Regret is Too Late, Karma Resolved!

Xia Wuji swung his sword and slashed. Sword Qi flared, shattering the crimson sword energy Xu Yao had sent his way.

Xu Yao's expression flickered. A moment later, surprise crossed his face. He couldn't help but glance at the battered and miserable Xia Xuan again. "Xia Xuan, Xia Xuan, the sword you couldn't block, your own son, whom you banished from the Sword Pavilion, actually managed to block it."

"He's stronger than you are."

"Hahaha, such a talented son, and you treated him like that? You truly are blind!"

Lying on the ground, covered in blood, Xia Xuan felt another massive shock to his core.

He looked at Xia Wuji, who stood calmly with his sword in hand, and realized even more profoundly just how foolish and muddled he had been.

Xu Yao was deliberately trying to provoke Xia Xuan.

Then, he turned his gaze back to Xia Wuji.

"Tsk, tsk, Xia Wuji, you certainly make me see you in a new light. But that last sword strike was just me messing around, which is why you could block it."

"However, if I get serious, you won't have the slightest chance of survival under my sword."

"I'll give you one last chance. Kneel down immediately, kowtow to me, and acknowledge me as your father. I'll spare your life and let you follow me, serving me like an ox or a horse!"

A cold glint surged in Xia Wuji's eyes. "A dying man sure talks big."

Xu Yao's brow furrowed, and he let out a cold snort. "Stubborn little brat, then die!"

As the words fell, Xu Yao stepped on the wind, his body exploding forward. He circulated the Crimson Blood Heart Sutra from the Xia family of the Sword Pavilion. This was a top-grade Yellow-tier cultivation technique. His primal energy surged, and a ball of crimson flame seemed to dance on his body's surface.

Xu Yao moved with incredible speed, instantly appearing before Xia Wuji.

The Crimson Blood Sword, a top-grade treasure sword, swept out. He unleashed the Xia family's strongest swordplay from the Sword Pavilion, the top-grade Yellow-tier Crimson Blood Sword Art!

The cultivation technique, the swordplay, and the treasure sword—these were the foundations of the Sword Pavilion's past glory, its strongest heritage.

The people of the Xia family in the Sword Pavilion were declining generation after generation. Now, these powers were displaying their might in Xu Yao's hands.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Xia Wuji's sword edge was wreathed in scorching flames. The intense aura of the True Sun Swordplay, the unique sharpness of Sword Essence, combined with the Jinghong Sword, a quasi-Spirit Sword, allowed his strike to clash head-on with Xu Yao's sword without being at a disadvantage.

In the blink of an eye, sword light flashed across the arena, and the two had already exchanged dozens of blows.

Xu Yao was actually quite shocked.

Despite his cultivation at the second level of the Primal Energy Realm, he had used his full strength, yet he couldn't quickly defeat Xia Wuji, who was at the Sea of Qi Realm.

In a moment of distraction, he exposed a tiny opening, which Xia Wuji seized!

Three Suns Opening the Way!

Three great suns of Sword Qi instantly condensed at Xia Wuji's sword tip and blasted towards Xu Yao!

A sense of danger flashed through Xu Yao's mind. He let out a low roar, not daring to be careless, and fiercely slashed out with his sword, shattering one of the Sword Qi suns!

But the remaining two Sword Qi suns exploded around him simultaneously.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Deafening roars erupted.

A sea of fire blazed!

Sharp edges raged!

"Ah!"

Xu Yao cried out in pain. His body, like a kite with a broken string, was sent flying backward out of the sea of fire, which was filled with sharp, cutting energy.

At that very moment.

Xia Wuji pursued him!

The Profound-tier low-grade movement technique, Cloud Soaring Steps!

His body transformed into an afterimage!

Man-Sword Unity!

"Swish!"

Xia Wuji, sword in hand, passed by Xu Yao!

Blood sprayed from Xu Yao's neck.

Xia Wuji landed steadily.

He sheathed his sword.

"Bang!"

Xu Yao's body crashed heavily behind him.

Xia Wuji didn't look back. He simply said coldly, "You can only blame yourself for seeking death."

Xu Yao's body convulsed.

This moment, he regretted it immensely.

Xia Wuji hadn't even wanted to get involved with the Sword Pavilion's affairs. Why had he courted death by being so aggressive?

If he hadn't forced Xia Wuji...

He wouldn't have ended up like this!

The next moment, the light in Xu Yao's eyes completely dissipated, his body stopped twitching, and he breathed his last.

And the one who regretted it even more was Xia Xuan.

It felt like a dream. Xu Yao, who was so powerful he inspired despair, had died by Xia Wuji's sword.

