Chapter 152: Is There Any Wine Left?

Several disciples of the Myriad Swords Ancient Sect sat expressionlessly, straddling their chairs right at the main entrance of the Duan family estate.

The chairs had been brought out by members of the Duan family.

Such was their arrogance.

They could kill your people, and when they grew tired, you still had to fetch chairs for them to sit and rest.

Not even the corpses of the murdered guards dared to be cleared away.

Everyone was struck dumb with fear, holding their breath.

Several senior figures of the Duan family rushed back rapidly.

They could have sought help from everyone present at the banquet hall. When cultivators came to stir up trouble, even for a top-tier mortal family, seeking assistance was nothing shameful.

Yet, they chose not to do so.

They refused to implicate the innocent.

Daring to commit murder in broad daylight right at the Duan family gate, the identity of the perpetrators was self-evident.

If they asked for help, would those with good relations dare to get involved or not?

These members of the Duan family understood the stakes clearly.

Stepping through the main gates, before the usually picturesque screen wall, several figures in white robes with swords strapped to their backs sat in a row.

Their expressions were utterly indifferent.

Duan Pingfeng, the head of the Duan family and father of Duan Yeyu, stepped forward with a steady expression, cupped his fists, and opened his mouth to speak when suddenly his body stiffened, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his lips.

One of the figures sitting among the group had launched a sneak attack.

The other Duan family members instantly flew into a rage.

Duan Pingfeng gave a low shout: "Do not move!"

The eyes of those behind him turned bloodshot, heads lowered, their eyes brimming with boundless fury!

Not even giving them a chance to speak, they directly resorted to violence.

How insolent and tyrannical was this?

Duan Pingfeng's steps were somewhat unsteady, his complexion pale, yet he still cupped his fists and said, "Duan Pingfeng, head of the Duan family, greets the immortals of the Myriad Swords Sect!"

There was no need to ask; with such attire and demeanor, there was only one such faction in the entire cultivation world, with no duplicate.

Among the seated group, a young man who looked only twenty-one or twenty-two years old spoke up: "Did Duan Wuyu contact you recently?"

Duan Wuyu was precisely the ancestor of the Duan family who had ascended to the cultivation world and become an outer disciple of the Myriad Swords Ancient Sect.

Duan Pingfeng remained calm and composed, shaking his head as he replied, "No, he has not."

Puff!

A streak of sword Qi suddenly materialized.

It pierced right through Duan Pingfeng's right chest, and blood immediately began to gush out.

Instantly, a large patch of his robes turned crimson!

Duan Pingfeng's body swayed, staggering on his feet, almost crashing to the ground.

He pressed one hand over his right chest while his other hand gestured slightly behind him, preventing the crimson-eyed family members from making a move.

At that moment, Duan Yeyu, accompanied by Qian Qianxue, happened to be crossing the threshold.

Seeing her father injured, Duan Yeyu let out a miserable cry: "Dad!"

Qian Qianxue gently pulled back Duan Yeyu, who was about to rush forward.

Not the slightest emotional fluctuation could be detected on the faces of those seated. The young-looking Myriad Swords sword cultivator who had just asked the question fixed his gaze on Duan Pingfeng: "Lie again, and you die."

Though he looked very youthul, his gaze was profound, clearly indicating that his actual age was quite advanced.

Duan Pingfeng took a deep breath, pressing a hand against his wound as blood seeped through his fingers. His demeanor remained neither servile nor overbearing as he said, "An ancient pact exists between the cultivation world and the mortal realm. Since you gentlemen hail from a top-tier ancient sect, do you intend to completely disregard this rule?"

"We are the rule!"

The young-looking Myriad Swords sword cultivator showed no emotional fluctuation whatsoever as he stared at Duan Pingfeng: "Answer the question. You only have one chance."

"I was the one who beat them to death."

From afar, a clear and resonant voice rang out.

It sounded very peaceful.

