Chapter 70 – Flying Blood

"The trouble is big."

At this moment, Jiang Yan's face was extremely grim.

He had thought that the power Su Xin unleashed in the previous duel was already his limit, but he didn't expect that Su Xin had still been holding back.

"He's nearly comprehended the essence of five Concepts, even higher than me. How did a newcomer achieve this?" Jiang Yan was full of confusion.

"He was the first in this year's hunt and received ten thousand fire points right from the start, so he must have gone to the Star Hall for enlightenment. But even then, the progress shouldn't be this outrageous."

Jiang Yan had been to the Star Hall himself.

The first time he went, in that special state of 'sudden enlightenment', his understanding of Concepts did indeed improve significantly, but it only allowed him to comprehend one more Concept essence.

Even if Su Xin's talent was slightly higher than his, it shouldn't have allowed him to leap from comprehending one essence to nearly five.

"Hmph, his Concept comprehension might be slightly stronger than mine, but I refuse to believe his swordsmanship is better than my blade technique." Jiang Yan snorted coldly and attacked again.

Whoosh~~~

The sound of air being torn apart echoed as Jiang Yan's battle blade swung down, the blade light sweeping like a river.

Blades of light surged towards Su Xin like a tidal wave.

Yet, Su Xin continued to use the Thunderfire Volume.

The violent, scorching aura filled the air, boom! Boom! Boom! Ferocious sword shadows slashed out, as if a volcano was roaring in fury.

In this exchange, the difference in their Concept comprehension and their blade and sword techniques immediately became apparent.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

With each direct clash, a loud metallic crash erupted, and Jiang Yan found himself retreating step by step.

"Jiang Yan is completely suppressed?"

The disciples of Heavenflame Palace watched with a hint of shock in their eyes.

They could see that Jiang Yan was giving it his all, reaching the pinnacle of his Concept comprehension and blade technique.

Yet, against Su Xin's swift and violent sword shadows, he was utterly suppressed.

"I'm completely outmatched?"

"Is Su Xin's swordsmanship really this strong?"

Jiang Yan's mind was in a daze, but the next moment he quickly retreated.

"Su Xin, let's stop here," Jiang Yan said.

"Stop here?" Su Xin frowned at Jiang Yan.

The people around also looked at him.

"I admit your strength is formidable, slightly stronger than mine, but in a direct confrontation, you can at most barely suppress me. You can't truly defeat me. So why should we continue and waste time?" Jiang Yan snorted coldly.

His words made the surrounding Heavenflame Palace disciples raise their eyebrows.

Jiang Yan's words were somewhat of an admission of weakness, acknowledging that Su Xin was slightly stronger.

But he wasn't wrong; based on the strength they had shown, the gap wasn't large. Even if Su Xin could suppress Jiang Yan, defeating him would be difficult.

"Can't defeat you?" Su Xin smiled, "Jiang Yan, why don't you try taking a few more of my strikes?"

"The result will be the same," Jiang Yan's face darkened, anger rising in his heart.

He had already conceded, yet Su Xin was still pressing on, insisting on fighting to the end.

But at this moment, Su Xin suddenly charged forward.

In the void, Su Xin's figure flickered mysteriously, his speed suddenly skyrocketing, appearing right in front of Jiang Yan, his sword swinging with the momentum.

"Layered Shadows!"

Whoosh!

Though it was just one sword, it simultaneously manifested countless hazy sword shadows, layer upon layer, as if thousands of sword shadows converged, slashing through the void.

Jiang Yan's expression changed, hurriedly swinging his blade to block, but the terrifying power contained within those layered sword shadows immediately forced him to sink.

Su Xin's figure blurred, and another sword strike followed.

"Fleeting Dream!"

"Dripping Blood!"

"Dawn Break!"

One strike after another.

Each strike carried extreme pressure.

Jiang Yan's face was filled with shock.

The swordsmanship Su Xin was displaying was not only absurdly powerful with each strike, but it was also incredibly exquisite.

Whether it was a fierce chop, a sweeping slash, or a piercing thrust, each strike was an incredibly fearsome move, each bringing immense pressure, requiring Jiang Yan to exert all his strength to barely block.

Yet, after several consecutive strikes, although he managed to block them, it was done with extreme difficulty.

"Ephemeral Blossom!"

Another sword strike.

The sword light was breathtaking, like a fleeting blossom, a momentary brilliance, vanishing in an instant.

With a loud clang, Jiang Yan's battle blade trembled, his arms shaking violently, nearly losing grip of his weapon.

"Snowbound!"

Another strike.

The air instantly froze, as if the entire world plunged into an icy, snowy landscape, filled with absolute cold.

And that sword light, carrying a bone-chilling coldness, swept past Jiang Yan in his shock.

Slash!

Though Jiang Yan wasn't injured, his robe was already torn.

He stood there somewhat dazed, his mind still filled with shock.

The surrounding Heavenflame Palace disciples were also stunned.

"Jiang Yan, lost?"

"He actually lost to a newcomer?"

These Heavenflame Palace disciples found it unbelievable.

Could it be?

A newcomer who had only been in Heavenflame Palace for two months managed to defeat a veteran who had been training there for years?

"That swordsmanship he just used..."

Some disciples were particularly focused on the swordsmanship Su Xin had just displayed.

