One Saber Cleaves It Asunder!

On Dragon Tiger Mountain, Zhao Huangchao, clad in a dark Xuan-colored Daoist robe, his sleeves fluttering in the wind, maintained a stern and cold expression. He was methodically preparing to accept Xuanyuan Dapan's urgent request to descend the mountain immediately.

Beside him, Zhao Xituan's face was etched with worry.

Recently, Zhao Xituan had been observing the heavens day and night. The trajectories of the stars were shrouded in a layer of mist, making them chaotic and unpredictable.

He had also employed his exquisite Mysterious Gate and Eight Trigrams techniques, but each time he attempted a divination concerning Wang Ritain, he could calculate nothing; there was no clue to be found.

This uncertainty caused Zhao Xituan's unease to grow like wild grass, becoming ever more intense.

"Junior Brother, wait!"

Zhao Xituan stepped forward, speaking urgently.

"This journey is like stepping into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, fraught with extreme danger. You must not rashly descend the mountain. This matter of Wang Ritain carries an indescribable strangeness. Even my eyes, which can see through heavenly secrets, cannot discern it clearly. You should not interfere with Xuanyuan Dapan's affairs; just follow the will of heaven."

Zhao Huangchao let out a cold snort of disdain.

A glint of cold light flashed in his eyes, "Senior Brother, do not spread alarmist talk. That Wang Ritain is merely a brute, possessing only brute strength. Even if Wang Xianzhi himself were to appear, with the grand formation I have set up, I could stop him and trap him within it. How much less a mere Wang Ritain? My mind is made up; Senior Brother need not waste his breath." With that, he violently flicked his sleeve, his movement carrying a sense of finality, as if to completely cast aside Zhao Xituan's dissuasion. He strode towards the mountain's base, leaving Zhao Xituan standing alone, watching his receding figure with a helpless sigh. The faint bad premonition in his heart pressed down like storm clouds before a downpour.

At the same time, Wang Ritain had quietly arrived near Huishan.

In the mountain forest, Wang Ritain slowed his pace, like a vigilant leopard, keenly sensing a strange aura permeating the surroundings. He did not rush towards the Xuanyuan Family but cautiously observed his surroundings, treading carefully with every step, his eyes vigilantly scanning every corner. As soon as he stepped into the small town at the foot of Huishan, the peace was instantly shattered. A cold glint shot out like a meteor, moving as fast as lightning. The flying sword, carrying sharp sword energy, let out a piercing whistle, its force so fierce it seemed capable of tearing the air apart, aiming directly for Wang Ritain's throat.

Wang Ritain's eyes instantly sharpened, a cold glint flashing within them. Without haste, he horizontally drew his long saber, his movements fluid and natural, like flowing water. "Clang!" A crisp sound, like a booming bell, echoed through the small town, making the eardrums of those present ache. The flying sword was easily deflected, arcing through the air and embedding itself diagonally into the ground nearby, its hilt still trembling slightly, as if recounting the thrilling scene just moments before. The surrounding commoners and martial artists, upon seeing this, widened their eyes, their mouths agape, their faces filled with shock, as if they had witnessed something incredible. "This... this is Wang Ritain! How could he be here?" someone exclaimed from the crowd, their voice laced with unconcealed surprise and fear. For a moment, all eyes were drawn as if by a magnet, focusing on Wang Ritain. They whispered amongst themselves, discussing animatedly, and the atmosphere in the small town instantly became tense.

Just then, Sui Xiegou's figure slowly appeared on the city wall. He was gaunt, as if a gust of wind could blow him over, but his gaze was as sharp as a drawn sword, capable of piercing through anything. As a remnant of the Great Chu, Sui Xiegou was one of the most renowned swordsmen in the martial world, known as the "Sword-Eating Ancestor." He had once exchanged a sword for an arm with Li Chungang in his prime, a legendary experience that was still circulating in the martial world, becoming a topic of conversation for countless people. His gaze was piercing as he stared intently at Wang Ritain and declared loudly, "Wang Ritain, I have heard of your heroic deeds in Wudi City. Today, I, Sui Xiegou, will face you and see if you are truly as formidable as the rumors say."

