Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament Begins

There, a thin, plainly dressed youth stood uneasily at the end of the line, looking completely out of place.

It was Zhang Xiaofan.

Li Xiaoyu noticed that while the other disciples of Big Bamboo Peak were chatting and laughing, no one paid any attention to Zhang Xiaofan.

Clearly, due to his slow progress in cultivation, life at Big Bamboo Peak was not easy for Zhang Xiaofan.

Seeing this scene, Li Xiaoyu felt as if he were looking at his past self.

His heart stirred, and on an impulse, he wove through the crowd and walked toward the Big Bamboo Peak contingent.

His actions immediately drew everyone's attention.

"What is he doing? Is he going to cause trouble for Tian Ling'er?"

"We're in for a show!"

Everyone assumed a spectacle was about to unfold.

However, Li Xiaoyu bypassed the visibly conflicted Tian Ling'er and came to a stop at the very back of the line, right in front of Zhang Xiaofan.

Seeing the head disciple of Morning Sun Peak approach him, Zhang Xiaofan became so nervous he didn't know where to put his hands.

"Li... Senior Brother Li," he stammered in greeting.

Li Xiaoyu looked into his honest eyes and offered a gentle smile.

"You must be Junior Brother Zhang Xiaofan, right?"

"Y-yes, that's me."

"I have heard that although you started late, you are diligent, hardworking, and perseverant—truly a model for the rest of us."

Li Xiaoyu's words made Zhang Xiaofan's eyes widen in disbelief.

This was the first time a senior brother from another peak had praised him so earnestly.

"Do not concern yourself with the gazes of others, nor pay heed to their words," Li Xiaoyu said, patting him on the shoulder in encouragement.

"Cultivation is the cultivation of one's own heart. As long as you hold fast to your original intent, one day you will make everyone look at you with new eyes."

"For the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, just do your best."

These words flowed like a warm current into Zhang Xiaofan's lonely, self-deprecating heart.

His eyes turned red.

"Thank you, thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Li!"

Zhang Xiaofan bowed deeply to Li Xiaoyu.

In this moment, within a Green Cloud Sect that had been largely indifferent to him—save for his master and mistress—he felt warmth from a fellow disciple for the first time.

Li Xiaoyu smiled, said nothing more, and turned to return to his own group.

This scene left the onlookers stunned.

The disciples of Big Bamboo Peak, in particular, exchanged confused glances, wondering what Li Xiaoyu was up to.

Tian Buyi, watching from the observation platform, furrowed his brows and thought to himself, This Li Xiaoyu, his motives are becoming increasingly inscrutable. What could he possibly be plotting by getting close to Xiaofan?

He did not know that Li Xiaoyu had no ulterior motives at all.

It was simply because he saw the shadow of his past self in Zhang Xiaofan, and out of a momentary sense of pity, he had acted on a whim.

Yet, this casual act of kindness would forge a solid friendship for him in the future.

Soon, the drawing of lots began.

Sixty-four participating disciples stepped forward one by one to draw their opponents.

Li Xiaoyu drew a disciple from Sunset Glow Peak, who was at the fourth level of the Jade Purity Realm.

Zhang Xiaofan, however, had incredible luck; he drew a bye in the first round.

This drew a wave of laughter and disdain from those around them.

"Hahaha, what a stroke of blind luck!"

"With his amateur skills, it's no wonder he got a bye!"

Zhang Xiaofan lowered his head even further.

Only Li Xiaoyu watched him, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes.

He could sense that although the spiritual energy within Zhang Xiaofan was chaotic, it contained two distinct and incredibly pure forms of energy.

This could not be explained away by the word "luck."

With a command from the sect leader, Daoist Daoxuan:

"The twentieth Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament of the Green Cloud Sect, officially begins!"

Above the eight arenas, sword lights and magical treasures of various colors shimmered, and the mystical glows of Daoist arts rose and fell in succession.

