Eternal Saber

Chapter 567 - 173: The Situation Is Irretrievable

Chen Tang was startled himself when he heard Ye Xuan praising him so highly.

"That’s going too far, way too far..."

Seeing the tense atmosphere around him, Chen Tang could only mutter inwardly.

He could not shoulder any so‑called title of Martial Arts Alliance Leader, nor did he have that intention.

Fortunately, from Ye Xuan’s tone, it seemed he was just speaking casually.

"As for harboring evil intentions and inciting internal strife in the Jianghu, I’m afraid the culprit is someone else..."

Ye Xuan’s words paused slightly; his gaze swept over Yun Yifeng and the others, and finally fixed on the Drunken Elder, as he said slowly, "Old Shopkeeper, don’t you think so?"

With this question, his words pointed straight at the Drunken Elder!

Everyone’s hearts tightened upon hearing this.

Before this, whether it was suspecting that the Drunken Eight Immortals had a problem, or saying that someone in the Jianghu colluded with the Dongyi Race, intending to covet the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader, no one had ever said it outright.

Once Ye Xuan arrived, he dispensed with pleasantries and concealment; straight to the point, a few sentences laid everything bare!

"Ye Xuan, what do you mean by this!"

Shopkeeper He’s expression changed; he shouted loudly, "My father and the Old Pavilion Master have known each other for many years and are close friends. No matter how great your reputation is, you are still a junior—how can you be so rude!"

Yun Yifeng said slowly, "Brother Ye, the Old Shopkeeper is of high moral standing and widely respected in the Jianghu. Countless fellow Martial Artists have received his care and kindness. There are some things you mustn’t speak carelessly!"

"Ye Xuan."

Yu Qingfeng said coldly, "You are not yet qualified to lay a hand on the Old Shopkeeper. Invite the Old Pavilion Master down the mountain instead!"

Everyone knew that the Sword Sect had long since withdrawn from the Jianghu and would not easily show themselves.

Years ago, when Huiji City was breached, his own daughter was captured, his son‑in‑law died tragically, and his granddaughter went missing, yet the Sword Sect still did not appear.

Many people speculated that the Sword Sect had been heavily wounded in the battle at Xiajiang, and coupled with his advanced age, he was no longer what he once was—having the will but not the strength.

Ye Xuan ignored the few of them and still stared at the Drunken Elder, saying in a low voice, "Old Shopkeeper, it’s time to end this."

The Drunken Elder rose slowly, his face expressionless.

He had been sitting on the platform, motionless, looking like a white‑haired, child‑faced elder with kindly brows and gentle eyes.

But now, with just this simple act of standing up, the aura around them suddenly changed, bursting forth with an extremely terrifying presence!

Even the Grandmasters on the platform felt a chill in their hearts. They turned their eyes to the Drunken Elder, not knowing what he intended to do.

The Drunken Elder tilted his head back to gaze at the sky and let out a gentle sigh.

When he saw the Sword Pavilion crowd appear with their bodies covered in blood beside Ye Xuan, he had already surmised many things in his heart and knew that the overall situation was lost.

Any Martial Arts Alliance Leader title no longer mattered.

If the Capital City had been lost, then with his strength, he could not reverse it anyway.

However, there were still some things he could control.

At the very least, at this very moment, no one could stop him!

"Ye Xuan."

The Drunken Elder spoke slowly, "Your daughter is your reverse scale—no one else may touch her. My grandson’s head was chopped off; what do you think I will do?"

As soon as these words were uttered, Chen Tang felt a chill run down his spine. His whole body was shrouded in a terrifying killing intent, unable to move!

Everyone present could feel the murderous intent surging in the Drunken Elder’s heart.

Shen Zijing’s heart tightened; he said in a deep voice, "Old Shopkeeper, that previous battle was a duel between two juniors on the Sword Discussion Platform. Life and death depended on their own skill. According to the rules of the Jianghu, there can be no revenge afterward."

"Rules of the Jianghu?"

The Drunken Elder let out a mocking laugh. "Rules are merely shackles on the feet of the weak, tools in the hands of the strong. Since things have come to this, I no longer care about rules, reputation, or face."

"A life for a life, nothing more!"

Yun Yifeng, the Isle Master Yan Yang, Yue Zhen, and Yu Qingfeng—the four Grandmasters—secretly frowned, hearing the implication in his words.

From the Drunken Elder’s tone, it sounded like he no longer cared about anything.

What did he mean, "since things have come to this"?

Shen Zijing leapt onto the Sword Discussion Platform, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ye Xuan, blocking in front of Chen Tang. He said in a deep voice, "Old Shopkeeper, I urge you to think twice."

