The silver-armored woman frowned slightly. In the past few days, without formidable experts stationed at the border, the army's morale would likely collapse.
"County Princess, I have some friendship with the Branch Master of the Xuan Pavilion here in Beiling City. If he can introduce us, perhaps the Xuan Pavilion branches in the cities near Tianjian Pass will send some powerful experts to help," the white-robed elder said helplessly.
The region where they currently were was called the Northern Domain.
Within the Northern Domain, numerous nations stood side by side, and the Desolate Country was one of them.
The Xuan Pavilion was a renowned major faction in the Northern Domain, with branches spread across the cities of various nations.
As for Tianjian Pass, it was a vital fortress located near Beiling City. It was of utmost importance to their Desolate Country and must not be lost.
"Very well."
The silver-armored woman nodded, and the two of them left the alley.
……
After parting ways with Old Man Ning, Su Xie abruptly unleashed the breakthrough he had been suppressing, triggering a deep rumble!
"As expected of Fire Spirit Wine!"
Feeling the changes in his own strength, Su Xie was thoroughly satisfied.
Now, amplified by the Fire Spirit Wine, he had reached Houtian Layer 8!
Such strength was already comparable to top-tier experts in Beiling City.
At the same time, he had concocted seven or eight Qi Gathering Pills in the alley, which were more than enough to fetch a good price at the Xuan Pavilion.
Just as he was about to enter the Xuan Pavilion:
"You trash, stop right there!"
At that moment, a sharp-featured, monkey-cheeked man approached with a group of thugs.
"Hmm?"
Su Xie glanced at the man and immediately recognized him.
This fellow was Mo Hu, a direct descendant of the Mo Family, one of the four great families of Beiling City.
"Su Xie, who would have thought that after the turmoil in the Su Family, a piece of trash like you would still manage to survive? What an absolute miracle!"
Mo Hu wore a sarcastic expression, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Tsk, tsk, trash is trash. So what if you managed to survive by sheer luck? According to intelligence obtained by my Mo Family, after your Su Family's infighting, you suffered heavy casualties and your overall strength plummeted. It probably won't be long before you're kicked out of the ranks of Beiling City's four great families!"
"When that happens, whether a piece of trash like you can even walk out of Beiling City alive will be a big question!"
The other Mo Family disciples behind Mo Hu jeered mockingly, each of them radiating a strong sense of superiority.
You must know that in the past, this Su Xie, blessed with a Heavenly Grade Spiritual Vein, was the most dazzling genius in Beiling City, someone even they had to look up to.
Now, they were all dying to step on him while he was down!
"Haha! Su Xie, you piece of trash, if you crawl between this young master's legs today, once your Su Family collapses, this young master might just take you in as a dog to watch the gate and guard the cour—cour—ah, ah, ah!"
Before Mo Hu could finish speaking, Su Xie slammed a punch into his chest, sending him flying backward.
Looking at Mo Hu, who was now lying on the ground on the verge of death like a paralyzed stray dog, the expressions of the Mo Family disciples changed drastically.
Immediately after, they surged toward Su Xie with furious intent to kill.
Sensing the thick murderous intent radiating from these Mo Family disciples, Su Xie's expression turned cold, without a shred of hesitation.
Toward those who sought to kill him, he always paid back an eye for an eye!
Boom!
Su Xie leaped forward and threw a punch straight at the incoming Mo Family disciples.
The tyrannical punch force reverberated endlessly, ruthlessly smashing those Mo Family disciples to the ground, killing them instantly!
"This is impossible!"
"Didn't this trash lose his spiritual vein? Why does he still have such strength?!"
Seeing Su Xie's terrifying prowess, the remaining Mo Family disciples were filled with fear and frantically retreated.
"Die!"
A fierce glint flashed in Su Xie's eyes as he continued his onslaught of punches.
"Stop right there! Causing trouble in front of my Xuan Pavilion is strictly prohibited. Violators will be executed without mercy!"
Suddenly, an authoritative voice rang out.
A female deacon of the Xuan Pavilion rushed out leading a squad of guards.
