I Can See Your Combat Power

When you have read enough, you discover that many truths in this world are interconnected.

The tactics that work at the lowest level of reality can also be applied at the highest.

For instance, to cross a river with no bridge or boat and unknown depths, the best method has never been to roll up your trousers and leap. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Using a long stick to probe the riverbed or even tossing a stone to gauge the depth is better than recklessly charging straight in.

For An Yuanxi, the Unparalleled Academy at this moment is like a river whose depth is unknown, and Xu Changhao is the bamboo pole used to explore the river.

Based on his understanding of Xu Changhao, this swordsman born of the Flame Sun Sword Sect lineage is as fiery as his nature and has a strong dislike for schemes and conspiracies.

Moreover, as a revered figure of the time-honored Xu Clan Daoist observatory, he has access to top-level secrets, which makes things much simpler.

Start with provocative words, and the other party will subconsciously reveal their true attitude towards the Unparalleled Academy.

Even further, one might learn the yet-unknown details of the Unparalleled Institute’s headmaster, who, according to intelligence, caused a fierce phenomenon of Dark Cloud Cover and Divine Light shooting into the sky with just a trial recruitment on the summit of Red Cloud Mountain.

The twisting storm of Primary Qi reached for the heavens and could not be harmed in the slightest by the combined attack of three pinnacle fighters from Fierce Realm.

Such a person is definitely not an ordinary strongman or grandmaster; they are very likely a unique powerhouse who has integrated their bloodline with martial arts to carve out their own style.

However, guesses are just guesses. Even now, with all of Xiehe’s intelligence networks convinced that the headmaster of the Unparalleled Institute hails from the Xu Clan, these speculations are not to be taken as fact until confirmed personally by the Xu Clan.

It’s just like back then, when the whole of Xiehe suspected that the Devil Lord Gou Chen might come from Yuanzhou, but unless the Xu Clan acknowledges it or we get solid evidence, all guesses remain speculation.

Actually, considering the way the swordsmen from Yuanzhou conduct themselves, An Yuanxi didn’t initially believe that Devil Lord Gou Chen was a strongman born from the Xu Clan, but now there’s a high chance that Devil Lord Gou Chen is in fact Tang Luo, and that changes things.

Just like how Divine Court has thirty-two pillar gods, with factions large and small that seem to be related but are not, the swordsmen of the Xu Clan may appear united, but given the vastness of Yuanzhou and the thousands of miles between major cities, such a large territory also includes hundreds of smaller tribal groups. The Sword Pavilion excels in managing their establishments within the cities, but how much energy could they have left to maintain communications with other cities?

Among all the cities and districts in Yuanzhou, if there’s anyone who would truly support Devil Lord Gou Chen in overthrowing the non-heavenly forces, that person from White Jade Sword Pavilion is certainly a possibility.

Just consider the time when Elder Xu Ying of the Xu Clan issued the decree to exterminate Buddhism with the Emperor’s Void Phoenix Divine Sword at Martial Saint Mountain.

This was a friction between two major holy lands. Even if the head of the Sword Pavilion acted hastily and rashly, there were still the military sword commanders and various Sword Venerables and Sword Saints to offer advice and buy time to communicate and inquire reasons.

But Middle Ying City took it further, launching a campaign to exterminate Buddhism across Yuanzhou, destroying Buddha’s Country’s centuries of preaching efforts within Yuanzhou overnight.

Dutian Heavenly King was nearly driven mad at the time, because if he was not careful, Yuanzhou’s extermination of Buddhism could have escalated into friction between the two top holy lands of Xiehe. Once the war started, it wouldn’t stop just because one wanted it to.

Could the head of the Sword Pavilion of Middle Ying City, the military sword commanders, and the Venerables of the various sword halls not see this? But they did it nevertheless.

From this alone, it’s clear that the Langhuan Sword Master is not only aggressive but also has a deep dislike for Buddhist practices.

Therefore, before An Yuanxi takes action, he must figure out the stance of the Xu Clan; at the very least, he must discern the attitude of that individual from Middle Ying City.

Clearly, Xu Changhao, the Flame Sun Sword Master, can represent the Xu Clan of Yuanzhou to some extent, or at least he can represent the true stance of the Langhuan Sword Master.

Holding his wine bowl, An Yuanxi stared intently at his old friend whose face was full of anger, unwilling to miss any detail.

"Although it was not the Xu Clan who instructed the Unparalleled Academy to strategize in Longzhou, the actions of the academy align with the True Heart of the Xu Clan, such as severing the path of cultivation to solidify the social hierarchy, maintaining a stability that is merely the wishful thinking of the Dutian Heavenly King!"

Xu Changhao angrily countered: "The current chaos in Longzhou is certainly not incited by the Academy’s deployment of martial forces; rather, it has evolved from conflicts where villages and towns, oppressed by clans for decades or even centuries, have sought change."

"The so-called catastrophe you speak of is not a prophecy. Presently, within Longzhou, there is great unity under the governance of the Arbitration Office. Outside, factions like Yulin Pavilion uphold the will of the heavens in all they do. Even if a true war were to erupt, powerful individuals would emerge to support the collapsing halls. Following the great chaos and subsequent great governance in Longzhou, those families who prey upon the weak will learn to fear them!"

