Chapter 10: Forcing Submission

Mu Xian was still staring blankly at the Divine Blood Jade Marrow when he suddenly saw it fly up abruptly. It then dropped straight onto his chest and hovered there without moving.

Puzzled, Mu Xian looked towards the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger, only to find it nodding repeatedly at him, its eyes filled with expectation.

Even though the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger didn’t speak, Mu Xian understood the meaning it wanted to convey with its eyes.

“Little Flame, I’m surrounded by dangers right now and urgently need to improve my strength. This Divine Blood Jade Marrow is too timely for me. I won’t stand on ceremony with you.” After pondering for a while, Mu Xian reached out and cupped the Divine Blood Jade Marrow in his hands.

Mu Xian had initially helped the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger improve its strength simply because his hands were itching to concoct Demonic Medicine, without any other thoughts in mind.

After unintentionally receiving such a generous gift from the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger, Mu Xian was deeply moved. He secretly resolved in his heart that no matter how powerful he became in the future, he would never abandon the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger.

Seeing Mu Xian accept the gift, the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger’s eyes showed pleasure, and it let out a series of snorts from its nose.

Mu Xian did not put the Divine Blood Jade Marrow into his robe himself. Instead, he squatted down, picked up a relatively large piece of jade, and began carving it with the Black Iron Sword.

After half the time it took for an incense stick to burn, an exquisite jade box took shape in Mu Xian’s hands.

Mu Xian then placed the Divine Blood Jade Marrow into the jade box. The dense Spiritual Power in the stone cave immediately faded until it disappeared. Only then did Mu Xian breathe a sigh of relief.

“Little Flame, I’m going home first. After I resolve the family crisis, I will come to the mountains to play with you.” After putting the jade box containing the Divine Blood Jade Marrow into his robe, Mu Xian couldn’t help but pat the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger’s head once more before resolutely turning to leave.

Seeing Mu Xian’s figure rapidly disappear, the Blazing Flame Demon Tiger did not chase after him. Instead, it watched Mu Xian leave with reluctant eyes. Only after Mu Xian’s figure vanished from sight did it lift its head and let out a long roar.

After descending the mountain, Mu Xian first returned to the location of the carriage. Finding that Ling Tian was not waiting for him there, he immediately changed direction and sped straight towards Shitang Town.

The Mu Family was located in the southwestern part of Shitang Town, bordering Shenduan Mountain. Mu Xian had just stepped out of Shenduan Mountain when the Mu Family compound appeared before him.

Even though he was about to reach home, a trace of timidity arose in Mu Xian’s heart, making him feel somewhat unable to move his feet.

“Enough. What must be faced will ultimately be faced. I hope no flaws are noticed.” Remembering the shrewdness of Tang Qiluo, the mother of the body’s original owner, Mu Xian sighed. He then steeled himself and walked towards the Mu Manor.

Soon, Mu Xian stopped in his tracks.

Because as soon as he got close to the Mu Family estate, Mu Xian heard the sound of fierce fighting coming from within the courtyard. At the same time, a strong smell of blood hit his nostrils. Clearly, the Mu Family was not peaceful at this moment.

A sense of unease welled up in Mu Xian’s heart. Frowning, he stopped heading for the main gate and instead went directly to the outside of the North Courtyard wall. Making sure no one was around, he quickly vaulted over the wall and entered.

The sounds of fighting were coming from the direction of the Mu Family’s North Courtyard. The North Courtyard was usually where Mu Xian’s parents lived. At this time, Mu Xian’s father, Mu Yuanshan, was away and had not returned, so only Mu Xian’s mother, Tang Qiluo, lived there alone. Seeing that someone was bold enough to cause trouble in the North Courtyard, Mu Xian’s face turned extremely grim.

Perhaps the Mu Family’s guards were all drawn away by the commotion in the North Courtyard, as Mu Xian encountered no one, smoothly sneaking into the North Courtyard.

Mu Xian quickly spotted Ling Tian’s figure in the crowd. But when Mu Xian saw the tragic state Ling Tian was in, he felt his eyes were about to crack, and his eyes instantly turned blood red.

This was because Ling Tian’s entire body was covered in dense wounds at this moment, with almost no intact spot to be found. His right arm was severed at the shoulder, and his broad-backed saber lay pitifully at his feet.

A large hole was torn open in Ling Tian’s abdomen, with a section of intestine poking out, which he himself was pressing tightly with his left hand.

Even though the broad-backed saber was right beside him, Ling Tian now lacked even the strength to bend down and pick it up. For someone who was always inseparable from his blade, this was undoubtedly a huge humiliation.

In fact, even standing upright was very difficult for Ling Tian at this moment. The reason his body hadn’t collapsed was because an ugly youth beside him was holding him tightly.

From the fused memories, Mu Xian knew this ugly youth was named Ling Zhan. He was Ling Tian’s son and also Mu Xian’s best playmate, without equal.

Ling Zhan had a lion-like nose, a wide mouth, and disheveled hair. His looks were incredibly ugly, but his physique was especially astonishing. Ling Tian was already burly and robust enough, but Ling Zhan was a full head taller than Ling Tian and a whole size broader.

Ling Zhan’s clothes were tattered, and his face was covered in blood. His eyes were brimming with tears of hatred.

