Chapter 360: The Tavern Battle, Another Twist!

【"The game of hawk catching chicks ends here."】

【Xiao Yue's lips curled into a cold smile; he casually closed the ivory-carved fan in his hand, and the air chilled instantly.】

【The true purpose of this mission was not Lu Chen. He had come from the Great Snow Mountains bearing the "Fate," and his sole objective was to take Lu Yu's head—that was his primary duty.】

【He later joined forces with Xuantianzi and Huang Dao, three Tianren Realm experts uniting to surround and kill Lu Yu.】

【Consider this: three of the Five Supreme Masters are already gathered, plus two of the most renowned top-ten names on the Jingzhe List—what chance does Lu Yu have to escape?】

【Xiao Yue had little interest in Lu Chen, but Huang Dao the Demon Master and Xuantianzi regarded him as a grave threat that must be eliminated first.】

【Otherwise, this scene in the tavern would never have happened.】

【The atmosphere inside the pavilion grew taut; everyone stood as if facing an enemy of doom.】

【The Four Elders of the Sword Sect firmly shielded Huang Captain and Hu Jie behind them, their eyes filled with tragic resolve, determined to protect the future of the Sword Sect at the cost of their lives.】

【Hu Jie's gaze was filled with despair; facing one of the Five Supreme Masters atop the world, even Prince Yan, a Grand Master, would likely meet a grim end.】

【He refused to die so hastily—his grip on the sword trembled involuntarily.】

【Huang Huang Yuwei's conical hat had fallen, revealing a face scarred across its surface, yet her eyes remained calm and focused, unclouded by the marks.】

【Even under the crushing pressure of a Tianren Realm cultivator, standing was difficult—but her grip on the sword remained as steady as a rock, revealing an unshakable resolve beyond ordinary will.】

【The Four Elders of the Sword Sect watched this, their hearts filled with mixed emotions: pride in the younger generation's growth, and deep sorrow at the looming test of life and death.】

【A swordsman fears not the breaking of his blade—he advances without retreat.】

【The Seven Sons of Zhongnan, facing overwhelming foes, showed not a single step back; they swiftly formed the Three True Array—not defending passively, but launching a preemptive strike to rewrite the battle's outcome.】

【They knew that if the Tianren Realm Grand Master seized the initiative, death was certain.】

【The seven stood shoulder to shoulder, disregarding life and death, shouting together:】

【"Uncle, run while you can!"】

【"Uncle, we'll hold him off—go quickly!"】

【Xiao Yue watched coldly, a faint sneer on his lips; below Grand Master level, all were trapped in his invisible qi cage, unable to move. His gaze swept over everyone present.】

【All were ants.】

【Everyone here today must die!】

【Luo Luo Feiguang, seeing this, felt a chill but did not retreat; he drew a deep breath, his true qi surging as he stepped forward to join this seemingly hopeless battle.】

【Xiao Yu followed close behind, her foot flicking the long knife on the ground into her hand; with a fingertip stroke, the blade gleamed like autumn water, icy and sharp.】

【"Lu Lang, I'll help you!"】

【Her voice was resolute as she stood shoulder to shoulder with Luo Luo Feiguang.】

Xiao Yue's movements were ghostly and erratic; even nine opponents attacking in unison couldn't touch him.

【His sleeves fluttered with the wind, the hundred-bird pattern on his white robe seeming ready to take flight at any moment.】

With a casual flick of his folding fan, Xiao Yue struck with the force of a thousand jin, sending the fourth of the Seven Sons of Zhongnan—who wielded an eighty-jin bronze staff—flying two zhang away, his hands bleeding from split tiger mouths.

【Had the other six not acted swiftly to absorb the impact, the fourth would have been crippled.】

【This scene made everyone present fully comprehend the unbridgeable chasm between Grand Master and Tianren Realm.】

【The Five Supreme Masters can kill Grand Masters as easily as swatting flies.】

【The gap was so vast that each fighter grew increasingly cautious.】

【Xiao Yu and Luo Luo Feiguang felt a creeping dread; they dared not unleash their full strength—each time they struck, Xiao Yue's fan effortlessly deflected their attacks, even redirecting their weapons elsewhere.】

【He turned their force against them, amplifying its power.】

【This was one of Xiao Yue's ultimate techniques—"Konghe Hand"—unfazed by group assaults, peerless under heaven.】

【In barely a dozen moves, several Grand Masters—including nine ranked among the top five hundred on the Jingzhe List—had exhausted every technique, yet still could not hold their ground.】

【Xiao Yue's techniques were bizarre, his force manipulation utterly alien—the Seven Sons of Zhongnan had never seen its like.】

【Our Master always breaks ten thousand techniques with raw power!】

【This was their first encounter with a fellow Supreme Master; had the Seven Sons of Zhongnan not moved in perfect unison, they would have fallen long ago.】

【This battle had already lost all suspense.】

【At this most tense moment!】

【The robed elder among the nine had eyes like burning coals, unnervingly calm. Though the situation was dire, he sought an opportunity to escort Miss Ma Ma Yiren to safety—neither attacking nor fleeing rashly.】

【Hu Jie, the brocade-clad young master, was frantic; he knew even their combined strength was no match for Xiao Yue. His eyes kept darting toward the horse path outside the tavern, clinging to a sliver of hope.】

