The gap between the Eminent Masters and Martial Masters, as well as Martial Spirit Level Eight and Martial Spirit Level Seven, was as great as that of a Level Seven cultivator and an ordinary person.
A casual slap was enough to make Li Ye feel as though he was hit by a rhino that charged right at him. He took a few steps back and punched back simultaneously, partially offsetting the elder's slap. If Li Ye did not do so, then it was more than sufficient to cause him injury.
"Oh? You're brave, boy. How dare you fight back!"
The elder noticed that his palm directly hurt the young man as expected. He was rather surprised, but there was even more of the killing intent that was present in his eyes.
Sensing the two elders' killing intent, Li Ye suddenly realized that the two of them were clearly targeting him!
"Hmm! News of me winning the seventh-placed seat should have already spread throughout the clan. These two people are obviously trying to give me a hard time. They're even taking this as an opportunity to kill me!"
Li Ye calmed down after thinking clearly.
"These two people must be siding with Li Huangran! Li Huangran might even have ordered them to stop me from entering!"
If that really was the case, Li Ye was very worried about wanting to enter the martial arts pavilion.
"But if I can't enter the pavilion, I can't practice various battle skills and physical techniques!"
Even though martial cultivators focused mainly on cultivating bloodsoul strength, battle skills were also very important. In simple terms, the quality of one's battle techniques was the deciding factor for a win or a loss amongst two opponents of the same level.
As of then, Li Ye had already managed to secretly learn three techniques from Li Gei and Li Xuan—Ice Crystal Fist, Windstorm Kick, and Footstep Mirage. It enhanced his understanding that combat skills were of utmost importance.
"Sneaking into our martial arts pavilion, posing as an inner disciple, and resisting the elders! You deserve punishment! Be obedient and do not resist capture. Let the clan decide on punishment! Otherwise, we will not spare you!"
The two guardian elders came straight at Li Ye without even giving him an opportunity to explain!
The scene confirmed Li Ye's suspicion that the elders were in Li Huangran's faction. They were purposely looking for an opportunity to kill him there!
By then, there were also many others who went in and out of the martial arts pavilion.
A few of them still recognized Li Ye!
"Isn't that Li Ye, who just won the seventh-place as an inner disciple in the clan? How did he get into a tussle with the two elders here?"
Nevertheless, they stopped short of actually saying something to back Li Ye up. Instead, plenty of people watched on coldly and enjoyed the show with a frigid look in their eyes.
One Eminent Master was a big enough problem for Li Ye. With the both of them attacking together, danger was beginning to loom.
"Ignorant fool! Don't think I don't know what intentions you have! You acted against me in such a blatant violation of clan rules. Aren't you afraid the clan will hand down punishment on you afterward?!"
Fortunately, Li Ye had already practiced the Footstep Mirage to its introductory stage. He could quickly—albeit with greater effort—cope with the two Eminent Masters' attacks, at least for the time being.
"Punishment! Li Ye! You are too naïve!"
One of them sneered and chuckled without hiding it.
Li Ye's expression stiffened up and he suddenly realized how naïve he really was!
"Looks like some people in the clan aren't willing to let me off even though I've already made it to the top ten inner disciples! They even want to get rid of me, to the extent where they're completely disregarding other people's opinion and just decided to come at me!"
He could not help but scold himself for having such a simple mind. He believed that he could return to this family as long as he showed a strength that was acknowledged by the clan. It then occurred to him that some people wanted to kill him, in addition to not wanting him back!
"You are a piece of trash! You shouldn't have come back! You're the one that asked for all this!"
Sure enough, Li Ye's heart became cold, but in a flash, a bloody glow erupted from his eyes. His formidable spirit then struck the two elders' minds immediately. The two of them seemed to see an endless bloody ocean, causing even their souls to tremble.
Be that as it may, they were both Eminent Masters, after all. The vision could suppress them for only a brief moment, but it nonetheless was a frightening ordeal.
Without waiting for them to snap back to their scenes, they saw a blur before their eyes. Li Ye had already approached them!
"Ice Crystal Fist!"
The impending cold air made both elders shiver and covered their bodies with a layer of frost, slowing their movements tremendously.
"
Switching techniques at lightning speed, Li Ye delivered dozens of kicks. The two elders, who were Eminent Master no less, screamed as they flew back.
Those who wanted to enter the martial arts pavilion saw the scene entirely. It was as unfathomable as a male kitty's attempt to seduce a tigress!
That was two Eminent Master elders right there! Were they really defeated by an inner disciple?
It was no big deal if the person who fought them was one of the few Eminent Masters among the inner disciples inside. However, it was actually just a Level Five young man—a fact that baffled everyone!
In the distance, no one noticed that Li Huangran was standing there. The sight of Li Ye's erupting strength made his killing intent even stronger!
Bang!
The guardian elders were Eminent Masters after all, and although they were caught off guard, Li Ye's attack did not make them lose their strength in combat.
