The gate of the military drill ground. 

A gaunt middle-aged man with graying temples walked inside. He had a pine sheath strapped diagonally across his back. He was a bit on the short side, and his appearance was unexceptional.

Yet when they saw him arrive, who knows how many influential figures rose in solemn greeting? 

The younger generation disciples’ expressions revealed awe and fervor.

Mu Cangtu, the sect master of Blueriver Sword Manor, a man they said “could suppress half the city with a single swing of his sword”!

Rumor had it that his sword was so sharp, it could sever running water and cut through the air as if it were cloth!

A group of Blueriver Sword Manor’s inner sect elders trailed after Mu Cangtu, but Zhou Huaiqiu wasn’t among their ranks.

It was clear that, after losing to Su Yi the night before, he was unwilling to show his face in public.

When he saw Mu Cangtu arrive, Qin Wenyuan instantly relaxed.

Even though he was already planning to deal with Su Yi, it would naturally be even better if he could let someone else do all the hard work for him.

“Brother Mu, welcome! This way, please!” Qin Wenyuan rose and greeted him with a smile.

“No need.” Mu Cangtu refused him, his face expressionless. 

After entering the military drill ground, he paid no heed to anyone present. This was extremely rude, but no one dared object.

Because in their eyes, Mu Cangtu had both the qualifications and the confidence necessary to act that way.

Mu Cangtu’s gaze locked directly onto Su Yi. A hint of confusion arose on his face. “When you first lost your cultivation, I assumed you’d never cultivate again in this lifetime. Who would have thought that, just one year later, you’d defeat Zhou Huaiqiu in a single blow? I’m truly beside myself with shock.”

The Blueriver Sword Manor elders behind him all wore complex looks on their faces too. Who among them didn’t recognize the former outer sect sword chief?

But none of them would have guessed that, after just one year apart, they’d reunite in such a way.

Su Yi said flatly, “Sect Master, are you here to reminisce about the past? Or to resolve a grudge?”

Mu Cangtu sighed. “You killed seven people. You had your reasons, and I can understand why you did it, but our standpoints are different. As the sect master of Blueriver Sword Manor, I cannot simply ignore this incident. Do you understand?”

Su Yi nodded. “Of course.”

Mu Cangtu stared intently at Su Yi for a moment, a conflicted look on his face. But then, he shook his head, his face expressionless once more. “At my level of the Martial Dao, I must use my body as a furnace to temper the five major organs to perfection, one by one. The gap between each step is enormous as a vast chasm. It is precisely because I’ve reached this level that I’ve finally understood: those attached to mundane power and authority are destined never to reach the level of Xiantian Martial Ancestor.

“Thus, after this battle, I shall renounce my position as sect master of Blueriver Sword Manor and immerse myself in the Martial Dao. I shall never concern myself with the conflicts of the mundane world ever again!”

When he made this declaration, the entire venue was stunned.

No one could have anticipated that Mu Cangtu would make such an announcement now of all times!

Even Su Yi couldn’t help but look surprised.

He could clearly sense that, within Mu Cangtu’s short frame, his blood and qi surged, as turbulent as storm-swept seas. 

And his spirit was as firm as a boulder.

This was the highest authority of Blueriver Sword Manor. He was extraordinary, both body and soul. Even his inner force was as sharp as could be; he’d polished it to the extreme.

Although he was just a first-level Grandmaster, the way Su Yi saw it, his foundations and accumulated knowledge far surpassed many second-level Grandmasters!

I wouldn’t have guessed I’d encounter someone worthy of notice in the Cloudriver Prefectural Capital, thought Su Yi. Alas, even if his foundations in the Internal Furnace Realm were firmer, he’s getting on in years. His future accomplishments are limited.

“All of you, retreat. Su Yi and I shall duke it out on our own,” said Mu Cangtu. The Blueriver Sword Manor elders behind him all retreated out of the military drill ground.

