Fan Wanyu's Invitation!

"The strength in my legs has clearly increased, and with it, my overall physical quality is improving as well."

Li Chuan attempted a whip kick.

"Crack!"

A distinct, deep indentation instantly appeared on the wooden post.

This post was not made of ordinary wood, but of sturdy Sinking Wood.

Previously, even when he channeled his Dark Force, a kick would leave only a tiny mark.

Yet now, he could kick a deep crater into it.

Li Chuan gained a new understanding of the lethality of the Thunder Shadow Leg.

If it could do this to Sinking Wood, what would it do to a person?

And if he were to cultivate it to the Great Completion stage, what kind of scene would that be?

After resting for a moment, Li Chuan decided to take a stroll outside.

Unexpectedly, he had barely reached the Outer Courtyard when he heard a disciple shouting with a pale face:

"Big trouble, big trouble!"

"The Rebirth Sect launched a desperate counterattack and summoned a Transforming Force demonic beast! The suppression team has suffered heavy casualties!"

"Senior Brother has six broken ribs, and Senior Brother Qin has a fractured right arm!"

The crowd erupted into an uproar.

This was no small matter!

The Martial Exam was only a month away.

With Senior Brother Tang Xiang having six broken ribs, even with the best medicinal herbs, it would take at least two months to fully recover.

It could be said that he was completely out of this year's Martial Exam!

As for Qin Feng's fractured right arm, while not as severe, it still meant he would be unable to practice martial arts for the entire month, even with careful treatment.

For a genius of his caliber, a month was enough to make a significant leap in strength!

"This Rebirth Sect actually has such capability?"

For a moment, everyone wore expressions of shock.

The clever ones among them even sensed the turbulent situation behind this simple piece of news.

Zhuang Beiwang heard the news and instinctively looked toward Li Chuan.

After the initial fear, a wave of relief washed over him.

It was fortunate that he hadn't let greed blind him into rashly joining the suppression team.

Otherwise... with his level of strength, he might have ended up in the belly of a demonic beast!

Li Chuan narrowed his eyes and looked toward the Outer Courtyard gate.

Liang Hangzhou led the way inside, his expression grim.

Behind him followed a disheveled-looking Tang Xiang.

He had already participated in the Martial Exam for two consecutive years, and last year he had ranked fifty-third.

He had been only a hair's breadth away from becoming a Martial Scholar!

He had prepared meticulously this year, and his strength had improved further.

Yet, he never expected to suffer such a grievous injury during a suppression mission that had seemed devoid of any danger.

Unable to participate this year, he would have to wait another year!

How many years does a person have?

In that instant, Tang Xiang regretted his past actions!

Behind Tang Xiang was Qin Feng, his eyes gloomy.

His right arm was wrapped in a white cast, and his clothes hadn't even been cleaned, still stained with blood.

Along the way, some Outer Courtyard disciples tried to greet him, but he ruthlessly scolded them away.

It was clear that this incident had dealt him a heavy blow!

In his imagination, he should have been sweeping through his enemies, taking the lives of several Rebirth Sect members with every strike.

He had expected to make a name for himself in the county and gain further favor from the magistrate.

But... everything had turned out differently than he had imagined!

From a distance, Li Chuan watched it all in silence.

Facts proved he was right.

What did it matter if a Transforming Force expert led the team?

A Transforming Force expert could, at most, protect the few people right beside them.

Those further away were simply beyond their reach.

Li Chuan shook his head and walked straight back to his own courtyard.

No matter what, improving his own strength was the most important thing.

"Once the Thunder Shadow Leg breaks through to the minor completion stage, it is no longer about practicing horse stances, but kicking wooden stakes."

Every kick had to be delivered with full force.

Thirty kicks constituted one set.

After finishing a set, he had to apply a specially made ointment to his legs.

Over time, his legs would become incredibly tough, and both his speed and power would see a significant increase.

When his legs were covered in a layer of calluses as hard as armor, the Thunder Shadow Leg would be considered at major completion.

Thinking of this, Li Chuan rolled up his pant legs and suddenly lashed out with a mid-air kick, sending the wooden stake swaying violently.

