After all, this was a covert ambush with no bystanders, so there were fewer reservations about using armor.
Seeing twenty riders in full infantry armor charging towards them, Wu Shuangren let out a heavy sigh and turned to look at Xu Yu, whose face was covered in blood.
"Can we still fight?"
"Able!"
Xu Yu nodded emphatically, the [Lean Tiger] Traits above his head burning like flames!
Liaoming did not order everyone to rush forward at once, but instead arranged for two riders to advance side by side towards Wu Shuangren.
Wu Shuangren gripped his saber tightly, about to spur his horse to meet the attack, when a figure suddenly darted out from behind him.
Xu Yu!
The boy hunched over, his legs slamming against the ground, charging straight toward the heavily armored monk on his left like a wounded tiger!
He didn't know what "infantry armor" meant, but his intuition told him that these armored opponents were not easy to deal with, so he refused to hide behind Wu Shuangren any longer.
Wu Shuangren could no longer care about Xu Yu; he could only urge his horse toward the warrior monk on his right.
This monk wielded an iron rod as thick as a wrist, its blade engraved with incantation-like patterns. His body rose and fell with his warhorse, swinging the rod as he leaped and bringing it down with the momentum of his lowered stance.
The iron rod pierced the air, the sound of the wind muffled like the beating of a drum!
Wu Shuangren, taking advantage of the momentum of his warhorse, slashed his saber diagonally upwards. The blade collided with the iron rod in mid-air with a clang, sparks flying.
Wu Shuangren's wrist twitched suddenly, his waist twisted, and the blade slid forward along the iron rod, slashing towards the opponent's arm. The monk reacted extremely quickly, flicking the iron rod upwards to deflect the saber.
In the instant the two riders passed each other, Wu Shuangren swung his sword horizontally, the blade slicing into the monk's left shoulder. The armor plates emitted a piercing metallic scraping sound, and the monk's body swayed on his horse, but only a cut remained on his shoulder armor, the first layer of armor plates curling up to reveal the second layer underneath.
Warriors don their armor and have no inhibitions!
Wearing such armor on the battlefield allows you to ignore the vast majority of attacks.
A muffled thud came from the other side. The boy faced the monk's spear head-on, dodged the spear tip, and then slashed at the horse's leg with his sword.
However, this monk was quite skilled; he changed the direction of his spear and swept it horizontally, the iron rod colliding with the blade, knocking Xu Yu back!
The sound of hooves rose again, and two more riders charged in from the left and right.
Wu Shuangren glanced at Xu Yu, then spurred his horse to meet the spear-wielding monk on his right. The two riders clashed, spear tips piercing the air.
Wu Shuangren spun around, leaning back on his horse. The spear tip almost grazed his chest. He spurred his horse, and the warhorse accelerated, cutting into the inside of the opponent's side. As his body sprang up, his saber slashed upwards, the blade striking the monk's right arm. Sparks flew from the armor plates once again!
This powerful strike, even without breaking through the armor, dislocated the monk's arm, made him unsteady, and almost caused him to fall off his horse!
The two riders passed each other. Wu Shuangren caught his breath on horseback, sweat dripping down his face. The arrow wounds on his left shoulder and back were repeatedly aggravated by the continuous exertion of force, and he could feel his muscles trembling with each swing of his sword.
On the other side, Xu Yu also withstood the impact of the second rider. He was not on horseback, and although he was born with superhuman strength, his Internal Skill was only at the beginner level. In terms of strength, he was still inferior to these warrior monks who charged on horseback, and he was at a disadvantage in both confrontations.
The enemy's charge did not stop; wave after wave, each group consisting of two riders charging simultaneously...
Wu Shuangren gained the upper hand in each round of combat thanks to [Match for One Person], but he couldn't break through the armor directly in one round, and in the end he only managed to injure two monks.
Xu Yu on the other side had already suffered internal injuries, and blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Liaoming, standing at the very back, kept his gaze fixed on Wu Shuangren, his brows furrowed. After exchanging blows several times, he had discerned some clues; Wu Shuangren's Internal Skill cultivation did not seem to have reached the First Rate level.
How did the other side defeat Kongzheng?
At this point, is it still necessary to hide our strength?
The boy who wasn't riding a horse also Liaoming. The boy's way of exerting force was very crude, obviously his Internal Skill was not high, but he was incredibly strong and had extremely strong bones. An ordinary Fourth Rank martial artist would have died in these rounds of charges long ago, but this boy had managed to withstand them!
At this moment, the first nine groups had completed their charge. Liaoming his gaze, nodded to the last monk beside him who had not yet charged, and the two spurred their horses and charged out.
Liaoming intentionally concealed his aura, not fully activating his Internal Skill. Wearing a mask and holding an iron spear with the tip pointing downwards, he looked no different from the other monks who had charged in succession. He wanted Wu Shuangren to mistake him for an ordinary monk, and then suddenly unleash his power in a single exchange, deciding the outcome with a single spear thrust!
