Murong Xue narrowed her eyes slightly. She ignored the haughty Li Zhōujūn and instead turned to Sū Nán, saying gently, "Have you really thought this through? If you follow the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord, your whole life will be ruined."
"My father always says that once you choose a path, you have to kneel and walk it to the end," Sū Nán replied.
"Silly girl, what your father said does make some sense, but people make their own fate. You have to learn to adapt."
Murong Xue sighed. Though she was somewhat angry, she grew increasingly fond of the little girl. After all, an ordinary person in Sū Nán's position would have long since abandoned the master she had just acknowledged.
Li Zhōujūn was speechless at the sight. This woman is actually poaching my disciple right in front of me. How much does she look down on me?
[Ding: Murong Xue has been detected to completely look down on the host. It is time for the host to display his strength!] [Ding: The system has issued a mission: battle Murong Xue and awe the petty villains! Upon completion, the host will receive a grand prize!]
Li Zhōujūn looked at the mission issued by the system.
Li Zhōujūn was dumbfounded. He thought, System, are you actually reliable? Murong Xue is a ruthless one!
[Ding: Whether the system is reliable or not, won't the host know after trying?]
Li Zhōujūn nearly wept. "Damn it, I'm just afraid that if I try, I'll die!"
Though he said that, Li Zhōujūn's gaze still fell on Murong Xue. He smiled and said, "Murong Xue, if you really want to poach my disciple, defeat me first. If I lose, that proves my skills are inferior, and Sū Nán may naturally cultivate under you. But if you lose, stop poaching my disciple."
"What? No way! Did I hear that right? That good-for-nothing Li actually wants to exchange blows with the Murong Mountain Lord?"
"How dare he?"
"Liǔ Yán has reached the peak of the Void Return Stage, yet even he was beaten by the Murong Mountain Lord until he cried for his father and mother. If I'm not mistaken, the Murong Mountain Lord has already broken through the Void Return Stage's Void Immortal realm and reached the Integration Stage!"
"Exactly! He's just a mortal weakling with not the slightest bit of cultivation, yet he dares challenge an Integration Stage powerhouse. Is he fooling around?"
The moment Li Zhōujūn said this, the mountain lords were shocked, but they could not help discussing it animatedly.
Only Liǔ Yán's face turned extremely dark.
It's fine if you want to say Murong Xue is powerful, but could you stop using me as her foil all the time?
You're making me lose all my dignity!
At that moment.
Murong Xue narrowed her beautiful eyes and asked Li Zhōujūn, "Are you serious?"
"Of course." Li Zhōujūn nodded.
"No way, Master. You just said no one could take your disciple away, and now you're using me as a wager in a battle. Is that really okay?"
Sū Nán covered her little mouth and looked at Li Zhōujūn with tears in her eyes.
Li Zhōujūn grinned. "Your master has kept a low profile for too long. Today, it's time to let others know that my Cloud Dwelling Mountain isn't something just anyone can bully."
Sū Nán froze and stammered, "M-Master, could it be that you really are a hidden powerhouse? You're not lying to me, are you?"
Li Zhōujūn smiled without answering.
After hearing Li Zhōujūn's words, the mountain lords all wore expressions as though they were watching a clown.
They were already prepared to see how the Murong Mountain Lord would deal with this stubborn fellow.
At the same time, Li Zhōujūn looked at Murong Xue and smiled. "Make your move."
"Very well." Murong Xue truly could not understand where a man incapable of cultivation had found the courage to provoke her today.
But since Li Zhōujūn was asking to be beaten, she would grant his wish.
Thus, Murong Xue did not waste words. Sitting in the mountain lord's seat, she raised one fair hand and lightly tapped the air with her fingertip.
In the next moment, crystal-clear icicles began forming before Murong Xue.
"Go." Murong Xue parted her vermilion lips.
As her voice fell, the icicles that had formed before her shot toward Li Zhōujūn in a torrential barrage, like pear blossoms scattered by a storm.
Looking at the densely packed icicles flying toward him, Li Zhōujūn felt his heart turn extremely uneasy.
But he gritted his teeth, clenched his fist, and threw a fierce punch.
A deafening boom rang out.
