Swinging the Saber

Qixia Street ruins.

Xie Wuxing stood with his sword in hand.

It was as though a gash had been torn open in the night sky.

The giant sword spanned Hun City. If it fell, more than half the city would likely be reduced to ruins.

Jiang Wang raised his saber. Compared to the giant sword, its pitch-black cold gleam was like a firefly—yet a single spark could set the prairie ablaze. The instant the cold gleam struck the giant sword, it actually forced the descending blade to halt.

Xie Wuxing's pupils constricted slightly. This was already the strongest sword strike he could unleash, yet the result was still that neither could do anything to the other.

But when he thought of how Jiang Wang possessed such strength yet committed every evil under the sun, regret filled him, followed by fury that shot to the heavens.

With abilities that could look down upon Kutan's younger generation of cultivators, Jiang Wang had not thought of slaying Monsters and eliminating evil, but instead bullied the common folk. He was plainly even more detestable than Monsters.

"Let's see how long you can hold on."

Xie Wuxing snapped his fingers, and the giant sword suddenly sank. Jiang Wang's feet plunged into the ground as terrifying ravines spread outward like a spiderweb. Clods of earth bulged up layer by layer, then the spot where Jiang Wang stood collapsed outright.

"Interesting." Jiang Wang pulled his feet from the soil and kicked away the surrounding clods. Xie Wuxing truly was the greatest foe he had ever encountered, and his blood began to boil.

In an instant, the scorching airflow became even fiercer. Jiang Wang's arms tensed, streams of searing white vapor rising from them, while the Long Night Saber exuded biting coldness. The environment between them became exceptionally harsh.

The broken walls and ruined structures on Qixia Street had already been unable to bear the strain. Under the impact of those two extreme currents, they swiftly shattered. The scattered rubble, each grain distinct, hung suspended in midair.

Veins bulged on Jiang Wang's forehead. Gripping the Long Night Saber, he raised his eyes to stare at the giant sword and swung with all his strength!

Rumble!

Rubble rained across Qixia Street, smashing pit after pit into the ground.

It also sent the Green-robed Cultivator and Ning Shisi fleeing far away for cover.

"Was Mr. Jiang even taking this seriously?"

It looked like an intensely fierce battle, yet the Green-robed Cultivator, who regarded Jiang Wang as an immortal, felt that things should not have gone this way.

The White-robed Cultivator said, "This man is even stronger than we imagined, but making Mr. Jiang get serious is still unrealistic. Didn't you see? From beginning to end, Mr. Jiang has only been casually swinging his saber against him."

They were very good at explaining things, and they had thoroughly convinced themselves.

The Green-robed Cultivator wore an expression of sudden realization. No matter how formidable Xie Wuxing was, how could he possibly be Mr. Jiang's match?

The facts proved that Mr. Jiang had only just used his second move, and this slash might very well decide the victor.

That slash tore through the night, forcing the giant sword higher into the sky.

Clear clouds churned and were stained black. That saber resembled the entire long night, swallowing the giant sword bite by bite.

Xie Wuxing suddenly let out a great roar, the scattered clouds attempting to gather once more.

This repeated struggle at the very limit ended when Jiang Wang unleashed his third slash, and the clouds completely scattered.

A terrifying aura spread through the skies above Qixia Street, sweeping over all of Hun City like a wild gale.

Had the two forces not collided high in the air, more than half of Hun City would surely have been destroyed in one stroke.

Yet even the dispersed aftershocks tore roofs away. Though the scene paled beside the breath the Night Roaming God had blown through South City Alley, it still caused no small disaster.

Xie Wuxing breathed heavily. A thin cut marked his right cheek, yet the stabbing pain was intense, and scorching energy lingered at the wound without dispersing.

Jiang Wang leaped out of the collapsed pit, the Divine Kingdom already concealed within his mind.

He took a sharp breath, then put on a calm facade and said, "You lost."

Xie Wuxing sat sprawled on the ground, his right hand resting on the pommel of his sword. In a low voice, he said, "Since I began cultivating, this is the first time I have lost a fight. Jiang Wang, you truly are formidable."

Jiang Wang thought that this was also the first time he had drawn forth all the Divine Kingdom's power. It had even been depleted to the point that the Divine Kingdom had concealed itself outright. In the past, its power had always faded only after a long while, and the "Mirage" in his mind would conceal itself again.

"You're formidable too, but I really want to know—when did that sort of fetish of yours begin?"

Xie Wuxing's expression froze. He said angrily, "I don't have one! Don't spout nonsense! I'm perfectly normal!"

Jiang Wang scratched his cheek and asked, "Then why were you looking for me... Pah! Then why did you come looking for me..."

He swiftly shut his mouth.

No matter how he phrased it, it sounded strange.

Xie Wuxing said nothing. Since he had lost, there was no need to drag Du Yanruo into this any further. If the tyrant Jiang Wang wanted revenge, he likely would not be able to stop him.

Jiang Wang did not press the matter either. He was extremely drained right now; if Xie Wuxing noticed, the trouble would be enormous. At present, he could not guarantee that the Divine Kingdom's power could surge forth again.

Besides, an enemy as powerful as Xie Wuxing was beyond comparison to provoking dozens of Cai Tanggu and Tan Lao Liu. Whether there was a misunderstanding or not, he did not want to clear it up so quickly.

When he imagined Xie Wuxing repeatedly coming to cause trouble in the future, Jiang Wang instead found himself somewhat looking forward to it.

Inside Xunyang Marquis Manor.

After witnessing Jiang Wang and Xie Wuxing rush away, Du Yanruo waited patiently a while longer before vaulting over the wall and sneaking into the Marquis Manor.

