Li Tianwang sensed that something was very wrong.
Born with an extraordinary physique, he has never lost a contest of strength, except for being stuck at the ninth rank upper realm.
Let alone martial artists of the same level, even an eighth-rank martial artist like Liu Tianwang would find it extremely difficult to defeat him in terms of strength unless he attacked his internal organs with internal energy.
With his unique strength, once he starts swinging that incredibly heavy iron club, his opponents can hardly even get close.
But at this moment, Lin Ce not only got close, but also grabbed the end of the giant iron rod with both hands.
"Let go!"
Li Tianwang shouted loudly and pulled hard, trying to shake off Lin Ce's hands.
But the result sent chills down his spine.
The massive iron rod remained completely still.
"Take this!"
Seeing that something was wrong, Zhang Tianwang dared not stand idly by any longer and instead punched Lin Ce in the waist.
Compared to the other two Heavenly Kings, he was clearly more skilled in boxing.
But what happened next made his vision go black.
A heavy, dark iron rod came crashing down, striking his outstretched fist.
It was too late to pull back his fist. Zhang Tianwang could only watch helplessly as his fist collided with the iron rod before leaping backward with all his might.
"ah--"
Amidst his cries of pain, his fist went numb instantly, turning into a bloody mess, and he didn't know how many finger bones were broken.
Although he practiced boxing, he lacked the protective skills of Li Tianwang, making him much weaker in terms of defense.
In fact, even Li Tianwang, who possesses protective martial arts skills, might not be able to escape unscathed from such a heavy iron club attack.
After Lin Ce snatched the giant iron cudgel, he used it to knock back Zhang Tianwang with one blow, and then swept it towards Li Tianwang in front of him.
Despite having protective martial arts skills, Li Tianwang's eyelids twitched, and he ultimately dared not take the blow head-on, so he rolled backward to avoid it.
The only unfortunate thing was that his strong steed, struck by the giant iron club, collapsed into a heap with a mournful cry.
"What kind of strange force is that?"
After dodging the attack, Li Tianwang looked at his mount, which had been killed instantly by the iron rod, and felt lingering fear.
Lin Ce lifted the massive iron rod with both hands, gave it a heavy bounce, and nodded in satisfaction.
This iron rod felt to weigh at least several hundred pounds, and with the power of his current fourth level of "Mountain Breaking Fist," it was just right, much more useful than that single-edged sword that would shatter at the slightest touch.
He naturally wouldn't tell Li Tianwang that the powerful force he had just used to shake off the opponent's hands came from the "Mountain-Breaking Fist" of the fourth level.
The fourth level of tendon training made his tendons as strong as a bow, allowing him to unleash several times the normal force in an instant.
Although it is not the internal energy of an eighth-rank martial artist, in some respects, the power it can unleash is no weaker than that of the former.
The rest is quite simple.
With the giant iron rod as his weapon, Lin Ce's lethality increased several levels.
Neither Zhang Tianwang nor Li Tianwang could resist his massive iron cudgel.
"Pfft~"
Zhang Tianwang, who was skilled in boxing, was smashed into a pulp by the giant club. A dignified ninth-rank martial artist couldn't even withstand a single exchange.
Li Tianwang's situation isn't much better.
As a person with a strong physique and protective skills, ordinary swords and knives can hardly hurt him.
But the giant iron rod weighing several hundred kilograms was an exception, not to mention the one wielded by Lin Ce, whose muscles were as strong as a bow.
"Bang!"
Unable to dodge in time, he was struck on the thigh by Lin Ce's massive iron club, and instantly screamed in agony as he rolled on the ground.
Even the strongest protective techniques couldn't withstand such a heavy blow.
His leg bone was clearly completely shattered.
"Spare my life, and I'll tell you who paid us to attack and kill you..."
"Pfft~"
With another blow, Li Tianwang's other leg was also broken.
Ignoring Li Tianwang's words, Lin Ce aimed his next attack directly at the opponent's head.
"Pfft~"
The giant club crashed down, blood splattered, and Li Tianwang's screams abruptly ceased.
His head, in the end, could not withstand the force of the weapon he had meticulously crafted.
"Phew~"
The headless corpse, twice the height of a normal person, crashed into the group of thieves, and Lin Ce shouted in a chilling voice.
"King Li, King Zhang is dead!"
"The Heavenly King is dead—"
The next moment, this news, enough to devastate all the thieves, swept across the entire scene like a storm.
Li Tianwang's physique is so extraordinary that it's immediately obvious and requires no further verification.
Wielding a massive iron club, Lin Ce charged back the way he came, like a god of war.
Wherever they went, the thieves were injured by the slightest touch or killed by the slightest contact, spreading endless fear to the hearts of every thief.
Run!
The thieves, who were ten times more numerous than the caravan, were completely demoralized and fled in all directions, wishing they had more legs.
"Ha, you want to compete with me in lightness skill?"
A voice rang out overhead, and the speaker descended slowly, drifting like dust.
Before him, a slender figure had already crashed straight to the ground, clearly lifeless.
It was Li Qingshan.
After a fierce battle, he finally managed to kill the Heavenly King, who was skilled in light-footed martial arts, by relying on his own superior martial arts skills.
"I really am the chosen one. This time I broke through again in the midst of battle. Lin Ce, just wait, the position of chief镖头 (chief镖师) will soon be mine."
Li Qingshan landed on the ground, sheathed his longsword, and looked smug.
Lin Ce certainly knew what martial arts technique he had broken through.
Just now, a thought struck him, and another martial art appeared on his "Martial Arts Panel".
【Flying Sand Step (The Day After Tomorrow)】: Third Level (Perfect)
This was precisely the light-footed martial art that Li Qingshan coveted most.
Compared to the "Azure Rock Robe" I obtained before, the "Flying Sand Step" I obtained this time is directly at the third level (perfect) realm.
Clearly, Li Qingshan originally saw himself as a graceful flying swordsman.
His efforts in lightness skills were clearly greater than those in defensive martial arts like the "Green Rock Robe".
Having gained another martial arts skill for free, Lin Ce looked at Li Qingshan, whom he had taken advantage of twice, and his eyes became much kinder.
If the "King of Escorts" system didn't require him to be the chief escort, he would have even considered giving up the position to the other party.
"Chief Escort, I've broken through!"
Almost at the same time, a young boy who had desperately held off three fleeing thieves shouted excitedly.
Prior to this, the three thieves, like cornered beasts, fought desperately, putting him in grave danger.
At one point, he suddenly jerked his body and, as if divinely inspired, cut down the three thieves.
All of this was naturally because his "Mountain-Breaking Fist" had finally reached the first level (perfection) and he had stepped into the threshold of a ninth-rank martial artist.
He was the first among the young scouts.
Lin Ce could sense the other person's progress.
At the same moment, his own "Mountain-Breaking Fist" also received ten times the feedback, gained a lot of experience, and directly reached the fourth level (great success).
"Very good, you and Li Qingshan will protect the caravan together."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Ce suddenly leaped into the air, like a large rock being forcefully thrown.
"Huh?"
Li Qingshan's eyes widened. "He can also perform qinggong (lightness skill)?"
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