Su Yi suddenly produced a sword out of thin air.
The blade had a faint sky-blue color, exuding a spiritual and radiant glow that rippled like ripples on the water.
A spiritual sword!
The pupils of the onlookers contracted.
This caused both Nan Ying and Ni Hao to feel a trace of jealousy in their eyes. Wasn't this guy doing too well for himself?
Even Huo Long and the others were stunned. Did Su Yi really intend to act without any regard for consequences?
Zhou Huaiqiu's expression changed abruptly, about to speak up.
Then, a flash of sword light was seen.
Thud!
A fine head soared into the air, splashing a dazzling stream of blood under the illumination of the hall's candles, rendering a poignant crimson hue.
The head belonged to Huo Long.
He still wore a cold and disdainful smile on his face before it thudded to the ground.
His headless body followed suit, collapsing onto the floor.
The pupils of the crowd shrank, all startled and pale, filled with shock.
Zhou Huaiqiu couldn't help but inhale sharply.
Even he hadn't expected that when Su Yi made a move, he did so without wasting any words, swift and decisive!
It caught him off guard.
Ni Hao and Nan Ying were also startled, their eyes widened. They couldn't imagine where Su Yi got the confidence to act in the Ninth Level of Fengyuan Zhai, where he dared to make a move!
In this suppressed and silent atmosphere, Su Yi spoke calmly:
"On a winter morning, four hundred and ninety-six years ago in the Great Zhou Dynasty, I picked a thirty-year-old Zhu Guo fruit from the side of the cliff on Xiaoxuan Peak. Just as I was about to return, Huo Long, who was standing on the cliff, demanded that I hand over the fruit or he would cut the rope that tied me to the cliff."
With a sweep of his gaze over the crowd, Su Yi continued, "As you all know, Xiaoxuan Peak is over a hundred zhang high. Once the rope is cut, I would fall down the cliff. So, at that time, I chose to compromise and threw the fruit to Huo Long."
"As a result, before I could return to the mountaintop, Huo Long cut the rope."
Hearing this, Zhou Huaiqiu exclaimed, "Such a thing happened?"
Looking at Qian Yunjiu and the others, each of them appeared uneasy, clearly aware of the matter!
Even Ni Hao and Nan Ying remained unfazed, evidently having heard of it before.
Su Yi's voice continued, "Fortunately, when I fell from the cliff, I was stopped by a pine tree on the cliff's wall. Although I was injured, I managed to survive."
Having said that, Su Yi picked up a cup of wine and drank it all, his gaze shifting to Zhou Huaiqiu as he said, "Zhou Shishu, do you think Huo Long deserved to die?"
Throughout, he remained calm as if he was talking about someone else's affair.
But this extreme calm and indifference sent a chill down Zhou Huaiqiu's heart.
"Su Yi, these are all things from the past. Besides, you didn't die, so why did you kill Huo Long with a single sword? Aren't you afraid of retaliation?" Zhou Huaiqiu questioned.
Qian Yunjiu shouted, "This is Fengyuan Zhai!"
Su Yi glanced at him and replied, "No matter how loud you shout, no one will dare to intrude here."
Qian Yunjiu's expression changed drastically, and he turned to flee.
Clang!
The sound of the sword echoed.
Qian Yunjiu's head was severed, blood splattering on the spot.
Some people screamed in fear, trembling uncontrollably.
Even Ni Hao and Nan Ying trembled, their hearts pounding.
Su Yi calmly stated, "In the Qinghe Sword Mansion, Qian Yunjiu repeatedly stole the sect's elixirs. When the matter was exposed, he framed me. No matter how I defended myself, no one would listen."
He sighed lightly and continued, "What's laughable is that many people testified in favor of Qian Yunjiu, claiming that I was the thief. The higher-ups in the sect had sharp eyes, knowing that something was suspicious, yet they allowed it all to happen and let me take the blame."
"Later, I realized that in their eyes, I was just an insignificant, low-status figure. Despite knowing the truth, they were willing to let me shoulder the blame to protect Qian Yunjiu's reputation."
The expressions of the people in the hall changed once again, uncertain and unsettled.
Even Huang Qianjun couldn't maintain his composure, his anger boiling within him.
He never expected that Su Yi had suffered such treatment during his time at the Qinghe Sword Mansion!
"Elder Zhou, you must have heard about this incident too. But at that time, it seems you chose to remain indifferent," Su Yi's gaze turned towards Zhou Huaiqiu.
Zhou Huaiqiu sighed heavily, revealing a look of guilt. "At that time, I only saw it as a common theft case and didn't take it to heart. Who would have thought..."
"I've never blamed you. You're a high-ranking figure in the sect. How could you possibly care about such a trivial matter?" Su Yi replied, then proceeded to drink another cup of wine.
Setting down the cup, his gaze shifted to Liu Ying.
Liu Ying was frightened, her face pale as she screamed, "Don't come near me!"
Yang Qi, Chu Lianheng, Zheng Xiaolin, and Zhang Fengtu had already been scared pale.
There was no trace of their previous arrogance and pride.
Before, they were convinced that with Zhou Huaiqiu, their senior disciple, present, and being in Fengyuan Zhai, they had nothing to fear. They simply didn't believe that Su Yi would dare to cause trouble and commit acts of violence here.
However, now, with the deaths of Huo Long and Qian Yunjiu, they were completely terrified, realizing the precariousness of their situation.
Almost instinctively, they all took refuge behind Zhou Huaiqiu.
"Elder Zhou, Su Yi killed Huo Long and Qian Yunjiu in front of you. Isn't that outrageous? Are you going to ignore it?" someone angrily exclaimed.
