Li Qingdi

"Friend Lu, did the steamed Nine-Headed Lion suit your palate?"

At the dining table, Li Xuanran said with a smile as he continuously placed meat into Lu Jiuyuan's bowl. Seeing this, Li Qingping could not help feeling a little jealous.

"Of course I was used to it. This Nine-Headed Lion was a powerful Nascent Soul Realm ferocious beast. Eating it brought me enormous benefits as well."

Lu Jiuyuan spoke with a serious expression. As the Nine-Headed Lion's meat entered his body, the strength of his fleshly body quietly increased.

"By the way, where is the Sky Swallowing Bloodline origin?"

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Xuanran asked probingingly. Lu Jiuyuan, meanwhile, looked toward Li Qingping.

"I already gave it to Qingping for safekeeping."

Only then did Li Xuanran look at Li Qingping, who hurriedly took that violent mass of Sky Swallowing Bloodline origin from her storage ring.

"It truly is Sky Swallowing Bloodline origin. It is indeed terrifying. Here are all the Spirit Stones, Friend Lu. Please count them."

The instant he saw the origin, Li Xuanran knew it was genuine. He immediately handed Lu Jiuyuan a storage ring containing fifty million top-grade Spirit Stones.

"There is no need to count them. I still trust King Li's character."

Lu Jiuyuan smiled and directly put away the storage ring. Hearing this, Li Xuanran secretly rejoiced, though he deliberately put on an angry expression.

"Ah, Friend Lu, aren't you treating me like an outsider? You and my daughter are close friends. Since that is the case, I shall presume upon my status. You may call me Uncle Li. What do you say?"

Hearing this, Lu Jiuyuan wore a somewhat troubled expression.

"That would not be appropriate, Uncle Li."

"Ah, good."

Li Xuanran nodded in satisfaction. No matter how one looked at it, Lu Jiuyuan was absolutely an excellent choice for a son-in-law.

Yet Li Xuanran suddenly thought of something, and a troubled look appeared on his face.

"Friend Lu, I heard that you seem to wish to represent Yuanwu Kingdom in the Hundred Kingdoms Competition?"

Now that they had come to serious business, Lu Jiuyuan's expression also turned solemn as he set down his chopsticks.

"That is correct. Does Uncle Li have any advice?"

"I would not call it advice. It is simply that the Hundred Kingdoms Competition is a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons abound, with experts as numerous as clouds. I fear that even if you go, you may not gain much from it."

Li Xuanran sighed. What he said was indeed the truth, but Lu Jiuyuan merely smiled and shook his head.

"Uncle Li, I myself am a genius. If geniuses do not contend against geniuses, how can one tell who is the true genius?"

"Besides, I wanted to go to the Hundred Kingdoms Competition precisely to see what level the strength of the various great geniuses has reached."

Lu Jiuyuan's tone brimmed with untamed arrogance and the domineering aura of one who stood supreme over all. Even Li Xuanran was stirred by it and nearly agreed, but then he remembered Lu Jiuyuan's background. If Lu Jiuyuan went and something happened to him, Lu Changsheng would inevitably hold him accountable.

After all, life and death were disregarded at the Hundred Kingdoms Competition. Unless one side voluntarily surrendered, it would be a fight to the death.

The last Yuanwu Kingdom delegation had been completely wiped out at the Hundred Kingdoms Competition. All five geniuses had died upon the arena.

"This matter is still somewhat improper. Friend Lu, you should consider it carefully again."

Li Xuanran said tactfully. The implication was that he wanted Lu Jiuyuan to give up of his own accord, but Lu Jiuyuan had come here for the Hundred Kingdoms Competition in the first place, so naturally he could not refuse.

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"Uncle Li, just say it plainly. What will it take for you to agree to let me participate in the Hundred Kingdoms Competition?"

Nothing under heaven was absolute. If there was, it simply was not absolute enough.

"If you insist on going, then seven days from now, I will hold a competition in the capital. The top five contestants may represent Yuanwu Kingdom in the Hundred Kingdoms Competition. How about it?"

Li Xuanran said with a smile, and Lu Jiuyuan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

What a joke. He was already at Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Could he not even secure a place in the top five? Moreover, seven days was enough for him to break through to Foundation Establishment Peak.

Once Lu Jiuyuan reached Foundation Establishment Peak, he was confident he could fight above his level and defeat a Golden Core Peak cultivator. If he unleashed a little secret technique, even a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator would not be impossible to battle.

"Since that is the case, I have prepared a residence. I shall give it to Friend Lu as your lodging while you enjoy yourself in the capital these days."

Li Xuanran said generously and was about to lead Lu Jiuyuan to the residence when a voice suddenly rang out.

"Sixth Sister, you returned without coming to see me. That has left this older brother of yours rather saddened and dejected."

As the words fell, a young man in green robes soon walked in. The moment he entered, Li Qingping said joyfully.

"Third Brother, I missed you so much."

With that, Li Qingping embraced him. The young man in green then looked toward Li Xuanran and gave a slight bow.

"Greetings, King Father!"

"Mhm, rise. Friend Lu, let me introduce you. This is my third son, Li Qingdi."

"Qingdi, this is Friend Lu, Lu Jiuyuan."

Li Xuanran introduced them warmly, while Li Qingdi looked at Lu Jiuyuan with a smile.

"Since Fellow Daoist Lu can earn such high regard from my King Father, you must possess outstanding qualities. I am Li Qingdi. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise."

After saying that, Lu Jiuyuan stepped forward and shook Li Qingdi's hand. Only after a moment did the two release their grip.

Li Xuanran then spoke.

"Qingdi, Friend Lu will be residing at Qingshan Garden in the capital for the coming days. I have already given that place to Friend Lu. Thus, if you can, take Friend Lu around the capital and show him the sights during these days."

Upon hearing Li Xuanran's words, a trace of surprise appeared on Li Qingdi's face.

Qingshan Garden had been reserved by his King Father for his own residence. He had not expected it to be given to someone else, and this made him develop a deep interest in Lu Jiuyuan.

After Li Xuanran left with Li Qingping and Lu Jiuyuan, Li Qingdi remained where he was and said coolly.

"Shadow Guard, investigate Lu Jiuyuan's background for me. Keep it concealed. Do not let yourselves be discovered."

As Li Qingdi's words fell, a figure emerged from the empty space beside him.

"Yes, Young Master!"

After the Shadow Guard departed, Li Qingdi finally shook his head helplessly.

"Lu Jiuyuan, I do not care who you are. You had best be harmless to my Yuanwu Kingdom."

With that, a powerful Void Refining Stage aura surged from Li Qingdi's body.