[Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill]

Vajra Temple was Yunzhou's foremost great sect. It lay in the farthest northwest reaches of the Great Jing dynasty, a journey so distant it seemed boundless.

Yet its mighty reputation thundered like rolling thunder. Even Shen Xiu, thousands upon thousands of miles away, knew just how terrifyingly powerful that sect was.

The Suspended Sword Division, notorious throughout Great Jing, probably was not even worthy of carrying shoes before Vajra Temple.

That was why Yang Jinhong's answer came as such a surprise to Shen Xiu.

Yang Jinhong had actually said that he was a discarded disciple of Vajra Temple, and that he bore a Dao Grade cultivation technique.

In an age where Dao Grade manuals were as rare as Phoenix Feather and Unicorn Horn among the wondrous, mysterious, Dao, and divine ranks, where divine-grade arts had long vanished from sight, even Mysterious Grade techniques were already considered precious beyond measure.

A Dao Grade tome was truly enough to draw countless eyes.

It was already the Sect-Protecting Ultimate Skill of a sect or school, an unspoken secret never passed on lightly.

Even after Shen Xiu had spent so long in Taixi City, he had only ever heard of such overwhelmingly powerful Dao Grade techniques through rumors along the Dao Path.

Drawing a deep breath, he looked toward Yang Jinhong's frail figure and waited for what came next.

Yang Jinhong did not keep him in suspense for long. He glanced at him and said, "This technique is called the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill. It is Vajra Temple's secret art, never passed down to outsiders. Once cultivated to the utmost extreme, one becomes an Indestructible Diamond, invincible in supreme hardness. Only those deeply versed in Buddhist teachings can make progress.

"I lacked profound enough Buddhist understanding. After leaving Vajra Temple, I never cultivated it again. Later, however, the Second Boss of Crimson Fire Stronghold, Wang Yuehu, accidentally learned of my identity. That led to what is happening here now."

The temptation of a Dao Grade tome was simply too great.

Yang Jinhong's story had not exceeded Shen Xiu's expectations. Yet no matter who it was, faced with such a treasure trove, they likely could not remain wholly unmoved.

Shen Xiu was startled, but revealed no other expression. Yang Jinhong, facing him all the while, had been observing every movement he made as he spoke.

When he saw Shen Xiu's calm expression and no unusual greed in his eyes, he finally relaxed a little.

"You are a disciple of my martial arts school. There is, after all, a trace of incense-burner fellowship between us. If you help me settle one matter, I will give you this technique."

"What matter?"

"Certainly not murder, arson, or anything that harms heaven and reason."

A faint smile rested at the corner of Yang Jinhong's lips.

"In the residence within my martial arts school, at the very bottom of the wardrobe, there is a peach-red wooden hairpin. When you return this time, find it and deliver it to Qiu Niang at the Forty-Third Courtyard, Tongguang Alley, Evergreen District in the south of the city. Tell her not to wait any longer."

Listening from the side, Shen Xiu felt that an untold story lay hidden behind this as well.

For such an effortless exchange, Shen Xiu nodded without hesitation.

"Azure Dragon Temple outside the city, about one zhang beneath the statue."

Shen Xiu hurriedly committed it to memory, knowing this was where Pavilion Master Yang had hidden the cultivation technique.

"In this life, I made two great mistakes. The first was breaking the precepts and leaving Vajra Temple. The second was falling into the hands of that Second Boss of the Crimson Fire Bandits through my carelessness."

The Crimson Fire Bandits by the bonfire outside seemed to have noticed that there had been no movement here for quite some time. One of the men frowned and walked over.

Shen Xiu hid inside the room. The moment the man stepped through the door, Shen Xiu silently moved forward and crushed his throat.

Yang Jinhong's voice was low. "I do not regret the former. The only thing I regret is the latter."

"Pavilion Master, you do not intend to leave?" Shen Xiu frowned. This Pavilion Master Yang seemed somewhat too indecisive.

Yang Jinhong shook his head at those words. "I know my own condition. Even if I get out, I do not have many days left to live.

