"Breeze Steps!"

Tang Duanmu rushed at Gray, weaving through the tallgrass, his footsteps rapid and almost imperceptible. He circled Gray and sought an opening for attack, a blind stop that could give him a rapid victory.

Gray stood still. He seemed defenseless but that was far from the truth. The Tome of Glorious Fortune activated and spiritual energy surged throughout his bones, tendons, and muscles. It coursed through his organs, his blood, and into his skin. The secret art of the Golden Body of the Bodhi transformed his body, strengthening it and making it almost impenetrable to sharp weapons. None of this was perceptible to Tang, but to Gray, he was now a golden warrior.

Tang began his well-honed swordplay, perfected by years of arduous training. "First Style, Piercing Strike!"

Pang!

The first attack was aimed directly at Gray's head but he simply swiped it away.

Tang spun around and launched the same move again with the exact same result. He cursed and changed direction.

"Third Style, Dance of Blades!"

A flurry of attacks rained down, slashing and stabbing at Gray's body from all directions. It did almost nothing against his defenses and he only had to dodge attacks that were aimed at his eyes. To the other elder, Gray was being sliced into pieces but in reality, he was almost bored.

Tang shouted furiously and refused to give up. "Fifth Style, Soaring Blade of Grass!"

That was useless as well. He was doing a good job of chopping up the tall grass around Gray's feet but not much else.

"Damn it! Fine! Last style..."

“Tang, slow down.” The other elder stopped him and joined the battle.

“About time.” Gray taunted.

“Tenth Elder…” Duanmu Tang said unwillingly.

“There’s no need to hurry.” The tenth elder said, “We don’t need to rush. We just need to keep him occupied and wear down his strength. It is he who wants to beat us as quickly as possible to rescue the slaves. We just need to be patient and his defeat is assured.”

“You’re a smart one. What’s your name?” Gray asked.

“I am Tenth Elder Honglie Duanmu. Though, I didn't expect someone like you would care.”

“I do actually.” Gray replied, “You are the one that murdered Foreman Kang after he surrendered the River Mine?"

"That's right." The elder didn't even try to deny it.

"Bastard... You are beyond despicable. You deserve to die." Gray spat.

He raised his pickaxe and stalked towards them.

“Tang, get ready!”

“I know!”

The heavy gold pickaxe still felt like a small mountain in Gray's hands. Weighed down by the spiritual treasure, each step he took cracked the ground beneath his feet and slowed his movements. Despite this, he was still fast enough to close with the bandit elder.

He swung the pickaxe around his body in a sideways arc, aiming for the bandit elder's body. His opponent looked at him with an expression of ridicule and swung his sword across his block to defend, holding it horizontally against the incoming attack. It was the wrong decision.

The sharp spike of the pickaxe smashed into the sword and shattered it completely. The pickaxe continued onward and punctured his armor with a dull thud.

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"Arrrggg!"

Honglie Duanmu groaned in agony as he was skewered by the long, sharp head of the pick. It was a true spiritual treasure made almost completely of spiritual metal. There was nothing he could to do stop its onslaught. He did exactly what he shouldn't have done, he should have gotten out of the way instead. Despite his age and status, he paid for his carelessness and lack of experience.

Gray pulled the pickaxe out of the dying man who crumpled to the ground. He was about to finish his enemy off when he felt danger from behind.

"Shit!"

Gray shouted as he rolled to the ground. He felt a dull pain erupt across his back, courtesy of Tang's sneak attack. It failed to draw blood but it still hurt like a kick from a jade bison.

He blocked a few more random sword strikes before facing off against Tang once again. The tenth elder was lying in a heap nearby, blood pouring out from the gaping wound. He probably wouldn't live for much longer.

Tang seemed to realize this as well and his eyes were red with emotion. "I'll kill you! Gray, do you hear me? I'll kill you!"

"Then hurry up!"

