As the secret realm collapsed, frenzied energy spilled out in waves, ravaging the surrounding terrain beyond recognition. The huge commotion alarmed all the families except for the Fengwu Court. The rest cut their secluded cultivation short and rushed here.

Everyone stared at the crumbling secret realm with grave expressions.

Wu De frowned deeply. “Why?! For over a thousand years, this secret realm has never had a problem. Why did this happen?!”

Duan Ren had a dark expression. “Indeed. It was perfectly fine earlier!”

Li Xun sighed. “If neither of you knows, we are hopeless.”

After all, Wu De and Duan Ren were not only the oldest, they had also lived through the great calamity. Without special opportunities, Half-Step Transcendent realm cultivators’ lifespans were only around a thousand years or so.

Meng Chuan stared fixedly at Wu De and Duan Ren. “Well, you better give us an explanation! Why did this problem occur precisely during your watch? If Meng Xing suffers the slightest mishap inside, I won’t forgive you!”

Yang Tong’s face darkened. “That’s right! The elite futures of our families are inside! You cannot bear this responsibility!”

Wu De countered sharply. “Oh? You want to fight? Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?”

With their lives already drawing to a close, he and Duan Ren paid no heed to the disciples of the various families. Why would they?

Behind the crowd, Murong Hai looked extremely anxious. “Old Ancestor must be inside. I don’t know if he can bring Yan’er and the others out...”

Lu Fang sighed right next to him. “Don’t worry, with the supreme elder there, there won’t be a problem—”

Just then, the space rippled and interrupted him. Several figures suddenly appeared before the crowd. It was Murong Yan, Chu Kuang, and the others.

“Yan’er, you finally came out—hmm?” Murong Hai was overjoyed, but not for long. “Why are there so few? Where are the others?”

Murong Chong smiled wryly. “They’re gone. Family Head, we’re the only ones left.”

Everyone’s hearts sank. What?! Dozens had entered, only for about ten to come out?!

Suddenly, a roar of fury reached everyone’s ears. “Lin’er!”

Yang Xiong was the first to spot Yang Lin in Shen Xuan’s hands, and his eyes instantly turned red. Glancing around, everyone wore a strange expression. Yang Lin’s condition could no longer be described as just miserable.

Yang Tong glared murderously at Shen Xuan. “Speak! Who did this?!”

Meng Xing said calmly, “Senior, the one who severed Brother Yang’s limbs was Gu Han. Every single one of them is in cahoots with him, without exception.”

Yang Xiong instantly turned to Yang Ying. “You wretch! What were you doing back there?! Your eldest brother was harmed like this, and you did nothing? Don’t think just because you’re in the Qingyun Pavilion—”

It was Yuan Gang’s turn to reply, glancing at Yang Ying, “Family Head Yang, I have personally expelled Yang Ying from the Qingyun Pavilion for violating the rules. He has no further connection with us.”

Chu Kuang grinned, adding fuel to the fire. “Also, Senior Brother Yang is quite close with Gu Han. He was even willing to risk his life for him.”

Yang Xiong stared fixedly at Yang Ying, gnashing his teeth. “What?! Is what he said true?”

Yang Ying was silent for a moment before saying, “Yes. Gu Han is my friend!”

Li Xun sneered. “Hmph. The Yang family raising such a clansman really opens my eyes!”

Even though his ties with the Yang family had turned icy after the relic site incident, Yang Lin was still the Qixia Court’s chief disciple. His wretched state was a blow to Li Xun’s prestige, and he refused to let it pass.

Meng Chuan frowned slightly. “Brother Yang, Yang Ying has a rebellious streak. Keeping him is certain to be a disaster!”

Mocked and ridiculed to such an extent, Yang Tong went livid. “Hmph! Yang Xiong, what a fine son you’ve raised!”

Yang Xiong could no longer hold back. “How dare you?! Gu Han is a mortal enemy of the Yang family! I’ll destroy you!”

As he was about to strike Yang Ying down, the disheveled Murong Yuan suddenly appeared before everyone, and an even more violent force erupted.

Everyone was thrown into panic, abandoning everything else as they retreated into the distance.

“Fall back!”

“Get further away!”

Not long after, the earth stopped trembling, and dust gradually settled. Where the secret realm had once existed, a huge crater now gaped, bottomless and dark. A dozen-plus cracks, each several zhang wide, stretched from its edge like a spider’s web.

Everyone was still shaken. If one were at the center of such violent power, not even a Half-Step Transcendent realm would survive.

Upon seeing Murong Yuan come out alone, Murong Yan was stunned. “Old Ancestor, where’s Brother Gu?”

