Stronger Than Everyone Else

Fang Wang let Gu Li pull him along for quite a while before finding an opening to naturally slip free of her delicate hand.

It really was soft.

Fang Wang sighed inwardly, but he would not fall for it. He was still young; he could not lose his heart to a woman and delay his immortal cultivation.

Gu Li, walking ahead of him, clearly noticed. Even the tips of her ears reddened.

They traveled in silence. Led by Gu Li, Fang Wang entered a residence, yet there was not a single person inside.

"This is a residence our Gu Family bought in Haixia City. Our Gu Family holds deeds to property in every immortal cultivation city across Great Qi," Gu Li explained.

Fang Wang nodded. He had wanted to ask how an ordinary mortal Aristocratic Clan could transform into an immortal cultivation family, but upon second thought, Zhou Xue surely knew more than Gu Li did. The Gu Family's history might not even stretch as far back as the years Zhou Xue had lived.

Gu Li led Fang Wang into a hall, then shut the door. She removed her veil, stared at him, and asked, "You are White Clad Startling Swan, aren't you?"

Fang Wang raised his brows. "White Clad Startling Swan killed an expert at the Ninth Layer of Spirit Sculpting Realm. Do I look like I have that kind of strength? I entered Spirit Molding even later than you did."

"You really know how to anger people, but I think it was you. The Startling Swan Divine Sword Art is our master Yang Yuanzi's unique art. I did not inherit it, so it could only be you. As for our senior brothers and sisters, their talent and comprehension are merely average. Otherwise, the Third Vein would not have fallen to second from last."

Gu Li stared into Fang Wang's eyes as she spoke. Joy, worship, and faint resentment filled her gaze—enough to make any man's heart crumble.

Fang Wang turned his gaze away and changed the subject. "Why did you come? Did the sect assign you a task?"

"The Jihao Sect's inheritance has caused such a huge uproar that people in Taiyuan Sect are discussing it as well. Many disciples have come, so it is hardly strange that I came too," Gu Li answered, though her slight pout made it clear her words did not match her heart.

Fang Wang exposed her. "The Jihao Sect's inheritance is not in Haixia City. It is nearly a thousand li from here, isn't it?"

Gu Li gave a cold snort. Was I supposed to say I came because I was worried about you?

She changed the subject as well. "Did you come to accept the challenge? Li Honggang is in the Spirit Pill Realm, already at the third layer. Though it will be difficult for him to improve any further in this life, he is still not someone we can challenge at present..."

At the end, she suddenly fell silent, because Li Hongshuang at the Ninth Layer of Spirit Sculpting Realm had been defeated by Fang Wang.

The Gu Family and Li Family were both great lineages, so Gu Li had heard Li Hongshuang's name ever since childhood. Her father had sighed more than once over Li Hongshuang's talent. Whenever she thought of such a figure dying by Fang Wang's hand, an irrepressible feeling of worship rose in her heart.

Because the Gu Family had deep foundations, she had heard countless stories of prodigies, even prodigies beyond Great Qi. Yet the shock Fang Wang brought her was even more exaggerated than legend.

"The third layer of the Spirit Pill Realm? Are you certain?" Fang Wang asked with raised brows.

The most important thing about his visit to Haixia City was learning Li Honggang's strength first. He would not act rashly.

Gu Li nodded. "He has been stuck at that realm for at least sixty years. Even my father said that the greatest blessing of his later years was giving birth to Li Hongshuang."

Fang Wang continued, "Do you think he might lay a trap in Haixia City?"

Gu Li shook her head. "He chose Haixia City because its lord, Tang Chengfeng, is a great cultivator at the ninth layer of the Spirit Pill Realm. With Tang Chengfeng here, Haixia City will not fall into chaos. That is also why so many Rogue Cultivators like to trade here. Even when facing cultivators from other dynasties, Tang Chengfeng would not show fear. Among the lords of the border cities, Tang Chengfeng has one of the hardest tempers. He cannot tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes, so cultivators often duel in Haixia City."

"Besides, this matter has already spread far and wide. If Li Honggang invites other Li Family cultivators to act again, the world will look down on the Li Family. The Li Family values integrity and reputation greatly. Otherwise, they would not have expelled Li Hongshuang from the family register back then. You need not worry that the Li Family will retaliate against you or your Lineage over this matter. Immortal cultivation families care most about their honor—at least in Great Qi's immortal cultivation world."

Hearing this, Fang Wang felt reassured.

Gu Li frowned. "You are not really going to accept the challenge, are you? How confident are you?"

