After enduring countless trials and tribulations, many cultivators finally reached Xu Ming.
But with a single punch, Xu Ming dispatched each one in an instant.
The martial qi emanating from his body was nothing like what one would expect from an ordinary Heroic Soul Realm martial artist.
Even approaching him, an invisible pressure made it impossible to stop trembling.
The cultivators in Baiwa City and the outsider demon race were no strangers to battle.
The weakest among them was at least in the mid-Cave Mansion Realm, and they were all elite disciples from their respective sects, chosen specifically to compete for the treasure.
In the past, they could handle others as easily as slaughtering chickens and dogs.
Even when facing opponents at higher realms, they often managed to slay them despite the disparity.
But now, standing before Xu Ming, they felt like fish on a cutting board, waiting to be butchered.
Xia Donghua stared blankly at the scene unfolding before him.
Xu Ming advanced step by step, and with each step, a burst of blood mist erupted around him.
No matter what techniques or artifacts his opponents used, Xu Ming shattered them all with a single punch.
With each foe he defeated, the blood aura surrounding him grew even more terrifying.
Even Qin Qingwan and Yu Wenxi, who were already shocked, felt an overwhelming sense of awe.
Qin Qingwan had always been confident in her own strength, which was why she had assured Xu Ming, "I'll protect you."
But now, she couldn't help but question if she could even win against Xu Ming in a direct confrontation.
Staring at his back, her peach-blossom eyes glimmered gently, as if she had been transported back to her childhood.
Back then, Xu Ming had always been so powerful, always shielding her from harm.
By the time Xu Ming finished his rampage, not a single person dared to step forward anymore.
When Xu Ming took a step forward, most of them instinctively took a step back.
Xu Ming chuckled. "Weren't you all here to claim the treasure? How are you supposed to do that if you keep retreating?"
"I will try," said a man in a sword robe, stepping forward.
"You're a disciple of the Wanjian Sect?"
Xu Ming glanced at the distinctive robe, which felt familiar—similar to the one Xu Xuenuo used to wear.
The man paused, then bowed with his sword in salute. "Indeed. I am Zhuang Yan of Wanjian Sect's Minghai Peak."
Xu Ming smiled. "How is your sect's Xu Xuenuo doing these days?"
Zhuang Yan was briefly taken aback before responding, "Uncle Xu Xuenuo surpasses me by a hundredfold. Even though she has been suppressing her cultivation to participate in the Rootless Secret Realm, she remains the foremost of our younger generation. Some of our senior disciples and stewards cannot compare to her."
Xu Ming shook his head. "I'm asking if she's doing well."
Zhuang Yan glanced at Xu Ming, puzzled. But then it struck him—Xu Ming was from the Wu Kingdom, just like Xu Xuenuo, and they even shared the same surname. Could they be relatives?
Realizing this possible connection, Zhuang Yan suddenly felt a sense of kinship toward Xu Ming.
He quickly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Brother Xu. Uncle Xu Xuenuo is doing very well."
"That's good to hear," Xu Ming said, taking out a peachwood sword.
The sword was short, resembling a child's toy—and in fact, it was.
The sword had been a birthday gift from Xu Xuenuo to Xu Ming, one he had kept and continued to use ever since.
"You're… a sword cultivator?" Zhuang Yan asked, momentarily stunned.
"Barely," Xu Ming replied, bowing with the sword. "I humbly ask for your guidance."
The moment Xu Ming straightened, an intense sword aura erupted from his body.
The surrounding cultivators felt as if their skin was being sliced open by invisible blades, and even breathing felt like needles piercing their throats.
"What powerful sword aura!" Dugu Qiu of the Tianxuan Sect frowned deeply.
The more Dugu Qiu observed Xu Ming, the more he felt like he was facing a monster.
Like most others, Dugu Qiu knew of Xu Ming only through his famous poem and the Rejection of Marriage Petition. It was well-known that Xu Ming was a man of extraordinary talent.
But beyond that, they knew nothing about him.
This was not unusual—cultivators held a natural disdain for martial artists. No matter how talented Xu Ming might be, to them, he was ultimately just a mere mortal.
But now, they had no choice but to take him seriously.
Xu Ming's martial prowess was already so overwhelming, and yet he was also a cultivator—a sword cultivator, no less! His sword aura was so sharp and potent that even Dugu Qiu found it rare and unsettling.
"Forgive my offense!"
Zhuang Yan lunged forward with his sword.
Though Zhuang Yan indeed coveted the treasure, at this moment, his desire to defeat Xu Ming was even stronger.
Xu Ming's formidable sword aura had awakened Zhuang Yan's competitive spirit.
The clash of their swords was like galaxies colliding, like stars falling from the heavens.
To Zhuang Yan's astonishment, Xu Ming was using the Bingyang Sword Technique—a technique uniquely created by the sect leader of Wanjian Sect, taught only to direct disciples.
Could it be that Uncle Xu Xuenuo had taught this technique to Brother Xu?
After a hundred exchanges, Zhuang Yan began to feel the strain.
Xu Ming hadn't even used his martial qi—he was relying solely on his Furnace Foundation Realm strength to compete.
And yet, Zhuang Yan was being thoroughly suppressed.
What's more, Xu Ming was wielding an ordinary peachwood sword, while Zhuang Yan's sword was a second-grade magical weapon.
At the 150th exchange, Xu Ming's sword, now coated in frost, broke through Zhuang Yan's blade.
When Xu Ming stopped, the tip of his sword was already pressed against Zhuang Yan's throat.
"I concede," Zhuang Yan said with a sigh, admitting defeat with absolute sincerity.
He looked at Xu Ming and asked, "Brother Xu, have you ever had a teacher in swordsmanship?"
Xu Ming shook his head. "No."
Hearing this, Zhuang Yan's expression grew even more regretful. "To think that you've reached such heights in swordsmanship through self-study… If you were to dedicate yourself to the sword, your future would be limitless."
Xu Ming smiled faintly. "Swordsmanship is great, but martial arts aren't bad either. I'd like to try both paths."
Zhuang Yan tried to persuade him further. "Martial arts is ultimately a dead-end road. Why persist? In my opinion, your talent in swordsmanship rivals even that of Uncle Xu Xuenuo. If you're interested, I could recommend you to Wanjian Sect for further training."
Xu Ming politely declined. "Thank you, Brother Zhuang, but I'm not interested in joining any sect. That said, I may visit your sect someday."
Seeing Xu Ming's firm stance, Zhuang Yan did not press further. Bowing slightly, he said, "I won't make another move tonight. Take care, Brother Xu. I hope that one day, we can share a drink at Wanjian Sect."
"Thank you, Brother Zhuang. I look forward to it," Xu Ming replied with a smile.
Zhuang Yan said no more and flew down the mountain.
After Zhuang Yan's departure, the crowd's fear of Xu Ming grew even deeper.
A martial artist with unparalleled strength and a sword cultivator capable of defeating a direct disciple of Wanjian Sect—
At this moment, Xu Ming stood like a towering mountain, unshakable and insurmountable.
"Is there anyone else who wishes to come forward?"
Xu Ming's voice echoed across the night sky.
Of the hundreds present, not a single person dared to respond.