Chapter 74: Swordsmanship

"Let go of my master!" Ling Qingshu shouted in panic, quickly drawing her sword.

Xu Yang turned his head with a smile and calmly told her, "Stay calm."

After saying this, Xu Yang casually pulled out a few red fruits and began munching on them, completely disregarding the sword at his neck.

"I wanted to ask you, who are you? And why are you using my Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique?" Xu Yang asked.

"Your Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique?" Xu Mengyao seemed to find something amusing, chuckling softly before replying, "The Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique is a secret of our Sea Soul Sect. To train in it, one must have the Soul Devouring Sea Soul physique!"

Suddenly, Xu Mengyao's eyes flashed with a murderous intent, her voice turning cold as she demanded, "Tell me, where did you learn that this is the Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique? If you're honest with me, I might show mercy and leave you with a complete corpse!"

As she finished speaking, her sword tightened at Xu Yang's neck.

Ling Qingshu, anxiously watching Xu Yang, couldn't understand why the ancestor had decided to let someone put a sword to his neck today. However, remembering Xu Yang's previous invincible demeanor, she felt reassured. Surely, this was nothing to worry about. The old ancestor was so powerful that even with a sword to his neck, he wouldn't care in the slightest.

Despite her thoughts, Ling Qingshu couldn't help but stay vigilant, holding her breath as she focused on the sword at Xu Yang's neck.

Xu Yang shrugged nonchalantly and said, "I already told you, this sword technique is mine. Why don't you believe me? Also, who told you that it requires the Sea Soul physique to cultivate?"

With that, Xu Yang took out an ordinary sword. Swinging it, a blue light flashed.

In an instant, Xu Yang's aura shifted. His previously harmless presence turned into a terrifying killing intent.

"Also, your Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique from earlier was only a half-finished version. Let me show you the real Great Yan Blue Wing Sword."

As he finished speaking, the spiritual sword shot out, its sword intent spreading like a tangible force, filling the air.

A pair of blue wings formed from gathered spiritual energy flapped like real wings, surrounded by a golden halo.

The blinding light made everything seem white and hazy.

Whoosh...

With a sharp cry, the blue wings shot toward the sky, then dove into the ocean.

Boom...

A violent explosion erupted, sending massive waves crashing into the air.

It was as if a tsunami had arrived.

Some of the water splashed hundreds of meters, landing coldly on Xu Yang.

"Did you see that? This is the complete Great Yan Blue Wing. What you saw earlier was only a half-finished version. And by the way, the Great Yan Blue Wing doesn't require the Sea Soul physique," Xu Yang said with a smile, turning to Xu Mengyao.

Xu Mengyao was stunned. What Xu Yang had just demonstrated was indeed the Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique—and it was far more perfected than what she had learned.

When she had been practicing, she had always felt that while the technique was powerful, something about it didn't feel right, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

After watching Xu Yang's demonstration, everything became clear.

But this made things even more confusing.

The Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique had been passed down since the founding of Haipo Sect, nearly 20,000 years ago.

"Senior... you..." Xu Mengyao stuttered, her mind racing.

Xu Yang, calm as ever, sheathed his sword and said, "Are you the sect master? If so, we can talk. If not, bring your sect master here—I need to speak with them."

Xu Yang suspected that this sect had some connection to his former disciple.

Xu Mengyao, not daring to waste time, replied, "I'm not the sect master, but I'll go get them right away."

Xu Yang nodded and then added, "By the way, tell your sect master that I really like this tree outside. I want it."

With a swift slash, Xu Yang cut down the Minghan Ancient Tree, splitting it in two.

Xu Mengyao felt her heart skip a beat. This was the sacred tree protecting Sea Soul Sect, one that had been around since its founding.

Yet, today, someone unknown had just cut it down with a single strike.

...

Though Xu Mengyao wanted to curse, she knew better than to say anything further. In a panic, she rushed toward Sea Soul Sect's central hall.

...

Sea Soul Sect's main hall stood atop a cliff, grand and imposing. It exuded an aura of dignity and splendor.

Xu Mengyao hurried into the hall and quickly knelt, calling out, "Xu Mengyao urgently requests an audience with the sect master."

Boom...

The door suddenly opened, a gust of cold wind sweeping through, and a figure could be seen faintly moving.

"What's all this commotion?" In an instant, an elderly woman appeared before Xu Mengyao.

The speaker was a frail old woman with white hair and sunken eyes. Her skin was thin and brittle, looking as though it could be blown away by a gust of wind.

However, the aura she radiated was that of a bloodthirsty beast, brimming with killing intent so intense it sent shivers down one's spine.

She was named Yu Bai'an, a powerhouse at the Cave Heaven Realm.

"A cultivator at the Qi Refining stage has cut down our sacred tree?" Yu Bai'an said with a cold sneer.

"Yes..." Xu Mengyao said, trembling.

"Then why are you standing there? Go kill him!" Yu Bai'an's words were as chilling as the frost of hell, her murderous intent palpable.

"Well... the man may seem like he's at the Qi Refining stage, but he's definitely not..." Xu Mengyao wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. "Moreover, he knows our Great Yan Blue Wing Sword Technique—and it's far more perfected than our version."

Xu Mengyao carefully recounted everything that had happened.

Yu Bai'an's expression shifted between various emotions, before she finally said in a cold, emotionless voice, "Take me to see him."

...

Outside Sea Soul Sect's gate, Xu Yang was busy cutting up the Minghan Ancient Tree's roots when he suddenly felt a surge of spiritual energy coming from behind him.

He quickly turned around, only to see a frail old woman, her claw-like hands reaching toward him.