Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Silence.

Deathly silence.

The vast martial arts hall had suddenly fallen so quiet you could hear a pin drop, as silent as a cave deep in the mountains.

If one didn’t know better and closed their eyes, they might think the hall was completely empty.

Watching blood spray from Peng Jie’s chest as he slowly collapsed, everyone was too stunned to speak, their faces frozen in shock.

Peng Jie, the Vajra Sect Leader. A celebrated master who had dominated Yunzhao County for decades, a Fourth Training expert on the cusp of a Qi and Blood transformation.

One moment, he was strutting about, on the verge of completely annihilating his lifelong rival, the Longteng Escort Agency. The next, he was killed by an opponent of a lower realm, even while ganging up on him with two other men?

Killed while having a three-to-one advantage?

The members of the Longteng Escort Agency erupted with excitement. Xie Yuan had actually killed Peng Jie!

Chu Sheng’s face was pale, his expression one of utter disbelief as he murmured:

"Has Xiaoxie’s strength really reached this level? Old Wei and I took turns against Peng Jie and couldn’t do a thing to him, yet Xiaoxie killed him on the spot while surrounded?"

’Does that mean that Wei Zhen and I combined are only about as strong as Xiaoxie?’

’Although, that’s not a fair comparison. Our defeat was partly due to that unknown poison, which Xiaoxie somehow counteracted beforehand. Still, in a direct fight, we could clearly feel that Peng Jie was a cut above us, yet he was no match for Xie Yuan at all!’

Zhao Xingyang and Lu Zhenyu stared at each other, their faces etched with shock.

The former’s expression was exaggerated as he burst into laughter, while even the normally stoic and reserved Lu Zhenyu couldn’t control his features, saying in disbelief:

"When you first brought this guy back, I never imagined he’d turn out to be this incredible."

"You didn’t expect it, did you? To be honest, neither did I! Hahaha!"

Zhao Xingyang put his hands on his hips and roared with laughter before coughing twice. He clutched his stomach and gasped out:

"I thought he’d embarrass the Vajra Sect, but I never imagined he’d do it like *this*!"

Having their Sect Leader killed outright was the ultimate humiliation!

The remaining members of the Escort Agency who were still on their feet were all invigorated, thrilled as if they had been brought back from the dead.

Just moments ago, they had wanted Xie Yuan to flee and call for help. When he had entered, they couldn’t help but resent him for foolishly throwing his life away.

Now, they had completely forgotten all that. They were just grateful that Xie Yuan had taken the stage, single-handedly saving them from the brink of disaster and giving them a new lease on life!

The Vajra Sect disciples, on the other hand, were pale and bewildered.

’The Sect Leader... is dead?’

’What do we do now?’

’Run? Or fight to the death?’

’Fight to the death? That man killed the Sect Leader. What’s the point in fighting?’

A flicker of something else entered the eyes of many. The weapons in their hands drifted away from the encircled Escort Agency members, and their feet began to shuffle restlessly toward the exit.

"Don’t panic! The instructors are still here! That guy fought desperately... to kill the Sect Leader. The toll must have been enormous! He’s definitely no match for the instructors now!"

The low shout came from one of the Vajra Sect members, jolting the disciples, who were only a hair’s breadth from a full-blown rout, back to their senses.

’That’s right! We still have the instructors, two masters! Xie Yuan looks pale; that last move clearly took a lot out of him. He can’t possibly be a match for them now!’

Bolstered by this thought, they looked back toward the stage, their spirits rallying.

The Escort Agency members heard this as well. Their elation cooled, and their brows furrowed with renewed concern.

’As strong as Xiaoxie is, he didn’t kill Peng Jie unscathed. He just took two solid blows from those staffs... and the two instructors are completely fresh. They’re rested and waiting to strike an exhausted foe.’

’There’s still a vicious fight ahead. Can Xie Yuan handle it?’

On the fighting stage, the two instructors stared at Xie Yuan, their eyes nearly bulging from their sockets.

’The Sect Leader... was actually hacked to death?’

’By this kid?’

’That axe...’

’They had been the closest, and they had felt the full power of those three axe strikes. Even the Sect Leader, with his immense power and profound cultivation, had been cut down instantly. If it had been them, the result would have been no different.’

A wave of fear washed over them. ’Thank god we weren’t the ones facing that attack.’

But as Third Training instructors, they were no fools. Seizing the opening right after Xie Yuan killed Peng Jie, they had struck with all their might, landing two solid blows with their iron-core staffs squarely on Xie Yuan’s back.

What they couldn’t comprehend, however, was that hitting Xie Yuan was like striking a massive bronze bell. Not only did the blows seem to have no effect, but the recoil had sent a numbing shock up both their arms.

’What kind of Hard Skill is this?’ Even in their Vajra Sect, which boasted the greatest Hard Skill in all of Yunzhao, a blow like that between two Third Training practitioners would never leave the target unscathed.

’Let alone a combined attack from behind! Forget about us—even the Sect Leader or Yu Chunsheng with his Fourth Training Rock Skill couldn’t have done that!’

’Just what is the deal with this kid?!’

They exchanged a glance and saw a flicker of fear in each other’s eyes. As esteemed instructors of the Vajra Sect in Yunzhao, it was a feeling they hadn’t experienced in a very long time, yet it bloomed now as they faced Xie Yuan.

Xie Yuan turned to face them. Seeing the two uncertain Third Training practitioners, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he smiled.

"Well, gentlemen? What are you waiting for?"

The two Third Training practitioners stared at Xie Yuan. A vicious look appeared on one’s face as he gritted his teeth and said:

"That last move must have taken a huge toll, or he wouldn’t have waited until the last second to use it. This is when he’s at his weakest! Brother, let’s attack together and avenge the Sect Leader!"

Hearing this, the other Third Training practitioner finally steeled his resolve. He gave a firm nod and roared:

"You’re right, brother! You villain! Pay for the Sect Leader’s life!"

Having trained together for decades, the two instructor-brothers had perfect chemistry. They raised their staffs in unison and brought them crashing down, intending to overwhelm Xie Yuan with a frontal assault and give him no room to breathe.

Xie Yuan scoffed at the sight. With a single motion, he raised his axe, Zhanyue, and blocked both of their staffs.