Chapter 58: Sword Master (Part 8)

News of the Flying Star Sect's destruction spread quickly.
All sects trembled in fear.
The Lord of the Imperial Sword Manor was simply too ruthless.
Those who submit prosper, those who resist perish.
He already possessed the aura of a future overlord.
Having destroyed the Flying Star Sect, Su Chen returned laden with spoils.
"Brother, you're back?"
Shen Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Su Chen's return.
Brothers united, their strength can break metal.
Su Chen valued this younger brother, with whom he shared blood ties.
"The Yunyuan Dynasty has agreed to submit to my Imperial Sword Manor, and the Flying Star Sect behind it has also been destroyed by me."
Shen Ping'an was shocked.
So his brother had become this powerful?
Under Su Chen's aura,
Shen Ping'an felt utterly ordinary.
At twenty, at the Spirit Soul Realm, stepping into the Profound Realm was a certainty.
Facing his brother, he couldn't even lift his head.
Su Chen instructed, "There are still remnants who escaped from the Flying Star Sect. Organize your forces and search for them at all costs. Kill them all, regardless of age or gender. Do not allow them to grow strong enough to retaliate against my Imperial Sword Manor."
Shen Ping'an nodded seriously.
Su Chen continued, "Also, find an opportunity to place a compliant member of the Yun Clan's collateral branches in that position."
Shen Ping'an memorized Su Chen's orders.
Like a sword carrying out orders.
After arranging everything, Su Chen began to utilize the resources of the Flying Star Sect and the three major dynasties to cultivate the Imperial Sword Guards.
His ambitions didn't stop there.
"Conquering so many forces at once will surely arouse the suspicion of those forces with Void Realm Emperors in charge."
"It seems I'll have to make a trip to the Heavenly Sword Holy Land."
This world is simply a matter of the big fish eating the small fish.
A powerful backer is crucial.
Without a powerful backer, he was destined to end up on the dinner table sooner or later.
Su Chen was somewhat aware of this.
...
Within the Heavenly Sword Holy Land
A young man dressed in black was cultivating in the sword tomb, filled with sword intent.
An elder hurried over and whispered a message to the young man.
A hint of surprise flashed in Cao Tianming's eyes.
"Shen Chen, the master of the Imperial Sword Manor? He wants to see me?"
Cao Tianming had a vague impression of this Shen Chen.
More than ten years ago in the Heavenly Void Tomb, he had withstood a sword strike from him and survived.
Among the geniuses of the Holy Land, those who could withstand a single sword strike and survive were few and far between.
"Very well, then I'll see him."
Cao Tianming became interested; he wanted to see why the master of the Imperial Sword Manor had come to see him.
Su Chen, led by an elder of the Holy Land, met Cao Tianming.
The black-robed youth sat in the pavilion atop Sword Peak.
The flowers, plants, and trees around him all seemed like swords.
"His sword is more powerful, sharper, and his understanding of the sword path is beyond my comprehension!"
Su Chen was shocked.
Is this the legendary genius with a divine sword physique?
How enviable!
Su Chen prided himself on achieving the Sword Control Body in this life, a success rate of one in a billion. His aptitude was not bad, and with the accumulation of several lifetimes, his aptitude was at least 1k+ level.
Now, he couldn't even see Cao Tianming's shadow.
One lifetime, he would experience this kind of exhilarating situation.
"Master Shen summoned me, is there something you need?"
Cao Tianming looked at Su Chen with a smile.
His deep, sword-like eyes seemed to see through Su Chen's thoughts.
'The successors of holy lands are indeed never simple.'
Even the least cunning successors of a holy land, like the Sword Dao Holy Land, are never naive or innocent.
Su Chen nodded and said, "To be honest, I want to cooperate with Sword Master."
Cao Tianming smiled enigmatically, "You want my reputation? To deter those forces that covet you from making any rash moves?"
Having his purpose guessed, Su Chen didn't hide anything and nodded.
Cao Tianming, a newly promoted Sword Master of the Heavenly Sword Holy Land, had a shallow foundation.
This is Su Chen's goal.
"I am willing to offer thirty percent of the annual income of the Imperial Sword Manor to Jianzi as compensation."
Su Chen set out his terms.
Cao Tianming pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Thirty percent isn't enough."
Su Chen's heart sank.
Cao Tianming smiled brightly: "That's for others, but you, Shen Chen, are very good. I have high hopes for your swordsmanship."
Su Chen was instantly overjoyed: "Sword Master, does that mean you agree?"
Cao Tianming nodded.
With the support of Cao Tianming, a disciple of the Sword Demon and a Sword Master of the Heavenly Sword Holy Land, Su Chen had essentially obtained a protective talisman.
The two discussed swordsmanship for half a day.
Su Chen rose to take his leave.
"Master Shen, your sword path has only just begun. Don't let it drown in worldly affairs,"
Cao Tianming couldn't help but advise Su Chen as he rose to leave.
Su Chen paused, then smiled: "Thank you for your concern, Sword Master. My sword path will certainly not stop here."
"When it is perfected, I will still need your guidance, Sword Master."
After Su Chen left,
Cao Tianming sighed slightly.
This person's sword path is not pure.
Without sincerity towards the sword, how could one reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship?
I only wish he would awaken in time.
.......
Su Chen returned to the Imperial Sword Manor.
Soon, news of the Imperial Sword Manor's powerful backing spread, arousing the apprehension of many forces.
They coveted the legendary Sword-Forging Body method of the Imperial Sword Manor.
In the blink of an eye, thirty years passed.
Su Chen's cultivation had become increasingly unfathomable, reaching the sixth level of the Profound Realm.
The Imperial Sword Manor's foundation had also grown increasingly profound, comparable to those established king-level forces.
"In this life, if I have enough cultivation resources... even becoming an emperor is not impossible."
Su Chen didn't want to waste the one-in-a-billion chance of the Sword-Forging Body.
He had to live a legendary life!
Su Chen looked at the reports from these past years.
The young king of the Yunyuan Dynasty was long dead.
Shen Ping'an found a compliant member of a collateral branch of the Yun clan and supported him as the king of the Yunyuan Dynasty.
At least, the Yunyuan Dynasty still bore the surname Yun.
Su Chen, seeing Shen Ping'an deep in thought, casually asked with concern, "Ping'an, is something on your mind?"
Shen Ping'an, his worries exposed by Su Chen, stammered and then ran away, causing Su Chen to burst into laughter.
"Ping'an has found someone he likes. I wonder which woman has won the favor of the second master of my Imperial Sword Manor!"
Su Chen immediately recognized this as a sign of a love tribulation.
Curiosity led Su Chen to inquire further, and he received information from Shen's mother.
"Your younger brother has fallen for a princess of the Cangming Dynasty."
Su Chen was puzzled.
"Just a princess. If he likes her, he'll marry her."
His Imperial Sword Manor had unlimited potential; any dynasty with a brain wouldn't refuse to win over such a powerful force.
Madam Shen smiled bitterly, "That princess made two demands that Ping An cannot agree to."
Su Chen asked curiously, "What demands? As long as they're not excessive, my Imperial Sword Manor will grant them."
Shen Ping An was his younger brother and his capable assistant.
Su Chen naturally cared about his marriage.
Madam Shen said in a low voice, her tone filled with resentment, "They want you to relinquish your position as the head of Imperial Sword Manor, and then... they'll offer the entire Imperial Sword Manor as a dowry before they'll marry the princess to Ping An."
Su Chen exploded upon hearing this.