"Devil Silver Hand."
These three words slowly escaped Mo Dafu's lips, and his voice, deep and resonant, felt as though it came from the very heavens, carrying an otherworldly power. Han Li couldn't help but stop in his tracks for a moment, caught by the overwhelming weight of those words.
As soon as the words left Mo Dafu's mouth, a terrifying, murderous aura erupted from him, engulfing the room. It spread like a violent storm, growing stronger with each passing second, pushing outward in all directions. Han Li, who had been steadily advancing, was immediately struck by this force. He was forced to stagger backward several steps, barely managing to regain his balance.
Han Li's face changed drastically. He felt a sudden sense of dread wash over him. This was no mere trick—it was as if Mo Dafu had released his true, ultimate technique. That sword strike earlier must have rattled him more than Han Li had anticipated.
"Heh heh! Boy, to witness the legendary Devil Silver Hand, you should consider yourself fortunate," Mo Dafu's voice rang out arrogantly, shaking the air with its intensity. Han Li's ears rang, but fortunately, the sound wasn't imbued with internal energy, so it wasn't as overwhelming as it could have been. Still, the sheer confidence in Mo Dafu's voice sent a chill down Han Li's spine. The old man was not going to hold back this time.
Han Li couldn't help but glance at Mo Dafu's hands. The repeated mention of the "Devil Silver Hand" had piqued his curiosity. As he looked, his eyes widened in shock, and his lips parted in disbelief.
From his elbows downward, Mo Dafu's arms, which had been withered and frail, suddenly began to swell. They grew larger and more muscular, becoming thicker than they had ever been before. The skin, once dry and yellow, had turned a chilling metallic silver, glistening with an icy sheen under the light. The transformation made it look as though his arms were forged from solid silver, hard and unyielding.
Han Li's heart sank at the sight. His grip on the short sword tightened, but sweat began to form on his palms. The sudden surge of power from Mo Dafu made the situation feel much more dire than before. Despite his recent breakthroughs, Han Li was still an inexperienced fighter, and just the sight of Mo Dafu's transformation had him feeling a heavy weight in his chest.
But outwardly, Han Li maintained his composure. His expression remained calm, with no hint of fear or hesitation. He would not let Mo Dafu see any sign of weakness.
Mo Dafu, however, was growing impatient. Though he had come to respect Han Li's abilities, he still found it beneath him to use his most powerful technique on a mere teenager. He expected to see fear, hesitation, or at the very least, a sense of helplessness in Han Li, but there was nothing of the sort. Instead, Han Li remained unfazed, and that irked Mo Dafu even more.
"Do you know how much I detest that look on your face? You're just a boy, and yet you act like you've got the world under control. It's infuriating!" Mo Dafu sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Oh? If I'm causing such irritation for you, then it must be my honor. I'll be sure to keep this 'flaw' alive and well," Han Li retorted with a mocking smile, his words sharp and deliberate. He hoped that his sarcasm would cause Mo Dafu to slip up, perhaps revealing a chink in his otherwise confident demeanor.
But Mo Dafu didn't respond to the jibe. Instead, he slammed his two hands together with a deafening clang, the sound like metal grinding against metal. The noise sent a shiver through Han Li's spine, but Mo Dafu didn't wait for the effects to settle. In a blur, he launched himself into the air, his silver hands raised high, now resembling two massive, gleaming silver claws. He dove toward Han Li like a descending mountain, his attack coming with an overwhelming force, intent on crushing the young man beneath him.
Seeing the attack coming, Han Li's expression hardened. His body tensed, and in a flash, his short sword was raised. He aimed straight for Mo Dafu's vulnerable throat, knowing this was his chance to strike.
Mo Dafu's face twisted into a cruel grin when he saw Han Li's response. He was pleased by the boy's boldness. "Die!" he shouted, his voice filled with malice.
But Mo Dafu's plan was more complicated than it seemed. He didn't just rely on his descending silver hand to end the fight. Instead, one of his massive silver hands veered off course, not to block the sword but to grab it directly. His other hand swung downward, targeting Han Li's shoulder.
Han Li, however, had no intention of allowing Mo Dafu to grab his sword. With a flick of his wrist, the short sword shifted into a rapid, circular motion, forming a silver blur that shielded his upper body like a protective dome. The sword moved with incredible speed, weaving through the air like a spinning wheel of steel.
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal rang out sharply, as Han Li's sword collided with Mo Dafu's silver claw. Sparks flew in all directions, but the sword barely made a dent in the hardened surface. Instead, it was repelled, flying backward from the sheer force of the collision.
Before Han Li could react, Mo Dafu's other silver hand shot forward like a predatory claw, aiming for Han Li's ribs. He was aiming to trap the boy, render him immobile, and then take him down in one swift motion.
But Han Li wasn't about to be caught so easily. As the silver hand neared him, he let out a quick, sharp breath. His body shimmered and, in an instant, he vanished from Mo Dafu's sight. The air around him seemed to ripple as Han Li's form became a mere wisp of smoke, slipping past Mo Dafu's grasp with unnerving ease.
Mo Dafu's eyes widened in shock. He had been so focused on capturing Han Li that he didn't see the boy's move coming. The smoke that had once been Han Li now swirled in a wild pattern, evading his grasp and moving with an unpredictable fluidity. He had expected Han Li to dodge in a more conventional way, but this new, eerie technique caught him completely off guard.
The smoke rushed toward the far side of the room, swirling into the corner where it slowly condensed back into the form of Han Li. His figure became solid again, standing calmly and defiantly.
Mo Dafu cursed under his breath, his shock giving way to anger. He had underestimated Han Li, but this fight was far from over. The real battle had just begun.