The Golden Light Taoist stood proudly in the middle of the arena, flanked by the members of the Wild Wolf Gang. Before stepping into the arena, he had already made a promise to Jia Tianlong that he alone could defeat all the participants from the Seven Celestial Sect in the duel. Naturally, for his services, his original fee of five thousand taels of gold had been raised to eight thousand.
Just thinking about the gold he would earn after the battle made the Golden Light Taoist's heart burn with excitement. He sneered at the crowd opposite him, already eager to kill everyone standing there.
Meanwhile, Han Li was not with Li Feiyu. Instead, he stood on the opposite side of the arena, watching the unfolding scene. Since Li Feiyu and Zhang Xiaoxue were deep in conversation, Han Li did not want to disturb their intimate moment.
"How can these two lovers be so carefree in a place like this, where it's kill or be killed?" Han Li thought, a trace of sourness creeping into his thoughts.
Coming back to his senses, he looked toward the dwarf opposite, a perplexed expression on his face.
"The Wild Wolf Gang is hiding behind this strange dwarf? How bizarre! Could this dwarf have some powerful secret technique?" Han Li wondered, squinting his eyes as he tried to figure out what was going on.
Wang Juechu, the leader of the Seven Celestial Sect, seemed to share Han Li's curiosity. He did not immediately let his disciples charge in. Instead, he sent out one of his most trusted bodyguards, a burly man holding a blade, to engage the dwarf first. Clearly, Wang Juechu wanted to test the dwarf's capabilities before committing his forces further, preventing any unnecessary casualties.
Though the duel was supposed to be a chaotic free-for-all, it wasn't uncommon for both sides to send a representative for an initial duel to gauge strength. Wang Juechu followed this strategy, as he had done before.
The Golden Light Taoist noticed the lone figure approaching from the opposite side. His eyes gleamed with a sense of superiority as he realized what Wang Juechu had planned.
He chuckled darkly, his voice grating and unpleasant like the screeching of metal on stone. The sound sent a shiver down the spines of those who heard it.
The bodyguard sent to face the Golden Light Taoist was a muscular man in his thirties, his face covered in a fierce expression. His hands gripped a large blade, veins standing out on his forearms, showing his mastery in close combat. When he heard the mocking laughter, his face remained calm and composed, an experienced fighter who was unfazed by taunts.
As the burly man neared, the Golden Light Taoist stopped laughing. He took a yellow talisman from his sleeve, which shimmered with golden light. The talisman was covered in intricate golden symbols, clearly something of great value.
The dwarf ignored the approaching warrior, holding the talisman in one hand as he began chanting a spell under his breath.
The Seven Celestial Sect's bodyguard had no idea what the dwarf was doing, but with his years of battle experience, he knew better than to let the opponent complete whatever he was doing. He lunged forward without hesitation, covering the distance in a few swift steps. His large blade flashed with cold light as he swung it toward the dwarf's head, using all his strength in the strike.
Just as the blade was about to strike, the dwarf completed his spell. With a sudden, fluid motion, he slapped the talisman onto his body. A brilliant flash of golden light erupted from the point of contact, blinding everyone who saw it.
The dazzling golden glow disoriented the burly man, blurring his vision. However, his training and instincts kept him calm, and he didn't hesitate to bring the blade down, striking where he believed the dwarf's head was.
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal rang out, and the bodyguard felt a sharp jolt in his hands. His grip on the blade weakened, and he almost lost hold of it. Surprised, he instinctively leapt backward, several paces away, his sword held tightly before him in a defensive posture.
The crowd collectively gasped. The sudden flash and the force of the strike had stunned everyone. The warrior, now several steps back, regained his balance but still looked confused.
His eyes, still blurry from the golden light, slowly began to focus. As his vision cleared, he saw the dwarf standing a few paces away, but something was amiss. The dwarf was surrounded by a thick, shimmering golden aura, like a suit of armor, impervious to any attack.
It was clear now that the sword had not struck the dwarf at all. Instead, it had collided with a solid golden shield that enveloped the dwarf's entire body. This golden shield seemed as unyielding as steel, deflecting the bodyguard's blade effortlessly.
The bodyguard stood frozen, still gripping his sword, his mind struggling to comprehend what had just occurred. He could only stare at the dwarf in shock, unsure of how to proceed.
The crowd around the arena was equally stunned. Most of them had heard stories of cultivators and their magical abilities, but seeing such an impressive display of power in person left them speechless. The power of this talisman was unlike anything they had ever witnessed.
Among the onlookers, Han Li was more stunned than anyone. He was probably the only person on the entire mountain who had any idea what was going on.
It was clear to him that the dwarf was using a powerful talisman, something akin to a Spirit Binding Talisman, but more advanced. Han Li, who was already well-versed in talismans, could immediately tell that this was a superior form of the same technique.
With his knowledge of talismans, Han Li was both elated and concerned. On one hand, he was glad to see that his own skills were superior to the dwarf's. But on the other hand, he had no idea what other spells the dwarf might possess. The question remained: could he deal with whatever the dwarf might unleash next?
Han Li narrowed his eyes, contemplating his next move.