I Have a Sword to Test the Heroes of the World!

Rumble—!

Violent true energy erupted in all directions, rolling waves of force crushing everything in their path!

The bluestone ground cracked all over, and the surrounding grass and trees bent low.

A terrifying pressure far surpassing that of ordinary Innate Realm martial artists descended upon the front of Parasol Tree Courtyard.

Seventh Stage of the Innate Realm!

This gray-robed old man was astonishingly a high-level Innate Realm expert!

The Xie Household members were stricken with fear, their faces pale as death.

With such cultivation, he was a figure capable of holding down an entire region even across Heaven-Bearing Prefecture.

The gray-robed elder's gaze was cold and sharp. His aged voice, wrapped in immense true energy, pierced into Parasol Tree Courtyard. "Three days from now, at Wangjiang Terrace, Gong Feiyu, Holy Son of the Blood Slaughter Sect, challenges Xie Jinghan of the Xie Household to a sword duel!"

"If Xie Jinghan wins, the Xie Household may live, and the Holy Son will no longer pursue the grudges between you and our sect!"

"If Xie Jinghan is defeated and dies, every member of the Xie Household will be exterminated—none will be spared!"

"Xie Jinghan!"

"Will you accept this letter, or will you not?!"

Every word was a threat of life and death.

There was not the slightest room for compromise or negotiation.

The pressure made every member of the Xie Household tremble in body and soul, chilled to the bone.

Just as the entire scene fell deathly silent and the oppressive atmosphere reached its limit—

Creak—!

The tightly shut wooden gates of Parasol Tree Courtyard opened by themselves, slowly swinging inward.

Tap, tap—!

Soft footsteps rang out as a tall youth slowly stepped forth, his plain robe stirring gently in the wind.

Xie Jinghan's brows and eyes were frosted over, sharpness bared in his gaze, his expression icy.

Anyone would have been furious at being abruptly interrupted in the midst of secluded cultivation.

Especially by such coercive means.

His five fingers clenched tightly around the hilt of the Thunderclap Sword at his waist, his knuckles taut as fierce, domineering sword intent soared into the heavens!

Buzz, buzz—!

The Thunderclap Sword trembled and rang.

Xie Jinghan forcibly withstood the pressure of the Seventh Stage of the Innate Realm, refusing to yield an inch.

His gaze swept across the pale-faced, panicked members of the Xie Household beside him before his cold eyes turned toward the gray-robed elder whose aura towered over the scene. A frigid snort came from his chest.

"Hmph—!"

Xie Jinghan stood tall and straight, staring directly at the gray-robed elder without the slightest trace of fear.

The gray-robed elder looked deeply at him, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes. He had apparently not expected Xie Jinghan to withstand the pressure of his realm.

With a light flick of his sleeve, the elder produced a Sword Challenge Letter, black from top to bottom and engraved with blood-red sword patterns, then tossed it through the air.

Whoosh!

Force tore through the air, arriving before him in an instant.

Xie Jinghan calmly raised a hand and caught it steadily.

The blood-red patterns gleamed brilliantly, exuding bone-piercing killing intent.

Xie Jinghan looked at the gray-robed elder. His voice was clear and cold, every word ringing like metal:

"I, Xie Jinghan, accept this Sword Challenge Letter!"

"There is no need for your alarmist threats."

"Nor is there any need for coercion."

Seeing that Xie Jinghan had accepted the letter and agreed to battle, the gray-robed elder nodded indifferently and said no more.

His sleeve billowed as he rose into the air. In an instant, his figure swept out of Xie Residence and vanished beyond the horizon.

The terrifying Innate Realm pressure gradually faded, and the suffocating sensation shrouding Xie Residence finally receded.

The guards, elders, and clansmen of the Xie Household all felt much of the tension in their hearts ease, yet their expressions remained grave and uneasy.

The Blood Slaughter Sect's vicious reputation resounded throughout the martial world.

This Holy Son had wagered the lives of the entire Xie Household, overbearing and tyrannical, cruel to the extreme.

The Xie Household could neither avoid nor escape this calamity.

They could only await the butcher's knife.

Xie Huaijin forcibly suppressed the grief in his heart. He spoke to comfort the clansmen, dismissed them to their respective duties, ordered them to guard the residence closely, and stabilized their spirits.

