Xuqing swings his dao, creating a fierce wind that blurs people's vision with dust. His internal energy is enormous, it's definitely not inferior to Ryo and King's, as expected of a martial artist under direct guidance of Shaolin's Hui-ranked monks. This monk has mastered the ferocious "Evil Banishing Daoshu", one of Shaolin's 72 Ultimate Arts.
"Excellent!", Ryo roars in excitement as he is circling to the left, away from the range of Xuqing's dao.
"Father, don't waste your energy.", Anh Thư shouts. She knows that her father tends to fight defensively while cautiously finding the perfect moment to end the battle. That fighting style takes the less risk and requires an enormous amount of experience and martial art knowledge, however in this situation where 40 skilled Shaolin monks take turns fighting him, the longer the fights last, the more stamina the Karateka would lose before facing Abbott Huican. King and everyone else also know this, however she did not raise her words because her neutral stand would be questioned, and needless to say, the guests from Wudang and Enmei who side with Shaolin would not give free pointer to their opponent. Anh Thư gets a pass because she is a child, and it would be embarrasing for people of Priest Quanfu and Abbess Jinglien's statuses to argue with a girl her age.
Ryo finally realizes that he doesn't have the luxury to enjoy the brilliance of Xuqing's "Evil Banishing Daoshu", he slides his right leg backward and makes a big step away from the monk's offense. Xuqing does not allow for his opponent to rest, he immediately gives chase, his blade swings fiercely, covering any weakness that the Karateka could exploit.
Ryo suddenly leaps forward, his left arm quickly stretches out and reaches Xuqing's right hand that is weilding the weapon, locking its movement. Xuqing was expecting the Karateka to retreat, he did not think Ryo would suddenly jump into the range of his blade and stop his offense like that, therefore he could not react in time. While the monk is still confused, Ryo makes a quick spin, now his back is facing Xuqing's back and he is out of Xuqing's vision. "The Invincible Dragon" swings his right arm back, an elbow to the monk's head. All of this happens too fast, the Shaolin martial artist has no idea what is going on and is caught off guard by an elbow to the head, he immediately loses his balance.
By the time he realizes the situation and turns his head to the opponent, Ryo's right hand, which is in spear hand form, is already in the middle of his face, a Shuto Uchi. The attack does not land, however it is because the Karateka stops his offense at the exact moment his hand is about to touch the monk's High Tanden. If Nidaime had continued his technique, he would have knocked the monk out.
The monk turns the sharp edge of his dao away while he pulls his left hand to the middle of his chest, a gesture that says he admits his defeat. Ryo slowly retreats his hand while the monk walks backward, to the position he was standing before the fight started. Kyokugen-ryu Karate has defeated Shaolin's "Evil Banishing Daoshu"
As Xuqing retreats, another monk leaps forward, he weilds a giant Sun -Moon Staff. This was the weapon which the famous Lu Zhishen of Liangshan used to defeat Fang La, the leader of a rebellion and the former Chief of Ming Cult. It is known for its power due to its weight, the Sun blade is giant with a curvy edge that can slice like a Guan Dao or crush like a hammer, meanwhile the Moon blade has 2 sharp points to stab or be used as a hook.
"I am Xutong. Please give me some pointers.", the monk says as he swings his heavy weapon, readying for battle.
"Come.", Ryo replies.
Xutong immediately takes a big step, the Moon blade of his staff thrusts forward, targeting Ryo's throat. The Karateka hits the handle of the staff with his left arm, pushing the weapon away. The monk ultilizes that momentum to spin his staff, the Sun blade is approach the opponent's lower body from below. Ryo quickly kicks the flat side of the blade and re-directs the strike again, this time using his left foot, a technique from Tekki Katas.
Knowing Moon blade will attack after Sun blade, the Karateka initiates his counter strike in order to break the monk's chain of offense. Before the Moon blade in position to attack, Ryo quickly places his left foot on the ground, using that motion to make a big step forward and close the distance. His left hand that is in spear-hand form strikes down. This is the same move that defeated Xuqing, the difference is that Ryo uses his rear hand to strike Xuqing while he uses his lead hand to strike Xutong. The former is more powerful but requires more commitment, which is used in situations where Ryo is confident that his strike would connect; the latter is lighter but safer, more suitable as a feint or a strike to open up his opponent. Indeed, while Xutong cannot countinue to attack with his Sun - Moon Staff, he is still able of blocking Ryo's strike using the handle of his weapon.