"Heh, since causing trouble in front of the Xuan Pavilion is prohibited, why didn't you show your face earlier when these Mo Family members tried to make a move on me?"
Su Xie sneered, deeply dissatisfied with the Xuan Pavilion's conduct—they clearly judged people by their status.
"When the Xuan Pavilion does things, what need is there to explain to you?"
The female deacon's attitude was exceptionally arrogant, clearly not taking Su Xie, the infamous trash of Beiling City, seriously at all.
"In that case, why should I give any face to your Xuan Pavilion?"
With a displeased expression, Su Xie clenched his fist and struck forward once again.
"Impudent trash, do you really think the majesty of the Xuan Pavilion is just for show?"
Seeing Su Xie defy her, the female deacon flew into a rage, raising her palm to strike him down.
"Houtian Layer 3?"
Su Xie glanced at the female deacon with utter disdain, raised his hand, and blasted her to death mid-air.
This scene shocked countless passersby.
"Su Xie, you actually dared to kill someone from the Xuan Pavilion! You're finished—ah!"
Having caught his breath, Mo Hu cursed as he tried to flee, but Su Xie strode after him and crushed him to death with a single stomp!
"Anyone who kills a member of my Xuan Pavilion must die!"
A dark-robed elder slowly materialized out of thin air, a powerful surge of energy hurtling rapidly toward Su Xie.
"Peak of Houtian Realm?"
Su Xie's expression remained completely unperturbed. He pointed a finger into the distance, and a blacksmith's shop near the Xuan Pavilion suddenly emitted a loud explosion.
Hum—
A blunt sword, still being polished and unsharpened, instantly flew out!
This single sword strike carried the weight of Mount Tai, instantly shattering the elder's attack.
"What? You're actually a sword cultivator?!"
The dark-robed elder's expression changed drastically. Before he could withdraw, he was cleaved into a pulp of flesh and blood by the sword beam.
……
Meanwhile.
Inside the Xuan Pavilion, within an antique-style grand hall.
The silver-armored woman and the white-robed elder had already found Pavilion Master Chen of the Beiling City Xuan Pavilion branch. After explaining the situation regarding Tianjian Pass, Pavilion Master Chen shook his head, clearly unwilling to get involved in this muddy water.
At this, the silver-armored woman let out a sigh.
"Report! Pavilion Master, it's bad! Someone is causing trouble outside our Xuan Pavilion, and they've even killed one of our deacons and an elder!"
At that moment, a subordinate rushed in to report.
"What?"
Pavilion Master Chen was furious and rushed out first.
For all these years in Beiling City, no one had ever dared to raise a hand against people from the Xuan Pavilion—even the four great families lacked the guts!
Seeing this, the silver-armored woman and her companion followed closely behind.
Although the Xuan Pavilion branch in Beiling City was just a local outpost, to a colossal entity like the Xuan Pavilion, even the smallest branch's majesty could not tolerate provocation from outsiders!
Outside the Xuan Pavilion.
Su Xie stared with a solemn expression at the middle-aged man stepping out before him.
A thick, heavy aura radiated from the middle-aged man's body—he had reached at least the Xiantian Realm.
"It's you, that brat from the Su Family, Su Xie?"
Pavilion Master Chen narrowed his tiger-like eyes. Upon seeing that it was Su Xie, his expression suddenly turned strange.
He naturally knew of Su Xie, the former genius of Beiling City, but he was astonished that this kid still possessed the strength to kill an elder of the Xuan Pavilion even after losing his spiritual vein.
"Is this sword qi? That kid is a sword cultivator!"
Sensing the fluctuations emanating from the blunt sword in Su Xie's hand, the elder behind the silver-armored woman couldn't keep his composure.
"Who would have thought a dragon would emerge from the Su Family, and a sword cultivator at that? The world truly misjudged him."
Pavilion Master Chen's expression sank. "However, so what if you're a sword cultivator? Within this Desolate Country, no one is permitted to trample upon the majesty of the Xuan Pavilion!"
With those words, Pavilion Master Chen raised his hand and pressed down toward the sky.