No trace of discontent could be heard in the tone.

Yet these few words caused the expressions of the Myriad Swords Ancient Sect disciples, who had been sitting securely in their seats, to turn razor-sharp in an instant.

Sword Qi erupted from their bodies.

They looked like peerless, living swords incarnate!

Song Yue walked in from the outside, followed by a large crowd of mortal cultivators, martial arts grandmasters, and great demons.

He cast his gaze upon the Myriad Swords disciples who were still seated.

"Stand up and speak."

A strand of sword intent instantly slashed toward one of Song Yue's arms!

Just like the sneak attack on Duan Pingfeng earlier.

This was a psychological blow meant to intimidate.

No living being in the mortal world was allowed to act arrogantly in their presence.

Therefore, regardless of the truth, they intended to teach this arrogant young man a lesson first.

To make him understand that running one's mouth and talking nonsense came with a heavy price.

The sword intent vanished like mud sinking into the sea, dissolving without a trace.

The Myriad Swords disciple who had attacked him froze slightly, a flash of sheer disbelief crossing his eyes.

The feeling was akin to a full-grown, robust adult swinging a palm at a toddler in kindergarten; the extent of the damage inflicted depended entirely on the adult's mood, with no question of whether the blow would land or not.

Yet somehow... he had missed!

"Stand up!"

A formidable aura suddenly erupted from Song Yue's body, the formless blade intent transforming into a Taiji diagram, smooth and profound yet incomparably sharp, instantly blanketing the group of men.

For these past few months, he had consistently suppressed his realm, refusing to elevate his cultivation, all because he wanted to linger in the mortal world for a little longer.

He found it hard to part with his loved ones, and even more so, he did not wish for Huaxia to revert to how it used to be—a place where these people could act as they pleased—after he left!

A year ago, when he accepted Little Meng's terms, it was for the money.

There was nothing embarrassing about admitting that.

Cultivators could not survive without wealth, techniques, companionship, and land. A single coin could defeat a hero, and without money, one could not take a single step.

Without money, he couldn't even afford the ingredients required by martial artists.

So back then, it was for money.

Now, as he took care of the Elite Martial Arts Academy, it was to leave behind a heritage!

A single flower blooming does not make a spring; a hundred flowers blossoming brings spring to the entire garden.

He hoped that after he left, the mortal world would also be able to produce a large number of brilliantly talented young powerhouses.

What was wrong with the mortal world?

The mortal world guarded countless ancient secret realms and possessed various cultivation techniques not a whit inferior to those of the cultivation world.

By what right should they be looked down upon by the likes of you?

First came the Tianle Ancient Sect, then the Jade Cauldron Sect, and now this bunch of bastards from the Myriad Swords Ancient Sect popped up!

"You are impertinent!"

The young-looking cultivator who had injured Duan Pingfeng flew into a rage, sitting there as he shouted harshly at Song Yue.

Song Yue glanced at the Duan family guards lying nearby with their corpses already stiffening, his inner anger burning unquenchably.

Trespassing into a private residence, swinging swords to kill when blocked, without a blush or a skipped heartbeat, and still daring to sit here straddling chairs demanding an explanation?

I'll give you your ancestor's peace!

Song Yue looked toward the opposite group of powerful sword cultivators.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Leaving aside mere ancient sect disciples like you, even if your sect master came to this mortal world, he would be nothing more than an oversized Nascent Soul cultivator. So what?"

"Who gave you the courage to run amok in the mortal world?"

Duan Yeyu supported her father with tear-filled eyes.

Qian Qianxue retrieved a jade bottle from her person, poured out a pill, and said to Duan Pingfeng, "Uncle, stabilize your injuries first."

Though Duan Pingfeng's injuries were not fatal, they were by no means minor. The hand pressing against his wound was completely soaked and stained red with blood.

Had it not been for his fairly solid foundation, he would likely have collapsed to the ground by now.

