To Not Return a Favor is Impolite

Song Yingying left.

Li Gan had agreed to help her resolve this trouble.

Elder Song had looked after him while he was alive.

By reason and sentiment, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.

After all, he now had the ability to act.

According to Song Yingying, the one causing trouble was Yan Song, an Official Disciple of the inner sect, apprenticed to Mu Hai, an elder of Dishui Peak. Though not a true disciple, his status far exceeded that of ordinary Official Disciples.

Given Song Yingying's status as a Menial Disciple, she naturally couldn't obtain this information herself. Yi Zhong had secretly told her before leaving.

Li Gan had never interacted with an inner sect Official Disciple before, nor had he ever set foot in the inner sect.

After dinner.

Li Gan went down the mountain.

He arrived at the Chore Hall.

When he was a Menial Disciple, this Chore Hall held great authority over him.

But now, as an Official Disciple, even if he wasn't untouchable to the people of the Chore Hall, he could at least make them dare not underestimate him.

As soon as he produced the wooden token of an Official Disciple, a deputy hall master of the Chore Hall immediately came to receive him.

"This Humble One is Xu Wei, deputy hall master of the Chore Hall. May I ask what instructions the senior brother has? The Chore Hall will certainly comply."

This deputy hall master was well advanced in years, yet before Li Gan, he was utterly deferential, addressing him as "senior brother."

The stewards, deputy hall masters, and even the hall master of the Chore Hall were all Menial Disciples—albeit those with strong connections within the Divine Sword Sect.

Some even had intricate ties to Official Disciples, true disciples, and elders of the sect.

"Hall Master Xu, no need to be polite. I do have a favor to ask this time. I wonder if you can contact Senior Brother Yan Song of Dishui Peak in the inner sect," Li Gan said.

"Senior Brother Yan Song?"

Hall Master Xu was taken aback. Why would one inner sect disciple contact another through the Chore Hall's channels?

"I became an Official Disciple only about a year ago, so I'm not familiar with Senior Brother Yan Song," Li Gan explained.

"Please rest assured, senior brother. I will definitely help you contact Senior Brother Yan Song," Hall Master Xu quickly replied.

"Good. If there's news, you can send someone to the Bell Tower to inform me," Li Gan said with a nod.

"So you're Senior Brother Li Gan of Chenzhong Terrace. Please rest assured, I will notify you at the earliest opportunity," Hall Master Xu said hastily.

As deputy hall master of the Chore Hall, he kept track of the comings and goings of Menial Disciples.

In less than three years, a Menial Disciple rising to Official Disciple was extremely rare in the Chore Hall.

Li Gan of Chenzhong Terrace was now a legend in the Chore Hall.

Privately, the people of the Chore Hall had discussed it.

Among the Menial Disciples, Li Gan had always been unknown. Until he became an Official Disciple, almost no one had heard of him.

Who would have thought that he would rise in one fell swoop, leaping over the dragon gate, becoming a lofty Official Disciple, leaving the old-timers of the Chore Hall green with envy.

A few days later.

After the rain, the sky had just cleared.

The air was exceptionally fresh.

A figure in brocade robes arrived at the Bell Tower.

"Senior Brother Yan."

"Junior Brother Li."

The two greeted each other like old friends.

But in truth, this was their first meeting.

"Senior Brother Yan, my place is humble. Please forgive me," Li Gan said with a light laugh.

"Junior Brother Li's place has beautiful scenery, tranquility, and distance from the mundane—an excellent spot for cultivation. How could it be called humble?" Yan Song said.

He suddenly shifted his tone. "Junior Brother Li sought me out through the Chore Hall. May I ask what the matter is?"

"Senior Brother Yan, do you know how I became an Official Disciple?"

Li Gan spoke.

"Naturally, Junior Brother Li passed the re-examination and became an Official Disciple."

Yan Song's heart sank slightly, then he said.

"Of course not."

Li Gan sighed and shook his head.

Yan Song's expression shifted slightly, because a possibility occurred to him—that Li Gan had used that Treasure Map as a bargaining chip to secure his status as an Official Disciple.

But that would be far too great a loss.

