Lan Yueli returned a wry smile of her own. "What brings me here? Hah… you little brat. To think you hid your strength so well."
"In comparison to an expert like yourself, I'm nothing," Li Yun replied humbly. Yet beneath his words, a quiet pride glimmered.
After all, in his fight against Zhao Xiaotian, he hadn't revealed his full strength. Not once had he unleashed the perfection stage of his Crimson Sun Flame Sword Art. His mastery of the technique had already reached its peak, just one step away from touching the True Meaning of the sword. But Zhao Xiaotian was far too weak to force him into using that level of power.
Li Yun believed it would not be long before his sword comprehension broke through into the True Meaning stage. When that time came, his strength would rise to an even higher level.
'With my current strength,' Li Yun thought to himself, his gaze unwavering, 'I can definitely defeat Li Xian.'
"I am no expert at all," Lan Yueli said, shaking her head lightly. "My advice is this: once your cultivation breaks into the Body Tempering Realm, go to the Sword Hall. With your talent, you'll surely rise quickly there. And if fortune favors you, you may even earn a path to the imperial capital of the Crimson Sun Empire."
"The Imperial Capital…" Li Yun's eyes glimmered, a fire igniting within them. That was the place he had yearned for since childhood. The heart of the empire, where countless sects and fearsome powers stood tall.
If he truly wished to climb to the peak of martial arts and achieve his ultimate goal, resurrecting his parents, then his first step was clear. He had to enter a sect. And sects could only be found in the imperial capital.
"Director Lan, we'll take our leave," Li Yao said softly, bowing before taking Li Yun's hand and leading him away.
Lan Yueli nodded, her expression calm but her thoughts heavy. "Go. As for me… I need to deal with the aftermath of Zhao Xiaotian's death." Her figure turned gracefully as she walked toward the blood-stained arena, her steps steady, her mind already preparing for the storm that would soon shake Azure Wind City.
***
Li Family Courtyard
After receiving Li Yao's urgent instructions, Xiao Wu sprinted back with everything she had. Though her cultivation was only at the Bone Forging Realm, she pushed herself relentlessly, not stopping until she reached the Li Family courtyard.
"Master! Master!"
Panting, she rushed straight toward Li Jinyun's residence, only to be intercepted by guards. They blocked her path firmly, both of them were at the Marrow Cleansing Realm, so no matter how she struggled, she could not force her way through.
"Move aside!" Xiao Wu shouted in desperation. "I have urgent news for the Patriarch, if I'm delayed, it will be too late!"
The guards recognized her immediately as Li Yao's maid. At first they hesitated, unwilling to breach protocol, but the urgency in her tone struck them. If it truly concerned Li Yao's safety, they could not afford to delay. With grim faces, they stepped aside and followed her into the courtyard.
"What's going on?"
Li Jinyun emerged from his room, brows furrowed, his gaze sharp as he saw Xiao Wu rushing in with the guards.
"Master, it's bad, something terrible has happened!" Xiao Wu gasped, still trying to catch her breath.
"What is it?" Li Jinyun's voice deepened. A terrible premonition stirred in his chest. Xiao Wu was Li Yao's maid, if she came running like this, could something have happened to Li Yao?
"It's Young Master Li Yun!" Xiao Wu blurted out. "He's fighting Zhao Xiaotian of the Zhao Family, in the Treasure Pavilion's arena!"
"What?!"
Li Jinyun's face darkened instantly, his aura erupting with terrifying force.
If anything happened to Li Yun, it would be catastrophic. Li Yun was no ordinary junior, he was already a high-level pharmacist, capable of refining excellent-grade Marrow Cleansing Elixirs. His talent was a priceless treasure for the Li Family's growth. Just a few days ago, he had given the family a share of those potions; as Patriarch, Li Jinyun knew his worth more than anyone.
Absolutely nothing could happen to him.
Without asking another word, Li Jinyun released his qi and shot towards the Treasure Pavilion like a streak of light. He didn't even stop to inform the elders.
