There would be a martial arts competition during the Frost Festival in two days, which was actually a good opportunity to create chaos. Whether those black-robed figures would take action was what worried Li Tan the most.
However, worrying was useless. Now, he could only let things take their natural course. Li Tan began cultivating again. Time flew, and soon two days passed.
During these two days of cultivation, Li Tan vaguely sensed that he had touched the threshold of the Xiantian realm; all he needed was the right opportunity to break through. Meanwhile, Lin Long seized the chance following Lin Suifeng’s death to severely suppress his faction. Lin Yuan and Lin Ge were directly exiled to ordinary family businesses. As for those close to them, such as the malicious servant who had harassed Li Tan on his wedding night, they were outright expelled.
Although Lin Long publicly expressed hatred toward Li Tan’s actions, ironically, he himself showed no hesitation in taking ruthless measures behind the scenes.
Leaving his room, Li Tan sought out Lin Cui and specifically inquired about the martial arts competition during the Frost Festival.
The participants in this competition were the three major families and ten vassal minor families, each selecting ten outstanding young disciples to compete in elimination and arena matches, a very straightforward and traditional format.
The top ten ranked competitors would be organized by the City Lord’s Mansion to go to the location where Feiyu Sect recruits new disciples.
The referees of the competition were the clan leaders of the three major families and the city lord himself, balancing each other to ensure fairness.
That was roughly how it was.
Additionally, there were ten participants from the Lin family, including Lin Cui. Initially, Li Tan was also included, but two days ago, Lin Long had him removed, so he no longer had the qualification to participate.
Was Lin Long being stingy with this one spot? Probably not. He likely did it as retaliation against Li Tan because of Jiang Xin’s affair.
“Still so petty.”
Li Tan sneered slightly and left the Lin family residence through a side door.
Now, there was only half a day left before the competition began. Feiyu Sect naturally held no attraction for him, but at this stage, it still served a significant purpose—for example, resources like spirit stones and spirit herbs used for cultivation were basically only available to major sects and clans.
Therefore, Li Tan definitely planned to attend Feiyu Sect’s entrance test. It was also the place he had stayed in before his rebirth. However, this time, he intended to bring some people from the Li family who were close to Li Zhen’s lineage into the sect. Therefore, for various reasons, even though he couldn’t personally compete in this Frost Festival martial arts contest, he still had to go.
After leaving the Lin family, Li Tan directly headed to his original family’s residence, first seeking out Li Yang.
“Daddy, Brother Li Tan is here!”
As soon as he entered the door, the little Li Jiaying dropped the cloth she was using to wipe the table, ran over, and threw herself into Li Tan’s arms.
“Second Uncle, what are you doing?”
Li Tan naturally picked up Li Jiaying, his face filled with smiles as he walked inside.
“Hehe, tomorrow is Frost Festival, will Brother Li Tan go watch the martial arts competition?”
Li Jiaying asked in her childish voice.
Li Tan walked while answering, “I will go.”
“Great! Jiaying has a big secret to tell Brother!”
As she spoke, Li Jiaying dramatically spread her arms wide in a circular motion.
Li Tan teased her, asking, “What’s this big secret?
Is it that Old Man Wang from next door will go sell candied haws on a stick?”
“No, it’s something much bigger!”
“Then is it that Old Man Li will go sell them too?”
“No, no, it’s something much, much bigger!”
“Could it be that Second Uncle has agreed to buy them all for you?”
“Oh come on, I’m not that greedy! Brother is bullying me!”
“Good girls don’t hit people. Alright, alright, no more jokes. What is it you want to tell Brother?”
“Hmph, Jiaying is going to participate in the martial arts competition!”
Li Tan instantly froze, standing still in shock, “What?”
Li Jiaying probably thought he hadn’t heard, so she shouted louder: “Jiaying is going to participate in the martial arts competition!”
“Tan’er, how come you’re here?”
At this moment, Li Yang walked out from the back hall.
“Uncle, how did Jiaying end up participating in the Frost Festival martial arts competition? Did something get misunderstood, or is the Grand Elder deliberately making things difficult for you?”
Li Tan asked anxiously.
Li Yang shook his head and said, “Ying’er kept begging and pleading, so I agreed.”
Letting a little girl of only twelve or thirteen participate in the Frost Festival martial arts competition?
Li Tan couldn’t help himself and shouted directly, “Uncle, have you gone senile or something?”
“Naughty boy, how dare you speak like that?”
Li Yang immediately gave him a light smack on the head. After hesitating for a moment, he lowered his head helplessly, his eyes slightly dimmed.
Li Tan noticed these details, put down Li Jiaying, who was curiously looking around, and gently instructed, “Brother and Second Uncle have important matters to discuss. Jiaying, be a good girl and stay here guarding the door, don’t let anyone else in, okay?”
“Okay, no problem!”
Li Jiaying nodded vigorously and stood solemnly at the door.
Li Tan and Li Yang went into the inner room and sat down by the kitchen’s octagonal table, brewing some tea.
While drinking tea, Li Tan asked, “Uncle, what were you thinking?”
Li Yang was silent for a short while, then sighed and asked in return, “Tan’er, what do you think of Linjiang?”
Li Tan hesitated slightly before answering, “Backed by the domain of fallen immortals, beside a tributary of a great river, it’s a good place with mountains behind and water in front.”
“Be honest.”
“A remote place with harsh terrain, far from centers of power, with little future.”
Li Yang nodded and said helplessly, “That’s how my life will be, but Ying’er is still young. She should see more of the outside world.”
“But this is too hasty. In the arena, swords and blades have no eyes. What if something happens?”
“You don’t know this, but Ying’er, though young, has shown signs of breaking through to the middle stage of the Post-Heavenly realm. Besides, no one would really harm a young girl, right?
Even if she really can’t handle it, it could be treated as a trial.”
Li Tan was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Alright then. Uncle, if you trust me, why not leave Ying’er to me?”
“Handing her over to you is fine, but the competition starts tomorrow afternoon. It’s too late now.”
“Not too late. A day is enough time for a lot to happen.”
“This…”
“Uncle, did you think I obtained my current cultivation level by accident?”
When Li Tan said this, Li Yang suddenly felt like he had been enlightened, his eyes widening.
Li Tan smiled and nodded, speaking ambiguously, “Right, with that method, perhaps Ying’er could directly breakthrough to the middle stage of the Post-Heavenly realm.”
Li Yang’s face showed delight: “Then Ying’er will trouble you.”
“Not at all. Actually, I quite miss Ying’er too.”
However, Li Yang’s expression suddenly turned gloomy again.
“But then, would the Lin family have any objections?
After all, you’re part of the Lin family now. If you come to help the Li family…”
“It’s okay.”
“Tan’er.”
Li Yang looked at Li Tan’s face and suddenly felt a bit unfamiliar.
Saying something like “just the Lin family” equated to scorning all cultivators in Linjiang. Yet, Li Tan’s face showed no sign of wavering, as if he had just said something perfectly natural.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage