Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

His Blood Qi bulged like muscles about to burst, impossible to suppress. It was clearly pushed to the absolute limit. Paired with his fierce appearance and build, he looked just like a Vajra Yaksha from Buddhist lore.

The Ming King was very satisfied with his disciple’s condition and nodded.

The Black Wind Elder also summoned his disciple and said in a shrill voice:

"Once you’re inside, just focus on scouting and observing. All that matters is that you stay alive. Report back to me when you get out, and you’ll be handsomely rewarded. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Master."

The disciple replied with the utmost respect.

Although he was only in the Second Transformation Realm, the fact that he had survived for so long under the capricious Black Wind Elder suggested he was no ordinary person.

Lu the Third pulled his son aside and said in a low voice:

"Tian Yong, remember what I told you. Get to the 3rd Layer as fast as you can...

"If the 4th Layer opens, you are absolutely forbidden from going. It’s too dangerous!"

"Also, I have a feeling that bastard Xie Yuan, who disappeared so strangely, might have snuck in as well. If you run into him, you must capture him!"

"Don’t worry, Father. I know."

Lu Tianyong, his face coarse, replied fiercely. He had never been able to swallow the humiliation of being made a fool of by someone in the Qi Blood First Transformation Realm.

As for the other Grandmasters from the Western Regions, they each sent their own disciples. All of them possessed powerful auras, and most were in the Second Transformation Realm.

On the Great Li side, Qin Zhenyang, with his calm and steady disposition, took the lead. Huie Jue, a peaceful expression on his face, followed close by his side.

To Qin Zhenyang’s left stood a beautiful woman with her hair in a ponytail. She was tall and slender, holding a long spear inverted in her hand, cutting a valiant and heroic figure.

Her eyebrows were thicker than those of most women, but on her spirited, heroic face, they were a perfect fit. Her beauty was such that the young disciples on both sides couldn’t help but steal glances, only to feel inadequate and look away under her brilliant and piercing gaze.

The woman was exceptionally tall, even a bit taller than Qin Zhenyang beside her.

However, she looked at Qin Zhenyang with a reverent expression and called out:

"Senior Brother Qin, it’s been a while!"

"Miss Yuan, long time no see. It’s a long way from Gubei. Have you rested well?"

Qin Zhenyang said politely.

"Hehe, I heard there were ruins to explore. How could I possibly sleep?"

This woman was Yuan Zhenying, a disciple from the Gubei Yuan family, one of the eight great families.

The Gubei Yuan family had a good relationship with the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect. The two families often interacted, and their disciples frequently exchanged pointers, so Qin Zhenyang and Yuan Zhenying were quite familiar with each other.

Although Yuan Zhenying was only in the Second Transformation Realm, her talent was second to none among the disciples of her generation in the Gubei Yuan family. Despite being a woman, she beat her male peers so badly they would complain endlessly and turn pale at the mere mention of her name. Since childhood, she had been the Yuan family’s "female general."

Coupled with the deep resources of the Gubei Yuan family, Yuan Zhenying’s strength was not to be underestimated. Among the other Great Li Grandmasters and their disciples who had rushed here in the past two days, she was the strongest of the younger generation.

The young prodigies from Great Li lined up, facing the heroes of the Western Regions from across the divide.

Despite the short notice of only two days, quite a few prodigies had gathered.

"Fellow allies, the people of the Western Regions are treacherous and wicked. Furthermore, Lu the Third has scouted ahead and holds intelligence on the inside, which makes them difficult to deal with."

"Therefore, once we are inside, I hope everyone can unite against a common foe and watch each other’s backs. We should eliminate the external threat first before we discuss scouting, treasure hunting, and how to divide the spoils. Let’s not lose the war for a single battle."

Qin Zhenyang said in a solemn voice, looking at the prodigies from the various families behind him.

"Amitabha. This humble monk will follow Senior Brother Qin’s lead."

Huie Jue said politely.

Seeing that even Huie Jue, who held the highest status among them, was so humble and polite, and that the disciple from the Gubei Yuan family stood firmly by Qin Zhenyang’s side—not to mention Qin Zhenyang’s own soaring reputation and high ranking—everyone naturally roared their agreement, with no one dissenting.

On the Western Regions’ side, the tall Black Monk’s voice boomed like rumbling thunder:

"You all know Grandmaster Lu’s findings. Once inside, kill the people from the Central Plains first, then it’s every man for himself. If any of you start trouble before that, I’ll deal with you first."

The experts from the Western Regions looked at each other in dismay. Intimidated by Black Vajra Roto’s fierce reputation, no one objected. Aside from a few scattered voices of agreement, everyone remained silent.

Unlike the Great Li side, where everyone was from Great Li regardless of their family, the "Western Regions" was a collective term for many large and small countries whose people did not necessarily see each other as compatriots.

Otherwise, with land and a population that, when combined, were vaster and richer than the Central Plains, they wouldn’t have failed to truly conquer the Central Plains in a thousand years.

Roto didn’t mind their silence; he just needed to make the instructions clear. In any case, he would shoulder the main task himself.

With Lu the Third’s strategy guide in everyone’s hands, it was like they were fighting on their home turf, giving them a natural advantage over the people from Great Li.

The ruins were exceptionally strange. If the people from Great Li underestimated their danger, they would surely pay the price.

This time, following the Ming King’s orders, treasure was a secondary concern. The main goal was to slaughter all of these promising young Martial Artists from Great Li!

As the Treasure Tower’s light flickered with increasing intensity, the entire illusion began to ripple like the reflection of a river disturbed by a thrown stone, faster and faster.

Just as the ripples became a blur, everyone suddenly felt a stir in their hearts. The illusion of the Treasure Tower abruptly solidified. Though still a projection, it now looked like a real, physical tower.

The massive pit at its base began to spin slowly like a wondrous, halo-like whirlpool, its interior shimmering with what looked like countless galaxies.

At that moment, the ruins had truly opened.

The young disciples from both sides, clearly separated, each took half of the entrance. Under the direction of the Grandmasters, they steeled their resolve and began leaping into the great pit one after another!

The Grandmasters watched as the young geniuses plunged into the ruins like a waterfall, wondering how many of them would ever return.

This was especially true since the people of the Western Regions had come prepared, holding a massive advantage.

They were targeting the brilliant talents of Great Li. A bloodbath was inevitable, just as with every treasure hunt in the ruins.