Chapter 9: The Battle for Supremacy Begins

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“Young friend, this is the supreme Spirit Gathering Pill you requested.” Yuan Qing handed Su Xin an exquisite jade box. Su Xin glanced inside before carefully putting the box away.

“Thank you.” After expressing his gratitude, Su Xin took his leave.

Before the Zhenwu Pavilion, a dense crowd of warriors watched Su Xin depart, their faces filled with awe and admiration.

“Supervisor, should we send someone to follow him and verify his identity?” a black-clad steward asked.

“No need,” Yuan Qing shook his head. “Since he uses an alias, he clearly does not want his identity known. Our task at the Red Dragon Tower is to befriend top-tier geniuses like him, to earn their gratitude and potentially have them serve the empire in the future. If we pry too much or secretly tail him, it will backfire once he finds out.”

“Besides, someone who can break through to the fourteenth level of the Zhenwu Pavilion at the eighth realm of Zhenwu is a super talent in martial skill. Such a person won’t remain unknown forever. It’s only a matter of time before he becomes famous across Tianyan. We just need to watch and wait.”

...

Su Xin proceeded cautiously along the way, spending considerable time to confirm no one was following before finally returning to the Su family estate.

Inside his room, Su Xin looked at the twenty milky-white pills emitting a strong fragrance lying in the jade box and felt quite pleased.

“The supreme Spirit Gathering Pill’s effect is dozens of times stronger than ordinary ones. The Sword Order contest is still fifteen days away. I can take one pill every day. Coupled with the cultivation speed of my inherited technique… in half a month, breaking through to the ninth realm of Zhenwu will be no problem. Reaching the tenth realm isn’t impossible either,” Su Xin said with a smile.

From that day forward, he devoted most of his time to cultivation.

With the aid of the supreme Spirit Gathering Pill and the speed of his inherited cultivation method, his strength increased at a terrifying rate.

Days passed one after another.

During Su Xin’s secluded cultivation, the Su family was anything but peaceful.

First, several prominent young talents such as Su Qinghong and Su Yuning returned to the family after training outside to improve their strength in preparation for the Sword Order contest against Zhao Ling. Each had made progress during this period.

Especially Su Qinghong.

Rumors circulated within the Su family that Su Qinghong’s cultivation had reached the peak of the tenth realm of Zhenwu, rivaling Zhao Ling.

This sparked hope among many family members, with many believing Su Qinghong could truly defeat Zhao Ling in the contest.

But just days later, Zhao Ling returned.

On the very day he returned, he went straight to the Red Dragon Tower and broke through the eleventh level of the Zhenwu Pavilion!

The news shocked the entire Su family.

To break through the tenth level of the Zhenwu Pavilion already marked one as a first-class talent, and such geniuses were rare even in Yongning Prefecture. Breaking through the eleventh level was even more extraordinary.

Though rumors had recently spread of a certain “Sword One,” an eighth realm powerhouse who had astonishingly broken through the fourteenth level, he was not from the Su family, so the impact within the family was limited. Zhao Ling, on the other hand, was a Su family member, so his achievement caused an even greater stir.

The Su family was stunned.

The faction of retainers was overjoyed and cheered wildly, while the family’s core lineage repressed their emotions, especially those who had pinned their hopes on Su Qinghong. Upon hearing this news, they fell silent.

There was no choice. Though Su Qinghong’s cultivation was formidable, he had only broken through the ninth level of the Zhenwu Pavilion, still a bit short of the tenth. Zhao Ling had surpassed that by breaking through the eleventh level, a huge gap in skill alone.

This caused many young Su family disciples to feel deeply dispirited, even despairing.

Yet, no matter what, the day had come—the day of the Su family Sword Order contest!

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...

*Creak!*

Su Xin opened the door and stepped outside.

“Young Master,” Hong Shan, who had been waiting outside, greeted him.

“The Sword Order contest is today,” Su Xin said, lifting his gaze toward a distant direction.

“Judging by your expression, your cultivation must have improved?” Hong Shan asked.

“Improved? You could say that. Though I didn’t fully reach my expectations, it’s still good,” Su Xin smiled faintly.

In half a month, his cultivation had rapidly advanced. He had hoped to break straight through to the tenth realm of Zhenwu within this period but ultimately stopped at the peak of the ninth realm, just half a step shy of the tenth.

If he had two or three more days, he was confident he could break through, but the contest was about to begin.

Of course, even if it wasn’t perfect, for Su Xin, the peak of the ninth realm was already sufficient.

