9: The

Lang Xiao's "Wolf Shadow Drop" struck down like thunder.

The Man in Bamboo Hat dodged to the side, but before he could steady his heels, Lang Xiao had already leveraged the ground to leap.

He transformed into a goshawk pouncing on a rabbit, attacking once more, vowing to completely suppress his opponent.

"Boss, look out!"

The Thin Man's complexion changed abruptly, and he shouted in a high-pitched voice.

The fat man's eyes widened, his facial fat trembling violently, his teeth clenched tight, and he charged toward the Man in Bamboo Hat with fists like arrows.

The Mohawk Man stomped his foot violently, his figure darting out like a cheetah.

A cold glint flashed in the Buzz-cut Man's eyes, and wind rose beneath his feet as he followed closely behind.

Just as the four men moved, the nine people behind Lang Xiao immediately formed a fan-shaped encirclement.

The nine figures were like nine icebergs, instantly locking them in tight.

The air at the scene suddenly froze; killing intent materialized, sparking when the gazes of both sides collided.

The leading young man stepped forward half a pace, his voice as low and hard as iron: "The outcome between your boss and mine has yet to be decided; I advise you all not to interfere. If you wish to court death, feel free to try." Before his voice had even faded, the palm behind his back slowly tightened.

The fat man loosened his fists; although there was anger on his face, there was now more apprehension.

The Mohawk Man no longer held his head high; the cunning in his eyes completely faded, replaced by fear, and he quietly stepped back half a pace.

The Buzz-cut Man's eyebrows twitched slightly, hesitation flashing in his eyes, yet he maintained his cold, stern stance.

The Thin Man quietly stepped back half a pace and hid behind the fat man.

The Man in Bamboo Hat's gaze sharpened. Facing the pouncing Lang Xiao, he pushed off the ground violently, moving sideways several yards like an arrow leaving the bowstring.

However, this retreat landed him in the middle of the terrified crowd of Miners.

The Miners were scared pale and retreated in panic, but they were unable to Move due to the crowded throng.

After missing, Lang Xiao did not stop; he stomped his feet and leaped high into the air, his palms curled into claws as he aimed directly for the Man in Bamboo Hat's vital points.

At the critical moment, the Man in Bamboo Hat turned sharply, gripped a mining hoe from a nearby Miner, and snatched it away.

"Block!"

He held the mining hoe horizontally, barely blocking Lang Xiao's sharp claws.

Seeing that the strike had missed, Lang Xiao's left hand launched a fierce attack toward the Man in Bamboo Hat's throat.

The Man in Bamboo Hat turned the mining hoe from horizontal to vertical, thrusting it toward Lang Xiao's chest like a long spear.

Lang Xiao's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly withdrew his hand, twisting his body to roll to the side.

Before he could steady himself, the Man in Bamboo Hat's mining hoe was already dancing like a silver wheel, sweeping out horizontally.

Three arcs of light slashed down in succession, forcing Lang Xiao to retreat seven steps, plowing deep marks into the rubble.

The Man in Bamboo Hat's offensive was like a tidal wave, the mining hoe whistling with power in his hands.

At times it fell like a giant axe splitting a mountain, at others it thrust out like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, each swing bringing with it a fierce gust of wind.

Lang Xiao dodged and weaved through the shadows of the mining hoe, his clothes slashed to rustling ribbons, yet he was unable to get close.

Yun Song stared intently at the mining hoe in the Man in Bamboo Hat's hand.

He saw the mining hoe flying up and down, its Move fierce and sharp, like a Dragon emerging from the sea or a fierce tiger descending from the mountains.

He subconsciously looked at the mining hoe in his own hand; the originally ordinary tool now seemed so extraordinary.

He gripped it tight and then relaxed his hold, his eyes filled with a complex expression of interwoven awe and contemplation.

The Man in Bamboo Hat brought the mining hoe down in a vertical chop, and Lang Xiao seized the opportunity to roll to the side as the blade of the mining hoe split into the rubble.

Lang Xiao used the momentum to slide in, unleashing "Wolf Claw Pulse Lock" to target his wrist directly.

The Man in Bamboo Hat flicked his wrist, turning the mining hoe from a chop to a slice, aiming directly for his throat.

Lang Xiao arched his back, the blade of the mining hoe grazing past the tip of his nose, taking away a few strands of hair.

Lang Xiao knew that a direct confrontation would be disadvantageous, so while dodging, he moved toward the direction of his own nine men.

Seeing their boss at a disadvantage, the nine men collectively stepped forward half a pace to form a defensive line.

Seeing this, the Man in Bamboo Hat stopped his pursuit, and the fat man and the other three arrived to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

Both sides stood in a standoff once again, killing intent surging in the air.

"I didn't expect you to be hiding such skills!" Lang Xiao stared at the mining hoe, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, "I thought your leg work was already peerless, but it turns out your hand-to-hand Move is also this fierce."

The Man in Bamboo Hat smiled bitterly to himself.

This mining hoe technique was originally his trump card for survival, but today, in order to escape, he had ultimately exposed it.

Holding the mining hoe that still carried the warmth of the Miner's body, he felt it was more handy than any weapon.