The next day.
In the Li Family Head's courtyard, inside the study, Li Xinge wore a white robe and bent over his desk, handling the clan affairs that had piled up over this period.
"Family Head, the First Elder has returned. He says he wishes to see you."
A respectful voice spoke from outside the study.
Li Xinge froze for a moment. The First Elder had likely returned to report after dealing with Town Mountain Tiger.
At that thought, he raised his head, set down the brush in his hand, and instructed, "Invite the First Elder in."
"Yes."
Before long, the travel-worn and somewhat disheveled First Elder walked in.
"Family Head."
Li Xinge smiled. "Thanks for the effort. Did your trip go smoothly, First Elder?"
At those words, the First Elder could not help but sigh. His expression darkened as he said, "I am ashamed to say that this old man failed. I disgraced the Lineage. I ask the Family Head to punish me."
Li Xinge raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
With the First Elder's Qi and Blood Realm strength, he had actually failed to take down a mere Town Mountain Tiger at the Great Perfection of Body Realm?
Unless Town Mountain Tiger...
Sure enough, the First Elder's next words confirmed Li Xinge's suspicion.
"That Town Mountain Tiger somehow broke through the Qi and Blood Heavenly Pass. This old man fought him for half an hour, but could do nothing to him. Left with no choice, I could only retreat."
Li Xinge raised an eyebrow, pinching his chin as his fingers rhythmically tapped against the desk.
"Qi and Blood Realm. So this is what gives you the confidence to look down on my Li Family?"
Li Xinge let out a cold laugh.
Then, seeing the shame on the First Elder's face, Li Xinge chuckled and consoled him, "First Elder, there is no need to take it to heart. I was the one who overlooked things. I never expected a mere bandit to break through into the Qi and Blood Realm. Since that is the case, I will personally make a move and meet this Town Mountain Tiger."
"Town Mountain Tiger's strength is no trifling matter. I will go with the Family Head."
The First Elder volunteered.
Yet Li Xinge waved his hand and smiled. "No need. First Elder, remain behind to guard the Lineage. I alone am enough to deal with Town Mountain Tiger."
Hearing Li Xinge's refusal, the First Elder did not persist.
He knew his Family Head was a cautious man. He never did anything without certainty.
It seemed the Family Head had gained much from his last closed-door cultivation.
"Family Head, take care on the road."
The First Elder still did not forget to remind Li Xinge. Yet after waiting for quite some time without receiving a response, he looked up, only to find that Li Xinge had already vanished.
At the same time.
Within the Gathering Hall of Black Robe Stronghold in Feilong Gorge.
Leaders great and small had all gathered together.
The stronghold master, Town Mountain Tiger, reclined on a large tiger-hide chair, his gaze deep as though he were pondering something.
"Stronghold Master, today you displayed your divine might and defeated that insufferably arrogant Li Family First Elder. You have truly greatly raised the prestige of our Black Robe Stronghold."
A minor leader flattered him with a fawning expression.
"Indeed. If you ask me, those so-called aristocratic families are no more than this in the Stronghold Master's eyes."
"From now on, let us see who still dares look down on our Black Robe Stronghold."
"Hahahaha..."
The many leaders spoke over one another, chattering away as they voiced the excitement in their hearts.
They did not realize that Town Mountain Tiger's face was growing darker and darker in the seat of honor.
Beside him, the observant Second Leader leaned over and asked in confusion, "Stronghold Master, defeating the Li Family's First Elder is a good thing. Why do you look so troubled?"
Town Mountain Tiger gave a bitter smile. "Second Brother, do you also think this is a good thing?"
"Is it not? The Li Family's influence in Baihe County is like the sun at noon, yet they were still trampled beneath your feet. If word of this spreads, more heroes will surely come to join our Black Robe Stronghold. When that time comes, perhaps our Black Robe Stronghold will be able to dominate a region as well!"
As though he had envisioned his own boundless future glory, the Second Leader spoke with a face full of longing.
Town Mountain Tiger could not help sighing at those words. Shaking his head, he said, "Dominate a region? Ridiculous. Our Black Robe Stronghold already stands on the brink of a great calamity."
Upon hearing Town Mountain Tiger's words, all the leaders revealed disbelieving expressions.
"What does defeating a mere Li Family First Elder amount to? The Li Family's most terrifying person is its Family Head, Li Xinge."
When he mentioned Li Xinge, Town Mountain Tiger's tone was filled with wariness.