Others chimed in, gnashing their teeth in a mix of panic and anger.
"Su Yi, things have escalated. It's not beneficial for you to continue. Whatever grievances you have, let's settle them at the Qinghe Sword Mansion," Zhou Huaiqiu said in a deep voice.
As the fourth-ranked elder of the inner sect, he couldn't tolerate the disciples of the sect being killed in such a manner.
It can be said that when Su Yi resorted to killing, he had already violated Zhou Huaiqiu's taboos, leaving him filled with anger.
However, Su Yi calmly replied, "After resolving today's matter, I will naturally visit the Qinghe Sword Mansion again."
He then approached with his sword in hand and continued, "As for now, Elder Zhou, it would be best if you step aside. Otherwise, don't blame me for not considering the past friendship we had."
Referring to friendship was nothing more than the fact that Zhou Huaiqiu started paying attention to him and showing appreciation and care after Su Yi became the leader of the outer sect.
Strictly speaking, that care was based on his status as the "Leader of the Outer Sect" and had nothing to do with genuine friendship.
"Enough!" Zhou Huaiqiu's face turned livid as he stared angrily at Su Yi. "You want to resolve past grudges in this manner?"
"Just past grudges?" A faint trace of mockery appeared on Su Yi's lips. "That's how you see it because it didn't happen to you, right?"
In this world, true empathy was nonexistent.
Su Yi couldn't be bothered to argue about the reasoning behind it and simply stated, "Tonight, they must die!"
"Elder Zhou, look at this villain. He has become so insolent towards you!" Liu Ying screamed.
Even Ni Hao and Nan Ying wore expressions of disbelief, unable to imagine how Su Yi dared to speak to Zhou Huaiqiu in such a manner.
Please note that this person is a Qi-gathering realm expert with the title of "Qingfeng Sword Elder," and his mastery of the "Qingfeng Thirteen Swords" has shaken the entire Yunhe County.
"Su Yi, if you persist in your delusion, don't blame me for being impolite," Zhou Huaiqiu sighed heavily, drew his sword, and his gaze turned cold and filled with killing intent. His entire aura surged and circulated.
This energized Liu Ying and the others, their expressions filled with resentment.
Su Yi, no matter how powerful you are, do you dare to fight against Elder Zhou?
"Senior Su, please stop. Elder Zhou has already shown enough restraint. Don't make things difficult for him," Ni Hao spoke up in a deep voice.
However, Su Yi directly ignored him, not even sparing him a glance, which caused Ni Hao's face to turn red with anger.
"In that case, I shall learn from Elder Zhou's skills," Su Yi said without hesitation as he stepped forward.
Everyone widened their eyes, seemingly unable to believe it.
But immediately, Liu Ying and the others couldn't help but laugh. This guy was seeking death on his own, and it couldn't be better!
"Su Yi, you have disappointed me," Zhou Huaiqiu sighed lightly, and his long sword trembled as he thrust it forward.
Swish!
In an instant, it was as if a towering green mountain had shifted and approached, majestic and imposing.
It was the "Flying Peak" of the Qingfeng Thirteen Swords!
This move was extremely magnificent, exerting a pressure that overwhelmed the heavens and earth. In Zhou Huaiqiu's hands, he fully displayed the subtleties of the technique.
Everyone's breath caught, as if they were witnessing a green mountain pressing down on them.
But Su Yi shook his head slightly, his wrist trembled, and he thrust his sword.
This sword was like a white rainbow piercing through the sun, its sword aura dazzling and incredibly fast, effortlessly piercing through that green mountain.
Following closely behind—
Clang!
In the harsh collision, Zhou Huaiqiu felt a sharp pain in his wrist, and his sword flew out of his hand, landing diagonally in a large vase on the side of the hall.
With a loud bang, the vase shattered into pieces, scattering debris.
Zhou Huaiqiu subconsciously looked at his wrist, where he saw a shallow, blood-colored sword mark on his skin.
In an instant, he was struck like lightning, completely stunned.
What a terrifying sword strike, leaving him completely powerless to resist!?
"This..."
The smiles on Liu Ying and the others froze and turned pale, their faces filled with fear, and their scalps tingling.
How could the esteemed Qingfeng Sword Elder, the fourth elder of the sect, and the renowned Qi-gathering realm expert of Yunhe County be unable to even block a single sword strike?
Ni Hao and Nan Ying were also dumbfounded and shocked. Their impression of Su Yi still lingered on when he won first place in the Dragon Gate Tournament.
Never did they expect that just half a month later, Su Yi's cultivation had reached such an unimaginable and terrifying level.
"This one strike will sever the past connections between us. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other," Su Yi said calmly.
Zhou Huaiqiu's hands and feet turned cold, his expression changing, his eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
After a moment, he let out a long sigh, his expression filled with sorrow and doubt. "No wonder you were so confident tonight, no wonder Lady Cuiyun treated you as a distinguished guest. It turns out you have grown to such a level..."
Immediately, Zhou Huaiqiu took a deep breath, his voice filled with determination. "But in today's matter, as long as I am here, I will never back down! Otherwise, how can I face the people of the Qinghe Sword Sect?"
He displayed a resolute demeanor.
Upon hearing this, Su Yi didn't waste any words, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow.
He exerted force in his arm and the Xuanwu Sword swung horizontally.
Zhou Huaiqiu swung both his hands, trying his best to defend.
But in the next moment, he was sent flying by the Xuanwu Sword, his thin figure tumbling to the ground in a sorry state.
He was completely unable to withstand a single blow!