Stepping forward to meet Lei Dong was a lean and tall figure named Liang Wenchao, also one of the Steel Spike Ten Tigers. While not as skilled as Zhang Ding, Liang Wenchao was a ruthless individual with formidable abilities.
In the Steel Spike Gang's assault on Qinghong Gang, three formidable members were sent: Liu Wei, Zhang Ding, and Liang Wenchao. With Zhang Ding injured and Liu Wei overseeing the overall strategy, only Liang Wenchao and a few subordinates remained.
Recognizing the crucial importance of this battle, Liu Wei knew that victory was imperative. Without hesitation, he dispatched Liang Wenchao to the forefront.
Observing the opponent clad in black with a masked face, Lei Dong, Liang Wenchao couldn't help but sneer inwardly, thinking, "Who do you think you're scaring with that broken thing? Showing your face, but you dare to venture out like this."
To his surprise, this unconventional idea turned out to be correct. Xiao Zihan had them wear masks to conceal their identities, playing a game of cat and mouse where the enemy was in the light, and they remained in the shadows.
Lei Dong remained calm, casting a cold glance at Liang Wenchao. In recent days, he was highly satisfied with the results of his special training under Xiao Zihan. Through the relentless and brutal training, Lei Dong felt a qualitative improvement in his skills, gradually unlocking his latent potential. Grateful for Xiao Zihan's guidance, Lei Dong was determined to win this battle cleanly.
With thoughts in mind, Lei Dong's body shifted. Gripping the knife handle tightly, he raised the blade, pointing it directly at Liang Wenchao.
Standing behind Lei Dong, Xiao Zihan smiled, gazing at the solid back of the young man. He felt reassured by Lei Dong's presence. As Lei Dong prepared himself, Xiao Zihan gave a low command, "Go."
Encouraged by Xiao Zihan, Lei Dong roared loudly. The blade, accelerating like lightning, descended upon Liang Wenchao. The speed was extraordinary.
Liang Wenchao, gauging the incredible speed of the incoming attack, knew that he couldn't withstand a direct confrontation. He had been preparing for this, waiting until the blade was within three feet before swiftly dodging to the side. Simultaneously, his hacking knife transformed from a horizontal swing into a thrust, targeting Lei Dong's abdomen. The knife's deceptive movements made it seem like a straightforward thrust, but there was considerable room for adaptation.
Lei Dong's eyes flashed with determination. Instead of evading, he chose to step back. With a forceful push against the ground, his body leaped backward. Liang Wenchao expected Lei Dong to dodge under his blade, allowing him to change the attack into a slash and seize the initiative. Unexpectedly, Lei Dong chose the most unfavorable method – retreating.
Liang Wenchao's face showed a sudden expression of caution, but he couldn't remain indifferent to the favorable situation. Regardless of the opponent's motives, seizing the opportunity to charge forward would undoubtedly force Lei Dong into a passive position. How could he miss such a chance?
Watching the opponent charge towards him, Lei Dong snorted coldly. Before his retreating figure landed, his legs bent slightly, transitioning from leaning backward to leaning slightly forward. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he forcefully propelled himself upward, soaring high with his head down and feet up. The steel knife in his hand struck directly at Liang Wenchao's head, exhibiting a fierce and swift slashing motion accompanied by the distinct sound of a rapidly moving blade.
Almost everyone exclaimed in amazement at this scene, as it seemed utterly impossible. How could someone jump forward immediately after a forceful backward leap without any buffering, precisely positioning themselves directly above Liang Wenchao?
Lei Dong achieved the impossible, which was one of the reasons Xiao Zihan had such confidence in him. Lei Dong was truly an extraordinary talent. Throughout the special training, Xiao Zihan gradually realized that Lei Dong's control over his body and strength was almost on par with his own. As a result, Xiao Zihan shared some of his special techniques with Lei Dong, as well as with the other three. However, even Xiao Zihan didn't anticipate that Lei Dong could master what he taught in such a short time, making Xiao Zihan truly impressed.
