Rocks of varying sizes cascaded down from the cliff top, which was seven or eight zhang high. The larger ones were as big as millstones, while the smaller ones were the size of fists. They rained down on the group of martial monks!
"Careful!!!"
Amid cries of alarm, the rock was already upon them. A monk raised his shield upwards, only to be struck by the massive rock, which weighed dozens of kilograms, knocking him and his shield to the ground, his brains splattering everywhere.
Some people weren't killed on the spot, but they were knocked to the ground with broken bones and torn tendons!
In just a few breaths, the warrior monks suffered another heavy blow. Arrows flew from the river, and rocks rained down from above, turning the narrow pass into a death trap!
Corpses lay strewn about, the wounded wailed, and blood stained the yellow earth, flowing down the slope into the canal and turning a section of the river dark red.
Kongzheng was also in the group. Thanks to his superb martial arts skills, he was not injured, but at this moment his eyes were bloodshot and he was furious!
In fact, he never expected that the people from the Fist Academy would have the audacity to launch a preemptive strike, let alone that they would actually come to attack on a cargo ship belonging to the Fist Academy Flying Feather Gang!
The cavalry units that had already left the pass heard the commotion behind them and turned back, but were blocked by the narrow terrain and could not rush to their aid.
The road through this narrow pass was already congested; if these cavalrymen tried to squeeze through, it would only make it more crowded and wouldn't help at all.
And even if the cavalry wanted to shoot arrows at the cargo ships on the river, it would be difficult to do so because this section of the canal is a sharp bend here, forming a 'Y' shape. The cargo ships and monks are in the lower half of the bend, and the cavalry team is in the upper half of the bend, with cliffs on both sides.
The cavalrymen's firing range was blocked by the cliff.
Unless the cavalry can get to the other side of the river, or jump into the water and go downstream to chase the cargo ships.
But clearly neither of these is possible.
Therefore, at this moment, these strongest cavalrymen could only watch helplessly as their comrades behind them were attacked!
The monks' group was in chaos; the narrow terrain had stretched the group into a long snake. The front wanted to retreat, the rear wanted to charge forward, and the middle was a jumbled mess.
"The rear guard is now the front guard, retreat!"
Kongzheng quickly issued the order.
Only by leaving this pass can we avoid being constantly on the defensive and allow our own cavalry to come to our aid.
The reason for not ordering them to move forward was that the road ahead was at a 'hearth', where the path was narrowest, making it difficult for hundreds of people to pass quickly.
If you move backward, you only need to run in a straight line, and everyone can retreat as quickly as possible.
As the head of the Warrior Monk Hall, Kongzheng is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also adept at leading troops in battle and able to issue timely and correct orders.
But as the rear guard of the warrior monks became the front guard, preparing to withdraw from this pass, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from the dense forest to their right!
Wu Shuangren charged out of the woods first!
The reason he chose to ambush them here was not because he was a prophet, but because the Flying Feather Gang's cargo ships had been sailing this route for so many years and were already very familiar with the terrain.
When Wu Shuangren asked where would be a suitable place to set up an ambush, the Flying Feather Gang members immediately thought of this place.
As for the specific arrangements of manpower, such as having the archers attack the cargo ships, having the recruits throw stones from the cliffs, and waiting for the cavalry to round the bend before making their move, etc., most of these were arranged by Bai Jinhuan.
The opponent's years of studying military strategy had indeed paid off; with a series of arrangements, he separated the enemy's infantry and cavalry, and their morale was thrown into chaos the moment they met!
97 Pure World King (5000+ words, please subscribe)
Wu Shuangren wore leather armor, and his long-handled broadsword dragged diagonally on the ground. As he ran, the blade scraped against the gravel, sending sparks flying.
He didn't use those twenty sets of infantry armor in this battle because they were too conspicuous!
If they can't eliminate all witnesses in this battle, and with the Flying Feather Gang members present, the consequences of bringing out twenty sets of infantry armor are unpredictable.
After all, the Wu Dynasty had not yet fallen.
For the same reason, the team sent by Mist Hidden Temple did not use infantry armor; most of them wore leather armor.
Wu Shuangren was followed by more than 200 people, including more than 160 militiamen who formed a spear formation, eight men per row. The front row held up shields, and the men in the back row extended their spears through the gaps in the front row, instantly forming an impenetrable spear wall.
As Wu Shuangren charged out, the more than 160 militiamen marched forward, their spear formations advancing like moving steel thorns!
In addition, there were more than thirty people surrounding Wu Shuangren. They were not his personal guards, but more than thirty of the most elite martial artists of the Flying Feather Gang.
Xu Yu followed Wu Shuangren on the left, carrying another Mo Dao; Bai Jinhuan followed on the right, carrying a Guan Dao; and Luo Heng followed behind Wu Shuangren, wielding two swords.
"Kill--"
Wu Shuangren was the first to charge into the group of martial monks. His Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) whistled through the air as he slashed at one of the monks. This monk had clearly also practiced Internal Skill and possessed considerable skill. Hot white breath billowed from his mouth and nose as he raised his iron rod to block.