"So, I no longer have what Senior Brother Yan seeks. Please, for my sake, do not trouble Miss Song any further."

Li Gan said.

"Junior Brother Li jokes. I have not troubled any Miss Song."

Yan Song gave a cold smile.

If the Treasure Map had truly been handed over by Li Gan, he had no chance left.

Thinking that a fateful opportunity for the innate realm had slipped through his fingers, his anger and resentment surged to an extreme.

"Junior Brother Li, ah... why must you do this?"

He sighed, turned, and prepared to leave.

But the moment he turned, his Internal Qi suddenly surged. He reversed his hand, fingers pressed together like a sword, and stabbed toward Li Gan opposite him.

A sharp and vicious Sword Qi burst forth.

Li Gan was startled.

He hadn't expected Yan Song to dare attack him.

Seeing the Sword Qi incoming.

Li Gan snorted coldly. His Internal Qi roiled, forming a strange membrane over his body, like a Golden Bell Shield.

When the Sword Qi struck the membrane, a dull thud sounded.

But the Sword Qi did not pierce the shield.

One does not receive a gift without returning the courtesy.

Li Gan pressed his fingers together like a sword, executing the Heartless Sword Technique, and swept out a single finger.

Yan Song's face filled with horror.

Protective Qi Shield?

How was that possible?

For a postnatal martial artist to form a Protective Qi Shield, they must at least reach the Postnatal Realm Seventh Layer.

And even then, a newly formed Protective Qi Shield would not be very strong.

Unless they had trained in a special protective Martial Technique.

Li Gan had been an Official Disciple for less than a year—how could he possibly have formed a Protective Qi Shield?

Let alone trained in a special protective Martial Technique.

Even a veteran Official Disciple like him had not trained in one, because special protective Martial Techniques were too difficult to master, time-consuming, and energy-draining.

More importantly, he himself was at the Postnatal Realm Seventh Layer. The Sword Qi he had unleashed in his ambush was enough to break through a Protective Qi Shield formed by a special protective Martial Technique.

Seeing Li Gan counterattack, he waved his finger, and their Sword Qi clashed. His body swayed, and his blood boiled.

His shock deepened.

Li Gan's Sword Qi was so fierce and dense that it was in no way inferior to his own.

He immediately moved, retreating swiftly out of the Bell Tower.

"Junior Brother Li, I merely wished to test your strength just now. No offense intended."

He cupped his hands.

"One does not receive a gift without returning the courtesy. Senior Brother Yan, please take this move."

Li Gan smiled faintly.

Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed. The Treasure Sword hanging on the wall trembled and shot from its sheath.

Accompanied by a sword's cry, a dazzling sword light bloomed, shooting out of the Bell Tower like a flood dragon.

Yan Song's face twisted in alarm. He quickly touched his waist, and a Soft Sword sprang out. It vibrated, coiling like a python around the incoming sword light.

But as the two swords clashed, Yan Song's entire body shook. The Internal Qi he had infused into the Soft Sword instantly collapsed.

The next moment, his Soft Sword flew from his hand.

At the same time, a cold gleam swept past his throat.

Yan Song's body turned ice-cold. The threat of death filled his heart, stiffening his body until he could not move an inch.

A moment later, seeing that Li Gan made no move, he slowly reached up to touch his throat.

It felt damp.

He lowered his hand to look—there was blood on it.

Fortunately, it was just a scratch on the skin.

Still, he felt a sense of having narrowly escaped death.

If Li Gan's sword had been just a fraction closer, he would likely be dead now.

The other party had clearly held back.

"Junior Brother Li's swordsmanship is something I can never hope to match."

Yan Song said bitterly, then turned and walked away, utterly dejected.

He had been utterly defeated.

He had been an Official Disciple for eighteen years, and not long ago had even been fortunate enough to enter the Sword Tomb once, gaining insight into the sword intent of the predecessors, benefiting greatly, and believing his swordsmanship had improved significantly.

But this single sword strike from Li Gan had completely shattered the pride in his heart.

Someone who had only been a disciple for a little over three years, an Official Disciple for less than a year, and had never even entered the Sword Tomb—yet had defeated him in swordsmanship.