After alternating his legs and practicing thirty times for each, he took out the Hundred-Flavor Flower, Cold-Heart Grass, and Dragon-Sun Branch to prepare the ointment.

Once the ointment was applied, a strange sensation of alternating cold and heat immediately surged through his legs.

It felt cool and soothing at first, but later it became unbearably scorching.

However, during this process, Li Chuan could clearly feel his legs slowly improving.

After finishing one round, Li Chuan was just about to rest for a moment.

Suddenly.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The sound of knocking came, clearly not as cautious as Zhuang Beiwang, but rather casual.

Li Chuan had a guess in his heart.

After opening the door, it was indeed a familiar face.

Luo Zheng!

Luo Zheng held an envelope in his hand, grinning:

"A-Chuan, you definitely wouldn't have guessed whose letter this is."

"It's actually from Fan Wanyu of the Fan Family Winery. Do you still remember her?"

"Back when you were at the Bright Force stage, you wanted to propose to her, but she told you to wait a while."

"Perhaps news of your breakthrough to Dark Force has spread, and she now feels she can be with you, so she sent someone to deliver this letter to me."

Luo Zheng opened the envelope, clicking his tongue as he read:

"A-Chuan, she asks if you have time to meet at the Hundred-Flower Pavilion, and even states that she has reached the age of marriage..."

"This attitude is like a completely different person from before!"

"What do you think?"

Li Chuan was very surprised.

Do I look like such a pushover!

She looked down on me so much back then, and now she actually thinks I would still be interested in her?

It seems that whether in the past or the present, there is never a shortage of delusional women...

Li Chuan was uninterested and waved his hand:

"Senior Brother Luo, help me decline it."

Luo Zheng said indignantly:

"That's what I think too. This woman is not worth it. What does she take you for, someone she can summon at will?"

"I'll go write her a reply right now!"

Fan Family Winery.

Fan Wanyu lowered her head to fiddle with the koi in the pond, looking somewhat distracted.

"Sister, what are you thinking about?"

Her younger brother, Fan Yang, asked curiously.

"I just sent someone to deliver a letter to Li Chuan, inviting him to meet at the Hundred-Flower Pavilion, but now I'm having some regrets."

Fan Yang secretly curled his lip:

"What are you regretting? It's already a blessing that he's even interested in you!"

Fan Wanyu knitted her willow-leaf brows.

"How am I not good enough for him? If anything, this is me marrying down."

Fan Yang was left speechless.

Why was his sister so incredibly confident?

In any case, he would never marry someone like her...

Of course, he didn't dare say that out loud.

"Miss, Li Chuan has replied!"

Fan Wanyu looked listless, not particularly expectant.

"Fan Yang, open it and take a look for me."

In her view, she had personally lowered herself to invite Li Chuan.

How could she possibly be rejected?

Fan Yang rubbed his hands together and tore open the letter, his expression shifting rapidly from indifference to astonishment.

Fan Wanyu waited for a few moments, but when Fan Yang didn't speak, she turned her head and frowned.

"What are you looking at for so long?"

Fan Yang stammered, "Sister, he said... he said you shouldn't look for him again."

"What?!" Fan Wanyu's voice spiked instantly.

A nameless fire surged within her, rushing from the tips of her toes straight to her brain.

She had personally stepped forward to extend an invitation; how dared Li Chuan... refuse!

After taking several deep breaths, Fan Wanyu gradually calmed her rage.

"Hmph," she let out a cold snort through her nose. "Refusing actually suits me just fine. I was only willing to give him this chance because his family background was clean."

"Now that he hasn't seized it himself, he has no one to blame but me!"

"Perfect, I'll go find my Brother Wu, this year's Martial Scholar!"

Fan Yang pursed his lips.

Brother Wu, Wu Yanshu, was his sister's childhood sweetheart.

A master of Dark Force with formidable strength, he had participated in the Martial Exam last year and ranked fifty-first, missing the title of Martial Scholar by only a single spot.

After preparing for another year, it was practically a sure thing.

As long as he had a bit of luck and didn't run into any opponents who were too overpowered...