After relaxing, Fang Wang walked to the table and sat down. Smiling, he said, "Fifty percent. When I fight enemies, it is generally fifty-fifty. Either the enemy dies and I live, or the enemy lives and I die."

Gu Li sat down as well, simply staring fixedly at Fang Wang.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I am arrogant?" Fang Wang asked, raising his brows.

Gu Li raised her hand and rested her right elbow on the table, supporting her cheek as she stared at Fang Wang. Her eyes wandered, and she sighed. "Fang Wang, I suddenly feel that our agreement will be difficult to fulfill. By the time I reach the Ninth Layer of Spirit Sculpting Realm, you will surely already be sweeping through the Spirit Pill Realm. The gap between us will only grow wider."

Fang Wang blinked and said seriously, "Gu Li, do you cultivate only to compare yourself with others? Does becoming stronger each time not bring you a sense of accomplishment and let you find the meaning of living?"

Hearing that, Gu Li drew a deep breath and said shamefully, "You are right. I was being stubborn."

"Your talent is beyond doubt."

"Mm..."

Gu Li felt somewhat better, then asked, "You compare yourself only with yourself, so that is why you can become so strong?"

"Of course not. I compare myself with everyone. I was born competitive. Since I cultivate immortality, I want to be stronger than everyone. That is my goal," Fang Wang answered calmly.

"..."

Gu Li suddenly felt miserable again. So he told me to compare myself with myself because I did not even have the qualifications to compare myself with others?

That night, relying on the Breathless Natural Skill, Fang Wang silently arrived at the residence where Li Honggang lived and pasted a sheet of paper onto the stone statue before its gates.

Early the next morning, a rumor swept through all of Haixia City like wildfire.

White Clad Startling Swan had accepted the challenge!

Twenty days later, at noon, he would answer the challenge at the south city gate and settle all karma!

Within the Li Family residence, Li Honggang sat in a chair with a yellow sheet of paper in hand. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his face was gloomy.

"Are you certain it was pasted on the stone statue outside the gates?" Li Honggang asked.

The servant standing before him hurriedly nodded. "This lowly one saw it while going out to clean this morning. No one handed it to me."

"Mm. You may leave."

Li Honggang answered curtly. The servant felt as though a great burden had been lifted and immediately departed.

The purple-clothed youth standing to one side frowned. "Father, he was able to reach outside our residence without anyone noticing. His strength cannot be underestimated. Third Brother's talent was exceedingly high; even ordinary cultivators at the first layer of the Spirit Pill Realm might not have been his match. Since the other party could kill Third Brother, he must be an expert in the Spirit Pill Realm, perhaps even stronger than you. Must you truly take this risk?"

Li Honggang glared at him and said in a deep voice, "Do you think your father challenged him because I am certain of victory? My son is dead. Your Third Brother is dead. No matter how much of a bastard he was, he was still my son, still your Third Brother!"

The purple-clothed youth fell silent, his expression ugly.

"Your father already knows the mandate of Heaven. Of all you children, Hongshuang had the highest talent. If he had lived, your father might have relied on him to gain a chance to defy and rewrite fate. Now that he is dead, there is nothing left for your father to hope for in the rest of my life. But regret remains. Do you understand the pain of white-haired people sending black-haired people away?"

Li Honggang sighed, and his expression turned weathered.

The purple-clothed youth wanted to speak but stopped himself. Ever since Li Hongshuang joined Green Cicada Valley, their branch of the family had suffered exclusion within the Li Family. The Li Family, with its dynastic history and thousand-year foundation, valued honor above all else. Because of Li Hongshuang, they had become a stain upon the family.

Li Honggang's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Besides, your father is also using this act to bolster the Li Family's prestige. If I win, the Li Family's majesty and strength will be beyond question. Though my cultivation has not improved for many years, my saber has long reached its peak. Even if I lose, the Li Family will at least appear open and upright. If my death earns the immortal cultivation world's respect, it will also help the Li Family associate more smoothly with the major Righteous Path sects."

Hearing this, the purple-clothed youth revealed a guilty expression. Clenching his teeth, he said, "It is all because this son is not strong enough. Otherwise, why would Father need to act personally!"

"Nonsense. In such a matter, your father naturally must stand at the front. Go now and spread word of this as widely as possible. Since White Clad Startling Swan set the date twenty days away, it means he wants more spectators as well. Then let us grant his wish. Your father wants to see whether his Thirty-two Startling Swan Swords are stronger, or whether my saber carries greater killing intent!"

By the end, Li Honggang radiated powerful confidence.

Faintly, saber shadows emerged within his pupils.