Sovereign of Stars-Chapter 12 – One knife, one sword

"Wield the Sword Order? You, are not worthy!"
The sudden voice brought a hush over the entire training ground, and all eyes turned in unison to the young man holding a sword near the center.
"Su Xin?"
"Young Master?"
Most people on the field wore expressions of shock.
Su Xin, who had also passed the first round's 'Raindrop', was one of the ten who entered the second round. Everyone present had noticed his presence.
But Su Xin was only at the ninth level of the True Martial Realm. Although making it to the second round surprised many, the Su Family had no expectations for him.
When Zhao Ling declared he would challenge everyone, Su Qinghong and the others only teamed up as four and didn't consider including Su Xin.
Because at the mere ninth level, he wouldn't be much help under normal circumstances.
Yet now, even after Su Qinghong and the others were easily defeated by Zhao Ling, leaving only Su Xin, he still dared to step forward?
"Is Su Xin seeking death?"
At the edge of the training ground, Zhao Qing's eyes flashed with a red light as he watched the scene unfold.
He hoped Su Xin would overestimate himself and make a move, allowing his brother to avenge him.
"Su Xin, you're no match for him, step back," Su Yuning, who had retreated to the edge, called out, her face pale.
As Su Xin's cousin, and once close, despite growing distant due to events three years ago, Su Yuning still didn't want Su Xin to engage in futile bravado.
"Su Xin?" Zhao Ling looked at Su Xin with disdain, shaking his head. "Three years ago, you might have barely qualified to be my opponent, but now..."
Su Xin ignored the gazes around him, stepping forward without even glancing at Zhao Ling. His cold eyes were fixed on the four gathered behind Zhao Ling.
These four were the ones from the Faction of Retainers who chose to withdraw after entering the second round.
"What is Su Xin planning?" The four wore puzzled expressions.
"Taking on four at once?" Su Xin mused.
In the next moment...
Clang!
The sword was drawn!
Su Xin's figure, like a stream of light, instantly crossed a distance of several dozen meters, appearing before the four.
The sword swung, and a dazzling, beautiful sword light appeared out of nowhere.
"Coming for us four?"
"Is he mad?"
The four True Martial Realm experts were startled, their faces full of shock.
They had already withdrawn from the competition, yet Su Xin attacked them?
"This sword!"
Among the four, the strongest True Martial Realm expert's expression changed drastically. "Be careful!!"
He shouted urgently, and the other three also sensed the unusual nature of the sword, all trying to block it immediately.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
The sound of the sword piercing through bodies echoed almost simultaneously as Su Xin appeared behind the four.
Their eyes were filled with terror, some with mouths agape, feeling a sharp pain in their chests and seeing blood spilling from their fronts.
Whoosh!
The four were sent flying backward, their auras immediately wilting.
One sword, and four True Martial Realm experts were severely injured in an instant!
Su Xin then turned, his cold eyes like those of a reaper, fixing on Zhao Ling as he spoke with icy determination.
"Zhao Ling, draw your blade!"
"Show me your swordsmanship!"
"Bring out all your strength!"
"Use every skill you have to fight me!"
"Because after this battle, you will die!!"
...
Silence!
The once bustling Martial Arts Garden, filled with over a thousand people, fell utterly silent!
Everyone stared wide-eyed, incredulous, at the young figure in the center of the training ground.
One sword, and four True Martial Realm experts were severely injured in an instant!
What kind of power was this?
And to think, just moments ago, Zhao Ling had taken on four opponents, defeating Su Qinghong and the others with just one strike.
Zhao Ling used one strike.
And now, Su Xin had used just one sword?
Moreover, Su Xin's sword was clearly more decisive and efficient.
Coupled with Su Xin's words...
"Draw your blade!"
"Show me your swordsmanship!"
"Bring out all your strength!"
"Use every skill you have..."
"After this battle, you will die!!"
At this moment, everyone from the Su Family was shaken to their core.
Immediately, the hearts of the Su Family members, which had been filled with despair after witnessing Zhao Ling's strength, were reignited!
"Su Xin!"
Everyone turned their gaze back to Su Xin.
On the viewing platform, Su Baichen, Second Elder Su Tietong, and even Yuan Qing from the Crimson Dragon Tower all looked toward Su Xin.
He had become the absolute focal point of this grand competition!
"That sword just now..."
Zhao Ling frowned slightly. He knew the strength of the four True Martial Realm experts from the Faction of Retainers. Although none were at the peak like Su Qinghong, their combined strength was not weak. To severely injure all four with one sword, even he would find it challenging.
"It seems I underestimated you."
Zhao Ling finally regarded Su Xin with a serious gaze, his demeanor more solemn than before.
