Chapter 1698

Hu Xiaotian and Xiong Tianba both didn't know the true situation; Li Yuncong now is like a mute eating coptis—bitter but only he knows. To prevent his dantian from bursting, he had to continuously output his internal energy to Xiong Tianba. Although the internal energy in his dantian didn't decrease but actually increased, most of this internal energy came from Hu Xiaotian. As for the portion originally his own, it all went into Xiong Tianba's body, even including the part he had absorbed and successfully transformed from Bu Wu.

What frightened Li Yuncong was that the vortex in Hu Xiaotian's Dantian Qi Sea spun faster and faster, its suction growing stronger; now the internal energy flowing into his own body was decreasing. Li Yuncong had hoped to seize this opportunity to escape Hu Xiaotian, then draw his internal energy back from Xiong Tianba's body. He had made a clever plan, but could only think about it, because he simply couldn't escape Hu Xiaotian—not only could he not break free, but even the internal energy he had just absorbed began to flow back into Hu Xiaotian's body.

Li Yuncong panicked to the extreme; he began to realize things were turning for the worst. Hu Xiaotian was gradually taking back what was rightfully his own internal energy. Li Yuncong couldn't stop Hu Xiaotian from reclaiming his energy, and he couldn't even retrieve his own internal energy. He had completely lost control; his palm could no longer even hold Xiong Tianba's head. Xiong Tianba finally broke free from Li Yuncong's control and plopped heavily onto the ground.

Xiong Tianba sat on the ground looking dazed and confused; he had no idea what had happened. He touched his head, then his chest, confirming he was still alive, and immediately turned his concern to Hu Xiaotian. Turning around, he saw Li Yuncong's palm still pressed against Hu Xiaotian's back.

Xiong Tianba's anger flared; he grabbed the large hammer nearby for no reason feeling it much lighter. He leapt up, and this guy's light jump actually reached over two zhang high. Xiong Tianba was so startled he almost called out for his mother; he had never jumped that high in his life. The Great Iron Hammer swung toward Li Yuncong's head, shouting: "Damn it, let go!"

Pfft! The tremendous power of Xiong Tianba's hammer actually smashed Li Yuncong into a pile of minced meat. Even if Li Yuncong racked his brains, he never imagined he'd end up like this—actually pulverized into mincemeat by a clueless lad.

Hu Xiaotian slowly rose to his feet, and Xiong Tianba hurried over: "Third Uncle, are you alright?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, gazing toward the distant Bu Wu, seeing the Bu Wu monk limping away into the distance. Bu Wu's internal energy had been largely drained by Li Yuncong; just moments ago, while Li Yuncong was dealing with Hu Xiaotian and Xiong Tianba, he actually used his scant remaining internal energy to blast open his acupoints, hoping to escape in the chaos.

Hu Xiaotian thought, this time he absolutely must not let Bu Wu escape, and told Xiong Tianba: "Capture him and bring him back to me!"

Xiong Tianba nodded. He darted out like a fleeing rabbit. The internal energy now inside Xiong Tianba came not only from Li Yuncong but also from the portion Li Yuncong had absorbed from Bu Wu and converted for his own use, all of which was freely given to him. Xiong Tianba himself didn't know what had happened; he merely felt his speed and strength had increased manifold compared to before. He seized Bu Wu's neck in one grip and roared: "Where do you think you're going?"

Xiong Tianba had inexplicably gained a whole body's internal energy. He had no time to adapt, let alone master its magnitude; he thought his strength was still his usual, but his actual strike was more than ten times his normal power. Normally, despite his brute strength, Xiong Tianba couldn't even break through Bu Wu's protective gangqi, much less inflict a fatal wound—but now, in a short span, he had received a tremendous boon. Bu Wu monk's internal energy had been ninety percent absorbed by Li Yuncong, and Li Yuncong had successfully transformed it into part of himself. Thus Xiong Tianba effectively possessed the combined abilities of Bu Wu and Li Yuncong; facing Bu Wu, this diminished old monster, their abilities now differed by heaven and earth, with Bu Wu being the weaker side.

Bu Wu didn't even make a move to resist before Xiong Tianba seized him, dragged him, and threw him at Hu Xiaotian's feet.

Bu Wu lay motionless on the ground, his head limp at an unnatural angle against his chest, like a roasted chicken. Hu Xiaotian reached out to feel his pulse, then lifted Bu Wu's body; Bu Wu's cervical vertebrae had been crushed by Xiong Tianba, and he had breathed his last.

Xiong Tianba also realized Bu Wu was dead, rubbing the back of his head still dazed, he muttered: "Dead? Huh? I hardly used any force at all."