As he sped away, his thoughts churned. 'Zhao Xiaotian… peak-stage Marrow Cleansing Realm. And Li Yun? Last time, at the coming-of-age ceremony, he was only at early stage of Marrow Cleansing Realm… how can he survive this fight?'
"Swish! Swish!"
The disciples of the Li Family saw only a blur flash past them.
"Who was that?"
"Wait, that was the Patriarch!"
"What's going on? Why would the Patriarch move at such speed?!"
News spread rapidly within the compound. The sight of their Patriarch, usually calm and reserved, tearing across the estate with such urgency sent ripples of unease through every disciple. Clearly, something grave had happened.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu was brought before Li Jinyun's personal guard. His expression grew stern. "You said Young Master Li Yun fought Zhao Xiaotian?"
"Yes!" Xiao Wu cried. "It's all my fault, but Zhao Xiaotian forced it! He tried to bully my lady, and Young Master Li Yun stepped in…"
The guard's eyes sharpened. "Tell me everything."
Xiao Wu quickly recounted the incident in detail. The guard's expression turned grim. "This is serious. We must inform the Third Elder immediately."
Though custom dictated reporting first to the First Elder, the guard knew the truth: the First Elder was not favorable toward Li Yun. But the Third Elder, Li Zhen, was Li Yun's grandfather. In this situation, he had to be told first.
When Li Zhen heard the news, his fury shook the Li Family grounds.
"What? Zhao Xiaotian dares harm my grandson?!" His internal energy erupted like a raging storm, terrifying the disciples nearby.
Though Li Jinyun was Patriarch, many secretly believed Li Zhen was the Li Family's strongest expert. His reputation as a cultivator was unmatched among the elders.
"Zhao Xiaotian, you little beast! If you dare kill my grandson, I will drench your Zhao Family in blood!" Li Zhen roared, his usual gentleness swept away by boundless rage. In that instant, his killing intent surged high into the heavens.
With a thunderous boom, his figure shot out of the Li Family estate, streaking toward the Treasure Pavilion.
---
At the Treasure Pavilion, Li Jinyun arrived first. His aura swept through the halls like a storm, drawing countless shocked gazes. He didn't pause, charging straight into the fighting arena. His eyes darted immediately to one platform, crowds were gathered there, blood still fresh on the ground.
"Damn it!" His expression twisted. He thought he was too late, that the blood was Li Yun's.
"Zhao Lieyang!" Li Jinyun's fury burst forth, his entire body brimming with killing intent.
Whispers spread quickly among the crowd.
"It's the Li Family Patriarch!"
"Why is he so angry? Could it be because of Zhao Xiaotian and Li Yun's duel?"
"But… Zhao Xiaotian was the one who died, wasn't he? Why would Li Jinyun be this furious?"
The spectators kept their voices low, afraid of drawing the Patriarch's wrath. The aura he radiated was suffocating.
"Where is Li Yun?!" Li Jinyun's roar shook the platform. He searched desperately, but saw no body. Confusion clouded his rage.
At that moment, Lan Yueli entered. Having just escorted Li Yun and Li Yao out, she was surprised to hear the roar. At first, she thought Zhao Lieyang had arrived, but when she stepped into the arena, she realized it was Li Jinyun.
The cultivators made way immediately for the Pavilion's director.
"Lan Yueli," Li Jinyun growled, his fury not lessened in the slightest. "Where is Li Yun?"
Lan Yueli's brows furrowed. Why was he so enraged? She had just seen Li Yun leave alive. "Patriarch Li," she said calmly, "Li Yun has already left. Why are you searching for him in such a state?"
"Left?" For the first time, Li Jinyun froze, stunned. If Li Yun had died, Lan Yueli wouldn't have used that word. Did that mean… Li Yun was still alive?
The two locked eyes, the entire arena falling into a tense silence.
"Patriarch Li," Lan Yueli finally said, a faintly amused glint hidden in her eyes, "did Li Yun do something to anger you so badly?"