The threat in his words was already self-evident.

However, Song Yan’s confidence in saying this didn’t just come from the Cave Abyss Sect behind him.

Among the three, except for Lu Xiaowei who was at the third layer of Qi Refining, the other two were only at the first layer of Qi Refining, so it was unclear where they got the courage to shout here.

It was only because Sheng Nian was unaware of the intricacies of the situation; otherwise, with his physique from years of martial arts training, if he moved quickly, he could have easily ambushed and killed these two Qi Refining Early Stage Cultivators.

These Loose Cultivators from the mountains were usually those with poor Aptitude who couldn’t enter a Sect, or those whose Aptitude was too poor and were expelled.

Not to mention any combat methods, their Spiritual Qi application techniques were also very crude. Even if all three attacked together, they were no match for Song Yan.

Xu Darong and Sheng Yun, one on each side, supported Sheng Nian, and upon seeing the face under the bamboo hat, they called out in surprise.

"Ye Sheng."

"Brother Ye Sheng."

Song Yan walked slowly, putting the bamboo hat behind his back.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you’ve worked hard."

"It’s nothing."

Zhao Fengcheng waved his hand.

He was also half a Disciple of the Cave Abyss Sect, having entered the Sect decades earlier than Song Yan, so it was not inappropriate to politely call him Senior Brother.

Among the outer Disciples of the Sect, many Cultivators had extremely poor Aptitude and made no progress in their Cultivation for decades. When they got a little older, they either knew they couldn’t reach the Great Dao of Immortality, or they were simply expelled from the Sect and sent down the mountain.

In short, returning to the Mortal world, a third-layer Qi Refining Cultivator could barely be considered a Martial Forest Master.

Among these, some were unwilling to accept their fate. If the Sect approved, they would be sent down the mountain by the Sect and settled in villages, towns, or prefectures within its sphere of influence, serving as an offering.

If there were any promising candidates suitable for Cultivation, reporting them to the Sect would also earn a reward.

Normally, they would just guard their territory and ensure peace.

Zhao Fengcheng was like this; he was the offering of Shiliang Town, and Song Yan was chosen by him and sent to the Cave Abyss Sect.

In a way, he was his guide.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, your protective jade talisman is broken. Continuing to entangle yourself would be truly dangerous."

Song Yan walked up to Lu Xiaowei, patted his shoulder, and an imperceptible aura brushed against his shoulder.

"I also want to return to the Sect and report back soon. How about you all, leave early."

He looked down at the three of them, his expression and tone both carrying a deep sense of threat.

Only now did Song Yan truly experience what it felt like to become strong.

The growth of his Divine Sense made him more fluid when casting those Spells he was not very proficient with, while the improvement of his Spiritual Qi Realm simply and crudely enhanced the effects of his Spells.

The two Spells just now, the Yi character Green Vine Spell and the Ding character Fire Flame Spell, if not for the enhancement of his current Divine Sense, it would have been difficult to control the direction and flow speed of the Spiritual Qi, let alone combine the two to cast them.

Song Yan secretly thought that the Cultivation of that nameless incantation needed to be sped up.

The idea of simultaneously unleashing seventeen Divine Thoughts became increasingly urgent.

Lu Xiaowei stared at him coldly, his eyes filled with venom.

The protective jade talisman bestowed by his Master.

That was a precious talisman that could withstand the full-force attack of a Qi Refining Perfection Realm Cultivator.

Because of this person’s interference, it was destroyed by a single strike from a Mortal’s blade.

His heart was bleeding.

"Good, good, good. Lu is inferior in skill, let’s go."

Lu Xiaowei’s two Junior Brothers took him and left.

Zhao Fengcheng was over forty, but he lacked courage and spirit. At this moment, he was still somewhat uneasy, hesitating to speak: "Junior Brother Song... they..."

"It’s fine, I’ll find them again."

Song Yan’s tone was calm.

