Su Xie furrowed his brows, instantly understanding the reason behind Su Xiaofeng's distress.
In the original owner's memories, there was indeed an arranged betrothal.
Back then, the Su Family still had his parents.
In his impression, his parents had apparently saved the life of the Huyan Family's patriarch during a trip to the Imperial Capital.
Combined with the fact that he possessed a Heavenly-Grade Spiritual Meridian at the time—making him a once-in-a-generation genius—the Huyan Family patriarch had acted on a whim and betrothed his young granddaughter to him in a formal agreement.
Now, the Huyan Family was calling off the engagement at this very moment.
They must have learned that he had lost his Heavenly-Grade Spiritual Meridian and become trash.
Even so, throughout the Desolate Country, a man being jilted by a woman was undoubtedly a huge joke.
At the very least, if the other party wanted to terminate the engagement, they should have at least sent someone over.
Sending a letter of annulment directly was undoubtedly an insult to the Su Family, showing such contempt that they couldn't even be bothered to talk face-to-face.
"Xiao Xie, don't be angry. If this engagement is broken, let it be. With your talent, are you afraid of lacking women who would gladly marry you?"
Seeing Su Xie's silent expression, Su Yu immediately offered a comforting smile.
"Sister Yu, in this world where people judge others by their status, I don't object to calling off the engagement. But this engagement must be called off by us, the Su Family."
Su Xie gave a faint smile, showing that he didn't take it to heart. "When the time comes, I will personally go to the Huyan Family to demand an explanation."
"Xie'er, you've grown up. The Huyan Family is now a prominent clan in the Imperial Capital. When you go there, remember to make protecting yourself your top priority in all things."
Su Xiaofeng patted Su Xie on the shoulder, reminding him with a gratifying smile.
He knew that Su Xie had reached the age to go out and make his own way in the world.
After all, the True Dragon of his Su Family could not stay forever in this tiny, shallow pool.
It was time for the dormant dragon to emerge from the abyss!
Chapter 23: Setting off for Tiance Pass!
"By the way, Uncle, where on earth did my mom and dad go?"
Before leaving, Su Xie intended to ask clearly.
Su Xiaofeng nodded. "Xie'er, it's time you knew."
"Back then, your father, Su Qingshan, was an peerless genius of our Su Family. After venturing out into the world, he met your mother, and later gave birth to you and your elder sister, Su Ning. During your sister's early childhood, however, it was discovered that she possessed the Calamity Divine Body."
With that, Su Xiaofeng's expression inevitably took on a complicated tint.
"The Calamity Divine Body?"
Hearing this, Su Xie furrowed his brow.
He naturally knew of this divine body; it was one of the supreme physiques in the world, granting exceptionally peerless talent, a cultivation speed several times greater than ordinary people, and immunity to both water and fire.
However, heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Those who possessed such a physique were plagued every month by a terrifying force of calamity. Once it flared up, life became worse than death.
At the same time, every bearer of the Calamity Divine Body would not live past the age of thirty.
"Did my parents go out to find a way to break the Calamity Divine Body for my sister?"
Su Xie asked with a solemn gaze. Faced with such a terrifying physique, even he, the Devouring Heaven Dragon Emperor, found it somewhat difficult to handle.
Perhaps, once he reached sufficient strength, he could try using the Devouring Heaven Formula.
"Yes, they went to a certain place beyond the Northern Domain. That place is very mysterious; your parents didn't reveal its name, leaving me only a clue."
"Xie'er, is that jade pendant your mother left you still around?"
Su Xiaofeng asked.
"It is."
Su Xie immediately flipped his hand, and an exquisite jade pendant appeared.
Only, this jade pendant was somewhat dim, having had all the spiritual energy contained within it completely devoured by Su Xie earlier when he was fighting to protect himself.
"Your mother said to take this jade pendant and give it to a senior named Old Man Fengyun, and he will tell you all about this."
Su Xiaofeng reminded him.
"Old Man Fengyun?"
Su Xie muttered to himself, immediately committing the name to memory.
