txolops 90. Strength
90. Strength
Lin Mo's figure weaved through the flashing blades, the Taixu Ancient Sword seemingly coming to life in his hands. Facing the siege of more than twenty black-clad warriors, he not only did not retreat, but instead took the initiative to meet them head-on.
The sword light flashed like a dragon, piercing through the dense crossbow bolts and flying grappling hooks. Lin Mo's footwork was unpredictable and elusive, always managing to avoid fatal attacks at the last second, while his sword always seemed to strike from the most tricky angles, precisely piercing the gaps in the enemy's armor or the momentary openings in their moves.
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"
The sounds of sharp blades slicing through flesh rang out one after another, accompanied by dull thuds as people fell to the ground. No one could withstand a single blow from Lin Mo's sword; he was like a tiger among sheep, and wherever he went, the black-clad warriors fell dead. His swordsmanship was not only fast, ruthless, and accurate, but also contained an incomparably fierce "momentum"—a unique sword intent formed by the fusion of the essence of martial arts from two lifetimes and the true meaning of the destruction of the Taixu Ancient Sword. Ordinary martial artists, before even engaging in battle, would be terrified, their minds seized, and their strength greatly diminished.
The black-clad leader who had given the orders narrowed his eyes, clearly not expecting Lin Mo to be so powerful. His hoarse voice carried a barely perceptible hint of shock and anger: "Change formation! Dragon-Locking Formation! Traps him!"
Upon receiving the order, the remaining black-clad warriors immediately changed their strategy. Instead of launching a direct attack, they quickly circled around Lin Mo, their blades flashing and their crossbows poised to strike, forming a de facto encirclement. They attempted to wear down Lin Mo's stamina and restrict his movement with continuous attacks.
"Dragon-Locking Formation? A mere trifle!" Lin Mo scoffed. In his previous life, he had witnessed countless battle formations ten or even a hundred times more sophisticated than this, and in his eyes, this so-called Dragon-Locking Formation was riddled with flaws.
He suddenly stopped, abandoning his pursuit of killing, and instead brandished the Taixu Ancient Sword, its sword light splashing out like a silver barrier protecting his body. The crisp clanging sounds echoed continuously, and all the crossbow bolts and slashing sabers were easily deflected by this sword curtain.
At the same time, he pointed his left hand like a sword and secretly channeled his inner force, sending out invisible sword energies that struck the joints or acupoints of the black-clad warriors with precision.
"Well!"
"My legs!"
"What happened?"
Screams erupted one after another. The once-impregnable formation instantly developed several gaps. Several black-clad warriors froze, some staggering and falling to the ground, others finding their arms too numb to grip their swords. The Dragon-Locking Formation collapsed without a fight!
"Now!" A cold glint flashed in Lin Mo's eyes. Seizing this fleeting opportunity, he moved like lightning, rushing straight at the black-clad leader! Shoot the horse before the rider, capture the king before the thief!
Seeing Lin Mo break through the encirclement and charge, the leader in black's eyes flashed with a ruthless glint. Knowing there was no way to avoid it, he let out a low roar and swung his waist knife with a fierce aura towards Lin Mo! This strike concentrated all his strength, the wind whistling through the blade, faintly accompanied by the sound of thunder and lightning, clearly indicating that he was also a rare master.
However, Lin Mo's sword was even faster!
The Ancient Sword of the Void struck first, its tip tracing a mysterious trajectory as it met the incoming blade. There was no resounding crash, only a soft hissing sound. The strike, imbued with the black-clad leader's full power, seemed to have struck empty air; all its force was redirected and neutralized by a supple and unpredictable power.
The leader in black felt a numbness in his wrist, and his waist knife almost slipped from his hand, leaving him wide open!
Lin Mo flicked his wrist, and the spine of the sword, carrying immense force, slammed heavily into the chest of the black-clad leader!
"Bang!"
The leader in black was struck as if by a heavy hammer, and he flew backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He crashed heavily to the ground several feet away, struggled a few times, but could no longer get up.
