The guard led Xu Zimo and his group toward the inner courtyard, shouting along the way, “Master, someone is here to see you!”
“Aren’t you ashamed to be shouting like that?” a stern voice called out from inside.
In the quiet courtyard, Hu Yanzhuo walked out, his expression grim and full of anger.
When he saw Xu Zimo and the others, he was clearly taken aback.
“So it’s Young Master Xu,” Hu Yanzhuo forced a smile and said, “What brings you here?”
“City Lord Hu, that’s not very kind,” Xu Zimo smiled as well and said, “I killed the bull demons to protect Order City and even accompanied you to the Western King Valley. Then you just abandoned me without a word. Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
Hearing this, Hu Yanzhuo let out a long sigh. He shook his head and said, “I’m sorry. I lost control of my emotions earlier. How about this: rest in the manor for now, and I’ll have some gifts prepared for you.”
“No need for gifts. I’m only here to take one thing, not asking for much,” Xu Zimo replied.
“What is it that Young Master Xu wants?” Hu Yanzhuo frowned slightly.
“The Western King Sword,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
Hu Yanzhuo’s expression changed, then he forced a smile. “Young Master Xu must be joking.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Xu Zimo asked.
“You should know, I won’t give the Western King Sword to anyone,” Hu Yanzhuo said coldly. “Even if you kill me, I won’t hand it over.”
“Then I’ll kill you and find it myself.”
As soon as Xu Zimo finished speaking, Bone Demon stepped forward and, before Hu Yanzhuo could react, shattered all the bones in his body. Hu Yanzhuo collapsed like a pile of mush and was dragged across the ground by Bone Demon.
“What are you doing?” Hu Yanzhuo shouted in pain.
“I think you still don’t understand your situation,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “I am not Supreme Order. I don’t care about reputation or influence. Even slaughtering a city is just another Tuesday for me.”
He walked into the courtyard and headed straight to Hu Yanzhuo’s residence. The room was littered with broken vases and overturned tables, clearly, Hu Yanzhuo had been throwing a tantrum earlier.
“So, where did you hide it?” Xu Zimo asked.
Hu Yanzhuo snorted and turned his head away.
Xu Zimo chuckled and said to Bone Demon, “Gather all the children and women of the Hu Clan in the manor.”
“What are you trying to do?” Hu Yanzhuo’s expression changed, his voice tense.
“I want to know what’s more important, the Western King Sword or your wife and children,” Xu Zimo replied.
“You’re evil!” Hu Yanzhuo glared at Xu Zimo, fury in his eyes.
“Think what you want,” Xu Zimo said. “Hand over the Western King Sword, and your family stays safe. Supreme Order won’t bother you anymore either. You can blame it all on me. But if you don’t, you’ll die, all of you, and the sword won’t matter to you anyway.”
Hu Yanzhuo fell silent for a moment. Seeing Bone Demon about to leave, he suddenly shouted, “Wait!”
“What is it?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Can you guarantee that if I hand over the Western King Sword, you’ll let us go?” Hu Yanzhuo asked.
“We’ve got no grudge against you. What good does it do me to kill your family?” Xu Zimo smiled.
“Fine. Since I can’t use the Western King Sword anyway, I might as well give it to you,” Hu Yanzhuo sighed. In that moment, he seemed to age several years. “But let me warn you, even if the sword is in your hands, it’s useless without its recognition,” he added.
“No need to worry about that,” Xu Zimo said.
Hu Yanzhuo exhaled and retrieved a black box from beneath the floorboards. Xu Zimo took the box and opened it to see the red sword lying quietly inside.
“Talk to it. The Sword God Spirit inside can understand,” Hu Yanzhuo said.
Xu Zimo smiled, held the sword in his hand, and said, “Let’s have a chat?”
In the next moment, thick red mist enveloped Xu Zimo, pulling his consciousness into the dark space.
“Hello, human,” a voice echoed in the darkness. “I won’t waste words. If you want to speak with me, pass my trial first.”
As the voice faded, countless sword lights appeared in the sky.
“No spiritforce allowed. Use one strike to break this technique,” the Sword God Spirit said.
A sword appeared in front of Xu Zimo, one for him to use.
“I’ll give you time to think.”
“No need. Let’s do this now,” Xu Zimo picked up the sword and gestured casually.
The voice said no more. Sword energy surged in all directions within the void, blades glinting as they came at Xu Zimo from every angle.
“One sword breaks all techniques,” Xu Zimo muttered softly.
He slowly swung the sword in his hand. At the tip, space rippled in waves. It felt like a suction force radiated from the sword as Xu Zimo spun in place, sweeping the blade around.
With the growing suction, all the sword energy rushing toward him was drawn in, clinging to the blade.
As his spinning grew faster, Xu Zimo resembled a tornado, absorbing all the sword intent.
Then, with one swing, he sent the concentrated sword energy blasting toward one side of the dark space. The sword aura vanished into the void, swallowed by the darkness.
“Not bad. Now for the second trial,” the voice echoed again.
“No need for more trouble. How about you try taking a strike from me?” Xu Zimo grinned.
“Oh?” the Sword God Spirit chuckled. “You’re the first one in all these years to speak so boldly.”
“With strength comes confidence,” Xu Zimo replied.
Though he primarily practiced blade arts, he understood that all weapons shared a common essence. At his level, he could comprehend the true meaning behind any weapon.
Xu Zimo placed his left hand behind his back and, holding the sword in his right, stabbed forward slowly into the void.
It was a simple thrust, no spiritual energy, no force behind it. But as it came forward, everything fell silent.
The moment the sword moved, it felt terrifying. It was as if an unstoppable sword will locked onto the target, impossible to escape.
A sword materialized in the dark void, meeting his strike head-on.
Two blades, tip to tip, collided. An invisible wave of sword intent exploded outward. With a booming sound, Xu Zimo’s sword pierced through the void sword and shattered it completely.