The performances from all ten arenas in the platform did not have much suspense to begin with. Except for a few outstanding descendants, most of the excitement came from the main clan's descendants!
There were exceptions though!
One example was seen at the second arena. A handsome sixteen-year-old defeated seven main family descendants in a row and became a dark horse! "This Li Datou is out of this world! How many has it been?"
A loud scream was heard, following which a young man fell out of the arena and passed out.
"Tenth! And yet another child of the main family, this kid wants to go defy the natural order of things!"
At that point, the teenager inside the arena smiled in disbelief with a somewhat sullen expression. He scratched his head and said, "Anyone else want to swap pointers?"
Everyone, especially those in the group two, pulled a long face.
Even the two strongest Level Five cultivators were afraid to go up.
"Is this kid really at peak Level Four?!" Those two were considered the more renowned prodigies in group two. One of them was from the main family, while the other was from the clan's more well-known extended family.
They saw with their own eyes how another guy—who was about the same level as them—passed out after receiving barely three punches by the silly-looking smiling kid.
It was not that big of a deal if his state was stronger than them. The crux was that he had a much lower state than all of them! It was madness that could not be comprehended.
"This child's gift is unique. It seems that the bloodsoul he manifested leans toward the strength type, but having reached such an extent, I really look forward to the true form of is bloodsoul once he steps into Innatism in the future."
Up in the stands, many people noticed Li Datou's sudden emergence and paid more attention to him.
Some of the above-average individuals in other arenas were making themselves known as well, although it was by cooperation that they managed to do so. An exception was arena six, where a stir was created when Li Dakui—a rather renowned genius who was quite well-known within the clan—was blown away by a punch.
Very soon, the second arena's Li Datou and the sixth arena's Li Ye became the two most dazzling black horses at that stage.
Both of them did not seem to face any obstructions. No one could stop them and they easily bagged the twenty-game winning streak to advance directly to the next round!
Besides Li Datou, Li Ye also noticed an elegant figure over on the other side, one that moved almost imperceptibly. It was Li Huangran's son, Li Xuan!
"Martial Spirit Level Seven, nothing surprising there."
Those who were in a group with Li Yue cursed their unluckiness! In addition, other than the Level Seven Li Xuan, the first group also contained three strong Level Six individuals and five of Level Five. It could practically be said that the others could only compete for the last qualification spot.
It was no surprise that Li Xuan deservedly won a twenty-game winning streak and topped the group. The remaining Level Six and Level Five heavyweights took the spoils from second place to ninth place. At the conclusion, a peak Level Four kid was lucky enough to clinch the last remaining chance to qualify.
After half a day, all ten groups have identified their top ten.
"Great, at least now I can become a disciple and remain in the family to cultivate!"
Many distant descendants were ecstatic. They basked in the jealous eyes of hundreds more around them. Naturally, there were those who maintained an icy disposition, clearly unhappy at their results that day.
"Of the ten groups, only four individuals managed to complete a twenty-game winning streak."
Li Ye was done with everything from very early onward, so he continued to observe whatever that was happening. In addition to him, he found out that only the first group's Li Xuan used his powerful Level Seven strength to overwhelm everyone and win easily. Li Xuan's speed was even faster than Li Ye's, allowing him to defeat those at Level Six with one move.
Additionally, an earnest Level Four youth from the second group won first place by defeating three Level Five heavyweights in a row. Those who were revelling because Level Five was the highest level in their group found that their happiness was short-lived. They then began cursing.
Another person was a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl from group ten, whose cold temperament was equivalent to tens of thousands of years of accumulated ice. Her beautiful face however, attracted the attention of many. They privately gave her the nickname of Ice Queen.
"Peak Level Five but with combat strength almost on par with a normal Level Six."
Li Ye scrutinized everything very carefully. Although the Ice Queen was only at peak Level Five, a Level Six person could not even withstand ten rounds with her. As for the earnest young lad, his state was low but he was born with divine power, making him several times more terrifying than Li Dakui, whom Li Ye defeated.
"A punch is equivalent to a thousand catties of force, but his true power should be at least peak Level Six!"
Li Ye could not help but shelve his earlier surging pride. The fact that his combat abilities exceeded his current level did not mean that others were unable to achieve the same. Even the so-called prodigies, in addition to cultivating faster than others, measured themselves through higher-level combat abilities! Otherwise, a higher state would entail a much longer practice time than others.
"Pity I didn't see Li Yue and his gang."
There were actually three prodigies within the Li clan who made a name for themselves in Wu Prefecture City!
Among them was Li Yue, the son of the current Li clan patriarch and the one who battled briefly with Li Ye in Pure Moon Tower!
