While practicing Blood Moon Kuanggang, Li Yi unexpectedly achieved a breakthrough, advancing to the level of a Two-Crystal Fighter. This was something he hadn't anticipated and wondered if it was a fortunate accident. However, after refining that stream of blood-colored lightning, Li Yi realized that continuing to refine more would be meaningless. Refining all the blood-colored lightning would certainly increase his strength, but it would make mastering Blood Moon Kuanggang impossible. The adaptation of his body and meridians to the blood-colored lightning was just the beginning of practicing Blood Moon Kuanggang.
Li Yi slowly closed his eyes, immersing his mind into the cultivation method of Blood Moon Kuanggang. After a moment, he opened his eyes and murmured, "I didn't expect this to be so troublesome to practice. It even requires drawing Qi into the body. I wonder how the Old Coot managed it... No wonder he asked me to refine a stream of blood-colored lightning first." Standing up slowly, Li Yi found himself still floating amidst the bizarre blood-colored lightning. "This Old Coot has really given me a tough challenge. It seems I must either refine all these blood-colored lightning or master Blood Moon Kuanggang to leave this place," he thought aloud. Changing his finger gesture, he called out, "Draw!" and attracted a violent stream of blood-colored lightning, which obediently wrapped around his palm. With another change in his finger gesture, fighting spirit flowed through his meridians to his fingers. His fighting spirit harmoniously merged with the blood-colored lightning, and a bright blood-colored light burst forth from his palm. Li Yi thrust his right hand forward, releasing a strange blood-colored crescent moonlight. "Blood Moon Kuanggang!" he shouted, feeling his fighting spirit being rapidly drained, causing his body to weaken. Yet, he persisted.
"Swish—" Where the Blood Moon fell, the surrounding blood-colored lightning struggled momentarily before turning to dust. The light quickly condensed, forming a red fighting spirit Blood Moon. "Break!" Li Yi changed his finger gesture again, reaching a critical moment. The real power of Blood Moon Kuanggang wasn't in the initial destructive light but in its explosion after absorbing infinite natural Qi. However, Li Yi's shout didn't bring the desired effect. His face paled, and he spat out blood, shouting, "Break! Break! Break!"
"Boom—" Finally, with Li Yi's last shout, the blood-colored moon exploded like a burning sun, engulfing the surrounding blood-colored lightning. However, this explosion was much weaker than the Snake Venerable's. The blood-colored lightning was momentarily dispersed but soon returned. Li Yi, floating in mid-air, spat out another mouthful of blood and clumsily sat down, smiling bitterly. He hadn't expected Blood Moon Kuanggang's backlash to be so intense, almost losing control at the end. Moreover, the technique drained an enormous amount of fighting spirit, leaving him feeling depleted.
"Right, kid, I almost forgot to tell you," the Snake Venerable's voice echoed from afar, "Generally, Baihu level techniques require at least a Warrior level to practice. Although a Fighter can barely manage, with your strength, you can only use it once before needing to recuperate and restore your fighting spirit. Forcing a second use could result in backlash, turning you into a dried husk. So unless you're in peak condition, it's best not to use it recklessly. Even at peak condition, be careful!"
"This Old Coot, he definitely did it on purpose!" Li Yi gritted his teeth at the Snake Venerable's words, but he knew that this lesson was likely meant to teach him not to overestimate himself after learning the technique. "Well, it seems I'll have to continue practicing after my fighting spirit recovers," he sighed and forced himself to sit cross-legged, pulling another stream of blood-colored lightning and entering the cultivation state again.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Li Yi suddenly opened his eyes, his aura seemingly stronger. Changing his finger gesture, he shouted again, "Blood Moon Kuanggang! Break!"
......
