Those men seemed to have suffered a grave insult, their eyes brimming with immense anger. Without hesitation, they tossed aside their knives and confronted Mu Feng.
The Grand Elder, however, sped towards the window behind him with the utmost haste. He intended to escape directly, unwilling to linger any longer lest he meet an unknown end.
At that precise moment, a cold glint flashed in Mu Feng's eyes, followed by a lightning-fast kick.
The whip-like leg seemed to rip through the very air as it exploded. The instant he moved, some men were already sent flying.
As they flew, they directly smashed into the Grand Elder's back.
The Grand Elder felt the sharp whistling of the wind. The moment he turned his head, he saw the incoming figure. Before he could even react or dodge, he was struck squarely.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood on the spot, several bones in his back shattering.
In his eyes, a look of disbelieving shock was evident, and his heart was filled with utter terror.
Most believed the gap between them and Mu Feng, while significant, wouldn't be so vast as to leave no chance for escape. But now, he realized the chasm between himself and Mu Feng could no longer be measured by a mere great realm.
Meanwhile, those who had tried to obstruct Mu Feng lay on the ground, none able to breathe. Their eyes were wide open, vacant, but moments before, disbelief had still flickered within them.
They had truly been utterly vulnerable before Mu Feng.
Mu Feng smiled faintly, "You wish to leave? You must first ask my permission."
"Now, we need to have a proper talk."
"What does your Yao family intend to do? And how much are the past events connected to your Yao family?"
Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder's pupils contracted sharply, and a look of grim resolve flashed in his eyes.
"Mu Feng, don't expect to glean any information from me. I know you are powerful, and I had estimated you beforehand, but that estimation was flawed."
"We still do not fully understand your strength. If we could do it all over again, our Yao family would never have sought trouble with you."
With that said, he raised his palm and struck fiercely at his own vital point.
He intended to commit suicide before Mu Feng.
A mocking smile appeared on Mu Feng's face. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of spiritual energy shot out from his fingertip, striking the Grand Elder's palm instantly.
The Grand Elder felt a piercing pain. Before he could even react, his hand lost its ability to move.
His eyes were filled with incredulous horror: "How is this possible?"
"Even if there's a gap between our strengths, it shouldn't be this immense!"
"How old are you? How can you possess such formidable power? Even if you started cultivating from the womb, you couldn't have this kind of strength!"
His gaze trembled slightly. He had previously overestimated Mu Feng, but he hadn't realized how helpless and despairing he would feel when truly facing him.
Mu Feng's smile widened, "There's much you don't know."
"And in this world, nothing is impossible."
"I will ask you my question only once. If you refuse to answer honestly, I will give you a profound and unforgettable lesson, and show you what it truly means to wish you were dead."
As his voice fell, he appeared before the Grand Elder in the blink of an eye, a cold killing intent radiating from his gaze.
The Yao family had caused him too much trouble lately.
He desperately wanted to know who was pulling the strings behind these individuals.
If it were merely a single family, they couldn't have created such immense trouble; the involved forces were too numerous.
The Grand Elder shivered slightly, his eyes filled with sheer terror: "Mu Feng, the information I have is very limited. The fact that I was sent here proves nothing useful can be extracted from me."
"Even if you torture me to death, the information you obtain will be extremely scant. Give me a quick end. Regardless, I am a peak Grandmaster, a powerful martial artist, and I have my own dignity."
Mu Feng's cold laugh grew more pronounced, "Dignity is built solely on your strength."
"Without that strength, yet harboring such great ambition, this is your current predicament."
"The dignity you seek, I cannot give you."
"If you are unwilling to cooperate honestly, that's fine. I will make you reveal everything."
A clear look of bitterness crossed the Grand Elder's face as he slowly closed his eyes.
His attitude was evident: he would rather die than speak.
Mu Feng's smile became even more pronounced, "I like people with strong bones. I've seen many like you, but none have remained silent before me."
"I know what you're thinking, but it's alright, we can play slowly. I have plenty of time to spare for you."
"However, I suggest you endure for a little longer, otherwise, I will be greatly disappointed."
As his voice faded, he casually flicked out a wisp of spiritual energy, striking the Grand Elder's acupoints. Several sharp, cold glints appeared in his hand.
Countless silver needles shot out from Mu Feng's fingertips.
As the needles landed, they precisely pierced the Grand Elder's vital points.
The spiritual energy, striking the tail ends of the needles, caused them to tremble incessantly. The Grand Elder felt as if countless steel needles were incessantly stimulating his marrow.
The pain was soul-piercing, forcing him to open his eyes, bloodshot veins rapidly spreading. From his mouth, uncontrollable groans of agony escaped.
"Mu Feng, kill me if you dare!"
"I will never reveal any useful clues."
"Our Yao family has been passed down for thousands of years, and never has there been a traitor. I will never betray my family."
As he uttered these words, it sounded as if they were being squeezed from his throat, his voice filled with heart-wrenching roars.
Pain consumed his entire being.
He didn't know how much longer he could hold on. If this continued, he might break and speak very soon. At this moment, he only wished for a swift death.
Just as he raised his hand, Mu Feng's foot stomped down forcefully.