Chapter 44

"Go from the back, I'll cover the rear!"

Upon hearing these words, not only Qin Feng and his companions were stunned, even Xue Zhi and Wang Wu were taken aback.

Hu Li, on the other side, raised an eyebrow, already understanding Zhuang Wudao's intentions. This was his response. He smiled gracefully, made no further indication, and retreated back into the crowd.

Ma Yuan, however, showed a look of anger: "Brother Wudao, are you crazy? There are hundreds of them, and five of them are Qi Practitioners. You want to cover the rear alone? They're after you, do you want to die?"

Wang Wu beside him also frowned, dissatisfied: "Since we are brothers, we should share life and death. I know you, Zhuang Wudao, value brotherhood the most, but what about us?"

Zhuang Wudao laughed helplessly, but his hands didn't stop. He swiftly grabbed Ma Yuan's large shield, tied it to his back with a cloth strip, and felt like a big turtle.

"If you all leave, I can easily escape. If you stay, I'll be a burden! This is the truth, no lies."

Only Qin Feng didn't try to persuade him. He looked at him deeply and asked seriously: "Wudao, are you really confident? Can you come back alive?"

"Of course I am!"

Zhuang Wudao sighed inwardly, only this childhood friend who grew up with him truly understood him.

"I've only lived for sixteen years, far from enough. Why would I give up? Unless that person is dead, I won't consider it. You know my nature; if I can't win, I'll run first, I value my life a lot. I've never done such a thing as covering the rear. Stop talking nonsense and leave quickly! Don't be so sentimental, it's not cool. After you leave, quickly get Yan Jun and the Gu Yue family to come, they can help me."

Behind the wall, the dozens of guards were in a panic, hesitant to step forward, fearing death and injury.

However, a few of them gradually climbed over the wall into the courtyard. They were all agile, and one of them was a Qi Practitioner from the Iron Knife Society. He smiled, looking at them with a mocking expression.

Zhuang Wudao didn't take it to heart. As Ma Yuan said, their true target was him. He wasn't too concerned about Qin Feng and the others.

However, if they left too late, this path would be blocked, and they wouldn't be able to leave.

Qin Feng seemed to realize this, looked at the few severely injured and dying people among them. After a moment's thought, he made a decision: "Alright, as you say! Be careful, hold on for a moment, don't overdo it. Wang Wu, this brother always keeps his word, no need to worry!"

Saying this, he pulled the still reluctant Ma Yuan and led the way through the broken wall. The others looked at each other and followed one by one.

Wang Wu and Xue Zhi stayed behind. The former patted Zhuang Wudao's shoulder without a word. Xue Zhi looked him up and down: "Wudao, I owe you a favor. Don't worry, even if you die, I won't force Qin Feng to be the hall master. I'll do my best to support him. In two hours, Xue Zhi and I will be back with at least 150 brothers! Don't give up!"

Zhuang Wudao nodded with a smile, indicating he understood. Xue Zhi was reassured. The group formed an array and cautiously left from the back of the courtyard. The Iron Knife Society people didn't try to stop them, their eyes always on Zhuang Wudao.

Seeing Qin Feng and the others leave safely, Zhuang Wudao was completely at ease, with no more worries, his expression focused on the scene before him.

In the time it took for a few words, the Iron Knife Society people had already organized their formation and advanced.

In front were sixty armored soldiers holding two-meter-long spears. Perhaps because Qin Feng and the others had left, they felt no threat and no longer needed to shield themselves with shields. Instead, their spears formed a dense forest, advancing step by step in a strict formation. Behind these spear soldiers were forty archers, each holding a six-stone bow.

Such powerful bows, even a Bone Marrow Realm warrior, if hit in a vital spot, would die.

Zhuang Wudao couldn't help but squint. It was said that Feng San came from the northern army, and it seemed to be true. The Iron Knife Society, which used to fight in a scattered manner, relying on numbers and two Qi Practitioners, now had a military-like formation.

This was clearly a battlefield formation! Although the troops in Yuecheng had also been through real battles, they mostly dealt with beast waves, and their style was different.

At this moment, dozens more members of the Iron Knife Society climbed over the wall behind him. However, they didn't come forward. Instead, they dispersed the guards and formed an array behind the wall to prevent Zhuang Wudao from escaping.

Only the Qi Practitioner with a smile on his face, looking at Zhuang Wudao's back with ill intent, like a venomous snake waiting for an opportunity.

Zhuang Wudao also felt a faint pain in his back, a sense of extreme danger. However, at this moment, he could only temporarily ignore it and suppress his unease.

Suddenly, Yun'er's voice rang out: "Are you standing there, waiting to die?"

Her voice was cold and mocking. Zhuang Wudao was taken aback; he had never heard the sword spirit Yun'er scold him so angrily, with a tone of frustration.

