"Awesome!"
Ye Li shouted in his heart!
Having someone powerful backing you up was just awesome!
If he had leveled up step by step, he would have had to watch this Elder's face for the next year. Who knew how much his breakthrough speed would have been delayed?
At the scene, the ordinary students of the Azure Dragon Gang had cleaned up the mess strewn across the courtyard.
Every bloodstained section of the courtyard, along with the shattered bricks and stones, had been replaced one by one.
As for those core students?
Zheng Tong had personally given the order. No one dared disobey.
They had long been dragged into the gang's prison for internal execution!
At the scene, Yang Shichang stared at Ye Li in shock.
"Brother Ye, you hid it from this old man far too well! Why didn't you tell me that day that you had become the Gang Leader's student?"
When Ye Li had come to ask him for an audience with the Gang Leader, Yang Shichang had thought it was merely a young man in the gang who did not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. It would do him good to crash into a wall.
Who would have thought that, without making a sound, this kid had truly become the Gang Leader's personal disciple?
The Gang Leader had no blood descendants, and his student had also died young several years ago. In other words, wasn't this kid the future Young Gang Leader???
Ye Li smiled and waved modestly. "Elder Yang, the matter still hadn't even taken shape that day. Master required me to break through to the middle stage of Body Tempering within four months before he would formally take me as his student. Today, I merely borrowed the Gang Leader's prestige. Nothing has been completely settled yet."
"The Gang Leader's word is worth a thousand gold. Since he did not directly deny it, he has already given his tacit approval."
Yang Shichang lightly patted Ye Li's right shoulder and said earnestly,
"The Gang Leader taking a student represents the face of our Azure Dragon Gang. I'll make arrangements immediately and announce it to every force in Guangming City. Before long, we'll hold a grand Apprenticeship Banquet for you!"
As he spoke, Yang Shichang gave Ye Li a deep look, secretly cursing himself for having misjudged him.
He had thought that, even if Ye Li's comprehension and talent were extraordinary, he was only on the same level as Lu Xiuyuan, who had a blue trait. Looking back now, he had truly looked at the wrong man.
His intestines had turned green with regret.
Had he known this kid's talent was so good, he would have secretly taken him as his student while no one was paying attention. Such an outstanding seedling had slipped right through his fingers.
Unfortunately, Ye Li had now become the Gang Leader's student. The wood had already become a boat.
Thinking of the talent he had let slip away, Yang Shichang sighed again and again. Under Ye Li's twitching gaze, he turned and left.
Watching Yang Shichang depart, Ye Li immediately ran over to his bargain-bin master, Zheng Tong, grinning from ear to ear as he thanked him sincerely.
"Thank you, Master, for passing on your power! You let me borrow strength to strike strength and suppress these petty rats!"
"Borrow strength to strike strength?"
Confusion appeared on Zheng Tong's face. "When did I lend you any?"
Ye Li smiled and clenched his fist. "Power!!!"
Zheng Tong: ...
As he spoke, Ye Li repeatedly shook his head and sighed. "The identity of the Gang Leader's student is really damn useful. Even Post-Heaven Realm Elders don't dare show me disrespect."
"Unfortunately, this power only lasts until tonight. Once they learn that I haven't formally become a student yet, the power Master lent me will immediately collapse."
"Ahh, when that time comes, I'll probably have to suffer people's contempt again~~~"
Looking at Ye Li, who was sighing and groaning, how could Zheng Tong fail to understand what he meant?
"Since I did not deny it, we'll make this status official. However, the Apprenticeship Banquet will have to wait until after you break through!"
Hearing that his power was going directly from temporary to permanent, a smile immediately spread across Ye Li's face. He bowed and cupped his hands. "Thank you, Master!"
"Mm." Zheng Tong nodded faintly, recalling the scene in the courtyard earlier.
What had left the deepest impression on him had not been those whom Ye Li had carved apart with his blade, but those men whose bodies Ye Li had smashed to pieces with his fists.
To shatter an opponent's arm into powder in a same-realm exchange of fists, even when Body Tempering martial artists possessed a Qi-Blood Network, was something even those at the middle stage of Body Tempering found difficult to accomplish.
This was either a strength-amplifying trait, or...