Li Han sat in the hall, rubbing his brow with evident frustration. These past few weeks had been nothing short of troublesome. Various forces in Wanchao City had been inquiring, both openly and covertly, and even the two elders of the Li family had questioned him. The strange phenomena in the back mountain of the Li family had indeed stirred many hearts. Looking towards the back mountain, he saw that half of its main peak had vanished, replaced by a field of blood-colored lightning. The sheer power and ferocity contained within that blood-colored lightning were evident to any observant person. Such natural phenomena were said to occur only when high-level magical beasts were transforming or someone was practicing high-level cultivation techniques or fighting skills.
Li Han was well aware that there were no level-one magical beasts in the back mountains of his family's estate, let alone any that could transform. Thus, the most likely explanation for the strange phenomena was someone practicing a high-level cultivation technique or martial skill. Judging by the furious display of that damned kid (presumably referring to Li Yi), the most probable scenario was that he had begged his teacher to teach him a heaven-defying martial skill. Did that foolish boy not realize that the Li family was now in a precarious situation because of him? Li Han hoped inwardly that the boy was safe, feeling a mix of emotions.
Li Han sighed deeply, his gaze falling on the people in front of him. Trouble seemed to seek him out the more he wished to avoid it. Besides Li Han, the hall was occupied by three elders of the Li family, and all the notable figures of the household were present, indicating a serious matter at hand. Among the guests were four individuals with a calm demeanor. Seated were the father and son of the Long family, both displaying odd expressions, looking down as if indifferent to the proceedings. The other two guests were an elderly man in a moon-white robe, exuding an air of venerability, and a young girl who appeared to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. The elder's eyes occasionally flashed with intelligence despite his age, indicating he was not to be underestimated. Next to him, the young girl radiated a cold aura but possessed a beauty that rivaled Li Nana's. Her fair skin blushed lightly, adding to her charm, and she wore a green long dress that accentuated her figure. Dangling leaf-shaped earrings sparkled in the air, lending her a princess-like demeanor of pride and aloofness, captivating many young men in the hall, including Long Aotian.
The atmosphere in the hall was tense, akin to a cold winter night. After a moment, the young girl, known as Ye Qingwu, spoke coldly, "Uncle Li... How have you considered my request just now?" Li Han responded with a bitter smile, "Niece Ye, it's not that I, your uncle, am unwilling to help you... But as you've seen, someone is currently cultivating in the back mountains of our estate. If someone enters rashly, it could lead to unforeseen consequences... So, if you don't mind, could you please wait a little longer?"
Ye Qingwu retorted sharply, "Wait? Again wait? How much longer do I need to wait? Li Han! I respect you as my uncle, but don't get too full of yourself! To be blunt, my elder brother mysteriously perished in Wanchao City, and I am here to investigate. I've already examined Blood Wolf Town inside and out, with only your Li family's back mountains left unexplored. Are you refusing me entry because you have something to hide?"
Li Han felt a chill in his heart but maintained his composure, "Niece Ye, I understand your urgency in seeking justice for your brother. But truth be told, although I've never met your elder brother, his reputation precedes him as a genius of the Beidou Sect and the Ye family. I doubt anyone in Wanchao City, let alone our Li family, would dare target him. Maybe it's more practical to consider those who have a grudge against the Ye family or Beidou Sect. As for entering our back mountains, I can allow it despite our ancestral teachings, but can't you wait just a few days?"
Ye Qingwu interrupted him, "Enough! Have you considered what you're saying? My brother perished in your Wanchao City, and I must investigate thoroughly! Li Han, let me be clear today – I intend to enter your back mountains, whether you agree or not!" She coldly laughed, her hand moving towards the hilt of her sword.
Li Han's eyes narrowed, "So, the Ye family intends to use force? Let me be clear, others may fear your family, but the Li family does not. However, consider carefully if you want to escalate this matter over such an issue."
As Ye Qingwu was about to respond, an unexpected laugh echoed, "This beautiful lady, if you want to enter our Li family's back mountains, just say so. Why resort to threats?" At this tense moment, a figure suddenly appeared in the Li family hall, swiftly moving to Ye Qingwu's side, gently pressing on her hand as she was about to draw her sword...