Jiang Feng also rose and said, "Old Shopkeeper, this is not appropriate."

The Drunken Elder’s gaze swept over Ye Xuan, Shen Zijing, and the others. He let out a cold, faint smile. "The person I intend to kill—do you really think just a few of you can protect him?"

Before his words fell, the Drunken Elder’s figure moved; in the blink of an eye, he was already on the Sword Discussion Platform, his speed astonishing!

Clang! Clang!

Almost at the same time, Ye Xuan and Shen Zijing drew their swords, thrusting with raised hands. Sword Aura flickered, unleashing two utterly different Sword Dao momentums.

Ye Xuan’s Sword Momentum was steady and fierce, like a fully arrayed army on the battlefield.

Shen Zijing’s Sword Momentum was wild and unrestrained, strokes like dragons and snakes, iron strokes like carved silver.

Swish!

Jiang Feng, already on the platform, had been prepared. He reversed his grip to snatch up the Flying Fish Spear beside him and hurled it with force toward the Drunken Elder’s back!

This throw was heavy and powerful, the whistling wind piercing to the ear!

The surrounding airflow was like waves in a river, cleaved apart by the Flying Fish Spear.

"Old Shopkeeper, don’t!"

The Sect Leader of the Tea Dao Sect flew forward, attacking the Drunken Elder from the side.

They saw him open his mouth and spray out a mist of water. His palm passed through the water mist, and in his palm there condensed hundreds and thousands of tiny tea‑water Qi Needles, which he struck toward the Drunken Elder’s shoulder.

"Leave him alive!"

Besides Ye Xuan, Shen Zijing, Jiang Feng, and Fan Qing—these four Grandmasters—another Grandmaster burst forth from the platform, shouting.

This person was the Sect Leader of the Broken Mountain Blade Sect, Yue Zhen.

Chen Tang’s Burning Wood Blade Technique held too great an allure for him.

Killing Chen Tang was fine, but they had to first force out the Burning Wood Saber.

The Drunken Elder’s movement could truly be called pulling one hair and moving the whole body.

In an instant, five Grandmaster‑level powerhouses struck at the same time.

The Drunken Elder stepped first onto the Sword Discussion Platform, meeting head‑on the swords of Ye Xuan and Shen Zijing.

Pa! Pa!

The Drunken Elder raised his hands, his palms landing with extreme precision on the spines of the two Long Swords.

Their Sword Momentum had not yet fully unfolded before it was shattered by a single palm from the Drunken Elder.

Moreover, the power of this palm was terrifying.

Ye Xuan let out a muffled groan; his old internal injuries were roused. His face instantly turned deathly pale as he staggered back a few steps. A patch of crimson seeped from under his ribs, staining his dark robe.

If he had been at full strength, he alone would have been enough to hold back the Drunken Elder.

But now, with serious injuries, his combat strength had plummeted.

Shen Zijing was also forced back by the Drunken Elder’s single palm; his Long Sword flew up, and he almost lost his grip.

This Palm Technique was one everyone had just seen—it was precisely the Worry Relieving Palm.

Unleashed by the Drunken Elder, its power was terrifying to this extent!

Meanwhile, Jiang Feng’s Flying Fish Spear arrived!

The Drunken Elder did not even look back; he reached behind with one hand and firmly grasped the longest spike at the center of the Flying Fish Spear.

The enormous force had yet to disperse; the tail of the Flying Fish Spear kept trembling, yet it could not shake the Drunken Elder.

At this moment, Fan Qing and Yue Zhen arrived simultaneously.

"Ah!"

The Drunken Elder drew a deep breath, let out a long roar, his beard and hair bristling as he thrust out both palms behind him.

Bang! Bang!

Their palms collided; Inner Power erupted, Qi Force splashing in all directions, and centered on the three of them, a massive wave of force visible to the naked eye surged outward!

Within this wave of force, a strong fragrance of wine spread.

The hundreds of Sword Pavilion Martial Artists who had been standing around Chen Tang were struck by this wave of force. Their faces flushed red; their bodies swayed, unable to keep their footing, and they all collapsed to the ground.

Fan Qing and Yue Zhen both let out muffled groans, forced back by the Drunken Elder’s vast Palm Power!

The combined assault of five Grandmasters was entirely resolved and blocked by the Drunken Elder alone!

The Drunken Elder did not even look; he casually flung the Flying Fish Spear in his hand to the side.

The Flying Fish Spear turned into a streak of cold light, streaking forth like the wind and thunder, arriving in an instant—its target was precisely Chen Tang!