225: Chapter 224 At the Jade Pool Banquet, the immortals mocked, "Sword Dao Prodigy? Shattered like mud!"

Although the turmoil in the Lingxiao Palace had temporarily subsided under the will of the Immortal Emperor, the undercurrent of murderous intent only grew more intense.

The Yaochi Immortal Realm was the Daoist Sanctuary of the Queen Mother, and normally, no one below the rank of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal could enter.

Today, it was specially opened to welcome the various visiting parties. Here, clouds steamed and mists rose as auspicious Qi gushed forth. The floor was paved with ten-thousand-year warm jade, and above their heads hung a ribbon of starlight captured through great magical power. Cranes danced in the surroundings while goddesses played music, and the air was thick with an exotic fragrance that could extend one's life with just a single breath.

Rows of tables carved from agarwood were laden with rare delicacies seldom seen in the world.

Dragon liver and phoenix marrow were merely common fare; there were also purple-patterned flat peaches that ripened once every three thousand years, as well as jade nectar brewed from stellar dew.

The Immortals took their seats and toasted one another. Each sat upright with an elegant demeanor, discussing the Laws of the Great Dao and the situation of the Three Realms, fully displaying the air of an Immortal household.

Only a single table in the corner showed a sudden change in style.

"Crunch! Crunch!"

The sound of chewing, which made one's teeth ache, was particularly piercing amidst the sound of string and wind instruments.

Lin Feng had one foot on his stool with his sleeves rolled up high. His left hand held a golden, succulent Eight-Treasure Chicken, while his right hand held a white jade wine pot. His posture was exactly like a bandit who had just been released from a hunger strike.

On his shoulder, Huang Fugui—who had transformed into a humanoid little fat kid—showed even less table manners, frantically gnawing on a flat peach larger than his own head, juice splashing everywhere.

"Master, these peaches are much better than those rotten apricots in the Lower Realm! This juice, tsk tsk, it's pure Spiritual Qi!" Huang Fugui shouted indistinctly while eating.

Lin Feng took a heavy swig of wine and let out a loud burp. "Of course. After all, we're eating and drinking on the public dime; it'd be a waste not to. Fugui, don't forget to pack those 'Nine-Rotation Golden Lotus Roots' over there. Those are good stuff; take them back for the brothers in the Demon Suppression Division to try."

"You got it, Master! Should I also take that plate with the gold rim?"

"Take it! As long as it's not nailed to the floor, take it all!"

The conversation between this person and pet was not intentionally lowered, and it clearly reached the ears of all the Immortals present.

The originally harmonious and elegant atmosphere of the banquet instantly froze.

Countless looks of disdain and disgust were cast their way. Those self-important Immortal Scions and Sect Saints frowned deeply, as if they had seen something filthy intruding upon their high-end gathering.

"Simply a disgrace to refined society! Utterly crude!"

Not far away, a young Immortal wearing cloud-brocade robes slammed down his wine cup and snorted coldly. "This kind of country bumpkin who ascended from the Lower Realm only got the Immortal Emperor's Decree by dumb luck. Letting him sit with us simply lowers the standard of the entire Yaochi Banquet!"

"Brother Zhou is absolutely right." A female Immortal beside him, fiddling with a jade ruyi, chuckled while covering her mouth, her eyes full of contempt. "Look at his shabby appearance; he's probably never seen so many good things in his life. I heard he even extorted the Seven Luminaries Immortal King in the Lingxiao Palace? Truly, the ignorant are fearless."

"Hmph, if not for the Immortal Emperor's magnanimity, an ant like him would have been crushed long ago."

These young Immortals were all children or Personal Disciples of various Immortal Kings and Star Lords. Usually arrogant and exclusive, Lin Feng's prominence today had already sparked their jealousy. Seeing Lin Feng's behavior now, they had finally found an outlet for their frustration.

The Seven Luminaries Immortal King sat on the high platform above. Listening to the discussions below, a faint, imperceptible sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't need to act personally.

With just a slight hint, countless people eager to curry favor with him would step forward to crush this ant on his behalf.

As expected.

A man in green robes, carrying a long sword and possessing a cold, ice-like temperament, slowly stood up.

As he rose, the surrounding air seemed to grow several degrees sharper.

"It's the Chief Disciple of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, Ye Guyun!"

Someone recognized him and whispered in surprise. "I heard he reached the Golden Immortal rank at the age of three hundred. His 'Azure Lotus Sword Song' is superlative, and he's hailed as one of the top three Sword Dao prodigies of the Immortal Realm's younger generation!"

Ye Guyun had a handsome face, but his eyes were filled with arrogance. He held his wine cup and walked toward Lin Feng with a polite appearance that masked a pressing intent.

"I am Ye Guyun of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect."

Ye Guyun's voice was clear and rang through the entire venue. "Earlier in the Lingxiao Palace, I saw Division Head Lin refuse to kneel before the pressure of an Immortal King; your physical strength is truly admirable. It so happens that I am also a practitioner of the sword. I have heard that Division Head Lin is known as the 'Sword God' in the Lower Realm? This Yaochi Grand Gathering would be too dull with only song and dance. Why doesn't Division Head Lin exchange a few Moves with me to add to the festivities?"

As his voice fell, the entire hall went silent.

This was a blatant provocation.

The so-called "exchanging Moves for entertainment" in the Immortal Realm usually meant humiliating the opponent by stepping on them in front of everyone.

Lin Feng swallowed the chicken in his mouth and didn't even bother using his Immortal power to clean himself, directly wiping his hands on Wan Sanqian's expensive white robes.