Right at that moment.
Qin Ying walked over, accompanied by Elder Bai.
"Congratulations to young friend Su on breaking through to the Xiantian Realm."
Elder Bai smiled and congratulated Su Xie.
"The two of you, coming here this time—could it be for the matter concerning Tiance Pass?"
Su Xie cupped his fists slightly, cutting straight to the chase.
"Young Master Su, you already know?"
Qin Ying's gaze narrowed.
"Indeed. Before leaving, Old Man Ning mentioned this matter to me. Even though Old Man Ning drank a pot of your wine that day, I will pay off this wine debt for him."
Su Xie glanced at Qin Ying and smiled faintly.
"Then I must trouble Young Master Su. After this matter passes, the Desolate Country imperial family will certainly reward you handsomely."
Qin Ying looked at Su Xie with a complicated expression, then lingered her gaze on him for a couple more seconds.
Elder Bai took a deep breath. Although he didn't know why Old Man Ning had handed such a heavy responsibility to Su Xie, given the current situation at Tiance Pass, he had no choice but to choose to trust the latter.
After all, Tiance Pass was a long distance away from the Desolate Country imperial palace; even the great powerhouses of the royal family could not cross over so quickly.
"Young Master Su, when do we set off?"
Qin Ying gently bit her lip.
Su Xie thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow morning, I'll wait for you outside the Su Family gates."
Before leaving, he had already checked the map to the Imperial Capital, and Tiance Pass happened to be a necessary route on the way there.
However, before that, he needed to make some preparations.
After sending Qin Ying and the other away, Su Xie recast the Tier 3 formation, the "Mystic Wood Array," upgrading it into a Tier 4 formation to serve as the Su Family's protective clan array.
Immediately afterward, he deposited all the silver he had earned from selling items at the Xuan Pavilion into the Su Family's treasury, and refined a few precious pills for Pavilion Master Chen, ensuring that Pavilion Master Chen could look after the Su Family during the days he was away.
With Pavilion Master Chen acting as a guarantor, Su Xie could finally leave the Su Family with complete peace of mind.
...
The next day, early morning.
Outside the Su Family gates, a carriage was already parked.
The carriage was pulled by two spiritual steeds, boasting quite an impressive speed.
Just as he was boarding the carriage, Su Xiaofeng walked over and patted Su Xie on the shoulder. "Xie'er, be careful in all things. The outside world is not like home; if you're tired, just come home. Although our Su Family is not a powerful safe haven, whatever happens, we will face it together with you."
"Xiao Xie, traveling outside, you'll definitely need silver. This is some savings I put aside with my dad, along with some osmanthus pastry. I remember you like osmanthus pastry the most, and it's made by the Su Family's Su Bakery—you won't be able to eat this outside."
Su Yu handed over a package and gently hugged Su Xie, her eyes full of reluctance to part.
"Uncle, Sister Yu..."
Su Xie's expression was quite complicated, his heart warming slightly.
In his past life, before he became the Devouring Heaven Dragon Emperor, he had been an orphan who fought wild dogs for food since childhood, and he had never experienced the warmth of family affection.
"Living this life anew, not only must I return to my peak, but I will also protect those I wish to protect. Anyone who stands in my way shall die!"
Su Xie made a firm resolution in his heart, and only then did he board the carriage amidst the farewell gazes of the Su Family members.
In an instant.
Swish, swish—
Accompanied by the sound of spiritual steeds treading the air, Su Xie and the others had already flown into the firmament above Beiling City.
"Young Master Su, this is the information currently gathered by Tiance Pass. Please take a look and familiarize yourself with the current battle situation."
Inside the carriage, Qin Ying looked at Su Xie and handed over a bamboo scroll.
"The State of Liang is invading?"
Su Xie glanced at it, his gaze instantly turning solemn.
The country closest to the Desolate Country was the State of Liang, which shared an immediate border with them.
Over the years, the conflicts between the two countries had continuously escalated, resulting in battles of various sizes until they had become mortal enemies locked in an irreconcilable situation.
