Chapter 371: Melee
"You think you're the only one who's good at close combat? I started out as an assassin—my melee skills aren't weak!"
Wang Lu roared, leaping into the air. He balled his right hand into a fist and hammered it toward Lin Feng's chest!
His movements were unpredictable and agile. He coiled around Lin Feng like a venomous snake, his relentless attacks impossible to defend against.
"WHOOSH!"
Lin Feng's body wavered as he dodged Wang Lu's ferocious attack by a hair's breadth.
"Hm?!"
Lin Feng's brows knitted together. 'This Wang Lu's close-combat skills are really strong. It's taking me a lot of effort just to hold my ground.'
However, Wang Lu took the opportunity to launch an even more ferocious attack.
"SWISH!"
The dagger tore through the air, letting out a sharp, piercing whistle.
Lin Feng frowned, his body flickering away. Unwilling to meet the dagger head-on, he was forced into a steady retreat.
Wang Lu's dagger was too sharp, and his movements were incredibly bizarre. Lin Feng couldn't predict his opponent's trajectory or position at all.
Wang Lu kept staring at Lin Feng's figure, looking for an opening, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"THUD!"
Suddenly, Wang Lu slammed a fist into Lin Feng's gut. Lin Feng felt as if his organs were being rearranged.
He spat out a mouthful of clotted blood. His face went pale as he staggered back several steps, stars bursting in his vision.
Wang Lu seized this opportunity, pressing his advantage. His figure flashed, closing the distance in an instant, and he raised his arm for a vicious elbow strike to Lin Feng's neck.
"CRACK!"
A sickening crack echoed out. A sweet, metallic taste filled Lin Feng's throat, and he sprayed out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Lin Feng stuck out his tongue and licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, shouting coldly, "Get the hell off me!"
His voice was low and hoarse, like a beast's growl, radiating a dense, soul-shaking killing intent.
Wang Lu's expression changed drastically. The killing intent radiating from Lin Feng made his heart pound, but he continued to fight back fearlessly.
Both fighters were formidable. They were evenly matched, with neither able to gain an advantage over the other. They were locked in a stalemate.
However, as time passed, Wang Lu gradually began to lose ground.
"THUD!"
Lin Feng's iron-hard fist smashed into Wang Lu's calf, the immense force of the blow knocking him to the ground.
He curled up into a ball, his face contorted in agony as beads of sweat streamed down his skin.
Wang Lu struggled to his feet. He glared at Lin Feng with pure hatred, grinding his teeth as he spoke. "Fine. You really are strong. Worthy of being the prey I've set my sights on!"
"But no matter how strong you are, you're just at the Peak of Late-stage Innate Realm. The gap between us is obvious. What makes you think you can fight me?"
Wang Lu said, gasping for breath.
He wasn't stupid. Lin Feng's immense strength made him wary. 'If this was a true fight to the death, I'd lose for sure!'
He might have been arrogant, but not so arrogant as to think he was qualified to match a Late-Stage Innate Powerhouse!
He quickly regained his composure. Taking a deep breath, he stared at Lin Feng with cold, gloomy eyes and said in a low voice, "Lin Feng, your strength isn't weak, but the gap between us is just too great. I suggest you surrender obediently. Otherwise, you'll be the one who suffers!"
"Enough with the nonsense. No matter what, I will kill you today!"
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed as he spoke in an icy tone.
"Since you insist on courting death, then prepare to die!"
Wang Lu's eyes turned scarlet, and a terrifying light erupted from within them.
In the next moment, Wang Lu's eyes focused, and a bizarre red light flared in his pupils.
In an instant, his aura changed abruptly, becoming sinister and terrifying, like a demon!
"HUMMM!"
Wang Lu's eyes narrowed, and an incredibly terrifying ripple erupted from him!
It was a wave of Spiritual Power!
"SWOOSH!"
The next moment, he knelt on one knee, gripped the dagger in his right hand, slowly raised it, and plunged it towards Lin Feng's chest!
"CLANG!"
Lin Feng was quick. He caught the plunging dagger, his palm clamped firmly around the blade.
However, the dagger's power was astonishing. The force tore open the webbing of Lin Feng's hand, and blood dripped from between his fingers.
"Hahaha! Lin Feng, you're finished!"
Wang Lu laughed maniacally. His right hand gripped the dagger, pulling it back with all his might, but Lin Feng's hand didn't move an inch, holding the dagger so tightly that it was impossible to break free.
A look of pain appeared on Lin Feng's face. He desperately resisted Wang Lu's pull, not slackening in the slightest no matter how hard Wang Lu tried!
"I refuse to believe you won't let go!"
Wang Lu roared, his face contorted in a savage snarl. He gripped the dagger with both hands and yanked downward with all his might.
Lin Feng's grip on the dagger remained unbreakable.
This time, Wang Lu's cheeks were flushed, veins bulged all over his body, and the veins on his forehead stood out as if he was enduring immense pain, but Lin Feng just wouldn't let go!
Both men were giving it their all!
"CLANG!"
Wang Lu roared madly, using all his strength to press the dagger down!
But the dagger couldn't descend any further. Only the very tip of the blade hung in the air.
Wang Lu's arms trembled. He gritted his teeth, veins popping on his forehead as large beads of sweat rolled down.
"Lin Feng, still trying to act tough? Let go now, or this dagger will cut right through your bones!"
Wang Lu shouted through gritted teeth. His face was flushed red and the veins on his forehead bulged, showing he was enduring a pain unimaginable to ordinary people.
His arm muscles tensed, veins bulging, and faintly, the sound of bones grinding could be heard.
Wang Lu gave it his all, his hands continuously increasing the pressure, but Lin Feng's grip on the dagger remained firm.
"Even if I die, I will never give up!"
Lin Feng said through gritted teeth. The muscles in his arms bulged, and the veins standing out on his skin looked like writhing earthworms—a terrifying sight.
"You... damn you!"
Wang Lu roared in fury, "Then today I'll see just how long you can last!"
"ZING!"
He roared, bending his left index finger and thumb into a claw. He suddenly shot it out, heading straight for Lin Feng's throat!
This was the Dragon-Catching Hand, a profound move that could seal an Ancient Martial Artist's meridians!
"Hmph! A petty trick!"
Lin Feng snorted. Instead of dodging, he met the attack head-on, throwing a punch of his own.
The Dragon-Catching Hand is a peculiar martial arts technique, emphasizing methods like 'Dragon-Catching,' 'Phoenix-Grasping,' and 'Dragon-Locking.' When its three forms are used in combination, they can suppress an enemy's cultivation base to the greatest extent, and can even seal it away completely.
Lin Feng had experienced this martial art before, so he saw through the Dragon-Catching Hand's weakness at a glance.
The Dragon-Catching Hand, as the name implies, focuses primarily on 'catching'—that is, grappling an opponent's vital points like their wrist or throat.
Lin Feng was confident that a mere Grapple Hand could not possibly seal his cultivation!
"THUD!"
A muffled sound echoed as Lin Feng's palm collided with Wang Lu's outstretched left hand.
In that instant, their palms met. Wang Lu's face was savage, flushed red, with veins popping out. The veins on his entire left arm instantly bulged, clearly showing he was also using his full strength.
"ARGH!"