Han Li turned his head and glanced at Wang Juechu, who looked grim and was consulting with the three elder men beside him. The elders, their faces weathered with age, seemed just as perplexed by the golden shield surrounding the Golden Light Taoist as everyone else.
The Golden Light Taoist let out another sinister laugh. Throwing his head back, he arrogantly declared, "I stand here motionless, allowing you all to attack at will. If any one of you can break through my Golden Immovable Skill, then I may spare your life."
His words were followed by a mocking laugh that further provoked the Seven Celestial Sect disciples. Several of them, their martial prowess undeniable, immediately rushed forward, ready to charge at the dwarf. However, Wang Juechu swiftly stopped them with a wave of his hand.
He called back the remaining bodyguard who was still on the field, and then, in a low voice, gave instructions to one of the burly men among his elders. The man nodded and confidently walked forward toward the Golden Light Taoist.
The dwarf's eyes flickered with malice as he looked at the burly man. Born with a body that was often ridiculed, he harbored a deep resentment toward large and muscular individuals. This man's imposing frame and bristling beard immediately became a target for the dwarf's pent-up hatred. He had already begun thinking about how best to torment him.
The burly man was none other than one of Wang Juechu's three uncles, a former fierce general who had killed countless enemies in his time. Despite his fierce appearance, he was now over sixty years old. His battle experience was rich, and he would not be reckless in the face of such a strange and seemingly powerful golden shield.
The burly man sized up the golden light surrounding the dwarf, then turned his gaze to the Golden Light Taoist, who was standing proudly inside the shield. He grinned widely, then reached out two fingers and flicked the golden shield.
Clang!
The sound was clear and resonated through the air. The Golden Light Taoist's face twisted with rage, and he hissed, "You imbecile! Do you wish for me to send you to the afterlife sooner?"
The burly man paid no attention to the insults. Instead, with a casual step, he moved to the dwarf's side, then in a blur, was suddenly behind him. The man began to circle the dwarf, slowly at first, but then picking up speed with each step. His movements became so fast that his figure was soon a blur, spinning around the Golden Light Taoist like a whirlwind.
The Golden Light Taoist became dizzy as the man's circling movements disrupted his focus. He was seething with anger, but before he could act, the burly man opened his mouth and let out a mighty roar, one that sounded like the roar of a dragon or tiger. The booming sound echoed throughout the entire peak, shaking the leaves on the nearby trees and causing a ringing in everyone's ears.
The Golden Light Taoist was momentarily stunned, his hands freezing in place as he tried to reach into his robes. His movements became sluggish as the roar overwhelmed him, making it impossible for him to retrieve whatever item he was after.
At that moment, the burly man's joints began to crack loudly. The sound was sharp and crisp, growing louder with each passing second, until it was as if a storm had broken out.
The burly man slowed as he came back around to the dwarf's front, and with one final movement, he stopped. The echo of his roar and the cracking of his joints came to an abrupt halt.
Those watching closely soon realized that the burly man's body had grown significantly larger. His chest and arms swelled up, his muscles turning rock-hard and dark like iron. To the dwarf, the man now seemed like a giant, towering over him.
The Golden Light Taoist, finally catching his breath, managed to retrieve a long, black wooden box from his robes. The box was sealed with a talisman, and he hastily began tearing at the seal, his face showing signs of both urgency and desperation.
But before he could even fully open the box, the giant-like man swung his massive arm and slammed his fist into the golden shield protecting the dwarf. Boom! The impact caused the shield to ripple and deform, shaking the dwarf's body with each hit.
The Golden Light Taoist's face paled as he realized the shield, which had seemed impenetrable to others, was now being bent and contorted under the sheer force of the burly man's blows. A sense of dread began to take root in his heart. The power required to make his precious shield tremble like this was far beyond what he had anticipated.
The dwarf frantically tried to tear off the talisman from the box, but the shaking of the golden shield only made his efforts more difficult. He had no choice but to work faster.
"Rrriiip!"
The talisman was finally torn away, and a gleam of hope appeared on the Golden Light Taoist's face. However, just as he was about to revel in his small victory, he heard a rapid series of bangs from the shield.
The shield continued to contort under the relentless assault, buckling and twisting as if it were made of dough. The dwarf's body was tossed about within it, unable to maintain any semblance of stability.
At this moment, the Golden Light Taoist's composure shattered. His once calm and collected demeanor was replaced with a frantic urgency. He began chanting hastily, his hands moving erratically as he attempted to cast his spells, but in his panic, he made a series of mistakes. The black box remained stubbornly inactive, and the shield continued to weaken.
Watching from the sidelines, Jia Tianlong couldn't help but feel a mix of disbelief and frustration. On the one hand, he was amazed at the dwarf's incompetence, but on the other, he was astonished by the sheer strength of Wang Juechu's burly uncle. He had personally tested the Golden Light Taoist's golden shield before and had known it to be nearly impervious—like a suit of armor that could withstand any attack. But now, seeing it distort under the giant's strikes, Jia Tianlong realized that the situation was not as he had expected.
The burly man's skill was beyond anything Jia Tianlong had anticipated. He now understood why Wang Juechu had been so confident in entering the duel. With three such monstrous experts on his side, it was no wonder they had been so eager to challenge him to a blood duel.
Jia Tianlong glanced back at the struggling dwarf and began to wonder whether he should intervene. It seemed that if the Golden Light Taoist didn't manage to turn the tide soon, he might not even have the chance to use his famed flying sword technique before he was defeated.
The duel had taken a sharp turn, and now the balance of power was beginning to shift in favor of the Seven Celestial Sect.