After half a breath, Zhuang Wudao came to his senses: "I'm covering the rear, of course I have to stay here! What else can I do?"

"Have you forgotten the essentials of the Six Harmonies Form-Intention Fist? Body follows the fist, steps move with the fist. If you stay in one place like the sword master, you will surely die on the battlefield!"

Perhaps realizing it was inappropriate, Yun'er's tone softened slightly: "The Six Harmonies Form-Intention Fist and the Great Boulder Hand you practice can withstand the battlefield. The former is said to be unparalleled in breaking formations, capable of taking the head of a general in a thousand soldiers. You also have the Bull Demon Body, surpassing the Golden Bell Cover, impervious to a thousand blades. You have a natural war soul, I thought you would be more ambitious. Such a scene is perfect for tempering your martial path, why be afraid?"

More ambitious?

Zhuang Wudao looked around; he was already surrounded on all sides. Was he supposed to face these three hundred men alone?

And that phrase "take the head of a general in a thousand soldiers," did Yun'er mean he should take down their leader?

Zhuang Wudao's gaze involuntarily turned to the direction Hu Li had retreated. He could vaguely see an eight-foot-tall, bald-headed man standing coldly behind the others. That must be Feng San, rumored to be a towering figure, a head taller than the average person.

Was he supposed to try to take down this man to live up to his natural war soul and all his training?

Hundreds of martial artists, five to seven Qi Practitioners. Even if this sword spirit used his body to act, could he escape unscathed?

"Is there anything impossible?"

Yun'er's voice turned cold again: "Capture the leader first, if you make him anxious and afraid, these people won't have the time to chase your friends. I don't know what you're worried about, but on the battlefield, the more afraid you are of death, the faster you die! You should know this. Both the Six Harmonies Form-Intention Fist and the Great Boulder Hand require agility. If you stay in one place, you can't use even seventy percent of your strength. It's better to fight with all your might! As the Light Cloud Sword Master, you should have the courage to face a million enemies with just one sword and one body!"

Zhuang Wudao was silent, putting a few energy-restoring pills in his mouth, then fell into deep thought.

What was he worried about? It was just that he didn't want to die so miserably before that person.

However, what Yun'er said made sense. The more afraid of death, the faster one dies. His Six Harmonies Form-Intention Fist was best suited for battlefield slaughter, and he shouldn't be afraid.

When the spear formation reached twenty steps, the spear soldiers all crouched. The archers behind them stopped, drew their bows, and released their arrows. Dozens of iron arrows shot out almost simultaneously, whistling like rain.

Zhuang Wudao only covered his eyes with his left hand, ignoring everything else. The iron arrows flew over, hitting the iron armor, making a series of clanging sounds. Nearly half of them didn't even penetrate the outer layer of black-patterned iron armor. The fine armor produced by the Hundred Weapons Hall lived up to its reputation. Even if they pierced through, the silver-threaded inner armor would stop them. He looked like a porcupine, but he was unharmed.

At this moment, the spear soldiers all shouted and suddenly accelerated. Sixty spears pierced through densely, the entire yard filled with green spear shadows.

Zhuang Wudao didn't retreat but advanced, swinging his arms to forcefully push away the incoming spear tips, plunging into the spear shadows.

He punched a man in the chest, instantly shattering his armor and bones. With one blow, he sent the man flying three yards.

It sounded simple, but without extraordinary arm strength, he couldn't push away the spears. Without quick reflexes, he couldn't strike first.

The man hit by the punch flew backward, knocking down several others, cutting off their breath. This created a gap for Zhuang Wudao.

Reminded by Yun'er, Zhuang Wudao no longer thought of holding the wall. He stepped forward, his steps and punches moving together, like a spear. Another man was hit in the chest, the force of the punch lifting him into the air.

This spear formation was terrifying; an ordinary person would be turned into a porcupine in an instant. However, at this moment, the long weapons were at a disadvantage in close combat, and his fist technique could be used to its full potential.

Zhuang Wudao took a step and punched, each punch hitting a person, sending them flying, either dead or injured. Gradually, he felt a sense of ease, a smooth and flowing feeling.

The key to the Six Harmonies Form-Intention Fist was to move with the fist, short strikes, and rapid advances, like a thunderbolt. It was indeed most suitable for the battlefield, where there was only a small space to maneuver in a thousand soldiers, perfect for this fist technique.

Zhuang Wudao's punches were fierce and powerful, and in the blink of an eye, he injured dozens of people.

Seeing him about to break through the formation, the leader of the spear formation was both shocked and angry: "Drop your spears!"

Dozens of spears were thrown down, and dozens of sword shadows slashed from all directions. Zhuang Wudao ignored them, letting the swords cut or stab him, his figure moving swiftly. A small step sent another man flying four yards, falling lifelessly like a broken sack.

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