Yuan Hudu suppressed the dread in his heart. His mind went blank for a fleeting instant, but after weighing the pros and cons, he immediately clasped his fists and spoke aloud in a clear voice:
"Hudu greets the General!"
Yuan Hudu's greatest fear was that Li Xuanfeng might strike him dead without a word and depart. This greeting instantly drowned out every other sound in the courtyard. Those drinking froze with cups in hand; those offering congratulations fell silent. Gazes turned toward the platform one after another, staring blankly as whispers broke out among the crowd:
"Who is this man...? Did he come to offer congratulations? To think Yuan Hudu would treat him with such reverence!"
"He is a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
"I'm afraid he comes with ill intent..."
As the crowd looked on, Li Xuanfeng merely stood with his arms folded. A stern glint gradually surfaced in his eyes. His back was rod-straight, his broad shoulders completely blocking the light before Yuan Hudu. His voice was deep and steady:
"I hardly deserve to be called 'General' by Patriarch Yuan. This old man merely serves a post in the Southern Border. Having heard that a child of my clan was wronged, I have come to ask Patriarch Yuan a few questions."
His voice was not loud, but the courtyard had long fallen quiet enough to hear a pin drop. With their sharp senses, the cultivators heard every word with crystal clarity. Exchanging glances, they lowered their heads, each harboring their own thoughts. Some sneered; some were horrified; some worried for the two families; but most were gloating—watching coldly from the sidelines.
*So he is from the Li family!*
*From the sound of it... there is more to this than meets the eye...*
Li Xuanfeng had made quite a name for himself these days. Part of it had been built on mountains of slaughtered demons and men, and part had spread by word of mouth among the direct descendants of the Seven Sects he had encountered in the grotto-heavens and beyond the sea.
Though he rarely fought within the inland realm, leaving most unfamiliar with his appearance and attire, the moment he spoke—mentioning the Southern Border and being addressed as General—everyone recognized who this General Li was. A chorus of silent realization echoed in their hearts:
*It is [Geng Metal Astral String] Li Xuanfeng... that divine bow from the Southern Border!*
Yuan Fuyao's face was the first to turn pale, and he quietly retreated into the crowd. He too had heard the rumors about the two families calling it an annulment, but what power did he have? Yuan Hudu had repeatedly reassured him not to worry, yet now, gazing at the old man in black-and-gold armor atop the dais, he felt increasingly out of his depth.
Cold sweat beaded on Yuan Hudu's forehead. With his life on the line, he dared not utter any harsh words. But if he backed down, having already offended the Li family, he would simultaneously offend the Chi family, rendering all his political theatrics utterly futile. In the end, he could only let out a long breath and remain silent.
Seeing him stay silent, Li Xuanfeng said softly, "Your clan fabricated rumors to deliberately humiliate my family. Out of consideration for our clans' past ties, my elder brother did not wish to stir up strife and bring shame to our ancestors. But I possess no such magnanimity. This matter cannot be brushed aside so easily."
Yuan Hudu forced himself to meet his gaze. In the veteran general's eyes, he saw a razor-sharp sternness, full of warning yet devoid of wild rage, as if saying:
*Very well. You wish to show the Chi family your stance? Then I shall let them see it in full!*
Yuan Hudu knew this matter could not end amicably. He let out a slow sigh as his elder brother Yuan Huyuan's warning echoed in his mind. He asked:
"What does the General intend to do?"
Li Xuanfeng lightly brushed the black-and-gold beast-head buckle at his waist. Instantly, a massive bow appeared in his grip. Yuan Hudu's eyelids twitched, while the crowd below shrank their necks and stepped back in unison.
For no other reason than the bow itself was terrifyingly formidable.
The golden bow was roughly eight feet long, its horn limbs spanning well over three feet. Shimmering in dual hues of gold and crimson, light flowed across its entire length. The metallic aura and bloodlust swirling about it seemed ready to soar into the heavens—an unmistakable weapon of slaughter that had claimed countless lives of both man and beast.