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled. Their expressions froze for a moment, then turned to excitement. Sui Xiegou was actually going to fight Wang Ritain! This was truly a highly anticipated confrontation, like a magnificent drama about to begin. Wanwan, who had just arrived, could not help but feel surprised by Wang Ritain's youth and courage. The corners of her mouth curved upwards slightly, revealing a smile of amusement. She stood by, ready to witness this upcoming peak battle.

Wang Ritain tilted his head slightly, looking up at Sui Xiegou on the city wall. A confident smile played on his lips, a smile that seemed to declare his fearlessness and power to the world. "Since that is the case, I accept your challenge." His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unshakeable aura that echoed through the small town, reaching everyone's ears and causing their hearts to tremble.

Sui Xiegou's eyes crinkled with a smile, a smile tinged with cunning and anticipation. He raised his hand and unleashed a sword strike. It appeared casual, yet it contained astonishing power. Sword energy roared out like a howling dragon, carving a nearly thousand-meter-long gash in the air. Wherever it passed, the ground was ruthlessly torn apart, bricks and stones flying, dust billowing. The surrounding crowd turned pale with fright, trembling like leaves in the wind, and retreated en masse, thankful they were not near the center of the battle. They thought to themselves, "Such a casual sword strike is already this terrifying. If I were hit, wouldn't I be utterly annihilated?"

Wang Ritain's expression was calm, like a bottomless lake without a ripple. He circulated the Three Points Return to Origin Qi within his body, his strength instantly converging, and his aura abruptly intensified. With a gentle swing of his saber, a powerful surge of energy roared out like an indestructible city wall, easily shattering Sui Xiegou's sword energy. The moment the sword energy shattered, a clear ringing sound was heard. Seeing this, Sui Xiegou's expression immediately turned solemn. His previously relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by a look of seriousness. He realized that Wang Ritain was by no means an easy opponent; he had underestimated his strength just now.

Sui Xiegou took a deep breath, as if inhaling all the surrounding air into his body. He drew his sword again, and in an instant, countless sword energies appeared around him. Each sword energy contained a different sword intent. Some were sharp as frost, seeming capable of freezing all things in the world; some were heavy as mountains, exuding an unshakeable pressure; others were elusive as mist, making them impossible to grasp. These sword energies intertwined, forming a net of swords that enveloped Wang Ritain, showcasing the terrifying power of the Sword-Eating Ancestor. Within the sword net, sword energies flickered, their radiance dazzling, making it impossible to look directly at them.

Wang Ritain looked at the sword net before him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, "Sui Xiegou, your strength is indeed not inferior to Li Chungang's." With that, he slowly drew his long saber. As the saber left its scabbard, boundless demonic energy and towering demonic flames instantly surged out, like black flames burning fiercely, engulfing an area of nearly ten thousand meters in the blink of an eye. Wherever the demonic energy reached, the air seemed to turn black, filled with a pungent odor. Sui Xiegou felt a tremendous threat wash over him, a pressure that made it almost impossible to breathe. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and he inwardly marveled, realizing that Wang Ritain's strength far exceeded his imagination. He had been too careless before and no longer dared to underestimate this young man before him.

Sui Xiegou gritted his teeth, the sound of them grinding audible. He unleashed more sword energy, which lunged towards Wang Ritain like a pack of ferocious beasts, trying to strike a fatal blow. The sword energies weaved through the air, emitting sharp whistles, as if cheering for the battle. Wang Ritain, however, remained unfazed. The demonic energy behind him instantly condensed, transforming into a hundred-zhang-long demonic blade. Runes flickered on the demonic blade, emitting a heart-palpitating aura. The runes seemed alive, dancing and flashing on the demonic blade, as if reciting ancient incantations. Wang Ritain gripped the hilt of the demonic blade with both hands, let out a great roar, a sound like thunder that shook the surrounding air, and brought it down from above.

Seeing this, Sui Xiegou's soul was filled with terror and despair. He desperately channeled his sword energy, attempting to block this terrifying strike. The sword energy surged madly towards the demonic blade, colliding with it and emitting a series of violent sounds, like countless bombs exploding simultaneously. However, the power of Wang Ritain's strike was too immense. Wherever the demonic blade passed, Sui Xiegou's sword energy shattered.