Sensing the extraordinary nature of the three small flying swords in Su Xie’s hand, True Person Purple Sword felt a premonition of danger. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and unleashed his most powerful sword strike.
Facing this ultimate killing intent, in that split second, a flash of ferocity flickered in Su Xie’s eyes.
"Former master, since you have come, why continue to wander here?"
"Return quickly! Follow me to strike down the enemy!"
Su Xie took a deep breath, looked up at the massive, severed Heavenly Trench, and felt the final lingering trace of power pulsing rapidly.
This residual force, though eons had passed and it was but a mere fraction, was a sword aura that Su Xie himself had accidentally unleashed back when he was the Devouring Heaven Dragon Emperor!
Even so, it carried an aura of immortality!
As Su Xie called out, the power remaining within the massive Heavenly Trench erupted with a roar. As if recognizing its master, it shot out toward Su Xie!
"A Spirit Mansion Realm expert, can you withstand this sword?"
Su Xie waved his hand, imbuing that residual power into one of the small flying swords, and flicked his finger.
*Hum!*
An overbearing, peerless sword might soared into the sky!
Brilliant golden light rapidly engulfed the earth, and the endless void began to detonate with countless explosions!
"This sword might! Not good! Run!"
Sensing the irresistible power, the expression of True Person Purple Sword changed drastically. Just as he was about to pull back and flee, the small flying sword expanded rapidly.
It transformed into a giant blade that blotted out the sun. Augmented by Su Xie’s residual power, the winds and clouds surged, erupting with a glorious divine might!
"Slash!" Su Xie uttered a single word.
*Rumble—*
Suddenly, the heavens and earth changed color, and thunder roared!
This strike was like an apocalypse. The terrifying sword aura swept across tens of thousands of miles, as if intending to annihilate everything!
"This sword strike!"
Zi Ling’s gaze was blank. She screamed like a madwoman, "This is impossible! He is only a sword cultivator; how could he unleash a strike of this level?"
"That aura belongs to Ning Xiaoyao, the number one swordsman of the Desolate Country! Ning Xiaoyao gave him this technique!"
Liu Beifeng gritted his teeth, never imagining that even Ning Xiaoyao had become involved in this battle.
"Martial Sword Art, annihilate!"
Facing the heaven-shaking power, True Person Purple Sword had no time to escape. With a ferocious expression, he unleashed his strongest move!
However, his sword technique was shattered in mid-air as if it were nothing before that strike!
*Boom!*
The next moment, True Person Purple Sword vomited blood and was instantly obliterated by the sword strike that spanned the horizon!
"Father! *Pfft!*"
Zi Ling’s eyes were bloodshot. She wanted to kill Su Xie to avenge him, but she was swept away and killed mid-air by the terrifying ripples of the sword might.
This strike achieved total dominance over the heavens and earth!
The remaining power swept across the sky, and wherever the ripples reached, the snow-covered ground exploded, matching the force of a landslide!
*Aaaah—*
Countless soldiers of the Liang Kingdom had their armor shattered in an instant, and the snow beneath their feet erupted into a massive avalanche, rolling and surging toward them!
"Retreat! Everyone retreat!"
Watching the ripples of sword might sweep toward him, Liu Beifeng roared in madness. He stumbled and was instantly covered by the avalanche, buried within the wake of the sword.
In an instant, this battlefield felt as if the sky had collapsed. Countless Liang soldiers were wiped out together!
Blood splattered everywhere!
In just a few breaths, under the sweep of the sword might, the Liang army was decimated. Blood flowed like a river, and corpses littered the field!
Looking out, one could no longer tell if the battlefield was covered in snow or blood!
"One sword breaks thirty-six thousand armors!"
"Turning the tide and saving the crumbling structure—this sword strike! He... he actually cut down thirty-six thousand Liang soldiers!"
On Heavenly Trench Pass, Elder Bai scanned the battlefield with his divine sense. He looked at Su Xie with dazed eyes, his old face suddenly streaming with tears.
In Su Xie, he seemed to see the peerless demeanor of Old Man Ning from years past!
Although this strike was a means given to Su Xie by Old Man Ning, being able to trigger such power required one’s own extremely profound attainment in Sword Dao. If the attainment was insufficient, one would not only fail to trigger the sword but would likely be backlashed to death just by attempting to sacrifice it.
This was undoubtedly Old Man Ning’s way of giving Su Xie a test in disguise!
Meanwhile, in a distant part of the Desolate Country:
An elderly beggar lying on his side in the void took a drunken sip of Fire Spirit Wine, then sensed a disturbance. When he looked toward Heavenly Trench Pass, his expression turned to one of surprise.
"Haha, this kid is actually my disciple. To be able to master that sword to such a level of power—it’s simply incredible!"
Old Man Ning was stunned. He knew the capabilities of his own sword strike better than anyone—at most, it could break ten thousand armors. He had not expected Su Xie to unleash power well beyond that!
