Chapter 106: Saintly Land Envoy

Sword energy flowed freely, like mist rising and falling. It eventually transformed into two icy-blue spiritual lights which, guided by Xu Yang's two fingers, simultaneously entered the foreheads of the Fifth Prince and the Eighth Prince.

"My goodness! He's so young, yet he already possesses such profound power? He's not just the best in Tianwu County; I doubt there are many people with his strength in the entire Great Xia Dynasty!"

"This is unbelievable! To be able to bestow techniques upon a Cavern Heaven Realm expert through soul-thought inheritance means Xu Yang's cultivation has long surpassed the Cavern Heaven Realm. Yet, from what I can tell, he only possesses Qi Refining Realm cultivation, which is..."

At this moment, not only were the ministers and powerful figures in the imperial court astonished, but even the sharp-eyed young maid from earlier was mesmerized.

Shortly after Xu Yang finished the transmission and withdrew his hands, both princes simultaneously opened their eyes and began a sword art demonstration within the vast main hall of the Xia Palace.

They did not use powerful spiritual energy; instead, they replicated the exquisite sword techniques Xu Yang had taught them.

Unbeknownst to them, Xu Yang had imparted the Cloud Contemplation Sword Intent, which he himself had absorbed from a cave. Of course, he only taught the two princes a relatively basic, introductory portion. Even so, it contained enough depth for an ordinary person to study for a century.

Even within sacred cultivation circles, the Cloud Contemplation Sword Intent was considered a top-tier sword cultivation essence. It was perfectly suited for warriors like the two princes, who were skilled in the art of battlefield combat.

As the two princes sparred, they could already skillfully perform about seventy to eighty percent of the seven sword techniques. However, the true essence of the art would depend on their individual comprehension.

Boom!

Simultaneously, sword-shaped energy glows materialized behind both princes as they prepared to unleash profound sword techniques for a decisive strike.

"Eighth brother, we are like family, but this time, I, your elder brother, do not intend to hold back."

"Haha, Fifth brother, you overstate it. It's merely a sparring match; success or failure is inconsequential!"

The two brothers exchanged some feigned pleasantries. The moment their sword energies collided, Xu Yang intervened, personally suppressing the spiritual energy fluctuations that spread from the impact. This ensured the hall remained completely undisturbed by their match.

However, the victor became clear the moment the sword energies clashed.

The Fifth Prince's skill proved superior; he sliced a strand of hair from the Eighth Prince's temple. Another inch, and the blade would have cut the Eighth Prince's neck, ending his opponent's life instantly.

In contrast, the Eighth Prince's final strike only landed on the Fifth Prince's wrist, failing to even penetrate his personal protective qi. The difference in their strength was now undeniably clear.

The Eighth Prince appeared somewhat dejected. His sword clattered to the ground, and his eyes became hollow and lost.

The Imperial Concubine, full of heartache, slumped back into her seat beside the Emperor.

Meanwhile, the Empress and the Fifth Prince, who had orchestrated the situation, wore triumphant expressions.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty and Empress. The Fifth Prince possesses exceptional talent, particularly in sword arts. In my opinion, he is the best candidate to join the Tianlan Sect."

"Wait! How can the world's finest sword cultivator join such unorthodox sects? Wouldn't that be a terrible waste of talent?"

Suddenly, an incredibly powerful sound wave descended from outside the hall, reverberating throughout the entire imperial palace!

Boom!

Under the powerful aura's shock, the entire main gate of the Xia Palace shattered. Two ethereal, dao-like sword cultivators then steadily strode into the grand hall.

With each step, the surging sword aura emanating from their feet effortlessly sent the surrounding imperial palace guards flying.

"Who are you, daring to trespass into the Great Xia Imperial Palace!"

The two old men completely ignored the civil and military officials in the hall and continued walking inside. Their formidable presence created an empty space around them, making it impossible for anyone to approach even half a step.

"Princes, it's time for you to demonstrate your skills."

Xu Yang remained unfazed, calmly sitting in his seat and drinking tea, not even sparing a glance for the two old men. Unbeknownst to him, this display of his composure was also keenly observed by the sharp-eyed young maid in the hall.

The Fifth Prince and the Eighth Prince simultaneously drew their swords and charged forward, each confronting one of the two white-robed elders.

Initially, these two old men did not take the princes seriously. In fact, they dared to disregard even the Great Xia Emperor, let alone his successors.

However, the moment Xu Yang spoke, and the two princes confronted them using the newly learned Cloud Contemplation Sword Dao, the two old men were immediately shocked and dared not show the slightest disrespect.

Clang!

Faint green sword marks simultaneously appeared behind the two old men, clashing fiercely with the two princes.

Boom!

Powerful sword energy fluctuations swept across, sending over a dozen surrounding ministers flying backward. The sheer force shocked everyone present.

The Great Xia Emperor, himself a Nascent Soul Realm expert, displayed his regal demeanor by slowly rising and shielding the two women beside him, ensuring they remained completely unaffected.

Even so, allowing these two old men to act so presumptuously in his presence was a significant loss of face.

"Heavenly Sword, Infinite!"

The two princes, simultaneously shocked, retreated rapidly. Their foundational power was still insufficient to contend with the two old men.

At that moment, Xu Yang made a move.

He lightly slapped his palm, and the teacup on the table floated out. It intercepted the two retreating princes mid-air, transmitting immense spiritual energy to them. This perfectly neutralized all external forces on their bodies, allowing them to land steadily.

"Oh? I didn't expect such an expert to emerge from the Great Xia Dynasty. May I ask who you are..."

When Xu Yang slowly stood up, the two old men were utterly stunned.

"What! Qi Refining Realm... and yet such profound power? How is this possible!"

"May I ask, who exactly are you?"

The two old men almost entirely ignored the Great Xia Emperor, directing their attention to Xu Yang first.

"Heh, my identity isn't important. What is important is that your manner of entering the Great Xia Imperial Palace was quite inappropriate."

The two elders exchanged glances, indicating they could not discern Xu Yang's true depth. Their previous arrogance naturally vanished, and they simultaneously bowed to the Great Xia Emperor with cupped fists.

"We are Wu Feng and Wu Ji, elders of the Heavenly Sword Sacred Land. We greet the Great Xia Emperor."

The Great Xia Emperor's expression was cold as he glanced at the two: "The Sacred Land is renowned worldwide for its profound heritage, yet I did not expect such a lack of courtesy. I know you must have come because of the Northern Wilderness conflict. Even a matter of great importance can be resolved by sitting down and discussing it, but your current attitude makes it impossible for Us to speak."

The elder's attitude improved, and he offered a slight smile: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We are outsiders, accustomed to a carefree life, and we momentarily forgot worldly etiquette. We hope Your Majesty will be understanding. However, the sword techniques performed by the two princes just now were exceptionally exquisite. May I ask where they were taught?"

The Eighth Prince did not rush to speak, glancing at the Fifth Prince beside him. The Fifth Prince, being clever, smiled lightly and replied to the two: "They were taught by a mysterious expert from an outer domain."

"Oh? So that's the case..."