Chapter 24: Breakthrough

"Rest assured, I will control my power to match yours. We shall compete purely in terms of technique," the beggar youth said, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.

"He truly is a madman," Su Xin sighed to himself.

To roam the world, challenging countless experts, and to constantly break through and improve one's strength amidst these battles—such a person possessed an absolute pursuit of power. It was madness, and it was terrifying.

"Very well then, make your move," Su Xin replied, his expression indifferent.

If it were a true battle of strength, unless he unleashed his forbidden technique, he would never be a match for this beggar youth. But if they kept their power levels equal and competed solely on technique, Su Xin had nothing to fear.

"Haha! Then take care!"

The beggar youth let out a hearty laugh. With a simple step, he covered dozens of meters in an instant, the long blade in his hand swinging forward directly.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A series of razor-sharp, mournful blade beams instantly erupted.

Fast!

Extremely fast!

So fast that many of the onlookers, including the few Sea Transformation Realm experts present, could not even track the trajectory of the blades.

Su Xin transformed into a mountain. The long sword in his hand carried an unending momentum, like waves in the sea, lashing out in succession.

Matching speed with speed!

No matter how tricky or bizarre the angles of the incoming strikes were, Su Xin's sword would always meet them with perfect precision.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The surrounding crowd only heard a dense, continuous sound of metal clashing; in the blink of an eye, it had rung out over a hundred times.

"Delightful, truly delightful!"

The beggar youth's eyes burned with heat. "In the two years I’ve spent wandering, among the countless experts I've encountered, you are the first whose cultivation is lower than mine yet can keep up with my speed and deflect my blade techniques so effortlessly."

"Next, I'm going to get serious. Watch out!"

Having said that, the beggar youth lunged forward.

His long blade moved: *Swish, swish, swish!*

Three lightning-fast strikes swept through the air like streaks of light.

These were equally swift, and Su Xin continued to use his Mountain-Sea Scroll sword technique to defend. However, the moment his sword collided with the first strike, Su Xin noticed that the power contained within it was at least double what the youth had shown before.

"He didn't increase his output of power at all; he relied solely on his blade techniques and skills to double the impact!" Su Xin was secretly astonished. Yet, even with the increased potency, he deflected the blow with ease.

Then came the second and third strikes, each one more powerful than the last.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

After three clashes, Su Xin had not retreated even half a step.

"You actually blocked them?"

The beggar youth frowned. The first strike had doubled in power, the second tripled, and the third quadrupled. Under normal circumstances, no one could withstand such a barrage, yet Su Xin had done so with ease.

"As expected of the most recognized sword technique in the Tianyan Dynasty. Your comprehension of intent must be even higher than mine," the beggar youth muttered. Then he added, "The Beicang Sword Technique cannot be just a defensive style. Let me see your offensive capabilities!"

"As you wish." Su Xin's gaze sharpened.

Boom!!

His sword style transformed instantly, becoming violent and scorching. In an instant, his sword light became like thunder and fire, a terrifying web of sword shadows engulfing the beggar youth.

"Nine-Fold Wave!"

The beggar youth immediately deployed his own blade technique.

The two collided frantically. A moment later, the beggar youth retreated, creating distance between them.

"Let's stop here."

The beggar youth laughed. "In terms of offensive capability, we are quite evenly matched, and your defensive sword technique is exceptional. Unless I use my ultimate trump card, I cannot break through your style."

"Ultimate trump card?"

Su Xin’s pupils constricted. This youth was still holding something back?

"My trump card is rather peculiar. Once unleashed, I cannot control my power; it results in an extreme burst of energy. You are only in the True Martial Realm; no matter how good your defense is, you would likely be cleaved in two by that power. Let's call it off," the beggar youth said.

Su Xin shrugged helplessly. He truly wanted to witness the youth's strongest move, but if the latter couldn't control it, it was better to leave it be.

"What is your name?" the beggar youth asked.

"Su Xin," he replied.

"I am Duan Yunfeng. Remember this name; most people aren't qualified to know it," the beggar youth said with a smile. He was speaking the truth.

In the past two years, he had traveled the world and fought countless Sea Transformation Realm experts—mostly those at the peak—yet he had only felt the need to share his name with fewer than five people. Telling Su Xin was clearly a mark of respect, even if Su Xin was only in the True Martial Realm.

"It is a pity that your cultivation is too low to meet the minimum threshold for the hunt. Otherwise, I would have truly liked to unleash my full strength and fight you honorably at this year's Imperial City Hunt," Duan Yunfeng said.

"The Imperial City Hunt?" Su Xin’s heart skipped a beat.

