A vampire's eyes were vastly different from that of ordinary people.
Li Ye knew that for a long time already, but he was only aware of his bloodpupils' hypnotic properties and their capability to put people in an inextricable state of illusion.
At that point however, he discovered an additional ability.
"Reading an opponent's moves? Copying their battle techniques?"
The discovery made him overjoyed! The ability was inadvertently triggered after watching Li Yuan's Ice Crystal Fist. During that length of time, Li Yuan's actions seemed to be in slow motion. At that point, he was also able to see the power flow throughout Li Yuan's body. It was as though a three-dimensional diagram of the human anatomy was laid before his eyes.
"So that's it!"
Suppressing the ecstatic feeling in his heart, Li Ye copied the pattern of strength flowing within Li Yuan's body.
"Ice Crystal Fist!"
The both of them muttered under their breaths at about the same time.
The next moment, everyone was stunned. To their immense surprise, they watched as Li Ye executed the Ice Crystal Fist and struck a punch!
Bang! Both attacks landed almost simultaneously, sending both figures flying in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, it was obvious that Li Yuan had it worse, since he flew more than ten meters backward before coming to a halt. Li Ye, on the other hand, only staggered three or four steps back.
Everyone saw a layer of frost covering both their bodies. Ice crystals even formed on their eyebrows. Their exhaled breaths instantly froze, clearly displaying the degree of coldness around them
"How is it possible that you can use the Ice Crystal Fist?!"
Li Yuan shouted in disbelief. The technique was known to be one of the harder Yellow Rank Advanced techniques that were kept by the Li clan in their martial arts pavilion. To qualify for the technique, one had to possess at least Level Six cultivation, and if one truly wanted to exert the full force of the Ice Crystal Fist, one must at least be Level Seven!
The reason why Li Yuan was capable of using that move was entirely because Li Xuan, his elder brother, was a master of the Ice Crystal Fist and taught it to him in private.
Some elders in the stands could not help but stand up instantly.
Li Xuan's smile disappeared and his eyes turned gloomy.
"So brave!"
He roared!
The crowd could only feel a huge force bearing down on them. Li Huangran was apparently so outraged in the stands that he could not take it anymore!
"Li Ye! When did you sneak into the clan's martial arts pavilion and steal that technique!?"
Without waiting for Li Ye to answer, he suddenly shouted, "Get him!"
Hardly anyone expected the sudden development. Although some of them felt that those actions were wholly uncalled for, they were too afraid to speak. It was the clan's Third Elder—someone with incredibly high authority—who called for someone to apprehend Li Ye. Who in their right mind would stand up for an orphan nobody?
Li Ye also realized that his earlier actions were unwise, but he just could not resist seeking confirmation of his bloodpupils' new abilities.
The result was indeed as he expected. His bloodpupils were not only able to kill someone through stealthy illusions; it even had the ability to analyze and copy other people's combat skills.
At this moment, the frost on his body had been dispersed, but several enforcement elders approached him with an unhappy expression.
"Wait!"
Before those elders could take him away, Li Ye spoke loudly and looked up fearlessly at the direction of the stands. "Third Elder said that I stole some techniques from the martial arts pavilion. Is there any evidence?!"
Evidence!
Everyone was slightly surprised.
The martial arts pavilion was the most important area within the Li home compound. Other than the elders, ordinary people were usually not allowed to enter.
It contained everything that the Li clan collected throughout the years and was a forbidden area!
If it was proven that the techniques had been stolen, it would amount to a big offense. Leaving aside unwelcome people like Li Ye, even the son of an ordinary elder would be punished! If the theft was discovered, it may result in the complete annihilation of one's cultivation. For more serious cases, it might even be death by execution!
"Evidence! You just used the Yellow Rank Advanced Ice Crystal Fist, didn't you?!"
"I did!" Li Ye did not deny it, or perhaps it was better to say that he had no reason to deny it!
"Well then, go on and apprehend him!"
Li Huangran ordered loudly, prompting the two enforcement elders to take immediate action.
The minimum requirement to become enforcement elders was to have a Level Seven cultivation. If both of them were to undertake a task together, not even an inner disciple would be able to stop them.
In a turn of events however, Li Ye darted past the two of them from under their noses.
"How dare you! Li Ye! Are you going to betray your clan!"
Seeing that Li Ye had not been caught, Li Huangran felt as though a great threat was looming, as though a bad name would definitely be labelled on him in the future.
Betrayal of the clan?
Everyone inhaled sharply—if the charge was laid down, Li Ye would be finished! The only other option was to leave Wu Prefecture City, or else there would be no room for Li Ye within the entire city!
"Why did Third Elder say something like this? I have searched my conscience and concluded that my actions did not wrong our clan!"
Li Ye was angry as well. Li Huangran was clearly trying to destroy him, and only a few elders with authority came forward. The rest did not. Li Huangran, as the Third Elder, had ample authority. His remarks were incredibly influential.
"Stealing clan techniques from the martial arts pavilion! In addition to that, resisting arrest and rebelling against enforcement elders. If that's not betraying the clan, then what is?! Go on! Apprehend this clan traitor!"
