That ‘Axe Butcher’ Henry Ford and ‘Wind Blade’ Jack Grant had also closed in to within five zhang behind Adam Carter. Even that Green Hook Edward Lewis had already burst through the wall at this moment, his pair of hooked chains reaching out like claws.

Adam Carter sighed helplessly in his heart, yet even now he had not given up. He forcibly halted the Dragon-Slaying Strike halfway, using Dragon’s Walk and Tiger’s Step to shift his body and dodge as best he could.

Among the twelve forms of the Dragon-Subduing Strike, there was one called ‘Returning Dragon’, designed precisely to guard against attacks from behind.

Unfortunately, his mastery was lacking, and whether it would be effective was still unknown. Even now, Eric Bennett showed no intention of holding back.

He estimated that in the next instant, the blade would pierce his body.

Yet at that very moment, the burning sensation behind him suddenly intensified again. The searing pain stabbed into his mind like steel needles.

At the same time, an extremely strange feeling surged up in Adam Carter’s chest.

What’s happening?

This thought had just arisen in his mind when his limbs and body suddenly felt as if they no longer belonged to him.

Even the angle of his counterattack punch seemed to shift slightly. The sound of a dragon’s roar rang out, clear and piercing, even surpassing when Adam Carter performed the ‘Shattering Dragon Strike’. In that split second, his body forcibly twisted around, and his fierce punch landed squarely on the steel blade.

Eric Bennett’s expression changed dramatically. The refined steel blade in his hand was actually snapped in two by the force of that punch. Blood spurted from his mouth as he staggered back ten zhang.

At the same time, Adam Carter’s figure retreated in an instant, his steps exquisitely precise, dodging the combined attack of Henry Ford and ‘Wind Blade’ Jack Grant, and coming to a stop in an open space.

Though still surrounded by the four, for the moment he was not in immediate danger of death.

Adam Carter remained bewildered, unable to understand what state he had just been in.

That Returning Dragon Strike had clearly exceeded his own abilities. Of the twelve forms of the Dragon-Subduing Strike, he could only perform seven Dragon Roars. And this ‘Returning Dragon Strike’ was the one he was least skilled at.

Could it be that, in the face of life and death, his potential had erupted? It didn’t seem like it—

Adam Carter frowned slightly, realizing that his body and limbs were still out of his control.

A strange will had already taken over the command of his body.

Adam Carter’s pupils widened slightly, the chill in his heart growing stronger. Was this spirit possession? Was it not enough to invade his dreams, now it wanted to seize his body as well?

The situation was bizarre to the extreme, and he could only guess it was related to the sword behind him. He could only struggle with all his might, trying to regain control of his body.

But no matter how frightened he was, Adam Carter had to keep his attention on the outside, doing his best not to reveal any sign of abnormality.

Compared to the deadly encirclement before him, the trouble within his own body was a minor issue. If he couldn’t even preserve his life, then losing his body hardly mattered.

His desperate struggle did have some effect. Adam Carter managed to turn his body slightly, gazing coldly and unfamiliar at the man who had just barely regained his footing in the distance—his former sworn brother.

“Why did you do this?”

He could forgive Eric Bennett for betraying him out of helplessness, but he could not forgive that stab from behind! Though it hadn’t pierced his body, it felt as if it had stabbed into his heart, the pain cutting to the bone.

Eric Bennett opened his mouth, but seemed to have no words, falling silent.

Adam Carter sighed and no longer hoped for an explanation from Eric Bennett, only shaking his head slightly: “From now on, you and I are enemies. We can no longer be brothers—”

Eric Bennett’s face grew even paler, the hand gripping the broken blade bulging with veins.

Harold Stone, however, let out a cold laugh: “They say great favors need no thanks! But a life-saving favor is no small matter. When this is over, I’ll reward you, Little Eric, with a thousand taels of silver—enough for your whole family to live in comfort!”

He then clasped his fists, his bones cracking like frying beans, and stared coldly at Adam Carter: “A moment’s carelessness and I almost fell into your trap. Your reputation as the Mad Tiger is well deserved. But now, I want to see what tricks you still have left! It seems even cutting your flesh off piece by piece and feeding it to the dogs wouldn’t be enough. As for your brothers, none of them will die a good death! I heard that when you were begging on the streets as a child, a few of your sisters were already married? Hah, I, Harold Stone, am ashamed to call myself your elder, but I do have some means. I can make sure their families are ruined. What if I sell them into the brothels? Their jade arms as pillows for thousands of men—no, that’s not enough, better to send them to the corpse houses, where there are countless beggars—”

Having just escaped from certain death, Harold Stone seemed agitated. Not only did he keep advancing, but he also rambled on incessantly.

Adam Carter’s expression was as ugly as could be. He knew he was powerless, knew he had no hope of survival.

Yet the murderous intent in his heart only grew stronger. His blood boiled, but his heart grew colder and colder.

It was a pity—just three more months and he could have reached the Qi Refining stage. He hadn’t worked hard enough when practicing the Dragon-Subduing Tiger-Taming Fist. Now, he didn’t even need to subdue tigers—if only he could perform all twelve Dragon-Subduing Strikes with dragon’s roar, reaching the peak, he was sure he could have beaten Harold Stone into a meat patty today!

The heat behind him intensified, and a clear sword cry snapped Adam Carter back to his senses.

That sword again!

Adam Carter raised an eyebrow, only now realizing that his body had once again slipped out of his control.