Conflict

At the Zhao Clan's Back Mountain, Zhao Li used his own understanding to sort through the path of cultivation on the continent.

After tens of thousands of years of development in Dou Qi cultivation, some people of exceptional talent attained enlightenment in a single day, grasped the Power of Rules, and cultivated to become Dou Zong or Dou Zun; some dazzling geniuses reached the end of the road opened by their predecessors and continued to carve out the Path Ahead, cultivating to become Dou Sheng or Dou Di, opening spaces, transforming their bloodlines, and benefiting their descendants; and some, as the environment changed and cultivation was no longer like before, had no choice but to find another way, gradually expanding and supplementing the cultivation path, using new realms to transition step by step...

By now, Dou Qi cultivation had developed to its peak and had a complete system. Dou Disciples stepped onto the path of cultivation; Dou Masters, Da Dou Shi, and Dou Ling controlled Dou Qi; Dou Wang and Dou Emperors made use of Heaven and Earth Energy; Dou Zong, Dou Zun, and even Dou Sheng controlled rules. As for Dou Di, perhaps they could define rules to a certain extent...

Thinking of this, Zhao Li raised his hand and pinched the space between his brows. After all, these were only guesses he had made by combining the information written in the books with what he knew.

Since transmigrating here, Zhao Li had already understood that this was a real world. What had been written in the books was, after all, only one corner of the world...

"The Way Follows Nature. Perhaps I can also open up a cultivation method and become the Ancestor of a Dao..."

Zhao Li murmured, then shook his head and gradually calmed down.

"Though roads are indeed made by people walking them, what virtue or ability do I have to compare with the wisdom passed down generation after generation by countless dazzling talents of an entire world? Perhaps, while climbing the mountain, in order to see scenery I've never seen before, I will also walk out a path of my own..."

Zhao Li withdrew his thoughts.

"As for now, I should keep my feet on the ground and cultivate seriously first. Let's set a small goal first: cultivate to Dou Sheng."

Zhao Li corrected his mindset, set himself a small goal, then got up and left.

Inside the Training Ground, two juniors from the Zhao Clan's Collateral Branches were sparring. They exchanged blows back and forth, fighting intensely, while the crowd below the stage roared and loudly cheered for the people sparring onstage.

Suddenly, a cry of surprise came from the crowd. The young man who had originally been suppressed to the point where he was about to fall out of the arena suddenly shouted:

"Mysterious Yellow Palm!"

Mysterious Yellow Palm, Yellow Tier High-Grade. It could be practiced even at the Dou Qi stage.

His sudden shout did indeed make his opponent hold back a bit of strength and guard against his attack. Who would have thought that the young man would suddenly dart forward, tightly wrap his arms around his opponent, and give him a solid body slam, pinning him beneath him.

"I won. You landed outside the arena before I did!"

"You cheated. I was careless and didn't dodge."

After Zhao Li returned from the Back Mountain, he casually ate something to fill his stomach, then came to the Training Ground to study Dou Techniques.

Zhao Li was not interested in the spar between the two of them either. Holding a Scroll, he read by himself off to the side. Hearing the words from over there, Zhao Li looked over. What he saw was indeed not that swollen face from his previous life, and then he inexplicably laughed.

Looking at the clansman who had lost but refused to accept it, Zhao Li thought of "Master Ma," who had stayed popular for quite a long time in his previous life because of the antics of ridiculous netizens. Immediately, Zhao Li's restless heart stirred again. He quietly slipped into the crowd and said:

"Young people have no martial virtue, launching sneak attacks! Is that good? That's not good! I hope you take care of yourself."

As soon as his words fell, continuous loud laughter erupted below the stage. For a moment, the Training Ground was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Having satisfied the wicked amusement in his heart, Zhao Li instead felt Clarity of Mind. With a smile on his face, even his thoughts seemed to become much more active. Suddenly, inspiration flashed, and he thought of the three words summarized by Master Ma: "Receive, neutralize, release." In this world where cultivation truly existed, that was genuine cultivation theory. Thinking of this, Zhao Li gained another insight.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Li finished absorbing this insight and was very satisfied.

This sudden enlightenment allowed Zhao Li to successfully integrate the theory of "neutralization" into his use of Dou Qi. Perhaps it still could not achieve the effect of moving a thousand catties with four ounces, but it could already let him borrow force to counter force, adding ten percent to his Combat Power.

"Zhao Li, I heard you broke through to Dou Disciple. I haven't seen you fight much all these years. Dou Techniques are true methods for real combat. If you don't master them skillfully, in battle, defeat is a small matter. One bit of carelessness and you'll lose your life. I'll practice with you and train you a bit."

It was a bit player. Seeing Zhao Li cultivating off to the side for a long time and seemingly making another breakthrough, envy and jealousy surged up together, and he stepped forward to provoke him.

Zhao Li looked at the person who had come over and had some impression of him. It seemed he had seen him at the clan Coming-of-Age Ceremony two years ago. At that time, he had already been a Three-Star Dou Disciple. Zhao Li sighed inwardly, feeling that young people these days really were impetuous. Perhaps they had some talent, but they would not cultivate properly and were always thinking about stepping on others to Show Off and Slap Face. Why bother?

"Huh? Right, right, right. Everything Cousin says is right. I'll first thank Cousin for your goodwill, for being willing to come up and let me show—practice Dou Techniques with me."

Zhao Li agreed, but he only wanted to put what he had just gained into practice. He did not have the slightest thought of slapping anyone's face.

Seeing Zhao Li's seemingly slow reaction, Zhao Ming felt somewhat disdainful in his heart, but with his mouth he said:

"It's only right, only right. I just hope you'll have an extra bit of protection when you go out to temper yourself in the future."

Naturally, some people in the crowd noticed Zhao Li and Zhao Ming. As they exchanged words with one another, their gazes toward Zhao Ming revealed one part complicated feelings, three parts indignation, and five parts disgust.

"Zhao Ming is using that same excuse of 'for your own good' to suppress someone else again, isn't he?"

"He's really shameless. He only knows how to target us younger ones. If he's capable, why doesn't he go spar with Sister Hong Yu and the others?"

"He's thick-skinned, not stupid. Why would he go looking to get beaten?" someone answered, while also casting a probing look at the person who had said that. "This guy can't be one of those hotheaded fools, right?"

"Do any of you know who the victim is this time?"

"Seems to be Zhao Li. I've seen him at the testing grounds."

"That Genius from the clan 'legend'? I heard he broke through to Dou Disciple. Maybe he's been working hard at cultivation all along..."

"Heh, Zhao Ming really knows how to pick them. Maybe he can even satisfy his vanity by defeating a chosen one!"

"Who knows? Don't even mention it. Back then, I was still naive enough to think he was sincerely thinking of me and feeding me moves..."

"Who wasn't..."

Seeing Zhao Li and Zhao Ming step onto the arena, another ring of people gathered below the stage. Young people were always full of energy and loved to join in the excitement.

On the arena, Zhao Li naturally did not know what the crowd was discussing, but he could feel many gazes falling on him. He looked around below the stage and discovered that most of his clansmen's gazes toward him held a trace of sympathy. Zhao Li twisted his neck, gathered his focus, stopped thinking about anything else, and looked at Zhao Ming.

"Zhao Li, don't worry. I'll hold back and won't hurt you. It's just that this is a fight, after all, and fists and feet have no eyes. I'm afraid some pain of the flesh will be unavoidable."