Countless weapons, enveloped in Li Yi's Qi, surged like a meteor shower towards Gong Wushuang and her companions, tearing through the air. Li Yi, aware of his opponents' strength, held nothing back, pushing his Qi to its limit. The force of a three-crystal Fighter's full-power strike was indeed formidable. Gong Wushuang, with a cold smile, watched the weapons fly towards her. Standing still with her hands by her side, she seemed uninterested in countering. However, just as Li Yi began to feel something was off, Gong Wushuang casually flicked her wrist. A wave of Qi, like a light screen, materialized in front of her, deflecting the incoming weapons in all directions.
Li Yi felt a chill in his heart. Gong Wushuang's move was clearly a sophisticated fighting technique, not something that could be executed with mere Qi cultivation. With no room to retreat, and knowing escape was futile, Li Yi shook his head slightly. The faint green glow on his right hand rose again, his face twisted with the strain of exerting his full Qi.
"Qingyun Hand!" The Qi on Li Yi's right hand boiled, sharp as a blade, slashing towards Gong Wushuang's face. The move caused Gong Wushuang to raise her eyebrows in surprise, even stunning Madam Feng and the Iron Lion leader. Nalan Ping, having seen Li Yi's move before, remained expressionless. He pondered for a moment, then dashed towards Gong Wushuang.
"You two stop him; I'll handle this one," Gong Wushuang ordered calmly. The Iron Lion leader and Madam Feng charged at Nalan Ping, and their figures collided in a blur of motion. Simultaneously, shouts of battle erupted from all sides as the mercenaries and guards prepared for combat.
Li Yi unleashed his full strength with Qingyun Hand, his movements unpredictable and intricate. Gong Wushuang's eyes sparkled, but she showed no intention of dodging. As Li Yi approached, her face wore a strange smile. Li Yi felt an eerie sensation on his neck, as if someone had breathed on it, sending shivers down his spine.
At that moment, his Qingyun Hand struck Gong Wushuang's chest, only to hear a "ding" as she disintegrated into powder. "An illusion? A mirage?" Li Yi was horrified, encountering such a situation for the first time. The Serpent Venerable's urgent voice rang out, "Kid, retreat! Gong Wushuang is no mere Warrior. If you don't run now, you might never get the chance!"
"Even now, it's too late to run!" Li Yi acknowledged internally, turning to flee. But before he could fully turn, he heard a low laugh, "Little brother, that was no mirage or illusion. My technique is called the Ethereal Dual Transformation. Haven't you seen such a martial skill before?"
As she spoke, Li Yi heard the sound of rushing wind. Without time to think, he instinctively struck back with "Return Wind Palm! Twist Force!" As he turned, he saw Gong Wushuang's light smile, her finger pointed at him. The Qi contained in that simple gesture was shockingly powerful.
Li Yi felt acute pain in his wrist. His usually infallible Return Wind Palm couldn't dissipate her piercing Qi, which broke through his defenses and entered his body. A massive impact, coupled with an icy chill, numbed half of his body.
Coughing up blood, Li Yi was forced back several steps, barely steadying himself but feeling dizzy and losing control over half of his body. However, Li Yi was not one to await death passively. Unwilling to hand over his possessions and eager to battle a strong opponent, he prepared to fight.
Enduring the pain, Li Yi darted forward, his Qi circulating through his meridians, and formed his fingers into a sword, slashing towards Gong Wushuang. This attack, bereft of any special technique, was simply a slash of Qi cutting through the air, reaching Gong Wushuang in an instant.
The attack surprised Gong Wushuang, who uttered a soft "Huh," seemingly not expecting Li Yi to fight so desperately. The strike hit her chest squarely, but Li Yi felt something was off. As he prepared to follow up, he suddenly felt a grip on his right arm. Gong Wushuang had appeared in front of him, her hand lightly holding his arm, her face wearing a strange smile.
"A mere three-crystal Fighter, no matter how desperate, is no match for me. Relying on that little Qi to hurt me is a joke... Little brother, you're quite capable. How about handing over that item and becoming my subordinate? I'll spare you then."
Li Yi, with a faint smile, responded to Gong Wushuang, "If you're so powerful, do you really need someone like me as a follower... So, as far as I see it, that's out of the question!" Gong Wushuang smiled lightly, her hand making a subtle motion. Li Yi immediately felt a gentle Qi force, as if it was about to crush his wrist. Familiar with this technique himself, Li Yi hadn't expected it to be used against him. Without time to lament, he felt the oncoming Qi and swiftly tapped his foot, flipping in the air to dissolve the gentle twist. While airborne, Li Yi swung his right leg down towards Gong Wushuang's face.
"Electric Whip Leg!" Qi boiled along Li Yi's right leg, shimmering with flashes of electricity. In desperation, his move was powered by the Phantom Killing Technique, making his speed and force astonishing. Gong Wushuang seemed surprised by Li Yi's capability to perform such a move under these circumstances. However, she appeared unfazed, humming softly and releasing Li Yi's wrist to block his kick.
Suddenly, her palm turned into a finger, rapidly tapping Li Yi's sole. The swift movement was like lightning, giving a chilling sensation. Li Yi felt his right leg losing sensation, as if frozen, and the numbness began spreading upwards. The chilling feeling left Li Yi momentarily helpless.
"Kid! Use your Qi to dissipate her energy, or your leg is done for!" The Serpent Venerable's voice rang out urgently. Li Yi, without a moment to spare, quickly mobilized his Qi, but the clash resulted in immense pain.
Gong Wushuang seemed taken aback by Li Yi's rapid response. The collision of their Qi sent Li Yi flying like a cannonball, crashing into the ground and creating a deep crater. Li Yi felt his lower body go numb, struggling even to move. Gong Wushuang had not paralyzed him completely, but his ability to act was severely limited.
"Don't even think about moving now. But don't worry, I haven't crippled you," Gong Wushuang said indifferently. "Just hand over the item, and I won't kill you... Little brother, wise men submit to fate. You understand that, right?" Li Yi managed a wry smile, glancing around to see the bandits and guards engaged in battle. Nalan Ping, along with the Iron Lion leader and Madam Feng, displayed odd behaviors, occasionally clashing but clearly not using their full strength.
Realizing his plan to drag Nalan Ping into the water had failed, Li Yi understood that after witnessing Gong Wushuang's overwhelming power, Nalan Ping likely changed his strategy. If Nalan Ping didn't actively oppose Gong Wushuang, she probably wouldn't target him either. Li Yi's realization of his dire situation left him contemplating his limited options. Handing over the item and expecting mercy was a delusion. He knew well that neither side would spare the other in such circumstances.
"If you don't act now, Serpent Venerable, we're both finished!" Li Yi called out in his mind. After a moment, the Serpent Venerable sighed, "Kid, I can't always save you... Do you want to rely on me forever? Besides, if I act, my old friend will sense it, and if he comes after us, it won't be as simple as dealing with this young lady!"
"What should we do now?" Li Yi asked.
"Did I teach you the Blood Moon Fury for show? Use it!" The Serpent Venerable's eerie laugh faded away. Li Yi smiled bitterly, understanding that depending on the Serpent Venerable for everything wouldn't foster his growth. Flowers raised in a greenhouse, no matter how beautiful, don't last.
"So, haven't made up your mind yet?" Gong Wushuang's comment prompted Li Yi to act. He grunted and swallowed the Qi-replenishing and rejuvenating pills he had bought earlier. As the medicine took effect, his depleted Qi rapidly restored, and feeling returned to his numb legs...