The space around Su Xie rapidly distorted, and a fierce, murderous intent slammed viciously toward the crown of his head!
"Old Bai, can you step in?"
The silver-armored woman asked calmly. A sword cultivator as young as Su Xie was already a rare sight in the Desolate Country.
If he could be recruited into her army, his future prospects would undoubtedly be boundless!
At these words, the white-robed elder shook his head. While he also cherished talent, this was no longer a situation that could be resolved simply by him showing his face.
Boom!
Just when everyone thought Su Xie was doomed to die, a piercing sound of breaking air suddenly echoed from afar.
An unfathomable and mysterious power shot forth, forcefully grinding the killing intent in front of Su Xie into nothingness mid-air.
"Heh, since when has the majesty of sword cultivators become so utterly worthless?"
"Or perhaps... your Xuan Pavilion's majesty is majesty, while the majesty of us sword cultivators can be trampled upon at will?!"
Instantly, an aged and weathered voice resounded across the entire scene.
Chapter 6: The Number One Sword of the Desolate Country
Swish, swish! Everyone raised their eyes to look, only to see a ragged old beggar appear in the distance.
Clearly, this was none other than Old Man Ning, whom Su Xie had just summoned using a sound-transmission talisman.
Although, with some of the methods from his past life as the Devouring Heaven Dragon Emperor, he could have handled Pavilion Master Chen, since he had free labor at hand, it would be foolish not to use it.
In this world where the strong ruled supreme, human connections and resources were sometimes also a manifestation of one's strength.
"Senior?"
Seeing that it was Old Man Ning who had arrived, the silver-armored woman couldn't help but offer a wry smile.
Old Bai, standing behind her, widened his eyes in disbelief.
Weren't they saying that this person had long since stopped caring about worldly affairs?
Could it be because of that young sword cultivator named Su Xie?
The silver-armored woman couldn't help but take another look at Su Xie. She felt that this youth was extraordinary; there were hardly anyone in the Desolate Country who could make Old Man Ning step forward on their behalf.
"Brat, you sure are quick at stirring up trouble. If it weren't for this old man arriving in time, your little life would be gone."
Old Man Ning walked toward Su Xie, boasting loudly and flaunting his strength to salvage some of the face he had previously lost.
Su Xie's mouth twitched, and he was just about to speak.
Old Man Ning patted his shoulder and chuckled, "Brat, save the words of gratitude. Now that someone is violating the dignity of us sword cultivators, let this old man teach him how to behave first!"Who are you, Your Excellency? Do you really intend to make an enemy of my Xuan Pavilion?"
Pavilion Master Chen stared at Old Man Ning with a look of apprehension, unable to fully gauge the other's background.
"Oh? Judging by your tone, you intend to make an enemy of sword cultivators, then?"
At that moment, Old Man Ning materialized behind him without a sound, pulled out his wine gourd, and took a leisurely sip.
"Your Excellency, aren't you being a bit too arrogant? Who do you think you are? Do you think a single person can represent all the sword cultivators in the world?"
Feeling the chill at his back, Pavilion Master Chen remained unfazed and, feeling secure with his backing, crushed a sound-transmission talisman.
In his view, this Old Man Ning was arrogantly out of his mind, presuming to represent all sword cultivators in the world simply because he possessed some strength.
At these words, Old Man Ning seemed to be struck by some distant memory, freezing abruptly.
"Your Excellency, the experts of my Xuan Pavilion will be descending shortly. If you know what's good for you, then—you!"
Pavilion Master Chen smiled smugly.
However, before he could finish his sentence, Old Man Ning snapped back to his senses, flicked a finger, and a sharp blade of sword qi flashed across the space.
In that instant!
Pavilion Master Chen's expression altered drastically. He hastily unleashed his strongest strike, only for it to be obliterated like rotten wood. The sword qi abruptly severed one of his arms, sending blood spraying in all directions!
"Sword qi? You... you are a Sword Dao Grandmaster!"
Pavilion Master Chen's face turned pale. Without even time to scream in agony, he desperately attempted to flee.
