Yang Wudi

"Uncle, are we really going to settle scores with Li Xun?"

Xue Beng asked curiously.

"Xue Beng, Yu Tianheng has already made up his mind. There's no need to waste effort on him. Besides, the First Prince will be invested as Crown Prince in a few days, so we must not act rashly."

Prince Xue Xing looked meaningfully at Xue Beng. "From now on, you need to act even more like a wastrel—but don't provoke Li Xun."

"I understand, Uncle." Though Xue Beng did not quite understand, he still nodded.

"Xue Beng, we absolutely cannot allow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to put down roots in the academy, but don't make it obvious." Prince Xue Xing nodded and walked outside.

Naturally, he would not go looking for trouble with Li Xun, but he still needed to contact the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"Sister Ye, are you really leaving with Yu Tianheng?"

Li Xun frowned. "Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is an auxiliary sect, it has plenty of powerful Soul Masters, and resources are never in short supply.

"If you join us, my teacher definitely won't treat you poorly."

"Besides, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has already declined. It isn't nearly as formidable as the rumors claim, and it simply cannot compare to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ye Lingling's face was full of apology. "Little Brother Li Xun, this isn't something I can decide. I discussed everything you said with the elders at home, but I don't know what sort of cooperation they reached with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Even I can't change their decision."

With things having reached this point, Li Xun had no other choice. "All right, Sister Ye. Let's keep in touch."

"That was what I was thinking too. Li Xun, you'd better save a good position for me in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Ye Lingling narrowed her phoenix eyes and smiled as she brushed a hand by her ear.

Over the past half year, she and Li Xun had often been in contact, and they had discussed this matter many times.

But the elders of her family had likely negotiated a more favorable partnership with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and she had no way to change it.

The Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul was exceedingly rare. There could be at most two inheritors in each generation, and for the sake of protecting their descendants, her family kept a close watch over her. As a result, she had lost much of her say in such matters.

With matters laid bare, Li Xun and Ye Lingling exchanged a smile and waved goodbye.

Yu Tianheng had already left.

Before leaving, no one knew what price he had paid, but he had actually taken three members of the team with him.

Ye Lingling was one of them, while the other two were Osler and Yu Feng.

"Heh, so they don't want me participating in the Soul Master Competition." Li Xun shook his head with a smile.

In truth, the departure of those three had no real effect on him.

Though Ye Lingling's Martial Soul was powerful, he still had Ning Rongrong.

As for Osler and Yu Feng, they were minor geniuses at best—not particularly strong, but not particularly weak either. He did not care much about them.

But the departure of all four dealt Qin Ming a severe blow.

It left the team leader listless all day long.

"I need to find a chance to recruit some people. Even if it's just to make up the numbers." Li Xun fell into thought.

With one troublemaker gone, Li Xun's following days at the academy became much more peaceful.

At nine years old, his Soul Power had already reached rank twenty-five.

His Chakra had also grown considerably, and his Body Flicker Technique had reached a level of mastery.

During this time, Xue Qinghe ascended to the Crown Prince Position.

Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng gradually fell silent.

For Yu Tianheng's sake, Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan personally went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to demand an explanation.

But Ning Fengzhi, utterly shocked, rebuked him on the spot. "Xiao Xun and Yu Tianheng fought fairly. What explanation do you want, Brother Yuanzhen?"

"Since Sect Leader Ning puts it that way, then let's have a fair fight ourselves." Yu Yuanzhen flew into a rage and immediately wanted to make a move.

"Old Dragon, you've gone too far."

Sword Douluo's face remained expressionless as the Seven Kill Sword faintly released an icy chill.

"I've gone too far? Tianheng's injuries are severe and nearly affected his ability to produce heirs, yet you say I've gone too far?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo both fell silent.

They had only learned of Li Xun defeating Yu Tianheng after Yu Yuanzhen arrived.

They had assumed Yu Yuanzhen was simply unable to swallow the humiliation, never expecting that Yu Tianheng had nearly suffered damage to his very foundation.

"In a fight between Soul Masters, injuries are unavoidable..."

Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment. "We deeply sympathize with Yu Tianheng. If necessary, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can help contact a healing Soul Master."

"Ning Fengzhi, you go too far!" Yu Yuanzhen roared in fury, a blue dragon coiling around him.

Did Ning Fengzhi think he could not afford to hire a healing Soul Master?

"Brother Yuanzhen, what do you mean by this?" Ning Fengzhi frowned.

"Hmph! Have Li Xun of your sect personally come to Tianheng's door and apologize. Then this matter will be settled." Yu Yuanzhen snorted coldly.

Ning Fengzhi's face darkened, but he said nothing.

Yu Tianheng had nearly suffered damage to his foundation over this matter. Even if he had truly been crippled, he still could not agree to it.

What kind of logic was that—winning a duel yet having to apologize?

