Chapter 72: Ambush and Execution

"All of you, stand back!"
Suddenly, King Liang of the Blade let out a fierce shout, startling the two factions ready to charge forward.
"What chaos is this? This is the Grand Profound Academy. How could I let you all act recklessly here?" King Liang spoke in a way that left everyone puzzled.
Then, he turned to Su Hongde. "Today, I came to witness and offer my congratulations, yet Su Hongde has shown disrespect to me. That is a grievance between the two of us—it shall be settled by us alone. No one else is allowed to intervene."
"King Liang, what do you mean by this?" A Spirit-Sealing realm expert from the Yang family stepped forward to question him.
"Yang Hui, step back," the Yang family patriarch barked, understanding King Liang's intention.
Within the Grand Profound Academy, if they all attacked Xia Jiuxuan together, it would soon provoke the Academy's Will.
But attacking Su Hongde was different; he was merely the former Dean, no longer protected by that Will.
Once he was killed, Xia Jiuxuan would be left without a backing. Even with the Academy's Will in effect, killing him would be a simple matter!
This was King Liang's plan, and the Yang patriarch saw through it.
"You plan to kill me first, then move against Dean Xia—quite the scheme. Unfortunately, you, Liang the knave, are not worthy to kill me!"
Su Hongde had already discerned King Liang's intent.
"Is that so?"
King Liang squinted, coldly smiling.
"Let me see just how much you've improved!"
He summoned his blade intent, enveloping the entire martial stage.
"Blade King, be careful—even my family ancestor was gravely wounded when he fought Su the knave," the Yang patriarch quietly warned.
"I am well aware; no need for further words," King Liang replied with absolute confidence.
On the distant dueling platform, Jiang Qingyang and the others felt secretly delighted. Although Liang Yousheng was a mere knave, his strength was formidable. With him attacking, Su Hongde would at least be severely injured if not killed.
Then the Yang family could finish him off, and everything would be resolved.
Jiang Qingyang swept his gaze around and ordered, "All disciples, obey! Today's tournament is canceled—leave the martial stage immediately!"
At this command, the disciples felt as if they had been granted amnesty.
If they weren't allowed to leave, the clash between these two masters would surely kill many of them from the aftermath alone.
"Yes, Dean!"
Everyone evacuated rapidly, not daring to linger a single step.
Only Li Luoyan and a few others were blocked at the rear of the martial stage, forbidden to leave.
Li Luoyan herself had no intention of leaving—for her young master was here, how could she depart?
Boom!
The martial stage trembled violently, dust billowing across the ground. The terrifying blade intent seemed to form a deep abyss, swallowing the entire stage.
Su Hongde's face darkened. He spread his palm and commanded, "Sword, descend!"
A dark red sword landed in his hand.
Buzzing...
The sound of sword cries filled the air as powerful sword intent quickly radiated outward, balancing the oppressive blade intent and even overpowering it slightly.
"Knave, you've certainly improved!"
King Liang felt the sword intent. Despite preparing himself mentally, he couldn't help but be surprised.
Su Hongde, the old knave, had grown stronger yet again!
After twenty years of stagnation, he suddenly broke through one after another—clearly, Su had found some great fortune.
"Knave, prepare to die!"
But King Liang was confident, unafraid of Su Hongde.
His battle intent blazed, his great blade ignited with blood flames, and he slashed fiercely forward.
The violent blade shadow struck toward Su Hongde.
"Petty tricks—how dare you show off?"
Su Hongde sneered, unleashing the thirteen swords of the Grand Profound.
Swish, swish, swish!
Sword shadows surged, clashing endlessly with the blade shadows.
Bang, bang, bang...
The collision of blade and sword intent exploded, engulfing the entire martial stage.
Had the disciples not left earlier, half would surely have died from the aftermath by now.
Xia Jiuxuan resisted the scattered blade and sword intent, forced to retreat a little.
Around him, the experts of the Yang and Liang families maintained an encircling stance, ready to prevent Xia Jiuxuan from escaping.
"Wretch, you killed my two nephews—today, you will die for certain!"
A Yang family Spirit-Sealing third realm expert glared at Xia Jiuxuan, teeth clenched.
"Heh. I took them as nothing more than two mongrels. What will you do?" Xia Jiuxuan replied coldly.
"You dare boast—once Su the old knave falls, your death will follow!" The man seethed with hatred but dared not act yet, for the sake of the bigger picture.
"No need to wait. I'll announce your death right now!" Xia Jiuxuan's gaze overflowed with murderous intent.

