When Du Xiaoqing learned that so many Inner Strength masters had been sent by the authorities, he couldn’t help but feel a heavy burden. Given the current situation of the Twelve Linked Rings, they were absolutely incapable of dealing with so many Inner Strength masters at once.

He and the other three leaders might be able to hold off one or two, but the rest of the water bandits were inevitably doomed.

Boom!

As several cannonballs struck, the section of the wall that had endured heavy cannon fire could no longer withstand it. With a loud boom, it began to collapse before everyone’s eyes.

Seeing the dust rise from the Twelve Linked Rings, Liu Ming’s face immediately showed a hint of joy. He shouted loudly, "The wall is breached, no more obstacles, everyone charge! A water bandit’s head is worth five taels of silver!"

With Liu Ming’s shout, the fleet of ships immediately advanced towards the shore, with a mighty momentum that filled people with a sense of powerlessness.

In fact, Liu Ming did not know that on the other side of the Twelve Linked Rings, a section of the wall had already collapsed for several days. If he had discovered it, there would have been no need to waste cannonballs bombarding this wall for so long.

"Kill!!"

A large number of soldiers jumped off quickly after the ships landed, charging towards the Twelve Linked Rings. The density of their numbers was enough to give even Du Xiaoqing a headache.

However, over the years, the renown of the Twelve Linked Rings was not built on bluffing. With Du Xiaoqing’s command, the water bandits standing on the wall immediately launched a counterattack.

Fishing nets drifted down from above, soon covering the area below. Many soldiers, surrounded both front and back, had no time to evade, and were instantly ensnared.

Then came the screams from below, revealing that the ropes of the fishing nets were already strung with sharpened thin iron pieces by the water bandits of the Twelve Linked Rings.

These iron pieces were extremely sharp, and even a slight touch or brush against them would result in a bloody gash, causing unbearable pain to those ensnared by the nets.

However, the cunning water bandits would not waste such killing tactics without reason.

Each thin iron piece had been poisoned long ago, and without an antidote, the wounded would die within half an incense stick’s time.

Soldier after soldier fell, creating considerable obstacles for the others coming from behind.

"Continue," Du Xiaoqing commanded.

Water bandits then began to throw bags of quicklime down below, while others poured cold water.

For a moment, lime dust spread beneath the walls, clinging to almost every soldier there.

There was no time to react before cold water poured down, mixing and fusing with the mass of lime.

"These damned soldiers, let’s see if they survive today," Jin Haishi said, tossing a bag of lime with a smirk.

Soon, the sounds of even more pitiful wailing came from below, worse than the cuts from the iron fragments, as if entering a hellish oil cauldron. The soldiers scratched hysterically at their bodies, wishing they could tear their skin off.

When cold water and lime make contact, it produces a boiling high temperature, enough to cook a pig alive without issue. These soldiers, caught in the heat, were scalded horribly, and the pain was unimaginable to those who hadn’t experienced it.

With two vicious tactics, Du Xiaoqing successfully stopped the momentum of the soldiers’ attack. Few managed to break into the Twelve Linked Rings.

The way of siege and defense has always been fierce.

If the attackers cannot succeed quickly, they will face devastating blows from the defenders.

"Heh heh, kill these damned soldiers."

"Crush them."

"Move aside, I’m going to take a piss on them to teach them a lesson."

As the water bandits secretly rejoiced over their success, a dozen agile figures leaped from the large ships by the shore, swiftly advancing.

They moved nimbly and quickly, using the shoulders or heads of soldiers as stepping stones, leaping several feet at a time, like great birds soaring. In no time, they reached the walls, springing up by stepping on footholds along the wall face.

"Oh no! The Inner Strength masters brought by those damned soldiers are making a move!" Jin Haishi’s face changed. They only had four Inner Strength masters on their side. Allowing the enemy to climb the walls and engage in combat would bring no advantage at all.

"Take action." Du Xiaoqing poured two buckets of oil down the eaves of the wall, and the thick, rolling oil flowed down the wall.

Another leader took out a prepared firestarter and tossed it down. Instantly, flames roared down the wall like a dragon, aiming to engulf the Inner Strength masters in a sea of fire.

The three fastest Inner Strength masters frowned slightly and immediately waved their palms powerfully, intending to disperse the fire with their Inner Strength.

But surprisingly, their strikes barely made the flames flicker before they returned to normal.

"What?" These three were confident in their abilities, not intending to slow down. But failing to extinguish the flames, they rushed headlong into the fire, engulfed by it, leaving their condition unknown.