Facing Lei Dong's unexpected and unconventional move, Liang Wenchao's expression changed dramatically. After a brief moment of panic, he swiftly regained his composure. With Lei Dong now at a disadvantage, even if he managed to evade the initial strike, he would be unable to defend against Lei Dong's follow-up move. With no time to overthink, Liang Wenchao abruptly halted his forward momentum, bending over and tilting his head to look upward. In doing so, he managed to avoid Lei Dong's strike while gaining visibility of Lei Dong's next move.
At this moment, Liang Wenchao's posture could be described as extremely awkward, but it was the most effective method. While Lei Dong sneered, he couldn't help but admire this guy's flexibility, bending his body to such an extent. After landing, Lei Dong stood tall, the steel knife held horizontally across his chest. Combined with the eerie and terrifying devil mask on his face, he truly resembled a reaper from hell.
Although Liang Wenchao managed to evade Lei Dong's lethal move, adopting such an unsightly posture compromised his dignity, considering his status and position. His face turned crimson with embarrassment, feeling utterly humiliated in front of the Steel Spike gang members behind him.
Now, due to the swapped positions, he faced Liu Wei and others directly. Seeing Liu Wei's serious expression without any signs of anger, Liang Wenchao's heart steadied. Just as he contemplated how to deal with the formidable opponent Lei Dong, he suddenly heard a commanding shout from behind him, "Kill Liu Wei." Startled, he quickly looked toward Liu Wei and saw Lei Dong, not far from Liu Wei, already lunging towards him with a slashing motion. Simultaneously, a gust of blade wind surged as a steel knife, carrying a fierce killing intent, swung toward his forehead.
After Xiao Zihan's abrupt shout, designed to create chaos and make Qinghong Gang retreat into their headquarters, Liang Wenchao realized that his actions might have jeopardized the plan. In anticipation of such a situation, Xiao Zihan arranged for a physician to join them, protected by Xing Ao, discreetly entering the Qinghong Gang headquarters. As long as Qinghong Gang's leader, Wei Qinghong, safely retreated inside, her life should no longer be in immediate danger.
Xiao Zihan rushed toward Lei Dong, as in his eyes, ten Liu Weis were not comparable to one Lei Dong. He couldn't let Lei Dong make any mistakes. Following him were Jin Sheng, Yang Yuande, and Fei Yu, who went to deal with Liang Wenchao.
Facing Lei Dong's sudden assault, Liu Wei was initially surprised but quickly prepared himself. Skill-wise, he surpassed Liang Wenchao by no small margin, being the third-ranked member of the Steel Spike Ten Tigers. Despite being unarmed, he showed no fear of Lei Dong's sharp machete. Dodging left and right, he evaded two slashes from Lei Dong before launching punches and kicks, engaging in a fierce confrontation.
A cool breeze rustled through the air, and the night grew darker. The scent of blood, momentarily dispersed, began to linger once again.
Steel Spike gang members, eager to surround and kill Liu Wei, found Lei Dong uncooperative. Using a long knife against Liu Wei's bare hands, Lei Dong held the upper hand, moving forward and backward at will. With a swift sweep of his blade, Liu Wei's retreat was forced, allowing Lei Dong to step back and avoid being surrounded. For Lei Dong, being surrounded by Steel Spike gang members wasn't frightening; the real threat was if skilled fighters like Liu Wei were among them. In that case, he would be in mortal danger.
As Lei Dong stepped back, Liu Wei had already grabbed a broad-bladed knife and, together with his subordinates, advanced to the attack. Lei Dong, about to make his move, heard Xiao Zihan's voice in his ear, "Fight with Liu Wei, the little minions have me, Jin Sheng, and Yang Yuande to deal with." Encouraged by Xiao Zihan, Lei Dong took a deep breath and focused his gaze on Liu Wei.
Xiao Zihan, passing by him, headed towards the Steel Spike gang members. Xiao Zihan's knife moved like a gust of wind, like floating clouds, swift and traceless. No sound of blades clashing was heard, but three Steel Spike gang members were already lying on the ground, clutching their throats. Xiao Zihan smirked coldly, and his blade flickered again, heading towards the throats of three more Steel Spike gang members.