Old Man Ning stamped his foot, and the surrounding space was swiftly sealed off as the winds and clouds suddenly churned violently across the heavens.
A towering sword might that blotted out the sky slowly rose!
"This is impossible! Sword... sword might! Just... just who on earth are you?!"
Trembling all over in intense terror, Pavilion Master Chen stammered, only now realizing what a terrifying existence he had provoked.
You must know that anyone capable of generating sword might was nothing less than a Sword King-level existence!
Let alone within this Desolate Country, even across the entire Northern Domain, they could not exceed the number of fingers on two hands!
Stepping upon the void with his hands behind his back, Old Man Ning looked down condescendingly at Pavilion Master Chen and declared sternly, "I ask you, does this old man now bear the dignity of the world's sword cultivators?!"
"I... I bear it..."
Faced with Old Man Ning's terrifying pressure, Pavilion Master Chen was so panicked his speech became incoherent.
However, before Pavilion Master Chen could finish, Old Man Ning stamped his foot once more.
With this single stamp, the entire Beiling City shook violently, and vast expanses of the void collapsed in fragments!
Watching that terrifying sword might descend directly from above his head, Pavilion Master Chen felt his scalp go numb, his face turning pale with fright.
"Impudent! In front of my Xuan Pavilion, you cannot be allowed to... to..."
Suddenly, an old woman in dark robes materialized in front of Pavilion Master Chen.
Upon seeing the old woman, Pavilion Master Chen's expression lit up with joy, as if he had grabbed a lifeline.
This old woman was no ordinary person; she was one of the powerful experts deployed by their Xuan Pavilion branch in the Desolate Country.
However!
Upon seeing Old Man Ning's true appearance, the dark-robed old woman's expression changed drastically. Staggering backward, she immediately turned to flee.
Seeing this, Pavilion Master Chen's mouth twitched, and he felt as though he had been struck by lightning!
At that moment, he finally understood that in this world, one could offend anyone, but never a sword cultivator!
"Since you've come, you might as well stay together!"
Old Man Ning took a deep breath, glanced at the dark-robed old woman, and curled his five fingers into a fierce grip toward the void.
Puff!
Filled with dread, the dark-robed old woman spat out a mouthful of blood and was bound in place on the spot by an invisible force.
Just as that terrifying sword might was about to cleave down upon the two of them:
"Enough! Madman Ning, are you trying to instigate a war between the faction behind you and my Xuan Pavilion?!"
Suddenly, a dark-robed figure materialized.
As the figure formed hand seals and pressed down fiercely against the void, Old Man Ning's terrifying sword might was instantly flattened and erased from the firmament.
"This person is strong!"
Su Xie's pupils contracted involuntarily. His intuition told him that in Old Man Ning's current state, he was no match for this person at all.
"It's the Black Dragon Envoy from the Xuan Pavilion's headquarters!"
The white-robed elder behind the silver-armored woman felt his breathing tighten.
He never expected an individual of this caliber to personally descend upon their tiny Desolate Country.
"This matter has nothing to do with the faction behind me, but if the dogs of your Xuan Pavilion dare provoke this old man again, even if I have to risk this old life, I will make your Xuan Pavilion pay a heavy price!"
Old Man Ning's voice was icy cold, and a majestic wave of sword qi surged behind him.
Faced with this overwhelmingly majestic sword qi, even the Black Dragon Envoy couldn't help but twitch his eyelids.
"Interesting!"
The Black Dragon Envoy glanced at Su Xie and said to Old Man Ning with keen interest, "What kind of secret does this brat possess that makes you protect him to this extent?"
"None of your damn business!"
Too lazy to exchange pleasantries with him, Old Man Ning raised his hand to slash a sword strike down. Seeing this, the Black Dragon Envoy's expression darkened as he instantly fell silent and retreated.
"You madman are still the same as back then—not a bit changed!"
The Black Dragon Envoy let out a cold snort, stepped upon the void, and vanished into the clouds.
Left behind, the traumatized dark-robed old woman cast a complicated glance at Old Man Ning before speaking hoarsely to Pavilion Master Chen, "Do you know who this person is?"
