Sovereign of Stars-Chapter 35 – With just a sword

A great battle claimed the lives of over a hundred clan members.
The entire Su Family was engulfed in sorrow.
Seven days passed quickly.
...
"The Pang Family has been wiped out!"
"I heard the Grand Elder personally took action, exterminating all the remaining high-ranking members of the Pang Family. Even among the younger clan members, only a few managed to escape by sheer luck."
"Good riddance, that damned Pang Family is finally dealt with."
Upon receiving this news, the Su Family members felt a great sense of relief.
In the battle seven days ago, the Su Family suffered heavy casualties, but the Pang Family's losses were even greater.
Especially the top-level Void Shattering Realm experts of the Pang Family, who were completely annihilated that night.
Without the support of Void Shattering Realm experts, the Pang Family no longer had the qualifications to contend with the Su Family. Just yesterday, the Grand Elder Su Boyong personally took action, exterminating all the remaining high-ranking experts of the Pang Family, leading to their complete downfall.
"Such is the way of the world. If the Su Family hadn't withstood the Pang Family's assault that night, it would have been us who were wiped out."
As Su Xin walked through the Su Manor, he heard many Su Family members celebrating this event, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"The Pang Family is gone, and the Situ Family... should not dare to make a move against the Su Family in the short term. I should also prepare for the upcoming Imperial Capital Hunt."
That night, the Situ Family had mobilized considerable forces, even dispatching a squad of Winged Dragon Guards, but all were left behind at the Su Manor.
With this incident, the Situ Family would surely become wary of the Su Family again and would not dare to act rashly.
Moreover, the loss of a complete squad of Winged Dragon Guards would undoubtedly cause the Situ Family a great deal of trouble.
Su Xin could temporarily set his mind at ease and prepare for the upcoming Imperial Capital Hunt.
On this day, Su Xin decided to venture out alone for training.
This was his first true solo journey since birth.
In less than two months, he planned to explore Yongning Prefecture on his own.
...
Beihan City.
Among the many cities in Yongning Prefecture, Beihan City was quite renowned.
The reason for its fame was the presence of an old city lord.
This old city lord was over a hundred years old and had held the position for sixty years, highly respected and of great virtue. Most importantly, his strength was formidable, with few in Yongning Prefecture below the Void Shattering Realm able to match him.
In the open grounds of the City Lord's Mansion, a burly old man with a tiger-like back and bear-like waist was practicing a saber technique with full concentration.
His saber technique was robust and expansive, full of momentum.
After a long while, the practice concluded.
To read the uncut version, go to [pawread.com].
Sitting on a stone bench at the edge of the grounds was a graceful woman, the old city lord's granddaughter. Seeing the old city lord approach, she smiled and said, "Grandfather, you're over a hundred years old and still so vigorous."
"Haha!" The old city lord laughed heartily, "What's wrong with being over a hundred? With my vitality, living another thirty or forty years is no problem."
He wasn't boasting.
In this world, people trained in martial arts to strengthen their bodies, and the higher their cultivation, the longer they lived.
For those in the Sea Transformation Realm, living over a hundred years was normal as long as there were no accidents. The old city lord had long reached the peak of the Sea Transformation Realm, and with his robust health, he could indeed live to a hundred and thirty or forty.
For those in the Void Shattering Realm, living to a hundred and sixty or seventy was normal.
As for those above the Nirvana Realm, many could live over two hundred years.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'll never advance further in my life," the old city lord sighed.
His cultivation had long reached the peak of the Sea Transformation Realm, and the next step was the Void Shattering Realm.
But this step was like a chasm, and he had been stuck at it for most of his life, unable to cross it.
"Master, someone is here to see you," an old servant approached.
"Who is it?" the old city lord asked.
"He says his name is Sword One, a very young fellow," the old servant replied.
"Sword One?" the old city lord was puzzled but still smiled, "Let him in."
The old servant nodded and left.
"Very young? Then he's probably here to become a disciple."
The graceful woman frowned, "Grandfather, in your sixty years as city lord, countless young people have come to seek apprenticeship, and you've accepted dozens of them. Among them, only two or three have truly excelled, while most remain obscure, and a few have even tarnished your reputation."
"In the future, if you accept more disciples, you should be more discerning," the graceful woman advised.
"I know, do I need you to manage my affairs?" the old city lord chuckled, but he didn't take it to heart.
He was a magnanimous person, and when it came to accepting disciples, as long as the person wasn't too malicious, suited his temperament, or had some talent, he was willing to take them in.
And once he accepted a disciple, he would teach them wholeheartedly, without reservation.
However, the world was complex, and some disciples who initially had good character changed during their training.
Over the decades, he had taken in many disciples, and indeed, a few had gone astray.
But this didn't deter him from continuing to accept disciples.
Soon, under the guidance of the old servant, a young man in a black robe, carrying a sword, entered.
"So young? Not even twenty?" the graceful woman looked at the young man in the black robe, her expression turning peculiar.
"Junior Sword One greets the old city lord," Su Xin bowed slightly.
On his way here, he had heard much about the old city lord, and he held great respect for such a powerful and virtuous elder willing to teach the younger generation.
"Young man, what brings you to me?" the old city lord asked.
"I heard of your exceptional saber skills, and I wish to learn from you," Su Xin replied.
"Just say you want to become a disciple, no need for pretense," the graceful woman said discontentedly.