Wu Shuangren saw Liaoming charging towards him and immediately switched the target he was locked onto with [Match for One Person].
The next moment, his blood and qi surged within him, and all the power in his body seemed to coalesce into one, which he could mobilize at will.
'This feeling!'
Wu Shuangren's spirits lifted; this was similar to the level of Internal Skill enhancement he had received when facing Kongzheng.
This means the newcomer is no ordinary martial monk, but First Rate- tier expert!
Wu Shuangren gripped his broadsword tightly, remaining calm and composed.
Liaoming's iron spear was longer, so Wu Shuangren entered his attack range first.
He thrust out his iron spear with a sudden burst of speed, aiming straight for Wu Shuangren's throat. The air was torn apart, and the spear vibrated, producing a deep, muffled sound like a dragon's roar!
In mounted combat, weapons such as spears, lances, and halberds can maximize the momentum of the warhorse and make the most of its strength.
However, this type of weapon also has drawbacks, namely its weakness in continuity and subsequent variations.
If a strike misses, it becomes very difficult to launch another threatening attack.
Therefore, many warriors preferred to use swords when fighting on horseback.
A warrior who uses weapons like spears, lances, and halberds in mounted combat is either a novice or a true master.
Liaoming is undoubtedly the latter!
Fortunately, Wu Shuangren was prepared. He twisted his waist and turned on his horse, sweeping his saber horizontally, the blade striking the point where the spear tip was least stressed. Sword and spear clashed, sparks flying.
Clang!
A tremendous roar, like thunder, echoed through the forest.
This was the most intense and resounding clash since the start of the war!
The two forces collided, and both men made subtle adjustments to try and deflect the other's attack. But in the end, the saber and the spear crossed paths, sending up a shower of sparks, and the blade and the spear shaft were both bounced off by the recoil.
The two riders passed each other.
The two men glanced back at each other almost simultaneously from their horses.
Liaoming was astonished by Wu Shuangren's sudden burst of Internal Skill; it was as if he had completely become a different person!
Wu Shuangren was surprised that although this person's Internal Skill was not as good as Kongzheng's, his martial arts skills were even better than Kongzheng's!
Liaoming his horse away and raised his hand to make a gesture.
Soon, the monks who had previously fought Wu Shuangren and then circled around to the front of him launched another attack.
They still ride in pairs, taking turns in battle!
Liaoming wanted to see how long Wu Shuangren could hold out.
A new offensive has begun.
Wu Shuangren was still holding on, but Xu Yu's injuries were getting worse. His clothes were soaked with blood, his wounds were bleeding, and his internal organs were aching. But he kept fighting, like a beast that had been surrounded, constantly pouncing on every enemy that came close to Wu Shuangren's flank!
The two monks who were injured by Wu Shuangren in the previous round did not participate in the battle. After exchanging Wu Shuangren faced Liaoming again.
Liaoming drew his spear, and Wu Shuangren his sword. After the collision, Wu Shuangren spurred his horse's flanks, and the warhorse neighed and accelerated again.
In the instant the two crossed paths, Wu Shuangren suddenly leaped off his horse and charged straight at Liaoming!
Liaoming Ming's pupils contracted. He had not expected Wu Shuangren, but he was experienced and quick to react, sweeping his spear across the battlefield in a flash.
Bang!
Wu Shuangren was in mid-air and unable to dodge. He was struck squarely in the left rib by the powerful spear, and his bones cracked!
He grunted, his expression unchanged, and almost simultaneously grabbed the gun barrel with his left hand, using the force to pull himself forward.
He bumped into Liaoming like that, decisively abandoned his sword, grabbed the man's armor, and tumbled off the horse with him!
All of this happened in the blink of an eye. The two men fell off their horses, and the force of the impact caused them to tumble and roll on the ground.
Before landing, Wu Shuangren had already released the gun barrel and gripped Liaoming's arm joints tightly with both hands. The two rolled around several times in the pile of dead leaves, their bodies covered in dead leaves, mud, and blood.
Liaoming decisively abandoned his spear, freeing his hands to wrestle with Wu Shuangren. During this process, Wu Shuangren almost instinctively used his legs to wrap around Liaoming's waist, pressing his body tightly against his opponent.
He actually used the ground techniques he had honed in the octagon in his previous life!
Liaoming, a highly respected Buddhist monk, was skilled in martial arts and had learned a great deal, but he had never actually practiced this kind of ground-based locking technique before, so he was somewhat embarrassed.
Seizing the opportunity, Wu Shuangren suddenly released Liaoming's elbow with his left hand, then swiftly grabbed Ming's right hand, lifting him up with both hands. Immediately afterwards, he spun half a circle on the ground, forming a ninety-degree angle with Liaoming, then clamped Liaoming's right arm between his legs, pressing one leg against his neck and the other against his chest.
This forms a standard ground cross armbar!