Ling Zhan held a three-zhang-long steel halberd, standing firmly at the entrance of the North Courtyard like a door god, exuding the imposing aura of a single man holding a pass against ten thousand.

Behind Ling Tian and his son Ling Zhan, over a dozen people lay haphazardly. Some of them were already dead, while others had lost limbs and were barely breathing. A strong smell of blood emanated from them, permeating the entire courtyard.

Ling Tian spat out a mouthful of filthy blood. His eyes were gloomy as he stared at the dozens of figures standing before him. He said coldly, “Mu Deyu, your elder brother and sister-in-law have always treated you with immense kindness. Why must you go this far?”

“Immense kindness? That’s bullshit! Everyone in Shitang Town knows about Mu Yuanshan’s reputation for being stingy, and Tang Qiluo is famous for being shrewd and calculating. With their penny-pinching nature, how could they possibly have treated me with immense kindness? Why don’t you say they were trying to bribe me and my clansmen to amass wealth for their own family?”

As soon as Ling Tian finished speaking, an old man in gray robes spat out a furious curse.

This old man in gray robes turned out to be the Mu Family’s Grand Elder, Mu Deyu. He was also another warrior in the Mu Family, besides Mu Guitu, with Great Perfection cultivation in the Condensed Essence Realm.

Over twenty people also lay beside Mu Deyu. Some had longswords stuck in their bodies, while others were already cut in two. They shared one common feature—none of them were breathing.

However, compared to only Ling Tian and his son Ling Zhan remaining standing at the entrance of the North Courtyard, Mu Deyu still had over forty people standing on his side.

“Ling Tian, you and your son are not members of our Mu Family. There’s no need for you to get involved in Mu Family affairs. If you know what’s good for you, get out of the way now. Otherwise, today next year will be the anniversary of your deaths.” Finally, Mu Deyu shot a wary glance at Ling Tian and sternly shouted.

Mu Deyu couldn’t help but be wary of Ling Tian. He originally thought that since his cultivation level was one stage higher than Ling Tian’s, he could definitely win easily. But when they actually fought, it was completely different.

Ling Tian’s swordplay was purely for killing. Every swing of his blade inevitably took a life. Ling Tian had swung his blade over twenty times and directly felled over twenty people. Among these people were not just Flesh Body Realm cultivators, but mostly Condensed Essence Realm cultivators, including some with cultivation at the high stage of the Condensed Essence Realm, the same as Ling Tian.

Watching his men get killed one by one, a furious and embarrassed Mu Deyu tried to step in and save them several times, but was each time intimidated by Ling Tian’s life-risking fighting style, ultimately failing to save a single person.

In Mu Deyu’s eyes, Ling Tian had already become a madman. Even though Ling Tian seemed on the verge of collapse, Mu Deyu dared not force a direct confrontation, fearing this madman would drag him down with him just before dying.

“Old dog, our lives are right here. If you want them, just come and take them. If we father and son so much as blink, we’re not real men.” Upon hearing this, Ling Tian scoffed and declared sternly, “As for us stepping aside voluntarily? You can dream on.”

“Big Brother, why waste words on this madman? He can barely stand steady now. I could end his life with a casual sword stroke. As for his ugly brat of a son, he’s even less of a concern.” As soon as Ling Tian finished speaking, an old man behind Mu Deyu couldn’t help but urge.

The old man who spoke was named Mu Deguang. He was Mu Deyu’s biological younger brother and also the Mu Family’s Fourth Elder, with cultivation at the early stage of the Condensed Essence Realm. Though Mu Deguang was old, he was notoriously lustful, and his body had long been drained by wine and women. In terms of actual combat power, he wasn’t even as good as a Flesh Body Realm Great Perfection warrior.

“Grand Elder, what the Fourth Elder says is absolutely right. Ling Tian has already killed so many of our people. This grudge cannot just be dropped. Right now, Ling Tian is just a spent force, nothing to worry about. As for his ugly brat, he only has some brute strength and hasn’t even stepped into the Condensed Essence Realm yet. It’s even more impossible for him to escape our grasp.” Seeing Mu Deyu hesitate to make a decision, another Elder couldn’t help but speak up.

Following Mu Deguang and the other Elder’s words, the people behind Mu Deyu also voiced their agreement.

Hearing the shameless words from the people beside Mu Deyu, those on the North Courtyard side were so angry their faces turned red. But at this moment, aside from Ling Tian and his son Ling Zhan who still had some fighting strength left, everyone else in the North Courtyard had pale faces, clearly having exhausted their Yuan Power. Even if they were furious in their hearts, they couldn’t voice it.

“Ling Tian, since you don’t know what’s good for you, I’ll have to send your son on his way first.” Repeatedly rejected by Ling Tian, a look of fury and shame also appeared on Mu Deyu’s face. He knew if he didn’t act now, he would lose all his prestige.

As soon as Mu Deyu finished speaking, sharp sword energy quickly gathered on the longsword in his hand. A ferocious aura burst forth from his body, piercing through the mist and pouring straight towards Ling Zhan.

“Mu Deyu, have you no shame? You’re already past fifty, yet you dare to attack a child? If you have any business, bring it to me.” Just as Mu Deyu was about to make his move, the door of the North Courtyard creaked open, and a clear, cold voice came from within the courtyard.

Hearing this voice, Mu Deyu’s body froze, and his gaze instinctively turned towards the direction of the North Courtyard gate.