Su Xin's sword had already proven his strength.
"Now this is getting interesting." Zhao Ling smiled, slowly drawing the battle sword from his back.
"He's drawing his sword!"
"Drawing it right away?"
"Of course, Su Xin's sword just now showed strength not much weaker than his. He has to draw his sword!"
The surrounding crowd murmured, but soon fell silent.
Everyone held their breath.
In the center of the training ground, Su Xin and Zhao Ling, one holding a sword, the other gripping a blade, stood several meters apart, their gazes clashing intensely.
Whoosh!
A gentle breeze blew, and in the next moment...
Swish! Swish!
Two figures moved simultaneously.
Two phantoms seemed to vanish, colliding like two meteors.
"Boom!"
A loud crash echoed, sending a shiver through those nearby.
In the center of the training ground, Su Xin and Zhao Ling stood firm, one with a lowered stance, the other in a bow-like posture, their sword and blade clashing directly. The terrifying force erupted along their bodies, resonating through the air, creating piercing sonic booms.
The ground beneath their feet cracked, spreading fissures, the force lifting and shattering stones, causing them to float.
In a flash, both were pushed back.
But as soon as they steadied their steps, boom!
They charged again with overwhelming force, their weapons clashing once more.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of terrifying collision booms echoed.
No fancy moves, no techniques, just the raw, brutal clash of power!
Head-on collision!!
Each collision's terrifying force shattered the ground below, creating gusts that swept in all directions.
In the blink of an eye, they clashed dozens of times.
"What incredible speed!"
"What terrifying power!"
"This power doesn't seem like something the True Martial Realm can unleash!"
The battlefield's surroundings were already in an uproar.
"Young Master!"
"Young Master!"
Su Xin's maid, Hong Shan, was thrilled and excited, cheering repeatedly as her young master displayed such formidable strength.
"Su Xin!!"
"Su Xin!!"
The young disciples of the Su Family also roared in succession.
They had long forgotten the incident from three years ago, forgotten the decline it caused the Su Family. Now, in their eyes, Su Xin embodied the pride and glory of the Su Family, fiercely battling Zhao Ling on the field, showcasing a power that completely won them over!
In this world, strength reigns supreme!
"So strong!"
"Even without experiencing it firsthand, just hearing the commotion from the side, it's clearly above the peak of the tenth level!"
Su Qinghong, Su Yuning, and the others, who had been defeated by Zhao Ling's single strike, stood together, their eyes fixed on the two figures clashing on the field.
Only now did they truly feel the terrifying power of Zhao Ling.
When Zhao Ling fought them, he hadn't used his full strength.
However, Zhao Ling's strength and power were understandable.
But Su Xin?
"A mere ninth level of the True Martial Realm, yet in a direct clash of pure power, he's not weaker than Zhao Ling?" Su Qinghong was bewildered.
He didn't know that while Su Xin was indeed only at the ninth level, he was at its peak. After cultivating a legacy technique, his spiritual power was already on par with the average tenth level. Most importantly, it was his bloodline power!
The Supreme Bloodline's power, once activated, instantly boosted Su Xin's strength to terrifying levels, completely surpassing the peak of the tenth level.
Boom!
Another terrifying head-on clash, and the two finally halted.
Standing several meters apart, they faced each other, still exuding a terrifying aura of spiritual power.
"A mere ninth level, yet able to clash head-on with me dozens of times without falling behind, Su Xin, you truly have some skill!"
Zhao Ling's cold voice echoed across the training ground.
If at first, Zhao Ling hadn't taken Su Xin, who had been imprisoned in the Magic-Sealing Prison for three years, seriously, after seeing Su Xin severely injure the four True Martial Realm disciples of the Faction of Retainers with one sword, Zhao Ling was astonished and began to regard Su Xin seriously.
Now, Zhao Ling fully acknowledged Su Xin as a true opponent.
Not to mention, being able to clash head-on with him at full strength without falling behind, with just a ninth level cultivation, already qualified Su Xin as his opponent.
"Su Xin!"
"Next, I will start using my swordsmanship."
"A ninth level forcing me to use my swordsmanship, for that alone, you should be proud."
Zhao Ling's voice continued.
Hearing this, the many Su Family experts and disciples watching, who were thrilled and expectant of Su Xin's strength, felt a tremor in their hearts.
They remembered that Zhao Ling had passed the eleventh level of the True Martial Pavilion, his skills long reaching a high level.
How strong must his swordsmanship be?
Can Su Xin still contend with him?
"Swordsmanship, huh?"
"I'm quite eager to see it."
Su Xin smiled coldly, pointing his sword at Zhao Ling.
Whoosh!
Zhao Ling instantly drew his blade.
...