However, the corners of their mouths were all bloody and their faces were somewhat dull blue!
"Boy! You're courting death!"
"Stop!"
It was then that a loud roar made the scene immediately tense. Someone walked loftily over and sandwiched himself between the two sides. An immense vigor then surged forth and choked both parties!
"Fourth Uncle!"
"Fourth Elder!"
Li Ye was exalted once he noticed who it was that came. He knew that the situation was taking a positive turn. Meanwhile, the two guardian elders pulled a long face.
The person who came was Li Hounian! From the look of the two elders, it was obvious that Li Hounian was much higher in status despite the fact that all three were elders.
"Fourth Elder, I..."
"SILENCE!" Li Hounian roared and directly interrupted their despicable complaining. He turned away from them in displeasure and whispered, "I saw everything with my own eyes! Li San, Li Si! How brave of you! Who gave you the courage to block an inner disciple's right to enter the martial arts pavilion! Pray tell!"
Li San and Li Si looked at each other but did not dare to answer.
Li Hounian ignored them, then turned his head to Li Ye. With a kind expression, he said, "Li Ye, you can go in now. Let's see if anyone else dares to stop you!"
As soon as that sentence was completed, Li Ye glanced at Li San and Li Si, then nodded and walked straight into the pavilion.
Seeing as Li Ye was about to step into the martial arts pavilion, Li San and Li Si had a tense expression. They intended to stop Li Ye once more, but the next second, a gargantuan vigor instilled fear in both men and enveloped them instantly. They had a feeling that death would soon befall them if they so much as dared to move a fingertip!
A trace of cold sweat dripped from their foreheads and they could only watch as Li Ye entered the martial arts pavilion.
After Li Ye had stepped into the pavilion, he found that there were three floors in total.
"The first floor of the pavilion is where all the Yellow Rank Intermediate combat skills and physical techniques are housed."
An old voice sounded in his ear, taking Li Ye by surprise.
He then saw a veteran old man coming out with the help of a crutch.
"Senior!"
Although no trace of strength could be sensed from the old man, Li Ye's intuition told him that there was nothing ordinary about the old man in front of him.
"Are you a new inner disciple? I have never seen you before."
The old man glanced at Li Ye casually and asked.
"Yes Senior. My name is Li Ye. I came to choose my technique today."
The old man nodded, then pointed at the first floor and said, "Ordinary insiders and outsiders can choose the techniques they need on this first floor."
First floor?
Li Ye's brows furrowed slightly. The first layer obviously only had techniques that were Yellow Rank Intermediate. His goal was at least Yellow Rank Advanced and above!
The old man was a little displeased, as though he was capable of reading Li Ye's thoughts. He said coldly, "Young man, don't be too high-spirited. Martial Spirit Level Five is enough to cultivate Yellow Rank Intermediate Techniques! Wait until you reach Level Seven before going up to the second floor!"
"Senior, are there Yellow Rank Advanced techniques on the second floor?!"
Li Ye did not give up, but asked respectfully.
Although Li Ye had no idea who the old man in front of him was, the fact that he was inside the pavilion certainly meant that he was not an ordinary person.
At that moment, he glanced away and found that there were quite a few people on that floor, most of which were Levels Five or Six.
"Yes, the second floor contains Yellow Rank Advanced techniques."
It was exactly as expected! Li Ye knew in his heart that the entire martial arts pavilion had three floors. In that case, did that mean there were higher-level techniques contained on the third floor?!!
Li Ye's eyes lit up when he thought of it!
It was known throughout Cloudveil Continent that all techniques, be it for battle techniques or physical ones, were divided into four ranks: Yellow, Black, Earth, and Heaven. Generally speaking, most ordinary people were only exposed to Yellow Rank Intermediate techniques. Black Rank techniques were achieved by only a few throughout Wu Prefecture city, all of which came from the Three Great Families.
"Senior. I am Junior Li Ye, the current seventh-placed inner disciple. According to the clan reward, I can choose a Yellow Rank Advanced battle technique or physical technique from the pavilion!"
As soon as that remark was made, the old man's originally-murky eyes lit up! For the first time, he looked at Li Ye seriously.
After some time passed however, he shook his head. "Your state is too low. Although I do not know how you managed to enter the top ten, but with your state, Yellow Rank Intermediate techniques are most suitable. Yellow Rank Advanced will only hamper your cultivation progress."
Those remarks were very spot-on and Li Ye nodded thoughtfully. In fact, he was fully aware that the old man was right. The more advanced a battle technique was, the higher the demands exerted on one's bloodsoul strength. A Blank Rank technique, for example, could only be executed once by a Grandmaster! Unless one reached Innatism and became a Sovereign Level Master, it was otherwise insufficient to use that level of battle skills to its fullest.
"Senior, what if Junior can prove that Junior is qualified to cultivate Yellow Rank Advanced skills? Can Senior then allow Junior to choose a technique on the second floor?"
All of a sudden, Li Ye asked with a smile.