Yet, as the head of the Duan family, even if everyone else fell, he could not fall.

Even in death, he had to stand.

Looking at Qian Qianxue, he nodded slightly: "Thank you."

The humans and demons who had arrived with Song Yue all felt a tingling sensation across their scalps.

Hearing about it a hundred times did not compare to seeing it once!

This young man... was truly, bloody fierce!

Who were the people sitting over there?

Disciples of a top-tier ancient sect from the cultivation world!

Although their specific identities were unclear, the mere identity of "cultivator from an ancient sect" was enough to crush all living beings in the mortal world!

Let alone them, even the older generation of great figures in Huaxia and the powerful demon kings who had left the mortal realm would not dare to easily turn hostile upon seeing such people.

They had previously heard that Song Yue had repelled or even killed people from the cultivation world several times, and was even rumored to have suppressed powerhouses at the Nascent Soul level!

That was utterly unimaginable!

Even with reliable sources confirming it to be true.

Those who had not witnessed it with their own eyes still harbored a lingering sense that it was somewhat fake.

Until now, seeing it with their own eyes, those past doubts completely vanished into thin air.

At that very moment, some of the older mortals and great demons inexplicably felt a surge of emotion and agitation, their blood boiling hot within them.

They had long since passed the age of youthful impulsiveness; facing irresistible forces, they had long learned to lower their gaze and adopt a meek attitude.

At worst, they could just kneel. Face and dignity depended on the time and place, and at critical moments, both could be discarded.

They all understood that in a head-on clash, the mortal realm was truly no match for the cultivation world.

Yet at this moment, it felt as though a miraculous force was enveloping them!

Fear, hesitation, and worry were completely overwhelmed by the boiling surge of hot blood.

It was as if they had suddenly been transported back to the days of white-robed youths wielding swords across the martial world, striding forth with fierce righteousness upon encountering injustice.

Some even felt an irrepressible urge to cheer out loud!

Momentum was a most wondrous thing.

Initially, the Myriad Swords disciples had sat there arrogantly, holding no one in any regard.

But now, they suddenly felt as though they were sitting on pins and needles.

They had the urge to stand up, yet felt it would look too disgraceful, damaging to their status and standing as core disciples of an ancient sect.

How could they allow themselves to be bluffed by a mere mortal youth?

The young-looking Myriad Swords disciple narrowed his eyes sharply, shooting out two beams of light resembling sword Qi as he stared at Song Yue: "Such brazen words from a young man. Who gave you the courage to be so arrogant? Whose disciple are you?"

Song Yue threw his head back and laughed aloud: "Hahahahaha!"

"A bunch of trash!"

A look of utter disdain crossed his eyes. Exercising the Heavenly Venerate technique, he let out another explosive roar: "Get the hell up!"

Boom!

A mental storm swept violently toward the group opposite him.

He was going to take the initiative!

Bang bang bang!

With a series of deafening blasts, those sturdy chairs shattered explosively.

Along with the exquisite screen wall behind them, everything blew apart!

Even if those Myriad Swords disciples still wanted to put on airs, they had no way of remaining seated.

In truth, they had no way to keep up the act any longer.

Song Yue's roar was like a Buddhist lion's roar, shaking their mental seas to their very foundations and making their heads buzz deafeningly!

Some couldn't help but draw their swords on the spot.

Song Yue raised a hand and struck with a palm; amidst twinkling starlight, bolts of lightning coiled around it!

After months of dedicated cultivation, without even increasing his realm, Song Yue's combat prowess was no longer comparable to his past self.

He had already mastered the art of fusing techniques!

He had seamlessly blended several combat arts he excelled in.

Though he hadn't yet reached the realm of "creating techniques," he already possessed the aura of a generational grandmaster.

And this grandmaster was no ordinary martial arts grandmaster.

Terrifying sword Qi burst forth from the sword-drawing Myriad Swords disciple, colliding violently with the lightning-entwined starlight, triggering a series of intense explosions and roars.