Tang shouted incoherently and leaped high into the air. A tremendous amount of spiritual energy gathered in his body as he came crashing down towards Gray's head. It was the sixth and final move of the Duanmu Sword Style. He had only recently mastered this move and reached the 9th Level of the Spiritual Strengthening Realm because of it. This was his most powerful attack.

Gray reacted in kind. He swung the heavy gold pickaxe upward to meet Tang's sword.

This would be their final bout. Tang Duanmu was Gray's adversary from the moment he stepped foot outside of the King's Mountains. They kept running into each other and they had already fought twice before. The first time, Gray almost died. It had been a humiliating yet meaningful defeat. The second time was a narrow draw but it was still unacceptable in Gray's mind.

This time, the third time... would be the turning point. He would settle all the past scores and wipe away the stain of defeat forever.

Boom!

The pickaxe and the sword made contact and sparks flew into the air. Tang was suspended in midair, his entire body facing downward. Gray stood below him, firm and immovable like a mountain.

Crack!

The tip of the sword was the first to crumble and a moment later, the entire length of the blade shattered into tiny pieces.

“Ahhh!” Tang screamed as he was sent flying away by the burst of spiritual energy.

He landed some distance away and tumbled several times before coming to a stop. He moaned pitifully while trying to get back up but he fell down again, clutching his right arm which was clearly broken. The spiritual energy within him was in shambles, without order or any semblance of control. He was still alive and his life wasn't in danger but he could no longer fight.

Gray stood over Tang and studied his defeated foe. He had won easily but he didn't feel much satisfaction.

"Kill me..." The stubborn bandit muttered and glared up at him, "Hurry up! Kill me!"

Gray shook his head, "Why would I want to kill you? I've already made my point. Plus, the lord told me not to kill you."

Tang relaxed slightly and turned onto his back, clutching his broken arm against his chest, "Whatever, fine... What crazy pill did you eat? How did you get so strong so fast?"

“I’m not that strong,” Gray answered lazily, looking around. He spotted Alisha who was still in a raging battle with the two demons in disguise. “See, I’m not as strong as them."

“Peh!” Tang spat out a mouthful of blood, “Not strong? If you’re not strong, then I am nothing but a flying chicken. You were at the fourth level of strengthening barely a month ago. It’s impossible!”

“Don’t get so worked up. I am strong and I was always strong, even when we first met. I am the strongest man of the King’s Mountains. And soon, I will be the strongest man of these plains or whatever you people like to call them.”

“You… you arrogant bastard…”

“I’m arrogant? That’s funny. I’m wasn’t the one strutting around I owned all the land. I wasn't the one who attacked peaceful caravans. I wasn't the one who started an all-out war that will cause countless casualties. Do you think what you are doing is right?"

"It doesn't matter if I am right or wrong." The bandit said as he sat up. He looked over at the two elders still fighting Alisha, "The Duanmu Clan will win. Grandfather will win. He is the strongest. Your lord cannot beat him."

Gray scoffed, "Tang bastard, what is he to you?"

"He is my grandfather. He is the most important person in my life. He is the strongest. He is the wisest. He has never led the Duanmu Clan astray and never will. He is the greatest first elder the clan has ever had and he will revive the clan's glory and lead us to new heights!”

"Oh, Holy King..." Gray rubbed his face in frustration.

He debated whether or not to tell Tang about the first elder being a demon.

The last part of Alisha's plan called for subjugating the Duanmu Clan by revealing the existence of the demon spies. She wanted to show the Duanmu Clan the truth so that they could return to peaceful ways. It was never her intention to slaughter them to the last woman and child. She wasn't that kind of person and neither was Gray.

But Tang Duanmu was a really annoying person to talk to. Every time he spoke, Gray wanted to punch his face. In his current state, there was no way he was going to believe anything Gray said, let alone something as preposterous as demons.

Gray was still debating what to do when a sharp female scream cut through the air.

“Alisha!” He shouted and rushed towards her.