Out

"I obey your command!"

As Gu Chengyin's words fell, Chen Busha immediately stood up and shot a glance at the Golden Feather Guards behind him.

Several guards stepped forward at once, swiftly beginning to clear away the corpses on the ground.

Their skilled movements showed this was clearly not their first time handling such a scene. In less than ten breaths, the area was restored to its original state.

Just as Gu Chengyin was pondering how to deal with Cui Zilong and the group of noble heirs behind him, an urgent voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the drill ground:

"Grand Preceptor Gu! Please hold your hand!"

Gu Chengyin followed the voice and raised an eyebrow.

Another acquaintance.

Cui Ziting.

Unlike Cui Zilong in his flashy and ornate brocade robes, Cui Ziting wore a simple scholar's robe, a square scarf on his head, and a plain green jade pendant tied at his waist.

His face was handsome and clear, carrying a scholarly air about his brows. At this moment, however, his expression was solemn as he hurried onto the drill ground.

Without even glancing at the pale-faced Cui Zilong, his eyes locked straight onto Gu Chengyin. He quickly walked to a spot three paces away from him and bowed deeply.

It was a ninety-degree, extremely formal bow of apology.

Maintaining this posture, Cui Ziting spoke in a clear and sincere voice:

"My elder brother is foolish and acted without propriety, offending Grand Preceptor Gu. I, Ziting, am here to apologize on his behalf!"

"The Cui Manor will surely prepare heavy gifts and visit your residence on a chosen date to formally apologize!"

"I only beg Grand Preceptor Gu to be magnanimous, show leniency, and forgive my brother's reckless and ignorant actions!"

After saying this, he remained completely motionless in his bowed posture, his attitude humble to the extreme.

Gu Chengyin looked at Cui Ziting, who had lowered his stance so much, and then glanced at Cui Zilong, who was covered in cold sweat nearby.

No way...

Are you two really blood brothers?

Isn't the gap a bit too huge?

One is an arrogant, defiant, and utter good-for-nothing silk-pants.

The other is humble, polite, able to bend and stretch, looking every bit the carefully cultivated elite of a noble family.

Or did Cui Shifan realize his main account was ruined and specifically opened a smurf account to focus on raising?

Gu Chengyin's thoughts spun, but his face showed no emotion.

Since Cui Ziting had lowered his stance so much, and out of consideration for Cui Zilu.

He was not a narrow-minded person, after all.

Gu Chengyin raised his hand and casually waved it backward in the air.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The dozens of gleaming swords and sabers hovering in front of Cui Zilong seemed to receive some sort of command. They all let out a crisp metallic hum and suddenly flew backward!

They traced dozens of precise arcs in the air, each returning to the sheaths of their original owners.

Click.

Clang.

The sound of the blades sheathing was uniform, as if practiced a thousand times.

The entire process flowed like water. Not a single weapon deviated, and not a single collision made a stray noise.

This effortless mastery left all the martial artists and cultivators present shocked and amazed.

Originally, they thought Gu Chengyin was a powerful official of civil origins, as no one had ever seen him fight.

Now, he had either not struck at all, or struck with earth-shattering impact.

At the Foundation Establishment realm, he could so precisely control dozens of blades of varying weights and designs simultaneously, wielding them as easily as his own arms.

He had even pierced through that Foundation Establishment guard, hovered the blades right in front of Cui Zilong, and finally sheathed them without a hair's breadth of error.

This level of control over true qi and spiritual energy, and this depth of understanding of the sword control technique, was simply terrifying.

For a moment, the way everyone looked at Gu Chengyin changed.

Only Gu Chengyin knew the truth in his heart.

The true qi and spiritual energy in his body were already mostly depleted at this moment.

The sword control technique was a high-tier skill to begin with, consuming a massive amount of energy.

To precisely control dozens of weapons simultaneously as he just did, while executing the delicate sequence of piercing, hovering, and sheathing, multiplied the consumption geometrically.

If not for the vast amount of true qi converted from his influence, coupled with a Heaven-tier cultivation method like the Green Cloud Art, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator would have collapsed from exhaustion.

On the surface, however, Gu Chengyin appeared incredibly calm and indifferent.

It was as if that shocking display of sword control was just a casual act, not worth mentioning.

Gu Chengyin slowly spoke:

"For Zilu's sake, I will let it go this time."

"Go back and tell Cui Shifan."

"If he wants to be Xiao Song, I don't mind giving him a hand."

These words were absolutely earth-shattering.

Everyone present, including the noble heirs, gasped.

Who was Cui Shifan?

The newly appointed Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the number one figure in the imperial court, and the leader of the noble family faction.

Looking at the entire Great Luo, other than Emperor Luo, who would dare speak to him like that?

But now someone had, and the speaker's tone was so certain, his attitude so unyielding.

He completely disregarded Cui Shifan and the massive noble family faction.

If these words spread, the entire imperial court would likely tremble.

Cui Ziting shuddered all over. Maintaining his bowed posture, fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

He understood Gu Chengyin's meaning.

This was a warning, and even more so, a declaration of his stance.

If they behaved, they could live in peace.

But if they played dirty tricks in the dark or stabbed him in the back, he wouldn't mind letting the Cui family follow in Xiao Song's footsteps.

What alarmed Cui Ziting even more was that after saying this, Gu Chengyin swept his gaze over the experts sent by the various noble families who had accompanied them, and casually added:

"When you leave, take your people with you."

These words were spoken lightly, but they completely extinguished the last shred of hope in Cui Ziting's heart.

Gu Chengyin's meaning was crystal clear:

For this sect inspection tour, the noble family faction was kicked out.

All the experts sent by the noble families were to be dismissed, leaving not a single one behind.

This was a counterattack against Cui Shifan's secret sabotage, and a public warning to the noble family faction.

Cui Ziting did not dare to speak, not even daring to raise his head.

He merely maintained his bowing posture, his sweat dripping onto the ground, blooming into a small dark stain.

It wasn't until Gu Chengyin turned around, slowly walked back into the crowd, and stood together with Chen Busha, Wang Gangfeng, and the others again that Cui Ziting slowly straightened up.

He raised his head and gave Gu Chengyin a deep look.

Then he turned, walked to Cui Zilong who was slumped on the ground, and reached out to help him up.

"Big brother, let's go." Cui Ziting's voice was somewhat weary.

Cui Zilong had completely lost his previous arrogance. His face was deathly pale, his eyes unfocused, and he allowed Cui Ziting to support him as he stumbled outward.

The noble heirs and guards also lowered their heads and followed, looking as if they had lost their parents.

They had arrived arrogant and domineering, but left in a miserable state.

Throughout the entire process, no one in the drill ground spoke.

Everyone watched this scene quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.

Only when the figures of Cui Ziting's group completely disappeared outside the gates of the drill ground did Gu Chengyin look at Cui Gong and signal:

"Continue."

It was as if the thunderous methods and shocking words from just now had never happened.

Cui Gong hurriedly responded and picked up the roster again.

His voice was louder than before, and his back was straighter.