“What’s just a semi-final?
Don’t underestimate people, hmpf!”
“Hehe, you’re merely at the early stage of the Afterlife Realm, and haven’t even learned any martial arts techniques in the library. How do you plan to compete in the elimination rounds? Don’t think those from minor families are easy targets. They’re desperate to join Feiyu Gate and turn their fortunes around, so they won’t show you any mercy. As your elder brother, I advise you to withdraw now to avoid getting injured and affecting your future cultivation. In previous years, many have broken arms and legs. Not everyone will be as merciful as me who just subdues their opponents. Many will seize this opportunity to weaken the strength of other families. You should understand this logic, right?”
“Why break arms and legs? Just for such a trivial reason?”
“That’s no trivial reason. This world is naturally survival of the fittest.”
Li Hantian’s cold words indeed reflected the harsh reality, not just an exaggeration meant to intimidate.
Li Jiaying’s fingers trembled slightly as she imagined those brutal scenes, but she still firmly declared, “Jiaying will participate in the elimination rounds, and I will definitely, definitely make it to the semi-finals and finals!”
“Me too,” Li Xiu said timidly.
Li Hantian frowned and looked at Li Tan, “What spell have you cast on them?”
Li Tan, who had remained silent, raised his eyebrows and indifferently retorted, “What exactly do you intend to do?”
“Nothing much. I just don’t want Li family members to be killed because of your misleading words.”
“And how do you know my words are misleading?”
“Breaking through after just one night in the Zhui Xian Domain—what else would that be but misleading talk?”
“You’re just sour grapes. You can’t do it, so you say it’s impossible. It’s just because you’re a failure. It doesn’t mean others can’t do it.”
The word “failure” was particularly grating. Li Hantian’s face grew even angrier, though he still dared not lash out. Instead, he sneered bitterly, “If anything happens to them, I’d like to see how you plan to explain it.”
Li Tan turned his gaze away, “That’s none of your concern.”
Li Hantian snorted and turned his head to the side, when he heard a somewhat unfamiliar female voice.
Li Tan, however, was quite familiar with this voice.
“Li Tan, where have you been all day yesterday?”
The one asking was Lin Cui.
Just seeing her made Li Tan feel troubled. Without even thinking, he knew she would nag for a while. Holding the identity of a Lin family son-in-law was indeed troublesome.
But no matter how troublesome it was, Li Tan couldn’t avoid it now. Considering their surface identities, he didn’t plan to say anything too harsh to her. So he simply adopted a resigned expression, closed his eyes, and focused on cultivation.
“Li Tan!”
Seeing this, Lin Cui was furious, clenching her teeth and asking again angrily, “Speak up! Where have you been?”
What a nuisance, Li Tan reluctantly opened his mouth: “Taking Jiaying for training.”
Unexpectedly, Lin Cui didn’t latch onto the question of “why help the Li family as a member of the Lin family,” but instead quite normally asked, “Where did you go for training?”
Li Tan answered naturally: “Zhui Xian Domain.”
Lin Cui felt like she had misheard, “What?”
What a nuisance, Li Tan repeated: “Zhui Xian Domain.”
Lin Cui’s eyes widened like a ball, asking incredulously, “Are you joking with me?”
“Do I look like I have time to joke with you?”
Li Tan gave her a sidelong glance.
“Are you sure you were taking them for training instead of sending them to their deaths?”
Lin Cui looked somewhat angry.
Li Jiaying, remembering their previous meeting, earnestly explained for Li Tan: “Brother really did take Jiaying for training.”
“Li Tan, what spell have you cast on this little girl?”
Lin Cui questioned.
Li Tan was speechless.
He had just heard someone say something similar.
Li Hantian nodded in agreement, “Miss Lin feels the same way, don’t you agree? I also think this behavior is utterly absurd. Several cultivators at the Afterlife Realm going into Zhui Xian Domain at night is practically suicide!”
“Who are you?” “Oh, I’m Li Hantian from the Li family—” Before Li Hantian could finish, Lin Cui cut him off with a “I know.”
Clearly, Lin Cui had no interest in him, or perhaps they were simply not on the same level.
They were about the same age. Li Hantian was merely at the early stage of the Afterlife Realm, while Lin Cui, it was said, had recently broken through to the middle stage of the Afterlife Realm.
It was said that when she was very young, Lin Cui was noticed by a master and became his final disciple. Once she came of age, she would leave Linjiang with that master for cultivation.
At that time, the cultivation resources between them would be vastly different.
As time passed, the gap between them would gradually widen. Perhaps Lin Cui would break through to the Immortal Realm while Li Hantian was still stuck at the middle stage of the Afterlife Realm.
Before his rebirth, Li Tan had heard of the sect Lin Cui joined. Overall, it was not impressive enough to catch his attention, but it was slightly stronger than Feiyu Gate.
Unfortunately, Lin Cui hadn’t even had the opportunity to enter the sect back then.
Thinking about these things made him somewhat absent-minded, and it was Lin Cui herself who brought his attention back.
“Li Tan, you shouldn’t be such a self-righteous fool. What exactly were you trying to do in Zhui Xian Domain?”
“Didn’t I just say? Training Jiaying and Li Xiu.”
That was the truth, but clearly, Lin Cui didn’t believe him.
However, before the atmosphere became even more tense, the referee came to the rescue.
“Next match: Li Xiu from the Li family versus Liu Zhengyi from the Liu family!” The topic was instantly shifted.
Frowning, Li Hantian muttered, “Liu Zhengyi isn’t even a direct descendant of the Liu family. How did they get a spot?”
Li Tan glanced at the hastily built platform where Lin Long, Li Zhen, and the head of the Liu family were sitting side by side. There was an empty seat beside them, originally meant for the city lord, but it was vacant now. This martial arts competition was probably the first in recorded history without participation from the city lord’s residence.
What was the Liu family plotting? Why would they give a valuable spot to a non-heir?
Were they being charitable and promoting equality between main and side branches?
Impossible.
They must be scheming something, giving the non-heir a spot for a specific purpose. But what exactly were they plotting that required a non-heir to participate in the competition?
Li Tan had some vague thoughts but couldn’t piece together a complete clue.
“Brother, I’m off,” Li Xiu said to him.
“Go ahead. Remember not to be nervous. Be confident. He won’t be your match,” Li Tan instructed.
Li Xiu nodded and turned to leave. Suddenly, Li Hantian’s cold voice came from behind him.
“Liu Zhengyi may be a non-heir and at the early stage of the Afterlife Realm, but his strength isn’t weak. It’s said that in the family’s internal matches, he once fought an Afterlife Middle Realm cultivator for over ten rounds before losing. If you can’t handle him, just surrender directly. The Li family can’t afford any more troubles right now.”
“I understand.”
Li Xiu nodded earnestly and stepped onto the arena.
At the same time, Li Tan stole a glance at Li Hantian, and his impression of this person slightly improved.
Although he was annoying, he was indeed thinking for the Li family.
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