As much as Zhao Li would have loved to reject Lucien's claims and try to prove him wrong, he knew Lucien wasn't lying! While he may be strong and have a higher cultivation level, he could not best Lucien in a short time because he was more of a support type mage than a combat type. With little means of killing the kid, he had let the battle last long enough for Lucien to gain the upper hand.
Should all eight magic towers focus their attacks on him, alongside the six beast assimilation phantom images and the nameless with Lucien aiding from a distance, he may not even survive one joint attack not to talk of three. A great man knows his strength and also knows his weaknesses. Once a man is aware of his weaknesses and is ready to admit defeat when necessary, he or she will definitely live a long and peaceful life.