Chapter 831: He Alone with a Sword Can Fight Ten Thousand in the Yunlun Mountains

“Sword Sovereign!” The exclamation rippled through the stunned crowd. Everyone present could discern the mastery in Xu Xiaoshou's single sword strike; it clearly demonstrated the foundational strength of a Sword Sovereign.

"Who is this person?" "Is he truly an ancient sword cultivator's Sword Sovereign?" "In the Central Domain's major factions, I've only ever heard of one young Sword Sovereign prodigy from the Holy Temple. I never expected to just stumble upon one so casually here in the Eastern Domain!" someone exclaimed in surprise.

"Heh, you forget what the Eastern Domain is called – 'Heaven of the Eastern Domain Sword God' isn't just a fancy name! Even a young Sword Dao Monarch appeared here recently," an Eastern Domain native said proudly.

"However, this individual isn't from the Eastern Domain; he's from the Northern Domain."

"Oh? Who is he?"

"He's a Half-Saint's direct disciple... Young Master Xu!"

Among the sixty-plus people, a significant number were from the Eastern Heavenly Realm. Even without drawing his sword, some still recognized Young Master Xu's face. When someone announced him as "a Half-Saint's direct disciple," the entire assembly fell silent.

A Half-Saint lineage… That was truly formidable. As geniuses, they all knew each other's general backgrounds. Among the sixty-plus individuals present, not a single Void Master's disciple was to be found. Yet now, a single Cloud Pearl had drawn out a Half-Saint's direct disciple?

"Feared, Passive Points +64."

"Doubting, Passive Points +32."

"Adoring, Passive Points +3."

Amidst everyone's shock and doubt, "Stop!" Young Master Xu bellowed, even though the battle in the air had already ceased. Yet, the black sword in his hand showed no respect, quivering and slicing away, almost as if it were a massive tongue intent on licking the blood from the bald man, Zhao Xiu.

Zhao Xiu's face had turned ghastly pale—not from fear, but from sheer exhaustion. If this heavy bleeding persisted, even his peak Xiantian cultivation would fail to endure it. As the black sword cut ever deeper, seemingly growing more excited with each lick, Zhao Xiu began to fear that his carotid artery was on the verge of being severed with every subsequent strike!

"This is a Half-Saint's direct disciple?" The onlookers gained a fresh perspective on what such a title entailed.

"Haha, this is hilarious! A Half-Saint's direct disciple who can't even rein in a sixth-grade spirit sword? That's pathetic! I can perfectly control my fifth-grade spirit spear!" someone scoffed.

"But don't you think Young Master Xu's sixth-grade spirit sword is a bit... misbehaved? Isn't its sentience a bit too pronounced?" someone else wondered aloud, both surprised and suspicious.

On the battlefield, Xu Xiaoshou finally couldn't take it anymore. He inwardly grumbled about the unruly Hidden Bitter showing no respect to its own master, utterly beyond discipline. Outwardly, he calmly and casually moved the black sword away. If he didn't intervene, Zhao Xiu's neck would be severed before he could even begin to rein in Hidden Bitter.

"Thank you for sparing my life, honored sir." Having narrowly avoided further injury and still having a chance to participate in the Royal City Trial, Zhao Xiu no longer dared to cause trouble. After bowing with cupped fists, he clutched his neck and prepared to retreat.

"Wait!" Xu Xiaoshou called out, halting him.

"Young Master Xu, what else is it? I'm withdrawing. I won't be participating in the upcoming Cloud Pearl contention..." Zhao Xiu quickly declared his stance.

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, indicating that wasn't his intention. This man was a valuable potential subordinate, comparable to a Grandmaster; how could he let him leave injured?

"Your injury is severe. I didn't strike you in vain. This substance is called 'Crimson Gold Liquid'; it possesses potent healing capabilities. Try it."

Xu Xiaoshou pulled out a jar of honey, ignoring Zhao Xiu's suddenly altered expression, and directly applied the medicine to his neck.

Zhao Xiu felt a minty coolness on his neck. When he touched it again, the wound had already healed.

"It's not poison..."

"What a remarkably potent healing medicine..."

