Jiang Dali stood alone, proud and unyielding.
A giant golden knife was slung across his back.
Demon Hawk perched atop the ramparts, spreading its wings, while Divine Phoenix flew above his head.
Apart from him, no one else had descended to the ground.
Everyone felt there was no need.
For unless there was another Iron Gall Divine Hou guarding Hulong Manor, the annihilation of the manor was almost certain after Jiang Dali made his move.
He now stood within the enemy’s encirclement.
People crowded around him.
All of them were standing.
Yet, at this moment, many felt not as though they were standing, but kneeling.
It didn’t feel like they, the majority, were surrounding the Black Wind Village Chief; rather, it felt as if the Black Wind Village Chief alone surrounded all of them, instilling a fear that they might be captured at any moment.
The martial heroes of the Martial World tensed the muscles along their jaws, their hearts taut like drawn bowstrings, daring not to breathe too loudly, fearing that their hearts, already in their throats, might leap out as they stared intensely at Jiang Dali, like guarding against a tiger about to pounce.
Jiang Dali could certainly feel this tense and panic-stricken atmosphere.
Because he was the source of this tension and panic.
Now, the Players looking up from beneath the stone wall could feel the tense and anxious atmosphere inside Hulong Manor.
Watching the Black Wind Village Chief, who appeared majestic and commanding amidst the encircling crowd, laughing and chatting at ease, they too felt a surge of impassioned excitement, wishing they could climb the ramparts and join in his glory.
Jiang Dali, with a demeanor light as clouds and breeze, surveyed the area and faced the hostile yet fearful faces, subtly raised his hands with a smile, and said, "Those who came here today respect me as the chief; otherwise, you wouldn’t have bothered to gather such a crowd.
I too am a man who cherishes talent. I’ve long heard that your place harbors talents like the World’s Number One Chef, World’s Number One Qinggong practitioner, World’s Number One Strongman, and many more.
Now, I’m giving you one last chance.
Jump down from this wall, leave Hulong Manor, and from today onwards, you will belong to my Black Wind Village."
No one spoke around him, but many began to breathe heavily, feeling insulted and angry, despite their fear.
A big man, bald and shining, with a physique comparable to Jiang Dali, burst through the crowd with a roar and stepped forward, his eyes burning with rage, his pupils almost popping out, his teeth grating loudly as he bellowed.
"I am the World’s Strongest Man! I don’t need your opportunity! The Divine Hou loves his people like his children and is loyal to the Emperor. What are you? We follow the Divine Hou out of admiration for his character. What are you?"
Jiang Dali replied with a nonchalant laugh instead of anger, looking the strong man up and down, "You do seem to have some strength. If you wish to come to my village and work the fields, I’ll provide you food."
Enraged, the big man let out a cry, suddenly lifted his enormous fist, and delivered a punch that made the air tremble like the burst of a mountain torrent.
Jiang Dali merely sneered, not bothering to dodge, allowing the punch to smash toward him.
Just as the fist was about to hit him, Jiang Dali still did not move, and everyone around, including the big man, was overjoyed, thinking the Black Wind Village Chief was too arrogant, allowing the strongest man of The World’s Number One Manor to land such a punch.
Many believed that a punch of this magnitude could flatten even an elephant.
"Bang!" Amidst a thunderous noise, accompanied by a muffled groan.
The enormous fist slammed into Jiang Dali’s chest.
His shirt burst open into fragments, revealing an incredibly hard and muscular chest, filled with explosive power. No sound of breaking bones emerged, but rather a sound akin to a distant, tranquil bell.
Jiang Dali did not budge an inch, while the big man, as if struck by an Ancient Bell, staggered backward, his footsteps denting the ground.
The strong man cried out in horror, struggling to steady himself, feeling immense pain as if his wrist was about to break, his bones already shattered.
His face flushed and then paled, disbelieving as he looked at Jiang Dali who had not moved an inch, unable to imagine what the other’s body was made of.
Jiang Dali’s eyes shone bright and intense like a lamp. He casually dusted off his shattered clothes and said indifferently, "Such false bravado from you is no more than a woman tearing clothes. Let me show you what true strength is!!!"
He suddenly flickered, and just as his arm reached out, a rumbling sound echoed through the air, and a fierce wind howled.
Everyone felt as if a fierce wind had suddenly arisen before them, all shocked and pale.
At that moment, a cold snort accompanied a chilling streak of Sword Light suddenly appeared, slashing directly at Jiang Dali.
The change happened incredibly fast.
Nevertheless, Jiang Dali seemed to have anticipated it, and with his left hand extending like a Dragon Claw, he intercepted it, forming a compact, rotating, bell-shaped Qi Shield made of ancient golden True Qi in his palm.
A clang, reminiscent of a bell ringing, accompanied by a dull impact sound, suddenly erupted.
The strong man, as if struck by an erupting volcano’s ferocious power, vomited blood and was flung like a kite with a broken string three meters away, screaming as he crashed into several people.
Those he crashed into also screamed in agony. The big man’s chest caved in, and he never got up again, dying instantly. The scene turned instantly chaotic and tragic.