Chapter 26: A Clash of External Techniques—Bronze Skin and Iron Bones!

The healing medicine cannot simply be swallowed; detoxification of this sort requires the skin to be cut, the poisoned blood forced out, then the wound treated with salve.

At this moment, however, the adversary was patient, calm to the extreme. He made no move to enter the temple, instead choosing to pressure his enemies from outside, switching positions ceaselessly, sending razor-sharp throwing knives from every direction.

Yu Lie retreated, hiding directly behind the statue, caring not a whit for the fate of his two subordinates. In no time at all—

“Damn it… Why don’t you… come out…”

Flying Rat’s face was etched with utter despair. He was forced to parry each incoming knife, every slash taxing his energy, the poison spreading faster and faster, until he could no longer hold on.

His body slowly collapsed, slipping into unconsciousness.

Swish, swish!

Two more knives whistled through the air. This time, Yu Lie finally snorted coldly, his figure flashing as he stepped before his men, swinging his palm.

Clang, clang!

A faint golden hue appeared on his palm, resembling the color of bronze bells. With two gentle chimes, the deadly knives bounced away, their metal twisted from the force.

Within moments, he had dispelled the effects of the smoke, regaining his full strength.

“What a nuisance.”

Outside the temple, Bai Xuan frowned. The smoke was his doing, as were the knives. He had arrived early, watching everything from the shadows.

The enemy was exposed, while he remained hidden. Bai Xuan showed no mercy.

He had confidence in his own abilities, yet was cautious of his adversary’s strength. Who could say what hidden weapons the enemy possessed before the fight began?

Quietly, he had blown the smoke through the cracked wooden window of the ruined temple.

This superior-grade smoke was potent, affecting even those who had unleashed their energy three times.

He then acted decisively, throwing poisoned knives and knocking two subordinates unconscious, ensuring they were no longer a threat.

Otherwise, in a crucial moment, should they produce military-grade crossbows from nowhere, he might not have escaped unscathed.

Yet, seeing Yu Lie’s actions now, Bai Xuan felt a sinking in his heart.

The man had shrugged off the smoke’s effects in mere moments, coldly indifferent to his subordinates’ near death, intervening only at the very last.

Such a character would be exceedingly difficult to handle!

"Come out," Yu Lie’s eyes glinted coldly. "I practice Turtle Breath technique; your smoke is useless against me."

Moments later, the main door of the ruined temple swung open. A man, nine feet tall, clad in black, stepped inside. His face was hidden behind a battered shark mask, appearing almost comical, yet despite his suppressed aura, a chilling sense of oppression emanated from him.

"Well, well, well," Yu Lie repeated, "To think such a formidable fighter would appear on this deserted island!"

With his strength and experience, Yu Lie could instantly recognize the caliber of his opponent—so powerful, he felt a flicker of apprehension.

"You’ve injured my men. What do you have to say for yourself? Who sent you? Are you a hired blade?"

Yu Lie’s gaze bore into the masked man.

A hired blade meant someone who worked for money, whose main motivation was profit, perhaps with a touch of conscience, but ultimately a mercenary.

Moreover, hired blades rarely had any backing; otherwise, why would they act as the government’s lackeys?

Bai Xuan remained silent.

"In that case," Yu Lie’s voice dropped, "I have a proposal."

"These two subordinates are worthless—dead men are of no consequence. What matters most is, since you are a hired blade, you must know the authorities will never provide you with the true foundations of martial arts: the ‘Whale Blood Elixir’ for master-level advancement, or the essential martial arts visualization charts. Relying on them is futile."

"If you are willing to cooperate with me, you will gain far more than what the authorities can offer. I now have a golden opportunity to ascend to master level. If you wish, I’ll share it with you. This is a mutually beneficial chance. What do you say?"

As he finished speaking, he saw the masked man stride forward, faster and faster, without a word in reply.

"Damn it!"

Yu Lie’s brows furrowed sharply.

He knew his opponent was the most dangerous kind: silent, unyielding, neither listening nor speaking—blood for blood, life for life!

In an instant, both men exploded with energy, stamping the ground and charging forward. Their auras surged, bodies swelling, cloth tearing with a sharp rip.

Boom!

The two figures collided like cannonballs, producing a thunderous crack.

A gale erupted, sweeping through the ruined temple.

Bai Xuan’s hands swelled to several times their normal size, forming iron-black palms that struck with a roaring wind. Yet his opponent’s fists turned iron-gray, tinged with gold, delivering a mighty blow. When their attacks met, the air itself shattered. Both men recoiled, matched in strength!

“Excellent palm technique!”

Yu Lie growled, his expression twisting into a ferocious grin.

“But you haven’t reached your third breakthrough yet, and you dare go up against me? You’ll die here!”

He was a genuine veteran, having undergone three energy breakthroughs, with vast combat experience.

From the moment their palms met, he sensed that Bai Xuan’s energy was still a notch below his own.

Three breakthroughs—unleashed!

Boom, boom, boom!

Yu Lie’s fists flew, forming a blur of strikes. His entire body shimmered gold, even his eyes glowing with the hue—a sign of energy condensed to its utmost, power flooding his pupils. He hammered Bai Xuan with relentless force.

Explosions echoed as Bai Xuan, face contorted with savage battle lust, countered with palm after palm, meeting fist with thunderous impact.

The blue bricks of the temple floor shattered, two figures darting through the ruins, walls trembling as if ready to leap apart.

They bounded like cannonballs, each clash releasing a storm of energy, thunder roaring through the hall!

“What exhilaration!”

Bai Xuan cried out, his energy boiling, strength fully unleashed, a terrifying force radiating from him without restraint.

For the first time, he faced an enemy who could match his speed and power!

“Today, this man must die.”

His murderous intent surged.

If he had not struck first, he would not have chosen to fight to the death. But caution dictated his actions, so he had already drawn blood.

Now that the fight had begun, he would leave no survivors!

“How can he be so tough?”

Yu Lie’s expression shifted.

From the first exchange, he could feel a difference in energy—he expected to crush his opponent.

Yet, though his strength exceeded Bai Xuan’s, his fists could not break through those iron-sand palms. Instead, his own knuckles began to ache, struggling to withstand the force of Bai Xuan’s blows!

“What kind of joke is this?”

“A second breakthrough, and his body training is already this terrifying?”