He had heard of the hunt, held every five years by the Tianyan Dynasty. It was a grand feast gathering the top geniuses from all thirty-six provinces and countless counties. It was the stage every young cultivator longed for.

To pass the preliminary rounds and step onto that stage meant one was already a top-tier genius. To perform brilliantly there meant fame throughout the land. Most importantly, those who reached the end would be recruited into the "Tianyan Palace," the sacred ground of the dynasty.

Established by the founding emperor, the Tianyan Palace held over seventy percent of the dynasty’s cultivation resources and was home to countless experts. Only the most monstrous talents were accepted. It was the dream of every young person.

However, the minimum entry requirement was the Sea Transformation Realm. Su Xin was still only in the True Martial Realm, and with less than three months until the preliminaries, Duan Yunfeng clearly didn't believe he could break through in time.

"If I have the chance, I will meet you at the Imperial City Hunt and we shall have a fair fight," Su Xin said solemnly.

"Haha, good! I will wait for you," Duan Yunfeng laughed.

Although he didn't think Su Xin could make it, he knew that a super-genius like him would eventually make a name for himself. They would certainly meet again—perhaps even within the Tianyan Palace.

With a wave of his hand, Duan Yunfeng turned and walked away. The gang members on the street parted to make way, none daring to block his path.

"The Imperial City Hunt... the stage where every young person in the Tianyan Dynasty longs to show their true strength..."

"I will be there!"

Su Xin clenched his fists, his eyes sharp.

...

The battle between the Heiyan Gang and the Liushui Gang, despite the interruption by Duan Yunfeng, eventually reached its conclusion.

The Liushui Gang suffered a crushing defeat. Most of their high-ranking members were killed, and their gang leader fled in critical condition. As for the four experts from the Pang family, the strongest, Pang Tieyun, had been killed by Duan Yunfeng. Two of the three remaining experts were killed by Su Xin, and only the 'younger brother' of the twins, who had lost an arm to Su Xin, managed to escape.

Outside the Heiyan Gang headquarters:

"Young Master, Master Yeluo, I have prepared a victory banquet for you. Please, sit and have a drink before you go. Don't be in such a hurry," Wan Chong said, his tone and expression fawning. He looked more like a servant than a gang leader.

He had lowered himself completely, genuinely terrified by the strength Su Xin had displayed. Just three days ago, he had been cursing the Su family and Su Xin behind their backs.

Yet today, this very person he had looked down upon had saved his life.

"Leader Wan, we have other matters to attend to," Su Xin said, already mounted on his horse.

"In that case, I won't keep you," Wan Chong said, signaling his advisor. The advisor immediately stepped forward and handed over a thick stack of banknotes.

"Young Master, a small token of appreciation," Wan Chong said.

Su Xin raised an eyebrow. He didn't refuse, taking the banknotes before departing East Yang City with Yeluo.

...

On the way back to the Su estate, deep in the night, the two horses trotted slowly. Su Xin stared ahead, lost in thought.

"Young Master, you've been deep in thought since we left East Yang City. Is something the matter?" Yeluo asked.

"Yeluo, you saw that man today, didn't you?" Su Xin asked.

"Of course. His strength... it was terrifying. Even though he is only at the Sea Transformation Perfection level, I am certain that most experts at the peak of the Sea Transformation Realm are no match for him," Yeluo said seriously. "It is fortunate it was you, Young Master. If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to block a single strike, even if we were only comparing technique."

Su Xin smiled. "I wasn't thinking about his strength, but his journey."

"He said he has roamed the world for two years, passing through ninety-nine counties, challenging countless experts. It seems like madness, but he clearly possesses the heart of a true warrior!"

"He longs to grow stronger, which is why he constantly seeks out challenges."

"I was wondering, if one day the crisis facing the Su family is completely resolved, and I have no more worries... would I, too, roam the world like him?"

Su Xin looked up at the starry sky. The world was vast; the Tianyan Dynasty was but one empire in the Eastern Wasteland.

He, too, longed to grow stronger. To stand at the pinnacle and cross swords with the greatest experts in the world!

"Unfortunately, that is still too far away. My priority right now is to resolve the family crisis." Su Xin smiled faintly.

Just then—

"Huh?"

Su Xin’s eyes widened, a look of unmistakable surprise appearing. He immediately dismounted and sat cross-legged on a vacant patch of ground by the road.

"Yeluo, keep watch. Do not let anyone disturb me," Su Xin commanded.

"Understood," Yeluo replied, dismounting to stand guard.

Su Xin closed his eyes, and a surge of spiritual power began to gather within his body.

Time passed.

At dawn, as the first rays of the sun hit his face, Su Xin finally opened his eyes.

"Sea Transformation Realm... I have reached it!"