Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

"Beast!"

The black-robed man from the Blood Lotus Sect cursed, just as Luo Jiang had. He couldn’t believe someone with Minor Achievement in Gang Qi Cultivation would refuse to face him head-on, instead sacrificing the life of a sect brother for an opportunity to ambush him.

’What a complete animal!’ 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

’Flee!’

Xu Yang didn’t chase after him to deliver a finishing blow. His punch had already destroyed the internal organs of the black-robed Blood Lotus Sect member; the man’s death was only a matter of time. The destructive power of his Silver Gang Qi was far more potent than he had anticipated.

Besides, this was no time to finish the job. He could hear a series of screams, including those of Liu Youzhen and Song Runshu.

’If I don’t go now, I might not get another chance.’

Seizing the moment after sending the black-robed Blood Lotus Sect member flying, he channeled Gang Qi to his feet, executed Stepping on Gang and Chasing Wind, and shot out of the valley.

In truth, he was already behind schedule, having been tied down by the black-robed man. Several others had already escaped the valley, taking advantage of the chaos as their companions engaged the Blood Lotus Sect members.

"Kill him!"

The sturdy man pointed at Xu Yang’s retreating figure, his face a mask of murderous intent. He had witnessed the moment Xu Yang had struck down the black-robed Blood Lotus Sect member.

According to their intelligence, Xu Yang’s cultivation wasn’t supposed to be this high. One of the black-robed Blood Lotus Sect members immediately abandoned his opponent and charged in Xu Yang’s direction.

Song Runshu also tried to use this opportunity to flee, but he was swiftly knocked back into the valley by the sturdy man.

’It’s him?’

Xu Yang rushed out of the valley. He had originally planned to flee toward the Purple Sun Sect, but when he saw someone else escaping in that direction, he immediately chose a different one.

But as his figure flew past, he spotted Zhu Yong—who was supposed to have already left—hiding under a large tree in the distance, watching the valley.

In an instant, it all clicked. Zhu Yong had to be one of the Blood Lotus Sect’s spies within the Purple Sun Sect. He was the one who had led them all here.

’The fire poison outbreak was likely a ruse as well.’

’He’s actually reached Gang Qi Minor Achievement.’

Zhu Yong saw Xu Yang as well, and he was utterly shocked.

Their eyes met in the air. Xu Yang had no time to deal with Zhu Yong now; he had already sensed the person chasing him from behind.

BOOM!

After landing, he exploded forward with even more terrifying speed, his body tracing an arc as he vanished into the distant mountain forest.

With Stepping on Gang and Chasing Wind at the Minor Achievement stage, it was impossible for anyone to catch him unless they had also mastered a Body Technique of the same level.

After a few flickers, using the trees for cover, he vanished from the black-robed Blood Lotus Sect member’s sight.

"Get out here!"

The black-robed member of the Blood Lotus Sect howled with rage, his voice echoing among the mountains.

To avoid being tracked, Xu Yang stopped using the explosive Stepping on Gang and Chasing Wind once he had shaken off the Blood Lotus Sect member. He switched to the more nimble Flying Swallow Skill, flitting between the treetops.

A short while later, a figure darting through the woods came into view. It was none other than Yun Feng.

"Found him!" His eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

Of course, he hadn’t chosen this direction at random. He had seen Yun Feng escape this way when he’d burst out of the valley, and that’s why he’d given chase. He hadn’t actually expected to catch up to him.

Yun Feng was running for his life. He had been lucky; when the black-robed members of the Blood Lotus Sect charged into the valley, he wasn’t one of their initial targets, which gave him the opportunity to flee.

Hearing the rush of air behind him, he glanced back in terror. When he saw it was Xu Yang, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly hidden.

"Brother Xu, you escaped too?"

A smile spread across his face. "We’re pretty lucky."

’I want to kill Xu Yang, but this isn’t the right time. If I keep him with me, he can serve as a distraction in case we’re unlucky enough to run into the Blood Lotus Sect.’

"How about we team up? Otherwise, we’re both in danger. The Blood Lotus Sect is still hunting us."

Xu Yang smiled. "Alright. Wait for me, Brother Yun."

Yun Feng didn’t stop. "Just stay behind me," he said. "We can’t stop now."

’Yeah, stay behind me and take a blade for me,’ he sneered to himself. ’If this were a better spot, I would’ve already tried to kill him.’

When Xu Yang saw that Yun Feng wasn’t taking the bait, he instantly switched to Stepping on Gang and Chasing Wind. With a light tap of his toes on a tree, there was a loud BOOM! A large chunk of the trunk exploded outward as his body disappeared from its spot like a clap of thunder.

The commotion from that terrifying burst of power made Yun Feng instinctively look back. He saw Xu Yang, shrouded in white light, rapidly closing the distance between them.

"Gang Qi Minor Achievement!"

He couldn’t help but cry out in shock, a storm raging in his heart. There were still many on the Ten Heroes List who hadn’t reached Gang Qi Minor Achievement, yet Xu Yang had managed it without anyone knowing.

’Dammit! How could a low-born peasant like him achieve this?’

"Brother Xu, let’s split up. If we stick together, we could get wiped out all at once."

He struggled to keep his voice steady, but his pace only quickened.

"No, it’s safer together," Xu Yang said unhurriedly, having already detected the fear hidden in Yun Feng’s voice.

’He knows I’m going to kill him, but he’s still clinging to a sliver of false hope.’

"Brother Xu, everything before was just a misunderstanding! I never asked my family to give your relatives any trouble. I was just kidding around!"

Yun Feng didn’t turn his head, his voice floating back, "If I had known you’d already reached Gang Qi Minor Achievement, I never would have said those things in anger. I hope you can forgive me.

If we make it back alive this time, I’ll give you three thousand silver as an apology."

’Words said in anger?’

’So you’re not so high and mighty anymore? Did you really think I couldn’t tell the difference between words said in anger and genuine killing intent?’

"How foolish. If I kill you, the money’s mine anyway."

The game was up. Xu Yang abruptly accelerated, instantly closing the distance between him and Yun Feng to just a few dozen feet.

Silver Gang Qi surged around him. While still airborne, he threw a punch. The Gang Qi erupted, and a fist of silver light tore through the air with a piercing shriek.