"Stronghold Master, why bolster others' ambition and extinguish our own prestige? Those aristocratic families are the most boastful. Although Li Xinge's reputation is well-known, who knows how much substance there really is behind it?"
A leader said disdainfully.
"That is right, Stronghold Master. Your divine might blankets the world, and your bravery is unmatched. Why fear Li Xinge?"
"We will just stay inside the stronghold. What can Li Xinge do to us? If he dares come, I'll twist his head off and kick it around like a ball."
A drunken leader declared in a slur.
Town Mountain Tiger frowned, just about to rebuke him, when a sudden sense of unease rose in his heart.
"Hahahaha, very well. Then I would like to see exactly how you plan to twist my head off and kick it like a ball."
An incomparably arrogant and domineering voice came from afar, drawing closer as it echoed through every corner.
Terrifying sound waves shattered the doors and windows, battering everyone's eardrums.
Some of the weaker leaders were directly knocked unconscious by the dreadful sound waves.
As for the minor leader who had just shouted that he would twist off Li Xinge's head and kick it like a ball, blood was already flowing from his seven orifices, and he had died on the spot.
An indescribably tense atmosphere filled the air. The once-noisy Black Robe Stronghold instantly sank into deathly silence.
Terror appeared on the survivors' faces. They instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, as though doing so could bring them a sense of safety.
Town Mountain Tiger slowly raised his head and looked into the distance.
Upon the tall Mountain God statue in the central plaza outside stood a young figure.
He looked down upon the crowd like a god.
He was tall and slender, with fair skin. His hands rested behind his back, and he wore a white robe. A luxurious jade belt circled his waist, with a treasured sword hanging from it. His three thousand strands of black hair spilled casually behind him, dancing in the wind.
What a peerless young gentleman amid a sullied world!
Even Town Mountain Tiger had to marvel. Perhaps the saying, "A stranger is like jade, and no gentleman under heaven can match him," had been made for this very man.
"Hu Yidao, master of Black Robe Stronghold, pays respects to the Li Family Head!"
Town Mountain Tiger looked at the distant figure with a complicated expression. The instant he appeared, Town Mountain Tiger had already known his identity.
The Family Head of the Green Maple Li Clan, the youthful prodigy Li Xinge.
Only he could possess such terrifying majesty.
Town Mountain Tiger had known Li Xinge would come, but he had never expected him to arrive so quickly.
At this moment, Town Mountain Tiger's heart was filled with endless bitterness.
Others beat the young, then the old came.
Damn it, he had beaten the old, and the young had come—and this young one was even stronger and more terrifying than the old one.
"Hu Yidao, you did not put my Li Family in your eyes. Therefore, I came."
Li Xinge stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.
That icy tone, brimming with killing intent, made Hu Yidao somewhat fearful.
He subconsciously retreated several steps. "Li Family Head, please see clearly. Our Black Robe Stronghold has absolutely no such intention. For so many years, the people of Black Robe Stronghold have never infringed upon the Li Family in the slightest. Last time was merely an accident. My subordinates failed to recognize greatness. I am willing to offer a generous gift as an apology. I ask the Li Family Head not to condemn us."
Li Xinge paid no heed to Hu Yidao's display of weakness.
He merely gave a cold laugh and said indifferently, "Hu Yidao, I do not wish to hear nonsense. I will give you two choices: kneel, and live! Fight, and die!"
Faced with Li Xinge's relentless pressure, Hu Yidao's breathing began to grow heavier.
His hands involuntarily clenched into fists. He was gripping them so hard that veins bulged from the backs of his hands.
Just then, a figure stepped forward, blocking Hu Yidao.
He looked at Li Xinge, his eyes bloodshot and filled with hatred and fury.
"Li Xinge, a man bears responsibility for his own actions! I took the medicinal herbs, and I killed the people. If you have the ability, come at me!"
This man was none other than One-Eye, the Fourth Leader of Black Robe Stronghold.
Looking at the one-eyed man who had suddenly leaped out, Li Xinge sneered. "A mere ant dares to clamor before me."
The moment his words fell, the Void Slayer sword in his hand trembled slightly. A flash of cold light appeared, and One-Eye hurriedly raised his blade to block it.
The cold light passed. Seeing that he was completely uninjured, One-Eye gave a scornful laugh and mocked, "The grand Li Family Head is no more than..."
Before he could finish speaking, One-Eye felt a sharp pain in his neck.
He instinctively reached up to touch it, only to see a headless corpse.
Before you continue