Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

They were well aware that everyone had been slacking off recently, but there wasn’t much they could do. After all, the disciples weren’t completely idle; their hands never stopped moving.

Xu Yang, who used a bathroom break as an excuse to slack off, happened to walk right into the line of fire.

Xu Yang was in a good mood and didn’t feel like arguing. "I wasn’t slacking off," he said casually. "I was just delayed by expelling some fire poison after relieving myself."

Hearing this, Song Runshu didn’t press the issue.

When Xu Yang returned to the stone chamber, he discovered that the tempering effects of the Earth Vein Spiritual Fire on his physical body and Gang Qi had weakened considerably. He could now easily withstand the chamber’s high temperature even without actively circulating his energy.

’No wonder people like Gao Lin and Song Runshu don’t cultivate here. The fiery energy from the Earth Vein Spiritual Fire has no effect on people whose bodies and Gang Qi have already reached a certain level of strength.’

Xu Yang continued to slack off. Although the Earth Vein Spiritual Fire was no longer of much use to him, he couldn’t afford to offend the others.

In reality, they couldn’t drag this out for much longer—a day or two at most. The Sect urgently needed these materials, and it was impossible for Song Runshu and Liu Youzhen to just stay here and waste time with them indefinitely.

At lunchtime, everyone walked out of the stone chambers.

Liu Youzhen and Song Runshu brought out jerky, flatbread, and fresh water, distributing it to the others.

Then, Song Runshu’s piercing gaze swept over the crowd as he said, "There are only two days left of the allotted half-month. I know what you’re all up to, but let me make this clear: all the materials must be refined within two days. Otherwise, you can forget about getting any contribution points."

Everyone’s expression faltered, except for Xu Yang.

Their Gang Qi and bodies were still growing stronger; they were truly reluctant to leave this Cultivation Treasure Land.

But Song Runshu’s threat regarding the contribution points had made his attitude clear. If they continued to slack off, things would not end well for them.

As for staying here to cultivate after the ore refining was finished—that was impossible.

That Tower Furnace was clearly no ordinary item and would surely be taken away. Without the Tower Furnace suppressing the Earth Vein Spiritual Fire, this place would be sealed off.

Liu Youzhen said, "Don’t blame Senior Brother Song and me for being heartless. These materials are needed by an Elder from Li Fire Peak to forge Weapons. If there’s a delay, we will also be in trouble."

With one playing the bad cop and the other the good cop, the disciples’ expressions softened considerably. They understood they couldn’t continue to slack off.

An Elder from Li Fire Peak was a major figure, the kind whose stomp could make the entire Purple Sun Sect tremble. Very few people had the guts to delay the affairs of such a person.

"Well now, look at all the people. Our crude ore ought to be almost refined, wouldn’t you say?"

Suddenly, a mocking voice drifted in from outside the valley. Ten figures, bundled up from head to toe, had appeared at the entrance to the valley at some unknown time.

All of them were dressed in black and wore black face coverings, with only their eyes showing.

Two individuals led the group, with the other eight following. They began to spread out and encircle the valley, all of them exuding tyrannical auras.

Of the two leaders, one was as sturdy as an ox with a sharp glint in his eyes. The other was as thin as a bamboo pole, his gaze sinister and cruel. The contrast between them was stark.

Xu Yang’s heart sank. Clearly, these arrivals meant trouble.

His most advanced technique was the Fiery Sun Gang Saber, but he hadn’t brought a saber with him on this mission.

In an instant, everyone who had been sitting on the ground eating jerky jumped to their feet. Several of them even looked eager for a fight.

’These people are probably after the refined materials in the cave. If we can kill them, it’ll be a great meritorious deed.’

Song Runshu scoffed. "Where did you petty thieves crawl out from? Haven’t you heard that this place belongs to the Purple Sun Sect?"

As an Inner Sect Disciple of the Purple Sun Sect, and from Li Fire Peak no less, he had the confidence to look down on most petty thieves.

The burly man sneered. "Petty thieves? If you think so, then so be it. When the tiger is away from the mountain, the monkey becomes king. The disciples of the Purple Sun Sect really are getting worse with each generation."

"Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

As he spoke, Gang Qi burst from beneath his feet and his figure vanished. He crossed dozens of feet in an instant, his massive palm tearing through the air with a sharp whistle as he struck at Song Runshu.

The force of this Palm was terrifying, like mountains crumbling and the earth splitting, like thunder from a clear sky. The entire valley seemed to tremble.

The immense pressure forced Xu Yang and those around him to retreat, their faces etched with horror.

This was no petty thief, but a terrifyingly powerful master—a true Bone Marrow Cleansing Strong Person.

"Arrogant!"

Song Runshu roared as a red glow flared around him, his aura surging to an astonishing level.

