Chapter 463: Retribution?

One of the Central Elders crawled across the ground and boldly declared, "Just you wait! One day, I’ll definitely make you kneel before me... Ah!"

*BANG!*

That Central Elder was sent flying once again by the staff. Priam could clearly hear the sound of bones cracking.

"If you won’t submit, then come after me again!" the old woman declared coldly.

By now, all seven were covered in black bruises and looked absolutely miserable. They had long since lost the imposing air of powerful experts they’d once carried. This was the price of challenging the Sect Leader’s prestige.

The old woman turned to Priam. "Boy, I heard you’re pretty damn brave. Want to give it a try yourself?"

"Me? Ah, maybe not today. I know how to respect the hierarchy."

He hurriedly shook his head. Was she kidding? He might not lack courage, but he wasn’t an idiot either.

"Central Elders, don’t look so upset. I still have a little more Goddess’s Essence for all of us." To ease the suffocating tension in the air, Priam pulled out another dozen bottles.

At that very moment, all seven got up from the ground with bright, ear-to-ear smiles. It was as if nothing had happened just moments ago.

Right before Priam’s eyes, their bodies underwent that absurd regeneration. But for these powerful figures, the process was incredibly faster than it had been for the disciples.

Priam walked over to a stone table, lining up the bottles and taking out the cups.

"Brat, don’t bother sucking up to them. Even after drinking what you’ve brought, they’ll still beat you up when you deserve it. They won’t show you the slightest consideration just because of this," the old woman warned him.

"That’s right! Brat, we’re not going to neglect our education and discipline. Of course, we’ll still give you a beating whenever necessary," one of the Central Elders said as casually as could be.

"Hehe, no problem. I’m not worried about sucking up to anyone."

Priam found these people genuinely interesting. Their personalities and the way things worked within this sect were truly unique.

Within seconds, everyone started drinking without hesitation.

At first, they were quiet, but it took barely an hour for them to start talking nonsense and laughing uproariously.

Priam remained silent the entire time, sipping his drink slowly. He hadn’t even finished a fifth of his single cup yet.

It wasn’t long before the seven felt their blood boiling and their minds growing completely hazy. The bottles were drained to the very last drop, while the group’s courage soared to infinity...

Suddenly, in perfect unison, they turned to look at the old woman a short distance away, who was calmly savoring her cup of the concentrated essence she’d received...

The seven exchanged glances.

Within seconds, they attacked the old woman all at once!

"Fuck!" Priam jumped backward and took off running.

He flew several kilometers away in a hurry when a shockwave tore through the air and sent him hurtling even farther.

*BOOOOM!*

Priam took a deep breath. When he managed to turn around and look, he saw the seven charging at the old woman together, using refined and coordinated movements.

The old woman swung her staff, and black images filled the air, almost as if darkness itself were swallowing the surroundings.

*Bang, bang, bang, bang...*

"Ah!"

"Fuck!"

Screams and curses echoed throughout the mountain. When the black shadows finally disappeared, they revealed the old woman standing in midair while the seven lay sprawled across the ground like dead dogs... again.

The Central Elder who had accompanied Priam earlier had suffered the worst of it. Her body was now embedded in the rock, with only her legs dangling outside.

Priam was speechless. The old Sect Leader was simply far too powerful. Even when facing seven experts of the same level all by herself, she seemed to be doing nothing more than scolding a bunch of children.

"The old woman is insanely powerful and domineering!" Priam hurried over to her side and offered a few flattering words, acting as if they’d been family all along.

He was certain that the old woman held absolute authority and power within the sect. Staying on her good side was definitely the path to becoming king.

"Priam, you little bastard!" The Central Elders rose from the ruins, cursing up a storm.

Priam let out a mischievous giggle and quickly hid behind the old woman’s back. He’d be crazy not to secure some protection in this land of lunatics.

