Confrontation

Lu Xueqi's beautiful eyes coldly scrutinized him.

She could feel that the spiritual energy flowing through Li Xiaoyu was indeed the pure Taiji Profound Clarity Path, without a trace of the Demon Sect's sinister aura.

But she trusted even more the sensations of the Tianya Divine Sword in her hand.

Just now, the moment that gourd appeared, Tianya had conveyed the kind of sensation it only gave when encountering a high-grade spiritual treasure.

How could an ordinary gourd possibly stir Tianya?

"What is that in your hand?"

Lu Xueqi asked bluntly. The tip of the Tianya Sword in her hand lifted slightly, pointing at Li Xiaoyu.

A chilling sword intent instantly locked onto him.

Li Xiaoyu felt a stinging pain in his skin, as if countless tiny needles were pricking him.

He smiled bitterly to himself, knowing there would be no easy way out of this today.

Yet his expression remained unchanged.

"Senior Sister Lu, you jest. What magical treasure could I possibly have?"

Li Xiaoyu spread his hands. "It's just an ordinary gourd for holding wine."

He could never admit that the Immortal-Slaying Gourd existed.

"Is that so?"

Lu Xueqi's gaze grew colder. "Then would you take out your Wine Gourd and let your junior sister have a look?"

The atmosphere turned utterly frigid.

Li Xiaoyu knew there was no avoiding this now.

If he handed over the gourd, his secret would be exposed.

If he refused, he would probably have to fight this fairy of Small Bamboo Peak right here.

Slowly, he reached toward his waist.

But at that moment, Li Xiaoyu did something unexpected.

He did not take out the gourd. Instead, he bowed deeply to Lu Xueqi once more.

"Senior Sister Lu, this item was bestowed upon me by my master, who instructed me not to show it to others lightly. I ask you to forgive me."

Li Xiaoyu invoked Shang Zhengliang as a shield.

"What happened today was my recklessness. I disturbed you, Senior Sister. I will never come here again."

"Farewell."

With that, he turned around and began walking toward the valley exit, unhurriedly.

Beneath the moonlight, his departing figure seemed composed and calm, without a hint of fear or retreat.

Lu Xueqi froze.

She had not expected this junior brother, who had only reached the fourth layer of the Jade Purity Realm, to remain so calm under her interrogation and the threat of her divine sword—and even to turn and leave without hesitation.

Such courage and composure were beyond those of an ordinary disciple.

Watching Li Xiaoyu walk away, Lu Xueqi hesitated slightly, her hand tightening around the Tianya Sword.

She could sense that he meant her no harm.

Besides, he had already invoked an elder of his sect.

If she continued to pressure him by force and word got out, it would make Small Bamboo Peak seem like it was throwing its weight around and bullying someone younger.

During that brief moment of hesitation, Li Xiaoyu's figure had already vanished around the bend in the valley.

Lu Xueqi stood where she was. Moonlight fell across her exquisite face, casting a cool glow.

She lowered her gaze to the Tianya Divine Sword, still trembling faintly in her hand, then looked toward the direction in which Li Xiaoyu had disappeared and furrowed her brows.

"Li Xiaoyu."

She murmured his name, a strange glint flashing in her eyes.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the month was up.

That day was when Morning Sun Peak distributed its monthly cultivation resources.

Hundreds of disciples gathered at the Martial Arts Arena, their gazes all turning, almost in unison, toward the two people in the center.

Li Xiaoyu and Shen Tiandou.

A month ago, Li Xiaoyu had accepted Shen Tiandou's challenge in front of everyone. They had agreed to settle their dispute over resources today through a small internal sect competition.

Word of the matter had spread throughout Morning Sun Peak. Quite a few curious onlookers from the other peaks had even come to witness the true strength of this "returned prodigy."

On the raised platform, Shang Zhengliang wore a stern expression, though anticipation lurked in his eyes.

He had watched Li Xiaoyu's performance throughout the past month.

Aside from the time he needed for daily cultivation, Li Xiaoyu had barely left his quarters. His steady temperament had earned Shang Zhengliang's quiet approval.

Shang Zhengliang was also eager to find out how far his disciple had come.

Shen Tiandou stood in the arena, his face full of arrogance and disdain.

His cultivation was still at the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm, while a month ago, Li Xiaoyu had only just reached the fourth.

As far as he was concerned, one month could never make up for such a vast gap in cultivation.

He was sure to win today's battle!

Not only would he win, he would crush Li Xiaoyu beneath his heel with overwhelming force and show him who the true senior disciple of Morning Sun Peak was!

"Junior Brother Li, it's been a month. How well has your cultivation 'settled'?"

Shen Tiandou said mockingly.

Li Xiaoyu's expression was calm. He paid no mind to the sarcasm in Shen Tiandou's words.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. Everything is well."

The disciple in charge of distributing the resources watched the tense atmosphere and awkwardly stepped forward.

As usual, he first handed out the month's resources to everyone.

When it was Li Xiaoyu's turn, Shen Tiandou snorted and reached out to stop him again.

"Hold it!"

He looked at the disciple in charge and said with a false smile, "Junior Brother Wang, leave Junior Brother Li's share with me for now."

"Once the competition is over, we'll know whether it belongs to him or me."

He was leaving no room for compromise, determined to take both Li Xiaoyu's dignity and his resources in front of everyone.

The disciple in charge looked troubled and turned toward Shang Zhengliang on the raised platform.

Shang Zhengliang remained expressionless and gave a slight nod, tacitly permitting it.

Shang Zhengliang wanted to put pressure on Li Xiaoyu and see what potential he could unleash.

"If that's the case, then let's begin."

Li Xiaoyu had no objections and calmly walked to the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

Today, he would use his absolute strength to make everyone shut their mouths.

"Hmph, you don't know your own limits!"

Shen Tiandou sneered and also stepped into the arena, facing Li Xiaoyu from a distance.

Shen Tiandou drew his flying sword, a magical treasure.

It was a three-foot-long, gray-brown sword. The blade was heavy and emanated the dense spiritual energy of the earth element.

"Junior Brother Li, my Bedrock Sword weighs three hundred and sixty jin. When it strikes, it hits with the force of a thousand jun, so be careful!"

Shen Tiandou proudly showed off his flying sword.

Li Xiaoyu's gaze fell on the Bedrock Sword.

Its material and spiritual energy were plain to see in his eyes.

The Immortal-Slaying Gourd at his waist stirred with faint desire.

"Not bad grub."

Li Xiaoyu thought to himself.

He slowly drew the Autumn Water Sword bestowed upon him by his master, Shang Zhengliang.

"Clang!"

A clear, ringing sword note rang out.

The blade of the Autumn Water Sword was like a pool of clear water, emanating a light yet keen sword intent.

Quite a few knowledgeable disciples in the crowd let out soft gasps.

"That's the Autumn Water Sword! Isn't it one of the Chief Seat's swords?"

"The Chief Seat even bestowed the Autumn Water Sword on Li Xiaoyu? Looks like he really has high hopes for him!"

Seeing the Autumn Water Sword, the jealousy in Shen Tiandou's eyes deepened.

"Hmph! So what if you have a good sword? Magical treasures are ultimately external things. Your own cultivation is what matters!"

He let out a shout and stopped wasting words, launching the first attack.

"Take this! Mountain Crushing Style!"