Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Third, its power was ultimately a bit lacking compared to wielding a sword by hand.

After all, this wasn’t the kind of divine-sense flying sword from an Immortal Technique that could kill from a thousand miles away, moving as fast as a thought.

The skill also had demanding requirements for the sword’s material. Only specially crafted Bamboo Swords could be sharp and hard while remaining light enough to control easily. There were many other drawbacks, such as the exorbitant cost, but there’s no need to list them all.

Therefore, many considered the Flying Sword Skill to be impractical. With the same talent and internal energy, wouldn’t cultivating another form of Swordsmanship more than double one’s power?

Of course, when it came to killing enemies from afar, the difficulty of defending against it, the safety of the user, and most importantly, its sheer style, the Flying Sword Skill had few equals.

After all, many who studied the sword simply wanted to emulate the ethereal grace of a Sword Immortal. As a result, though few in the Sword Sect actually mastered the Flying Sword Skill, it always remained immensely popular.

Lu Pei remotely commanded his flying swords, frowning slightly as he looked down on Lu the Third.

The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect was not far from the West Desert, so they were fairly familiar with its prominent experts.

Lu the Third might look coarse and boorish, but his mind was quite sharp. He had always been rational enough to steer clear of the Major Sects.

Yet this time, despite him representing the Sword Sect, Lu the Third had attacked after only a few words, showing no intention of giving face and letting him go.

Lu the Third appeared to be on the defensive, but from what Lu Pei knew of him, this was not his full strength.

Lu Pei was confident in his own abilities, but he didn’t believe three flying swords were enough to completely suppress Lu the Third.

’He’s being so passive, holding back his ultimate techniques... what is he waiting for?’

Lu Pei’s eyes narrowed, a gleam flashing within them.

’He’s building up power. He...’

’He actually wants to kill me!’

Lu Pei snorted. With a sharp flick of his fingers—SHING! SHING!—two more flying swords shot out from behind him, streaking toward Lu the Third!

Seeing Lu Pei get serious, Lu the Third’s expression changed. With a furious roar, he swung his massive saber in a vicious diagonal slash, sending a colossal beam of blade energy soaring toward the heavens!

All five flying swords were sent scattering. Lu Pei’s eyes narrowed, and for the first time, his gracefully hovering form flickered as he dodged the beam of light that seemed capable of tearing the sky asunder.

Lu the Third’s face darkened when he saw his long-prepared strike easily read and dodged. The five flying swords were already turning back to assail him again.

"Lu Pei, enough! I won’t pursue this today. Take your disciples and leave!"

Lu Pei’s gestures didn’t cease. The five flying swords continued their frenzied assault on Lu the Third, forcing him to desperately fend them off.

He said coolly,

"First you want me to stay, now you want me to leave. Where does that leave the honor of my Cloud Mountain Sword Sect?"

"Lu Pei, do you really intend for this to be a fight to the death?"

Lu the Third growled.

Lu Pei’s brow twitched. He saw Lu the Third’s bloodshot eyes glance toward the disciples on the ground below and paused to think.

He said calmly,

"It’s not impossible for me to stop. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

Lu the Third demanded, his voice low.

Lu Pei glanced back toward the large pit in the distance.

"You tell me what you’re up to here."

Lu the Third’s expression changed instantly. He snorted.

"No comment."

"So it is about the secret here."

A slight smile touched Lu Pei’s lips.

’Lu the Third’s actions were strange from the start. Plus, with so many bandits here—ninety percent of his forces—he must be guarding whatever strange phenomenon is in that pit!’

Seeing Lu the Third’s sullen silence, Lu Pei’s figure began to rise higher, intending to peer into the pit.

Lu the Third’s face fell. Gritting his teeth, he swung his saber once more.

Lu Pei dipped lower, dodging the blade energy, and chuckled.

"See? You struck first again. You can hardly blame me for what comes next."

"You people from the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect have always been despicable and shameless!"

Lu the Third bellowed.

Lu Pei ignored him. He raised a hand, palm up, and spread his fingers. The five flying swords ascended with his motion, arranging themselves in a line. Their frigid Sword Edges pointed at Lu the Third, exuding an immense pressure.

Lu the Third swallowed hard, his face grim. He tightened his grip on his massive saber and stared at Lu Pei.

Just as Lu Pei was about to flick his hand forward, he suddenly froze and turned his head to the side.

Lu the Third froze for a second, then his expression shifted as he, too, looked into the distance.

Dawn was breaking. The great sun had half-risen in the east, leaving the sky half-lit and half-dark.

And out of the dark desert to the west, an even blacker storm seemed to be rapidly bearing down on them.

Xie Yuan stared intently, but he could only seem to make out a black sandstorm rushing toward them.

But it was moving far too quickly for a sandstorm, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, a sinister voice echoed between heaven and earth:

"Lu Pei, since when did you decide to visit my West Desert without so much as a greeting for this old man?"

A rare look of gravity appeared on Lu Pei’s face. He said in a low voice,

"Black Wind Demon..."

"What a way for a junior to speak. So impolite."

The voice cackled.

"It seems I’ll have to invite you for a little chat inside my black wind."

The black sandstorm arrived in an instant. Many bandits who failed to flee in time were swept up along the way. After a few brief, bloodcurdling screams, they fell silent, leaving only the roar of the wind.

The storm gradually subsided, revealing an old man in a black robe. His hair was like a patch of gray weeds. With a hooked nose, triangular eyes, and naturally downturned lips, he looked exceptionally sinister.

Xie Yuan’s heart went cold. He could feel that the newcomer’s aura was in no way inferior to Lu Pei’s—in fact, it might even surpass it.

The Black Wind Elder. Given his seniority, he was well within his rights to call Lu Pei, the First Seat of Bamboo Sword Peak, a junior.

He had become a Grandmaster nearly a hundred years ago, making him a contemporary of the previous generation’s Sect Leader of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect.

He had roamed the West Desert for a century. The only time he had dared not cause trouble was during the King of Pingxi’s western expedition, during which he vanished without a trace. He only re-emerged after the Great Li army withdrew.