For the honor of their respective peaks and to prove their own worth, the young disciples unleashed all their skills.

Li Xiaoyu's first round of the competition was scheduled for Ring Number Three.

His opponent was Sun He, a disciple from Sunset Glow Peak, who possessed cultivation at the fourth level of the Jade Purity Realm.

Sun He looked at Li Xiaoyu across from him, his face filled with gravity and a fighting spirit.

He had naturally heard the rumors about Li Xiaoyu, but he did not believe that anyone could break through two realms in a single night.

Sun He believed that Li Xiaoyu must have used some secret technique to forcibly boost his cultivation, and that his foundation must be unstable.

Today, he would personally shatter the myth of this genius and earn glory for himself and Sunset Glow Peak.

"Sunset Glow Peak, Sun He, please enlighten me, Senior Brother Li!"

Sun He cupped his hands in a salute, then immediately summoned a crimson flying sword.

"Morning Sun Peak, Li Xiaoyu."

Li Xiaoyu returned the salute, his Autumn Water Sword still in its scabbard; he did not even intend to draw his blade.

Seeing this, anger instantly rose in Sun He's heart.

What utter contempt!

"Senior Brother Li, you are looking down on me too much!"

He roared in anger and channeled his spell.

"Red Snake Exits Cave!"

The crimson flying sword in his hand instantly transformed into a flaming serpent several feet long, which opened its blood-red maw and lunged toward Li Xiaoyu, carrying a wave of scorching heat.

This move was grand in scale and possessed considerable power.

The audience below the stage let out a series of gasps.

However, facing the surging fire snake, Li Xiaoyu's expression remained calm and indifferent.

He did not even move his feet a single inch.

Just as the fire snake was about to reach him, Li Xiaoyu slowly extended his right hand, pointing his fingers like a sword, and tapped lightly at the serpent.

"Disperse."

There was no earth-shattering power, nor any brilliant mystical light.

As his finger emitted a golden glow, the flaming serpent suddenly halted a foot in front of his fingertip.

Then, to the astonishment of everyone watching, the snake's body, composed of fire-attribute spiritual energy, began to collapse inch by inch.

Like a popped balloon, it dissipated with a boom, turning into a sky full of red light particles.

"Pfft!"

Sun He was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood as his face turned instantly pale.

His crimson flying sword let out a mournful cry and fell to the ground, its light dim.

With his spell broken and his spirit wounded, he no longer had the strength to fight.

Silence fell around the entire ring.

Everyone was so shocked by the scene before them that they were speechless.

It was over just like that?

One finger!

With just a single finger!

He had broken the opponent's spell and severely wounded him so casually, without even using a magic treasure.

This Li Xiaoyu?

He was terrifying!

"I accept your concession."

Li Xiaoyu withdrew his finger and said this to the fallen Sun He.

He then turned and walked off the ring under the dazed gaze of the officiating disciple.

Not until his figure disappeared into the crowd did the audience wake from their stupor, erupting into thunderous exclamations.

"My god! How did he do that?"

"Too strong! It's simply unreasonably strong! Is this really the fourth level of the Jade Purity Realm?"

"I feel that even when Senior Brother Qi Hao was at the fourth level, he definitely didn't have such flair!"

On the viewing platform, the expressions of the various branch heads were colorful and varied.

Shang Zhengliang's face blossomed with a smile, his hand trembling as he stroked his beard.

Tian Buyi of Big Bamboo Peak, however, had a face as dark as iron, and the teacup in his hand was nearly crushed to pieces.

He watched the figure walking calmly off the ring, and for the first time, a deep sense of regret welled up in his heart.

It seemed he had truly misjudged him.

Daoist Cangsong of Dragon Head Peak had a gloomy look in his eyes, though it was unclear what he was thinking.

At the very top, Daoist Daoxuan, the sect leader, finally had a flash of keen interest in his gentle eyes.

"This child is extraordinary."