Lei Bao keenly noticed the fleeting smile on Ge Xiu's face and slightly furrowed his brows. "What are you so smug about?"
"Let's have a fair duel between men!" Ge Xiu took a step forward, shaking his sleeves as his robes billowed wildly. "Lei Bao! Haven't you always wanted to fight me?"
Lei Bao sneered. "The ever-cautious King of Scraps actually wants to fight me?"
"Are you scared?" Ge Xiu roared angrily.
"Then, as you wish!" Lei Bao threw a punch in Ge Xiu's direction.
Though they were over ten steps apart, a violent gust of fist energy was already palpable. Su Muyu subtly sidestepped, shielding Xu An. "The energy precedes the fist. This is the Formless Fist—is this man from Thunder Fort?"
"Pitiful little Thunder Fort, how laughable!" Ge Xiu charged straight into the fist wind. He slammed his fists together, producing a dull, stone-like clang, and quickly closed the distance to Lei Bao, throwing a punch of his own. Their fists collided with a thunderous impact, sending both men stumbling back three steps.
Each of Lei Bao's steps left a three-inch-deep footprint in the ground.
Ge Xiu, on the other hand, seemed to slide back.
Su Muyu shook his head slightly. There was a reason Lei Bao was ranked higher than Ge Xiu—his internal energy far surpassed Ge Xiu's, clearly honed through orthodox techniques. Ge Xiu, in contrast, had clawed his way up through sheer grit, learning whatever martial arts he could in a haphazard manner. At first glance, they seemed evenly matched, but their foundational strength was incomparable.
"You'll lose within thirty moves," Lei Bao sneered.
Ge Xiu flashed a fierce grin. "I may lose, but you must die!"
"Lei Bao," the white-clad Sword Holder standing atop the eaves suddenly spoke. "Don't waste unnecessary time."
"Don't worry. When I say thirty moves, I mean thirty." Lei Bao leaped into the air once more, letting out a furious roar.
It echoed like thunder!
The disciples of the Longevity Sect all covered their ears at the deafening sound. Those with weaker internal energy even collapsed to the ground. Xu An clutched his ears, swaying unsteadily but stubbornly refusing to fall. Su Muyu, of course, remained unfazed, merely commenting indifferently, "Thunder Roar Technique."
The white-clad Sword Holders on both eaves took notice of Su Muyu, their hands subtly tightening around their sword hilts.
Meanwhile, Ge Xiu was completely overwhelmed by the Thunder Roar, his feet feeling as though they were weighed down by iron, unable to move an inch.
Lei Bao lowered his head slightly, clenching both fists. The wind from his punches tore through the air with a thunderous crack as he struck toward Ge Xiu.
Gritting his teeth, Ge Xiu mustered all his strength and roared, finally breaking free from the weight binding his feet. He hastily pushed off the ground, retreating three steps. Lei Bao's fist crashed down, leaving a massive crater where Ge Xiu had stood moments before.Ge Xiu stood to the side, drenched in cold sweat. If that punch had landed on him, his head would have been smashed open. But Lei Bao gave him no chance to recover, immediately throwing another punch. Fearing he might be trapped in the same predicament as before, Ge Xiu didn’t dare let Lei Bao pin him down again. He retaliated with punch after punch, trying to turn the tide of the battle.
Their fists simultaneously struck each other’s chests.
Lei Bao’s lips twisted violently.
Ge Xiu, however, only coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Their judgment of the battle and their combat techniques were evenly matched.
But the inherent gap in their internal strength made the outcome increasingly clear.
“Just a lowly thug who got lucky. What makes you think you can challenge me?” Lei Bao sneered.
Ge Xiu raised his head, grinning through bloodstained teeth. “Because I’m a thug, and you’re a noble-born disciple. When it comes to a life-or-death fight, I’m the one who’ll truly stake my life!”
“What?” Lei Bao suddenly sensed something amiss and instinctively tried to retreat.
But it was too late. Seizing the moment, Ge Xiu grabbed his arms, and a few small black metal beads rolled to the ground beneath them.
“These are—” Lei Bao gasped.
“That’s right. I had someone steal them from you—Lei Family Fort’s Thunder Bombs!” Ge Xiu laughed.
“Damn you!” Lei Bao hoisted Ge Xiu into the air and leaped upward just as the bombs exploded below, blasting them both away. They landed heavily, their bodies covered in blood and grime. Ge Xiu, clearly exhausted, struggled to rise but failed. Lei Bao, barely standing, staggered toward him.
“Though mostly an act, I can’t deny there’s some real courage in you,” Su Muyu remarked, stepping forward and appearing in front of Ge Xiu in an instant.
Ge Xiu grinned. “You saw through me, huh.”
The white-clad Sword Holders on either side of the eaves drew their swords—or tried to. With a forceful pull, they found only empty hilts in their hands. Stunned, they turned to look—and saw each other.
They stood on opposite rooftops. How could they see each other?
But there was no time to ponder the answer.
A shadowy figure landed behind them, smashing their heads together. Both collapsed, unconscious.
The man stroked his thin mustache and chuckled. “Peerless under heaven?”
Below, Lei Bao stared at Su Muyu, his instincts screaming that this was a dangerous foe. “Who are you?” he growled.
“Why is someone from Lei Family Fort in Sihuai City?” Su Muyu asked.
The question Lei Bao least wanted to hear. “None of your damn business!” he roared.
“I once had the honor of sharing a drink with a brave man from Lei Family Fort—Lei Qianting,” Su Muyu said calmly.
“What?” Lei Bao’s eyes widened. Lei Qianting was a renowned figure in Lei Family Fort, far beyond the reach of an exiled branch disciple like him. If this man had drunk with Lei Qianting… “Who the hell are you?!”
“Weren’t you just shouting my name?” Su Muyu sighed. “I’m standing right in front of you.”
Lei Bao froze, then realization struck. “You’re Zhuo Yuean!”
“Yes. Weren’t you trying to capture me?” Su Muyu said slowly.Lei Bao swallowed hard, then suddenly bellowed, "Brothers!"
"Here!" The men behind him all drew their blades in response.
"Run!" Lei Bao was the first to turn around and take off at full speed!
This monster who could defeat Martial Hall elders without even drawing his sword and had driven the former Peerless City to ruin—how could local thugs like them possibly stand a chance? Don't be ridiculous!
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