At the main entrance of the Duan family estate, the exquisite gardens instantly looked as though they had been trampled over, left in utter devastation!

Several centuries-old ancient trees burst apart one after another, reduced to fine powder.

Yet Duan Pingfeng and the other Duan family members felt not a shred of heartache; they only felt an overwhelming sense of catharsis.

The white robes of the sword-wielding Myriad Swords disciple also exploded into shreds, leaving him looking thoroughly battered, his face covered in injuries, bruised black and blue, and his hair standing on end from the terrifying power of the thunder.

For a Myriad Swords disciple who usually cared deeply about appearance, this was simply intolerable.

Roaring in anger, he brandished his sword and stabbed at Song Yue.

At that moment, another disciple drew his sword and stepped forward, attempting to pincer-attack Song Yue.

The White-browed Old Ape and the other mortal great demons, along with cultivators from various other clans, flew into immediate fury upon seeing this, shouting angrily: "You're courting death!"

"Ganging up on one person?"

"Comparing numbers?"

"Weak though the mortal realm may be, not all of us are cowards shrinking from battle!"

Several Duan family members also drew their magical treasures without hesitation, preparing to step into the fray.

Were they afraid?

A little.

Were they going to fight?

Fight!

Why fight?

There was no retreat left!

Having come here today, having encountered this, setting aside whether they could pass the test in their own hearts without fighting, there was one simple truth—everyone present could potentially face this kind of calamity in the future.

If they didn't fight today, when they themselves were bullied in the future, who would stand up to help them?

Most importantly, the entire crowd had been infected by Song Yue's indomitable momentum.

In the past, they had all deeply feared the cultivation world.

That fear was from the heart... deeply ingrained in their bones.

Yet ever since Song Yue's rise, that fear—at least regarding Song Yue—was no longer so glaringly apparent.

The cultivation world had repeatedly suffered setbacks at the hands of this young man, and from that moment on, the once-glorified cultivation world suddenly didn't seem so terrifying anymore.

Mature individuals understood in their hearts that this was actually an illusion.

Firstly, they were not Song Yue; secondly, the Heavenly Dao laws existed in the mortal world, and whoever came... could not break through that ceiling!

Hence, they usually kept themselves very calm.

Unfortunately for them, Song Yue was here today.

That surging blood Qi infected every human and demon present!

Why the hell should they stay calm anymore?

When someone was practically riding roughshod over their faces, if they still chose to endure it, what was the very purpose of cultivation?

Song Yue, however, did not let them make a move. He completely unleashed his full realm, executed the secret techniques of the Eight Desolations Dao Scripture, swung the Dragon-Patterned Immortal-Slaying Saber, and slashed it toward the opposite sword cultivator with a single strike.

Before anyone could even react, the sword-wielding cultivator had already been hacked down by Song Yue.

Split into two, cleaved right down the middle.

A human-shaped Golden Elixir instantly shot out, transforming into a stream of light that escaped into the void.

Song Yue glanced sideways at the Golden Elixir and did not pursue it further.

Killing the opponent's physical body once was enough.

Hunting down and destroying their Nascent Soul as well would make him look overly relentless on the surface.

In truth, there were simply too many people present.

He didn't wish to display an excessive murderous intent.

"Can you all calm down now?"

Song Yue retracted his saber and stood tall, looking at the remaining Myriad Swords core disciples and asking.

The remaining few all wore furious expressions, but people... were indeed calmer now.

"What are you all here for?"

Song Yue looked at the remaining members and asked.

Since they had asked, they needed to get to the bottom of it. If they didn't answer properly, they weren't allowed to leave.

The three of them: "..."

Ten thousand mythical creatures galloped across their hearts in an instant.

One of them, who looked to be in his early thirties, stared at Song Yue with an extremely complicated gaze and said, "Two of our Myriad Swords disciples entered the mortal realm, and their soul tablets shattered, while even their core elixirs failed to escape back. We suspect this matter is related to the Duan family."