Su Xin was taken aback.
Become a disciple?
Was she talking about him?
But the old city lord laughed heartily, "Alright, I just finished practicing my saber. Young man, come at me."
"Be careful then, senior," Su Xin drew his sword.
"Come on."
The old city lord held his saber with one hand, smiling, while his other hand was behind his back.
He had long seen that Su Xin was only at the initial stage of the Sea Transformation Realm, and like his granddaughter, he assumed Su Xin was here to become a disciple.
So initially, he didn't take Su Xin's strength seriously, treating him like any other junior disciple.
But as soon as Su Xin swung his sword...
The sword light was ethereal, yet incredibly fast.
Most importantly, as the sword light swept out, it carried a mysterious intent.
"Is this... sword intent?" the old city lord was shocked.
Concept Comprehension, when reaching a certain level, could perfectly integrate with a weapon, forming sword intent.
This young man, merely at the initial stage of the Sea Transformation Realm, surprised him with his first move.
The old city lord immediately swung his saber.
Clang, clang, clang~~~
The intense sounds of clashing rang out, and the old city lord, who started casually, became extremely serious, gradually unleashing his full strength.
But after a round of exchanges, he found himself being pushed back.
"I am actually being completely suppressed?"
The old city lord was incredulous.
"Good lad, again!"
The two engaged in another fierce battle, with the old city lord unleashing his full strength, while Su Xin activated fifty percent of his bloodline power and began using the Thunderfire Volume sword technique.
After half a cup of tea's time, the two stopped.
"Senior, thank you for letting me win," Su Xin said humbly with a smile.
"I... lost?"
The old city lord was still in shock, but quickly regained his composure, "Haha! Good lad, my cultivation reached the peak of the Sea Transformation Realm long ago, and I passed the first level of the Dragon-Seeking Tower decades ago. I thought there were only two or three in all of Yongning Prefecture's Sea Transformation Realm who could defeat me, yet today I lost to you..."
"Truly, the waves of the Yangtze River push forward, each new generation surpassing the last."
The old city lord praised.
Beside him, his granddaughter, the graceful woman, was already stunned.
At first, she really thought this incredibly young 'Sword One' was here to become a disciple.
But now...
"Sword One, my young friend, just now, our battle gave me many insights into saber techniques. If you have no urgent matters, would you stay at my mansion for a night and spar with me a few more times?" the old city lord asked.
"Of course," Su Xin smiled.
This old city lord was incredibly strong!
He had only barely defeated him by fully unleashing his sword technique with fifty percent of his bloodline power.
The battle had given the old city lord insights, but Su Xin had also gained much.
He was naturally willing to spar with the old city lord a few more times to exchange insights.
That day, Su Xin and the old city lord sparred several more times.
In the evening, they even talked late into the night by candlelight.
It wasn't until the next morning that Su Xin took his leave.
"So young, yet possessing such extraordinary strength, traveling the world with just a sword, challenging various experts... truly enviable," the old city lord praised as he watched Su Xin's departing figure.
"Grandfather, although Sword One is formidable, you're not much different from him," the graceful woman said.
"That's not the same," the old city lord shook his head, sighing, "Compared to him, I'm like the setting sun, while he is the rising sun, full of potential!"
"Being young is wonderful!"
...
In a village at the foot of a mountain, Su Xin had just arrived.
"Haha, kill them all!"
"No!"
"Spare us! We are willing to offer our wealth!"
"Mother!"
A group of bandits, on horseback, rampaged through the village, killing and looting.
In this world, martial arts flourished but were chaotic, breeding bandits.
The cities were better off, protected by the Royal Dynasty's army, but villages outside the towns, relying on the mountains for sustenance, were constantly threatened by bandits.
Even the Royal Dynasty couldn't do anything about it.
Seeing this, Su Xin's eyes turned red, and he immediately took action.
These were just ordinary bandits, with their leader only at the initial stage of the Sea Transformation Realm, having no chance against Su Xin. In just a moment, the dozens of bandits plundering the village were completely wiped out by Su Xin.
Thus, the village was spared from massacre.
...
In a beautiful manor.
"Master Tang, I am Sword One. I heard that the steward of your manor once single-handedly killed several peak Sea Transformation Realm experts. I am here to seek guidance."
"Another martial arts fanatic," Master Tang waved his hand, "Old Seven, since this young man is sincerely seeking guidance, give him some pointers."
"Yes," the old steward quickly stepped forward.
...
"Mr. Song, I am Sword One, seeking your guidance."
"Just an initial stage Sea Transformation, and you think you're worthy of facing me?" Mr. Song turned and left, not bothering to engage.
"In that case, I'll take my leave," Su Xin wasn't upset, turning to leave.
...
Su Xin, with just his sword, traveled through the cities and forests of Yongning Prefecture.
Whenever he passed a place and heard of someone with great strength or exceptional skills, he would challenge them.
Just like when he met the beggar boy Duan Yunfeng in Dongyang City... traveling the world, challenging various experts.
But Su Xin wasn't as reckless and wild as Duan Yunfeng. His battles with these experts were purely for sparring, and he never truly aimed to kill.
And if someone refused, Su Xin wouldn't persist or force a battle.
If he encountered injustice during his travels, he would intervene without hesitation.
Time passed during these travels.
Soon, it was the initial selection day for the Imperial Capital Hunt.
...