However, considering Li Yue's entrance into Level Seven before reaching the age of seventeen, he could only be ranked third among the three prodigies!
"This time, I heard that one of the three prodigies, Li Yating whom the Dark Heaven Sect looked favorably upon and accepted, will return this time. It's really exciting! I don't know what will happen when the three prodigies do battle!"
"It's more than that. Li Xuan is now entering Level Seven too. He has enough power to compete with those three! There will not be three prodigies in the future, but four!"
Li Ye heard some of the conversations around him. Be it children of the main family or an extended family, they could only look up to the Li clan's prodigies. After all, those young prodigies were under no pressure at all; they were even considered to be equals with some of the older generation elders.
"Three years ago, Li Mo was only fifteen when he overwhelmed the other two with his peak Level Seven. Three years have now passed and no one knows what kind of state he's reached!"
Li Mo! The Li clan acknowledged him as the number one prodigy, hailing him as the person most likely to catch up with Li Kainian's legend. Coincidentally, he was also the eldest son of the clan's de facto patriarch!
"Hmph, Li Mo is powerful, but don't forget that Li Yating was only fourteen years old three years ago. She was only slightly weaker than Li Mo was defeated by the last move. The Dark Heaven Sect took an interest in her. Now that she's coming from a strong position, Li Mo's quest to secure the title of number one prodigy will be shrouded in suspense!"
"Don't forget Li Yue! You can't ignore the fact that the Head Elder's grandsons are both heavyweights. One is Li Mo, who managed to overpower everyone in the same generation, while his younger brother Li Yue is one of the three prodigies. Everyone envies them!"
Without a doubt, Li Ye heard that everyone inclined more toward Li Mo and Li Yating. Li Yue was obviously regarded as weaker than them.
Li Ye could clearly see in the stands that there were three chairs where non-Elders were allowed to sit. A young man of about eighteen-years-old was sitting on one of them.
The young man was indifferent and proud, gazing down upon everything as though he was the grand emperor.
"Li Mo!"
Li Ye was slightly taken aback. The memory of Li Mo's disdainful ridiculing was still fresh in his mind.
The other two chairs were empty, but Li Ye knew that they were reserved for Li Yating and Li Yue. As the three prodigies acknowledged by the clan, the three of them were equals with the clan's family as the Elders! Their status was higher than some Stewards.
"The most inferior in the Li clan are the outer disciples, but countless people still covet the status. Above them are the inner disciples, who enjoy the same treatment as the main clan's young masters, but they're still not worthy of attention in the eyes of the elders. Only those like the three great prodigies will receive special attention from the clan! Even the elders dare not treat them badly! They also have the same strength as the elders."
A thought quickly flashed through Li Ye's mind: he was not merely aiming to be an outer disciple!
"At least an inner disciple, maybe being in the top ten!"
Other than the three prodigies, several under-eighteen members of the Li clan achieved Martial Spirit Level Seven. Some had recent breakthroughs, such as Li Xuan.
The most conservative goal in Li Ye's heart was to fight for the top ten! Of course, his bigger ambition was to challenge the clan's three prodigies and win!
Only then would those people in the clan understand how stupid they were for driving him away!
Suddenly, Li Ye saw a person winking at him from the stands. He took a closer look and almost choked, because that person turned out to be Xiao Qing!
"The joker is here too. Li Yating is probably here as well."
Sure enough, before the clan's adjudicator began to announce the start of the next round, there were screams and noises in the distance.
Following that, a few silhouettes were seen on the stands, with one in particular attracting the attention of many people. The other was a young man in a white shirt, who followed closely behind.
"Sister Yating, I haven't seen you for years. It's much more difficult to see through your strength now."
Li Mo, who looked down on everyone, finally reacted when he saw a figure beside him. His eyes narrowed and he uttered some veiled hints.
Li Yating! Li Ye saw her familiar, beautiful face and felt unexpectedly warm. During that fateful year, the barely-fourteen girl was the only one who stood up to protect him. Three years went by in a flash, and the little girl back then had matured into a slim and beautiful young woman, attracting a lot of adulating gazes from the clan's youth.
"Same to you." Li Yating smiled faintly. Her little canine teeth gave her a cuter and more charming look, causing Li Mo to lose himself slightly as a touch of avariciousness filled his eyes.
However, Li Yating was not interested in looking at him. Her beautiful eyes scanned through the crowd below, as if searching for someone. Everyone began to wonder who it was. It soon became apparent that she spotted her target. A knowing smile appeared, but it soon vanished almost as fast as it appeared.