He strode forward, launching a palm strike of his own. He was like a bear king swiping its paw, his step shaking the ground, his presence utterly savage.

"Senior Brother Song’s Fuyue Bear King’s Palm has become even more profound." Liu Youzhen’s eyes gleamed.

That single Palm had captured the essence of the Fuyue Bear King’s Palm. For a fleeting moment, it was like seeing a humanoid bear rising up on its hind legs, Gang Qi from all over its body surging into its palm and stirring up a terrifying wind.

BANG!

The two palms collided like a pair of steel plates, emitting a piercing clang and sending out ripples visible to the naked eye.

Vigorous Energy swept out, cracking the ground all around. As dust and smoke billowed into the sky, Xu Yang and the others hastily retreated again.

"Ah... Blood Transformation Palm!"

Amidst the billowing dust, Song Runshu’s bloodcurdling scream rang out, his voice filled with absolute horror.

As the dust settled, he was seen staggering backward. The hand that had clashed with the burly man’s palm was withered and shrunken, as if its flesh and blood had simply disappeared.

Liu Youzhen’s expression changed dramatically. "It’s the Blood Lotus Sect!" he roared. "Don’t let their Gang Qi penetrate your bodies!"

Xu Yang’s heart sank. Ever since joining the Purple Sun Sect, he had been wary of disciples turned by the Blood Lotus Sect. He never thought he would run into actual members of the sect when he was least expecting it.

Their Cultivation Technique was clearly bizarre. Song Runshu’s aura hadn’t seemed much weaker than the burly man’s, yet he had suffered a devastating loss in a single exchange.

"Idiot, send the distress signal!" Song Runshu roared, a sense of doom washing over him.

Liu Youzhen didn’t need telling; his hand was already flying to his waist to pull out a signal flare and call the Sect for help. But the man as thin as a bamboo pole had already appeared before him like a ghost.

"Thinking of calling for help now? Too late."

A sinister voice echoed as five fingers, glowing with black light, clawed at Liu Youzhen’s throat.

In reality, they were dozens of kilometers from the Purple Sun Sect. Even if the signal flare was successfully launched, it was not guaranteed to bring any experts from the Sect.

"This is bad!"

Fang Yu cried out in horror. He saw that among the eight remaining Blood Lotus Sect disciples, not counting the two leaders, the weakest had a Cultivation of Gang Qi Minor Achievement, while two were at Gang Qi Great Success. They were completely outmatched.

"Aaaargh..."

Xu Yang heard Song Runshu scream again, but he couldn’t worry about that now. A black-clad Blood Lotus Sect disciple with a Cultivation of Gang Qi Minor Achievement was already charging at him. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

At the same time, the others were all met by opponents. The ones who had been eager for a fight moments ago now looked terrified. All thoughts of earning merit were gone; their only hope was to survive.

A powerful gust of wind struck his face. Without a shred of hesitation, Xu Yang took a single step back, exposing Luo Jiang, who was standing right beside him.

Instantly, what had been a situation of both him and Luo Jiang facing the black-clad Blood Lotus Sect member became one of Luo Jiang facing the attacker all by himself.

"You animal!"

Luo Jiang’s face was white with terror. But facing a palm wreathed in formidable power, he had no choice but to fight for his life, blasting out all the Gang Qi he could muster with both of his own palms.

BANG!

It was an utterly one-sided clash. Under the palm of the Blood Lotus Sect member, who was at Gang Qi Minor Achievement, Luo Jiang’s Gang Qi was no stronger than paper. The attacker’s palm, glowing with a red light, tore through Luo Jiang’s defense and slammed heavily into his chest.

CRACK!

With a burst of Gang Qi and a sickening crunch of bone, Luo Jiang’s entire body convulsed. His back arched like a cooked shrimp, and he was sent flying with a boom, spewing great mouthfuls of blood mixed with chunks of his internal organs.

At that exact moment, Xu Yang moved. Treading on his Gang Qi, his figure vanished from his spot.

In the instant the Blood Lotus Sect disciple sent Luo Jiang flying, Xu Yang closed in like a clap of thunder, his fist tearing through the air.

The Blood Lotus Sect disciple was at a point of exhaustion after his attack. Combined with the thunderous speed of Stepping on Gang and Chasing Wind, he could only watch helplessly as Xu Yang’s fist shattered his Gang Qi and slammed into his body.

CRACK!

A white light flashed from Xu Yang’s fist as his Silver Gang Qi pulsed like thunder. It was an attack of pure, ferocious power, and it smashed into the Blood Lotus Sect disciple’s body with unstoppable force.

Accompanied by the sound of cracking bone, the Blood Lotus Sect disciple’s chest caved in. He flew backward, spewing blood.