Siege! Counter-Annihilation!

October 25th, night!

It had been eleven days since Ye Li reached the Great Completion of Clear Force.

During these nine days, he had maintained a rigid, repetitive routine.

Every morning, he would head to Flower-and-Willow Alley to consume a Dragon Tiger Pill, take two laps around Yunjin Street, swallow a Body Tempering Pill, and then train with all his might.

When the dead of night arrived and no one was around, he would consume two more Dragon Tiger Pills before training and finally sleeping, completing the cycle.

For some reason, he noticed that the core disciples in Spring Return Alley treated him with a degree of hostility.

Because of their cold faces, he gave up on trying to befriend them and poured his heart and soul into his training.

However, after these days of cultivation, the situation exceeded Ye Li's expectations.

On the fourth day, when he pushed the Nine Chapters Fist Manual to 1,000 experience points, he reached the perfection of Clear Force, triggering the peculiar effect of birthing a trait.

Yet, perhaps because this martial art was so unremarkable, the trait Ye Li birthed was merely white-tier.

[White]: When focusing, mental processing speed increases by 10%.

[White]: Slightly increases the speed of martial arts cultivation.

[White Moves]: Easier to identify flaws in the transitions between moves.

The three traits above were derived after his practice of the Nine Chapters Fist Manual reached its limit.

Faced with a choice of one out of three, Ye Li chose the first, [Ingenuity], after a brief moment of hesitation.

Sure enough, once Ye Li possessed both the [White] and [Green] traits, he could trigger them simultaneously while in a state of focus!

In other words, when Ye Li was focused, his physical speed increased by 15%, and his mental processing speed increased by 110% * 115% = 126.5%.

As he had expected, the two traits could coordinate to form a synergistic set that stacked upon one another.

Since that's the case, what I need next is a footwork technique to further expand my advantage, Ye Li thought to himself.

However, that would have to wait until he broke through to the middle stage of Body Tempering.

In the late autumn, after pushing the Nine Chapters Fist Manual to its limit, Ye Li picked up the Azure Dragon Force again and practiced it diligently every day.

Body Tempering Initial Stage (762/1500)

Just as Ye Li retracted his stance, preparing to end his training for the day, the moment his mind relaxed—

Snap—

A sound so faint it was almost imperceptible, like a breeze blowing across a pond, stirred up ripples!

It was not the wind rustling withered branches, nor a night rat scurrying by; it was the sound of a boot accidentally crushing a piece of frozen mud outside the wall!

"Hmm?!"

Ye Li's brows locked instantly, his entire body's muscles tensing like a bowstring!

Having reached the perfection of Clear Force, his five senses were far sharper than those of an ordinary Body Tempering martial artist!

Within a hundred feet, he could precisely perceive the trajectory of even a falling withered leaf.

If he could sense a leaf, human tracks were even more distinct!

Those who could evade his perception and lurk right outside the courtyard wall before being discovered were certainly no ordinary people!

Almost the instant the sound reached his ears, Ye Li focused his mind.

Benefiting from the long periods he had spent in a state of focus recently, Ye Li easily activated both the [Ingenuity] and [Swiftness] traits simultaneously.

The next instant, the entire world slowed down in his perception!

One, two, three... seven!

Seven blurred figures were crouching outside his courtyard wall like ghosts!

They held their breath to the extreme, moving with such lightness that they tried to blend into the heavy night.

But to Ye Li's ears, their suppressed breathing and the friction of their clothing against the wall were all exposing their tracks.

Seven Body Tempering martial artists?

The chill no longer came from the late autumn frost, but surged violently from the depths of Ye Li's spine!

They meant him harm!!!

Ye Li's brows furrowed sharply, but seeing that the figures outside the courtyard had not yet moved, he also held his position.

Feigning normalcy, he practiced for another incense stick's time, finished his training as usual, and walked toward the main room of the courtyard.

Once Ye Li's figure disappeared into the room and the crisp sound of the door closing echoed, Lu Xiuyuan, holding a sharp blade, asked in confusion:

"There are seven of us; why don't we swarm him and kill him outright?"