"Old Dragon, then let's have another round!" Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword glinted coldly as his domain unfolded.

Yu Yuanzhen's Soul Rings lit up, and with an angry roar, he charged forward.

After a long while, Yu Yuanzhen walked out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's gates with a dark expression.

Li Xun knew nothing of what had happened within the sect. At this moment, he was considering something else.

"Yang Qianjun wasn't really beaten by Yang Wudi until his legs broke, was he?" Li Xun rested his chin on his hand as he sat cross-legged on the bed.

More than a year had already passed.

Back then, Yang Qianjun had returned to steal the second half of Yang Wudi's Medical Book, only to never return.

Li Xun was not worried about failing to get the book. After all, he had a contract personally signed by Yang Wudi's grandson.

Given Yang Wudi's proud nature, he presumably would not stoop to reneging on a debt.

"Dugu Yan's poison flare-ups have become increasingly obvious lately. It's about time to resolve this matter."

Perhaps because she was still young, the toxins in Dugu Yan's body had not yet caused such great harm. However, as their relationship gradually deepened, Li Xun felt it was time to make preparations early.

"Yang Wudi is rather tough-minded. It looks like I'll have to bring Sword Grandfather along as a bodyguard to be safe."

Star Luo Empire, Dragon Arising City.

Li Xun had taken off his cotton coat and was walking down the broad streets with Sword Douluo.

The two of them had flown here on swords.

Sword Douluo's cultivation was high, so it was nothing to him. Li Xun, on the other hand, had nearly frozen to death in the sky.

Watching the pedestrians pass by, Li Xun stretched his body. This place seemed to have a little more life than Heaven Dou City—the cries of street vendors along the road, the sight of children playing.

For some reason, it made his heart unusually peaceful.

After asking around along the way, the two soon arrived before a residence.

The residence was not large, but it had an ornate plaque hanging above its gates. The single character "Breaking" upon it was bold and forceful.

Knock, knock, knock.

Li Xun lightly struck the door knocker three times.

Before long, the gates opened, and an old man poked his head out. "May I ask what brings the two of you here?"

"Sir, may I ask whether this residence is the headquarters of the Breaking Clan?" Li Xun smiled and respectfully cupped his fists.

Perhaps because of Li Xun's courtesy when knocking, or perhaps because of his respectful manner, the old man hesitated before answering, "That's right. May I ask what business this young master has here?"

"I am acquainted with Yang Qianjun of this residence. We agreed to meet a year ago, yet I have heard nothing from him since, so I came to look for him."

The old man froze. Seemingly recalling something, his expression turned complicated as he looked Li Xun over. "So it's you!"

"Please come in, both of you. The master said that if you truly came looking, I was to bring you to see him."

At this point, the old man paused. "Young Master, you truly are generous, but you also got Young Master Qianjun into quite a miserable state."

Li Xun's eyes lit up, and his smile widened. "Please tell me."

Seeing Li Xun's smile, the old man's mouth twitched. "Young Master Qianjun got so much money—how could he possibly hide it? He was discovered less than two days after returning, then the clan head beat him so badly that he was bedridden for three months..."

"Even his affair with that little girl from the Bai Family was exposed."

The old man looked around. "They are both confined now. Still, it was a blessing in disguise—the two children are now betrothed."

It seemed the old man's desire for gossip had been satisfied, putting him in a fine mood. "Young Master Qianjun was even muttering about you while bedridden, haha!"

"Then I suppose I count as his matchmaker. I'll have to ask him for some wedding money later." Li Xun laughed. He had not expected a few of his actions to lead to such a result.

As they spoke, they arrived at the reception hall.

"Please wait here, the two of you. I'll go summon the master."

"Thank you, sir."

Before long, a rough voice came from outside the hall. "Your confinement isn't over yet! Come out when I say you can come out!"

"Grandfather, how can I not meet Brother Li when he has come?"

"I think you're asking for a beating. If you don't get back inside, I'll whip you in a moment."

"..."

Li Xun heard every word clearly from inside.

He had long known that Yang Wudi was a rough, uncouth sort, but he had not expected his personality to be so boorish. This was practically the countryside method of raising children with sticks.

"You overbearing brat from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you've finally come!"

As soon as Yang Wudi entered, he saw two figures seated off to the side.

"I am Li Xun. I have long admired your great name, Senior Yang." Seeing him arrive, Li Xun quickly rose and cupped his hands in greeting. "This is my Sword Grandfather, an offering of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin smiled and nodded.

Yang Wudi's gaze sharpened, and he hurriedly saluted Sword Douluo. "Greetings, Your Excellency Chen Xin."

"No need for such formalities. I only came this time as a chauffeur." Sword Douluo smiled as he shot Li Xun a glance.

How could Yang Wudi not understand what was going on? He could not help cursing inwardly.

That sly brat actually brought backup.