As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar erupted among the guests below. The various clan heads wore differing expressions, whispering among themselves. Li Tongya also nodded slightly, finally understanding where the Yu family derived the audacity to act so domineeringly. He thought to himself:
'A single clan boasting two Foundation Establishment cultivators, disciples cultivating on Yuanwu Peak, and seeking to establish an independent commandery to control the lifelines of the clans around the lake. On top of that, it coincided with the destruction of the Lake Wangyue market, allowing them to rebuild the market and take control of the circulation of goods. The timing and terrain are all on the Yu family's side. If everything succeeds, the Yu family will truly cement its position as the hegemon of the lake!
'Yet though Yu Xiaogui acts with ruthless resolve, he has too much of a gambler's streak and is far too impatient. Forcing control over the clans in such a blunt, heavy-handed manner might well backfire...'
His gaze swept across to the sullen-faced head of the Fei family sitting opposite him. Clad in brocade and white robes, the middle-aged man held his cup, frowning as he looked at Li Tongya. Although neither knew the other's name and had never even met before, the Yu family's aggressive posturing gave them many shared interests at this moment.
The clans seated below instantly fell silent. Even the families who had previously rallied around the Yu family clamped their mouths shut. Everyone knew both of these matters could prove fatal; who would dare speak out?
"Everyone... what do you think?"
Yu Xiaogui sneered, having anticipated the reactions of the clans below. He did not care about the opinions of most families; his gaze lingered on a select few whose disciples were cultivating within the sect or who possessed formidable patrons in the sect. Seeing that they all kept their heads down in silence, and that neither the Li nor Fei families spoke a word, he had no choice but to say:
"Lu Sisi! What does your Lu family think?"
Lu Sisi froze, a bitter smile spreading across his aged face. He stood up numbly. How could the old man not understand Yu Xiaogui's scheme? Yet dreading retaliation, he could only sigh and say, "For the Yu family to take the lead in this matter is naturally a good thing..."
Having said this much, he could speak no further. Yu Xiaogui cast a cold eye around the room before breaking into a smile again. "If no one has any objections, the matter of the market is settled. When the time comes, I hope you will all grace us with your presence."
Li Tongya sneered inwardly, musing, 'Flying to Lixia Commandery takes only a few hours. Why would Qi Refinement cultivators care about a few hours of travel? This market of the Yu family will only attract some Embryonic Breathing clans, so they won't be seeing any real profits for decades.'
Even so, deep, unyielding worry was written across the faces of the various clan leaders, helpless before the Yu family's might.
As the banquet seemed about to freeze over, Li Tongya looked down at the fine wine and delicacies before him, cautiously leaving his chopsticks untouched. However, a middle-aged member of the Yu family sprang out from below, cupping his hands in salute.
"I have heard that the Li family's clan head possesses peerless swordsmanship. I also practice the way of the sword and would like to seek some guidance. Please enlighten me."
Li Tongya sighed softly. Sweeping his spiritual sense over the man, he found him to be at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, and thought, 'It has finally come after all. They certainly think highly of me.'
The gazes from both sides immediately converged on Li Tongya. Ever since Sword Immortal Qingsui Li Chijing had defeated Chi Jiuyun with a single strike of Moon Crescent sword intent atop Yishan City, the fame of the Lijing Li family had resounded throughout the commandery around the lake. The clans had long hoped someone would test the Li family's heritage, so the Yu family's provocation suited everyone's desires. In an instant, the atmosphere at the banquet grew animated, and even the head of the Fei family looked up.
Under everyone's scrutiny, Li Tongya chuckled softly, having no desire to show off. He declined, saying, "I do not know where you heard such rumors, brother, but Tongya dares not accept such praise."
The hall instantly grew quiet. The middle-aged Yu family member ground his teeth and said harshly, "A swordsman should press forward without hesitation! Yet Brother Tongya cowers and hesitates—is this the conduct of the Li family?"
Yu Xiaogui waved his hand to stop him, raising his cup with a smile as well. "I ask young friend Tongya to give my clan some face."
With things having reached this point, Li Tongya had no choice but to stand up. He stepped down from the left side into the center of the ship, cupped his hands, and said, "Li Tongya of the Lijing Li family."
"Yu Mujian of the Milin Yu family."
Yu Mujian replied coldly. He drew his sword and lunged forward, dense sword rays gleaming as they thrust toward Li Tongya's face. Li Tongya's spiritual sense swept over the strike, instantly revealing that the man's swordsmanship posed no threat. However, noticing a strange sense of familiarity about the fine blade in the man's hand, he kept his guard up.
Li Tongya drew his sword to parry. Making no move to counterattack, he effortlessly dispelled Yu Mujian's sword rays and sword qi one by one. Yu Mujian attacked over a dozen times, progressing through most of his sword forms, yet he could not force Li Tongya to take even a single step back. His complexion instantly darkened.
