In the Xiao Family Mansion, the corpses of three thousand Black Armored Soldiers lay in pools of blood, each sliced in two.
A dead silence fell over the area.
Su Mo had faced the three thousand Black Armored Cavalry alone, and everyone had expected a battle for the ages.
Instead, it was over just like that.
One slash!
The Heaven-Suppressing King’s pride and joy, his three thousand Black Armored Soldiers, hadn’t even withstood a single slash from Su Mo.
"Did you see that? Elder Su killed three thousand of the Black Armored Soldiers with just one slash."
"I saw it!"
"Holy shit, is this for real?"
Everyone in the surrounding crowd cried out in alarm.
Chu Tianxiong murmured, "Just as I thought. Elder Su has repeated the incredible feat from that day."
"Sect Leader Chu, I’m afraid you are mistaken."
Daoist Xuanqing said, shaking his head.
Chu Tianxiong asked, "Daoist Brother Xuanqing, why do you say that?"
Daoist Xuanqing explained earnestly, "Elder Su’s slash today was a hundred times stronger than the one from that day. Furthermore, his opponents today were far beyond Qi Bian. This slash... it was a slash unrivaled in all the world."
"Unrivaled in all the world?"
Shock was written all over Chu Tianxiong’s face.
Although his combat prowess far surpassed Daoist Xuanqing’s, he couldn’t compare when it came to the Sword Dao, so he hadn’t perceived the profound mystery within Su Mo’s unrivaled slash.
Only after Daoist Xuanqing’s explanation did he finally understand the terrifying power of Su Mo’s strike.
Beside them, Qingyunzi asked in a low voice, "Long Chuan, did you see clearly how Elder Su just attacked?"
"I saw it clearly!"
Long Chuan said woodenly, "Elder Su just gave the willow branch a gentle wave, and the three thousand Black Armored Soldiers were gone."
Qingyunzi nodded. "That’s what I saw, too!"
Just now, Su Mo’s movements had been very slow when he attacked, and most people present had seen everything clearly.
But that was precisely what made it so terrifying.
They could see it, but they couldn’t dodge it.
And then, the three thousand Black Armored Soldiers were gone.
The Heaven-Suppressing King had seen it too, but he couldn’t believe his own eyes.
Even though he had witnessed it himself.
Because in his mind, it was impossible for such a terrifying expert to exist in the Eighteen Kingdoms.
’Su Mo must have used some kind of Demon Technique.’
The Heaven-Suppressing King demanded angrily, "Su Mo, spit it out! Is that willow branch in your hand a Demon Artifact?"
"Nope!"
Su Mo said coolly, "It’s just an ordinary willow branch. I broke it off a tree a moment ago. If you want it, I can give it to you."
"Huh? You’re going to give me the willow branch in your hand?"
The Heaven-Suppressing King was completely astonished.
From within the cage, the Desolate Old Monster couldn’t help but sigh. "Do you still not get it? The one who’s truly powerful is Elder Su himself, not the willow branch in his hand."
"Impossible!"
The Heaven-Suppressing King shook his head in denial.
He was certain that the willow branch in Su Mo’s hand had to be a Demon Artifact.
But just then, Su Mo suddenly shoved the willow branch into the Heaven-Suppressing King’s hand. "Here. Use it to kill me."
This time, the Heaven-Suppressing King was utterly dumbfounded.
’Isn’t this willow branch what he relies on? How could he give it up so easily and even shove it into my hand?’
’Could it be, just as the Desolate Old Monster said, that Su Mo himself is the one who’s truly powerful?’
However, after carefully inspecting the willow branch Su Mo had given him, he found nothing unusual about it.
It was just an ordinary willow branch.
’Impossible.’
He had clearly seen it with his own eyes just moments ago: Su Mo wielding this branch, unleashing a sky-shattering slash, and instantly wiping out his three thousand Black Armored Cavalry.
’Could it be... this branch has some kind of hidden mechanism?’
The Heaven-Suppressing King’s face was a mask of confusion.
’Whatever.’
’As long as I pour Spiritual Qi into this branch, I’ll surely be able to unleash a sky-shattering slash just like Su Mo—one capable of wiping out three thousand Black Armored Soldiers.’