Qian Luoxin, masked in black, lowered his voice: "The blood-qi network of a Body Tempering martial artist is too resilient; even if you stab a sharp blade into their heart, they can still struggle for several breaths before dying!"

"What if we accidentally let him run? Ye Li has already entered the room to rest. Let's wait for an incense stick's time until he drifts into sleep, then we'll block the doors and windows and swarm him!"

As he spoke, he sighed inwardly, thinking his teammates were being far too arrogant.

To think they managed to drag out the destruction of evidence for over ten days.

He had discovered Ye Li's address as early as the third day, along with the fact that Ye Li's family was no longer in the city.

They should have struck that very day, but these core disciples acted like students facing summer homework, making excuses to delay.

As for the person involved, that spineless Lu Xiuyuan was a hopeless case, either lingering in Flower-and-Willow Alley or pestering Xiao Fang to pick out gifts after his training.

"Hopeless, truly hopeless."

Qian Luoxin shook his head inwardly, but his expression remained impassive as he said:

"Everyone, do not hesitate once we are inside. I want no share of the spoils; just ensure the cause of death is blamed on the Poison Wolf Gang stifling a genius."

Under Qian Luoxin's instructions, the group nodded secretly, though most of their eyes held a mix of fear and excitement.

These seven had only entered the Body Tempering stage within the last six months and had never tasted blood; the sudden prospect of murdering a fellow gang member made them increasingly nervous.

An incense stick's time later, Qian Luoxin signaled, and the group vaulted over the wall, landing without a sound.

They spread out with practiced coordination, gripping their broadswords, hunching their backs, and creeping silently toward the closed doors and windows of the main house.

Just before they could break in.

Bang—

With a loud, crisp crash, the courtyard gate was kicked wide open!

"Who's there!"

"Damn it, we've been discovered!"

"Hell, who is it?"

The seven felt their hearts stop and whipped their heads around.

They saw the figure that should have been sleeping in the main house, striding boldly toward them through the night!

The person arriving was none other than: Ye Li!!!

He stood in the center of the shattered gate, his gaze like a sharp blade, slowly sweeping over the seven stunned men in the courtyard:

"Motherfucker, you dare come to my place to rob and pillage!" Fury burned in Ye Li's eyes!

After slipping out the back, he had heard every word of their conversation. He didn't expose them, nor did he go to the gang for help, choosing instead to treat them as common bandits.

Only by doing so could he strike without reservation!

Sure enough, Ye Li's declaration delighted Qian Luoxin, who shouted in a low voice: "Brothers, this mark is tough! Carve him up, then we'll loot his treasures to... en...joy... our...selves..."

Before Qian Luoxin could finish, Ye Li had already entered the overlapping state of [Swiftness] and [Ingenuity], and the world before him suddenly stalled.

The fluid world slowed to about 0.75x speed, and every word Qian Luoxin spoke stretched out in his ears.

In the eyes of the seven, Ye Li's aura suddenly became incredibly imposing, and a terrifying Sha Qi surged toward them like a physical force!

These seven men had unsteady footwork and chaotic breathing; though their eyes held killing intent, their vitality was hollow!

Indulging daily in Flower-and-Willow Alley, even with the gang's supply of Body Tempering pills, they were barely maintaining their cultivation levels.

And what of Ye Li?

"Body Tempering Initial Stage 50% foundation... Nine Chapters Fist Manual mastered to the perfection of Clear Force, controlling the strength of the entire body... plus a 15% speed boost and 25% mental acceleration..."

Power!

Unprecedented, surging power roared through his veins!

Hum!

Ye Li moved!

In an instant, a powerful Sha Qi washed over them; the seven felt as if they weren't facing a man at all!

It was as if a gargantuan beast was charging toward them!

He crashed violently into the seven-man encirclement!

At this moment!

It was not the seven men surrounding and killing Ye Li.

It was Ye Li alone trapping the seven of them in this courtyard!