Qin Wenyuan’s eyes flashed, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. This was the Mu Cangtu he knew: forthright and aloof, as sharp as his sword!

Many of the major powers in attendance grew excited, and they watched with eagerness. It had been many years since they last saw Mu Cangtu in action.

None of them knew just how powerful this long-famous expert, the man who could “single-handedly level half the city” had become. 

Yuan Wutong’s eyes flashed, but inside, he was a bit tense.

Even though he’d heard that Su Yi had once slain a Martial Dao Grandmaster, he hadn’t witnessed it with his own eyes. Furthermore, Mu Cangtu was in no way comparable to an ordinary Martial Dao Grandmaster. Of course he was nervous!

Zhang Zhiyan sighed. “A talented young man like that might very well perish here today. It really is a pity.”

Zhang Yuanxing’s expression was strange. “If he dies at the hands of the sect master of Blueriver Sword Manor, he’ll descend to the Nine Springs with a smile on his face.”

Non-stop discussions rang out throughout the military drill ground.

“It doesn’t matter how strong he is. There’s no way he’s a match for a Grandmaster!” said someone.

“That’s for sure.”

Most of the crowd didn’t think highly of Su Yi’s chances.

Even though he’d defeated Zhou Huaiqiu in a single attack the night before, and even though he’d already displayed shocking power, he was about to face a Martial Dao Grandmaster!

Yuan Luoxi and Huang Qianjun were relatively calm, but even they couldn’t help but tense up.

After all, Mu Cangtu was no ordinary Martial Dao Grandmaster!

“Flowers can bloom again, but men cannot reclaim their youth. That’s true for you, but also for the Blueriver Sword Manor disciples who died beneath your sword.” Mu Cangtu stood in the middle of the empty military drill ground, his expression flat. “I’m here today, not to discuss right and wrong, nor to discuss grudges or enmity. I’m just here to determine victory and defeat. All I ask is…. That you won’t blame me for my heartlessness.”

But Su Yi merely smiled. “Attack. No need to delay any further.”

“Alright.” Mu Cangtu wasted no more words.

His gaze was cold and steely as he extended his hand. He used his palm as a sword, cutting through the air.

Slice!

Fierce gales howled overhead.

A streak of peerless sword qi swept from Mu Cangtu’s hand. In an instant, it was over a hundred feet in the air. It cut towards Su Yi, stirring up incomparably sharp, shrieking gales.

This was an external release of Astral Qi. He was attacking his foe through the air!

This was the extraordinary power unique to the Grandmaster level.

The sword qi spreading across heaven and earth landed before the attack itself.

The ground beneath Su Yi’s feet was covered in bluestone slabs, each as firm as steel. Yet when the sword qi swept over them, a high-pitch screeching emanated from the tiles as the energy cut startling white scars into the rock and sent stone fragments flying into the air. 

On top of that, the vast momentum of Mu Cangtu’s sword swept over Su Yi. Were an ordinary warrior standing here, the momentum alone would have scared him out of his wits before the sword qi could arrive. 

This was the terrifying might of a Martial Dao Grandmaster.

“Break.” In response, Su Yi merely swung his fist.

His dense inner force converged. His jade-like fist glowed like a pillar of light, forcing back the sword.

After entering the Qi Accumulation Realm, Su Yi’s innate vitality was well over ten times as strong as it had been in the Blood Circulation Realm, and he’d connected and refined all one hundred and eight of his spiritual apertures. The strength of his foundations was enough to look down on anyone and everyone beneath the heavens. 

Combined with the attainments of his past life, this simple fist carried a vague hint of the power of nature, like an inexhaustible river. 

Boom!

Sword qi and fist collided. 

It was as if lightning had struck; booms shook the center of the military drill ground. The aftershock spread out in all directions, picking up the bluestone slabs and ripping them from the earth, leaving ditch after ditch behind. 

The onlookers felt the entire grounds tremble, as if there were a sudden earthquake. That attack was like two grand mountains colliding, shaking both heaven and earth!

