Final Return

The crowd gathered in twos and threes, discussion rising and falling in an endless buzz.

"I heard Senior Brother Li is barely over twenty, yet he's already a top expert in the Marrow-Piercing Realm. Tsk, tsk, who knows how he cultivated..."

"What else could it be? His talent must be outstanding, tempered through life-and-death trials."

"Didn't you hear what the people returning from the front lines said? Senior Brother Li could clash head-on with a Round Marrow Great Demon on the battlefield without falling behind!"

"Yeah, Senior Brother Li is stronger than quite a few elders. I'd say the position of Flying Cloud Peak's Candidate Saint Son is as good as his."

"Isn't that obvious? If it weren't certain, would we be waiting here to cling to his thigh?"

A female disciple spoke in a lowered voice, her tone carrying a hint of shyness and anticipation:

"I heard Senior Brother Li isn't just powerful, he's handsome too..."

"And he doesn't even have a cultivation partner by his side. I wonder if I might have a chance..."

Someone beside her immediately cut in without mercy, their voice carrying a teasing edge meant to wound:

"You? If you don't have a mirror, surely you've got urine?"

"Could you possibly hold on to a genius like Senior Brother Li?"

The female disciple's face instantly flushed crimson with anger, and she stamped her foot.

"You—can't you speak properly?!"

Another male disciple stroked his chin, his face full of shrewd calculation:

"The Candidate Saint Son Battle is about to begin. Quite a few senior brothers are in seclusion, cultivating bitterly."

"I need to think about who to bet on. If I bet right, I can earn some Contribution Points to spend..."

"That's far quicker than painstakingly completing missions."

Standing behind the crowd, Li Xiao heard