Zhao Fengcheng was startled: "Find them?"

"They said they came to Shiliang Town to seek some Opportunity. Senior Brother Zhao, in this poor, remote place of ours, you can’t even dig out two catties of mud with one hoe, where would there be any Opportunity."

Song Yan, back in his hometown, also started speaking more casually.

"They must have some other motive. Since they’re already here, we might as well figure out what they’re really here for."

"Hmm."

Zhao Fengcheng nodded thoughtfully.

Song Yan walked to the Sheng siblings, green light radiating from the Spiritual Qi in his hand, and lightly pressed on Sheng Nian’s shoulder.

"New injuries on top of old ones, do you still want this arm?"

"Cough... hehe."

Sheng Nian’s blood-stained mouth curled into a smile: "Whether I want it or not... Doctor Song decides."

Sheng Yun quickly asked: "Brother Ye Sheng, how is my brother?"

"He’s beyond saving."

Song Yan shook his head, and everyone’s hearts tightened.

"His physical injuries are fine, but his foolishness is due to a naturally dull brain, missing a piece, and that’s incurable."

"Bah, you quack, I really want to tear your dog mouth apart."

Sheng Nian spat out a mouthful of clotted blood to the side, feeling much relieved.

"Hahaha."

Sheng Yun was amused by the two brothers’ bickering.

Looking at the young girl in front of him, who was Sheng Nian’s younger sister, Song Yan pretended to be surprised and used his hand to gesture her height.

"You’ve grown so much."

"Indeed."

At this time, the Meng Family uncle and aunt, with their daughter, came forward.

"Ye Sheng, thank goodness you came. Old man I... I..."

Meng Tongzhou shed tears, filled with lingering fear.

"Don’t say that, Uncle Meng, you’re being too polite."

"When Grandpa was still alive, he often took me to your house to freeload meals."

"Besides, Lulu also grew up with me, didn’t she?"

The Meng Family daughter, Meng Lu, was fourteen this year, quiet and introverted. Having just experienced a disaster, she was still somewhat shaken.

However, she was already very different from the little girl in Song Yan’s memory.

"I haven’t seen you in a year and a half, you’ve also grown taller."

Song Yan looked at her, smiling casually: "When the time comes, I’ll ask Senior Brother Zhao to test your Spiritual Root. If you truly have Cultivation Aptitude, someone will naturally come to take you up the mountain to join the Sect."

Meng Lu said nothing, only nodded firmly.

Seeing that Song Yan didn’t have any high and mighty ’Immortal’ airs, still acting like he did when he was a child, the surrounding villagers dared to gather around and greet him. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Ah Sheng. I haven’t seen you in over a year, you seem to have lost a lot of weight."

"Old woman, what are you saying. People grow taller, so naturally they get thinner."

"That’s true."

Familiar faces reflected in Song Yan’s eyes.

"Shopkeeper Liu."

"Aunt Zhao."

While exchanging greetings, Sheng Nian had already taken care of himself, picking up his saber, though wincing in pain: "Come, let’s go home for a meal."

"Let’s go."

...

Outside Shiliang Town, Peach Blossom Pavilion.

"Senior Brother, how are you?"

"Cough. I’m fine, fortunately, it was a Mortal weapon, the injury isn’t deep."

Lu Xiaowei sat cross-legged, slowly circulating Spiritual Qi.

"Senior Brother, the person Master asked us to find... could it be that kid surnamed Song?"

"It shouldn’t be."

Lu Xiaowei’s brows furrowed deeper.

"The person Master asked us to find should be a Mortal. If it were that person surnamed Song, with his Spiritual Qi fluctuations far exceeding the Qi Refining Early Stage, how could the three of us possibly take him away?"

"That Jianghu martial artist named Tong Chuping, who fled here with a Sheyang Sect Disciple token, died in Shiliang Town."

"After thinking it over, what Master said."

"It should be that constable surnamed Sheng."