Hu Xiaotian found it both laughable and exasperating; he had seen the reason. Their internal energy tug-of-war unintentionally empowered Xiong Tianba. Li Yuncong absorbed Hu Xiaotian's internal energy, but because Hu Xiaotian's internal energy was special, Li Yuncong couldn't successfully convert and use it; his Dantian Qi Sea swelled rapidly in a short time, so Li Yuncong had to relieve the pressure on his Dantian Qi Sea—like flood control—coincidentally Xiong Tianba launched an attack, so Li Yuncong used Xiong Tianba as a conduit to vent his internal energy. Li Yuncong also couldn't control the incoming external energy, so he could only inject his own portion into Xiong Tianba's body. Thus, almost all the internal energy originally belonging to him and Bu Wu was gratuitously given to this clueless lad, Xiong Tianba.

Yet at the critical moment Hu Xiaotian regained control of his internal flow and snatched back the lost internal energy. Li Yuncong was powerless to stop Hu Xiaotian from retrieving his own energy, and also unable to take back what was rightfully his from Xiong Tianba's body. In the end, Hu Xiaotian suffered no loss; the greatest loser was Li Yuncong, who gave away both his own and Bu Wu's internal energy entirely to Xiong Tianba.

After regaining freedom, Xiong Tianba's first thought was to rescue Hu Xiaotian; the present Li Yuncong was essentially a cripple, unable to withstand even a single blow from this clueless lad—he had been hammered into mincemeat—and Bu Wu was no better off. Having just acquired such immense internal energy, Xiong Tianba could not control his strength, and with one grip he crushed Bu Wu's cervical vertebrae.

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed; either Bu Wu or Li Yuncong alone would be considered a top-tier master, yet in life they probably never imagined they'd die like this, and in such a miserable way.

Hu Xiaotian crouched down, double-checking that Bu Wu was dead, searched his person, and found a silk scroll. Unfolding it, he was delighted to discover it contained the lower half of the Void Grand Method; evidently Bu Wu had always carried this scroll with him.

At that moment a burly Dangyi tribesman on a black steed brandished a wolf-tooth club and charged at the two. Xiong Tianba seized the great hammer, took a stride forward, and struck with a blow. Now his strength and speed were far greater than before; to him the opponent's move seemed extremely slow, so although Xiong Tianba acted later he struck first. The hammer smashed into the warhorse, sending the Dangyi man and his mount flying into the air. Xiong Tianba, though aware of his great strength, had never before managed to fling a person and horse together with all his might; he stared open-mouthed at the man and horse tumbling and shrieking aloft, and exclaimed in astonishment: "Mother! I hardly used any force!"

Hu Xiaotian looked at this silly lad and felt helpless, yet his heart overflowed with joy. Although he had many capable followers nearby, true top-tier masters were few. Xiong Tianba had today obtained this opportunity; his martial arts advanced by leaps and bounds, his internal energy even rivaling Hu Xiaotian's, and with his innate divine strength, who in the world could now stand against him in single combat?

At that moment the two thousand warriors of the Enke tribe also slaughtered their way into the Han'erjin tribe's lair, launching a fierce clash. How could Xiong Tianba miss such excitement? He raised his two great hammers and charged forward, sweeping aside all opposition as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.

The Han'erjin tribesmen left to guard the camp were already thrown into disarray by the surprise attack; seeing the opponent's ferocity, they lost the will to fight and scattered in flight.

Guo Guangbi stared toward the direction where flames shot into the sky, his thick brows knitting together. Xie Jian whispered beside him: "Grand Marshal, the place burning ahead is precisely the main stronghold of the Han'erjin tribe."

Guo Guangbi snorted from his nose, then tightened his lips fiercely, suddenly whipped his horse hard, and galloped full speed toward the burning flames.

Xiong Tianba, fired up from killing, was about to give chase when Hu Xiaotian called him to a halt. The situation was settled; there was no need to linger. At that moment the guide who had led them here arrived, panicked, and exclaimed: "Bad news! A large army is rapidly advancing this way—it's Guo Guangbi's force from Ji City, numbering about ten thousand plus, and he himself is leading it……"

Xiong Tianba shouted loudly: "What can ten thousand plus do? I can still repel them." This guy's strength had suddenly increased severalfold; now he was brimming with confidence.

The guide said: "The Enke tribe's people have already prepared to withdraw; if you don't leave, staying here is tantamount to delivering yourselves to death."

Xiong Tianba looked at Hu Xiaotian, evidently taking his lead. Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows, silently calculating: Guo Guangbi's force of over ten thousand was approaching; he didn't know whether Guo Guangbi himself was among them, but if he were, today would be an excellent opportunity to eliminate him. Missing this chance, finding Guo Guangbi again would likely be difficult.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Please tell the chief of the Enke tribe that if they flee today, the Ankang grasslands will still be oppressed by Guo Guangbi and the Han'erjin tribe joining forces; with our aid, tonight is the sole chance to defeat Guo Guangbi. If he wishes to give up, we'll depart and no longer concern ourselves with your affairs. Please ask him: does he prefer to live on his knees, or to die standing?"

The guide hesitated for a moment, then ultimately walked toward the Enke tribe's chief.

Xiong Tianba blinked his big eyes: "Third Uncle, do you really intend to take down Guo Guangbi?"

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