I Can Strengthen Infinitely

Chapter 553: Chapter 319: Jiangnan Free-for-All

This streak of red light came with extraordinary speed, as swift as an arrow, faster than a galloping steed.

If the target had not been Changqing, anyone else likely would have met with disaster; fortunately, Changqing reacted instantly, tilting his head to the side and dodging with ease.

"Watch out!" Suddenly, Fu Bo shouted loudly.

That red light, having just grazed past Changqing’s body, whirled back in an instant, aiming straight for the back of Changqing’s head.

Changqing couldn’t help but roll forward and, with a reverse swing, slashed out with his sword.

Bang!

The treasured sword snapped in response, failing to withstand the force. Changqing felt a sudden lightness; his severed arm flew high into the air.

At first glance, it seemed strangely familiar.

Suddenly, Changqing’s eyes widened—it looked like his own arm!

All this happened in less than an instant; by the time Changqing realized it, his right arm was gone, the wound astonishingly smooth and clean.

The red light, having struck its mark, swiftly flew back into the mouth of Liu Daoyuan’s gourd.

The entire sequence was seamless; no one saw clearly what the thing truly was.

Liu Daoyuan was now close to Changqing’s side. He raised his hand and struck out fiercely with his stag-horn staff. The wind from the blow thundered, showing the staff’s weight was far from ordinary.

Changqing had trained in martial arts for many years, suffering countless wounds both big and small. Though losing an arm was a first, he didn’t panic to the point of losing all his fighting prowess. Seeing the stag-horn staff attack, he immediately summoned his Inner Strength, sending out a palm strike in defense.

Bang!

It felt as if his palm collided with a lump of iron; Changqing was jolted, retreating explosively. With every step back, his feet left deep pits in the ground.

Fu Bo saw Liu Daoyuan cripple Changqing’s arm in a single move, realizing his strength was formidable, and at once leapt forth, slashing toward Liu Daoyuan.

His Sword Technique was swift as lightning; with a single thrust, dozens of Sword Qi burst forth, enveloping Liu Daoyuan in an instant.

Seeing Fu Bo’s Sword Technique so fierce, Liu Daoyuan’s expression shifted; he prepared to summon the gourd again to kill Fu Bo with the same method.

But just then, Ah Dan arrived on his short mule, shouting, "Elder Liu, let me assist you!"

He looked fierce; with both hands, he whirled the mysterious iron staff like a spinning wheel, radiating power and momentum.

His mount appeared ordinary, but in truth ran like the wind, each of its four hooves flying, stirring gusts in its wake—so fast, it could just as well be a leopard than a mule.

Relying on his mount, Ah Dan charged ahead, blocking Fu Bo’s attack in front of Liu Daoyuan, clearly intending to shield him from the strike.

Buzz buzz buzz!

The mysterious iron staff met Fu Bo’s Sword Qi, ringing with a booming hum. The Sword Qi shattered beneath the staff, yet the staff also suffered greatly, hair-thin cracks spidering across its surface.

Fu Bo’s Inner Strength surged; in an instant he unleashed his signature Sword Technique.

So swift it was as if lightning flashed before thunder; Ah Dan barely had time to raise his staff in blocking, and Fu Bo’s sword edge had already pressed onto the iron staff.

Bang!

The mysterious iron staff snapped in two, unable to withstand Fu Bo’s supreme sword strike.

Seeing the sword edge sweeping toward his chest, Ah Dan hurried to perform his Divine Skill; a brilliant golden radiance flared, transforming into a Golden Bell Shield that enveloped his body.

Clang!

The sword edge struck the Golden Bell, ringing out instantly and tracing a web of cracks across the bell’s surface.

"Golden Bell Shield! You’re a monk of Damo Temple!" Fu Bo, once a figure in Central Plains martial circles, naturally recognized Damo Temple, one of the ten great sects.

The legendary defensive Divine Skill, Golden Bell Shield—even if Fu Bo hadn’t personally experienced it, he’d seen enough to recognize it at a glance.

Yet clearly, Ah Dan’s Golden Bell Shield was far less refined than Qin Yuesheng’s; otherwise, Fu Bo’s sword never would have split the bell and left those fissures—this was the mark of incomplete mastery.

"If you know, why not surrender the city quickly?" Ah Dan shouted.

Another might have been wary of Damo Temple’s reputation, but Fu Bo, with neither faction nor school—an uncultivated maverick—cared nothing for the ten great sects, not even Damo Temple. He would fight regardless.

Thus, as Ah Dan finished speaking, Fu Bo attacked again; Ah Dan was both angered and helpless—what a rash brute!

Changqing, though missing an arm, was battle-hardened and never quick to admit defeat. Using acupoint techniques to stop the bleeding at the wound, he too charged at Liu Daoyuan—another wild fighter.

Seeing only two of Yuan Huangzhong’s troops enough to tie up Changqing and Fu Bo, Sanhuang, standing atop the city walls, could not help but look grim. At this moment, Yuan Huangzhong’s ranks still held two more men.

If those two joined the battle, who on their side could withstand them?

For a moment, Sanhuang couldn’t help but remember his master, thinking to himself, If only Qin Yuesheng were here, none of this would be so troublesome.

"Those two are likely among the very top tier of Inner Strength Martial Artists. If we hadn’t come to help, General Yuan would be in real trouble." He Yongnian, still waiting in reserve, smiled at Lu Yuan.

It was clear that Lu Yuan was reticent by nature. Faced with He Yongnian’s comment, he merely nodded in agreement.

"Elder Liu and Ah Dan have those two tied up. It’s best we don’t interfere—might upset them. Uncle Lu, why don’t we seize the chance and attack the city? Fan Wan called us here to assist, and the sooner we finish, the better."