“Though only at the ninth realm’s peak, my inherited technique makes my power burst stronger, not much weaker than an ordinary tenth realm cultivator. Plus, with my bloodline’s power, once fully unleashed, I’ll be stronger, definitely not weaker than a tenth realm peak!”

Su Xin clenched his fists, eyes shining with absolute confidence.

“Zhao Ling… an outsider, dares to covet the Su family’s Sword Order!”

“He must die!”

“I have been absent for three years; the Su family no longer holds the respect due to me, the young master. Today, I will establish my authority with him!”

...

Su family, Martial Arts Garden.

This was a vast garden, with a training ground at its center. Usually, it was deserted, but today it was packed with people.

Every year, the Su family held a major contest for their young disciples in the Martial Arts Garden. This time, however, the contest concerned the ownership of the Sword Order, making it critically important.

The Su family’s core lineage and retainer factions had many powerful young disciples present, along with numerous maids and servants. Over a thousand people gathered here.

Above the training ground was a grandstand with three seats. Two were already occupied by elders of the Su family.

Below the family head were three great elders.

The First Elder, Su Boyong, was the only Void-breaking realm powerhouse in the core lineage besides the family head, currently stationed outside and absent from the family.

Present now were the Second Elder Su Tietong and Third Elder Su Baihu, both peak Huanhai realm powerhouses. The Third Elder Su Baihu was the family head’s younger brother, Su Xin’s second uncle.

Before the two elders stood four Su family disciples.

These four were the strongest among the Su family’s young generation, all having reached the tenth realm of Zhenwu, including Su Qinghong and Su Yuning.

“To allow an outsider to participate in our Su family Sword Order contest is a disgrace!”

“If that outsider wins the contest and takes the Sword Order, our Su family will become a laughingstock!”

The burly Second Elder Su Tietong’s eyes were like copper bells, furious as he roared: “You four are the Su family’s last hope. Whether you can defeat Zhao Ling and restore our family’s honor depends entirely on you. Remember, at all costs, bring Zhao Ling down. Even if it costs your lives, you must do it!”

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“Yes!”

Su Qinghong and the others nodded emphatically. They understood the importance of today’s battle.

The Su family, once a prominent power in the Tianyan Empire, held pride and dignity that could not be trampled.

If an outsider held the Sword Order, that pride and dignity would be utterly destroyed, a fate far worse than death for many in the family.

At the other side of the training ground, many powerful young retainers gathered. Among them, a defiant man carrying a battle blade stood in front like a crane among chickens.

He was Zhao Ling.

His cultivation had long reached the peak of the tenth realm of Zhenwu, and he had broken through the eleventh level of the Zhenwu Pavilion. Alone, he exerted enormous pressure on the Su family’s young generation as a first-rate genius.

“Big brother, look, everyone around is watching you, especially those young Su disciples. Their eyes seem like they want to devour you,” Zhao Qing stood beside Zhao Ling, noticing the fiery gazes.

“Heh, those fools. Even if they are unwilling, after today’s battle, you’ll be the master of the Su family’s Sword Order. From now on, the young generation will respect you, and the family head position might even be yours someday.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ling smiled. “It’s a pity Father is still in Tianshui City, embroiled in a critical battle with First Elder Su Boyong, so he can’t return in person. If he could see me overpower the Su family’s young disciples later, I believe he would be very pleased.”

His father, Zhao Tianlei, leader of the retainer faction, had gone to Tianshui City and had not returned yet.

“By the way, big brother, about Su Xin I mentioned before…” Zhao Qing suddenly said.

“Xiao Qing,” Zhao Ling frowned, somewhat displeased. “I told you to broaden your perspective. Su Xin was someone three years ago, but now he’s no longer relevant. You don’t need to bother with such a person.”

“Yes.” Zhao Qing lowered his head.

Zhao Ling glanced at him and then continued, “But since Su Xin dared to slap your face and spout such arrogant words, I won’t let it go. If there’s a chance during the contest, I’ll deal with him.”

“Thank you, big brother!” Zhao Qing was delighted.

He knew his big brother was quite indulgent toward him.

At that moment...

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Two figures suddenly descended from the side of the void onto the grandstand.

Immediately, all eyes were drawn to the two.

“It’s the family head!”

“The family head has arrived!”

Excitement rippled through the Su family.

“Father.”

Standing in the crowd’s corner, Su Xin looked up toward the grandstand as well.

...