The Ten Thousand Dao Plains.

Xiao Mo walked into the small formation array.

Xiao Mo's first opponent was a cultivator from Thunder Flame Peak named Lei Ben, who also primarily cultivated blade techniques.

Lei Ben and Xiao Mo were both at the Nascent Soul realm.

After all, for the Holy Son selection, the minimum realm requirement was Golden Core, and the maximum didn't exceed Jade Simplicity.

In other words, there would indeed be cultivators from the Upper Three Realms appearing. Throughout history, Holy Son candidates had basically all been at the Jade Simplicity realm, with very few at the Nascent Soul realm.

However, in Xiao Mo's view, it didn't matter what realm his opponent was at.

Before the duel, Xiao Mo and Lei Ben signed and sealed their agreement under the witness of a Ten Thousand Dao Sect steward.

Martial competitions in Ten Thousand Dao Sect didn't have too many rules, nor would they give you protective magical treasures to preserve your life.

Unless one actively surrendered midway, life and death were one's own responsibility. If you died, there was nothing to be said.

"So you're Xiao Mo?" Lei Ben gripped the large cleaver in his hand and looked at Xiao Mo indifferently, "These past years, this old man has been at Ten Thousand Dao Sect's branch halls and never returned. Just as I came back this time, I heard about a genius who appeared, who killed a Golden Core realm cultivator while at the Cave Mansion realm. Pretty impressive, huh."

"Yes." Xiao Mo responded calmly.

Lei Ben looked at the Tang sword in Xiao Mo's hand, his brows furrowing as he continued, "You people from Karma Blood Peak use this kind of Tang sword passed down from the Central Plains. The blade body is as slender as a little girl's, sissy and effeminate. Just looking at it feels offensive. Look at my large cleaver, this is what a man should use!"

Xiao Mo wasn't angry, merely looking at him blandly, "You talk a bit too much. If you're done talking, then draw your blade."

"Hahaha, kid's got guts. This senior brother likes that. Take my blade!"

As his words fell, Lei Ben drew his large blade that was nearly a zhang in length, leaped up, and chopped down toward Xiao Mo's head.

The enormous blade carried violent thunder, as if with just this one strike, it could cleave Xiao Mo in half from top to bottom.

At the same time, quite a few cultivators watching Xiao Mo had different thoughts.

Some female cultivators felt worried for Xiao Mo.

Some male cultivators thought Xiao Mo deserved it and that it would be best if he died.

However, Yu Yunwei on the other side maintained an extremely calm expression.

This cultivator called "Lei Ben" indeed seemed quite strong but unfortunately for him, he had encountered her senior brother.

In Yu Yunwei's heart, within two major realms in this world, anyone who could defeat her senior brother hadn't been born yet.

Just as this blade was about to cleave into Xiao Mo's head, the long blade in Xiao Mo's hand was drawn.

The next instant, blood-red baleful qi permeated the entire formation array.

Cold sweat already appeared on Lei Ben's forehead. That intense blood baleful qi made even his soul feel fear!

"Clang!"

The long blade in Xiao Mo's hand slashed across, heavily smashing into his opponent's body.

The blood-red baleful qi clashed against the blue thunder.

Spiritual power rippled outward in circles like ripples on a lake's surface!

"Boom!"

As a tremendous sound rang out.

Xiao Mo had already sheathed the Spirit Absorbing Sword, while Lei Ben crashed heavily to the ground, the giant blade in his hand already broken into two halves.

When Lei Ben struggled to try to get up, Xiao Mo didn't even glance at him once, turning and walking toward the outside of the formation array, "If you stand up again, the next blade will take your life."

"..."

Hearing Xiao Mo's words, Lei Ben froze on the ground, able only to watch his retreating figure gradually depart.

"Senior Brother, you worked hard."

Yu Yunwei happily stepped forward, handing over a wine gourd, though the gourd didn't contain wine but tea water.

"Not bad." Xiao Mo raised his head and took a sip, "Let's go, next match."

"Okay, Senior Brother." Yu Yunwei followed beside Xiao Mo, her eyes full of pride.

Only after the other disciples saw Xiao Mo walk far away did they finally react, realizing this great battle had already ended.

"Monster!"

These words were everyone's evaluation of Xiao Mo.

Most people had only heard that Xiao Mo's realm quality was extremely exaggerated, but when they saw it with their own eyes, they finally understood how terrifying this man was.

At the same time, at Karma Blood Peak.

On the first day of the Holy Son selection battles, Xue Kui, as his master, didn't go to the Ten Thousand Dao Plains but was sleeping soundly in the courtyard.

"Xue Kui... Xue Kui!"

In her dreams, Xue Kui faintly heard someone calling her name.

Xue Kui groggily opened her eyes and yawned.

Just as Xue Kui was about to sit up, a woman wearing a blue-green long dress had already pushed open the door.

"I say, Qing Yuan, barging into someone else's boudoir so early in the morning isn't good. If you do this, my disciple will smack your palm." Xue Kui rubbed her eyes, sitting cross-legged on the bed, her hair lazily falling beside her cheeks.

The woman named Qing Yuan rolled her eyes at Xue Kui, "Your disciple is participating in the Holy Son selection today. Aren't you going to take a look?"

"What's there to see?" Xue Kui picked up the wine gourd at her bedside and took a sip of wine, "It's nothing more than how many more blades that kid will slash."

"..." Qing Yuan's mouth opened slightly, wanting to say something, but what Xue Kui said was the truth.

Over these years, although Qing Yuan had only seen Xiao Mo a few times, his realm and strength truly couldn't be measured by common sense.

"Speak. What's the matter?" Xue Kui wiped her chin.

"Oh right, I almost forgot the actual business."

Remembering why she came, Qing Yuan quickly took out a letter from inside her robes.

Xue Kui took the envelope, and after reading it, her brows furrowed tightly.

Finally, Xue Kui ignited flames on her fingertips, burning this letter to absolute ashes, "Is this matter true?"

"Not clear." Qing Yuan shook her head, "If this matter is true, forget about the Western Region, I'm afraid the entire world will be in trouble."

Xue Kui gently bit her lower lip, finally deciding, "You should investigate further. I'll also look into it. If it really reaches that point..."

As she spoke those last words, Xue Kui's mouth closed, her eyes full of killing intent.

"Don't rush. No matter what, the Sect Master is an Ascension realm cultivator. We must be careful." Qing Yuan consoled.

"I know. I'm not some impulsive little girl." Xue Kui said.

Qing Yuan's brows twitched, her expression seeming to say, "If you're not impulsive, who is?"

"By the way, since you're here, help me with something." Xue Kui smiled.

"What is it?"

"Help me forge a blade."

"A blade? For that kid?"

"Mm." Xue Kui nodded, pulling out a blueprint and handing it to Qing Yuan.

Looking at this blueprint, Qing Yuan's eyes suddenly widened as she lost her voice, "Xue Kui, can this blade even be forged? Have you gone mad?"

"What's the big deal?" Xue Kui's eyes curved, "I don't have many years left to live anyway. This blade, consider it my final gift to him."

"..."

"Will you help or not? If not, I'll do it myself."

"You..."

Qing Yuan wanted to speak but hesitated but in the end, Qing Yuan sighed and still put away the blueprint, "I understand. What is this blade called?"

"The name, huh..."

Xue Kui thought for a moment.

"Let's call it Ranmo."