"Hmm? Currently, the troop strength available at Tiance Pass is only twenty thousand, while the invading Liang army this time reaches fifty thousand troops?"
Su Xie continued reading down, his gaze flickering.
"Young Master Su, this time I have transferred the Great Desolate Heavy Cavalry over. Although there are only three thousand armored riders, it is enough to deal with the Liang forces."
Qin Ying took a breath and quietly watched Su Xie.
"The Great Desolate Heavy Cavalry?"
Su Xie smiled faintly. He had also heard of this troop; it was said that every single member of the Great Desolate Heavy Cavalry was brave and skilled in battle, forming a fierce army of tigers and wolves.
"What worries us this time are the great powerhouses of the State of Liang."
Qin Ying sighed softly.
Elder Bai explained, "Before this, I received news that supposedly among the State of Liang this time, there is an existence above the Spirit Platform Realm coming to breach our Tiance Pass!"
"Above the Spirit Platform Realm? Could it be a Spirit Mansion Realm existence?"
Hearing this, Su Xie narrowed his eyes slightly. Faced with such a major existence, no wonder Qin Ying and the others were so worried.
You must know that throughout Northern Prefecture, the number of existences who possessed the Spirit Mansion Realm could be counted on one hand.
One had to admit that the military camp of the State of Liang was dead set on breaking this Tiance Pass.
"Young Friend Su, did Old Man Ning leave you any means to counter the enemy before he departed?"
Elder Bai asked hoarsely, his tone still revealing some unease.
After all, this was the moment of life and death for their Tiance Pass, concerning the survival of tens of thousands of garrison soldiers.
Once the pass was breached, not only would Tiance Pass be occupied by the enemy and the gateway of the Desolate Country lost, but the ones who would die were the tens of millions of ordinary people in the cities near Tiance Pass.
"I do have means. But rest assured, no matter how perilous this battle is, with me here, this pass will not be breached."
Su Xie's expression remained as calm as ancient well water, and he immediately gave them a pill of reassurance.
This wasn't him boasting.
In his previous life, as the Devouring Heaven Dragon Emperor, he had experienced countless apocalyptic wars, commanded vast legions of gods and demons, and fought across the heavens with rarely a defeat.
Even without the heaven-shaking and earth-shattering combat power he once possessed, his ability to command troops and deploy formations still remained intact!
Chapter 24: Ambushed midway, the one-armed old man abruptly appears
Upon hearing these words from Su Xie, Elder Bai finally felt completely at ease.
However.
Just as they were thirty miles away from Tiance Pass,
Boom!
An incomparably sharp sword Qi slashed horizontally through the air!
Hiss, hiss—
The two spiritual steeds outside the carriage were instantly startled, rearing their front hooves and violently stomping down into the void!
With that stomp!
The carriage trailing behind them suffered a violent shock!
"Not good, someone is ambushing us!"
Feeling the fluctuations emanating from afar, Su Xie's expression turned cold. He was the first to slice open the carriage roof, fiercely stepping onto the top of the swaying carriage!
Qin Ying and Elder Bai exchanged glances, followed right after and rapidly landed on the ground!
Boom!
With a slash of a sword, the carriage was completely destroyed, and even the surrounding void produced a series of cracks!
"A sword cultivator?"
Qin Ying steadied her footing on the ground and involuntarily raised her eyes to scan the distant firmament.
"No, this sword Qi—it's likely reached the level of a Sword Dao Grandmaster!"
Elder Bai looked at the sword Qi fluctuations in the void, his expression extremely grave.
You must know that the strength of a Sword Dao Grandmaster was enough to rival a powerhouse of the Spirit Platform Realm!
"Looks like they came for you two."
Su Xie landed lightly on his toes, touching the ground as the sword Qi in his hand instantly released.
"Interesting. I didn't expect to actually meet a sword cultivator here."
In the distant firmament, a purple-robed woman abruptly appeared, followed by dozens of men in black behind her.
Su Xie narrowed his eyes slightly.