Two exclamations arose simultaneously in his mind.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Xu Xiaoshou said, brimming with self-satisfaction, as he patted Zhao Xiu's gleaming bald head. He instructed, "This is the 'Crimson Gold Liquid' that I developed. It's currently available in Eastern Heavenly Royal City. After you leave, you can purchase it from the Duojin Merchant Guild. Its efficacy surpasses Crimson Gold Pills, and it's even cheaper. Buying it is a guaranteed profit."

Zhao Xiu's expression was utterly bewildered. He clearly hadn't recovered from the intense battle, nor from the immense disparity of the current situation—being sold products on the spot. What in the world was happening? *You're a Half-Saint's direct disciple, you almost severed my neck, and now you want me to buy medicine you developed? What kind of ridiculous joke is this!*

Zhao Xiu was about to turn and leave, but then he caught sight of Young Master Xu's suddenly darkened expression. He immediately chuckled nervously, "Buy, I will definitely buy. I will certainly support Young Master Xu's business."

"Excellent," Xu Xiaoshou nodded.

"Young Master Xu, if there's nothing else, may I take my leave?" Zhao Xiu gestured behind him. He found Young Master Xu's aura unnervingly strange, not at all like a typical Half-Saint's direct disciple, or even a normal person! He dared not linger in this peculiar place; leaving was his best course of action.

"Wait," Xu Xiaoshou commanded again.

"What else is it, Young Master Xu...?" Zhao Xiu's scalp was already prickling.

"You swear."

"Swear what?"

"To buy the medicine, didn't you just agree to it?" Xu Xiaoshou glared.

Zhao Xiu's eyes widened in confusion. "Alright, I swear..." Faced with such overwhelming authority, Zhao Xiu humiliatingly raised four fingers.

"Swear by the Heavenly Dao," Xu Xiaoshou said, pressing down Zhao Xiu's little finger.

Zhao Xiu fell silent. "Alright, I, Zhao Xiu, swear by the Heavenly Dao that after leaving the Cloud-Treading Mountains, I will definitely go to Eastern Heavenly Royal City's Golden... what was that merchant guild called?"

"Duojin."

"Ah, the Duojin Merchant Guild, to purchase Young Master Xu's 'Crimson Gold Liquid'!"

"One hundred thousand portions," Xu Xiaoshou added.

"One hundred thousand... huh? One hundred thousand portions?" Zhao Xiu subconsciously echoed, his eyes bulging as the meaning sank in. How could a single person possibly use one hundred thousand portions of Crimson Gold Liquid? Besides, he was already on the verge of breaking through to the Grandmaster realm; by the time he left, the Crimson Gold Liquid would likely be irrelevant to his cultivation level.

"Is there a problem?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes narrowed.

Zhao Xiu took a deep breath. "One hundred thousand portions, no problem!"

"I'm not forcing you, am I? You swore it yourself..."

Zhao Xiu's chest visibly swelled, a clear sign of suppressed fury. Eventually, he exhaled a soft breath, like a small, wilted lotus, and said, on the verge of tears, "It was entirely my own voluntary choice. How could Young Master Xu possibly force anyone?"

"Go on then," Xu Xiaoshou said, waving a hand in satisfaction.

"Farewell, Young Master Xu." Zhao Xiu, not wanting to linger for another second, launched himself into the air with the speed of thunder, soaring toward the horizon.

"Where are you going!" Xu Xiaoshou suddenly roared again. A cross-shaped sword energy, spanning heaven and earth, instantly froze Zhao Xiu, who was attempting to flee, in mid-air.

"I... I..." Zhao Xiu felt countless sword needles coursing through his body. Combined with being repeatedly thrown around, blood rushed to his head, and he nearly vomited. "Didn't you tell me I could leave?"

Xu Xiaoshou pursed his lips, gesturing toward Xin Gugu behind him. "What I meant was, since you've lost, you must temporarily become my captive and stay with my guardian. Where exactly do you think you're going? Do you truly believe I wouldn't dare to kill you?"

The first part of the sentence almost made Zhao Xiu break through to the Grandmaster realm on the spot and re-engage in battle. But the latter half—"Do you truly believe I wouldn't dare to kill you?"—combined with Young Master Xu's pervasive killing intent and overwhelming pressure, instantly deflated Zhao Xiu. His bravado withered as he realized that even if he were to achieve Grandmaster status, he still couldn't withstand the power of a Sword Sovereign.