Their leader was severely wounded in one blow, and although the remaining black-clad warriors remained silent, their movements visibly faltered and became chaotic for a moment. They were well-trained and fearless of death, but the ease with which their leader was defeated still shook their morale.
"The Alliance Leader is mighty!"
"Kill them! Follow the leader and wipe out these cowardly rats!"
Lin Mo's swift and decisive defeat of the enemy leader greatly boosted the morale of the alliance. The martial arts heroes, who had been caught off guard by the sudden attack, finally reacted and unleashed astonishing fighting power.
The Grand Elder of the Seven Absolutes Sect unleashed his sword technique, like a mighty river, engulfing the two black-clad warriors who attempted a sneak attack and instantly annihilating them. Zhao Kun was even more unstoppable, wielding his golden saber with ferocious speed, specifically seeking out lone black-clad warriors for head-on confrontations, and using his powerful saber technique to slay several in succession.
Leaders and masters from other sects also displayed their unique skills. The Qingcheng Sect's "Flowing Cloud Sword Technique" was elegant and agile, specifically targeting vital points like the throat; the Beggar Clan elders' "Dog-Beating Stick Technique" was unpredictable and targeted joints and acupoints; the Diancang Sect's hidden weapons swarmed like locusts, precisely disrupting the black-clad warriors' coordination…
More importantly, the alliance had an overwhelming numerical advantage. After the initial chaos, under the organization of the various faction leaders, the people began to form groups of three or five, cooperating with each other to encircle the black-clad warriors.
Although the black-clad warriors were individually formidable and coordinated perfectly, they began to retreat steadily after losing their leader, suffering a blow to their morale, and being outnumbered. They attempted to consolidate their formation, but the alliance's experts gave them no chance, relentlessly assaulting their lines like waves.
The battle gradually turned into a one-sided massacre. Black-clad warriors fell one after another, their light black armor reflecting a cold light under the torches, but even more blood seeped from the gaps in their armor, staining the ground beneath their feet red.
Lin Mo stood in the center of the battlefield, sword in hand, no longer personally participating in the encirclement. He scanned the entire area, ensuring the situation was completely under control. The Ancient Sword of the Void trembled slightly in his hand, emanating a hint of excitement that yearned to continue drinking blood, but more so, a disgust for the unique aura emanating from the attackers before him.
About an incense stick's time later, the last black-clad warrior who was putting up a stubborn resistance had his head cleaved in two by Zhao Kun's blade, and his defiant roars came to an abrupt end.
In the plaza, apart from the heavy breathing of the Alliance members and the groans of the wounded, there was no sound from the enemy. A thick stench of blood permeated the air, mixing with the lingering aroma of meat and wine, creating a bizarre and nauseating smell.
The flickering torchlight illuminated the devastated square. Broken tables and chairs, overturned food, scattered weapons, and corpses lay strewn about, telling the story of the sudden and brutal battle that had just taken place.
The survivors, their faces a mixture of anger, lingering fear, and the excitement of victory, couldn't help but gaze at the figure standing tall with a sword in hand.
Tonight, if it weren't for Alliance Leader Lin Mo's exceptional strength, who broke through the enemy lines and quelled the unrest, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The alliance, newly established, has already endured such a bloody test, but it is precisely in this blood and fire that Lin Mo's prestige and the alliance's cohesion have been strengthened to an unprecedented degree.
"Clear the battlefield, treat the wounded, and tally the casualties!" Lin Mo sheathed his sword and issued the order in a calm voice, breaking the silence. His gaze swept over the spot where Wan Sanqian had been standing, only to find it empty. The five servants had quietly disappeared during the chaos.
Lin Mo's eyes turned slightly cold, but he didn't immediately make a sound. His immediate priority was to clean up the mess and find out who these well-trained, ruthless attackers, who were like an army, really were. He had a vague feeling that an invisible net was closing in on the newly formed alliance.