Chapter Seventeen: Elder of the Eternal Spring Palace

"Han, you crippled Lin Feitian. The Lin family won't let us off so easily, and they're connected to the young prince. It seems the days ahead will be hard," Tang Hao said, still full of worry. Previously, with Sun Hao protecting the Tang family, they had little to fear and could act boldly. But now, the Lantian barracks were in chaos, Sun Hao's fate was unknown, and the Tang family was truly a house battered by wind and rain, unsure when it might collapse.

"Father, you don't need to worry. I'll handle everything. Go back and rest—your injuries must be properly healed. Don't let them leave lasting harm," Chu Han comforted him, then instructed the steward to help Tang Hao to his chamber.

Liu Qingli naturally returned to the Liu family, and Chu Han went back to his room. The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, Tang Hao rose from bed. News of him defeating Lin Feitian had spread like wildfire; the entire Jingyuan City was abuzz with talk. Most of the speculation centered on Chu Han's strength. After all, Lin Feitian was a ninth-level body cultivator, yet Chu Han dispatched him with a single move—a feat that spoke volumes about his terrifying power.

Just as the Tang family thought their troubles had peaked, new trouble arrived at their door.

Chu Han was sharing breakfast with his family when the gatekeeper came flying through the entrance, blood spraying from his mouth. He looked as if he wouldn't survive. Chu Han was startled by the sight, immediately rising and rushing outside.

At the gate stood an old man with a white beard, clad in a long robe, his face dark with anger. It was clear he was responsible for the gatekeeper's fate.

"Are you Chu Han?" the old man demanded, his voice icy cold, directed at the Tang family.

Chu Han nodded solemnly, his face grim. Tang Hao and the others stood behind him, shaking their heads; the Tang family truly was in troubled times, one crisis following another.

Though they didn't know who the old man was, he clearly wasn't an ordinary person. Since he had come alone, he must be confident in his strength.

"Good, then I've found the right man. You're arrogant—after offending our Yongquan Palace, you dare live so peacefully? Did you think nothing would happen after striking down one of our people?" The old man's voice was booming, shaking the ears of those nearby.

Now everyone knew his identity: a member of Yongquan Palace, and judging by his attire, likely an elder.

This revelation shocked the crowd. Who could have expected Yongquan Palace to send an elder just to deal with Chu Han?

"It's over—the Tang family is finished."

"Of course, challenging Yongquan Palace is suicide. From today, the Tang family's smithy will be erased."

"Actually, it's a good thing; once they're gone, another family can take their place."

The crowd murmured among themselves, none optimistic about Chu Han's chances. Yongquan Palace's power was deeply rooted in everyone's mind, while the Tang family's smithy was just a small local force—how could they oppose such might?

Some factions were pleased at the prospect of the smithy's downfall, eager to replace them.

"Heh, what are you but a nobody? Yongquan Palace means nothing to me. You're merely a tenth-level body cultivator, your strength barely fifty thousand pounds. What right do you have to be arrogant here?" Chu Han scoffed. If anyone was arrogant, it was Yongquan Palace. Though the old man was an elder, his strength was hardly impressive.

"Very well, you dare not even fear Yongquan Palace. Today, you'll regret offending us," the old man replied, his beard trembling with rage. He charged at Chu Han, moving with astonishing speed, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

As he attacked, the onlookers stepped back, wary of the elder's fifty thousand pounds of force. He was far stronger than ordinary men, and none wanted to be caught in the crossfire.

Chu Han, however, didn't even attempt to dodge, his gaze still full of disdain. As the old man struck, Chu Han raised his right fist and punched back fiercely.

Fifty thousand pounds of force would seem godlike to most, but to Chu Han it meant nothing. His own strength had reached ninety-nine thousand pounds, the peak of mortal power—far beyond what the elder could contend with.

The two fists collided, sending dust flying with the shockwave. The crowd shook their heads, certain Chu Han had lost his mind. To meet such force head-on, they could already picture his arm snapping.

But when the dust settled, their eyes widened in disbelief—the reality was far from what they had imagined.

Chu Han stood unmoved, not even swaying, while the elder from Yongquan Palace lay sprawled on the ground, his right arm bent at an unnatural angle. In the contest of fists, it was the elder who had lost.

"You... Your body shows no signs of cultivation—how can you possess such strength?"

The elder, lying on the ground, could scarcely believe what had happened, his voice trembling. In the attack, he had felt Chu Han's terrifying power, as if it would swallow him whole, leaving him utterly powerless. Only now did he realize how foolish it was to seek trouble with Chu Han.

"This is not something you need to know. Since you are from Yongquan Palace, I cannot let you live," Chu Han replied coldly, stepping forward to deliver a final blow.

But at that moment, the elder's body suddenly erupted in smoke, obscuring Chu Han's vision. By the time the smoke cleared, the elder had vanished. Chu Han's expression darkened; as expected, Yongquan Palace had many tricks, and the elder had managed to escape.

Chu Han's gaze swept the crowd, and those around him lowered their heads in fear, unable to meet his eyes. The power Chu Han had just displayed was truly terrifying.

He returned to the Tang family with Tang Hao and the others, saying nothing. Yet his actions had spoken loudly enough.

He had chosen to strike down Yongquan Palace's elder while everyone watched, to serve as a warning. In a few days, he would leave for the Hongmeng Realm, and if others wished to target the Tang family, it would be easy. But his display of power would make them think twice—this was Chu Han's purpose today.

Yongquan Palace—

"Elder Songmu, what happened? How did you suffer such severe injuries?"

Elder Songmu—the one who had faced Chu Han—stumbled into Yongquan Palace, his body soaked in blood. Two guards at the entrance rushed to support him.

"Has Elder Lieyan come out of seclusion? Take me to him at once," Songmu gasped. He had been utterly humiliated, and by a young man barely twenty years old. He could not swallow his pride.

The guards nodded quickly, helping Elder Songmu to a chamber door. They opened it, led him inside, and then departed, leaving him alone.