Liaoming sensed something was wrong and was about to unleash his full Internal Skill to stimulate his potential.
But Wu Shuangren didn't give him a chance, simultaneously exerting force with his hands, legs, and back—
Click!
Liaoming cried out in pain. Even though he was wearing iron armor, Wu Shuangren had broken his right arm with a joint lock!
Before Wu Shuangren could adjust his posture and lock Liaoming's head, heavy hoofbeats came from behind.
However, the other monks, seeing the two wrestling on the ground, spurred their horses and rushed over.
Wu Shuangren didn't dare to delay. He took the initiative to change his move, releasing Liaoming's right arm and kicking him hard in the waist, causing the two to slide on the ground and separate.
The two of them rolled over and stood up almost simultaneously. Wu Shuangren picked up a fallen horse-slaying sword from the ground and charged at Liaoming again without hesitation!
Liaoming's right arm hung limply, and his face showed a pained expression, but he remained calm. He picked up a spear from the ground and engaged Wu Shuangren in battle.
Wu Shuangren had a broken left rib and two arrow wounds, while Liaoming had lost an arm.
In comparison, Liaoming's combat power was weakened more.
So after exchanging a few blows, Liaoming was at a disadvantage!
He is seventy-four years old this year. When he was young, his Internal Skill cultivation reached the peak of the Second Rank. Later, as he got older, his physical functions could not keep up with his Internal Skill cultivation. Now he can only maintain his Internal Skill at around the Third Rank under normal circumstances. What he is really strong is his martial arts skills.
However, with one arm missing, his greatest advantage could not be utilized.
[The World-Purifying Wisdom King Mantra] is Liaoming can also recite, but if he recklessly unleashes his potential, the duration is far shorter than that of Kongzheng, and the aftereffects are more severe.
That's why he didn't explode for a long time.
The surrounding monks dismounted, seeing that the two were locked in combat and that charging on horseback would risk injuring each other, so they dismounted and attacked from all sides!
Xu Yu shoved aside a monk who was about to attack Wu Shuangren from behind.
He was covered in blood, and the broadsword in his hand was chipped and nicked in several places, but he was still swinging it wildly and rushing towards every enemy who tried to get close to Wu Shuangren!
Wu Shuangren wanted to seize the opportunity to kill Liaoming quickly. His saber slashed through the air, the blade angled upwards, aiming straight for Liaoming's throat. Liaoming dodged to the side, thrusting his spear at Wu Shuangren with his left hand. Wu Shuangren's footwork was like a surging tide, using the momentum of his sidestep to spin around, and his second slash followed immediately.
Clang!!!
Liaoming Ming parried with his spear, his blade striking the spear shaft, sparks flying. He used the momentum to retreat and create distance, while Wu Shuangren stepped forward, thrusting her third blade toward his face.
Just as Liaoming was about to be forced to use the [World-Purifying Wisdom King Mantra], two monks attacked from the side. A monk's knife slashed at Wu Shuangren's back, and an iron rod smashed into his knee.
Forced to switch targets, Wu Shuangren first locked onto the monk wielding a knife, parried the monk's knife with a single strike, and then thrust it into the gap between the monk's armor plates. With a twist of his wrist, the tip of the knife pierced through the monk's armpit, penetrating his flesh!
The monk grunted, his sword-wielding arm dropping to his side. But before Wu Shuangren could exert further force, another monk's iron club had already struck...
With the cover of the two monks, Liaoming the opportunity to retreat and create distance between himself and Wu Shuangren, and then commanded more monks to attack.
He's almost gone!
"Kill him, and you'll be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold and any ten secret manuals you may choose!"
Liaoming reiterate the benefits.
One after another, the armored monks charged forward!
Even the cavalry on the outer perimeter stirred, some even considering joining the siege.
Because Wu Shuangren and Xu Yu indeed seemed to be at their last gasp!
In the woods, figures mingled.
The sounds of clashing weapons, scraping armor, muffled groans, and screams mingled together.
No longer riding a horse, Wu Shuangren brought the Cloud Tide Returning Wave Steps to its fullest potential!
He weaved through the crowd, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, repeatedly using tree trunks to evade capture.
While the monks' armor greatly increased their defense, it also significantly reduced their agility, making it difficult for them to keep up with Wu Shuangren's speed.
Xu Yu kept Wu Shuangren's words in mind and kept trying his best to create one-on-one opportunities for him.
A monk was circled behind by Wu Shuangren and struck heavily on the back of the neck with his blade. His armor was dented, his cervical vertebrae were shattered, and he died on the spot!
Another monk was stabbed in the back of the knee by Wu Shuangren, severing his Achilles tendon. After he fell to the ground, Wu Shuangren delivered a final blow, the blade piercing his unprotected eye and exiting through the back of his head...
Wu Shuangren had been trying to kill Liaoming, but the other party was cunning and always stayed far away, not giving Wu Shuangren a chance.