This purple-robed woman was young, stepping on a giant python with blood-red eyes that constantly flickered its forked tongue. She held a cyan longsword, looking exceptionally arrogant and overbearing.
"You must be people from the State of Liang, right?"
Qin Ying gripped her crimson-tasseled spear, staring at the purple-robed woman with a deep voice.
"Care what country I'm from? You just need to know that we're the ones who came to kill you!"
The purple-robed woman spoke arrogantly, stamping her foot fiercely.
Roar, roar!
The giant python beneath her instantly flashed crimson in its eyes, opened its blood-red maw, and lunged to devour Qin Ying.
"County Princess, watch out! It's a Tier 3 ferocious beast, the Blood Flame Python!"
Elder Bai shouted loudly, about to make a move.
The dozens of men in black in the distance rapidly landed, erupting with an unstoppable might as they swept in to kill Elder Bai.
"What? All of them at the Peak of Xiantian Realm?"
Elder Bai's expression was one of shock, never expecting the State of Liang to be willing to deploy such a lineup just to ambush them midway.
Bang!
In a flash, Elder Bai quickly engaged them in combat, instantly unable to free up his hands again.
As for Qin Ying, the spear in her hand erupted with ultimate cold light, fighting the Blood Flame Python.
"A spear cultivator? Quite interesting."
The purple-robed woman glanced disdainfully at Qin Ying, then looked at Su Xie, the corners of her mouth curling up. "However, what interests me more is still you, fellow."
"Sword cultivator, go to hell!"
The next moment, the purple-robed woman raised her sword, cutting across the void to slash at Su Xie's head.
Clang!
Su Xie executed a sword strike, colliding head-on with her blade.
The dual swords clashed, sword Qi churning and wildly sweeping across the entire area!
After a mere single exchange,
Su Xie took a step back, smiled faintly at the purple-robed woman, and said, "A Sword Dao Grandmaster? Not much to speak of after all."
"Dammit!"
The purple-robed woman retreated dozens of steps in succession, her entire arm numbed by the shock.
Having immersed herself in the Sword Dao for so many years, this was the first time she had ever fallen into a disadvantageous position in swordsmanship—and her opponent was merely a sword cultivator as well.
"Die!"
The purple-robed woman shouted angrily, the sword Qi in her hand growing increasingly sharp, her striking speed accelerating as if she wanted to cut through chaos with a sharp knife and strike Su Xie down.
"Your sword is too slow."
Faced with the purple-robed woman's rapid onslaught, Su Xie sneered with contempt, instantly executing the Cloud-Crossing Step to drive his speed to the absolute limit.
At the same time, his striking speed flashed out like lightning.
With a loud bang!
Before the purple-robed woman's sword could even touch Su Xie, it was fiercely knocked away by a horizontal slash from him.
"Too slow. Is this even worthy of being called a Sword Dao Grandmaster?"
Su Xie smiled faintly. Without waiting for the purple-robed woman to react, another thunder-like sword strike slashed toward her head.
"Maniac, you deserve to die!"
Driven mad with fury, the purple-robed woman rapidly formed seals with both hands, instantly causing a golden ancient bell to materialize before her.
Dong—
Su Xie's sword slashed against it, producing a resounding chime of a great bell.
"Azure-Red Sword!"
With an angry shout, the purple-robed woman seized the opportunity. Another sword appeared in her hand, bursting forth with a peerless sword radiance.
"Sword radiance, you say?"
Su Xie sneered as sword radiance erupted from his hand as well, rapidly clashing and churning against her sword radiance: "Pardon me, I have it too."
"This is impossible! How can you unleash sword radiance?!"
Seeing Su Xie's calm and composed demeanor, the purple-robed woman was utterly astounded, abruptly retreating backward.
You must know that a sword cultivator capable of unleashing sword radiance had essentially reached the realm of a Sword Dao Grandmaster!
Immediately after, she stared icily at Su Xie: "You're merely a kid in the Xiantian Realm. With such a weak level of strength, how could you generate sword radiance?!"
