The bright sunshine bathed Mr. Meng, but he felt no warmth. How had Horn, this bastard, become so powerful in just two short years? He had transformed from a nobody into a terrifying force, a true dragon among men.
Mr. Meng's heart seethed with unwillingness. Despite the severe pain, he gathered every ounce of strength to break free from the wind ropes that bound him. But his efforts were futile; the ropes held firm.
Horn extended his right palm again. With a sickening "pfft," the sound of flesh tearing filled the air as he ripped out Mr. Meng's second rib.
"Ah!" Mr. Meng's body convulsed in agony as blood spurted from his mouth. Horn now held one rib in each hand. Without a second thought, he flung them downward, the bones piercing the skulls of two Su family members below, killing them instantly.
Horn didn't even glance at the fallen men. They had mocked him before, and now they paid the ultimate price. Yang Xuan, standing just a meter away from the victims, collapsed in terror, his legs trembling uncontrollably. If only he had known, he would never have come here.
Breathing heavily, Mr. Meng tried to suppress his screams. "Horn, even if your cultivation surpasses the mid-stage Sky Control Realm, you have no right to act so arrogantly before the Tianhai Su family!" he spat. "Do you know how many powerful cultivators there are in our family? The level of our strongest members?"
"You can defeat me, but it means nothing!" Mr. Meng continued, trying to regain some control. "Turn back now. I promise, if you relinquish your power, I will personally ensure that the Tianhai Su family takes you back. You could assist the young master in rising within the Xia Kingdom, achieving your own glory. Look forward, not back—those who dwell in the past are doomed to fail."
Horn's cold smile widened. He reached out again, yanking out Mr. Meng's third rib. "Turn back? Return to the Tianhai Su family? And give up my power?" he scoffed. "Meng Laogou, are you still delusional?"
In a flurry of motion, Horn tore out ten more of Mr. Meng's bones, each falling and killing another member of the Su family. Mr. Meng was now barely alive, his throat too raw to scream, his life hanging by a thread.
With a wave of his hand, Horn dispersed the wind ropes, letting Mr. Meng's body plummet to the ground with a sickening thud, leaving a crater before the mourning hall. Dust filled the air, and when it settled, Mr. Meng was lying there, barely alive, blood flowing from his mouth, eyes filled with fear and regret.
Horn descended from mid-air, landing gracefully. As he walked toward Mr. Meng, an angry shout erupted from the depths of the Su family's manor.
"Horn, haven't you caused enough trouble?" The voice boomed. "Su Cheng, Hornan, and Su Yao have all died by your hands. And now Meng He is on the brink of death. Are you satisfied? Is it time to stop?"
The voice belonged to Su He, the ancient ancestor of the Su family, who had been presumed dead for over thirty years. He now appeared, descending slowly from the sky, his presence sending shockwaves through the gathered crowd.
"Ancestor, you're alive?" Su Quan gasped in disbelief, as did the rest of the Su family. Su He, it seemed, had faked his death to pursue the path of immortality, watching over the family in secret all these years. Now, in their time of crisis, he had returned.
Su He's mere presence brought hope to the Su family. His aura was terrifying, dispersing the clouds above. Su Quan, Yang Xuan, and the others felt the oppressive force pressing down on them.
Su Quan, elated, bowed deeply. "Ancestor, have you reached the peak of the Sky Control Realm? Congratulations!"
The rest of the Su family followed suit, their voices echoing in unison, "Congratulations, Ancestor!"
With Su He at the peak of the Sky Control Realm, they were confident that the crisis was over. Yang Xuan even felt some of his color return, relieved that this nightmare might finally end.
Su He, landing beside Su Quan, addressed Horn with an air of authority. "Horn, it's time for you to go. Remember this: mercy and restraint are virtues. Don't take things too far."
But Horn ignored Su He completely. He stepped forward, placing his foot on Mr. Meng's chest, causing a spurt of blood from the dying man's mouth.
"Old man, wouldn't you have preferred to stay hidden, pretending to be dead? Now you'll become a real corpse," Horn said coldly.
He bent down, grabbed Mr. Meng by the forehead, and hoisted him into the air.
Su He, sensing Horn's indifference to his warning, could no longer restrain himself. "You arrogant little bastard, you'll pay for this!" Su He roared, clenching his fists as his patience finally snapped.