Chapter 100: Chapter 100: An Unexpected Challenger
’Are my wounds so severe I’m hallucinating?’
Zhao Xingyang paused his spear, then thrust seven times in a row to force Boss Song back. When he turned to look again, his eyes went wide.
He hadn’t seen wrong. It was really him!
Xie Yuan stood on high ground. He threw open the wooden case on his back and pulled out a massive black axe.
Then, from his superior vantage point, he raised the great axe and charged brazenly down the slope toward the densely packed bandits!
Xie Yuan had sensed something was wrong and traveled day and night to reach the Leigong River. On the bank, he spotted the tracks of a large group and hurried up the nearby slope, where he found a bloody battle already raging below.
He took a closer look. It was that gang from Chicken Mountain again!
’Are these guys bandits or roving marauders? Their range is huge!’
Xie Yuan had no time for deep thoughts. Nearly a hundred bandits had surrounded the Escort Team, and a river of blood was already flowing. Over there, Zhao Xingyang was drenched in his own blood, locked in a fierce battle with the leader surnamed Song. The situation was on the verge of total collapse.
He abandoned his horse, which was already foaming at the mouth with weak legs. He instantly activated his Blood Qi, filled himself with inner breath, and, hoisting the Moon-Cutting Axe, charged down the slope alone, smashing into the rear of the bandit horde!
He swung the great axe with the momentum of his charge, and a wave of blood suddenly erupted from the bandits’ ranks.
The bandits let out cries of alarm and pain that were cut short. This single, hate-fueled strike, empowered by his momentum, cleaved the three bandits at the front—along with their weapons—in two.
The bandits behind them fell into disarray. Seeing this fierce warrior appear out of nowhere, some wanted to flee, others wanted to fight, and chaos reigned.
Xie Yuan seized the opportunity, directly unleashing his Moon-Cutting Axe technique. With wide, sweeping motions, he instantly cleared a space around himself, then held his axe horizontally and shouted:
"Boss Zhao! Brothers! Reinforcements have arrived! Hold on!"
After speaking, he swung his great axe again and plunged back into the horde.
The Moon-Cutting Axe, combined with his axe technique, created a relentless offense. His movements were measured, advancing and retreating with precision, and no one could get near him. For a time, he had no equal, and he instantly struck terror into the bandits’ hearts.
Over a dozen men in the Escort Team’s formation had already fallen. Everyone was fighting for their lives, unable to spare any attention. They only knew that something seemed to have changed behind them but had no idea what was happening.
Hearing the shout, they realized Xie Yuan had come to help, and their spirits soared.
They all knew, without saying, that Xie Yuan had not set out with the team. Seeing the lad arrive just in time gave them a huge morale boost and a bit more strength.
But a moment later, a new worry crept into the Darts Masters’ minds.
The Chicken Mountain bandits’ domain covered the surrounding mountains and rivers. Their power was immense, with nearly a hundred skilled fighters. Even though they had suffered far greater losses than the escort, more than fifty bandits still had them surrounded.
No matter how ferocious Xie Yuan was, how could one man fight a hundred?
At this thought, they gritted their teeth, tightened their grip on their blades, and quickened their attacks. For a moment, they actually forced the enemies, who outnumbered them several times over, back a few steps, preventing them from disengaging.
While those on the ground couldn’t see the rear clearly, the two Fourth Training masters, Zhao Xingyang and Boss Song, had a much wider view.
Boss Song’s face darkened. He hadn’t seen the brat who’d caused him so much trouble before. So, he had appeared from the side to ambush them!
He snorted coldly and slammed his fists together:
"Does this kid think he’s invincible? Once he’s in that crowd, he’s not coming out alive!"
Zhao Xingyang answered with a spear thrust and said coolly:
"I’d bet Xiaoxie can slaughter all your men with just that axe."
Boss Song’s expression grew even darker. It was one thing for the kid to be fierce, but his weapon was also extraordinary. It was both sharp and heavy, and paired with his formidable axe technique, it was perfectly suited for a chaotic melee. If wielded well, it was entirely possible he could cut through them all.
But he just quickened his punches and snorted:
"No matter how strong he is, let’s see if he can take on a Third Training master!"
Zhao Xingyang pressed his lips together and didn’t reply, simply brandishing his spear into a blur of afterimages, clashing with Boss Song’s fists, which were wreathed in the winds of Blood Qi.
On the other side, Xie Yuan swung his great axe repeatedly, carving his way into the enemy formation. He seemed to be trapped and surrounded, but having charged formations several times before, his choices were deliberate. He constantly circled along the outer edge of the bandit throng; at the first sign of trouble, he could break out and retreat at any time.
Wielding his great axe, he was like a peerless general, thinning the bandit horde. His superior martial skill was complemented by strategy. If left unimpeded, he might truly shatter the Chicken Mountain bandits’ encirclement all by himself.
On the front line of the fierce battle, the bandits’ third-in-command caught sight of the situation at the rear out of the corner of his eye. His face darkened, and he drew back his blade and rushed toward Xie Yuan.
’That kid is acting like he’s unstoppable, all thanks to that superior weapon.’
’But once I get there, I’ll let him know that our camp isn’t a place for a mere Second Training punk to run wild!’
If a Third Training expert really managed to intercept Xie Yuan, using his superior cultivation to suppress him, it wouldn’t even matter if Xie Yuan could win or not. If he was held up for even a moment, the surrounding bandits would swarm him. A single cut from each of them would be more than even a Golden Bell Shield could withstand.
Just as the third-in-command was about to break away from the battle, two long spears suddenly shot out from behind, forcefully blocking his path.
He parried with his blade and glared, discovering that the few Darts Masters he had been suppressing with his combined strength had dared to leave the cover of the Escort Vehicles to fight him.