If only he had shown a little more care for Xia Wuji...

Then he wouldn't have become like this...

"Wuji..."

"I truly know I was wrong..."

"Please forgive your father..."

Xia Xuan spoke with great difficulty. He crawled towards Xia Wuji using his hands and feet, leaving a trail of blood on the ground wherever he went.

Xia Wuji watched Xia Xuan with a detached expression and asked, "When my mother left back then, did she leave any last words?"

Xia Xuan shook his head, "When Yun'er left... she only instructed me... to take good care of you and cultivate you well..."

The Yun'er he mentioned was Xia Wuji's mother, Qin Yun.

"Take good care of me and cultivate me? Did you do that?" Xia Wuji's tone was filled with heavy sarcasm.

Xia Xuan's tears flowed like a river, "Wuji, your father was foolish before... Please believe your father one more time..."

"Your Dantian was shattered before, yet you were able to recover your cultivation. You must have a way to save me and help me repair my Dantian... Wuji, as long as I recover, your father will compensate you a hundredfold, a thousandfold..."

"Father swears..."

"Get lost!" Xia Wuji roared. A wave of energy erupted from his body, sending Xia Xuan flying.

"A person like you is not worthy of forgiveness!"

Xia Wuji uttered these words and then left without looking back.

The people who deserved to die were dead.

Xia Xuan was still alive, but his life was worse than death.

As the master of the Sword Pavilion, he naturally had many enemies.

And those subordinates he had once bossed around might also jump out to vent their frustrations.

But these things had nothing to do with Xia Wuji anymore. From this moment on, all karma between him and the Sword Pavilion had been severed!

All he wanted now was to rush to Qingyun City in the Great Chu Dynasty as quickly as possible to participate in the Azure Star Academy's assessment.

Entering Azure Star Academy would allow him to search for clues about his mother, make up for the regrets of his past life, and also make it easier to gather cultivation resources and ascend the path to immortality!

Seven days later.

In a forest, piles of bonfires were burning.

Many young people, in groups of three to five, were chatting happily.

They were all from the Great Chu Dynasty, having traveled from various places to Qingyun City for the Azure Star Academy's assessment.

Xia Wuji sat alone by a bonfire, cross-legged with his eyes closed, silently circulating his cultivation technique.

"Brother Xia, we'll reach Qingyun City tomorrow. Traveling for days has been quite tough. Why don't you join us tonight for some hearty meat and big bowls of wine to relax?" a young man approached Xia Wuji, a smile on his face.

Xia Wuji finished circulating his cultivation technique and opened his eyes, looking at the man.

This person was Huang Hu, whom Xia Wuji had met on the road two days prior.

Huang Hu was very enthusiastic and liked to make friends.

As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face. Although Xia Wuji didn't intend to have much interaction with them, he wouldn't be so cold as to push them away.

A faint smile appeared on his face, "Brother Huang, I appreciate your kindness, but I can't hold my liquor, so I won't join the fun."

"Brother Huang!" a young master from a noble family walked over, slinging an arm around Huang Hu's shoulder. He then glanced at Xia Wuji and sneered, "This guy, just a mere cultivator at the first level of the Sea of Qi Realm, what's with all the pretense of being aloof?"

"My Brother Huang invited you, and you dare to refuse? You really don't know what's good for you!"

Xia Wuji's brow furrowed instantly.

Huang Hu quickly grabbed the man's arm and said, "Brother Xia, I'm truly sorry, Zhang Xiao is drunk!"

Then, Huang Hu immediately dragged the person named Zhang Xiao away.

Soon, the forest became lively again.

Everyone had been traveling for many days, and they would reach Qingyun City tomorrow. Fantasizing about joining Azure Star Academy, their spirits were high. Laughter, toasts, and singing filled the air.

Only Xia Wuji remained serene, undisturbed by external matters.

Within his dantian, the Sword Seed ceaselessly released sharp edges, surging into the churning Sea of Qi.

The next moment, the Sea of Qi violently vibrated and expanded!

Breakthrough!

Sea of Qi Realm, second level!

For other Sea of Qi Realm martial artists, a breakthrough would cause significant commotion due to the surge of power, making it difficult to control.

But Xia Wuji's control over every wisp of Sword Essence was as he pleased, reaching the pinnacle of perfection.

Therefore, his breakthrough was silent.

Just as Xia Wuji prepared to circulate his cultivation technique again to stabilize the newly expanded Sea of Qi, his powerful senses suddenly detected an anomaly.

In the darkness, several auras containing killing intent were stealthily approaching!