Bear School Astartes

[Ultimate Technique: Iwami Cross Slash]!

The originally stable flow of air was sliced by a sharp blade, creating a 'screech' explosion.

Lann's Iwami Style technique was performed with stability and elegance.

The katana extended by the Qi Flow Blade technique lengthened the attack range, directly slicing through the bodies of three from Immortal Peak Temple during the one-strike draw-cut.

Two of them were positioned forward, once attempting to hit the blade of Lann's sword with their clenched fists.

Judging from their confident and resolute actions, it seems they have been successful in misdirecting sword blades with bare hands many times before, considering it a regular occurrence.

The Air Hammer technique within 'Immortal Peak Temple Fist Technique' definitely doesn't achieve a hard clash between fist and blade.

However, during the swing of the blade, it's often easy to cause the blade's trajectory to be misaligned due to air disturbance. Ideally, the blade should cut at a ninety-degree angle upon contact, but most times it becomes skewed.

This is what causes the blade's trajectory to be less straight.

The Air Hammer technique wraps the attacked area with unstable airflow, actively disrupting the opponent's blade trajectory.

Therefore, it's generally much easier for monks from the temple to use their fists to skew the blade compared to other combat skills.

But the advantage of the technique also depends on whom it's used against.

When the Air Hammer on the fists of two monks contacted the horizontal blade of Lann, the Demon Hunter indeed felt a slight sign of losing control over the blade's trajectory.

Yet shortly after, Lann's blade became like a sea petrel soaring freely against the storm on the ocean.

The Qi Blade on the sword blade directly cut through the opponent's fists, and with precise and elegant control of the blade, sliced off half of the monks' fists.

Along with their waists being cut into two parts.

The third monk was not severely injured, merely swept by the Qi Blade's trajectory that lingered in mid-air for half a second.

Yet he was struck in the soft belly area, producing a significant blood flow due to the chaotic airflow of the Qi Blade!

In terms of blood loss, he was actually the most.

The first stage of the Iwami Cross Slash is a horizontal sword draw, while the second is a vertical sword slash.

If Lann were a swordsman with a regulated personality, he should follow through with the sword attack.

However, sword techniques must adapt to battlefield conditions; swords bound by constraints on the battlefield are imperfect.

Lann despises such swords.

Therefore, after slicing three enemies with the horizontal sword draw, he did not correct his stance to prepare for an elevated vertical slash.

Rather, he skillfully twisted his body, positioning the side of his sword-wielding hand toward another group of monks rushing forward.

A gentle 'swish' sound was heard.

The Demon Hunter's sword-wielding hand lightly swung like shaking off blood from the blade.

A clear trajectory of the Qi Flow Blade slanted horizontally downward.

The blood bursting from the monks' bodies was attracted by the Qi Flow Blade. The originally transparent and colorless Qi Flow Blade, with some slight transparency difference, became filled with blood.

It presented a seductive fan shape in mid-air.

Against a group attack, a horizontal slash is far more efficient than a vertical slash.

As Iwami Yixin said, after using the Air Blade technique, the battle scene becomes very bloodstained and chaotic.

Now, Lann's half-body holding the sword was splattered with blood. Cold beast-like eyes, frigid silver hair hanging before him, and the hot vapor spilling from his lips...

This image was more akin to a handsome yet merciless demon from a storybook, rather than a human.

Yet, the monks on this mountain path remained expressionless, as if practicing the Undying Dao, eliminating both head and emotions.

-----------------

On the wooden bridge spanning the gorge, where the Demon Hunter and Ninja once passed, an elderly man with a short straw coat and a red Tengu mask briskly walked across.

As he walked, he observed the fierce sword marks and raised wood splinters on the bridge deck beneath his feet, clicking his tongue in astonishment.

"Tsk tsk, the lack of technique is as astounding as the strength."

While savoring the swordsmanship from battle traces with interest, the elderly man reached the other side of the bridge, beside Old Robert gazing at the heavens blankly.

"Hey, Southern Barbarian Warrior, were those sword marks made by you? With this gallant big guy, ding ding."

Iwami Yixin tapped the giant sword lying next to him with the sword in his hand, producing two crisp sounds.

After seeing the sword marks earlier, he simply couldn't bring himself to call Old Robert a 'Southern Barbarian Swordsman,' so he just called him a warrior.

...After all, the craftsmanship looks too crude.

He even felt like this guy's homeland in the Southern Barbarian region might be quite far from the country where Lann learned his skills.

The swordsmanship system feels entirely different.

But Old Robert had no interest in dealing with this frail old man whom he could crush with one hand.

He merely gazed at the falling blood-red maple leaves with pained and hollow eyes, muttering.

"This must be true... The blessing of transformation must be real... I'm just not diligent enough, not strong enough..."

Iwami Yixin tilted his head, listened, and nodded knowingly.

Having lived on this land for a lifetime, seeing many things, there was nothing strange to him.

Voluntarily sending children to seek the 'blessing of transformation'... not a bad man, just a father grasping at straws.

But unlike Lann's kind-hearted 'don't follow, you won't be able to handle it' approach.

The elderly man came to Immortal Peak Temple with the intent to seek excitement and enjoyment. He wouldn't want to miss the Southern Barbarian practicing unknown sword techniques.

Even if not to fight him, letting him witness the sword-swinging stance would be great.

Hence, Iwami Yixin sneered with a provocative tone.

"'True, true...' utterly meaningless words. If you truly believe, go in and see. If you don't believe, you must go in and see too. Ultimately, lying here means you don't even have the courage to go in, right? Haha!"

Such people as Iwami Yixin, even when provoking, carried a heroic aura.

"...Shut up, damn old man."

Old Robert growled in a low voice, clenching his teeth, standing up eventually amidst the clattering 'clang clang' of armor.

He donned his helmet again and picked up the giant sword.

"To see, I have to see."

"Exactly, right or wrong, see for yourself first."

The long nose of the Tengu mask nodded up and down, seemingly in agreement.

"That way you live up to your armor and physique."

Old Robert responded coldly, "I'll say it again, shut up, damn old man!"

Iwami Yixin's laughter remained undiminished.

He returned the sword at his side to its scabbard, the subtle sound of the sword sheath swaying resonant and chilling.

"Don't speak so harshly, Southern Barbarian. Besides..."

"I always believed that deciding whether one should die is judged by the sword."

"Wouldn't you agree?"