But after searching for a long time, she found no trace of her father or younger brother.

After wandering around, she arrived at the woodshed.

"Could Jiang Wang already have killed them?"

At that thought, Du Yanruo's face turned pale. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her, and she staggered into the woodshed door.

Su Lingyi lay amid the firewood, yellow-faced and emaciated, with an unshaven beard and disheveled hair. His eyes were lifeless. Hearing the noise, he showed little reaction, merely blinking once.

"Jiang, just give me a quick death. I can't take it anymore. I yield..."

He murmured, not caring whether the person outside could hear him.

"Senior Brother Su?" Leaning against the woodshed door, Du Yanruo found that faint voice somewhat familiar. She kicked the door open outright.

"Junior Sister..." Seeing the figure appear before him, Su Lingyi's eyes finally regained their light. Tears streaming down his face, he cried, "Junior Sister, you finally came to save me!"

Du Yanruo was shocked. How did Su Lingyi still look anything like a person?

"Jiang Wang actually treated you so viciously." Du Yanruo had only taken one step forward when a nauseating stench reached her, making her instinctively retreat.

"Junior Sister, hurry and get me out." Su Lingyi struggled to rise, only to fall flat. He clawed his way toward Du Yanruo.

Suppressing her discomfort at the smell, Du Yanruo crouched down and asked, "Senior Brother Su, have you seen my father and younger brother?"

Su Lingyi was briefly stunned. "Uncle and your younger brother were captured by Jiang too? I haven't seen them. Perhaps they're being held elsewhere."

The ominous feeling in Du Yanruo's heart grew stronger. Holding her breath, she tried to support Su Lingyi, but the moment they stepped out of the woodshed, they saw the Old Butler already standing outside.

Smiling, he said, "Du Heng and Du Zicheng are not in the Marquis Manor. You came here for nothing."

Du Yanruo asked in a deep voice, "What did Jiang Wang do to them?"

The Old Butler glanced beyond the manor and said, "You used that person to lure the young master away because you specifically wanted to rescue your family, didn't you?"

Looking at the silent Du Yanruo, the Old Butler asked curiously, "How did you persuade a Sword Pavilion disciple to help you?"

Du Yanruo's eyes widened slightly.

A Sword Pavilion disciple?

Was he talking about Xie Wuxing?!

The Old Butler raised an eyebrow. "It seems you did not know his identity. I had thought that if you had formed ties with the Sword Pavilion, it would be quite troublesome after all. But now it seems you deceived him and treated him as a chess piece for saving people."

Du Yanruo's expression changed several times before she sneered. "We have privately pledged ourselves to one another. Sooner or later, I will be a Sword Pavilion disciple too. You had best release my father and younger brother, or wait for the Sword Pavilion to flatten the Marquis Manor."

Su Lingyi was stunned.

Junior Sister had privately pledged herself to someone?

But feeling the arm with which Du Yanruo supported him tremble faintly, he realized that she might be lying and immediately clamped his mouth shut.

The Old Butler smiled, though it was impossible to tell whether he believed her or not.

Du Yanruo grew increasingly nervous, sweat gradually covering her face.

The Old Butler's smile deepened.

Forcing herself to remain calm, Du Yanruo said again, "The Marquis Manor should not bring ruin upon itself."

She made as if to support Su Lingyi away.

The Old Butler extended a hand to stop them, saying evenly, "The Marquis Manor has always treated its guests kindly, but guests must also understand the rules. I believe you would not wish to experience how the Marquis Manor treats those who are not guests."

Su Lingyi turned to look at the Old Butler and said, "I represent Fish Abyss Academy in coming to Hun City to seek Immortal Traces. If I make a request, none of the garrisons in all Kutan's cities and towns have the right to refuse. Your actions are no different from scorning the imperial court. Do you truly wish to make the charge of treason stick?"

The Old Butler said with a smile, "Fish Abyss Academy indeed has the authority to make city and town garrisons cooperate, but it cannot forcibly order them to do so. Unless you hold an imperial edict, the garrisons have the right to refuse."

"Besides, the Late Emperor once decreed that the troops of Xunyang Marquis Manor could heed deployment but not imperial summons. Perhaps Fish Abyss Academy carries great prestige, and most city and town garrisons choose to cooperate with you. That has apparently given you some misconceptions."

Su Lingyi's face darkened.

His breathing grew somewhat rapid.

Naturally, he had not known that Xunyang Marquis Manor possessed such privileges.

It nearly enraged Su Lingyi to death.

Du Yanruo drew her sword. "He's just an old man. We'll kill our way out!"

Though she was only at the Qi-guiding stage of Hundred Days Foundation Establishment and did not possess the abilities of a true cultivator, if she fought desperately, she could still battle a martial artist newly entered into the second realm. If she could not even defeat a lame old man, there was no point in cultivating at all.

She charged the Old Butler with sword in hand.

Yet the Old Butler merely gave a light shout. Du Yanruo seemed to suffer a heavy blow; the sword dropped from her hand, her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees before him.

When Du Yanruo charged forward, Su Lingyi had also summoned every ounce of strength and slammed straight ahead. But he had not expected Junior Sister to kneel so quickly. Before he could react, he directly performed a ceremonial bow to the elders.

The two kneeling side by side turned red from holding back their humiliation.

Their hearts were even more horrified.

The lame Old Butler of the Marquis Manor was actually an expert!

The Old Butler ignored them entirely. Glancing toward the ruins of Qixia Street, he said blandly, "Victory and defeat have been decided. Once the young master returns, whether you leave or stay will depend entirely on his mood."