"Surely, you must be kidding, Young Sir Xiao. This boy was never an inner disciple before this, not even an outer disciple for that matter. How could he have learned a technique that only a few of the inner disciples were qualified to learn?"
Many people nodded in agreement with that remark. After all, it was not the kind of lower-level Yellow Rank technique that were seen on the street. Very few individuals were qualified to learn Yellow Rank Advanced techniques, even amongst inner disciples.
How could a peak Level Four teenager—one that had just entered the ranks of outer disciples that very year—be able to learn the technique?
Li Hounian frowned slightly, and in all honesty, that particular question was what gave him a headache. Li Huangran just had to seize that issue, manipulate it, and consign Li Ye to damnation.
"That's all?"
It took everyone by surprise when Xiao Qing burst into laughter after hearing that. He shook his head and ignored Li Huangran's horrendous expression, then looked at the crowd as if he was staring at some dunderhead. Soon after, he said loudly, "Isn't it just a Yellow Rank Advanced technique? Such garbage battle techniques can be learned at a glance. There's no need to steal any secret manuals for this! "
Whoa! One simple sentence sent shockwaves throughout the entire venue!
"Such a domineering tone of voice!"
Someone snorted angrily. It was an inner disciple who glared unhappily at Xiao Qing. That person was fifth-placed among the inner disciples. He had a terrifying Level Eight vital force that perhaps even surpassed those enforcement elders.
It was a pity that Xiao Qing ignored the inner disciple. Instead, Xiao Qing turned to Li Ye, "Brother, was everything I said earlier correct?"
Li Ye knew what Xiao Qing was trying to do and nodded at once. "You are correct, Brother. I really did learn the Ice Crystal Fist after only watching it once just now. There is absolutely no need for me to steal techniques and cultivate them in secret."
An uproar soon ensued after Li Ye completed his sentence.
"He's making that up! You can't just learn Yellow Rank Advanced techniques by watching it only once! Third Elder, these two are talking nonsense! Don't trust them, especially this guy! No one knows where he came from, maybe it's an enemy sent by the other two great clans! We have to apprehend him! "
One enforcement elder let out an angry grunt. Most of the others also had the same expression as well.
Li Huangran however, took a deep breath and stared profoundly at the brash-looking Xiao Qing. He had ample knowledge regarding Xiao Qing's relationship with Li Ye, but he also knew the true background of the young man in front of him. Not even himself, the Li clan, or all of Wu Prefecture City's Three Great Clans combined, was stronger than the tiny tip of the Dark Heaven Sect's iceberg!
Li Huangran understood everything after glancing apathetically at the beautiful and seemingly-unconcerned young lady sitting there. Li Hounian alone could potentially foil his plans, and the presence of those two guys in front of him was a clear sign that he could not go against them.
"So be it then. There will still be other chances! There is no need to be at loggerheads with the Dark Heaven Sect for such an insignificant cause!"
After thinking along those lines, Li Huangran's expression changed abruptly. A smile reappeared on his face, and like a kind elder, he patted Xiao Qing's shoulder and nodded, "Your words aren't unreasonable, Young Sir Xiao, but you come from the Dark Heaven Sect. You might not think highly of Yellow Rank Advanced, but other people aren't necessarily the same as you. "
"Then how about we let this brother prove it?"
Xiao Qing had a nonchalant expression that left everyone else feeling slightly confused. He was clearly helping Li Ye out of trouble earlier, but in a sudden twist, he seemed to be going along with what Li Huangran said. Why?
Li Ye was the only one who knew. In fact, the two of them exchanged a quick and tacit glance earlier. It was Li Ye who deliberately allowed Xiao Qing to answer that way.
"Sure! If you say so, Young Sir Xiao." Li Huangran turned his head to look at Li Ye. "Li Ye, if you can prove that you learned these Yellow Rank Advanced techniques by simply watching it once, this matter will be put to rest! "
"How do I prove it!"
The two enforcement elders had already released him by then. In facing Li Huangran, Li Ye's voice was icy and he had an intrepid expression.
"Very simple! You'll be treated as having won the earlier battle against Li Yuan! But in the next battle, you are to directly challenge one of the inner disciples! Li Ye, any inner disciple has cultivated at least one Yellow Rank Advanced battle technique. All you have to do is learn their skill during the course of your battle! "
Li Ye was utterly surprised when he heard those words.
Challenging an inner disciple directly! He had only won four or five matches in a row earlier, and even if Li Yuan's battle was included, he had yet to fulfill the requirements needed to challenge an inner disciple.
No one was against it though. After all, judging from the situation earlier, few outer disciples could go head-to-head with Li Ye. It was therefore not disproportionate to have him challenge an inner disciple.
Li Yuan, however, was immediately dissatisfied after hearing his father's decision. He shouted, "Father! I don't agree! I haven't lost!"
"Shut up!" Li Huangran lambasted and shot a frigid look at his young son. Li Yuan was unhappy as he walked unwillingly off the arena. He whispered as he walked past Li Ye, "Trash! I'll watch you die soon!"
Li Ye ignored him and waited for the result to come.
"Any one of the inner disciples will do?"