"Young Su, I am looking forward to it more and more. I hope we can meet again in the Northern Domain!"
Old Man Ning smiled with satisfaction, then stepped out of the Desolate Country without looking back.
***
At Heavenly Trench Pass, Su Xie was quite satisfied with the power of the strike. After all, the power of Ning’s sword alone would not have reached thirty-six thousand. This strike had been augmented by that lingering trace of his own true power from the massive Heavenly Trench!
If he couldn't achieve such power, he would be unworthy of having been the Devouring Heaven Dragon Emperor.
"Soldiers of the Desolate Country, move out of the pass at once! Follow me to clear the battlefield!" Su Xie ordered, his voice carrying an inherent authority.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The gates of Heavenly Trench Pass swung open, and the garrison responded. Witnessing Su Xie’s god-like demeanor, the morale of the countless soldiers surged.
The remaining twenty thousand Liang soldiers were routed instantly and harvested! After all, the pass already held twenty thousand troops, which was more than enough to sweep up the survivors.
"Su Xie, you created a miracle!" Qin Ying, cradled in Su Xie’s arms, whispered with a slight flutter of her eyelashes.
"It was just luck, relying on the means given to me by Old Man Ning." Su Xie did not grow arrogant. He gently set Qin Ying down and produced several recovery pills.
Taking the pills, Qin Ying’s pretty face flushed slightly as she consumed them.
Just then, a withered figure suddenly surged from among the remnants of the Liang army!
"Brat, die!"
It was the one-armed old man who had been struck by Su Xie’s Demon Dragon Grudge. Knowing he was doomed, he had been waiting for an opening to take Su Xie with him to Huangquan!
"Not good, he’s going to self-destruct!" Elder Bai’s face changed as he sensed the violent energy emanating from the old man.
"Hahaha! Brat, come to hell with me!" The one-armed man laughed hideously, his eyes bloodshot. Just as his hand was about to grab Su Xie—
*Swish!*
Suddenly, three golden streams of light descended from the sky! They were three elders in imperial robes, their presence supremely majestic.
"Liang cultivator, do not act so presumptuously in our Desolate Country!" The lead elder shouted, slapping his hand toward the sky.
In an instant, a vast, overwhelming force roared down upon the one-armed man!
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Before the man could even touch Su Xie, he was crushed into dust on the spot!
"Three Spirit Mansion Realm experts?" Sensing the remaining ripples, Su Xie pulled Qin Ying’s slender wrist and retreated.
Watching this subtle gesture, the three elders exchanged glances and laughed, "Not bad, kid. You know how to look after others."
"Sirs, please, do not tease us," Qin Ying said, her face reddening further from being held by Su Xie. She bowed her head, allowing her long hair to cascade down.
"You... let go," she whispered, her voice as light as a mosquito.
"I was being rash." Su Xie scratched his head, realizing the situation, and released his hand.
"It’s... it’s okay." Qin Ying looked up at Su Xie with a spark in her eyes, then introduced him: "Commander Su, these three are elders from the Royal family in our Imperial Capital."
"We arrived late; it has been hard on you all." The three elders apologized first, then looked at Su Xie with great interest. "Thirty-six thousand armors broken with one sword. We didn't expect our Desolate Country to produce a monster like you. What is your name, boy?"
"Seniors, I am Su Xie. This sword borrowed another’s strength; it cannot be considered true monster-level talent," Su Xie replied with a bow.
"Hmm, good. Unarrogant and calm. In terms of character, you are a good seed," one elder nodded.
The leader, who seemed to have known already, looked at Su Xie and said, "Young Su, although this strike borrowed another’s means, ordinary people could not possess such profound Sword Dao attainments. That madman Ning’s sword will is not something just anyone can trigger."
"Tell us, what is your relationship with that madman?" the elder asked with a smile.
"Old Man Ning is my master," Su Xie nodded. Now that they were master and disciple, there was no need to hide it.
"Boy, that settles it. Do not belittle yourself. That madman hasn't taken an apprentice in all these years. Being able to catch his eye is proof enough of your extraordinary nature."
The elder waved his sleeve and smiled, growing more impressed the more he looked at Su Xie. After consulting with the other two for a moment, he flipped his palm to reveal a golden token.
"Young Su, would you like to join our Imperial Capital’s Royal Martial Academy? If you wish, you are welcome at any time. Furthermore, with this token, you can enter without assessment and become an inner-circle disciple, enjoying Grade A cultivation resources every month."
"What do you think, young friend?" another elder asked, waiting expectantly. If such a genius could enter their academy, it would be a blessing for the Royal family.
"Seniors, please allow me some time to consider," Su Xie said, accepting the token and thanking them with a bow.
"Very well. We shall await you in the Imperial Capital." The three elders nodded. After handling the aftermath of the battle, they tore open the void and departed.
The battle at Heavenly Trench Pass had officially ended. As for what would happen to the Liang Kingdom, that was not Su Xie’s concern.
