"This attack can't be dodged… It's slower speed means he would be able to easily redirect it even if I manage to evade it…"

Dara thought to himself and instead of advancing, he retreated with a gentle backward float, and just as Kang reached his previous position, Dara's foot abruptly touched the ground before kicking two of the broken chains that were already on the floor, forcing Kang to use his attack to instead defending the onslaught of the incoming heavy chains…

This was because Dara had predicted that since Kang was using his Qi to strengthen his body, attack and defense whilst also fueling his stamina and speed, he wouldn't want the chains to touch him, otherwise once they momentarily absorb his Qi, weakening and slowing him down, Dara could take that opportunity to inflict damage…

But similarly, Kang also understood what Dara was planning, and being a seasoned soldier himself, he maneuvered the tactics to his benefit;

Chang! Chang!

Kang smacked these chains back towards Dara, who stopped in his tracks and abruptly charged towards Kang despite the onslaught of the incoming chains…

Dara approached and twisted in a 180 degree angle, managing to slip into the space in between the two chains, and the moment he slipped past them, he completed his 360 degree rotation with a heavy fist strike aimed at Kang's jaws…

Kang was caught off-guard and his strong momentum meant there was little he could do to nimbly evade the attack...

But he still managed to pull his head backwards on time, causing Dara's fist to drift past his face, but just as he thought he had evaded the attack, Dara abruptly grinned mischievously, and in one fluid motion sent his elbow straight into Kang's face;

Bam! Bang!

Kang was sent flying this time around as he slammed into the wall of the cage, a little far from Meng who looked over in shock to see the strongest amongst them being flung around like a piece of rag, twice in the span of a single minute…

"Are you sure you should be looking elsewhere at this point!"

A thick voice floated into Meng's ears as he saw the burly guy swing down his sword with a heavy momentum;

"Branch Breaker!"

Meng used the same sword art technique as Kang as their swords made contact;

Clang! Kacha!

"Leaf Cutter!"

Swoosh!

Meng followed up his attack with another swift slash at the burly guy who jumped thrice in retreat before looking at what used to be a sword but was now a hilt;

"To think they would have such a low grade sword lying around…" The burly guy sneered as Meng finally found a renewed confidence;

"Hehe, you can only blame your miserable luck… Now do you want to experience pain or a swift death!"

His opponent's sword has been broken which meant he now had the upper hand, but just as he was about to attack, Dara's voice drifted over;

"These are pretty high grade…"

Dara threw two of the broken chains towards the burly guy who took it and wrapped it all over his hands before revealing a sinister grin to Meng who broke out in cold sweat;

"I choose pain!"

The thick voice of this burly guy sounded more like the trumpet of death to Meng who summoned the remaining ounce of courage in his body with a raging yell before dashing towards the burly guy once again…

Meanwhile…

Just as the troop rushed into the cave, they were met with two soldiers who were already fidgeting and engrossed in the fight that was echoing through the tunnel that they didn't notice two of the invading troop sneak up on them from behind them until it was too late;

Snick! Snick!

Prrrssstttt!

Blood spurted from the soldiers' necks like fountain covering the humans who just slaughtered them in blood;

"Go, go, go!"

The two humans who just killed the two soldiers ordered the rest of the troop to go in whilst they stood behind to lookout for any reinforcements…

Whereas…

Back within the cage, Meng was having the most miserable and unfortunate moment of his life…

One of his eyes were already swollen half closed, whilst blood was leaking from his mouth like weak streams…

He was barely keeping himself upright with his sword whilst the burly guy was looking at him with a sinister smile still plastered on his face…

The other soldier on the other hand was already on the ground, unconscious and bleeding from numerous shallow cuts all over his body…

Seeing that this might as well spell their end Kang screamed;

"Huan! Yuan! We need help!" But Dara simply chuckled sinisterly;

"Hehe he, don't bother… Huan and Yuan won't be coming anytime soon!"

"Finish him off quickly and let's free the rest…" The Burly Guy spoke quickly, as Dara's troop finally arrived at the open area…

Kang and Meng saw this and their face darkened in terror as their heart began to race wildly…

The First Elder gathered the 500 Obuns and took them all to the depths of the cave where the Qi Stones were being stored, and right in the presence of Meng and Kang, they saw these Obuns come out of these tunnels with three Tier 1 Qi Stones each as a deep sense of hopelessness surged into their hearts;

"Yes… Feel it… Relish in the feeling of hopelessness and despair…" The burly guy raged at Meng;

"You feel that… Multiply it by 10, and you will get the level of despair and hopelessness you have made us suffer for the past ten years…"

Meng looked into the eyes of the burly guy and realized that he had no intention of making him leave here alive…

Thus he looked over to Kang and nodded;

Aaarrrgghh!

Kang and Meng roared to the sky and exploded forth with every shred of cultivation they had as their hair and clothes began to whip about without the presence of any wind…

Then they placed the hit of their sword to their chest and bellowed simultaneously;