If someone had dared to attack the Twelve Linked Rings with just their own strength before this, Du Xiaoqing would have certainly scoffed, as the Twelve Linked Rings was already a prominent power in Jiangnan.

Although the Gold and Silver Pavilion does business across the Nine Provinces, in Jiangnan, it doesn’t dare to oppose the Twelve Linked Rings, and other martial factions certainly wouldn’t gain any advantage over the Twelve Linked Rings at sea.

Yet right now, this matter has actually happened.

Relying solely on himself, Qin Yuesheng blasted a section of their city wall to rubble, and the aura emanating from him made Du Xiaoqing feel very pressured.

This is the aura of a master.

Facing Qin Yuesheng’s gaze, Du Xiaoqing slowly raised his hand, opting for diplomacy before force.

"I don’t know where the Twelve Linked Rings has offended you, but if we can discuss it, perhaps we could find a place to sit down and have some tea. I am willing to offer compensation," Du Xiaoqing said, clasping his fists.

As one of the twelve masters of the Twelve Linked Rings, Du Xiaoqing was certainly no brute who would rush to fight three hundred rounds the moment someone appeared at his doorstep.

As a seasoned expert, Du Xiaoqing evidently understood how the waves of the Yangtze River drive the old forward, growing stronger with each surge.

At times, the benefits of patience far outweigh brashness born from arrogance.

With someone like Qin Yuesheng, Du Xiaoqing, being alone at the moment, had no desire to engage in a fierce battle; if all twelve masters of the Rings were here, he’d surely have a different stance.

"It’s not about provocation; today, I want the Twelve Linked Rings," Qin Yuesheng declared, raising his saber. "If you wish to live, surrender to me now, or it will be useless to plead later."

Such arrogance!

Du Xiaoqing widened his eyes; the Twelve Linked Rings had dominated the Jiangnan coast for years, and never had anyone dared to speak such bravado.

Has this person lost their mind?

Within the Twelve Linked Rings were numerous masters; not only were there many external martial artists, but even those with considerable Inner Strength numbered fourteen. Even well-known forces in Jiangnan like the Sword and Saber Sect and Thunder Fist Sect wouldn’t easily oppose the Twelve Linked Rings. What audacity did this man have to entertain such ideas?

"Unwilling to yield?" Qin Yuesheng chuckled. "Then you shall meet the same end as those before."

Swish!

In just a blink, Qin Yuesheng had charged in front of Du Xiaoqing.

The Celestial Demon Wicked Blade flashed red, swift as lightning.

Du Xiaoqing, ranked ninth on the Jiangnan Hundred Soldiers List, naturally possessed considerable skills.

The moment Qin Yuesheng made his move, Du Xiaoqing reacted immediately, using his iron brush to block, colliding with the Celestial Demon Wicked Blade.

In just a fleeting moment, the iron brush was sliced into two, unable to withstand the blade’s sharpness.

"What?!"

As a master of Inner Strength, Du Xiaoqing had sought rare materials for his weapon, crafting an unusually formidable iron brush that enjoyed significant renown in the Jiangnan martial arts world.

Yet despite this, it was still no match for a single strike from the Celestial Demon Wicked Blade.

Du Xiaoqing was shocked, hurriedly rolling sideways to swiftly evade Qin Yuesheng’s blade.

But before he could catch his breath, another slash came his way, forcing Du Xiaoqing into a crouch like a resting toad, the hair on his head severed in half by the Celestial Demon Wicked Blade. Instantly, he appeared disheveled with hair flowing over his shoulders, losing his previous masterful demeanor.

"Tiger-Fighting Hand!"

Seeing Qin Yuesheng’s relentless pursuit, Du Xiaoqing, deprived of his favored weapon, executed the Flower-Picking Finger with one hand and the Grabbing Hand Technique with the other, sending two large manifested hands roaring towards Qin Yuesheng.

Undeterred, Qin Yuesheng used saber energy to sweep across, determined to contest this Tiger-Fighting Hand.

The saber’s energy, several meters long, slashed fiercely, as the Flower-Picking Finger hand flicked sharply, colliding with Qin Yuesheng’s saber energy.

Bam!

In an instant, two Inner Strengths fiercely clashed, and Qin Yuesheng’s Inner Strength was entangled by the large hand. At that moment, the Grabbing Hand Technique directly reached towards his body.

"Excellent!" Qin Yuesheng unleashed the Black Dragon Sword, a crescent sword shadow materializing in the air, swiftly slashing towards the large hand.

Using both weapons simultaneously, Qin Yuesheng adeptly employed two forms of attack without difficulty; one saber, one sword, controlled with ease. With a sudden whirling motion, the Celestial Demon Wicked Blade and Black Dragon Sword transformed into dual revolving wheels, breaking through Du Xiaoqing’s Tiger-Fighting Hand, rolling mightily towards him.

"Ah!" Du Xiaoqing couldn’t help but let out a cry,

seeing both his hands torn apart, covered in countless bloodstained scars, gruesomely ravaged.

The ground shattered, with even the hard stones under the saber-sword dual wheels rendered as fragile as tofu, breaking at the slightest touch.

At this moment, Du Xiaoqing finally became anxious; if struck by the saber-sword dual wheels, he’d end up like his iron brush.

However, the broad coverage of the saber-sword dual wheels made escaping impossible, leaving him only with the option of enduring it.

Of course, failing to endure would naturally lead to death.

His lips slightly trembling, feeling the saber’s wind graze his face, Du Xiaoqing ultimately couldn’t hold back and shouted out: "I am willing to yield! I am willing to yield!"

Whoosh! The Celestial Demon Wicked Blade and Black Dragon Sword suddenly halted, mere inches from Du Xiaoqing’s cheek.

At that moment, Du Xiaoqing’s face abruptly broke out in a cold sweat.