The private room buzzed with energy as the geniuses entered one by one. Li Bei leaned closer to Lei, his voice low but filled with excitement. "These are the elites of the capital, Brother Lei. Let me introduce them to you."
First came the pair from the Iron Will Sect, both surnamed Zhao. The male, Zhao Liang, was tall and imposing, with an aura of arrogance that made it clear he considered himself superior. Li Bei whispered, "He's already stepped into the Core Formation Realm, a true monster of our generation." The female, Zhao Dong, was quieter, his sharp eyes scanning the room like a hawk. He exuded confidence but didn't seem as openly disdainful as his counterpart.
Hearing the surname Zhao made Lei's chest tighten. His fists clenched under the table, but he forced himself to remain calm.
Next, two geniuses from the Scarlet Blade Sect entered. One of them, Shen Lian, was a lean, muscular woman with sharp features and a confident smile. Her scarlet robe hugged her athletic frame, and her every move was graceful yet powerful. The second, a young man named Xu Wen, had a sword strapped to his back and a quiet, serious demeanor. "Shen Lian is only 17," Li Bei murmured, "but she's already at the peak of the peak qi foundation. Truly a prodigy."
From the Verdant Soul Sect came a mysterious pair. The male, Fang Ming, had a scholarly air, his hands constantly fiddling with a jade pill bottle. The female, Yan Rui, wore a wide garbo hat and a veil, concealing most of her face. Her dress was elegant but modest, showing only a hint of cleavage. Li Bei chuckled softly. "The Verdant Soul Sect specializes in alchemy, so their combat strength isn't as high, but their talents in pill-making make them indispensable."
The Azure Flame Sect geniuses arrived next. Lu Heng and Wei Lan were both dressed in simple yet refined robes, their demeanor calm and collected. Wei Lan's robes hinted at her slim, graceful figure, but she carried herself with quiet strength. "The Azure Flame Sect focuses on tool refinement," Li Bei explained. "They may not be the strongest fighters, but their support skills are unmatched."
Finally, two members of the Kaelthorn Royal Family entered. Kaelthorn Yun, a tall, broad-shouldered young man, radiated authority. His companion, Kaelthorn Yue, a petite woman with a sharp gaze, walked beside him with an air of regality. "The royal family rarely sends their members to such gatherings," Li Bei said, his voice hushed. "But when they do, it's always someone important."
---
Lei silently observed the room as the introductions continued. The nanospirit worked in the background, analyzing the cultivation levels and ages of each genius.
•Zhao Liang (Iron Will Sect): Low Core Formation Realm, 18 years old.
•Zhao Mei (Iron Will Sect): Peak High Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
•Shen Lian (Scarlet Blade Sect): Peak Qi Foundation, 17 years old.
•Xu Wen (Scarlet Blade Sect): Peak Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
•Fang Ming (Verdant Soul Sect): High Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
•Yan Rui (Verdant Soul Sect): High Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
•Lu Heng (Azure Flame Sect): High Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
•Wei Lan (Azure Flame Sect): Peak Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
•Kaelthorn Yun (Royal Family): Peak Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
•Kaelthorn Yue (Royal Family): Peak Qi Foundation, 18 years old.
Lei was surprised by the level of strength present. Due to the lack of conclusive data, the nanospirit warned him that scanning strong cultivators in the future could draw their attention. For now, these geniuses were too weak to notice.
As the conversations continued, the geniuses began introducing themselves to the group. Zhao Liang's gaze swept over Lei, his lips curling into a faint sneer. "You're new here," he said, his tone cold. "Where do you come from?"
Lei kept his expression neutral. "Just a wandering cultivator," he replied simply.
The second Iron Will Sect member, Zhao Dong, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. His silence only confirmed Lei's suspicion: they were trying to test him, to gauge his strength and intentions.
The royal family members, Kaelthorn Yun and Kaelthorn Yue, greeted Lei politely but maintained an air of superiority. Their presence alone was enough to command respect, but Lei could sense the tension between them and the other sects.
The Verdant Soul Sect's Yan Rui gave Lei a disdainful look. "A wandering cultivator, yet you've reached the peak qi foundation realm?" she said, her tone laced with skepticism. "Impressive, but I doubt your skills can match ours. Strength without proper training is meaningless."
Lei smiled faintly, his voice calm but firm. "Training matters, of course. But so does adaptability. Some skills can't be learned in a sect, they're forged through real experience."
Yan Rui's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing more.
As the night went on, Zhao Liang grew bolder. "You speak well for someone with no background," he said, his tone mocking. "But talk is cheap. Let's see if you can back it up in the tournament."
Lei remained calm, though the insult made his blood boil. He tried steered the conversation, subtly redirecting attention back to Zhao Liang.
"Brother Zhao is truly powerful," Lei said, his voice light but with a hint of sarcasm. "To have already stepped into Core Formation at such a young age is remarkable. But it seems your humility was left behind in the lower realms.""
The jab didn't go unnoticed. Shen Lian, the Scarlet Blade Sect genius, stepped in to defuse the tension. "Enough," she said sharply. "We're here to exchange ideas, not fight amongst ourselves. Save your energy for the tournament."
Kaelthorn Yun nodded in agreement. "Shen Lian is right. Let's not ruin the evening with unnecessary arguments."
The room fell quiet, though the tension lingered.
As the group settled back into conversation, Yan Rui couldn't resist taking another jab at Lei. "No matter how strong you think you are, your lack of proper training will be your downfall," she said. "You might be equal to us in cultivation, but your foundation is surely weaker. You'll never match someone like Zhao Liang."
Lei met her gaze, his smile unchanging. "Perhaps," he said. "But foundations can be rebuilt, and strength isn't the only measure of ability. Sometimes, it's the unexpected that makes all the difference."
Yan Rui huffed, clearly unimpressed, but Lei mentally noted to teach her a lesson if the opportunity arose.
As the night drew to a close, Li Bei leaned over to Lei. "Let's head back," he whispered. "It's getting late."
Lei nodded, rising to his feet. The geniuses watched him leave, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease.
Outside, Li Bei let out a breath. "You handled that well," he said. "Zhao Liang and Yan Rui can be... difficult. But you kept your composure."
Lei smirked. "It's not about winning every argument. Sometimes, it's better to leave them wondering."
"True, but keep an eye on both the Zhao family members in the tournament, they have a history of not playing nice once they've targeted someone.", Li Bei warned.
With that, the two returned to the Li family mansion, the upcoming tournament looming ever closer in Lei's mind.