In the forest.

At the forest's edge, dense trees towered.

Pei Xuan, bare-chested, stood firm, long hair billowing in the wind, chiseled face focused, eyes sharp.

Each swing of his blade revealed rippling, robust muscles. Beneath sweat-glistened bronze skin, they flexed—perfect, majestic. His aura roared, a beast unleashing all to hunt… Art in motion.

Yet, for all that might, each strike left only faint scratches on the tree… Posing?

Wait—why use a blade to chop trees? Isn't there an axe? Yet he's so focused… Is there a reason?

Noah decided not to approach, calling from afar.

"Elder Pei…"

Words out, he regret hit. Why say it like that?

Hearing a voice, Pei Xuan slung the blade over his shoulder, turned. Seeing who it was, his face lit up, sprinting over. These two days, his blade practice surged. At first, could only fell a wrist-thin tree, but now, a calf-thick one. Sounds modest, not boast-worthy. But his blade skills, compared to when he arrived, were worlds apart. Estimated, he'd doubled in prowess—in just two days! A month like this, wouldn't he be invincible? How could he not be thrilled?

"Manor Lord, forgive my rudeness, not greeting you sooner. Too absorbed in training, missed your approach. What task brings you here?"

Noah steadied himself, asked softly.

"What are you doing?"

Why so awkward? Yesterday, I was bold, commanding… Start over.

"Ahem, ahem… Why use a blade to chop trees?"

…

Sensing the unease, Pei Xuan, unsure of the Manor Lord's intent, laughed heartily, voice booming with vigor.

"Manor Lord, I'm chopping trees for wood. Why a blade? It's easier, and hones my blade skills too."

Pei Xuan's enthusiasm sparked Noah's own masculine spirit, easing the air between them. But those muscles… Tempted to run.

Wait, yesterday I was so imposing… Tried to act normal.

"You're a martial artist, body strong. Even reduced to mortal realm, with muscles like that, how can a few swings not fell this small tree?"

Why ask that? Just check with the System…

While Noah's mind wandered, Pei Xuan's raced. Why's the Manor Lord here? What's his purpose with these questions? That strained expression—what's it mean?

First, called me "Elder Pei"… I'm younger than him, so why "elder"? A deeper meaning? Calling me old? Or just courtesy?

Second, asked what I'm doing… He assigned me to chop trees, so why ask? Do I not look like I'm chopping?

Finally, realized—the Manor Lord's here to reprimand my weakness.

Kneeling on both knees, head bowed to the ground, he bellowed.

"Manor Lord, this junior is incompetent, strength lacking. Please grant me a chance to grow stronger and serve you!"

Seeing the shift, Noah seized the moment, though baffled by Pei Xuan's kneeling. Silently queried the System: Why can't Pei Xuan, a martial general, fell these trees?

System: Trees in the manor, infused with mythical dragon vein energy, have become spirit wood. When used for cooking or fuel, spirit wood yields varied effects. The tree Pei Xuan is chopping is a resilient type, extremely hard to fell. Its effect, when used in cooking, strengthens the physical body.

Noah inhaled sharply, inwardly cursing the System.

How much of this spirit wood is in the manor?

System: Currently, 5 catties total: 3 catties of Iron Birch, 2 catties of Quicksilver Oak.

Glancing at the forest, then at Pei Xuan, still kneeling, Noah stepped forward, helped him up.

"What are you doing? I'm not here to punish you. Been a while since I chopped wood, so I thought I'd fell a few for brewing water.

Come, let's chop together."

Noah gripped the axe—gacha'd from the System last time. Tapped the tree to test its hardness. Solid, unyielding… but felt choppable.

Assumed a stance, swung diagonally. A chunk of bark fell, releasing a refreshing, invigorating scent.

Instinct screamed: Boil this spirit wood for tea, and the body will soar.

Heavenly treasures before him—how could he pass? Excitement surged, like hunting treasure. Mind recalled proper axe technique. Adjusted the blade, Noah swung like a machine, each strike true. Three swings, the tree crashed down.

A fragrant aroma spread.

Turning, saw Pei Xuan, jaw dropped.

"What are you standing there for? Help me split this tree. Finish, and I'll share some. Hurry!"

Two men—one a frail scholar, the other a burly farmer—chopped wood in the forest.

Noah, beaming, one foot on the trunk, lost in the rhythm of swinging, heedless of sky or earth.

Each strike cleaved cleanly, immensely satisfying.

Soon, Noah split the trunk into a dozen even pieces, sweat-soaked, body flushed from exertion. Glanced at Pei Xuan's progress—only to find him staring, eyes dreamy…

He's not chopping? What's he looking at?

Catching Noah's gaze, Pei Xuan snapped awake, rushed over, knelt again, shouting.

"Manor Lord, teach me your wood-chopping way! I'll be forever grateful!"

Noah, baffled, noticed Pei Xuan's blade stuck in a log. No way… Are this world's powerhouses all like this?

"Not sure if blade skills work for chopping, but among weapons, an axe is easiest for trees. Here, try this axe."

Pei Xuan, overjoyed, took the axe, approached a nearby log.

Assumed a stance, mighty, as if to split the heavens.

After tensing, muscles taut, he swung. The blade sank lightly into the wood… and nothing happened.

Noah, observing, judged instinctively.

"You don't understand the Axe Way.

Weapons like blades, swords, crossbows—designed for combat, versatile, deadly. But simple tools like axes, hammers, staves, bows—less flashy, yet their strength is undeniable. Focus on their strengths, like raw power.

When I swing, I use the axe to split wood—its purpose. But you swing as if showing off strength alone.

Understand?"

Pei Xuan, pondering, replied.

"Manor Lord, forgive my ignorance. You split wood with strength. I swing with all my might to split wood. What's the difference?"

…

"Look at the axe in your hand. Its purpose is splitting wood. I need to split wood, so we work as one—I provide force, it provides sharpness.

You just pour strength into swinging, letting the axe do whatever. Simply put, you use it as a tool to flaunt power.

Imagine you're starving, unable to work. Your master gives only water, then demands labor. Can you work?

So, no more questions. Do as I do."

Noah cut the talk. Splitting this tree comes first.

Then, like a seasoned teacher, he guided meticulously—stance, posture, everything.

"Stand like me, swing…"

"What kind of stance is that?"

"Be a vector, driven straight toward the target… Ugh, you don't get it. Just think: you want to split this log, and the axe is your tool.

Try again, like me… There, almost!"

After much coaching, Pei Xuan finally split his first log, ecstatic, rushing to hug Noah, who stopped him. Simulation's a game-changer.

With effort, they finished. Noah, via token, summoned others to haul the wood to the kitchen.

Eyeing the resource pile in the kitchen…

"System, what else in the manor benefits me?"

System: List of manor items with special properties displayed.

Staring at the list—30 items across 12+ pages…

So, the dragon vein transforms everything.

Wonder how valuable these are outside…

"Pei Xuan, been ages since I left the mountain. What's the state of cultivation resources out there?"

Pei Xuan, honest, replied.

"Manor Lord, outside resources pale compared to the manor. This spirit wood? First time I've seen it. Judging its quality and durability, it's high-grade material."

"Oh?"

Outwardly calm, Noah's heart bloomed like spring. Jackpot, jackpot!

"Pei Xuan, truth is, I'm not from this era. My strength remains, but unusable. Forcing it risks clashing with this world's laws. So, I plan to cultivate anew, using this world's methods…"