"Little wretch, you? Just because you ambushed..."
Whoosh!
Before the man could finish, Xia Jiuxuan's figure flashed forward at a speed unfathomable to all.
Clang!
The Yang expert raised his battle axe, blocking the sudden sword strike.
"I knew you'd try to ambush me—I was prepared..."
"Prepared your ancestors, all eighteen generations!"
Xia Jiuxuan roared, twisting his wrist for a reverse sword strike, sword intent surging.
The Yang expert's eyes widened; a bloody line appeared on his throat.
"You... you're Spirit-Sealing realm too!"
He had barely finished speaking when blood sprayed from his neck, his body collapsing lifelessly.
"Everyone, be careful! This brat is strong!"
With a single sword strike, he had killed a Spirit-Sealing third realm expert, shocking all the others.
Xia Jiuxuan smirked, regarding the crowd as if they were already dead.
Three days ago, he couldn't have killed a Spirit-Sealing third realm expert so easily, but his cultivation had advanced in those days, reaching the fourth realm of Profound Penetration. Killing a Spirit-Sealing third realm was now effortless.
Most importantly, he had fully absorbed the Tempering Pill, his physical strength equal to a true Spirit-Sealing realm cultivator.
He hadn't even used the Lihuo Sword Technique yet, and his combat power already exceeded his expectations.
"Idiots! You know I'm strong, yet you don't run? You may as well offer yourselves!"
Whoosh, whoosh!
Xia Jiuxuan launched himself forward again.
"This won't do! We must fight him head-on!"
The others had planned to surround and trap him, but it was futile.
They could abstain from attacking, but Xia Jiuxuan would not.
"Kill him!"
Roars erupted.
The Spirit-Sealing realm experts of both families could not wait for death, unleashing their full strength and confronting Xia Jiuxuan.
"This little beast is infuriating!"
The Yang family patriarch nearly burst with rage at the sight.
"Fine, fine! You think only you can ambush? I'll throw away my old face today and kill you myself!"
He moved quietly, positioning himself behind Xia Jiuxuan, ready to strike at the opportune moment for a killing blow.
"Lihuo Sword!"
After dueling with more than twenty Spirit-Sealing experts for a while without a kill, Xia Jiuxuan grew frustrated and unleashed the Lihuo Sword Technique.
Clang, clang, clang...
Eight black sword bodies revolved around him.
"Swords out—kill!"
With a thought, the eight black killing swords shot forth.
Whoosh, whoosh...
In a flash, four Spirit-Sealing realm experts were slain.
"What is this sword technique?"
"Quick, gather together and retreat, or we'll be defeated!"
The remaining Spirit-Sealing experts were terrified.
The killing swords darted back and forth, nearly unstoppable, striking fear into their hearts.
"This damned monster—his strength grows faster than our intelligence reports!"
They had to admit it.
Before their action, they'd carefully gathered information on Xia Jiuxuan.
Three days prior, he was reported as only at the seventh realm of Palace Entry.
Even if he hid some strength, he couldn't possibly kill Spirit-Sealing realm experts!
This was far beyond their comprehension.
"Hold him off—I'll close in for the kill!"
A Spirit-Sealing fourth realm expert summoned his true power, launching a side assault on Xia Jiuxuan.
He raised his battle axe to its limit.
"Idiot."
Xia Jiuxuan sneered and thrust his sword.
Bang!
Their clash sent ripples of power surging.
"You brat, die!"

Suddenly, the Spirit-Sealing expert unleashed several times his power in a desperate attack!
He used his ultimate martial skill!
Even if it harmed his foundation, he aimed to kill Xia Jiuxuan.
"Lihuo Sword Technique, third stage!"
Xia Jiuxuan showed no fear. The Lihuo sword intent erupted, summoning countless blazing divine swords around the expert.
Boom, boom, boom!
Within a single breath, his protective energy was shattered, his body pierced and torn to fragments by the Lihuo sword intent.
"Now's my chance!"
The Yang family patriarch, who had been waiting, finally struck.
"Battle Intent Ninefold Seal—subdue him!"
Boom, boom, boom...
In an instant, nine massive palm prints appeared above Xia Jiuxuan, rapidly converging and crashing down upon him.
This Ninefold Seal consumed most of the Yang patriarch's true energy.
He was confident—a typical Transcendence realm would die from such a sneak attack, let alone this youth!
This time, escape was impossible!
In the distance, Li Luoyan watched, her heart pounding wildly.
"Young master!"
Even she sensed the palm's extraordinary power—her young master was in grave danger and might perish beneath that strike.
Beside her, Xia Ran felt the horror of the Ninefold Seal and burst into loud cries.
"Second father, don't hit my second father, waah!"
She sobbed, trying to rush forward to help her second father.
"Miss, you mustn't go."
Li Luoyan wanted to act, but now she had to protect her mistress—there was no time.
The palm crashed down.
At the same moment, a golden light radiated from the statue atop the Grand Profound Academy, sweeping toward Xia Jiuxuan.
Sadly, it was too late.
Just as the golden light was about to cover him, the ground collapsed and Xia Jiuxuan was crushed beneath the palm!
"Master!"
On the other side, Su Hongde, fiercely dueling King Liang, saw this and panicked!
He tried to break away, desperate to charge at the Yang patriarch, but King Liang blocked him relentlessly.
Su Hongde was furious, his eyes bloodshot. "Ultimate sword intent—kill!"
Roar!
Su Hongde bellowed like a wild beast, his sword body radiating extraordinary sword intent.
The sword intent surged forth; King Liang countered with blade intent!
Clang!
The blade intent was instantly shattered. The ultimate sword intent pierced through, aiming for King Liang's heart.
"Ah!"
King Liang was shocked and hurriedly raised his blade to block.
Clang!
His battle blade was pierced by the sword intent.
He felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a bloody hole, blood streaming out.
"It's over..."
King Liang murmured, his body suddenly light—he knew his life wouldn't last much longer.
"Old knave, you still have such terrifying sword intent—if I die, I'll take you with me!"
King Liang went mad, burning his essence blood, his blade intent multiplying in power.
He brought his hands together like a blade, striking at Su Hongde.
Su Hongde grew anxious.
His dantian injury hadn't healed; now, forcing the ultimate sword intent had damaged him further!
His desperate outburst had been mainly to save Xia Jiuxuan.
But even dying, King Liang would not give him the chance.
"Alas, it's too late."
Su Hongde sighed.
His master had surely perished beneath that palm.