Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

’Even though Peng Wei also has his own inherited techniques, with Master Xie’s abilities, it would just take some effort to beat him. It shouldn’t be a huge problem.’

At this thought, Situ Qin felt she might have been too hasty in leaving. Her mind suddenly took a turn:

’Hmm, I’ll just walk over slowly and catch the end of it. That way, it won’t look like I’m that interested in him...’

Although that was exactly what she had wanted others to think, for some reason, she no longer felt that way.

The few girls behind watched Situ Qin’s pace waver between fast and slow. They exchanged a look, all thinking the same thing:

’She said she only likes handsome men and doesn’t care about anything else. It looks like she wasn’t lying.’

「Inside the banquet hall.」

Xue Yanwen had already ordered the servants to move the guests’ tables, clearing out a large space in the middle that was nearly the size of a standard training ground.

The guests gathered around the clearing, watching the two men face off in the center and whispering amongst themselves.

"Who do you think will win?"

"Are you kidding? No matter how useless Peng Wei seems, he’s been guided by a famous master and supervised by his elders. How can the techniques he’s inherited be compared to those of some commoner Martial Artist?"

"But given Peng Wei’s skill level, compared to these Martial Artists who have fought and killed in real battles, even if his Cultivation Technique and fundamentals are superior, he might not actually win. I’ve seen Martial Artists who rose from humble beginnings; they fight with no regard for their own lives. Even in a spar, they’re like madmen."

"That’s normal. As the saying goes, he who has nothing to lose fears nothing. Their lives are cheap; compared to us, of course they’d be desperate to make a name for themselves. I think Peng Wei will need to be careful. Still, as long as he doesn’t get reckless, the quality of his Cultivation Technique alone should be enough to crush this Darts Master."

"Exactly. As long as Peng Wei has at least reached the rudimentary level, if he just executes the moves of his Cultivation Technique by the book, that guy won’t be able to handle them. Besides, have you all forgotten? People from small towns don’t have access to Inner Power."

"Oh, right!"

Several people had a moment of realization. To them, Inner Power wasn’t anything special, so they hadn’t considered that point.

With this, even the few who looked down on Peng Wei no longer thought he could lose. At the same cultivation level, with an overwhelmingly superior Cultivation Technique, how could he possibly lose?

Xie Yuan gazed at the arrogant Peng Wei opposite him and cupped his fists.

"Young Master Peng, are you ready?"

Peng Wei snorted.

"I should be the one asking you that! If you’re ready, I’ll let you have the first move. Wouldn’t want you saying I bullied you!"

Xie Yuan shook his head.

"That won’t be necessary. Young Master Peng, after you."

’If I attack first, it’ll just be a hassle if he tries to pull something later.’

Ever since the provocations began, Peng Wei had felt that Xie Yuan was completely unfazed, impervious to both threats and civility, which made him feel strangely uncomfortable.

Now, seeing the look on his face, it finally dawned on him:

’This guy... he’s been acting so self-assured this whole time. He doesn’t take me seriously at all!’

A surge of anger rose in Peng Wei.

’How dare he disregard me like this? Does he actually think he can win?’

Peng Wei let out a sharp laugh.

"Fine! Blades have no eyes, so you’d better watch out!"

With a loud SHIING, Peng Wei drew his sharp long saber and brought it down on Xie Yuan’s head!

This slash was not only fueled by anger, making it incredibly fast and ferocious, but it was also technically sound, with countless follow-up moves prepared.

The surrounding guests gasped. They hadn’t expected this from Peng Wei—he usually seemed like an unskilled wastrel, and his cultivation level wasn’t that high, yet his saber technique was surprisingly good!

The eyes of a few guests narrowed. ’Has this guy been hiding his true strength all this time?’

A glint appeared in Xie Yuan’s eyes as he watched the slash.

’With my insight, I can tell from this opening move alone that this saber technique is extraordinary. The moves are refined, and its grade is definitely far above the Rushing Wolf Saber Skill.’

’The power of the move is one thing, but more importantly, this is the first opponent I’ve faced who cultivates Inner Strength!’

’This slash, with his Qi and Blood surging and his Inner Strength flaring, is more powerful than any move I’ve seen from an opponent at the same level!’

Then there was no need to hold back.

Xie Yuan’s fingers moved, a blur of motion as he drew his saber.

Though he drew second, his cold saber struck first, whistling through the air with the sound of a wolf’s howl. With a loud CLANG, it knocked Peng Wei’s weapon flying!

Then, following the momentum, Xie Yuan raised his Treasure Saber high. He paused for a fraction of a second, gathering a force that could cleave mountains, and slashed down!

Two slashes, all in a single breath!

His weapon gone, Peng Wei was still in a daze, staring blankly as the great saber chopped down at his head.

In a daze, he seemed to see a silver wolf standing proudly on a mountain peak, a massive full moon at its back. The wolf turned its head, fixed its gaze on him, and lunged down from the mountain, ready to devour him whole!

An icy chill shot through Peng Wei in that instant. He wanted to dodge, but his feet were frozen to the spot. He could only stand there, motionless, until the long saber came to an abrupt halt right before his forehead.

Feeling the chill on his forehead, Peng Wei jolted as if waking from a nightmare and collapsed to the ground with a THUD.

The guests’ gasps of surprise at Peng Wei’s saber technique had just begun to fade when they were caught in their throats.

Everyone stood frozen, looking in confusion at Peng Wei, who had collapsed on the ground.

’What just happened?’

Xie Yuan’s two slashes had been too fast, with no wasted motion. Most of the audience had only seen a flash of light from the saber. In a daze, they thought they saw a vicious wolf lunge forward and heard a howl, and then it was all over.

’It’s over?’

’Peng Wei... was defeated just like that!’

It was too fast.

No one had anticipated this outcome. For a moment, they could only stare at one another in bewilderment.

’Even if Peng Wei was useless, to not even last a single exchange... Even if it were them up there, defeating Peng Wei would have taken at least a few rounds, right?’

Among those thinking this were quite a few Martial Artists of the Fourth Training.

’This Darts Master is only at the Third Training. How could he execute a saber move like that?’

Du Jian took a sharp step forward and cried out in disbelief: