"Friends, you've watched long enough. Isn't it time you showed yourselves?"
With his hands behind his back, Li Xinge looked into the distance and gave a cold snort.
His words had barely fallen.
Amid a burst of laughter, several figures with powerful auras came hurtling over from afar. The Li Family cultivators hurriedly drew their blades, readying themselves.
Seeing this,
the newcomer hastily said, "Li Family Head, please don't misunderstand. I mean you no harm. I am Zheng Lingjun of the Zheng Family. Greetings, Li Family Head."
"Zheng Lingjun?"
Hearing that name, Li Xinge froze for a moment.
He asked, "The patriarch of the Dongjiang Zheng Clan?"
Zheng Lingjun answered with a smile, "The very same."
A trace of a smile appeared on Li Xinge's face, and he had his men put away their blades.
Cupping his hands, he said, "Li Xinge of the Li Family greets Patriarch Zheng."
Who in Baihe County had not heard the great name of the Dongjiang Zheng Clan? Who did not know of them?
Since the other man had said he meant no harm, Li Xinge naturally would not be foolish enough to offend him.
The Dongjiang Zheng Clan truly was the foremost clan in Baihe County, far beyond what the Green Maple Li Clan could compare to at present.
Even among the nine lineages, there were differences in strength.
The Dongjiang Zheng Clan stood indisputably at the top.
Seeing Li Xinge's attitude, Zheng Lingjun revealed a satisfied smile.
It seemed this young patriarch possessed a maturity beyond his years, rather than being the sort to look down on everyone just because he had a little talent.
Recalling everything Li Xinge had displayed that day, Zheng Lingjun became certain that this young man would accomplish great things.
His desire to befriend him grew all the stronger.
"I have long heard of your reputation, Li Family Head. Now that we've met, I see it was well deserved. Having only just entered the Qi and Blood Realm, you slew a cultivator at qi and blood minor accomplishment. After today, your name will shake all eight directions!"
Before this, although Li Xinge had been known as a genius, he had no noteworthy achievements in battle. In the eyes of certain old veterans, he had remained a junior.
But in today's battle, Li Xinge had confronted a veteran Qi and Blood Realm cultivator head-on without falling behind.
Even after his opponent had used a pill to forcibly increase his strength, Li Xinge had still withstood his blow and seized the chance to slay him.
All of this was more than enough to prove that Li Xinge's strength rivaled that of the older generation's experts.
Li Xinge waved his hand and hastily replied with humility, "I'm ashamed to admit it, but without our first elder's help, I would likely have been in grave danger today."
With that, he changed the subject and introduced the first elder beside him. "Patriarch Zheng, this is our Li Family First Elder."
"Li Xuantong of the Li Family greets Patriarch Zheng."
The first elder stepped forward and cupped his fist, his tone respectful.
Compared with Li Xinge, the first elder understood far better what the patriarch of the Dongjiang Zheng Clan represented in Baihe County.
To put it in treasonous terms, even the Great Zhou Court's words might carry less weight in Baihe County than those of the Zheng Family patriarch.
Not to mention that the man himself was an expert at qi and blood minor accomplishment.
Even if the Li Family's former patriarch, Li Xuanfeng, had still been alive, he would have had to treat the Zheng Family patriarch with the utmost respect.
"Brother Xuantong, you're too courteous. I should be congratulating you on your advancement to the Qi and Blood Realm."
Zheng Lingjun spoke with an amiable expression.
At the same time, he thought of how Li Xuantong's blood and vitality had already declined. His chance of reaching the Qi and Blood Realm had been less than one in ten, yet he had actually succeeded despite those odds.
It seems Li Xinge truly is the child of destiny the ancestor spoke of. When one man attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
If I can board this great ship before Li Xinge comes into his own,
then perhaps I might one day glimpse even that impossibly distant Innate Realm.
Seeing the blazing gaze Zheng Lingjun directed at him, Li Xinge involuntarily shivered, feeling rather creeped out.
Could this renowned Zheng Family patriarch have some peculiar tastes?
Li Xinge instinctively put some distance between himself and Zheng Lingjun.
Zheng Lingjun did not notice the wariness in Li Xinge's eyes at all.
