up once, then continued his pursuit of Xu Rong without hesitation!
A fierce glint flashed in the guard's eyes as he raised his steel knife, poised to chop off Guo Jiwang's head.
Whoosh!
A chain whistled through the air and wrapped around the arm of the soldier who was holding a knife.
Just in case, Wu Shuangren carried five iron chains with him to climb the city wall, and they came in handy now!
Wu Shuangren exerted his strength and pulled the soldier over. At the same time, he stepped forward, passed Xu Rong who had gotten up again, and plunged his knife into the soldier's eye socket.
"Careful!"
Guo Jiwang suddenly shouted at Wu Shuangren.
Behind him, Xu Rong raised his sword and struck Wu Shuangren in the back!
Wu Shuangren's armor on his back was mostly torn, so he couldn't use his Leakless Golden Body to block the attack. He took a few steps forward to deflect the force, preventing Xu Rong's blade from landing properly, and then quickly turned around, sweeping his long-handled broadsword horizontally.
Several guards abandoned Xu Nanzhi and rushed over to join the battle.
Wu Shuangren ignored them completely, focusing his attention on Xu Rong and using his Leakless Golden Body to withstand the attacks from his personal guards.
Xu Rong was completely panicked at this moment. If it hadn't been for that personal guard using Guo Jiwang to block Wu Shuangren, he would be dead by now!
Wu Shuangren's attacks were fierce, but Xu Rong's swordsmanship became increasingly chaotic.
In a flash, the blade struck Xu Rong's unarmored eye socket with pinpoint accuracy!
Xu Rong's body trembled, and he fell backward.
This renowned general in the Shannan Army could not believe until his death that he would be the first to scale the walls and take his head from among thousands of soldiers!
"General!!"
The guards nearby were horrified at the sight.
Wu Shuangren strode over and thrust his Mo Dao through the gaps in Xu Rong's armor into his abdomen.
He gripped the longsword with both hands, impaled Xu Rong's corpse on the tip of the blade, and raised it high.
Xu Rong is dead!!!
Wu Shuangren unleashed his Internal Skill, his voice booming like thunder, echoing across the city wall.
The soldiers of the Shannan Army who were still fighting on the city wall all looked up in this direction. When they saw the corpse on the tip of Wu Shuangren, their morale collapsed!
Northeast of Rong Province City.
The clash between the two powerful figures has reached a fever pitch.
If Wu Shuangren were here, he would clearly see that the Traits above the two people's heads were burning like flames!
Lin Qian unleashed his full movement technique, moving so fast that he left a trail of afterimages.
He kept circling around Lu Yulin, thrusting his spear, the resulting gusts of wind stirring up dust, forming a huge, visible vortex centered on Lu Yulin!
Lu Yulin's movement range was much smaller than Lin Qian's, and his speed was not fast either, making him appear somewhat passive.
But in reality, he was the one who gradually gained the upper hand!
The helplessness he felt facing the officials in the capital, the frustration of being forced to become an outlaw at Mount Liang, the resentment after his defeat in Yi Province...
The world is like a surging tide, and the turbulent waves of fate always leave Lu Yulin unable to obtain what he desires, leaving him helpless.
The countless layers of "waves" blocking my way are just a microcosm of life.
But no one could stop him from climbing ever higher towards the highest realm of martial arts!
Lu Yulin is taking steps toward the most important moment of his life!
Lin Qian strode forward and thrust his spear at Lu Yulin's face in a single, powerful strike.
Lu Yulin blocked the gun, advanced and thrust back, then swept across! He smashed it in fury!
The dragon's figure roared as it broke through the towering waves, its ascent unstoppable!
Lin Qian spun his spear almost frantically, pushing his speed to the limit, but the force coming from the other side continued to rise, seemingly without end!
His martial arts skills were already inferior to Lu Yulin's, and Lu Yulin had a few more days to comprehend and adapt to the new realm.
Therefore, Lin Qian only has a 40% chance of winning this battle.
If Lu Yulin's left wrist injury hadn't been still healing, Lin Qian's chances of winning would have been even lower!
But when he committed the murder in the capital and decided to assassinate a high-ranking official, did he ever have absolute certainty of success?
Snow Leopard roam among treacherous snow-capped peaks, revealing their true nature only when facing life and death!
Facing the increasingly unstoppable Lu Yulin, Lin Qian's eyes were firm, and he stepped forward without fear.
A sweeping swing of the spear, a turning thrust, a backflip...
Each move was more ferocious and dangerous than the last!
In the swirling dust, two figures gradually drew closer.
Boom!!!
With a thunderous roar, the figures separated again.
The onlookers stared wide-eyed, eager to know the final result.
Yan Xiaobing couldn't help but rush forward a few steps, craning his neck to look.
The next second, a look of joy appeared on his face.
Amidst the swirling dust, Lu Yulin stood holding his gun, his imposing presence unstoppable!
Three zhang away, Lin Qian lay on the ground, blood continuously spilling from his mouth.
Lu Yulin did not rush to take Lin Qian's life. He stood there, closed his eyes, and was completely immersed in the present moment.
It transforms from a python into a jiao (a type of dragon), and then from a jiao into a dragon.
In his battle with Lin Qian, Lu Yulin successfully elevated the Lu Family Spear Technique to its highest level.
In a single day, he transformed into a dragon and soared to the heavens!
An unprecedented surge of Mental Power rose within Lu Yulin's body, and his Internal Skill, honed over decades, was gradually undergoing changes.
The rhythm of breathing, the flow of qi and blood, the details of exertion, and even the state of the muscles, bones, and blood throughout the body are all subtly changing.
At this moment, Lu Yulin was certain that he had finally stepped into the realm of Great Grandmaster!
Hahahaha--
Overwhelmed with joy, Lu Yulin burst into laughter, the sound echoing in all directions.
"The man surnamed Lin has lost; let the Grand Commander take his life!"
Someone shouted loudly from behind, and the others echoed him.
Lin Qian's previous remarks were considered insulting by many!
Lu Yulin looked at Lin Qian, who had already stood up, and was about to speak.
"Amitabha."
A Buddhist chant rang out, and a figure rushed over, standing between the two.
It was Zhigang.
He held the Vajra Staff in one hand and placed the other palm up in front of his chest. "Grand Commander Lu, Brother Lin helped you successfully break through to the next realm, why must you take his life?"
Lu Yulin paused for a moment.
"That Lin fellow will definitely go and pledge allegiance to Wu Shuangren; keeping him around is just asking for trouble!"
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief, we can't let the tiger return to the mountain!"
"..."
Then everyone shouted.
"If you insist on killing Lin Qian today, then step over my dead body!"
Zhigang shouted loudly, interrupting everyone.
Upon hearing this, the crowd stirred.
Zhigang's only close friend on Mount Liang was Lin Qian, but he helped and guided many people.
Some of the smaller leaders present had received favors from him, and if it were really necessary to kill Zhigang, these people would not have the heart to do it.
Lu Yulin understood this as well.
He looked at Zhigang, then glanced at Lin Qian, who still had fighting ability, and hesitated.
Breaking through a realm is not an instantaneous event, but a gradual process of transformation. Although he has successfully broken through, he has not yet become a true Great Grandmaster.
He needs several more months to gradually improve his Internal Skill, enhance his physique, and adapt to the new realm.
During this period, he should remain still rather than move around. If he is accidentally injured, it may leave lasting problems and affect his ultimate achievements!