The next morning, Su Xie planned to leave for the Imperial Capital.
***
Before departing, Su Xie looked at Qin Ying and smiled, "Give me your spear."
"Alright." Qin Ying looked confused but handed him the red-tasseled spear.
Su Xie laughed, lifted the spear, and swept it across the snowy ground. *Boom!* His strike was like thunder, erupting with intense cold light and whipping up a mountain of snow mist!
In Qin Ying’s eyes, this strike was of an unprecedented strength! Especially seeing the energy erupting from the spear, even Qin Ying, a spear cultivator herself, was shocked: "This is Spear Qi? You are also a spear cultivator?"
"I suppose so. I am slightly proficient in Spear Dao." After Su Xie spoke, he swept the spear out again, his speed becoming sharper and faster, like a thunderbolt. The cold light galloped across the snow, and the void around them distorted with every inch of his strike.
Watching his fluid, ultimate spear technique, Qin Ying’s beautiful eyes shone, fixed on him as if receiving a great revelation.
"What is this spear technique? It’s so overbearing!" she asked, amazed, as he suddenly retracted the spear.
Su Xie smiled faintly and returned it, saying, "This is the 'Startling Cloud Spear Art.' When mastered, one can develop Spear Intent."
"What? You can develop Spear Intent?" Qin Ying gasped. If true, this technique was a priceless treasure for any spear cultivator. Once Spear Intent was formed, breaking through to the level of a Spear Dao Grandmaster was within reach!
Seeing her lovely face, Su Xie smiled, "Want to learn?"
"I do." Qin Ying looked at him, her voice soft. "But are you really going to teach me a treasure-level technique like this?"
"Of course. We are friends, and I am not primarily a spear cultivator; keeping it to myself would be a waste." Su Xie nodded. He truly admired this woman who could hold her own against any man. Over their time together, his fondness for her had grown, and he hoped she would reach greater heights in her craft.
"Are we... just friends?" Qin Ying murmured, then smiled brightly. "Then teach me. Afterward, I will give you something as well."
Before long, Su Xie had passed on the mental formulas and his own insights into the Spear Dao. As he practiced on the snow, Qin Ying knelt nearby, holding a pot of fine nectar wine, watching him in a trance.
Amidst the falling snow, flakes landed on her dark hair, adding to her mysterious beauty.
Eventually, Su Xie noticed her gaze. "What? Is there something on my face?" He tossed the spear aside and sat down next to her.
"No, I just think you’re amazing. You can do everything." Qin Ying shook herself back to reality and looked at his handsome face with a mischievous smile. "I believe that once you reach the Imperial Capital, you will become famous throughout the world before long."
"Don't move..." Su Xie reached out and brushed the snow from her hair. She froze, her body trembling slightly.
"Good wine." Su Xie took the pot from her and took a sip. "The weather at the pass is truly bitter; this wine warms the body well."
"You... I just drank from that!" Qin Ying glared at him, snatched the pot back, and laughed, "Close your eyes. I have something for you too, a return gift for the lesson."
"What is so mysterious?" Su Xie asked, curious. Prompted by her, he slowly closed his eyes.
"Hold out your hand." Qin Ying tapped him and turned to practice the spear in the snow.
"Hmm?" Su Xie opened his eyes to see a red token in his palm, engraved with the words "Northern Martial County Prince’s Mansion," looking immensely majestic.
Without waiting for his questions, Qin Ying, having tied her hair into a ponytail, practiced her spear with boundless spirit. Su Xie watched, eyes sharp. He hadn't expected her to have such natural talent for the spear; after only seeing him demonstrate it once or twice, she was already grasping the entry-level techniques and showing faint signs of Spear Intent. Given time, she would surely become a Spear Dao Grandmaster!
"Su Xie, be careful when you enter the Imperial Capital. It is a place where dragons and snakes hide, unlike our Northern Martial County. There, families, noble struggles, and sect interests rule."
"The token I gave you is a special one from my father’s mansion. If you encounter trouble from families, show it; it will remove unnecessary hurdles."
"Also, your position as Commander at Heavenly Trench Pass is still reserved for you. If one day you wish to serve in the army again, come find me."
With that, she blushed, retrieved her spear, and headed back toward the pass.
"A special token?" Su Xie looked at the token and then at her retreating figure, his expression turning curious. He didn't dwell on it, bowed toward the pass, and entered the spirit-horse carriage she had prepared for him.
By the next day, he had reached a massive city.
This city, named Spirit Water City, was the closest major city to the Imperial Capital. It was bustling and far larger than Northern Ridge City. Tired from his long journey, he decided to stay here for a while to collect materials and secure some hidden trump cards for his arrival in the capital.
***
After all, his current foundation was pitifully weak.
Upon entering Spirit Water City, Su Xie went directly to the local branch of the Xuan Pavilion, using up all his silver to purchase a large quantity of medicinal ingredients for alchemy.