Li Huangran took decisive action. It was clear that he wanted Li Ye to be done for.
Many people saw the spectacle before them, with some feeling puzzled. Why must the mighty Third Elder make things unjustifiably hard on his junior? Naturally, there were also those who knew of Li Ye's true identity, and the reason behind Li Huangran's move was clear for them to see.
"Such a pity! Even though Li Ye was known throughout Wu Prefecture City as a piece of trash a few years ago, he has returned strongly to prove himself and show that he is just like his father. Unfortunately, the clan isn't the same as last time. Third Elder and his gang will never let that man's son rise within the family!"
By then, the two enforcement elders immediately stopped underestimating Li Ye, having lost their hold on him once already. If the two were working together, even the strongest Level Eight heavyweight would have a headache dealing with them. It should be child's play to catch a junior that had only peak Level Four cultivation.
"What should I do? Should I expose my bloodpupils' illusionary technique?"
Li Ye was not really that afraid when facing those two enforcement elders. Despite the big difference in their states, his bloodpupils could work in tandem with the first part of the Dream Heart Sutra. That would be sufficient to trap his opponents into a fantasy weaved by him, subsequently allowing him to win with ease.
"Li Ye, oh Li Ye! I have to admit that everyone had looked down on you before. You are indeed his son, and we have been deceived by you all these years. Unfortunately, you and your father have the same temperament. You can never contain your tempers! If you fight back now, you'll immediately be guilty of betraying the clan! When that time comes, there's no reason for anyone to protect you!"
Li Huangran was very much hoping for Li Ye to resist, as it would then tantamount to a guilty conscience.
Perhaps Li Ye also thought of that, because after some hesitation, he stopped resisting.
All of a sudden, the enforcement elders twisted his arms and pinned him to the ground.
Li Ye distinctly saw the deep disappointment flashing quickly in the depths of Li Huangran's eyes. Li Ye was secretly glad that he was not impulsive! Otherwise, he would have fallen resoundingly into Li Huangran's trap.
"Put him in detention. Punishment will be handed down once the Council of Elders convene!"
Li Huangran waved his hand and was about to have someone send Li Ye to detainment. All of a sudden however, someone interrupted him.
"Hold it!"
Everyone looked over and saw a middle-aged man, around his thirties or forties, who stepped out of the crowd. He swept his domineering gaze across those two enforcement elders, making them shiver as though they had been struck by lightning.
"Fourth Elder!"
The two of them bowed their heads at once and greeted respectfully. The person who stepped out from the crowd turned out to be the Fourth Elder Li Hounian, who had been away from the clan for many years. Seeing him appear, Li Huangran did not seem too surprised, but instead smiled amicably to him. "Why, isn't this Fourth Brother? You're back?"
Li Hounian ignored him. He glanced at the two enforcement elders and snorted, "Let him go!"
The two enforcement elders were put in a tight spot. They looked back and forth at Li Hounian and Li Huangran. Although they were all elders, the enforcement elders and the clan elder were very different and had completely different statuses.
"Fourth Brother, what are you doing?"
"Third Brother, a straightforward person has no need to resort to insinuations. I may be able to ignore all this when I wasn't here in the past, but I'm back now! When it comes to certain things, don't go overboard!"
Li Huangran's expression sank immediately. His thoughts were indiscernible, but he said, "Your words are not right, Fourth Brother. I'm also doing this for the sake of the clan."
"Give me a break! I saw everything with my own eyes. Third Brother, the only way you can convince everyone that this kid broke into our martial arts pavilion and stole our techniques is if the entire population becomes blind! But even if they're blind, I'm not! "
Li Ye trembled from aside as he looked at the man standing in front of himself. The man was attempting to protect him in the best way possible. Li Ye was only vaguely able to remember that man, since he had left the Li clan and journeyed the world many years ago. Nevertheless, he knew full well that there was only one person within the family who would spare no effort to protect him. Therefore, that must surely be the man standing in front of him!
"Fourth Uncle!"
He saw the man tremble slightly, albeit without looking back at him. Instead, he heard a faint voice, "Good boy. Rest assured, these jerks can't touch you as long as I'm here!"
It really was him! He did not forget his nephew even though he left when Li Ye was still very young! Li Hounian and Li Kainian are the brothers from the same mother, after all!
"Third Elder." Another voice was heard at that point. Most people's expressions were rather convoluted, as the person who spoke was a stranger instead of someone from the Li clan.
Upon hearing that voice however, even Li Huangran did not dare to underestimate the speaker. Li Huangran morphed into a smile at once and he said, "Young Sir Xiao, I'm embarrassed."
Xiao Qing! Li Ye saw veiled hints directed toward him by Xiao Qing. After that, he heard Xiao Qing say to Li Huangran, "Third Elder, in my opinion, Li Ye isn't as unreasonable as you say he is."
Xiao Qing's remarks startled Li Huangran, and Li Hounian even looked over to him unexpectedly. Apart from Li Ye, no one else knew why Xiao Qing—someone who was not from the Li clan yet had the privilege to sit with the elders during the Li clan's annual tournament—sided with a stranger like Li Ye.