Flame Sun Sword Master, with indignation, refuted An Yuanxi to his face. Such words could be seen as a breach in friendship for most, but to An Yuanxi, a man adept at reading people and seeking the best answers, this face-to-face verbal fencing was far from a permanent fallout. Instead, the current mood presented an opportunity for intelligence gathering.

"Great chaos, Great governance? Could a few ascetics who’ve shattered their attachments or a single ascetics redress the gap in power accumulated over hundreds of years by prominent families? If a real war were to break out, only the common people of Longzhou would suffer. It would be like trying to fill a chasm with the souls of the living, casting millions into the abyss just so these families could learn a lesson. Brother Changhao, truly fitting of the Xu Clan’s Sword Venerable—such grandeur!"

An Yuanxi viciously slammed his wine bowl to the ground, sneeringly and sarcastically as he cupped his hands.

"Boom!"

"An! Yuan! Xi!"

Xu Changhao, driven to rage by these words, his eyes nearly bursting with fire, said through clenched teeth, each word punctuated: "As a Swordsman of Yuanzhou, my actions carry no shame under heaven and earth. The only mistake I’ve made in these years is the Divine Sword joining the ranks of the Dutian Heavenly King’s patrol, erroneously issuing a sword command that resulted in the annihilation of a lineage of sages. For this error, the Xu Clan’s Swordsman most qualified to ascend as the Saint King has already paid with his life! While Unparalleled Academy is Tang Luo’s private property, you persistently attack the Xu Clan—what do you intend by this?"

"Hah, with a single phrase about Tang Luo’s private property, you absolve yourself completely, how typical of you!"

Without giving a moment to breathe or think, An Yuanxi pressed on relentlessly: "If not a Xu Clan asset, then how do you explain Yiren Pavilion deploying such might from Unparalleled Academy to hold firm!?"

"The head of Unparalleled Academy is not a member of Yiren Pavilion, nor is he..."

"Not what? Go on, why did you stop talking?"

Enraged Xu Changhao’s first instinct was to blurt out that Tang Luo was not a disciple of the Xu Clan, but upon second thought, he remembered that Tang Luo’s marital ties already inducted him into the Heavenly Phoenix Lineage ancestral temple, thereby making him an irrefutable disciple of the Xu Clan.

Thus, Flame Sun Sword Master swallowed back the half-spoken words, allowing An Yuanxi to press him further without reply, his face growing red with anger: "In any case, the headmaster isn’t what you think, no more talk!"

Initially, when Xu Changhao denied the headmaster was a Yiren Pavilion powerhouse, An Yuanxi could barely contain his glee. But as probing questions forced his old friend to choke back his denial, Xu Changhao’s ineptitude with words was as evident as if "Unspoken Difficulties" were written across his face, sending An Yuanxi’s previously steady heart into turmoil.

The old friend’s demeanor had revealed enough: the head of Unparalleled Institute may not be a disciple of the Xu Clan, but his deep connections with the Xu Clan were unmistakable, which led Xu Changhao to be so protective.

In Xiehe, how many existences could make the straightforward Swordsmen of the Xu Clan so conflicted and secretive?

If it were the offspring of the seventy-two kings, there would be no reason to be so evasive; one could simply acknowledge it openly.

Then what could be the origin of this master of martial arts from the sacred lands, whose mysterious background cannot be spoken of—the headmaster of Unparalleled Academy?

An Yuanxi would never have entertained such suspicions, but given the current knowledge—Tang Luo is none other than the Demon Lord Gou Chen, Ying Yan exposed his tracks at Martial Saint Mountain, leading the royal patrol to ambush with the brilliance of Venus, and to top it all, Demon Lord Gou Chen allied with the Ancient Blood Tower to bring down Hanging Sky City.

And then, the Han Family vanished without a trace, while Unparalleled Academy rose to power; all these seemingly unconnected events now appeared intensely interrelated.

The fall of Hanging Sky City and the assassination of Cao Jinyu were to blind the eyes and ears of the Three Realms Holy Land. The seemingly aimless spread of martial might across the world by Unparalleled Academy, raising a host of Fierce Realm’s warriors active on various battlefields, has sent Xiehe into chaos, like murky waters stirred. This distracted the Dutian Heavenly King’s patrol, which was already less sharp than before, keeping them preoccupied with the squabbles among the ruling families.

The transmission of intelligence between branches, already slowed by the chaotic situation, seemed clearly intended to confound the vision of the Three Realms Holy Land.

All of this was laying the groundwork for an impending major battle!

In an instant, An Yuanxi’s heart raced, and the hairs on his back stood up— things that once made no sense were now falling into place.

Perhaps the worst scenario he had imagined had already come to pass—the Xu Clan and the Han Family’s connection had grown deep...

And, more frighteningly, the Three Realms Holy Land was completely unaware of it!

At this moment, Feather God was burning with urgency. With a flap of his Divine Wings, he disappeared from the hut—he must bring this news back to the Divine Court as quickly as possible!