The clan heads seated above watched intently. Without shifting his feet at all, Li Tongya dismantled Yu Mujian's tempestuous assault from where he stood, drawing a chorus of acclaim.
"This Li Tongya's sword skill is vastly superior; Yu Mujian cannot hold a candle to him!"
"As expected of a sword immortal's clan!"
Yu Mujian's face grew uglier, and the smile on Yu Xiaogui's face gradually vanished. Watching coldly, Yu Xiaogui mused, 'What exquisite sword forms, what solid foundation... The Li family truly possesses a sword heritage, starting at least from the third rank!'
"You!"
Yu Mujian glared viciously at Li Tongya. Forming an incantation hand-seal with his left hand while gripping his sword in his right, a hazy white light suddenly flared along the blade, overflowing with sharpness, before slashing toward Li Tongya once more.
"The Yu family's sword art!" someone called out from below.
A glint of smugness surfaced on Yu Mujian's face. His thrusts and slashes slowed considerably, but every strike was heavy and powerful, pressing relentlessly toward Li Tongya.
After exchanging several rounds, murmurs and boos rippled from above. Li Tongya still stood rooted to the spot with his sword, neutralizing every strike with ease. The brocade-and-white-robed Foundation Establishment head of the Fei family even let out a soft sneer, stoking a surge of irritation within Yu Xiaogui.
"Is this all you know, Li Tongya?! Looks like that Sword Immortal Qingsui is just a blockhead who only knows how to defend as well!"
Mortified and enraged, Yu Mujian hurled insults recklessly. The moment those words fell, the clan leaders above turned pale. The brocade-and-white-robed Foundation Establishment head of the Fei family nearly burst out laughing, while Yu Xiaogui's face changed drastically as he barked in haste:
"Fool! Shut your mouth!"
Li Tongya's expression finally shifted. Knitted brows framed a flash of fury in his eyes. With a sweep of his blade, he batted aside the incoming strike, sheathed his sword behind him, and suddenly drew it forth anew. A pristine, arcing sword light burst forth in a torrential surge, driving straight toward Yu Mujian's face.
"Show mercy!"
The dazzling sword light had barely surged when Yu Xiaogui sprang forward. Taken completely off guard, Yu Mujian stabbed three times in rapid succession, but before the Lunar Crescent Sword Arc, his attacks shattered like window paper.
Pale as a ghost, he stumbled back a step. Just as blood was about to be drawn, a pair of jade-white hands clamped down on the bright white sword arc right in front of him. With a shift of his left hand, Yu Xiaogui forcefully crushed the arc into scattered sharp qi before withdrawing his hand. With an unsightly grimace, he hauled Yu Mujian upright and roared:
"Is Sword Immortal Qingsui someone you can insult at will?! Apologize to him right now!"
Yu Mujian stammered out a few broken words, ground his teeth hard, and said reluctantly, "I spoke without thinking and offended Lord Sword Immortal. Please forgive me."
Yu Xiaogui was both infuriated and anxious. Not only had they lost face and the match, but they also had to swallow their pride and apologize. Though fuming inside, he offered an apology with a beaming smile:
"I have failed in his upbringing, allowing this child to offend Senior Chijing. Brother Tongya, please forgive him! However you wish to punish him, my Yu family will accept it!"
While a smile remained plastered on his face, anger raged uncontrollably in his chest. Yu Xiaogui silently ground his teeth, thinking, 'One incompetent son, and he nearly runs me into the ground! Thank goodness Mugao has some brains, otherwise I wouldn't even know what path lay ahead for our Yu family...'
Li Tongya chuckled softly and picked up the longsword Yu Mujian had dropped on the ground. Turning to Yu Mujian, he spoke with earnest solemnity:
"To practice the sword, one must not blindly seek only sharpness!"
Seeing Yu Mujian lift his head with indignation still on his face, Li Tongya said solemnly:
"Those who advance too rashly retreat just as swiftly. Before a blade is drawn, its virtue lies in concealment. If you can take these words to heart, your swordsmanship will advance another step.
"Clan Head Yu said you should be punished, so leave this blade in my safekeeping. Once you can release and withdraw your sharp edge at will, come to Mount Lijing to retrieve your sword."
Hearing these words, Yu Mujian shook all over and stared at him with complex emotion. Yu Xiaogui also nodded slightly, feeling much relieved. Li Tongya's words provided a graceful way out for both sides, brushing off the earlier incident lightly while transforming a provocation between peers into guidance sought by a junior—giving the Yu family immense face.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Yu Mujian nodded dumbly, his expression a whirl of complicated emotions. The clan heads around them began whispering to one another as well, and someone praised:
"Senior Tongya truly has an admirable bearing!"
Chapter 136