"Who?"
Pavilion Master Chen wore a bitter expression, his breathing growing increasingly rapid.
"The Number One Sword of the Desolate Country back then, Ning Xiaoyao!"
The old woman sighed softly, then vanished on the spot.
"It's actually him!"
Pavilion Master Chen's gaze grew vacant, and his entire body slumped down limply, clearly well aware of how thunderous that name truly was.
Back in the day, this Ning Xiaoyao not only dominated the Desolate Country's Sword Dao for two decades, but was also branded by the world with the moniker of Sword Mad—a single man and a single sword capable of withstanding ten thousand executioners!
And that wasn't even the most terrifying part. It was rumored that Ning Xiaoyao had even entered the Northern Domain's premier Sword Dao sect, becoming the Holy Son of their previous generation, ranking nineteenth on the Northern Domain's Sword Dao leaderboard.
No wonder!
Even when the Black Dragon Envoy of their Xuan Pavilion headquarters arrived, he still held reservations and caution toward this person!
Chapter 7: Come Out and Fight Me!
"Senior, previously I was blind and failed to recognize..."
Upon learning of Old Man Ning's identity, Pavilion Master Chen trembled all over and prepared to offer an apology.
Old Man Ning directly cut him off, cast a glance into the distance, and said in a deep voice to Su Xie, "Brat, didn't you want to handle some business at the Xuan Pavilion? Let's go over now."
"Senior, since you've come, why not come in with me and sit for a while?"
Su Xie also glanced into the distance and blinked at Old Man Ning.
Hearing this, Old Man Ning paused for a moment, hesitated briefly, and then nodded.
Seeing that Old Man Ning was no longer pursuing the matter, Pavilion Master Chen felt a heavy burden lift from his shoulders. He hurriedly played the sycophant, saying, "The two of you, this way please."
Soon.
Su Xie followed Old Man Ning into the backyard of the Xuan Pavilion.
Inside a calm lake stood a stone pavilion, and maidservants continuously brought over pastries.
Seemingly annoyed, Old Man Ning waved his hand and dismissed them all.
The next moment, Old Man Ning flicked his finger, and a barrier quickly rose, isolating the stone pavilion from the outside world.
"Brat, knowing full well that the Black Dragon fellow hasn't left yet, why did you drag me in here? That guy has probably set his sights on me. Aren't you afraid of getting dragged into danger by following me?"
Old Man Ning sized Su Xie up with keen interest.
Su Xie shrugged and smiled, "I still understand the principle that when the lips are cold, the teeth feel the chill. If something were to happen to Senior, where would that leave me?"
"Oh? Tell me then, what kind of accident could befall this old man?"
Old Man Ning narrowed his eyes, his gaze locked tightly onto Su Xie.
Su Xie said calmly, "That sword strike just now not only used your full strength, but also left you quite heavily injured. Yet, to deter that Black Dragon Envoy, you had no choice but to execute it."
"So what? It's just sustaining some injuries."
Old Man Ning was momentarily stunned, then replied dismissively and unconcernedly.
"Is it really as simple as just sustaining some injuries? Right now, not only is your sword heart fractured, but you should still have old unhealed wounds as well, right?"
Su Xie saw through the crux of the matter at a single glance.
"Indeed. But once I use the Sword Cultivation Art you gave me to repair my sword heart, I will naturally have the ability to purge them."
Old Man Ning looked at Su Xie in surprise, but his expression quickly returned to normal, carrying a hint of pride.
Su Xie shook his head. "If the Demonic Dragon Grievance could be purged so easily, Senior, your strength wouldn't have plummeted so drastically after your sword heart fractured."
"If my guess is correct, your current strength is at most two or three tenths of your peak. Even after repairing your sword heart, purging this Demonic Dragon Grievance will still cost you a heavy price."
Su Xie smiled faintly.
"How do you know I'm afflicted with the Demonic Dragon Grievance?"
Old Man Ning completely lost his composure, asking urgently, "Brat, judging by your words, you have a way to help me purge it?!"