Chapter 75: Song Xianming Emerges from Seclusion

Chang Wudao shot them an indifferent glance. With a single flick of his sleeve, the two were sent flying backward, their fate unknown after they crashed to the ground.

"Who did this?" After venting a fraction of his inner fury, Chang Wudao looked at Li Tiancheng and asked, his voice cold and his expression unreadable.

Li Tiancheng’s heart went cold. From what he knew of Chang Wudao, this was merely the calm before the storm.

Chang Wudao had his son late in life and had always doted on him endlessly. Now that the boy had perished in the Secret Realm, a bloodbath was sure to follow.

"Reporting to you, Martial Uncle, the one who killed Tianhua was Song Changsheng. He’s Song Xianming’s grandson."

"Song Changsheng? The same one who injured my Hua’er before?" A surging killing intent filled Chang Wudao’s eyes. A formidable aura erupted from him, making Li Tiancheng’s chest feel tight and oppressed.

"The very same," Li Tiancheng hastily replied.

"How wonderful. I will have him accompany my Hua’er in death!" Chang Wudao’s voice was frigid. He took several steps forward, then executed his Sword Control, transforming into a streak of rainbow light as he departed.

Li Tiancheng saw this and knew the situation had taken a turn for the worse. He quickly sent a message back to the sect. This matter would not end peacefully...

After Song Xianyun and his party returned to Vast Mist Peak, he took Song Changsheng directly to Ruyun Hall to request that Song Xianming come out of his seclusion.

"What has happened?" Song Xianming looked at the two of them, his gaze landing on Song Xianyun with a hint of confusion.

"Big Brother, Chang Wudao’s son is dead," Song Xianyun said, his expression grave, dispensing with all pleasantries.

"Hm?" Song Xianming’s brow furrowed. ’Chang Wudao has only one heir. With that line now severed, won’t he go berserk?’

Song Changsheng quickly stepped forward. "Grandfather, this is all my fault. Today, in the Secret Realm..."

In just a few words, he explained everything that had happened in the Secret Realm. He then stood before Song Xianming with his head bowed, awaiting his punishment.

’From a personal standpoint, since Chang Tianhua and his men came to kill me, it was only reasonable for me to kill them in return. No one could say I did anything wrong.’

’But Chang Tianhua and Qiu Wenwei were not ordinary people. Their deaths have undoubtedly brought a hidden threat upon the clan, and I don’t know what price we’ll have to pay to resolve this.’

Song Xianming glanced at him and asked coolly, "And where exactly were you wrong?"

"I shouldn’t have acted on impulse and brought this disaster upon our clan," Song Changsheng said in a heavy tone.

"Bullshit."

Song Xianming stared at him for a moment before suddenly cursing. He shot out a withered arm, grabbed Song Changsheng by the collar, and bellowed, "Raise your head! It’s true you shouldn’t act on impulse, but they were about to kill you! Were you supposed to spare them and let a tiger return to its mountain?

"It doesn’t matter who they were. What’s done is done. Are their lives precious, but the lives of my Song Clan’s sons are not? If anyone has a problem with it, they can come and test me! This old man isn’t dead yet. I’ll chop off the claws of anyone who dares to try anything!"

Song Changsheng raised his head and looked into Song Xianming’s hawk-like eyes, a grin suddenly splitting his face. ’This is him,’ he thought. ’This is the Song Xianming who once dominated Ling Province and single-handedly fought a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator.’

He cupped his hands in a formal salute. "I understand now."

"Hmph. If you ever say such nonsense again, I’ll be sure to teach you a proper lesson on your mother’s behalf." Song Xianming released his grip, adding a half-hearted threat.

"Big Brother, Chang Wudao is likely on his way here now. Shouldn’t we be making preparations?" Song Xianyun asked, his expression grave.

Song Xianming didn’t answer. Instead, he cast his gaze toward the distant horizon and said coolly, "There’s no need. He’s already here."

The words had barely left his lips when a rumbling voice echoed from afar: "Song Changsheng, get out here and face your death!"

"Come with me." Song Xianming placed a hand on Song Changsheng’s shoulder and took a single step. An Array Banner materialized beneath his feet, carrying them down the mountain.

At that moment, all of Vast Mist Peak was on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy. The Clan Protection Array had been activated. Song Luzhou, Song Luyao, Song Luhuai, and the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the mountain flew out on their swords in unison, confronting a lone, black-robed figure. The atmosphere was tense to the extreme.

"Chang Wudao, have you gone mad? How dare you come to our Vast Mist Peak and act so outrageously!" Song Luzhou yelled, staring at the murderous aura rolling off Chang Wudao.

"Hand over Song Changsheng, or I will make rivers of blood flow throughout your Song Clan." Chang Wudao stood with his hands clasped behind his back, flames flickering in his eyes as if he were discussing some trivial matter.

"How arrogant."

"Insolent!"

Enraged, Song Luzhou and Song Luyao summoned their Magical Artifacts, preparing to battle Chang Wudao.

At this tense, hair-trigger moment, Song Xianming arrived at the foot of the mountain with Song Changsheng. "Luzhou, Luyao, stand down," he said in a level voice.

"Elder Uncle."

"Clan Leader."

Seeing Song Xianming’s arrival, everyone immediately bowed in respect.

Song Xianming gave a slight nod. After setting Song Changsheng down, he stepped onto the Array Banner and rose into the air to confront Chang Wudao without a trace of fear.

Song Changsheng looked up into the air. He saw a middle-aged man wearing an Ink Jade Crown. The man had sharp, slanting brows like swords, and his slender eyes held a dangerous glint. With chiseled cheeks and a tall, slim frame, he was clad in a heavy black robe. He resembled a proud, solitary eagle, radiating an overwhelming arrogance.

This was the first time Song Changsheng had seen the Sect Leader of the Earth Fire Sect. He was just as the rumors described: arrogant to the extreme.

"Song Xianming, hand over your grandson, and I will leave at once," Chang Wudao said coldly.

"Heh. We haven’t met in years, yet you’re still as domineering and direct as ever. I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong place today." Song Xianming tucked his hands into his sleeves, his gaze unwavering.

"So you refuse to cooperate." Chang Wudao’s voice was glacial. "Do you really think that decrepit body of yours, flickering like a candle in the wind, is enough to protect him?"

’Twenty, or even ten years ago, I would have been no match for Song Xianming. I was doomed to be the eternal second-best in Ling Province.’

’But now, my Cultivation is on a completely different level. Song Xianming, on the other hand, hasn’t progressed an inch. In fact, he’s even regressed.’

’If we were to fight again, I am confident I would be victorious. This was the source of my courage to come here alone.’

Song Xianming smiled faintly, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. "Whether I can or not... we’ll only know after we try."

"Hmph. Since you’re looking for death, come out and fight." Chang Wudao was enraged. He couldn’t stand Song Xianming’s attitude of utter contempt.

"Elder Uncle, don’t listen to him! Your body can’t take that kind of strain," Song Luzhou quickly sent via voice transmission.

Song Xianming waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve been in seclusion for so long my bones are getting rusty. This is a good chance to loosen them up."

He mastered the Array Banner, moving outside the protective range of the Clan Protection Array. He pointed a finger at the sky. "Let’s take this up there."

"Hmph. I’ll be happy to oblige." A sneer touched the corner of Chang Wudao’s lips. He shot toward the heavens on his sword, and Song Xianming followed close behind.

Song Changsheng craned his neck, watching as the two vanished into the clouds. He felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his chest. ’Grandfather is powerful, but he’s old, and his physical condition is far from ideal.’

’Facing Chang Wudao, who is also at the peak of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, he might not come out on top...’