"If everything is as you said, then if I do nothing, all the efforts I have made over the past ten years will likely go down the drain in Wang Yuehu's hands. The outcome caused by my own carelessness back then should also be brought to an end by me..."

Yang Jinhong's tone was unexpectedly calm. As he spoke, an eerie vigor surfaced on his face. Like the final flash of a dying candle, he walked toward the door.

It seemed he had used some secret art that consumed his bodily essence, actually restoring his strength.

"I will buy you time. And as for the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill, cultivating it rashly may not necessarily be a good thing. You must decide that for yourself. Now, little brother, watch closely."

Yang Jinhong's aura suddenly trembled. With every step he took, it was as though some power returned to his body, and his lean frame gradually swelled.

A few steps later, just as Yang Jinhong stepped out of the room—

His body had already become full and robust, his blood and vitality surging. His sinews and bones rang together within him, crackling like firecrackers as thunderous sounds coursed through him. His bearing reached its absolute peak.

No one could possibly compare this appearance to the thin, skeletal Yang Jinhong from before.

And you said your cultivation had been crippled...

Shen Xiu was utterly stunned.

The Crimson Fire Bandits in the yard were still drinking. Some were sharpening their blades, their edges gleaming, as though awaiting the arrival of the next fat sheep.

Yang Jinhong's appearance quickly drew the attention of the nearby Crimson Fire Bandits.

A tall, gaunt man stood up, drew the broadsword from his waist, and said in a deep voice, "Where did this old fellow come from? You dare barge alone into Crimson Fire Stronghold? You have quite the dog's gall!"

The figure in the dim light had changed so completely before and after that he did not recognize him at once as Yang Jinhong, whom they had imprisoned for over two years.

The four men around him also rose at his words and closed in on Yang Jinhong, their gazes cold and sinister.

"Too noisy."

Yang Jinhong suddenly swung his left hand. A gust of force shot forth, transforming into a streak of golden light that struck the man in the chest.

The tall, gaunt man at the front was instantly struck in the chest by tremendous force. With a crack, his chest caved in, turning into a bloody mess in the blink of an eye.

He stared at the man in disbelief, slowly tilting backward before collapsing to the ground. His body twitched, and he soon lost all breath.

"Old Zhang?"

The other three Crimson Fire Bandits cried out in shock. They sprang up and lunged at the unfamiliar man, their long blades flashing like streaks of silver silk.

Yang Jinhong darted backward. When their blade lights closed in, he did not evade at all. Layers of golden radiance spread across his skin.

He allowed the Crimson Fire Bandits' blades and swords to strike his body, producing crackling explosions like metal smashing against metal.

The three Crimson Fire Bandits froze in astonishment.

They swung their blades again, slashing diagonally as they lunged forward. Then they kicked off the ground, sending dust flying, twisted their bodies, gritted their teeth, and chopped down at him once more.

Yang Jinhong threw another punch. A golden shadow flashed as immense force blasted out, sending one Crimson Fire Bandit flying far away while clutching his chest.

His chest had caved in. The light in his eyes had already died.

After kicking his legs a few times with all his strength, his body suddenly stiffened, and he lay motionless on the ground.

Their blades could not harm him, yet two brothers had fallen in the blink of an eye. The remaining three Crimson Fire Bandits felt their scalps go numb.

"There is something strange about this man's body! Run!"

The remaining two Crimson Fire Bandits turned and fled toward the great hall within the stronghold.

Only their Village Chief, The Boss, could likely deal with such a bizarre ability. By then, the Crimson Fire Bandits nearby had also noticed his presence.

Yang Jinhong sneered. A surging aura from all directions poured into his body, and after stacking upon itself, his speed grew even faster. He stamped on the ground again, and his figure shot out like an arrow.

His two fists struck both men in the back. They died the instant the blows landed, without the slightest ability to resist.

Watching the Crimson Fire Bandits continuously pour in around him, Yang Jinhong showed no fear. His gaze turned toward the great house in the stronghold, his face calmer than it had ever been.

Just like when he was eighteen, when he had charged into Vajra Temple's Eighteen Bronze Men with nothing but a staff.