Li Yi responded with a faint smile, "If that's the case, old coot, why don't you teach me a way to defeat a Dou Shi level opponent?"
The Serpent Venerable choked for a moment, then chuckled, "I do have a method, but if you want to know it, why not consider becoming my disciple? Otherwise, why should I impart all my prized skills to you?"
Li Yi snorted softly, "Biting off more than one can chew, huh? Your so-called method is probably some high-level combat technique. But as far as I know, the higher the level of the technique, the greater the demand on Dou Qi. With my current level of four crystal Yuanqi, using a high-level technique would probably kill me before I even manage to use it. I'm not going to be like those fools who don't build a solid foundation and just learn these flashy moves."
The Serpent Venerable seemed stunned for a moment before his voice echoed again in Li Yi's mind, "Kid, don't think everyone can master that peculiar combat technique that doesn't require any Dou Qi."
Clearly, the skills Li Yi had honed in his previous life, although only partially recovered, were seen by the Serpent Venerable as a unique combat technique. Of course, Li Yi wasn't about to reveal what it actually was.
Li Yi thought to himself that even this mysterious old ghost found the skills he had honed through countless trials and tribulations in his previous life to be peculiar. It seems he would have to reevaluate them when he had time.
The technique Li Yi used, called "Phantom Kill," was something he had developed in his previous life after numerous battles. In the dark world of his past life, "Phantom Kill" was well-known, with many high-level fighters in the underworld falling to it.
However, even though "Phantom Kill" was powerful, Li Yi didn't consider it perfect; many moves had yet to be refined to their ultimate form. But even so, such a lethal technique was still effective in the Dou Shen Continent.
The younger generation of the Li family, with almost no combat experience, were no match for Li Yi's "Phantom Kill."
As they talked, Li Han's study appeared in front of them. The Serpent Venerable wisely fell silent, leaving only Li Yi, who cleared his throat softly before gently knocking on the study door.
"Is that you, Yi'er? Come in."
Li Han's deep voice resonated from inside.
Li Yi slowly pushed the door open and entered, presenting a smile that best suited his current identity, and said softly, "Greetings, Father."
Li Han's study wasn't as luxurious as one might expect. Bookshelves lined both sides of the room, filled with various scrolls and books, while the large desk in the center was haphazardly covered with various documents.
Li Yi glanced around and noted documents related to the family's finances, personnel arrangements, and some that seemed more important, radiating a strange sheen – probably a confidentiality measure.
Li Han sat behind the desk, holding a black document in his left hand and tapping lightly with his right. Seeing Li Yi enter, he just smiled casually and said, "So, the woman you snatched into the back mountain yesterday made your three crystal Yuanqi breakthrough to four crystals in a day? Does that mean if you snatch another woman into the mountain today, you'll be at five crystals tomorrow?"
Li Yi wasn't surprised that Li Han could see through his cultivation level and know what he had done. If his nominal father couldn't do even this much, then Li Yi would have overestimated him.
Thinking this, Li Yi took a deep breath and replied softly, "Father is joking... Taking that woman into the back mountain yesterday was because she had something I needed, so..."
Li Han raised an eyebrow and showed a faint smile, then laughed softly, "I don't care why you took that woman to the mountain, as long as it doesn't affect your cultivation... But I didn't expect that in just a month, you would reach the level of four crystal Yuanqi. You're faster than the so-called geniuses in the family. Didn't your mother leave you a Baihu-level technique? To have such rapid progress!"
At this, Li Han's eyes flickered with excitement. His own cultivation was only at the mid-level of Zhuque. If his son was practicing a Baihu-level technique, his future achievements would be boundless.
Li Yi was momentarily startled. He hadn't really considered what level the Tianmo Nine Transformations was, and he didn't know how to respond to Li Han's question.
However, Li Han seemed to misunderstand his expression and sighed, "Well, your mother's background was mysterious, and the technique she left you probably has its own secrets. I'd better not ask... Let's talk about something else... I heard you defeated Li Qiao yesterday?"
Li Yi showed a slightly awkward expression, "Father is teasing me again. How could I defeat Cousin Li Qiao yesterday? He was just going easy on me..."
As he spoke, Li Yi was also inwardly cautious. After all, how useless the previous Li Yi was known to everyone. But these past two days, he might have been too conspicuous, and it wouldn't be good if his nominal father caught on to anything.
Unexpectedly, Li Han seemed not to notice his expression and sighed suddenly, "Your movement technique when you fought with Nana just now was very similar to what your mother used to use. I suppose you used the same technique when you fought with Li Qiao yesterday? Your mother never said what level her movement and combat techniques were, but it seems she passed everything to you. Compared to that, I, as a father, don't have much to offer."
Li Yi was genuinely taken aback this time. He never imagined that his Phantom Kill would be similar to his late mother's techniques.
Those techniques must be at least Zhuque-level. And the mysterious Tianmo Nine Transformations she left him, with its hidden connections to the old coot, suggested that his late mother's background was far from ordinary.
Seeing Li Yi lost in thought, Li Han smiled lightly and said, "However, Yi'er, there's something I need to warn you about. You beat Li Qiao, and even if you had killed him, as long as I'm here, those four old men can't do anything to you... But Nana is a good girl. I know your nature well, as your father. If you're just playing around, then go do it outside the family... Unless you're serious about her. If you dare to treat her lightly again, I, as your father, will be the first to not let you off!"
Li Yi showed a slightly embarrassed smile and said softly, "I understand."
Li Han nodded and then said indifferently, "Alright, you certainly didn't come to see me for no reason today. Tell me, what is it?"
After a slight cough, Li Yi replied quietly, "Father... could you give me some... money..."
Although it wasn't a big deal, Li Yi still felt somewhat awkward asking for it.
Li Han, however, showed a half-smiling expression and said, "Aren't you always taking money from the Li family's shops when you're short? Why come to me this time?"
Li Yi touched his nose and chuckled, "The amount I need this time is... a bit large... so..."
Li Han nodded and said, "It seems you want to speed up your cultivation and need to buy something. I won't ask what you're buying. Just tell me, how much do you need?"
Li Yi hesitated for a moment before holding up five fingers.
"Fifty gold coins?"
Li Yi shook his head.
"Five hundred?"
Li Yi shook his head again and said with slight embarrassment, "It's... fifty thousand gold coins."
Li Han almost spat out the tea he had just swallowed and after a moment, he huffed, "You really have the nerve to ask, fifty thousand gold coins! That's half a year's income for our Li family, and you want it all at once..."
Li Yi inwardly rolled his eyes and sighed to himself.
He had no choice. To speed up his cultivation of Tianmo Nine Transformations, he needed high-grade weapons. But such weapons were incredibly rare and valuable. The fifty thousand gold coins were intended for him to take a chance – if he really encountered a seventh-grade weapon, his chances of becoming a Fighter within two months would greatly increase.
Seeing Li Yi's expression, Li Han sighed and shook his head, "Alright, alright... Ever since you got your mother's technique, you've become all secretive. I don't know what you're planning, but I'll give you the fifty thousand gold coins. I don't care how you use them... but I have one condition. In two months, at the family tournament, you must not disgrace our Li family!"
With that, Li Han tapped lightly on his desk, and a palm-sized white crystal card appeared in his hand. He tossed the crystal card to Li Yi and said indifferently, "There are more than fifty thousand gold coins in this crystal card. I suppose you don't need me to teach you how to use it, right?"
Li Yi nodded quickly, stashing the crystal card in his pocket. Then he showed a confident smile, "Father, with this, I'm sure you won't be disappointed in two months."