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Meanwhile, Jin Sheng and Yang Yuande attacked from Lei Dong's other side, demonstrating excellent coordination. Despite the numerical advantage of the Steel Spike gang members, Jin Sheng and Yang Yuande skillfully engaged them, showing composure and ease.
Liu Wei faced off against Lei Dong but also occasionally diverted his attention to assess the surrounding battle. At this point, he realized that having more people didn't necessarily guarantee an advantage. Without proper coordination, troops would be like loose sand, lacking cohesion and unable to leverage their numerical superiority.
In one of Liu Wei's distractions, Lei Dong's knife had already thrust toward his vulnerable side. Liu Wei hastily swung his knife to block, but Lei Dong's attack suddenly changed halfway, turning from a thrust into a hook and aiming straight for Liu Wei's chest. The blade wind whistled, carrying a strong and relentless momentum. Startled, Liu Wei took a step back, unable to match Lei Dong's overwhelming strength. After stopping his momentum, he retreated, and his eyes flared with anger. Lei Dong, despite gaining a slight advantage, did not underestimate Liu Wei's determination. His right hand, gripping the knife, felt a dull pain in the tiger's mouth, making Lei Dong aware that Liu Wei possessed strength not inferior to his own. If Liu Wei stopped dividing his attention, the outcome of their fight would be uncertain.
In the headquarters of the Qinghong Gang, within the circular two-story building, the lights shone brightly, creating an atmosphere as bright as daylight. At this moment, Wei Qinghong furrowed her brows, observing a tall and robust figure standing opposite her with a vigorous demeanor. Based on the brief introduction earlier, she knew this person as Xing Ao, part of the group that came to assist her. She had already witnessed the abilities of these sudden arrivals, making Xing Ao's presence less surprising. However, the fact that he brought a specialized physician along left her astonished.
It was evident that these individuals had planned to assist the Qinghong Gang well in advance, with meticulous consideration. Yet, Wei Qinghong couldn't comprehend what benefits these people sought in supporting the Qinghong Gang. Given their strength, they shouldn't have paid much attention to her relatively small gang. So, why would they risk a confrontation with the Steel Spike gang?
With a sudden insight, she faintly understood the intentions of these people. She shifted her gaze towards Xing Ao, displaying a clear questioning expression in her eyes.
Xing Ao, seemingly brawny and simple-minded, was, in fact, quite shrewd. He raised both hands, deflecting the inquiry, "Don't ask me; my words don't count. If you want answers, ask someone outside." Pausing for a moment, he added, "You'd better let Dr. Liao tend to your wound first. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, I won't be able to explain myself."
Wei Qinghong was well aware that her injury could no longer be delayed. She had endured the pain earlier, but now she felt the world spinning around her.
Xing Ao had noticed that Wei Qinghong was on the verge of collapse, but she wouldn't have asked for help if he hadn't spoken up. She was truly a stubborn and strong-willed woman.
The ongoing battle outside required his attention. It was time to go out and provide support.
Fei Yu was engaged in a fierce battle against Liang Wenchao, and the two seemed evenly matched, creating a difficult-to-determine outcome. Among the four individuals trained by Xiao Zihan, Fei Yu's combat skills were second only to Lei Dong, making him a rare talent. He was agile and composed, qualities that Xiao Zihan highly valued. Engaging in combat with a seasoned expert like Liang Wenchao at this moment would undoubtedly provide valuable practical experience, an unexpected opportunity for growth.
Fei Yu, a left-handed fighter, initially caused discomfort for his opponents, as was the case for Liang Wenchao. He felt that Fei Yu's knife was elusive, appearing unexpectedly in places he couldn't anticipate, making his defense challenging and frustrating. Liang Wenchao's specialty was being elusive and unpredictable, and now he found himself on the receiving end of these tactics, a situation he was unfamiliar with.
Fortunately, Liang Wenchao was a composed individual, adapting his tactics to counter Fei Yu's. Trying to achieve victory quickly against Fei Yu, given his combat experience and skills, was indeed a challenging task.