"To what level have you trained your martial skill?" Zheng Tong suddenly asked.
"The martial skill this student cultivates is called the Nine Chapters Fist Manual. I have already reached Clear Force perfection, with force flowing in perfect harmony," Ye Li answered honestly.
"As expected!"
Hearing Ye Li's reply, Zheng Tong nodded to himself.
Worthy of that heaven-defying comprehension which had, through instinct alone, perfected the Azure Dragon Force to such a degree. Compared to that, Clear Force perfection seemed normal instead.
Clear Force perfection was usually only attained when a martial artist had reached the peak of Body Tempering and could advance no further, then sought aid from martial skills and gained sudden enlightenment by analogy!
Still, Zheng Tong offered a reminder.
"Martial skills may give you the upper hand when fighting those of the same realm, but they are ultimately only clever tricks. Realm is the true path. Do not abandon the root to chase the branches."
"This student understands!" Ye Li nodded obediently.
He knew that in situations where an elder was giving guidance, even if he had objections, he could not talk back. Otherwise, he would be the one who suffered in the end.
However...
Ye Li thought of something else. After hesitating, he said, "Master, I'm afraid I can't stay in this courtyard anymore. Everyone in Guangming now knows I'm your student."
"For an all-round genius like this student—bright, supremely insightful, wise and brave, handsome and dashing—the enemies from the Poison Wolf Gang will likely bear a grudge and secretly come to assassinate me."
Ye Li phrased it tactfully, leaving Zheng Tong helpless.
The student he had taken in possessed remarkable talent, but his personality seemed somewhat unrestrained.
Still, he explained, "That is no problem. I'll send a core student at Body Tempering perfection from the gang to protect you. As for those in the Post-Heaven Realm? They won't dare make a move!"
As he spoke, coldness flashed through Zheng Tong's eyes.
"A female guard?" Ye Li asked, but immediately realized he was talking nonsense.
What talented woman would choose to join a gang instead of going to martial academies or sects?
Sure enough, hearing Ye Li's question, Zheng Tong said helplessly,
"The Dragon-Tiger Pill's medicinal effects are too fierce. If you truly can't hold it in, Spring Return Alley is full of them. There's no need to suppress yourself too much."
Ye Li nodded like a woodpecker, but inwardly he disagreed.
His Pure Yang Golden Body was incomparably precious. Whoever he gave it to would become the female lead. How could he bury it so casually?
Like in those single-female-lead stock-market novels, the male lead's Pure Yang Golden Body directly determined whether the heroine's stock rose or fell. He absolutely could not sell it off cheaply.
Casting Ye Li a silent glance, Zheng Tong said flatly, "Now that you have become my student, come find me after the Apprenticeship Banquet."
"Is there some secret inherited technique?" Ye Li asked expectantly.
Zheng Tong said, "Your master will take you to challenge dojos!"
"Challenge... challenge dojos?" Ye Li's mouth twitched. "Why?"
Zheng Tong said, "My student cannot be inferior to others. At the very least, you must be invincible among those of the same realm in Guangming! Otherwise, how will you convince the masses?"
"As for the Guangming City Youth Competition half a year from now, you'll be attending that too!"
Back then, he had fought his way up step by step behind the old Gang Leader in exactly this manner.
It was precisely that ferocity, maintained all year round, that had allowed him to reach his present position!
"Master, I don't even have a blue combat-type trait right now."
Ye Li said helplessly, "What if I lose? Wouldn't that be terribly embarrassing?"
Zheng Tong looked at Ye Li and suddenly said, "My trait is green as well! There is no need to feel inferior."
Under Ye Li's startled upturned gaze, Zheng Tong said word by word,
"If you lose, then you lose. As long as you're alive, it's fine. Go back and train properly, and next time I'll take you to fight again!"
"As long as you can win it back in the end!"
As he spoke, Zheng Tong clenched his right fist. "When you kill the Poison Wolf Gang's Deputy Gang Leader and avenge your senior brother, that will be the day you formally complete your apprenticeship!"
Hearing the ruthlessness in his master's tone, Ye Li asked curiously,
"Then what about the Poison Wolf Gang Leader?"
"If you can lure the Deputy Gang Leader away, I will personally make my move!"