Murong Yuan sighed. “I couldn’t find him.”

Forget Gu Han, he hadn’t even seen a trace of Chongming.

Murong Yan paled as she stood there dumbfounded. “What...?”

Yang Ying and Shen Xuan’s hearts plummeted to the bottom. The meaning couldn’t be more obvious.

Meanwhile, Chu Kuang took it in stride, a faint trace of regret in his eyes. Gu Han’s outcome was expected, but Chongming should be alright. Nevertheless, Chu Kuang would have to wait a very, very long time to settle this great enmity.

Meng Xing was somewhat excited. “Gu Han ultimately died in the secret realm! This is heaven’s will!”

Yuan Gang shook his head. “He’s simply reaping what he sowed!”

Yang Xiong was filled with glee. “Well, it’s good that he’s dead!”

That thorn in his side was finally dead, without even ashes left.

Wu De and Duan Ren couldn’t care less about Gu Han's death. “Fellow Daoist Murong, what exactly happened inside the secret realm?”

“Right, why did such a huge mess occur when everything was perfectly fine before?!”

Murong Yuan shook his head. “I’m not too clear about the specific reason as well. Only—”

Yang Tong suddenly said, “Wait! Since it’s unclear, let’s discuss it later. Now, shouldn’t you hand the person over to me?”

Yang Lin’s condition was too miserable. The longer it dragged, the worse the Yang family’s face looked.

“Right! Hand Lin’er over to me! And you!” Yang Xiong ruthlessly fixed his gaze on Yang Ying, killing intent blazing in his eyes. “Wretch! Today I shall purge our house by eliminating you!”

Yang Ying tightly clenched his fists, trembling slightly—whether from Yang Xiong’s words, Gu Han’s death, or both.

Murong Yuan frowned deeply. “What’s going on?”

He had already seen Yang Lin’s condition, but hadn’t had time to ask.

Murong Yan suddenly looked up, her eyes reddening. “Absolutely not! This is a prisoner Brother Gu captured. We absolutely will not hand him over to you!” 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Yang Tong turned cold. “What did you say?! Do you want to die?!”

Meng Qing sided with Yang Tong. “Fellow Daoist Murong, inside secret realms, fighting and contention are common occurrences, we’ve all experienced it before. You injuring someone to this extent is already excessive. Now that we’re outside the secret realm, you still refuse to release him. What exactly do you mean?”

Shen Xuan took a deep breath. “Supreme Elder, the Yang and Meng family members tried to kill us the moment we entered the secret realm, and also...”

Meng Xing sneered repeatedly. “Who’s trying to kill who? Our two families lost more people than you! If we’re to speak of it, your methods were far more vicious!”

Yuan Gang nodded. “That’s right. I can testify! To act this way even outside the secret realm, you really have the balls!”

Chu Kuang shook his head. “Forget it. Senior Sister Murong isn’t someone who listens to reason.”

Murong Yan was furious. “Bullshit! I’ll hammer you three bastards to death!”

Li Xun sneered. “Fighting and killing inside secret realms is very common. Must you carry the grudges from inside to the outside? What, you don’t even understand such a basic rule? Is this your first time entering a secret realm? Fellow Daoist Murong, your teaching of this junior is truly lacking!”

Murong Yuan remained impassive. “I know what kind of person she is in my heart. Your concern is unnecessary.”

Yang Tong had clearly lost patience. “Release him, or bear the consequences!”

Meng Qing looked at Wu De and Duan Ren. “You two, if he doesn’t release Yang Lin, don’t blame me for not considering the bigger picture.”

Li Xun also stepped forward. “Right! He’s still the chief disciple of the Qixia Court. As the court master, I cannot stand by and watch.”

Three families were applying pressure simultaneously.

Wu De and Duan Ren didn’t want to break relations with the three families over such a minor matter. Moreover, with three families joining forces, the Yuqing Sect was clearly at a disadvantage. At last, the two gave in.

“Fellow Daoist Murong, release him.”

“Indeed, the secret realm matter is most important. Don’t create unnecessary complications!”

Murong Yuan fell silent, realizing that Wu De and Duan Ren were deliberately staying out of the matter.

Murong Yan grew anxious. “Old Ancestor, we cannot hand him over! Brother Gu said he wanted to use Yang Lin for an important matter. Even if he’s already gone, we owe him so much. We must finish what he couldn’t!”

Murong Hai said seriously. “Old Ancestor, you decide what to do, we’ll follow accordingly.”

Murong Yuan sighed at last. “Enough! The Murong family truly cannot do something so ungrateful. We shall fulfill one wish for that kid.”