While this intense battle unfolded, the showdown between Lei Dong and Liu Wei had reached a critical moment. Lei Dong retracted his knife, executing a reverse swing, and then swiftly swept his right leg, a fierce gust resembling a tide, kicking towards Liu Wei's neck.
The leg strike was sudden and accompanied by a torrential wind. Liu Wei's heart skipped a beat, instinctively tilting his head backward to avoid Lei Dong's powerful kick. Planning to capitalize on Lei Dong's momentary imbalance due to the missed kick, Liu Wei intended to deal a heavy blow. Unexpectedly, Lei Dong pivoted his body ninety degrees using his left heel as an axis, effectively avoiding a shift in his center of gravity resulting from the missed kick. Following this maneuver, Lei Dong converted the sweeping kick into a side kick, sending an incredibly powerful blow towards Liu Wei's abdomen. The seamless series of movements left Liu Wei with no room for counterattacks, immediately putting him in a defensive predicament.
In this critical moment, Liu Wei attempted to swing his knife towards Lei Dong's leg, but it was too late. However, he remained composed. With a loud shout, he raised his right knee abruptly, colliding with Lei Dong's incoming foot precisely.
A muffled thud resonated as both individuals stepped back, locking eyes with each other. Liu Wei was surprised by Lei Dong's formidable leg strength, while Lei Dong was astonished by the incredible toughness of Liu Wei's knee.
Liu Wei narrowed his eyes, focusing intently on Lei Dong. Suddenly, a flicker caught his peripheral vision, and he scanned the surroundings, yet there was no sign of Wei Qinghong. An uneasy feeling crept over him, and he scanned once more, still unable to locate Wei Qinghong.
By now, he had completely calmed down, pushing aside thoughts of Lei Dong. Upon careful consideration, he understood the intentions of Xiao Zihan. Creating chaos to temporarily shield the injured Wei Qinghong, allowing the enemy to have no worries at their rear, seizing the initiative for both offense and defense, and even escaping if necessary—all these tactics were well-executed. No wonder these individuals dared to infiltrate their ranks.
Initially, Liu Wei had been very concerned about Wei Qinghong, directing most of his attention to her even during the clash between Liang Wenchao and Lei Dong. Unexpectedly, Xiao Zihan's sudden shout diverted half of his attention, and Lei Dong's sudden attack pulled him completely into the trap set by the opponents. Several key figures on their side, including the subordinates, were all entangled by the enemy. For a moment, no one paid attention to Wei Qinghong.
The miserable screams around him weighed heavily on his heart, knowing that those who fell were his brothers, and their numbers continued to increase with time. Even though the few individuals should have reached their physical limits, if the enemy chose to retreat at this moment, their efforts in draining the enemy's stamina would be in vain.
Just as Liu Wei thought "this is bad" in his mind, Xiao Zihan already shouted, "Fall back." The thunderous command cut through the chaotic battle cries, reaching the ears of Lei Dong and others. Lei Dong immediately took action, turning around and striding away, not toward the Qinghong Gang headquarters but rather towards Liang Wenchao, who was still fiercely battling with Fei Yu. If Lei Dong suddenly appeared behind him, Liang Wenchao, deeply engrossed in the fight with Fei Yu, would likely suffer a fatal blow.
At this point, Liu Wei's eyes turned red, bloodshot and filled with rage. Ignoring his own identity, he roared, "Wenchao, get back." Then, like a madman, he chased after Lei Dong, paying no attention to the disorderly group of subordinates behind him.
In fact, he could now rest assured because the command had already been taken over by Zhang Ding, who was injured and protected by dozens of subordinates. With Zhang Ding in command, Jin Sheng and Yang Yuandeh, who were both tired and losing stamina under the continuous assault of Steel Spike's subordinates, had a more challenging time. Despite their relatively better situation, Xiao Zihan faced increased pressure from the surrounding crowd. While the individuals were not formidable fighters individually, the sheer number of people and the chaotic situation brought significant stress. Nevertheless, Xiao Zihan, with his extraordinary footwork and agility, managed to control his movements and maintain advantageous positions, avoiding the predicament of being surrounded. His method of killing also struck terror into the hearts of Steel Spike's subordinates, who were wary and afraid to face him directly.