"Merely based on suspicion, you rushed over here and killed five people in a row?" Song Yue looked at the three of them. "In your eyes, are all living beings in this world mere ants, whose lives can be snuffed out underfoot without causing the slightest ripple in your hearts?"

The three remained silent.

There was no defending this matter.

Song Yue continued, "On what grounds do you suspect this has anything to do with the Duan family?"

At this point, Duan Pingfeng, having stabilized his injuries, spoke in a deep voice, "That's right, my Duan family still has an ancestor in the Myriad Swords Ancient Sect. If you chose to ignore our familial ties, so be it, but why smear our names?"

He truly felt wronged, a grief and indignation so genuine it could not possibly be faked.

After returning home, Duan Yeyu had not dared to tell her family about her experience with Song Yue in the secret realm.

She had planned to leave behind the sword scriptures and magical treasures when she eventually ascended, keeping the true origins buried in her heart forever.

Thus, Duan Pingfeng spoke with righteous confidence; no matter how good an actor he was, he couldn't fake that genuine feeling.

The three Myriad Swords disciples fell silent once more.

They had indeed come to the Duan family based entirely on intuition.

From their perspective, it was impossible for this matter to have nothing to do with the Duan family!

Especially since that Duan family ancestor certainly had the means to communicate with mortal families.

As long as they came to the Duan family, killing one person if they refused to speak, and killing ten if ten refused, sooner or later someone would tell them the truth.

It sounded cruel, but crushing one ant versus crushing a nest of ants... what difference did it make?

"Doesn't anyone want to offer an explanation?"

Song Yue sighed as he looked at the three of them. "It seems you truly are used to acting arrogantly. This matter has nothing to do with the Duan family; no one knows how those two good-for-nothings died."

"However, those two good-for-nothings just now were killed by me. You needn't be in such a rush to send people to take revenge on me either. Before long, I will head to the cultivation world, and when I do, I will certainly visit your Myriad Swords Ancient Sect!"

"I will pay a personal visit to demand an explanation!"

"During this period, if any of you dare to come to the mortal realm to run amok, it won't just be your physical bodies that get destroyed."

Song Yue looked at them coldly. "Don't think I can't stop a Nascent Soul's Golden Elixir from escaping."

"Also, hear this well: whoever dares to touch the people around me, touch one, and I will wipe out your entire nest. I mean what I say!"

The three of them deeply gazed at Song Yue, said nothing more, and quickly retreated in disgrace.

At the same time, a trace of trepidation lingered in their hearts.

Right now, they almost hoped Song Yue was just bragging.

If Song Yue truly went to the Myriad Swords Ancient Sect to demand an explanation in the future, he would most likely meet a terrible end.

An ancient sect would never tolerate him acting so audaciously.

Yet, the outcome for their own group... might not be all that optimistic either!

The Myriad Swords Ancient Sect was not a demonic sect devoid of rules; actions like theirs were carried out entirely behind the scenes.

If this matter were truly exposed in the future, while Song Yue would undoubtedly meet a gruesome demise, their own ends... would most likely be utterly miserable!

Watching the three Myriad Swords disciples retreat in such utter disgrace, the cultivators and great demons present were completely thunderstruck, utterly speechless.

As the boiling blood in their veins gradually subsided, every human and demon felt as though they were living inside a dream.

Standing far in the distance with his grandfather, An Wenxi was completely silenced.

Song Yue looked at the crowd and suddenly smiled. "This mortal world still has hope!"

With that, he turned to Duan Pingfeng: "Uncle, we didn't drink enough earlier. Does the Duan family still have wine?"

Duan Pingfeng, a mature, seasoned man, felt tears welling up in his eyes at that very moment.

He smiled, looking somewhat frail, yet his expression was filled with unshakeable firmness: "We do. However much you want to drink, we have!"