Wind scattered, but Su Yi didn’t move in the slightest, nor was he the least bit injured. The only thing that changed were his clothes, which now rustled in the wind. However, this only offset his upright posture.

Everyone fell silent. Not one member of the audience wasn’t tongue-tied. 

Qin Wenyuan’s expression turned solemn, and his heart shook. He actually blocked it!

“This….” Zhang Zhiyan immediately sat up straight. His typical smile disappeared, replaced with shock. His eyes flashed with uncertainty.

Yuan Wutong, conversely, instantly relaxed. Witnessing this had shocked him too.

Although there were numerous prominent figures in attendance, only four were Martial Dao Grandmasters. They were, respectively, Qin Wenyuan, Zhang Zhiyan, Yuan Wutong, and Mu Cangtu.

As such, only the three of them fully understood just how powerful Mu Cangtu’s attack had been. It was more than enough to easily obliterate a peak Qi Accumulation expert. 

Yet Su Yi had casually blocked it with a single swing of his fist! It was only natural that this would draw their attention!

The city’s younger generation now burst into uproar. Shock and confusion were written all over their faces, as if they dared not believe their eyes.

The higher-ups of Blueriver Sword Manor looked stunned too. Was the sect master deliberately withholding his power?

This scene shook everyone in attendance. 

“An early-stage Qi Accumulation martial artist blocked that attack? No wonder you managed to overpower Zhou Huaiqiu with a single swing of your sword. Impressive!” Mu Cangtu’s eyes lit up, and he wasn’t the least bit stingy with his praise, nor did he attempt to hide his surprise.

His inner force was the result of decades of bitter cultivation and years of polishing. Only then did he obtain energy so concentrated that it was practically tangible.

Even that casual attack just now was powerful enough that other Martial Dao Grandmasters wouldn’t dare take it lightly. 

Yet Su Yi had casually broken it with a single, relaxed swing of his fist!

This was practically a miracle!

But Su Yi merely thought about it, then said offhandedly, “You ought to have withheld half your power just now, and you didn’t use your sword. But isn’t that true for me too?

The entire venue was flabbergasted. Just now, Su Yi was holding back too?

Mu Cangtu’s eyes surged with sharp sword intent. “Then I’d like to see just how much strength you withheld!”

Whoosh!

Mu Cangtu’s fingers acted as his sword as he attacked once more. 

This time, his sword light burst forth. It was completely different from the attack he used earlier; it was like a rainbow arcing through the skies!

This was Mu Cangtu’s true power as a Martial Dao Grandmaster!

He was confident that, even barehanded, this attack could split creeks into two separate streams!

And that firm, despotic, terrifying sword intent descended from above, covering the earth. The space throughout the military drill ground tore like cut silk, stirring up relentless, howling gales.

In response, Su Yi merely turned his finger into a “sword” and casually swept his hand downward.

The Great Whirlwind Sword Sutra, one swing to pull down the Milky Way!

He wasn’t yet a Martial Dao Grandmaster, so he couldn’t release his innate vitality outside his body or kill from a distance as they could. Yet when his fingers derived a sword incantation and pierced through the air, his nails seemed to materialize a sharp, radiant edge.

Bang!

The sound of impact rang out beneath Mu Cangtu’s disbelieving gaze.

Su Yi had casually used a single finger to split his sword qi in half!

His attack struck with unerring accuracy, right where it hurt the most, exquisitely precise.

“You’re releasing your true essence, but that’s not how you’re supposed to do it. The coarser your sword qi, the more openings there are to exploit,” said Su Yi softly.

Mu Cangtu’s foundations in the Martial Dao were extraordinary, but his attainments in the Dao of the Sword clearly had yet to reach perfection.

His sword might look incomparably strong, but in Su Yi’s eyes, it was full of flaws!

The entire venue fell silent once more. Everyone in attendance was stunned.

None of them could have guessed that Su Yi would break through Mu Cangtu’s second attack just as easily as the first!