As expected, his display of filial respect hadn’t been in vain. The old woman brandished her staff imperiously, fixing the seven with a sharp glare.

"Because of your own incompetence, you take your frustration out on a kid? Can’t you feel even a shred of shame?" the old woman grumbled coldly.

All seven grumbled indignantly, but none dared openly talk back.

"Very well. Since everyone has had plenty of fun, let’s get back to drinking!" Priam smiled and pulled another dozen full bottles from his spatial ring. He deliberately loosened their seals a little, allowing the intoxicating aroma to spread through the air.

Everyone swallowed hard, practically drooling as they caught the divine fragrance. They were instantly captivated.

How the hell did that kid have so many bottles stashed away?! They all wondered the same thing, but chose to ignore it. This was definitely their lucky day.

The group’s anger vanished, along with their injuries. They sat back down around the table and resumed drinking slowly, savoring every sip.

After another hour and a few more empty bottles, everyone had relaxed and completely forgotten the misery and pain of their earlier beatdown. The mood reached its peak.

They were genuinely drunk, but it wasn’t like ordinary drunkenness among mortals. If they wanted to, they could simply circulate Ether throughout their bodies, purify all the toxins, and return to normal in a single second. But doing so would be outright sacrilege and an unforgivable waste.

"Priam, you’re not bad at all. I’ve got an excellent impression of you! Just call me Lady Aylin," the Central Elder from earlier praised, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "You fought my daughter Aella earlier... That little brat is still single, you know?"

"Sorry, but I already have someone," Priam replied promptly, without hesitation.

The Central Elder snorted, visibly disappointed.

"Young man, you’re an exceptionally rare and promising sapling..." another Central Elder said, patting Priam on the shoulder.

"You’re giving this Central Elder far too much credit," Priam replied humbly.

"Don’t worry. I’ll definitely take good care of you and turn you into a towering tree capable of withstanding any wind or rain. Your sister is also a rare talent, and she’ll receive exactly the same treatment you do. Not only will I help you, but everyone else here will do the same... hehe... It’s only natural to repay your filial gesture for giving us this wonderful essence," another Central Elder chuckled.

All seven laughed in unison and stared at Priam with intense, hungry gazes, making every hair on his body stand on end. He immediately sensed that these guys were plotting something sinister.

"Don’t be afraid. We won’t go too hard on you and the little girl. We’ll just break your bones and muscles a few times. Once you get used to it, everything will be fine."

The Central Elder gave Priam another pat on the shoulder. The force behind that smack made the young man’s bones creak.

Priam immediately realized that these figures were about to put him in his place. No wonder the old woman had said that even if he bribed them with booze, they’d still beat the living hell out of him.

Priam shot the old woman a pleading look, but she merely shook her head slightly, showing not the slightest bit of mercy.

"It’s useless to look at me like that, boy. This is the legacy and foundation of our sect. After bathing in the Heavenly Pool, your body must be pushed to its absolute limits using nothing but your complete Elemental Physique. You must fight using only that for the next few days if you want to reap the maximum benefits. Every single one of them... even I, in the distant past... went through exactly the same thing. However, the rule is simple: if you have the power, you can put them in their place. If you lack that ability, then just accept your fate patiently."

Priam narrowed his eyes.

Put a Level 8 Exalted Sage in his place using nothing but his Elemental Physique?! That was a ridiculous exaggeration of a joke. Priam felt exactly like a dog trying to challenge an elephant to a contest of strength.

Seeing the seven staring at him like starving wolves drooling over a defenseless sheep, his scalp went completely numb.

"Oh?!" Central Elder Aylin pulled out her emblem and smiled. "The other little brat has woken up! Perfect timing. It’s time to start the intensive training for the two of them!"

All seven nodded with sinister smiles.

"Well, since it’s their first time, go easy on them. Take turns properly," the old woman dismissed them with a casual wave, holding her cup of concentrated essence and wearing an expression of pure satisfaction.