The cultivators below backed away slowly, only now comprehending the terror behind Yuan Hudu's sweat-drenched face. Hearing of a reputation was nothing compared to witnessing it firsthand. Seeing that Foundation Establishment cultivators were about to clash, a few people clasped their hands and took their leave, though far more could not resist their curiosity and stayed to watch in silence.
The Patriarch of the Song family, possessing only a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation, edged away in trembling dread. Li Xuanfeng kept his gaze fixed on Yuan Hudu and said in a raspy voice:
"I offer Patriarch Yuan two choices."
He slowly leveled the greatbow. The quiver at his waist clattered crisply.
"I know Patriarch Yuan is prudent and travels with cultivators escorting him. You are welcome to see whether the one person and one demon beast hiding in the mountains—two Foundation Establishment cultivators working together—can preserve your life.
"However, once this profound arrow takes flight, it must taste blood."
Yuan Hudu had not expected Li Xuanfeng to see through all his arrangements so thoroughly, and a secret dread seized him. The iron and metal implements across the courtyard began to rattle and jump. Watching him sweat profusely, Li Xuanfeng continued:
"Second, out of respect for your clan's friendship with my youngest uncle, I shall grant you twenty breaths of time. You need only withstand one arrow from me. After this arrow, all debts of grace and dishonor between our clans will be settled, and the matter laid to rest!"
Yuan Hudu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing Li Xuanfeng was ultimately sparing his life. This single arrow was likely put on for the Chi family's benefit. He thought:
*No matter how formidable you are, Li Xuanfeng, what could the power of a single arrow possibly amount to?*
Yet, no matter how clearly he saw the other man's bottom line, he dared not openly provoke him. He merely clasped his hands and answered:
"Please, General, release your arrow."
Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod, Yuan Hudu took off on the wind without hesitation. Two talismans burned rapidly within his sleeves as he sped into the distance like a streaking comet. Two protective shields gleamed brilliantly around his body, appearing exceptionally solid.
Following his movement, Li Xuanfeng drew his bow and nocked an arrow. A gold-and-crimson spiritual arrow leaped from the quiver. Golden light flared across the greatbow, illuminating the surroundings so brightly that the polished flagstones on the ground shimmered, reflecting a hazy golden glow.
*Hummm...*
The onlookers felt as though sharp blades were scraping against their faces. The fine wines and delicacies on the tables shuddered and rattled in a continuous din. The golden radiance coursing through Li Xuanfeng's armor grew increasingly dazzling as he slowly rose into the sky.
The arrow resting upon the bow in his hand was the very one that had been tempered and refined by the [Six Ding Combined Fire] and [Halting Warfare]. Having now been meticulously forged and inscribed with intricate formation arrays, it shone with resplendent brilliance, unleashing burst after burst of astral qi.
Once the twenty breaths had elapsed, the cultivators in the courtyard had already retreated outside the walls. Li Xuanfeng gently released his grip.
*Whirrr...*
*Bang!*
Numerous jade cups and flagons upon the banquet tables burst apart. Shattered jade and clear wine sprayed outward like a downpour. A gale seemed to sweep through the courtyard, collapsing tables and chairs into a total shambles.
Debris showered down upon everyone's heads and faces, forcing them to raise their sleeves for protection. Yet their spiritual senses had remained locked onto the golden bow; suddenly, their senses met only an empty void, catching nothing at all.
"So fast!"
The golden arrow was already nowhere to be seen. The cultivators had no choice but to look toward the distant horizon. In the far sky, a dark figure plummeted like a bird with broken wings. Terrified, the crowd exchanged glances, only to find that Li Xuanfeng, who had been hovering above, had already vanished.
"Ah?!"
Li Xuanfeng was not being arrogant. His profound arrow was completely different now; even separated from the golden bow, it was a Foundation Establishment magical artifact in its own right.