As mentioned, this lead hand Shuto Uchi is not meant to land on the monk, it is used to put him in a more disadvantaged situation. As his strike is blocked , Ryo immediately changes his hand form into a claw, grabbing the handle of the staff. Now the monk cannot use his weapon anymore, this has became a battle between 2 arms and 4 legs.
Ryo takes the initiative, a right hand horizontal Shuto Uchi targetting the monk's left ear. The monk was using "Asura's Staff", one of Shaolin's 72 Ultimate Arts, now his weapon is neutralized, he can only use the skills in his left fist and kicks to fight. And Xutong immediately earns everyone's respect with his mastery of hand-to-hand combat. He is using techniques from Shaolin's Long Fist, and despite lacking his right arm that is battling with Ryo's left arm for the possession of the Sun - Moon Staff, he is still able to exchange strikes evenly with the Karateka.
However, despite his skills, Xutong is not as experienced as Ryo in hand-to-hand battles, especially ones where his hand is restricted. After 10 exchanges of strikes, the monk suddenly changes the form of his left hand from a fist to tiger claw, he swings that hand toward his opponent's left wrist. 5 fingers of that hand are enhanced by his 23 years of Shaolin's Qigong, "Mighty Mahabala Finger" is one of Shaolin's 72 Ultimate Arts. Unlike Duan clan's "Yi Yang Finger" which penetrates its target to attack the pressure point, Shaolin's "Mighty Mahabala Finger" uses sheer brute force that can crush stones to subdue the opponent. Ryo's right hand and legs move too quickly, his head and body are protected too thoroughly for Xutong to attack with only his left arm and his 2 legs. However Ryo's left hand cannot leave the staff, if it releases its grip to evade "Mighty Mahabala Finger", Xutong will be able to use his "Asura's Staff" skills again; if Ryo defenses his left arm, his face and body will be unprotected; if he does nothing, once Xutong grabs that arm he will immediately breaks the Karateka's wrist.
The monk is confident in his plan, however there is a risk in it. As he is swinging his left hand towards Ryo's hand, Xutong also exposes his head and chest. He is fully awared of this fact, but he also believes that as long as his Qi is channelled through these parts, he would be able to take one or two hits from the Karateka, even if the technique he uses is neither "Iron Armor", "Iron Head" or "Unrbreakable Mahabala Body", while Ryo's hand would be crushed the moment "Mighty Mahabala Finger" reaches its target.
"The Invincible Dragon" is an experienced martial artist. Seeing the openings in Xutong's defense, Ryo immediately realizes his opponent is planning something big, either an attack powerful enough to guarantee an instant victory, or he is baiting Ryo to commit to a strike and expose himself. A battle between 2 martial artists who have mastered their crafts is fast, there is no time to think like a chess match. Fortunately, Ryo also has a powerful strike of his own, "Tenchi Haoh Ken". Regardless of what the opponent is trying to do, if they don't cancel their attack in time to defend themselves, "Tenchi Haoh Ken" will immediately crush them.
The Shaolin monk and the Karateka both launch their devastating techniques. "Tenchi Haoh Ken" started a moment later, but it lands a moment earlier. This strike targets the Middle Tanden (or Solar Plexis) with laser accuracy, disrupting the victim's breathing and ability to route Ki within their system. It could even break the protection of "Iron Armor", one of Shaolin's 72 Ultimate Arts; although Xutong is more powerful than the Kong monks Ryo fought last time, the Qigong method he used to enhance his toughness was a more ordinary way of routing Qi than "Iron Armor" or "Iron Head", it could not protect him from the most devastating strike in Ryo's arsenal. As a result, Xutong immediately loses his Qi concentration in his fingers, "Mighty Mahabala Finger" is canceled, the monk cannot break Ryo's arm even if he has already grabbed it.
Xutong immediately collapses on his knee. The fight is over. A monk of Xu rank jumps to his side and quickly carry him away while another one continues to challenge "The Invincible Dragon".