The Heaven-Suppressing King said coldly, "You brought this on yourself by giving this branch to me. Don’t regret it when you’re dead."
With that, the Heaven-Suppressing King copied Su Mo’s stance, raised the willow branch high, and began frantically pouring Spiritual Qi into it.
"Su Mo, die!"
The Heaven-Suppressing King swung the willow branch with all his might, slashing down at Su Mo.
But in the next moment, he was utterly baffled.
Nothing happened.
The Heaven-Suppressing King was mortified.
He had clearly poured a massive amount of Spiritual Qi into the branch, so why hadn’t it produced a blade of light like it had for Su Mo?
’What in the world is going on?’
The Heaven-Suppressing King refused to accept it.
’If Su Mo can do it, so can I. I just haven’t found the right method yet.’
But what followed...
No matter how he swung the willow branch, it remained completely unresponsive.
SNAP...
Unable to withstand the Heaven-Suppressing King’s abuse, the willow branch snapped in half.
’A Demon Artifact can break?’
The Heaven-Suppressing King stared blankly.
Watching the Heaven-Suppressing King’s foolish display, Su Mo was left speechless.
’Someone with this level of intelligence wants to be an Emperor?’
’What a fucking moron.’
He was about to die from laughter.
Even the Desolate Old Monster and Huang Yunan, from inside their cage, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for the Heaven-Suppressing King.
The Desolate Old Monster jeered, "For a supreme expert like Elder Su, even a dead branch and a rotten leaf are as good as a Divine Weapon. A casual wave of his hand produces a sky-shattering blade of light. But for trash like you, even a Divine Weapon is nothing but a dried-up weed."
"I..."
The Heaven-Suppressing King’s face darkened.
Su Mo said nonchalantly, "Your Black Armored Cavalry is gone now. If you have any other tricks up your sleeve, feel free to show them."
"Hmph! Do you really take me for a pushover?"
The Heaven-Suppressing King snorted coldly and unleashed his full cultivation, revealing his true realm: Late Stage Martial Monarch.
Instantly, a powerful aura enveloped everyone present.
Aside from Su Mo, Xiao Zhan, and their companions, most of those present were only in the Grand Martial Artist Realm and were completely unable to withstand the Heaven-Suppressing King’s terrifying pressure.
"What? The Heaven-Suppressing King is a Late Stage Martial Monarch?"
"Impossible! Didn’t he just enter seclusion a few days ago to break through to the Martial Monarch Realm? How is he already a Late Stage Martial Monarch now?"
"Oh no, he was hiding his true strength!"
Panic flashed across the faces of the crowd.
The Heaven-Suppressing King stated with cold arrogance, "That’s right. I was hiding my true power, all to wipe you out in one fell swoop! Su Mo, you can despair all you want. Today, not only will I kill you, I will also seize the Holy Land Immortal Realm that you spent a fortune to create!"
This was a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
He would take everything that belonged to Su Mo, ensuring all his efforts came to nothing, and then watch him die in despair.
However, from beginning to end, Su Mo remained completely unfazed.
’Regret? Regret my ass.’
’He could kill hundreds of pieces of trash like the Heaven-Suppressing King with a single slap.’
Seeing the Heaven-Suppressing King’s smug expression, Su Mo said with a sigh, "How about this? I’ll stand right here and won’t move. I’ll let you have three free hits. If you can so much as push me back within those three moves, I’ll consider it your win."
"What did you say?"
"How arrogant!"
The Heaven-Suppressing King glared at Su Mo, burning with rage.
’Damn it.’
’In his entire life, he had never met someone as arrogant as Su Mo. The man showed absolutely no respect for him, an expert at the Late Stage of the Martial Monarch Realm.’
"Fine! I will grant you your wish and beat you into a bloody pulp right now!"
The Heaven-Suppressing King roared, pouring all his strength into his fist and smashing it down violently toward Su Mo.
"Is the Heaven-Suppressing King using his full strength?"
"Heh, full strength my ass. This is just the desperate struggle of a cornered animal."
"Exactly. Look, Elder Su isn’t even giving him the time of day."
Just as the crowd was murmuring amongst themselves, Su Mo clasped his hands behind him, turned around, and presented his back to the Heaven-Suppressing King.
His posture seemed to say, ’Bring everything you’ve got.’
’Do your worst.’