"Hmph! Can you still control me now?"
"If I don't like him, I'll move against him."
"If the Hidden Group seeks revenge, I'll bear it alone!"
Dugu Lianyu snorted coldly. Now that he was exposed, there was no need for him to obey Dugu Changfeng's commands anymore.
"Can you withstand it!"
Dugu Changfeng roared, but before he could finish, Ye Cangtian interrupted him.
"Senior, since he wishes to settle his grievances with me, I ask that you fulfill his request. Rest assured, I will be fine," Ye Cangtian said.
This…
Upon hearing this, Dugu Changfeng's expression changed again. He quickly said, "Kid, this is not the time for you to show off. Lianyu has already taken one step into the Earth-grade realm."
As an Earth-grade expert, Dugu Changfeng naturally understood the gap between Dugu Lianyu and an ordinary peak Profound-grade cultivator.
Coupled with the Dugu family's sword techniques, even an ordinary Earth-grade expert would struggle.
With such strength, he was truly worried about Ye Cangtian's safety.
"Heh, I'm not to be trifled with either."
"Senior, rest assured, I know what I'm doing!"
Ye Cangtian smiled confidently, then took out the Dragon Soul Blade and slowly raised it, saying, "Dugu Lianyu, come and fight!"
"Good!"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Lianyu let out a cold roar, and a silver longsword appeared in his hand.
Under the moonlight, the longsword emanated a faint glow, clearly a remarkable weapon.
The next moment, Dugu Lianyu's figure flickered towards Ye Cangtian.
The battle was imminent, and the two fought fiercely.
Although Dugu Lianyu's sword techniques were exquisite and his attacks were tricky, they were disrupted by Ye Cangtian's broad and powerful saber techniques.
After a hundred rounds of fighting, neither could overcome the other.
However, the situation gradually shifted from an even match to Ye Cangtian gaining the upper hand.
The reason was simple: the freezing effect of the Dragon Soul Blade increasingly restricted Dugu Lianyu.
Dugu Lianyu knew that if this continued, he would eventually be defeated.
Thus, Dugu Lianyu forced Ye Cangtian back, then said coldly, "Ye Cangtian, do you dare to fight me with one move for life and death?"
What!
At this statement, Dugu Changfeng's eyes widened. Which move would he use?
"Long Sword Like a Rainbow!"
Before Dugu Changfeng could even warn him, Dugu Lianyu roared from the other side.
Immediately after, Dugu Lianyu, as if one with his sword, lunged towards Ye Cangtian like a rainbow, person and sword combined.
This move was Dugu Lianyu's strongest attack, learned in the Ancient Sword Tomb. It had no defensive capabilities but its offensive power was extraordinary.
On the other side, feeling the astonishing pressure, Ye Cangtian leaped high, channeling all his spiritual energy into his saber.
With a dragon's roar, the Dragon Soul Blade, like lightning, streaked across the sky and slashed down.
This was no ordinary move but one of the killing techniques from the Yin-Yang Sky-Breaking Saber.
Sky-Breaking!
During the inheritance, the vision in his mind showed Sky-Breaking capable of splitting the heavens and earth, but Ye Cangtian's strength was limited, far from reaching that level.
However, the burst of attack was not to be underestimated among cultivators of the same level.
Boom!
The tip of the sword met the blade, erupting in a dazzling light. For a moment, spiritual energy raged, sweeping the surroundings.
When everything returned to calm, everyone saw that Dugu Lianyu had fallen to the ground, spitting blood continuously, unable to even stand.
Although Ye Cangtian stood with his hands behind his back, a trace of blood also trickled from the corner of his mouth.
This battle was not easily won by Ye Cangtian.
"Second Uncle!"
Seeing Dugu Lianyu's state, Dugu Ling cried out in surprise and moved to rush forward, but after taking a step, she painfully withdrew.
She knew that even if she went forward now, the other party would hate her to the bone, and things could never return to how they were.
"Father!"
Only Dugu Jie rushed forward. He checked Dugu Lianyu's injuries, and his gaze was gradually filled with hatred.
"Ye Cangtian, you've broken my father's meridians, I'll fight you to the death!"
Dugu Jie roared, drawing his sword and preparing to engage Ye Cangtian in a fierce fight.
However, at that moment, Dugu Lianyu's large hand grabbed him and said, "Jie'er, he held back his strength…"
Dugu Lianyu spoke the truth. He could not withstand the previous strike. If Ye Cangtian had not held back his strength in time, he would have been dead.
Moreover, with Dugu Jie's strength, even if Ye Cangtian was injured, he could not win. Why court death?
On the other side, Ye Cangtian ignored the father and son and walked towards Dugu Changfeng.
"Senior, this is the Dugu family's internal affair. I shall not meddle further. Please handle it yourself!"
Ye Cangtian said slowly.
He could see that Dugu Changfeng and Dugu Ling had deep affection for Dugu Lianyu and his son. If he were to kill them directly, although they would not say anything, they would certainly feel bad.
It might even sow a hint of resentment.
Therefore, Ye Cangtian did not kill them, leaving the right to deal with them to Dugu Changfeng.
In any case, Dugu Lianyu's cultivation had already been crippled, and their past grievances were considered settled.
"Thank you."
Dugu Changfeng cupped his fists towards Ye Cangtian, a look of gratitude in his eyes.
For everything Dugu Lianyu had orchestrated, Ye Cangtian would have been within his rights to deal with him personally.
But now that Ye Cangtian had handed him over for judgment, fulfilling his and Dugu Ling's wishes, he was very grateful.
Thinking this, Dugu Changfeng sighed, turned, and looked deeply at Dugu Lianyu.
"Lianyu, the offenses you have committed are unforgivable."
"However, having your cultivation crippled is also a form of punishment. From now on, you and Jie'er shall reflect on your mistakes peacefully at home…"
Dugu Changfeng said.
Although he also deeply resented him, he had to admit that they were brothers for decades, and he still had deep feelings for him.
Moreover, he could see that Dugu Lianyu was sincere towards Dugu Ling, as one's true feelings could not be faked!
"Big Brother…"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Lianyu's eyes trembled.
He truly did not expect his elder brother, who had always been just and impartial, to show him leniency and give him a way out.
He knew that the offenses he had committed were enough to warrant a hundred deaths to appease the anger of the clan members, yet Dugu Changfeng was only ordering him and his son to be confined to their home for reflection.
This was already a very light punishment. Even if the clan members raised no objections now, it would likely damage Dugu Changfeng's reputation.
What was more important was that Dugu Changfeng did not cripple Dugu Jie's cultivation, meaning he still had hope for a bright future.
This was infinitely better than having his future ruined.
It was practically repaying grievances with kindness.
On the other side, Dugu Changfeng interrupted his words, no longer wanting to hear anything. He dispatched two people to escort Dugu Lianyu and his son back to their rooms.
Before leaving, Dugu Lianyu took out a porcelain bottle from his Qiankun bag and placed it on the table. This was the antidote for the poison.
Dugu Changfeng distributed the antidote, then turned to Ye Cangtian and said, "Thank you again, Mr. Ye, for resolving the crisis within the Dugu family."
"It is all what a junior should do."
Ye Cangtian cupped his hands and said with a smile, then bid farewell and returned to his room.
With the sudden incident in the Dugu family, although it had been resolved, everyone must have felt uneasy. Ye Cangtian wisely chose to leave.