There were strong inner disciples and weak inner disciples as well. The first six were all Martial Spirit Level Eight, with strengths that enabled them to hold their own against an ordinary elder! Even Li Huangran was only at peak Level Eight!
The weaker ones in last place were only peak Level Six. Although they were much stronger than outer disciples, they were by no means insuperable.
"Of course not! I've seen your performance in the earlier matches and not a single outer disciple could rival you! And since that's the case, an ordinary inner disciple would pose no challenge for you."
Li Huangran's remarks surprised many people. The unreconciled conflict between Li Ye and Third Elder was clear for all to see, hence the surprise when they heard Li Huangran's remarks. They were clueless as to why Third Elder held Li Ye in high praise all of a sudden.
Li Ye was the only one who knew that Li Huangran masked ill-intentions behind seemingly good ones.
As expected, Li Huangran then smiled coldly and said, "Li Gei, you will duel with him!"
Li Gei!
When Li Gei's name was called out, a flash of coldness streaked across his eyes. He scarcely expected Li Huangran to choose him!
The crowd gasped in shock too. Although Li Gei had previously lost to Li Xuan and dropped one place in the standings, eighth-place was still considered very high! His own cultivation was peak Level Seven and his strength was immeasurably terrifying. There were even those among enforcement elders who were hardly on par with him.
"He really told the eighth-placed inner disciple Li Gei to fight Li Ye!"
Meanwhile, Li Gei's heart was rather resentful. He had been defeated by Li Xuan earlier but was called out to fight a peak Level Four outer disciple. Despite his unhappiness, he did not dare to voice his anger toward Third Elder.
All that rage, however, was immediately exhibited in front of Li Ye.
"Come here! Suffer!"
Leaping to the ring, Li Gei's eyes had nothing but murderous intent.
As one of the higher-placed inner disciples, he had a longstanding belief that he would make the top three if not for his suppressed state! He might even be on roughly the same level as the three prodigies if that were the case.
The defeat inflicted upon him by Li Xuan had caused him to lose his reputation. He then had to deal with an outer disciple who was three states lower, which was rather humiliating for him!
Li Hounian frowned and whispered to Li Ye, "How capable are you of handling this? If you can't, Fourth Uncle will help you to refuse."
He was clearly not very optimistic about Li Ye's chances.
Regardless of any other factor, a three-state difference meant that there was little to no hope of success. Even Li Datou—who possessed a natural-born divine power—only dared to challenge the last-placed lot of inner disciples.
"Hmph. Little fledgling, you are not your father. Even if a stroke of chance managed to rid you of your trashy state, you can never change your destiny! Father and son can never be at their prime for two generations in a row."
Li Huangran's face looked stern, as though he spoke from a position of fairness. Deep down however, it was sneer after sneer in his heart.
Xiao Qing hesitated. Before he could speak, Li Huangran took the lead to say, "Young Sir Xiao, what do you think? This Li Gei is our clan's inner disciple. He has mastered the Windstorm Kick, a Yellow Rank Advanced battle skill. If the boy can learn the Windstorm Kick, then Young Sir Xiao is correct and I was overly paranoid. "
Xiao Qing cursed silently at Li Huangran for being a sly fox, but could only give Li Ye a helpless look. Although the Li clan's extreme courteousness was because he came from Dark Heaven Sect, he was still their junior after all. There was only so much he could do.
"Don't worry, Fourth Uncle. I can do it."
Li Ye gave a reassuring look at Li Hounian from below.
Since Li Ye has no objections, Li Hounian left it at that. He did not stray far from the arena though, and it was that action which elicited a silent snickering from Li Huangran. Nevertheless, Li Huangran said, "Li Gei, remember, this is a face-off for both of you to learn from each other. Nothing more, nothing less. You must not go hard on him, and you are forbidden from crippling him! Otherwise, Fourth Elder will move to interrupt the battle! "
Everyone's expression changed slightly. In their hearts, they could not help but acknowledge Li Huangran's all-encompassing and influential position within the clan. A simple statement effectively blocked Li Hounian's reasons for intervention.
Li Gei, too, understood Li Huangran's implicit meaning. A cold smile appeared on his face, and he nodded. "Third Elder, Li Gei will remember that!"
Boom!
Once Li Gei was seen to take one step forward, his body began swaying on the spot at once. Several afterimages then appeared in quick succession.
"Although Li Gei was defeated by Li Xuan before this, few inner disciples were a match for him. Looks like Li Ye is out of luck."
The majority of people were not optimistic about Li Ye's chances. There was too big a difference between himself and his opponent. Three states separated them. In the past, the difference of one state was enough to guarantee victory, what more a difference of three states!
"
Suddenly, everyone could see Li Gei's body splitting into three or four figures, each of which delivered about a dozen kicks. Countless shadow-legs sealed nearly all routes of escape, whether it was the top, bottom, or middle. There was no room to go around it at all!
"Li Gei seems to have paid close attention throughout Li Ye and Li Yuan's earlier battle! He wants to stifle Li Ye's speed advantage!"
That fact was clear for everyone to see. Indeed, everyone agreed to themselves that Li Gei was truly one of the heavyweights among the inner disciples. His ability to adapt himself in a contingency was equally as remarkable!