Qin Sea let out a loud laugh:
"You think you can come and go as you please? Not so easy!"
The third-in-command’s face was as dark as water. Blocked by several Darts Masters fighting for their lives, he found himself unable to get away.
Just moments ago, he alone had been suppressing these top Second Training masters, allowing the other fronts of the battle to quickly gain the upper hand. Now the tables had turned, and he was the one being tied down!
Annoyed, he quickened the long blade in his hands, immediately putting the Darts Masters in mortal danger.
With no one to stop him, Xie Yuan relied on his inexhaustible Inner Strength and protective External Training. Wielding the devastatingly powerful Moon-Cutting Axe technique, he reaped lives among the bandits as if cutting grass!
If someone had organized them, a team of Second Training fighters might have been able to stall Xie Yuan for a moment. However, in the chaos of battle, with no one to command them, the bandits were just as Zhao Xingyang had said: a disorderly mob. Some charged recklessly, some fled, and they pushed and shoved each other, which only made Xie Yuan’s battle record more impressive.
In just this short burst of time, although he hadn’t been counting, he had slain more than twenty bandits, thinning their ranks by a third!
Although the Moon-Cutting technique consumed a lot of energy, his Inner Power was sufficient to sustain it. He could, at the very least, kill every last bandit.
In a little while longer, the Chicken Mountain bandits would surely be slaughtered and scattered. Then, the Escort Team could regroup, form a defensive formation, and today’s crisis would be resolved.
Just then, a loud cry came from near the Escort Vehicles.
Xie Yuan’s hands paused. He recognized Qin Sea’s voice.
A tall, thin figure sprinted over like the wind. In just a few breaths, he was before Xie Yuan, slashing down with a swift and fierce strike!
Xie Yuan parried with his axe, and a huge shock ran through his arms. The force was immense, greater than his own.
The enemy said nothing, delivering one relentless strike after another, leaving Xie Yuan able to do nothing but parry.
’A Third Training...’
Xie Yuan’s eyes narrowed. ’Today’s greatest opponent has arrived.’
He had anticipated this. His mind raced, searching for a counter-strategy.
Back at the vehicle line, Qin Sea had taken a slash to his chest and stomach and could no longer fight. The other two couldn’t stop the third-in-command either. If the bandit’s focus hadn’t been elsewhere, all three of them would probably be dead.
Yet the three of them paid no mind to their own plight, all panicking:
"Damn it, that guy went after Xiaoxie!"
"No matter how strong Xiaoxie is, he’s been fighting for so long and must be exhausted! How can he win?"
"We have to go help him!"
The other two wanted to give chase, but the surrounding bandits immediately swarmed them. Helpless, they could only protect Qin Sea and retreat back into the line of Escort Vehicles.
In the Fourth Training battle, Zhao Xingyang caught a glimpse of this from the corner of his eye. His face fell, and his spear moved thirty percent faster. He was pushing himself so hard that blood started to trickle from his nose.
Seeing Zhao Xingyang fighting desperately, Boss Song simply switched to a solid defense, not bothering to attack.
The man who could unite the lands around Chicken Mountain, gather a force of nearly a hundred Martial Artists, and even establish connections in the city was no fool. Facing Zhao Xingyang’s forced push, he easily gained the upper hand and even had time to mock him:
"Trying to save that kid? You think fighting recklessly will do any good? Just wait. Once my third brother cuts him down, it’s all over for you today!
"He’s a dead man, and all of you are going to die!"
Zhao Xingyang said nothing, his only answer an even faster spear.
’Each of the four stages of External Training was a complete transformation. If I hadn’t forced my breakthrough, I would be no match for this man surnamed Song.’
But doing so had naturally come at a great cost.
’Xiaoxie’s potential is limitless. Given a little more time, none of these people would be his match. But right now...’
’No, I have to be faster, even faster. He could collapse at any moment.’
A look of grim determination appeared in Zhao Xingyang’s eyes. Even his ears began to bleed.
Xie Yuan was completely suppressed by the third-in-command, only defending without attacking. His opponent’s strikes grew faster and more powerful, yet he still hadn’t taken Xie Yuan down, and he was growing impatient.
’This kid... his stance is so stable, and the power in his core is so strong. How can he hold on for this long? On what grounds?’
He couldn’t figure it out. He just kept increasing the force of his blows, leaving no energy in reserve.
A flicker in Xie Yuan’s eyes revealed his profound concentration and resolve.
’Now.’
He suddenly raised his axe, pouring all his Blood Qi and Inner Strength into it. Facing the Third Training enemy, he launched his first counterattack.
’Three Axe Swings.’
’The strongest Three Axe Swings I’ve ever performed since I started training.’
The wind on the battlefield seemed to fall silent for a moment. The Moon-Cutting Axe, its edge gleaming with a cold light, traced a jagged line through the air.
The third-in-command swung his long blade. Seeing Xie Yuan finally move to counterattack, he felt a flash of joy, but in the next second, his expression changed drastically.
But his heart had grown agitated from his relentless hacking. His current strike was at full power, and it was too late to pull back. He could only let his long blade clash with the axe.
CLANG! The long blade was splintered like wood. The third-in-command watched wide-eyed as the axe head descended upon him. He saw it perfectly clearly, yet he couldn’t dodge in time.
It felt like a breeze passed over him, and he only felt a chill run through his body.
’That axe... it’s unnaturally fast.’
With that last thought, the third-in-command’s vision went black. Three lines of blood appeared on his body and instantly erupted in a spray of gore.
Xie Yuan stood leaning on his axe, his hands numb from the shock of the Third Training master’s final, all-out blow.
He gasped for breath, just like the first time he had ever used the Three Axe Swings.
But in the end, he was still standing, and his enemy had fallen.
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