He dutifully moved behind Xin Gugu and began to regulate his breathing.

Everyone in the arena was dumbfounded. Initially, they had simply been enjoying the spectacle. A Half-Saint's direct disciple selling medicine on the spot seemed utterly farcical. Surely, even if he lacked funds, this wasn't the proper way to acquire them, was it? Young Master Xu was undeniably bringing dishonor to his own family!

Yet, as they continued to observe, despite their inner complaints, people began to sense that something was deeply amiss. The appearance of the "cross-shaped sword energy" instantly froze a peak Xiantian practitioner, leaving him utterly unable to retaliate. This implied that everyone present would likely be unable to withstand even a single glance from Young Master Xu.

Then, Young Master Xu made another astonishing declaration: "If defeated, you must become a captive?" This sent too many people into a panic.

Within the span of a single battle, the number of individuals drawn by the Cloud Pearl's ethereal glow had already surpassed seventy. The recent arrivals were sparse, indicating that virtually everyone in the vicinity who had noticed the Cloud Pearl's light had been drawn to this location. Now, however, Young Master Xu was declaring his intent to take captives, which, combined with his earlier pronouncement—"Everyone, you are surrounded by me, Xu"—made his true intentions undeniably clear.

"Run."

"If we can't win, we can only run."

Even influential young figures from the Central Domain, such as Tai Xing of Xuantian Prefecture, Mo Beibei of Sansheng Sect, Xi Guanghan of Daliang Palace, and Zhu Dong of Chaodong Pavilion, now entertained this very thought. They were all intelligent individuals and naturally had no desire to pave the way for others' success. However, resisting Young Master Xu risked having their trial jade pendants shattered, which would sever any connection to the Royal City Trial and even the City of Sky. Furthermore, it would completely cut them off from the Holy Palace Path, which everyone so coveted.

At this very moment, the Cloud Pearl's spiritual radiance completely dissipated, and an alluring crystal sphere dropped to the ground with a thud. Yet, not a single person dared to step forward and covet the object. One hundred points. Or becoming a captive. The choice between them was so obvious, one could figure it out with their toes.

"Run!" A sharp cry erupted from an unknown source. Simultaneously, over seventy individuals transformed into as many streaks of light, soaring away in every direction.

"They can't be stopped..." In the waiting area behind, just as Zhao Xiu's face was turning ashen, Liu Changqing stirred, intending to step forward and offer assistance. He had only witnessed Young Master Xu's techniques, not his true capabilities. Naturally, he couldn't imagine Young Master Xu's cultivation, even if it possessed Sword Sovereign power, could possibly detain over seventy geniuses from the five domains.

"No need for you to act," Xin Gugu said, pulling him back with a smile. "Young Master Xu said that in this trial, we should simply observe as much as possible... Young Master Xu's capabilities far surpass anything you might anticipate."

Zhao Xiu, standing nearby, scoffed. "What a joke! A Sword Sovereign is powerful, but to hold back over seventy Xiantian experts from the five domains? These two, including Young Master Xu, are dreaming!"

"Don't you believe in my capabilities?" In the void, Xu Xiaoshou smiled, watching the scattering streaks of light, realizing he had been underestimated. These people... he had already told them they were surrounded, why didn't they believe him?

"Trying to run?"

"Not a chance."

With a slight lowering of his eyelids, Xu Xiaoshou in the void gently lifted both sleeves. Sword intent surged through the sky like radiating bolts of lightning, crackling and stirring up sand and gravel within a radius of dozens of miles.

*Whoosh!* Time in the world seemed to slow. Suddenly, the mountainous terrain fissured under the sword intent, sending shattered rocks and sand soaring into the air, each fragment emitting astonishing sword energy.

"This!" Zhao Xiu's pupils sharply contracted from behind. "Is this a Sword Sovereign?" Liu Changqing was equally dumbfounded. "Controlling everything within a ten-mile radius... this is a Sword Sovereign?"

Xiantian Sword Intent resonated for a *li*; Grandmaster Sword Intent resonated for ten *li*. But these were merely phenomena accompanying the breakthrough of sword intent, not indicators that a Sword Sovereign could command all things within a dozen miles.