Clang--
With a loud bang, the monk took a step back. Wu Shuangren -handled broadsword still had momentum, pressing down on the iron rod in the opponent's hand, and the blade thrust forward fiercely.
The monk released his iron rod and dodged to the side. Wu Shuangren's long-handled broadsword slashed diagonally, cutting into the monk's left shoulder, tearing through his leather armor, severing his collarbone, and cleaving open his chest. Blood gushed out like a waterfall!
This monk's Internal Skill cultivation was probably at the Sixth Rank, stronger than Wu Shuangren, so Wu Shuangren was enhanced when facing him.
Wu Shuangren used seven moves against Bai Jinhuan, Fourth Rank martial artist. But against this Sixth Rank martial monk, he only used two moves!
With a flick of his wrist, Wu Shuangren pulled the blade from the corpse and swept it horizontally.
Two monks stood side by side, raising their shields. Their long-handled swords struck the iron-clad wooden shields with a loud thud, sending splinters flying.
The two monks staggered backward. Wu Shuangren used his agility to circle around to the left and slice through the man's abdomen, causing his intestines to spill out.
He took another step forward, sweeping away the second man's shield-wielding arm; the severed limb flew through the air...
Xu Yu stayed by Wu Shuangren's side, focusing on helping him deal with the surrounding enemies. His divine power combined with his Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) was a nightmare for ordinary monks!
With a single vertical slash, he cleaved a monk in two, sword and all! Then, with a backhand flick, he knocked another monk away with the back of his blade, shattering his sternum. The monk was sent flying backward, crashing into two of his companions behind him.
Bai Jinhuan and Luo Heng also charged in, one wielding a guandao with sweeping, powerful strokes, the other using two swords in rapid succession, forcing the enemy to retreat repeatedly.
Following them were more than thirty martial artists from the Flying Feather Gang, all dressed in leather armor and carrying various weapons, who charged in.
In an instant, this small 'spearhead force' led by Wu Shuangren threw the Mist Hidden Temple's warrior monks into even greater chaos!
In the group, Kongzheng also noticed Wu Shuangren, who was leading the charge.
Although Wu Shuangren's displayed strength did not seem to reach the First Rate level, the other party was clearly the leader and young enough that his identity could be basically confirmed.
Kongzheng raised his crescent shovel, stomped his feet on the ground, and charged forward like a cannonball, knocking the monk who was blocking his way away.
"Make way, everyone!"
The crescent-shaped shovel in his hand, made entirely of fine steel, had a head curved like a crescent moon and a tail as sharp as a spear. Weighing eighty-eight pounds, it felt as light as a feather in his hands.
"Wu Shuangren!!!"
Kongzheng's voice, booming like a bell, echoed through the narrow pass, "Do you dare to fight me?!"
Wu Shuangren had just pulled his Mo Dao from a monk's chest when he heard this. He looked up, a glint of excitement in his eyes. He flicked the blood off his blade and charged forward without hesitation!
Both sides tacitly made way for the two.
In an instant, the area within a ten-foot radius of the two people was deserted, with only corpses and blood scattered on the ground.
Kongzheng stopped and faced Wu Shuangren at a distance of one zhang. He took a deep breath, his chest bulging like a bellows, and hot white breath came out from his mouth and nose. The veins on his bare arms bulged, his muscles were taut, and his skin turned dark red.
Wu Shuangren also felt his blood surging within him, and the Traits "[Match for One Person]" floated above his head, its emerald green light flickering only visible to him.
Kongzheng Mist Hidden Temple, Second Rank martial artist!
With the abbot of Mist Hidden Temple in seclusion for many years, many people believe that Kongzheng is the number one expert in Yi Province!
This was the first First Rate expert Wu Shuangren had encountered so far, and also his strongest opponent; the enhancement from the Traits far surpassed anything he had experienced before.
Qi and blood surge like rivers, simultaneously dividing into nine streams, all ultimately converging at the heart; with each heartbeat, a continuous flow of power surges throughout the body, clearing away all 'obstacles' within, allowing for effortless exertion without any stagnation or obstruction, and enabling power to move at will.
My mindset also became unstoppable, like the bright moon shining on a great river!
'Is this what it means to reach the First Rate level of ' Method of One Person '?'
Wu Shuangren seemed to be deep in thought.
Kongzheng looked at Wu Shuangren with a strange expression, even though Wu Shuangren hadn't given him the feeling of being First Rate- rate expert just a moment ago.
But at this moment, the sense of danger emanating from the other side felt like steel needles piercing to the bone!
'This child is strange; we must not be careless.'
Kongzheng thought to himself, and took the lead, leaping a distance of ten feet in one step. His crescent shovel, like a venomous dragon emerging from its cave, pierced straight at Wu Shuangren's face.
This seemingly simple shovel strike, with its tip trembling and drawing a subtle arc, blocked all of Wu Shuangren's evasive maneuvers, while the shovel itself remained as steady as a mountain, its power concentrated and undissipated, concealing a multitude of subsequent changes.