【He had overheard one of the nine mention a divine steed capable of a thousand li per day hidden beside the horse path—this might be his only chance to escape.】

【Just as Hu Jie's thoughts raced, Huang Huang Yuwei of the Sword Sect stepped forward—sword flashing, blade drawn. Already a Grand Master, in that instant of her strike, her cultivation solidified further, as if ascending another level.】

【No retreat—she charged forward!】

【Her sword unleashed like molten steel, its edge blazing with brilliance.】

【The Four Elders of the Sword Sect stared in shock; Huang Huang Yuwei's strike had channeled all her sword intent and cultivation, pushing her to the brink of Grand Master perfection.】

【Xiao Yue remained calm as ever; with a casual flick of his fan, he effortlessly dissolved Huang Huang Yuwei's "remarkable" strike into nothingness.】

【The counterforce surged through her blade like needles piercing her arm; she gritted her teeth to keep the sword from flying away, but her entire arm went numb.】

【Fortunately, the remaining Six Sons of Zhongnan launched a relentless, seamless barrage, forcing Xiao Yue to momentarily withdraw to defend against the sudden storm of attacks.】

【Seeing their disciple stand fearless and unyielding, the Four Elders' worry vanished, replaced by unwavering resolve.】

【"Let us die—what is there to fear?"】

【The Four Elders shouted in unison, then drew their swords simultaneously—four piercing blades streaked toward Xiao Yue.】

【Xiao Yue remained eerily composed, his movements fluid as a phantom, dodging and weaving among thirteen attackers as if playing with them at will.】

【Xiao Yue smiled faintly as he moved among them, as if not fighting for his life, but strolling through a garden admiring flowers and fish.】

【The opposing side—including even the more deeply cultivated Zhongnan disciples—were drenched in sweat, not daring to slacken for a moment.】

【The weakest among them, Luo Luo Feiguang, was now utterly drained; he had no weapon and could not close the distance—within a foot of Xiao Yue's body, swirling aura-blades cut his hands, leaving multiple gashes.】

【All their weapons had been chipped or dented by his blows.】

【Xiao Yue's mobility was supreme, his body guarded by a protective aura, his fan capable of shattering a thousand jin.】

【They could no longer hope to match him with strength alone.】

【At that moment!】

【Yang Su cried out anxiously: "Uncle, run!"】

【His voice trembled with urgency and fear: "Uncle, don't mind us—leave now!"】

【But Xiao Yue merely smiled faintly and said: "It's too late."】

【His tone carried supreme, unshakable confidence.】

【Xiao Yue suddenly stepped back; though the crowd surged forward, none dared chase him in that sudden retreat.】

【Taking advantage, he slowly unfurled his fan, fanning gently, a faint smile on his lips as he whispered: "It's over."】

【At his words, all present were confused—then suddenly, their bodies went numb, their internal qi vanishing instantly.】

【The weakest among them, Luo Luo Feiguang and Huang Huang Yuwei, were hit first; their limbs went limp, and they barely managed to steady themselves by gripping the nearby table.】

【"No…"】

【"What's happening?"】

【The other Six Sons of Zhongnan also sensed the anomaly; they tried to summon their internal power—but found their bodies bound by an invisible force, unable to gather even a single thread of strength.】

【The Four Elders of the Sword Sect turned pale; their swords had slipped from their hands without their notice—they were now utterly drained, like bones pulled from their bodies, powerless to move, watching helplessly.】

【Xiao Yue's smile deepened. He lifted his sleeve slightly, revealing a faintly glowing talisman.】

【On the talisman, the character "Jin" was clearly visible, emitting a faint spiritual energy ripple.】

【Thin streams of spiritual energy flowed from the talisman, converging into Xiao Yue's palms.】

【And at this moment!】

【Hu Jie and the robed elder also noticed the change—they saw the Seven Sons of Zhongnan and the Four Elders of the Sword Sect collapsed on the ground, utterly incapacitated.】

【All were defeated, utterly hopeless.】

【The robed elder's eyes flashed with final resolve; he swiftly seized Miss Ma Ma Yiren and fled the tavern.】

【Hu Jie did the same.】

【Both aimed for the same place—the horse stable outside the tavern, where the divine steed waited.】

【Xiao Yue glanced at them once, indifferently.】

【At this moment—a sudden change!】

【Inside the tavern, a sharp, piercing sound of shattering porcelain rang out, followed by the heavy crash of overturned stools.】

【Xiao Yue spun around—there, hanging from the doorframe by a taut hemp rope, was the woman named Xiu'er, her body suspended in midair, the stool beneath her overturned.】

【The sight of suicide—horrifying!】

【Xiao Yue's heart jolted; his fan shot from his hand, spinning like a blade toward the deadly rope.】

【His eyes locked onto it, unblinking!】

【Just then!】

【Before he could turn, he felt heat at the nape of his neck—a searing wave of heat struck his face.】

【He had no time to retreat—a hand, red-hot as molten iron, pressed firmly against his chest.】

【Xiao Yue saw only a pair of eyes—fiery red, yet colder than ice.】

【"Ahh!"】

【Xiao Yue screamed—a piercing, agonized cry.】

PS: The circuit breaker in my neighborhood failed, causing a power outage—I wrote less today. I'll make up the difference tomorrow.

Recommendation: A master's novel, set in a chaotic world of cultivation advancement—interested readers should check it out!

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(End of Chapter)