That swordsmanship was incredibly strong!

Every strike was an exquisitely brilliant move, and Su Xin could seamlessly execute them.

One strike after another, Jiang Yan couldn't withstand them.

"The swordsmanship he used should be the Flying Blood Sword Art."

A disciple skilled in swordsmanship spoke solemnly, "The Flying Blood Sword Art consists of seven sword techniques, each a unique move, and he just used the first six techniques of the Flying Blood Sword Art. As for the seventh, he didn't even use it."

"There are seven sword techniques?" The disciples were surprised.

Seven sword techniques, yet Su Xin only used six to defeat Jiang Yan?

At this moment, Su Xin was also quite pleased.

"As expected of Dao Master Jiuchen, his advice was spot on," Su Xin mused, "In terms of level, the Flying Blood Sword Art can't compare to the Northern Azure Sword Art, but some of the truly powerful techniques of the Northern Azure Sword Art require my continuous growth in sword intent comprehension to gradually execute."

"Perhaps in the future, the Northern Azure Sword Art will be more useful to me, but at this stage, the Flying Blood Sword Art is the perfect way to showcase my strength." Su Xin chuckled.

The Flying Blood Sword Art, consisting of seven sword techniques: Layered Shadows, Fleeting Dream, Dripping Blood, Dawn Break, Ephemeral Blossom, Snowbound, and the most powerful... Yellow Springs Path!

Each sword technique was a true killing move, an ultimate move, each with its own characteristics.

The combination of the seven sword techniques was incredibly formidable.

Just now, he only used the first six sword techniques, and the most powerful seventh technique, 'Yellow Springs Path', wasn't even used, yet Jiang Yan couldn't withstand it.

...

"Jiang Yan, a bet is a bet, hand over the fire points." Su Xin's expression was cold as he stared at Jiang Yan.

At this moment, Jiang Yan's eyes were still somewhat vacant, his expression wooden, as if he couldn't believe he had lost to a newcomer like Su Xin.

But soon, he transferred almost all his fire points to Su Xin and left in disappointment.

Su Xin felt no pity.

This duel was initiated by Jiang Yan himself.

Moreover, from the start, Jiang Yan had been thinking about how to earn fire points from newcomers like them, even going so far as to hide his strength to trick them into duels.

His methods were already disgraceful, so being taught a lesson was well-deserved.

"Su Xin!!"

Duan Yunfeng, Xia Mang, Mo Bing, and the other newcomers rushed over.

"Brother, you're amazing."

Duan Yunfeng gave Su Xin a bear hug, then exclaimed with joy, "In just two months, you defeated a veteran who has been training in Heavenflame Palace for years. This is rare in the history of Heavenflame Palace, right?"

Su Xin smiled.

Those who entered Heavenflame Palace were all top talents, and defeating a disciple who had trained for years after only two months was indeed rare, but it had happened before.

"That Jiang Yan, training for years in Heavenflame Palace and still not matching your two months, what a waste. He must have been training like a dog all these years," Duan Yunfeng sneered.

"Duan Yunfeng, take out your identity token," Su Xin said.

"For what?" Duan Yunfeng was puzzled but took out his token.

Su Xin waved his hand, transferring 1,300 fire points to Duan Yunfeng.

"Brother, what is this?" Duan Yunfeng was astonished.

"If it weren't for you backing me up, I wouldn't have been able to have a second duel with Jiang Yan, and I wouldn't have won so many fire points from him. So, you deserve a share of the winnings."

"You lost 1,300 fire points in those thirteen duels with the veterans, right? I got it all back from Jiang Yan in one go," Su Xin laughed.

"Haha, that's great." Duan Yunfeng's eyes lit up, not being modest with Su Xin, as Su Xin had just won a total of 7,000 fire points from Jiang Yan.

Xia Mang, Mo Bing, and the others could only watch enviously.

...

At the training ground, Su Xin and the others gathered.

"Brother, be honest, how did your strength improve so quickly in just two months? Is it because of the Star Hall?" Duan Yunfeng suddenly asked.

"Sort of," Su Xin nodded, "Duan Yunfeng, if you have enough fire points, you should visit the Star Hall, but don't rely on it too much. Wait at least three months before going a second time."

Su Xin shared Dao Master Jiuchen's advice with Duan Yunfeng.

"Got it. I was planning to visit the Star Hall, but it requires 5,000 fire points for one entry, and I didn't know what was inside. Now that you've mentioned it, I'll go tomorrow," Duan Yunfeng smiled.

"Yes, work hard."

Su Xin smiled, greeted Xia Mang and Mo Bing, and then left.

The others also dispersed.

Only Xia Mang remained, his gaze fixed on the direction Su Xin had left.

"Two months, just two months..."

Xia Mang clenched his fists.

Two months ago, during the hunt, the gap between him and Su Xin was minimal.

But now, Su Xin could defeat veterans of Heavenflame Palace, while he didn't even have the qualification to face them directly.

In two months, their gap had widened significantly.

He felt immense pressure.

"It seems I must quickly break through to the Void Shattering Realm."

"Also, I need to find a way to enter the Star Hall for training."

Xia Mang's eyes gleamed with determination.

He knew that at the Sea Transformation Realm, catching up to Su Xin was impossible. Only after reaching the Void Shattering Realm might there be a slight chance.