Chuckling, he said, "Li Family Head, Elder Xuantong, to congratulate you on destroying your century-old nemesis, I have specially prepared a modest gift. I hope you won't disdain it."
With that...
Without waiting for either man to decline, a Zheng Family elder stepped forward from behind him, bearing a case in both hands.
Zheng Lingjun took it and opened it. A glint of cold light flashed out, making their eyes sting. Within the case lay a Treasure Sword.
The Treasure Sword radiated a chill gleam that made it difficult to look at directly.
"An ancestor of our Zheng Family obtained this Treasure Sword by chance. Forged from a meteorite from beyond the heavens, it cuts through iron like mud. Today, I offer it to you, Li Family Head. I hope you will graciously accept it."
The instant Li Xinge saw the Treasure Sword, his heart stirred.
Tempted though he was, Li Xinge still shook his head decisively. "Patriarch Zheng, this gift is far too precious. I would feel ashamed to accept it."
Few men could resist a divine weapon or a peerless blade.
But this Treasure Sword was clearly worth a fortune. With Zheng Lingjun investing so heavily, Li Xinge feared he wanted something else in return.
As though he had seen through Li Xinge's concerns,
Zheng Lingjun smiled and said, "Li Family Head, please accept it without worry. I have no ulterior motives. As the saying goes, a Treasure Sword should be given to a hero, and you are precisely such a young hero. No one is more suited to receive this Treasure Sword. If you refuse again, I really will be upset."
Seeing Zheng Lingjun look as though he would fall out with him if he refused...
Li Xinge thought for a long while, but still could not understand what the Li Family possessed that this patriarch of the wealthy and powerful Zheng Family could possibly covet.
Unable to figure it out, he simply stopped thinking about it.
He accepted the sword case and smiled. "Then you have my thanks, Patriarch Zheng."
Seeing Li Xinge accept the gift he had prepared,
Zheng Lingjun was delighted and burst into hearty laughter.
"Now that's more like it! All this 'patriarch' and 'family head' business sounds far too distant. Meeting you feels like meeting an old friend. From now on, why don't we address each other as brothers? I have a few years on you, so how about I call you my younger brother?"
Li Xinge naturally would not slap Zheng Lingjun in the face in front of everyone.
Besides, befriending Zheng Lingjun offered the Li Family a hundred benefits without a single drawback.
No matter how he looked at it, he had nothing to lose.
Li Xinge was not an arrogant man, and he readily agreed.
Bowing slightly, he said, "Greetings, elder brother!"
Zheng Lingjun laughed heartily and caught Li Xinge by the arm, helping him straighten.
Smiling, he said, "It is my honor to have befriended you today, younger brother. We ought to drink to our hearts' content, but I see you still have important clan matters to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer. Another day, we brothers won't go home until we're drunk!"
"Once I've finished handling the clan's affairs, I will certainly come to visit you, elder brother."
Li Xinge spoke solemnly.
"In that case, I shall take my leave."
"Farewell, elder brother."
As he watched Zheng Lingjun and his companions disappear into the distance, the smile gradually faded from Li Xinge's face.
Beside him, the first elder said thoughtfully, "Patriarch, as the saying goes, no one rises early without profit in sight. For someone of Zheng Lingjun's status to humble himself and befriend those beneath him, he must be after something substantial. Yet even I cannot fathom what it is. You must be cautious."
Li Xinge nodded in agreement. "Rest assured, First Elder. I know how to handle this."
With that,
he turned his gaze to the sword case. Opening it, he grasped the hilt and lifted out the Treasure Sword.
The instant it touched his hand, Li Xinge felt as though he had gripped a piece of ten-thousand-year-old ice.
He abruptly drew the sword. A cold gleam flashed, sword light danced, and a massive blue-gray boulder nearby was sliced clean in two.
"What a fine sword!"
Li Xinge laughed as he spoke.
"How could such a divine weapon remain nameless? From this day forth, you shall be 'Void Slayer.' I hope that one day, you will be able to cleave even the void itself into oblivion."
Void Slayer gave a hum.
As though answering him.
The divine weapon had a spirit.
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