Chapter 685 499 - The Power of a Single Arrow

Yuan Hudu repressed the panic in his heart, his mind went blank for an instant, weighing the pros and cons, he immediately clasped his hands together and said in a loud voice:

"Hudu has seen the General!"

Yuan Hudu feared that Li Xuanfeng might kill him silently and then depart, His shout immediately overshadowed all the noise in the courtyard, the drinking stopped mid-sip, the congratulatory words halted mid-sentence, and the onlookers all turned their attention to the stage, staring blankly and whispering amongst themselves:

"Who is this... Could it be he has come to offer congratulations? What has made Yuan Hudu treat him with such respect?"

"He is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"

"I'm afraid the visitor harbors ill intent..."

As the crowd's gaze converged, Li Xuanfeng merely stood with his arms crossed, a fierce light slowly appearing in his eyes, his back straight, broad shoulders blocking out the light in front of Yuan Hudu, his voice was deep and steady:

"I don't deserve the title of General from the Family Head of the Yuan family, I am merely serving at the Southern Border. When I heard that my child had been wronged, I came to ask the Family Head of the Yuan family about it."

His voice wasn't loud, but the courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and the cultivators present with their keen ears heard everything clearly. They looked at each other, all bowing their heads with various thoughts, some sneering, some shocked, and some worried for both families, but most enjoyed the disaster excitedly—they all watched with cold eyes.

'So it's a member of the Li family!'

'Listening to him, there seems to be more to the story...'

Li Xuanfeng's reputation was prominent, attained through slaying demons and adversaries. It was also spread by the words of mouth from the direct lineage of the seven sects he encountered within the Cave Heaven and overseas.

Though he rarely took action in the central lands, which meant most people didn't recognize his face or attire, but, once he spoke and mentioned the Southern Border and the title of General, there was none who did not recognize this Li General; they all thought to themselves:

"It is [Jin Geng's Divine Bowstring] Li Xuanfeng... The Divine Bow of the Southern Border!"

Yuan Fuyao's face turned pale, silently retreating into the crowd. He had long heard that the issue between the two families had become a broken engagement, but what could Yuan Fuyao do? Yuan Hudu had reassured him time and again not to worry. Now, looking at the elder in black and gold armor, he felt increasingly perplexed.

Yuan Hudu's forehead was sweaty. At this critical juncture for his life, he could not utter harsh words, yet if he showed weakness, that would mean offending the Li family and then the Chi family as well, ruining what could have been a great drama; all he could do was sigh deeply, remaining silent.

Seeing that Yuan Hudu kept silent, Li Xuanfeng said softly:

"The nobility feign power and audaciously humiliate my family. Despite old ties between our families, my brother did not want to cause further dispute, so as to save our elders from losing face. But I do not possess such magnanimity, this matter cannot end like this."

Yuan Hudu struggled to meet his gaze and saw harshness in the old general's eyes—a fierce and warning look, though not much anger, as if to say:

'Fine, you want to show your stance for the Chi family, I will give them plenty to see!'

Yuan Hudu understood that things could not end peacefully. He slowly sighed and recalling his elder brother Yuan Huyuan's warning, he responded:

"What does the General wish to do?"

Li Xuanfeng lightly touched the black gold beast-head on his waist, and a large bow appeared in his hand. Yuan Hudu's eyelids twitched as he saw it, and the people below all shrank their necks and simultaneously stepped back.

Nothing else, but that long bow was simply too ferocious.

The Golden Bow was approximately eight feet long with a three-foot long bowstring, displaying both gold and red colors, shining brightly all over, with Metal Qi and blood Qi seeming to surge towards the skies, making it appear as an instrument of slaughter that had taken countless lives.

The cultivators below slowly moved away, now understanding the panic evidenced by the sweat on Yuan Hudu's face. Hearing of a reputation is always different from seeing with one's own eyes. Seeing that a clash between Foundation Establishment cultivators was imminent, some had already clasped their hands and bid farewell, yet more, unable to resist their curiosity, watched silently.

The Family Head of the Song family was just a late-stage Qi Cultivating cultivator, who nervously shifted away, while Li Xuanfeng was only looking at Yuan Hudu, his voice hoarse:

"I offer the Family Head two choices."

He slowly leveled the long bow, and a clanging sound emanated from the quiver at his waist:

"I understand the Family Head's caution. Traveling outside accompanied by cultivators as escorts is encouraged. Try and see if those hidden in the mountains, one demon and one man, two Foundation Establishment cultivators, can protect the Family Head."

"But once this Mysterious Arrow is loosed, it is bound to draw blood."

Yuan Huyuan had never expected Li Xuanfeng to be so well-informed about his arrangements, feeling a secret dread. The metal items within the courtyard began to tremble and leap, Li Xuanfeng saw Yuan Hudu's profuse sweating and continued:

"Second, out of regard for the noble's past relations with my uncle, I offer the Family Head twenty breaths time—just face one of my arrows. After this arrow, the debt of honor between our families will be cleared, and we will let bygones be bygones!"

Yuan Hudu secretly let out a sigh of relief, understanding that Li Xuanfeng had in fact spared his life. This arrow was most likely a show for the Chi family. He thought to himself:

"However formidable you, Li Xuanfeng, may be, can the might of a single arrow really be that tremendous?"

But no matter how clearly he understood the other party's bottom line, he didn't dare to truly provoke him with words. Right away, he just clasped his hands together and replied:

"Please, General, loose your arrow."

Seeing Li Xuanfeng nod, Yuan Hudu unceremoniously rode the winds upward, two Talismans swiftly burning from within his sleeves like shooting stars, speeding away into the distance, the two Shields on his body shining brightly, seemingly sturdy and reliable.

Li Xuanfeng also readied his bow and arrow in response to his movements, a golden-red spirit arrow leapt from the quiver, a golden radiance glowing on the long bow, making the surroundings bright, and the polished smooth stone tiles on the ground sparkled, reflecting the hazy golden light.

"Buzz buzz buzz..."

Everyone felt as if their faces were sliced by knives. On the left bank, exquisite wines and dishes began to shake, clinking and clanging nonstop, as the golden luminance flowing from Li Xuanfeng's armor grew increasingly intense, gradually rising into the sky.