Wu Shuangren stepped forward, his Mo Dao slashing diagonally upwards, the blade striking the most crucial point where the shovel handle was charging up, easily piercing the thrust.
Clang--!!!
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the pass, sparks flying everywhere. The yellow earth beneath their feet exploded, sending dust billowing into the air.
Those above the Third Rank can be considered First Rate.
According to the requirements of the martial arts examination, starting from the Subordinate Third Rank, a martial artist must be able to lift a stone weight five times their own body weight.
Putting everything else aside, in terms of strength alone, Kongzheng enough to lift a 1,000-pound object!
If one can lift a thousand pounds, the strength one can unleash in battle will naturally far exceed a thousand pounds.
He wielded a crescent-shaped shovel, capable of injuring or killing ordinary martial artists who were merely touched by it!
In this attack, Wu Shuangren was not at a disadvantage in terms of strength.
Kongzheng was even more surprised. In his opinion, Wu Shuangren's Internal Skill cultivation was at most at the Third Rank rank, and there was a certain gap between the Second Rank and Third Rank.
Kongzheng flicked his wrist, and the crescent shovel slid down smoothly, its head brushing against the handle of the Mo Dao, slicing towards Wu Shuangren's hands that were holding the sword.
Wu Shuangren did not withdraw his sword. He suddenly jerked his wrist, and the hilt of the Mo Dao trembled violently as if it were alive. The crescent shovel was bounced upward by a force.
But the shovel suddenly curved into a strange arc, like a snake raising its head, changing from a slash to a flick, the crescent blade aimed straight for Wu Shuangren's throat!
This sudden change of tactics came without warning, swift as lightning, combining fierceness with a touch of femininity.
Kongzheng has rich combat experience, and even though Wu Shuangren has Internal Skill strength that is no weaker than his, he is convinced that he can win!
Realm is realm, and combat power is combat power.
Wu Shuangren suddenly changed his footwork, his body floating back half a step like a tide, just avoiding the upward thrust of the crescent shovel. He then immediately pulled his body back, and with a horizontal slash of his Mo Dao, he swept towards Kongzheng's neck!
"Good--"
Kongzheng shouted loudly and slammed his crescent shovel down, smashing away the incoming Mo Dao.
The two then engaged in a fierce battle!
Kongzheng's shovel technique can be fierce and violent, like a thunderclap; or it can be gentle and tender, like a spring breeze caressing a willow.
The interplay of strength and gentleness, and the subtle variations, are truly exquisite!
Wu Shuangren unleashed the Cloud Tiger Seven Kills Saber Technique to its fullest extent, breaking through both raging storms and gentle spring breezes!
[Match for One Person] made Wu Shuangren's Internal Skill strength not much Kongzheng to Kong Zheng's, and both of them had a sense of returning to simplicity in their moves - all kinds of moves were used at will and with ease.
The two exchanged more than ten blows, the sounds of metal clashing echoing continuously, sparks flying constantly. Each collision made the eardrums of those around them ache, and the shockwaves stirred up the dust on the ground, creating a hazy cloud of smoke!
Like two giant beasts locked in a frenzied battle, those around could no longer see the fighting clearly and could only try to stay away from the area where they were fighting, while they themselves continued their own battle.
Everyone knew perfectly well that the outcome of the battle between the two would directly affect the course of the war!
On the twenty-first move, Kongzheng thrust his Wu Shuangren straight at Wu Shuangren deflected it with his Mo Dao. Just as Wu Shuangren was about to counterattack, Kongzheng suddenly changed his move. Using the force of the blow from one end of Wu Shuangren's Mo Dao, the other end of his crescent-shaped shovel, hanging upside down like a crescent moon, swung upwards at an extremely fast speed, aiming straight for Wu Shuangren's abdomen.
Use someone's strength against them, transform yin and yang!
Wu Shuangren quickly, his Mo Dao pressing down to parry.
Clang!
As the blade and shovel clashed, Wu Shuangren felt a surge of force flowing through the blade, like layers of surging tides, causing his arm to go numb.
Kongzheng seized the opportunity, flipped his wrist, and suddenly used the crescent-shaped shovel head to tightly wrap around the blade of the Mo Dao. At the same time, he stepped forward and slapped Wu Shuangren's chest with his left hand!
This sudden shift from weaponry to close-quarters combat was both abrupt and perfectly natural.
Kongzheng Wu Shuangren's skill in weaponry was in no way inferior to his own, and even showed a tendency to get stronger as the fight went on. So he decisively changed his strategy and decided to have a close-quarters fight with Wu Shuangren!
He simply couldn't believe that a young man not even twenty years old, even if he started learning martial arts from the womb, practicing Internal Skill and swordsmanship, would have time to also master fist and foot techniques.
Wu Shuangren decisively released his right hand from the hilt of the knife, and struck out with his palm, his palm slightly concave, gathering strength.
Bang!
The two exchanged a palm strike, Kongzheng immediately changed his move, turning his palm into a claw and using a grappling technique to lock onto Wu Shuangren's wrist joint!
Wu Shuangren twisted his arm and flicked his wrist, breaking free from the grappling technique.