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Li Zhōujūn's seemingly ordinary punch actually shattered the void, unleashing a thunderous roar. At that moment, all the icicles Murong Xue had created vanished into thin air.
"How is this possible?"
The mountain lords stared at the scene in shock. They all rose from their seats and looked incredulously at Li Zhōujūn, who still maintained his punching stance.
Mu Taiyu watched the scene with astonishment in his heart, then nodded, finally acknowledging Li Zhōujūn's strength.
"Wasn't this Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord a cultivation cripple?"
"Exactly. That's what everyone says. And although the Murong Mountain Lord's attack looked casual, no one below the Void Return Stage could have taken it. This Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord has hidden himself incredibly deeply!"
"Not only that, there wasn't the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy when the Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord attacked. Could he be following the path of those Body Refiners from ancient times?"
"Very likely..."
At that moment, the various mountain lords began discussing among themselves.
The newly initiated disciples, however, did not even dare breathe loudly. Even with sect experts blocking the aftershock of the mountain-lord-level powerhouses' attacks, merely witnessing the scene still left their minds trembling. The combatants were simply too powerful!
"He actually blocked it?" Li Zhōujūn slowly withdrew his stance, still somewhat stunned.
This Five-Fifty Split with All Things ability is seriously incredible!
"You actually managed to block that attack of mine. It seems you've been hiding yourself all these years." Murong Xue looked at Li Zhōujūn and finally spoke.
Originally, she had only intended to frighten Li Zhōujūn a little and withdraw once the time was right.
She had not expected things to exceed her predictions. This fellow Li Zhōujūn was actually an old fox, hiding himself so deeply!
"You were holding back." Li Zhōujūn smiled.
"Looks like I no longer need to hold back. Let's decide victory and defeat with one move." Murong Xue spoke to Li Zhōujūn.
"Couldn't be happier." Li Zhōujūn was brimming with confidence. After all, with the Five-Five Split with All Things ability in hand, he could neither defeat anyone nor be defeated by anyone.
At most, Murong Xue could only draw with him. There was no way she could defeat him.
"Snowfall from the Heavens, Sword Without Trace!"
Murong Xue gave a soft shout, and a streak of sword light burst from her fingertip, shooting straight toward Li Zhōujūn.
As the sword light appeared, snowflakes began drifting across the entire Ascension Platform.
"It's the Murong Mountain Lord's flying-sword technique!"
"What incredible speed!"
"The Murong Mountain Lord's cultivation has truly reached the Integration Stage!"
"If this sword were aimed at me, my head would probably already be on the ground by the time I regained my senses!"
The mountain lords stared at the snow filling the sky in shock, then turned toward Li Zhōujūn. They had no idea whether this Li Mountain Lord, who had hidden his strength so deeply, could block the Murong Mountain Lord's flying-sword technique.
Immediately afterward, they saw Li Zhōujūn extend one hand before him and slowly form a "V" sign. Then Murong Xue's astonishing flying sword was caught between his fingers.
"How is this possible!"
"He... caught it just like that?!"
"This Cloud Dwelling Mountain Lord's cultivation must have reached the Integration Stage as well!"
The mountain lords were utterly overwhelmed by shock at the sight.
At the same time, Li Zhōujūn wore a broad smile as he waved the hand holding the flying sword.
The flying sword then flew back into Murong Xue's hand.
Li Zhōujūn looked at Murong Xue, who held the flying sword, and smiled. "Murong Mountain Lord, what do you think?"
"I've lost." Murong Xue put away her flying sword, her expression complicated.
Although Li Zhōujūn had not attacked, the fact that he had effortlessly blocked her strongest flying-sword technique proved that his strength surpassed hers.
"Girl, follow your master and cultivate properly. I was wrong before. Your master truly has the ability to teach disciples. But if he ever bullies you in the future, come to Lingxue Mountain and find me. I'll stand up for you."
Murong Xue suddenly looked at the still-dazed Sū Nán and smiled.
"Go on, thank the Murong Mountain Lord for her kindness." Li Zhōujūn smiled. It was clear that Murong Xue truly liked this little girl, Sū Nán.
"Ah, thank you, Murong Mountain Lord!"
Prompted by her master, Sū Nán hurriedly bowed to Murong Xue.
At the same time, Sū Nán was delighted, because her master really was a super-powerful expert!
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