He lifted his eyelids and looked at Ye Guyun as if he were an idiot. "Add to the festivities? Are you a songstress or a dancing girl? If you want to perform, go dance yourself. Don't drag me into it; I'm busy eating."

"Pfft—"

Several Immortals with poor self-control immediately spat out their wine.

Comparing the Chief Disciple of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect to a dancing girl? That was too venomous!

Ye Guyun's originally refined smile instantly stiffened, the corners of his eyes twitching wildly. A sharp Sword Intent suddenly erupted, causing the surrounding tables to buzz and rattle.

"Lin Feng! Do not refuse a kindness when it is offered!"

Ye Guyun's voice turned cold as he said grimly, "I invited you politely out of respect for your status as a guest. If you are afraid, you can just say so and then get out of Yaochi! This is no place for a waste who only knows how to use his sharp tongue!"

A provocation.

Very low-level, but very effective.

The surrounding crowd immediately broke into jeers.

"That's right, Division Head Lin, show us what you've got!"

"Could he be a silver-coated wax spearhead? Only relying on the Immortal Emperor's Token to act tough?"

"The 'Sword God' of the Lower Realm? More like the 'God of Meanness', hahaha!"

Facing the accusations of the crowd, Lin Feng finally sighed.

He slowly put down the chicken bone, patted Huang Fugui's head to make sure he didn't choke, and then stood up leisurely.

"I just wanted to have a quiet meal. Why are there always flies buzzing around?"

Lin Feng picked his ear and looked at Ye Guyun with a face full of helplessness. "Fine, since you want to be beaten so badly, I'll fulfill your wish. But the tables and chairs here are quite expensive; if we break them, we'll have to pay. Let's go to the Martial Arts Field."

...

The Yaochi Martial Arts Field.

This was a massive arena floating above the sea of clouds, forged from a single piece of Meteoric Iron and surrounded by a defensive Great Formation capable of withstanding the aftershocks of a battle between Grand Unity Golden Immortals.

By now, the arena was already surrounded by curious Immortals.

Ye Guyun stood on one side of the stage, his green robes fluttering. The top-grade Immortal sword 'Qingming' on his back emitted a crisp sword chime, and Sword Qi swirled around him, with faint green lotuses blooming in the void.

This appearance was indeed extraordinary, causing many female Immortals' eyes to sparkle.

In contrast, Lin Feng still looked lazy and careless, even holding the half-eaten Immortal fruit from earlier.

"Please advise!"

Ye Guyun didn't want to waste any more words; he wanted to defeat Lin Feng with the fastest and most magnificent Move to make him lose all face!

"Azure Lotus Sword Song: Ten Thousand Lotuses Blooming!"

With a long cry, the sword in Ye Guyun's hand unsheathed!

In an instant, the entire arena seemed to turn into an ocean of lotuses.

Countless streaks of green Sword Qi transformed into ten thousand blooming green lotuses, each containing a terrifying sharpness capable of shredding a Golden Immortal's Protective Immortal Aura. This was not just Sword Qi; it also fused illusions and Formations, creating a blend of reality and falsehood that made it impossible to evade!

"What strong Sword Intent! Senior Brother Ye's Move has likely already touched the threshold of the Sword Dao Laws!"

"That Lin Feng is dead! Facing such a sword momentum, he hasn't even drawn his sword?"

The sky full of green lotuses carried an aura of destruction, sweeping toward Lin Feng to completely consume him.

However, standing in the center of the storm, Lin Feng didn't even blink.

In his eyes, this seemingly magnificent sword Move was riddled with flaws.

"Too slow."

"Too scattered."

"Flashy but useless."

Lin Feng calmly uttered three phrases.

Just as the lotuses were about to touch the corner of his clothes, he moved.

He didn't draw a sword, nor did he use any earth-shattering Divine Ability.

He simply raised his right hand and extended an index finger, lightly tapping a tiny node within the seemingly airtight sword net.

This finger strike seemed ordinary.

But at the moment of contact, a trace of pale white light flashed and vanished.

That was a wisp of Sword Intent from the Immortal-Slaying Sword Technique.

The Great Dao is simple; one sword breaks ten thousand Laws!

"Ting!"

A crisp sound, like a jade bead falling onto a plate, rang out.

Immediately after, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded occurred.

The ten thousand green lotus sword streaks that had been flying through the air with terrifying power seemed to have their Souls sucked out, instantly freezing in mid-air.

Then—

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Like a mirror shattering, all the green lotus visions instantly collapsed, turning into specks of green light that dissipated into the air.

And the top-grade Immortal sword 'Qingming' in Ye Guyun's hand, which he valued as his own life, began to snap inch by inch starting from the tip!

"Pfft—!"

With his Natal Immortal Sword destroyed, Ye Guyun felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He sprayed out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena, unable to get up for a long time.

The entire field fell into a deathly silence.

One could hear a pin drop.

The prodigies who had been cheering loudly just a moment ago now had their mouths wide open, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

One finger?

With just a single finger, he had broken Ye Guyun's strongest killing Move and even shattered a top-grade Immortal sword?!

How was this possible?!

This wasn't even a battle on the same level!

Lin Feng withdrew his finger and lightly blew away non-existent dust from his fingertip. He didn't even look at Ye Guyun, who was lying on the ground like a dead dog. Instead, he turned to the stunned Immortals below the stage and shook his head.

"These are the so-called prodigies of the Immortal Realm?"

"Flashy and useless, like they're performing square dancing."

"Don't play with swords anymore. Go home and pick up an embroidery needle; that suits you better."