When Xiao Zihan noticed the absence of Wei Qinghong in the courtyard, he knew it was time to retreat. He shouted loudly, signaling for Jin Sheng and Yang Yuandeh to immediately withdraw.
Both of them looked at Xiao Zihan with admiration and gratitude, showing no hesitation as they turned and retreated.
Facing the onslaught of blades coming from all directions, the pressure around Xiao Zihan suddenly increased. With a fierce glint in his eyes, a strong killing intent surged within him. The steel knife in his hand accelerated suddenly, and the overwhelming vigor of "Unlimited Elemental Qi" rapidly flowed towards his right hand, holding the knife. Just as he was about to swing the knife fiercely, a thought flashed through his mind—a technique he had previously practiced but failed to master, the "Extreme Speed."
This technique required concentrating the entire body's energy to a specific part in an instant, then controlling the movement of that part through powerful mental focus, resulting in speeds far beyond the norm. Xiao Zihan had tried countless times with the "Qi Softening Rotation" technique but never succeeded in increasing his speed. Now, with the cultivation of "Unlimited Elemental Qi," although he had not mastered it as smoothly as "Qi Softening Rotation," there was a possibility. "Extreme Speed" relied on the energy of "Unlimited Elemental Qi" to come to life.
The idea flashed in his mind, and Xiao Zihan paid no attention to the blades coming at him from all directions. Although he had recently cultivated the "Unlimited Elemental Qi," he was determined to give it a try. He knew that only in adversity could one erupt suddenly, possibly surpassing oneself and reaching heights previously unimaginable. This opportunity was fleeting, belonging to the category of encounters that cannot be sought. Since the idea was strongest at this moment, he couldn't let this chance slip away.
Xiao Zihan focused his mind, concentrating all the "Unlimited Elemental Qi" energy onto his right hand, which held the steel knife. Imagining the knife's speed increasing dramatically under the infusion of energy, he sought to surpass his previous limitations.
Six individuals were the first to attack Xiao Zihan. It was clear that the six knives were coming from six different directions. Seeing Xiao Zihan abandoning his measured movements, the six Steel Spike subordinates revealed smiles, thinking that if the six of them couldn't take him down, he wouldn't escape from the encirclement.
They laughed, and Xiao Zihan smiled as well, displaying composure, confidence, and a calm demeanor. Like flowing light and a startled swan, the knife seemed to generate six shining blade shadows simultaneously. Almost at the same time, it struck the six attacking knives, causing them to fly away. Before the six attackers could understand what had happened, their throats felt a sudden pain, and they knew nothing more, only the clear path to hell.
Before the six could fall, the subordinates behind them surged forward, pushing the six aside. Regardless of whether they lived or died, the present moment was the best opportunity to kill Xiao Zihan.
After Xiao Zihan killed the six subordinates in a single move, he leaped backward with great force. Descending from the air, he shouted loudly and swung his knife down, the blade gleaming like a dazzling light.
Although the strike landed in empty space, it stopped the Steel Spike subordinates from continuing their attack. Faced with Xiao Zihan's blood-stained and chilling aura, combined with the terrifying sharpness of his blade, they hesitated between advancing and retreating. At this moment, six "thud" sounds echoed as bodies fell to the ground, making them realize that six of their comrades had unknowingly died. While the six were initially shielding them from Xiao Zihan's sudden swift attack, most of them hadn't noticed it. However, Xiao Zihan's aerial strike, with its imposing and majestic force, made them hesitate to advance.
Fear gripped the hearts of these subordinates, while Xiao Zihan felt a sudden pang of anxiety. Although he had just used the "Extreme Speed" in one go, he hadn't anticipated the rapid consumption of his energy and stamina. He had taken a gamble with that last strike. If it failed to intimidate the opponents, he would have been in trouble. Fortunately, luck was on his side. Though his expression remained cold and composed, there was a bitter smile in his heart.