What was more, having been tempered by the Combined Fire, the arrow could preserve astral qi over long periods and store metal astral qi in advance. Given that Yuan Hudu's immortal foundation, cultivation method, and realm were all inferior to his, Li Xuanfeng knew with certainty that this single arrow would suffice to awe the crowd and wipe clean the past disgrace.
Having loosed the arrow, he naturally cast his technique and drifted away toward the east.
"Quick, save the Patriarch!"
Fearing Yuan Hudu might die on their grounds, the Patriarch of the Song family took to the wind in sheer panic. The crowd scattered completely like clouds swept away by the wind, leaving only Yuan Fuyao and a sparse few standing bewildered in the courtyard.
...
Meanwhile, Yuan Hudu flew swiftly upon the wind. Though he had believed Li Xuanfeng's single arrow could hardly do much, he was cautious by nature and took no chances. He used two talismans in rapid succession, then retrieved an earthen-colored spirit shield from his storage bag.
Positioning the shield behind his back, Yuan Hudu finally felt a semblance of safety. In a single thought, he calculated that eleven breaths still remained.
*The farther, the better!*
Drawing upon past experience, he pressed forward in one breath. Hesitating for an instant, he thought:
*He is, after all, on par with the direct lineage of the Three Sects. I must not take this lightly.*
Yuan Hudu actually reversed his dharmic power. A crimson flush surged across his face, and his vital essence fluctuated as he executed an escape art that burned his life essence and blood. Shrouded in overlapping bloody silhouettes, he sped away.
Abruptly, an ear-splitting buzz rang in his ears, and two gashes tore open across his cheeks. Before Yuan Hudu could even react in horror, he felt his chest go hollow.
He looked down, only to see an empty, gaping hole between his heart and lungs. Only then did the sound of shattering shields reach his ears. The earthen-yellow spirit shield had been blasted away, embedded deep into a mountain cliff.
Yuan Hudu nearly suffocated and died right then and there. His eyes stared blankly at the sky as bursts of bloody froth spewed from his mouth.
A resilient willpower saved his life. He forcefully stabilized the cultivation inside his body, and his immortal foundation, "Dingyuan Chun," which fostered vitality and sustained bodily functions, rapidly circulated to keep him clinging to life.
Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a jade box, crushed it with a bang, and retrieved the glowing spiritual flower within. He hurriedly swallowed it into his stomach. A flush immediately surfaced on his face, preserving his remaining breath.
He quickly mustered his breath, but the wind beneath his feet had already been shattered by the tyrannical metal qi. Unable to spare any dharmic power to control his flight, he fished out a round object from his storage bag.
This spiritual treasure was vermilion, neither quite flesh nor earth, yet constantly squirming. Yuan Hudu stuffed it directly into the gaping hole between his heart and lungs. Only then did he find the energy to ride the wind again.
Yet his vision spun with dizziness, and streams of metallic astral qi surged violently through his body. The wind beneath his feet gathered and dispersed repeatedly. Stumbling through the air, snapping who knew how many trees along the way, he finally crashed to the ground with a dull thud.
The impact felled several trees and startled flocks of birds and beasts. Fortunately, possessing the physique of a Foundation Establishment cultivator and having briefly broken his fall twice in midair, the landing was not fatal.
Still, he was gravely wounded. While the fall did not kill him, it knocked him unconscious. Only then did the spirit shield dislodge from the cliffside and tumble down, landing beside him with a clang.
Cultivators caught up one after another and floated down, gathering around Yuan Hudu. Every one of them was struck speechless with shock, sensing how faint his aura had grown. Before they could examine him closely, a streak of gray mist charged through the crowd. It swiftly coalesced into human form, scooped up Yuan Hudu from the ground, and vanished.
The gray mist was naturally the Yuan family's loyal demon beast. It did not forget to sweep up the spirit shield from the ground and scrub away the bloodstains on the sand to prevent them from falling into hostile hands, before rapidly disappearing over the horizon.
The cultivators could only exchange looks and depart. One of them glanced around and sighed:
"The power of a single arrow... to think it could reach such heights!"