Wu De and Duan Ren’s faces darkened slightly.

“Fellow Daoist Murong, you’re really doing this?”

“Must you implicate the Yuqing Sect with your private matter as well?!”

Murong Yuan glanced at them. “Rest assured, this matter has nothing to do with the Yuqing Sect. The Murong family will bear it alone.”

A cold light flashed in Meng Qing’s eyes. “In that case, I shall stand with Fellow Daoist Yang!”

Li Xun stared at Murong Yuan. “Fellow Daoist Murong, if you release him, I will overlook the fact that you injured Yang Lin. I also will not join them against you.”

However, Murong Yuan completely ignored him. “Tell me. What did that kid want to do with Yang Lin?”

Shen Xuan sighed. “Junior Brother Yang, tell them about your agreement with Gu Han.”

Hmm? Everyone was startled.

Killing intent rose again in Yang Xiong’s eyes. “Bastard, this involves you as well?!”

Yang Ying remained silent for a long while, before saying slowly, with despair and exhaustion, “Forget it, just let him go.”

Murong Yan lost it. “What?! Yang guy, do you have any backbone at all?! Brother Gu even gave his life... How can you not seize the opportunity he fought for for you? With the Murong family here, what the hell are you afraid of?!”

Yang Ying was silent for a moment. “That’s exactly why. I cannot implicate you.”

He knew that even if he traded Yang Lin for his mother, they would never let it go, especially after losing so much face. At that time, the Murong family would protect him for Gu Han’s sake, and a bloody battle would likely erupt.

Shen Xuan’s expression was complex. “Junior Brother Yang, have you thought it through?”

Yang Lin’s value lay in exchanging him for Yang Ying’s mother. If Yang Ying didn’t make the exchange, then keeping Yang Lin would be meaningless. This conflict would most likely stop here.

As if using all his strength, Yang Ying said, “I’ve thought it through. It’s my business, you shouldn't interfere. What I owe him, I can never repay. I don’t want to owe you as well!”

Murong Yuan suddenly said, “Yang Ying, I am a man of my word. You can still take back those words now. It’s not too late.”

Yang Ying shook his head. “It’s okay, just let it be.”

He took a step forward, walking out.

The killing intent in Yang Xiong’s heart could no longer be suppressed. “You really are a bastard! What did you want to threaten me with?! To exchange for your life? Or your mother’s life? I should have just struck you all dead with one palm—”

Yang Ying interrupted him. “Father, I’ve always wanted to ask you, what exactly am I in your eyes?”

He was frighteningly calm.

Yang Xiong was stunned for a moment. As far as he could remember, Yang Ying had never spoken to him in such a tone before.

He stared at Yang Ying with killing intent and icy indifference, not a shred of fatherly affection in his gaze. “In my eyes, you have always been nothing but trash!”

Yang Ying’s face paled for an instant. Slowly, he took out a spear about a zhang long. “I understand...”

Yang Tong turned cold. “You dare raise a hand against your father?! Defying and offending your superiors, the audacity!”

Following that, Meng Qing and the others denounced Yang Ying one after another.

“Unfilial son!”

“He really is unruly to the core!”

“This immoral beast should have been killed long ago!”

Murong Yan gripped her hammer tightly. “Yang guy’s just asking for death at this point!”

Shen Xuan couldn’t bear to watch. “He’s been pushed to a dead end. He already has no way out.”

Murong Yuan slowly closed his eyes. In his heart, he had already made a decision.

Yang Ying stared at his spear with a somewhat dazed expression. “Father, when I was six, you gave me a mid-grade Earth-tier technique, the Soul Hunting Spear. I have practiced this technique diligently until now.”

As he spoke, he leveled the spear and aimed it at Yang Xiong. “Father, please advise.”

Yang Xiong’s tone was icy, his aura climbing to a peak. “Bastard, I gave you your life, now I’ll take it back.”

In the distance, Murong Yuan’s energy also stirred slightly.

Yang Tong’s face was unpleasant. “What?! You still want to—hmm?”

Just then, he seemed to sense something and looked up at the sky. A five-colored ribbon of light was flying toward them at a speed that left one dumbfounded.

Everyone’s attention was instantly drawn. “What is that?!”

The next moment, the divine light descended instantly. A violent roar rang out, shaking the very earth.

Within the dust, Gu Han was full of complaints. “Master Rooster, could you be a bit more reliable?!”

“Who told you not to give proper directions?”

“I don’t know the way!”

“And you think I do???”

Amid the bickering, the dust gradually settled, revealing one human and one chicken.