"You can't possibly be a Sword Dao Grandmaster!"
Jealousy stained the purple-robed woman's expression. Looking at Su Xie's appearance, he clearly wasn't even twenty years old.
She refused to believe that there was anyone in this world younger than her who was a Sword Dao Grandmaster!
"There are people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens. Remember, when practicing the sword, the biggest taboo is self-righteousness!"
With those words, Su Xie slashed out with another sword.
This sword was so fast that the purple-robed woman panicked, and she was fiercely stabbed in her left shoulder.
"You dare stab me? Elder Chen, kill him!"
The purple-robed woman formed a hand seal, sending a talisman flying that erupted with terrifying power and violently knocked Su Xie back.
"Interesting. You certainly have quite a few life-saving trump cards on you."
Su Xie glanced at the rippling void in the distance, his gaze turning cold as he directly brandished the Sword Silence World.
Right as the purple-robed woman's pupils constricted,
"Scumbag, if you dare kill her, this old man will slaughter your entire clan!"
Abruptly, a deep and booming voice resounded from afar.
Following that, an extremely terrifying force blasted toward Su Xie like a bolt of lightning.
Rumble, rumble—
Su Xie coughed up a mouthful of blood, his aura plunged into infinite chaos, and his entire body violently crashed into a collapsing mountain.
"Young Friend Su, are you alright?"
At this moment, Elder Bai had already dealt with the men in black and was rapidly rushing over to Su Xie's side.
Su Xie nodded, immediately swallowing a recovery pill. A fierce, violent glint flashed in his eyes as he looked into the distance.
It was a one-armed old man with a gloomy gaze, his aura fully unleashed, exuding an overbearing, domineering aura as if he alone ruled the heavens and earth.
"The one-armed old man of the State of Liang?"
After flicking the Blood Flame Python away with her spear, Qin Ying quickly arrived by Su Xie's side, casting an icy gaze toward the opposing camp.
"Heh, it's me. Northern Prefecture Princess, right? Today, all of you shall be buried here!"
The one-armed old man's voice was rampant. Arriving beside the purple-robed woman, he said, "Young miss, step aside for a moment. These fellows will be dead soon enough."
Chapter 25: Unleashing the Demonic Dragon's Grievance
"Elder Chen, wait! Keep that brat alive—I want to tear him into ten thousand pieces!"
The purple-robed woman looked at Su Xie and suddenly changed her mind, her gaze filled with malice.
"Yes, young miss!"
The one-armed old man cackled hideously, walking step by step toward Su Xie and the others.
"A Quasi-Spirit Mansion Realm cultivator?"
Su Xie's gaze narrowed, the violence in his eyes flashing even brighter.
"County Princess, Young Friend Su, run quickly! I'll hold this old man off!"
Elder Bai's expression was grave as he formed hand seals with both hands, unleashing a martial skill.
"Overestimating your capabilities!"
Spitting out a mouthful of phlegm with a cold crunch, the one-armed old man threw a gloomy palm strike, tearing the surrounding void apart.
A terrifying gale of force blasted out!
All of Elder Bai's offensive momentum was instantly shattered. He was fiercely slapped across the face, coughing up a mouthful of blood as he staggered and was sent flying backward.
"Haha, our Elder Chen is a formidable powerhouse at the Quasi-Spirit Mansion Realm! Don't let his missing arm fool you—his actual combat power is no less than that of ordinary Quasi-Spirit Mansion Realm powerhouses!"
The purple-robed woman stepped on the giant python, the corners of her mouth curling up in the posture of a victor.
Seeing the one-armed old man approaching unhurriedly, looking at Su Xie as if sizing up his prey, Su Xie couldn't help sneering: "I actually think your Elder Chen should change his title to the Armless Old Man. What do you think?"
"Courting death!"
Hearing this, the one-armed old man was thoroughly enraged, unleashing another terrifying palm strike toward Su Xie.
However.
This time, Su Xie did not dodge at all, instead charging straight forward to meet the attack!
"Young Master Su!"