Blood River

The surname Xiao was common, with countless clans bearing it across the land.

But within Heaven Revelation City, the name Xiao carried a different weight.

The emperor of Beili bore the surname Xiao, and in Heaven Revelation City, only the Xiao Imperial Family carried this name.

"Xiao?" Su Muyu said slowly. "I've heard there is a sixth prince in this generation with extraordinary martial talent."

"That would be my disciple here—the sixth prince of Beili, Xiao Chuhe." The White Tiger Envoy grinned and patted the young man beside him on the shoulder. "Don't let his youth fool you. He's but a step away from the Celestial Realm."

"Oh?" Su Zhe studied the young man with interest. "Impressive."

"Might I ask why the sixth prince and the White Tiger Envoy have come here?" Su Muyu inquired.

The White Tiger Envoy stretched lazily. "No particular reason. We just wanted to see the famed Umbrella Ghost of Dark River and gauge his true strength!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly drew the long staff at his waist and lunged at Su Muyu.

Su Muyu bent slightly, gripping the handle of his umbrella tightly. The White Tiger Envoy was unlike any other opponent—if they were to fight, he would have to unleash his strongest killing move from the very beginning.

"Muyu, step back." Su Zhe swung his Buddhist staff, clashing with the White Tiger Envoy's long staff. The golden rings on the staff jingled noisily as his eyes gleamed at the talismans inscribed on the weapon. "This is the Wuji Staff!"

"Master Su Zhe has keen eyes." The White Tiger Envoy raised his staff, twirling it in the air to form a dazzling array of staff flowers before they all condensed into a single, overwhelming strike aimed straight at Su Zhe's head.

Su Zhe planted his Buddhist staff firmly into the ground, then swept his hands outward. All the golden rings scattered, spinning rapidly around him to form a barrier. With a resounding clang, the staff strike collided with the rings, shattering more than a dozen of them into fragments. The White Tiger Envoy, still gripping the Wuji Staff, was forced back three steps.

"I heard that after the battle at Sky Blood River, you were half a cripple," the White Tiger Envoy said, adjusting his mask.

"How reliable are rumors, really?" Su Zhe chuckled.

"The information I have is never mere rumor." The White Tiger Envoy smirked. "Chuhe, why don't you move as well?"

"I've been waiting for your command, Master!" Xiao Chuhe exclaimed in delight, immediately drawing his sword and thrusting toward Su Muyu.

Su Muyu was startled. Though the young man seemed not yet of age to tie his hair, his first strike carried an overwhelming aura of slaughter. He blocked with his umbrella, its ribs trembling slightly, but the oil-paper covering shattered instantly. He froze. "This sword technique of yours is—"

"The Kingdom Splitting Swordplay, passed down by the founding emperor of Beili, Xiao Yi!" Xiao Chuhe swung another slash at Su Muyu. "Senior Su, I ask that you draw your sword!"

"So it's the Kingdom Splitting Swordplay." Su Muyu nodded slightly. "One of the most difficult sword techniques to master, renowned as the foremost slaughtering sword in the world. For someone so young to wield it is remarkable."

"Senior knows his swords well." Xiao Chuhe continued his relentless assault, but Su Muyu still only defended with his paper umbrella, never truly drawing his blade."My father was very knowledgeable about swords, and he told me all this. It's said that this swordplay is extremely fierce and domineering. Ordinary swords simply can't wield it. Back then, Emperor Xiao Yi, wielding the Heaven Slayer Sword and paired with the Kingdom Splitting Swordplay, had almost no equal in the world. I imagine the sword in the hands of the Sixth Prince is no ordinary blade either," Su Muyu said as he retreated.

"This was lent to me by my uncle—the Haoque Sword," Xiao Chuhe replied.

"So it's the Haoque Sword of the Langya King, a famed blade ranked among the sword manuals. No wonder it can harness the Kingdom Splitting Swordplay," Su Muyu praised.

But Xiao Chuhe was growing impatient. He had already unleashed over a dozen moves, yet the man before him merely dodged continuously, clearly unwilling to engage in a real fight. Helplessly, he said, "Senior, do you think I'm unworthy to cross swords with you?"

Su Zhe and the White Tiger Envoy were still locked in their standoff. Though Su Zhe continued to smile nonchalantly, a dull pain throbbed beneath his ribs.

After the battle at Sky Blood River, he was already half a cripple. This wasn't just a rumor—it was the truth. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stepped down from his position as Puppet. He no longer had the trump card he once did, the ability to fight to the death.

Meanwhile, the White Tiger Envoy remained calm and composed, speaking lightly, "Our duel holds little significance. Why not watch theirs instead?"

"What kind of crime would it be to kill a prodigious prince?" Su Zhe asked.

"That depends on how bold you are," the White Tiger Envoy replied with a faint smile.

"Draw your sword!" Xiao Chuhe roared, swinging the Haoque Sword. In an instant, the doors, windows, tables, and chairs in the room shattered into pieces as an overwhelmingly sharp Sword Qi surged toward Su Muyu.

This time, there was no retreat.

Su Muyu tilted slightly to the side, his fingers lightly pinching the surface of his umbrella before swiftly drawing out a blade. He swung it forward, the edge meeting the Kingdom Splitting Sword Qi head-on. Bit by bit, the blade was ground into dust. But Su Muyu's left hand reached back, and another sharp blade fell into his grasp. As he took hold of the slender edge, he vanished in a flash, reappearing right beside Xiao Chuhe.

Then he stopped.

The blade in his left hand pressed against Xiao Chuhe's chest.

The White Tiger Envoy's Wuji Staff tapped against his back.

And Su Zhe's Buddhist staff was already raised high.

Xiao Chuhe licked his lips. "Senior's swordsmanship is impressive."

Ignoring the others, Su Muyu drove the blade in his hand into the ground. "This isn't swordsmanship. This is the art of killing."

"Let's go, disciple. Now you understand what it means—there's always a higher mountain, a greater man," the White Tiger Envoy said, stepping forward and grabbing Xiao Chuhe by the collar before leaping out the window with him.

Once they landed, Xiao Chuhe showed no trace of dejection. "No wonder you spoke so highly of him earlier, Master. His swordsmanship is truly extraordinary."

"He already said it—that wasn't swordsmanship, but the art of killing," the White Tiger Envoy patted Xiao Chuhe's head. "Though your swordsmanship is strong and your talent exceptional, you've never faced life and death. That's why I brought you here—to show you what a true battle of life and death looks like."

Xiao Chuhe froze for a moment, then furrowed his brow in thought before nodding. "I'll reflect deeply on the duel we just had once I return. So this trip was meant to temper me, Master.""It's just a coincidence. I came here only for some additional information." The White Tiger Envoy took out a small notebook and a vermilion brush from his pocket, slowly writing a few lines on it.

"What information?" Xiao Chuhe asked.

"Su Zhe is indeed not the same Su Zhe from back then," the White Tiger Envoy said pensively. "But Su Muyu has become even stronger than before."