Chapter 73: Gao Shun's Frustration
Chapter 73: Gao Shun's Frustration
September 25, 2017
Many thanks to 'Ocean Ranch Owner', 'Water Day 1 Day 1 Day', 'Lin Yiyan', and 'Qing Fa' for your generous support and reward!
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Executioner. The man before them, Gao Shun, was undoubtedly an executioner.
With a shield and a heavy saber, he stood alone on the fort's wall, within a range of five to ten meters. Below him lay two to three dozen corpses, lifeless now, but just moments ago, they had been full of vigor.
Gao Shun made no attempt to expand his advantage. Instead, he held his position, awaiting the arrival of his soldiers from behind.
The bandits on both sides of the wall slowly retreated. Lu Haikong, along with Wang Chao and Ma Han, bypassed the bandits and approached Gao Shun.
Gao Shun's soldiers continued to climb, while the bandits maintained their defense. Wang Ti, one of Lu Haikong's subordinates, had recently demonstrated some talent in military command. Though he couldn't match Lu Haikong's expertise, he effectively slowed down Gao Shun's troops.
It was Wang Ti's command that allowed Lu Haikong to confront Gao Shun directly.
Looking up at Gao Shun, who seemed like an executioner atop the wall, Lu Haikong wasn't overly concerned, despite the significant disparity in their strengths. After all, in a fight, if you can't win head-on, you can try from the side. If that fails, you can resort to underhanded tactics. It would be foolish to knowingly engage in a direct confrontation with a superior opponent.
Moreover, Lu Haikong's side wasn't without advantages!
Gao Shun, for the sake of convenience in his assault, had opted to use a heavy saber and a shield instead of his specialty, the Great Saber. While this weapon combination was indeed suitable for his task, it also presented a problem.
Gao Shun's combat power would undoubtedly diminish, and more importantly, Lu Haikong, with his long-range weapon, had the confidence to seize the initiative against Gao Shun's short-range weapon. At this moment, Lu Haikong had already activated his dark mode!
As Lu Haikong approached Gao Shun, a group of about ten bandit soldiers, fearless of death, brandished their rusty, worn-out blades, exuding bloodthirst as they charged towards Gao Shun.
These ten soldiers, with not even a single point of Strength, were courageous, but before Gao Shun, they were like ten eggs against a solid rock. They had no chance of resistance.
In less than thirty seconds, Gao Shun effortlessly dispatched them with his saber.
Just as Gao Shun slashed the last bandit soldier and tossed the corpse aside, Lu Haikong had already reached him. With a mighty swing, he brought down the Ornate Battle Axe from mid-air.
The ten bandit soldiers had provided Lu Haikong with the perfect opportunity. At this moment, Gao Shun was exhausted, unable to dodge, and could only raise his shield to block the axe's blow.
"Now is the perfect moment! The real chance has come!"
Lu Haikong's eyes and lips curved into a sinister smile. Without hesitation, he utilized three points of allocable system energy to directly raise his Bull Power, which was already at a little over level 3, to level 4.
"Congratulations! Your Bull Power has been upgraded to level 4. Your strength and physique have increased, and your Strength has risen by 4 points, currently at 51!"
In an instant, he had spent one point of allocable skill points, leaving two points remaining. Without hesitation, he used these to upgrade the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique, acquired from Cheng Dashan, to level 5.
"Congratulations! Your Mountain Splitting Axe Technique has been upgraded to level 5. Your strength and Strength have increased, and your Strength has risen by 2 points, currently at 53 points!"
Lu Haikong was truly sinister to the core. First, he used the ten bandit soldiers to create the perfect opportunity to strike. Then, during the brief moment between his attack and Gao Shun's reaction, he consecutively upgraded his Bull Power and Mountain Splitting Axe Technique.
With two consecutive upgrades, Lu Hai Kong's initial axe attack suddenly intensified.
Gao Shun was not yet at his peak, with only 69 strength points, far from the 80+ points he would achieve at his prime.
Although Gao Shun was powerful, he was not yet a match for Lu Hai Kong. Moreover, Gao Shun had anticipated Lu Hai Kong's attack, but the reality of the blow on his shield was vastly different from his prediction. In an instant, Gao Shun's shield shattered.
"Not good!" Gao Shun's face paled, and he hurriedly tried to let go.
But it was too late. The terrifying force directly penetrated his shield and dislocated Gao Shun's left arm with a 'crack'. Even his wrist suffered a minor fracture, and his entire left arm went limp.
This outcome was due to Gao Shun's formidable strength and well-conditioned body. If it had been an average near-vassal-level general with a strength score over 60, their arm would have been shattered by Lu Hai Kong's bizarre and sinister axe strike.
Lu Hai Kong, pleased with his success, maintained his focus. He swung the ornate battle axe again, continuing his assault on Gao Shun.
This time, Lu Hai Kong no longer used the Fundamental Axe Technique but instead employed the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique, which he had just upgraded to level 5.
The Mountain Splitting Axe Technique was an advanced version of the Fundamental Axe Technique, emphasizing heavy, overpowering attacks. Its destructive force was at least double that of the Fundamental Axe Technique, but it required inner strength to activate and was slightly slower.
In this 16-9-1-8-1-0 version!
However, this attack was perfectly suited for the current situation, with Gao Shun's left arm injured and half his body numb.
Gao Shun's condition was dire; his body couldn't dodge Lu Hai Kong's attacks with agility. Facing each of Lu Hai Kong's strikes, Gao Shun could only parry with his heavy saber.
Lu Hai Kong unleashed a series of 13 axe strikes, each of which Gao Shun blocked with his heavy saber. It seemed that Gao Shun might have had greater pure strength than Lu Hai Kong, but it was not enough to let him withstand Lu Hai Kong's attacks solely through force.
Gao Shun appeared to have no powerful martial skills or techniques, relying solely on his formidable willpower and inner strength, which exceeded Lu Hai Kong's, to parry each blow.
This battle was undoubtedly the most humiliating for Gao Shun. From the start, his advantages and strengths had no opportunity to shine, as he was outmaneuvered by Lu Hai Kong's cunning tactics. Ultimately, it became a contest of brute force.
Although Gao Shun could still block Lu Hai Kong's attacks, he knew he was at his wit's end.
As expected, when Lu Hai Kong's fourteenth axe came down, Gao Shun's heavy saber shattered with a 'crack'.
"It's over!" Gao Shun's heart sank as he watched the axe swing down towards him.
On the brink of death, Gao Shun lifted his head and glared at Lu Hai Kong, shouting, "You scoundrel! If you have the guts, fight me fairly!"
"I'm ready anytime!" Lu Hai Kong grinned, and with a twist of his massive axe, he changed from a downward chop to an upward swing, smashing Gao Shun's chest and sending him plummeting from the ten-meter-high wall...
(End of Chapter)
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