Chapter 433: Sword Spirit Testing Its Edge

"You are... Xu Yang!"

The white-haired old general, Ji Wufeng, who led the group, spoke coldly. His voice was extremely distant, yet the momentary tremor in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.

Indeed, an ordinary person might not be so nervous upon seeing Xu Yang. But these individuals standing before him were, firstly, Xu Yang's opponents, and secondly, peak powerhouses on the same level as him.

It was likely that few Tribulation Realm experts across the continent could mention Xu Yang without a change in expression.

"If you wish to fight, with your strength, you could certainly engage in an honorable and fair battle. Why choose such underhanded tactics, which betray your status as a grandmaster?"

Xu Yang smiled, "Compared to the whole world, what is my name worth? It's a shame you old-timers have lived so many years in vain, unable to let go of your petty fame and fortune. It's unlikely you'll make any further progress in this life."

Faced with Xu Yang's insults, these individuals remained unperturbed.

"Enough talk. If you want to fight, then fight. Why waste words?"

"No rush."

Xu Yang shook his head with a smile, calmly savoring the fine tea in his hand.

"By my estimation, it'll still be a while before it's time for us to act."

Ji Wufeng, standing before him, seemed to suddenly realize something.

"Could it be that the Sect Master's handwritten letter was also your doing?"

Xu Yang slowly raised his eyes, looking at the other man with a half-smile. "Would you be very surprised if I said yes?"

"You!"

"There's no need to look at me so excitedly. You, these living fossils of the Sword Alliance, even his elders, know perfectly well what kind of person Feng Xiu is. Now that I've crippled him, he's probably gone into premature seclusion. Whether he'll even emerge alive is questionable. How could he possibly care about you? In my opinion, you've cultivated for so many years that you've cultivated your brains into mush!"

Xu Yang continued with his unbridled insults, undoubtedly fueling the elders' raging anger.

"What exactly do you want?"

Xu Yang slowly rose and began to pace. "It's very simple. I want to ignite the anger in the hearts of this empire's soldiers, and more importantly, make them understand that the Sword Alliance is never to be trusted. They're willing to kill their own people, let alone the soldiers from other nations who have surrendered. Do you truly believe that after destroying a nation, you can conquer its soldiers merely through brute force? Ridiculous!"

Finally, on the battlefield, a surge of rampant war drums boomed. In the vast military camp, three hundred thousand border-guarding soldiers and hundreds of adjutants from various factions simultaneously lit their torches and advanced toward the central commander's mansion.

Among the three elders, the two living fossil vice-commanders lifted the tent flap, only then seeing the furious soldiers pressing forward.

"We've finally waited for this day! Northern Jin Sword Alliance, today, your enforcers have arrived!"

Soon, Long Mang arrived with Long Kun, the Five Gold Flowers of Cold Moon, Little Tuantuan, and other team members, surrounding the main tent in layers.

"The Northern Jin Sword Alliance's power is over. All territories you've encroached upon must be returned!"

"Exactly. From today onward, the so-called title of Northern Jin Southern Empire will be abolished. The entire Three Thousand Dao States will be brought under the banner of the Tianlan Empire, receiving the protection of Xu Yang's lineage, the leader of the Tianlan Empire from Mount Qianyuan. Old-timers, surrender now!"

Hearing Long Mang's words, Ji Wufeng in the tent couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh heartily.

"Xu Yang, you speak such grand and righteous words, but in the end, aren't you just the same, unable to escape the shackles of worldly fame and fortune? If I'm not mistaken, you want to be emperor too!"

Before Xu Yang could reply, Long Mang's voice from outside cut in: "What do you know? How dare a petty man like you presume to measure the heart of our noble leader? For years, the great empires of the Three Thousand Dao States have waged war, leaving the common people in misery and soldiers unable to return home. These are the sins committed by your Northern Jin Sword Alliance. Now, our Tianlan Empire acts on behalf of heaven. Old-timers, will you take your own lives, or shall we do it for you?"

Long Mang's voice was already powerful, and his delivery of these morale-boosting words seemed more fitting than anyone else's.

Instantly, the Southern Empire soldiers on the periphery became hot-blooded and high-spirited, as his words truly resonated with them.

The mindsets of mortal soldiers and cultivators were entirely different. Mortals only sought peace and prosperity, eating grains, unlike cultivators who absorbed spiritual energy and lived for thousands of years. These old men, speaking carelessly from their high horses, were filled with selfish desires. When had they ever considered the lives of the common people?

What Xu Yang's Tianlan Empire aimed to do was truly a grand plan for the nation and its people.

"Hmph, self-sacrifice? Are you dreaming? Don't think your numbers mean you can do whatever you want to us. Since things have reached an irreversible point, let me see how much strength you truly possess."

Ji Wufeng, who had practiced swordsmanship for over fifty thousand years, possessed a deeper foundation in the sword dao than Feng Xiu. As he summoned his Twin Blazing Sun Swords, his entire aura transformed completely.

Rumble!

The mere fluctuation of his sword energy instantly shattered the commander's tent. Under the gathered light of countless torches held by the surrounding soldiers, the central battle area became exceptionally bright.

"Xu Yang, let me experience how profound the methods of an unparalleled prodigy like you truly are!"

As Ji Wufeng spoke, he was the first to launch an attack on Xu Yang.

The Twin Blazing Sun Swords were swung in a cross-pattern, ebbing and flowing, advancing and retreating. The two swords resonated with each other, unleashing power greater than one plus one equals ten! The suppressive force emanating from the swords was even more astonishing than that of ten initial-stage Tribulation Realm sword cultivators combined!

Xu Yang sneered, "Your attainments in the sword dao are decent, but defeating me is a pipe dream. Since you still have confidence in yourself, I'll humor you. Consider it an eye-opener for the warriors of this Southern Empire."

As Xu Yang spoke, he next soared into the air with his sword. The sword he wielded was not the Asura Sword, but the King's Sword from the Bone Dragon of Buried Cultivation Mound!

Simultaneously, the Sword Spirit, with his extremely flamboyant hairstyle, materialized and stood proudly beside Xu Yang.

"Brat, you remember me when it's time to teach these rookies a lesson, but why didn't you use me when you fought Feng Xiu?"

Xu Yang shivered uncomfortably. "Wasn't I just giving you a chance to show off? The King's Sword, of course, needs a matching aura of sovereign majesty!"

Hearing this, the Sword Spirit immediately laughed.

"If you put it that way, it's acceptable. I've been idle for so long; it's time to stretch my muscles."