How Can Sparrows Understand the Ambition of Swans!

"Benefactor, thank you for saving me. May I ask your esteemed name? I'll have my father reward you handsomely when I return."

Huang Xiuxiu looked at Li Xian's handsome face, speaking with a shy blush.

Li Xian stood before her, his expression calm as he gazed at Bai Shaofei's corpse.

He had thought this man might be a worthy opponent, but it turned out he couldn't even withstand a single full-powered strike from him.

I'm too strong!

Li Xian couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Hearing Huang Xiuxiu's words, he turned his head to look at the girl on the ground.

"Can your father give me Merit Points?"

"Huh?"

Huang Xiuxiu looked completely baffled.

She naturally had no idea what Merit Points were.

Seeing her expression, Li Xian said with some disappointment, "Guess not."

Just then, voices came from the distant Mountain Forest.

"Should be around here somewhere."

"Someone just sent out the gang's signal—they've already rescued Miss Huang."

"Who's that impressive?"

"I'd guess several Hall Masters working together."

"That's the only possibility. No one else can match Bai Shaofei."

The voices grew closer, and soon a large group of Cao Gang members, holding torches, arrived before Li Xian.

Seeing the scene before them, they were stunned.

"This..."

"I recognize Bai Shaofei lying on the ground and the two Hall Masters, but I don't know the two standing."

"Idiot, the woman is the Huang family's young miss."

"And the man?"

"Don't know him. Never seen him before!"

"Who killed Bai Shaofei? Who's that man?"

"He looks familiar, like I've seen him somewhere."

"Is he one of ours?"

"Probably."

"Steward Li! That's our Steward Li!"

Brother Xin and Wan Cai had finally arrived.

Torches in hand, they hurried over to Li Xian with faces full of surprise.

"Steward, did you kill Bai Shaofei?" Brother Xin asked quietly.

Li Xian glanced sideways and said calmly, "If not me, then who?"

"Really?" Wan Cai's eyes went wide, disbelief written all over his face.

Even as Li Xian's subordinates, they couldn't immediately accept such a fact.

"If you don't believe me, ask her."

Anticipating this reaction, Li Xian pointed at Huang Xiuxiu beside him.

All eyes then turned to Huang Xiuxiu, standing off to the side.

"It was... it was this... Steward Li who killed him."

Huang Xiuxiu said timidly.

After all, she was just a young girl, and being stared at by so many people naturally made her afraid.

Her words sent a shock through the crowd.

"What, it was really him?"

"Who is he? Is he one of us in Cao Gang?"

"He looks so familiar, but I just can't place him."

"I remember! I know who he is!"

"Who? Spit it out."

"Is he one of our Hall Masters?"

"No, he's the trusted Steward of our Cao Gang's Kui Shui Pier!"

"So it was him!"

"The same Steward Li with the peerless talent?"

"That's right, it's him."

"I'd wager that after tonight, he'll be the new Hall Master of the Cao Gang."

That night, Li Xian's name spread throughout the Cao Gang!

That same night, still on West Ridge Mountain.

After disposing of Bai Shaofei's corpse and the Cao Gang disciples had scattered, two figures returned to the spot.

They stood where Bai Shaofei had died, speaking in hushed tones.

"I thought Bai Shaofei was a talent worth cultivating, but he turned out to be a waste—all that effort for nothing."

"It worked out in the end, though. We found an even better seedling."

"Hmph, at least Bai Shaofei was somewhat useful."

"Then let's leave it at that. I'll return and report to Master, and we'll begin evaluating that little fellow named Li Xian."

"And how do we rate his aptitude?"

"Hmm, one grade higher than Bai Shaofei. Let's set it at Grade A Medium."

"Seconded!"

"You stay and keep watch. I'll head back first and report this to Master."

"Fine!"

The wind howled, and the two figures vanished from the ridge.

Li Xian did not do what everyone expected—use this batch of Merit Points to become the new Hall Master of the Cao Gang.

Instead, he spent the thousand Merit Points to exchange for the fourth through sixth layers of the Crimson Sun Nine Songs inner cultivation Mind Method.

This outcome left everyone utterly stunned.

Including his subordinates, Brother Xin and Wan Cai.

"Steward Li, why exchange for a cultivation method? You could have just become Hall Master outright," Brother Xin couldn't understand.

Wan Cai chimed in, "Yeah, Steward Li, if you became Hall Master, you'd be the youngest in Cao Gang history! That would be something to brag about."

Li Xian smiled but said nothing.

Becoming the youngest Hall Master of the Cao Gang—such a title might bring temporary glory, but it wouldn't last.

Brother Xin and Wan Cai still didn't understand that in this world where martial might reigned supreme, strength was the foundation; fame and fortune were nothing but fleeting clouds.

Even if he became a Cao Gang Hall Master, without real power, there would always come a day when he fell.

That night on West Ridge Mountain, two Hall Masters had already died.

Li Xian had no intention of explaining this to them.

They had no idea how high the goal in Li Xian's heart truly was!

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