No one dared linger. They all bowed and withdrew, and within moments, the noisy area before the courtyard gates became quiet once more.

Only Xie Xuanyuan, Xie Huaijin, and Xie Jinghan remained standing face-to-face in Parasol Tree Courtyard.

The evening wind passed through the courtyard, and all was silent.

Xie Huaijin stared at Xie Jinghan before him, his eyes filled with worry. Only after a long while did he speak hoarsely. "Han'er, this battle is perilous beyond measure. Tell your father truthfully—do you have any confidence in victory?"

He drew a deep breath and lowered his voice. "If you have no confidence, there is no need to concern yourself with the Xie Household, nor need you worry about the safety of the clansmen. Pack your things at once and flee alone. No one in the Xie Household will blame you."

"Preserve your life. As long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn!"

"One day, avenge us and rebuild the Xie Household."

Xie Xuanyuan stood silently to the side, his white hair drifting in the wind. His clouded old eyes watched Xie Jinghan. Though he said nothing, he shared the same thought.

After half a lifetime adrift in the martial world, he had seen through the changing tides and sorrows of the world.

He knew well how terrifying the Holy Son of the Blood Slaughter Sect was.

For Xie Jinghan, this battle was one where nine deaths lay within ten thousand chances of survival.

Faced with the concerned words of his father and grandfather, Xie Jinghan gently shook his head. His expression was calm, without a trace of fear.

"Gong Feiyu is famous throughout the land. He is a reclusive genius of the Blood Slaughter Sect. Both his cultivation realm and sword intent realm far surpass those of ordinary peers. I have never fought him, so I do not yet know his true strength. At present, I indeed have no absolute confidence."

"But the battle is not unwinnable."

"After nearly a hundred days of bitter cultivation, my sword intent realm is about to reach Clear Swordheart, and the Sword-Drawing Technique will also make up for its previous flaws and become even more profound.

"The greater the pressure, the closer the battle to life and death, the clearer my swordheart becomes, and the sharper my sword grows."

Seeing the sharpness revealed in Xie Jinghan's eyes, Xie Xuanyuan's heart eased somewhat.

His gaze burned as he gave a solemn reminder. "Before one fights, one must first establish one's heart. Since you do not fear your enemy and do not fear death, you already possess half a chance at victory in this battle. For the next three days, do not overthink matters. Simply focus on regulating yourself and bring your condition to its peak."

"The survival of the Xie Household rests entirely upon your sword. But remember this: no matter the outcome of this battle, you will forever be the descendant the Xie Household is proudest of."

Xie Jinghan nodded slightly, his expression resolute. "Grandfather, Father, there is no need to worry. I know what I am doing. Three days from now, at Wangjiang Terrace, I will use the sword in my hand to protect the peace of the Xie Household."

Xie Xuanyuan and Xie Huaijin sat in silence for a long while, heavy thoughts weighing upon their hearts.

Unable to bear disturbing Xie Jinghan's cultivation and recovery any longer, they gave him quiet reminders again and again before leaving swiftly.

The wooden gates of Parasol Tree Courtyard slowly closed.

In an instant, the courtyard returned to silence, leaving Xie Jinghan alone in the entire space.

He raised his eyes toward the pitch-black night sky and silently reviewed his situation.

Had he faced someone like Gong Feiyu, a Holy Son of the Blood Slaughter Sect, three months ago, he might truly have had no chance at all and could only have suffered defeat.

Yet three months of day-and-night cultivation, the nourishing effects of the Sword Condensation Pill, and his insights into the Sword Intent Realm had long since transformed him completely. Things were no longer as they had been.

With a thought from Xie Jinghan, the martial arts proficiency panel surfaced in his sea of consciousness, clearly displaying the progress of his techniques.

[Name: Xie Jinghan]

[Martial Cultivation: First Stage of the Innate Realm]

[Techniques and Martial Skills:]

...

[Sword-Drawing Technique · Intent: 204'820/2'000'000 (Comprehending)]

...

"Gong Feiyu, Holy Son of the Blood Slaughter Sect, Third Stage of the Innate Realm, Clear Swordheart."

Xie Jinghan murmured softly. There was no fear in his eyes, only an ever more resolute gleam.

"Three months ago, I truly was not worthy of contending against you."

"But now... I have a sword to test the heroes of the world!"