"A Sword Dao Monarch?" Zhao Xiu was not foolish. Amidst his horror, he clearly considered this astonishing possibility.

The seventy-plus individuals who had flown far away also realized something was gravely amiss. This sword intent's oppressive power was terrifying. It felt as though they had encountered an Elder at the Monarch level from their own sect or clan, and one of formidable strength. Such sword intent, emanating from a youth of their generation?

"Ying—" A lingering sword hum pierced through ten *li*. At that moment, Hidden Bitter, amid its violent, buzzing vibrations, reached the peak of exhilaration. Its blade suddenly straightened, then quivered, quivered, and quivered again.

"White Clouds Drifting, Myriad Sword Style!" Xu Xiaoshou softly murmured.

Circles of sword light, following Hidden Bitter's thrusting blade, tore through the void and disappeared ten *li* away. No one could clearly perceive the trajectory of the sword light; even Liu Changqing could only vaguely discern it amidst the attack. The seemingly circular halos of drawn swords were not uniformly shaped. Instead, they adapted to the varying heights of the fleeing figures, flashing past each one's head. Then, without exception, every single one of them severed only... a single strand of hair from the person attempting to escape!

Over seventy individuals. After these circulating sword lights, their hearts collectively skipped a beat, and they abruptly halted their flight. In that instant, time seemed to revert to its normal pace. The strands of hair, drifting down from the foreheads of each fleeing person, swayed and danced, like leaves detaching from an autumn sycamore. They carried a hidden hint of death as they dissolved upon the ground.

"What?!" Tai Xing, Mo Beibei, Xi Guanghan, Zhu Dong, and the others, their hearts pounded uncontrollably at that moment. These four young talents, hailing from prestigious families and major sects, could discern from this single display that if Young Master Xu had truly intended to, they would already be dead.

*Boom!* Only then, a full ten *li* away, did a sudden, deafening boom erupt.

Everyone looked on in horror, witnessing vast clouds of dust and smoke explode upwards, unleashed by the sword waves. Like a sudden clap of thunder from a clear sky, an insurmountable boundary of life and death had been drawn ten *li* away, forming an open-air barrier that effectively trapped the seventy-plus fleeing individuals, like lambs penned within a drawn circle!

A collective gulp echoed among the countless onlookers. Amidst their shock, everyone simultaneously realized, "So, Young Master Xu isn't just a Sword Sovereign—he's a Sword Dao Monarch!"

Xu Xiaoshou remained unmoving. With a faint smile, he returned Hidden Bitter—the sword that seemed to pulse with the very aura of the world, as if it alone had conjured the vast display of power—back into its sheath.

Then, he looked into the distance. "Everyone, are you still running?" His soft, light voice, like a death knell, resonated with endless echoes in the hearts of the seventy-plus individuals.

Tai Xing, Mo Beibei, Xi Guanghan, Zhu Dong, and the others exchanged distant glances, their expressions bitter. They knew that this time, if they didn't accept being captives, they would genuinely be forced to end their Royal City Trial.

"Young Master Xu is mighty!" In the waiting area, Zhao Xiu, having recovered his composure, scrambled and stumbled a few steps before finally standing upright and shouting loudly. To serve under a Sword Dao Monarch, and to be his very first henchman at that—this was no loss at all! Even clan leaders would seek to befriend such a formidable individual!

After his shout, Zhao Xiu couldn't help but turn and look at the two individuals beside him, asking in surprise, "Sirs, you are his guardians, which means Young Master Xu is actually an alchemist?"

"Indeed," Xin Gugu nodded, retracting his envious gaze. He, too, wished he could flaunt his power like Xu Xiaoshou, but regrettably, he was unable to intervene. He mused that it truly felt magnificent to draw a sword before a group of minor Xiantian cultivators, instantly evoking the sensation of being a Sword Immortal. This, he thought, was undoubtedly the swiftest path to achieving Sword Immortal status.

Receiving the affirmative reply, Zhao Xiu swallowed hard again, stealing a glance at Young Master Xu, whose clothes rustled in the void. At that moment, he felt that Young Master Xu's ordinary face had somehow become radiant.

"This is no mere alchemist. Why in the world would he even need guardians?" "He, with a single person and a single sword, could conquer ten thousand in the Cloud-Treading Mountains!"