The person beside him nodded in shared awe and replied:
"Who would have thought that after Li Chijing went missing, the Li family still harbored such a figure! To dare bully that man's orphaned descendant..."
"Looking at how he was left hanging by a single breath, it wasn't that the archer couldn't kill him—he spared his life purely out of past friendship!"
...
Mount Qingdu.
"Chen Yang... Chen Mufeng..."
Li Xijun sat beside a desk, recounting the previous events in detail. Seated before him were two elderly men.
The foremost elder wore a wide-sleeved Daoist robe and listened attentively with a gentle expression; he possessed a ninth-tier Qi Refinement cultivation. The other was one-armed, his cultivation seemingly based on miscellaneous qi; his expression was solemn, and his hair completely white.
"Clan Elders, that is how the matter stands."
Once Li Xijun finished his explanation, the elder in the wide-sleeved Daoist robe sighed and nodded. "I understand."
This man was none other than Chen Donghe. Time flowed like water, and he had spent another decade or so idling away in Qi Refinement. Diligent and conscientious, the old man had no hobbies other than occasionally sitting on Mount Xiping.
As for the other man, he was the eldest clan elder of the Li family, named Li Qiuyang. Wounded in the market town and scorched by the Combined Fire, every effort had been made to save his life. Now his hair and beard were withered, his eyes dim, and he was barely capable of fighting.
Yet the old man still nodded and replied, "We shall make a trip to the Chen family at once!"
One was Chen Mufeng's master, and the other was the Chen family's elder ancestor; naturally, Li Xijun trusted them. He said softly, "It is merely a word of caution; do not take it too heavily to heart."
Watching the two men depart, Li Xijun settled back into his seat. Beside him, Li Yuexiang blinked and said softly, "Brother places great importance on this."
Li Chengliao also stood to the side, seemingly having a matter to report, though he had not yet found an opportunity to speak. Li Xijun sighed:
"I could see in that boy's eyes that he refuses to yield. Though the Heir can suppress him... those of us guarding the household cannot simply let him run wild. Naturally, we must fasten a few extra chains onto him before we can rest easy.
"The Chengming and Zhouxing generations do not possess great talent—perhaps it was all claimed by Zhouwei alone. For him to hold up the clan single-handedly will inevitably leave him hard-pressed. If Chen Yang is used well, he could be worth dozens of men."
Li Yuexiang nodded slightly. Before she could say anything, Li Xijun pondered for a moment, then called the two of them over with utmost gravity:
"Yuexiang, Chengliao, listen well."
Li Yuexiang quickly turned her full attention to him, and Li Chengliao also looked over with equal solemnity. Only then did Li Xijun speak in a low voice:
"Looking across the generations of our clan's rulers, dying violently in battle, falling to curses, or perishing by assassination—how many have retired successfully with honor? Even ordinary commoner households in town do not suffer untimely deaths generation after generation like this. To sit upon Mount Qingdu and in the Central Hall, one must harbor the resolve to perish along the way.
"I oversee matters here on Mount Qingdu, while Chengliao manages the household in Mount Lijing. Both of us must nip trouble in the bud. But if it comes down to trading piece for piece..."
Li Xijun paused, then said softly:
"Do not grudge your lives, and above all, plan a century ahead."
The two nodded. Li Xijun put away the wooden slips in his hand. Li Chengliao stepped forward and said respectfully:
"Reporting to Eighth Uncle: Ancestor Xuanfeng made an appearance at the Song family wedding, declaring that all debts of grace and enmity between the two families would be settled once and for all!
"Ancestor loosed only a single arrow, but it nearly obliterated Yuan Hudu's body and soul! He was left with only a breath of life, clinging on thanks to our family's [Wanling Flower], before the Yuan family's people escorted him away!"
Li Xijun raised his brows slightly. He had known Li Xuanfeng would go to intimidate them, yet he had not anticipated the ferocity would reach such a terrifying degree. Turning toward Li Yuexiang beside him, he said softly:
"Little Sister, Ancestor has vented this frustration for you!"
Chapter 499