Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Tearing Off the Facade

His words were like a blast of Cold Ice, plunging the hall into a dead silence.

No one spoke. Their gazes met, a silent battle of wills unfolding.

In the end, it was the Ning Clan Leader who broke the silence.

He dropped all pretense, standing up and walking to the center of the room.

He stared directly at Song Qingyun, his gaze unvarnished. The Divinity Transformation cultivator behind him was his backing. So what if Song Qingyun’s Cultivation was high?

"Sect Leader Song, if I were you, I’d know my place instead of provoking us the moment you arrive."

"If the Song Family wants to develop among the top-tier families, you’ll have to obediently dull your edge and follow our lead. Otherwise..."

A sinister smile spread across his face.

"The same way the Song Family rose up is the same way you’ll be sent tumbling down."

The moment he finished speaking, nearly everyone in the hall stood up.

To protect their own interests, they had to be united at this moment.

The atmosphere instantly dropped to a freezing point. With the exception of Feng Youming, every single person was glaring at the Song Family like a predator eyeing its prey.

Song Qingyun’s expression darkened as he and Mu Yuan stood up simultaneously. Only Song Wanning remained seated, looking utterly relaxed.

"Are you threatening us?"

Killing intent surged from Song Qingyun. Since the other side wanted to tear off all pretenses of civility, they had nothing to fear.

’If it comes to it, we’ll fight. A mutually destructive outcome is better than nothing!’

’If he dared to involve more Divinity Transformation cultivators, the other families would surely unite and raise a fuss.’

’After all, every family harbors the hope of one day ascending to the ranks of a top-tier family. If these three families try to completely sever that path, the others certainly won’t stand for it.’

This was the source of their fearlessness.

But the three families were even more shameless than he had imagined.

"Since you know it’s a threat, you should just obediently listen."

The Sui Clan Leader sneered, the corners of her eyes tilting upwards as she spoke with a look of utter disdain. "After all, it’s not every day you get lucky enough to stumble upon a Demon Beast Inner Core, is it?"

’If he hadn’t found that inner core, what right would Song Qingyun have to stand here and challenge them now?’

’When the poor suddenly get rich, they become arrogant and conceited. That’s them to a T!’

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Song Wanning, a flash of displeasure in her eyes.

"Surely you don’t want to see your bright futures completely ruined, do you?"

Her gaze was a naked warning: if they truly angered them, they would target their most precious daughter.

The three Divinity Transformation Ancestors behind them released their auras at almost the same time, a crushing pressure like a landslide rolling towards the trio.

Mu Yuan, who on the surface only appeared to have a Nascent Soul Cultivation, bore almost half of the pressure.

Everyone thought she was an easy target.

Mu Yuan’s face fell slightly.

Just then, Song Wanning rose gracefully to her feet, her eyes suddenly turning sharp.

Mu Yuan and Song Qingyun received the signal, and the three of them unleashed their auras in unison.

One Early-stage Divinity Transformation, and two at Mid-Stage Divine Transformation.

Not to mention Song Wanning’s powerful Divine Soul from her rebirth, which sent an immense pressure surging back to counter their opponents.

Instantly, the force of the ancestors’ auras was completely dispersed, leaving nothing but sheer horror in their eyes.

"You—you all—"

"When did she advance to the Divinity Transformation Stage?"

"You—how are you two at Mid-Stage Divine Transformation?"

The same questions exploded in the mind of every Divinity Transformation cultivator. Their eyes held not only shock but also a hint of frantic curiosity.

’How on earth did they do it?’

Hearing this, the three family heads behind them went blank for a moment. Then, their pupils contracted as they stared at the three members of the Song Family in utter disbelief. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Ancestors, are you saying... they are all Divinity Transformation cultivators?"

Mu Yuan had concealed her aura, so with their lower Cultivation, they couldn’t see the truth.

Now, hearing the ancestors’ questions, they finally realized that the aura coming from Mu Yuan was indeed not right.

Plus, the ancestors had also said that Song Wanning and Song Qingyun both had Mid-stage Divine Transformation Cultivation. The successive blows were becoming too much for them to accept.

’Are Divinity Transformation cultivators a dime a dozen?’

’Not only did the Song Family suddenly produce three Divinity Transformation cultivators out of thin air, but in just a few short days, Song Qingyun and Song Wanning had even advanced another stage...’

For a moment, the same speculation arose in everyone’s minds.

’What kind of ridiculous luck did the Song Family stumble into? What incredible fortuitous encounter did they find?’

While the minds of everyone present were reeling, Song Qingyun’s expression was calm, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Alright, alright, let’s all stop joking around. Let’s sit down and have a proper chat."

Acting as if he were just smoothing things over, he cheerfully sat back down with his wife and daughter.

The rest of the people froze, their glares sharp enough to bore holes through the trio.

But after a moment of gritting their teeth in frustration, they had no choice but to return to their seats.

Because among the three great top-tier families, only the Ning Family barely had four Divinity Transformation cultivators...

Now, the Song Family’s matter was no longer something they could decide with just a few words.

Everyone returned to their seats with dark expressions. The Sui Family Head’s face was flushed red, choking on a rage she couldn’t vent.

Just moments ago she had been spouting arrogant nonsense, and in the blink of an eye, she had been ruthlessly slapped in the face. She had lost all face completely.

The hall once again fell into an eerie silence.

"So, can we now have a proper discussion about the distribution?"

Song Qingyun spoke up, breaking their pensive silence.

’Since we have the strength, we have to be more assertive.’

’Even if the Song Family had yielded, these other families wouldn’t have treated them any better. They looked down on the Song Family to their very bones.’

"Heh."

The Ning Clan Leader gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, his face still etched with displeasure.

He said in a low voice, "For the Song Family to produce so many Divinity Transformation cultivators in a row is indeed impressive. But the foundations of our three families are far beyond what your Song Family can compare to."

"Sect Leader Song, are you sure you want to tear all pretenses apart?"

Even at this stage, they were still unwilling to share what they had.

It would be more painful than carving flesh from their bones.

"That’s right. Even if the Song Family joins the ranks of the top-tier families, you won’t necessarily gain the recognition of the others. You might even need our help. Don’t come crying to us for aid later."

The Sui Clan Leader seized the opportunity and started rambling on again.

She had been arrogant from start to finish. Even though the Cultivation of those opposite her was higher, she still looked at them with a scrutinizing gaze.

Song Wanning’s expression was placid as she fixed her gaze on the Sui Clan Leader.

A thousand years of holding a high position had long made these three families think too highly of themselves, looking down on everyone.

’This attitude annoys me, but I know that acting impulsively won’t solve anything. Only when the Song Family becomes so powerful that it is beyond their reach will these people truly feel fear in their hearts.’

Therefore, she simply sat in contemplative silence, letting her father handle the arrangements.

"Hehehe..."

Song Qingyun was so angered by their thick skin that he actually laughed.

’Even now, they still think the Song Family is an easy target. It seems I’ve been too gentle.’

His face darkened, and he decided to drop the act altogether.

"What? Are you looking for a fight? If that’s the case, we will certainly oblige!"

"But don’t get the wrong idea."