Heaven's Favored Clash, the Beauty Nianjun

Azure Origin Academy is a first-class institution of learning. The academic atmosphere is open, and one can see students debating and discussing classics on the road, with the sound of reading aloud filling the air.

Li Xian asked, "Is there a restaurant in the Prefectural Academy?"

"Let's go out to eat," Liu Shu said hurriedly.

Li Xian said, "Alright." Knowing that the group was short of money and inevitably felt inferior, and with so many classmates in the Prefectural Academy, it would be unpleasant to be seen and gossiped about.

The five of them set off together. During the journey, Li Xian asked Xiao Fan about his daily life. Xiao Fan told him everything truthfully.

Life in the Prefectural Academy was peaceful, mostly spent reading, writing, and debating principles with others. Liu Shu, Hong Chengbing, and Lu Xuan's eyes dimmed. What Xiao Fan said was only one aspect of the Prefectural Academy.

"Brother Xian, this noodle shop is really good, let's eat here!" Lu Xuan pointed to a noodle shop at the end of a small alley.

The steam is fragrant.

Tables and chairs were set out from the alley, and many students were sitting there. They were all dressed in coarse linen clothes, their attire simple.

Li Xiaofan said, "Brother, this noodle shop has spicy oil-splashed noodles, which we don't have in Qingning County. It smells amazing!"

Lu Xuan, Hong Chengbing, and Liu Shu were all the same age as Li Xiaofan and came from similar backgrounds. They noticed that although Xiao Fan was handsome, his clothes and accessories were simple, unlike those of a wealthy family.

They also knew something about Xiao Fan's family situation. The four of them often chatted, and inevitably, they talked about their own family circumstances. Lu Xuan, Hong Chengbing, and Liu Shu were all in similar situations, poor but barely able to afford food and clothing. Li Xiaofan was the most destitute.

Furthermore, it is known that Prince Li Xiaofan sold himself into servitude to help Li Xiaofan with her studies. Although Prince Li Xiaofan must have been freed from slavery after Flower Plucker Xiao Fan, how could his family possibly become wealthy under such circumstances?

So they deliberately led the students to a noodle shop in a small alley outside the Prefectural Academy. The shop was run by an elderly couple who were kind-hearted and made cheap noodles. Prices in the Prefectural City were high, and thanks to the old couple, poor students could barely afford to eat.

Li Xian smiled and said, "The noodle shop is quite good, but since I've come all this way, I should eat something substantial. I'll stay in the Prefectural City for a few more days and come back another day to try the spicy oil-splashed noodles."

"This... but..." Hong Chengbing hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

Li Xian laughed and said, "Let's go, we should at least go to a decent restaurant and treat you to a big meal."

Hong Chengbing, Liu Shu, and Lu Xuan looked at Li Xiaofan. Li Xiaofan lowered his voice and whispered in his ear, "Brother, things in the Prefectural City are so expensive!"

"Don't worry, your brother has money." Li Xian patted Xiao Fan on the shoulder. His wife gave him a hundred taels of silver, and he owned more than ten properties in Qingning. He also prepared a hundred taels of silver with him when he went out. He figured he could manage to have a meal.

Unable to refuse, Hong Chengbing and his two companions had no choice but to follow. As they walked down the street, their faces flushed slightly, they looked down at their feet, feeling extremely uncomfortable. They constantly felt that someone was watching them.

Li Xiaofan was absent-minded, thinking, "My brother hasn't seen me in a long time, this meal will definitely cost him a lot of money. I have to find a way to get some money to cover his travel expenses."

Not long after.

They arrived at "Fragrant Treasure Tower". The restaurant was bustling with activity, and the waiters inside were all dressed neatly, at least without any patches. Seeing this, Hong Chengbing and his group became even more uneasy and dared not go inside.

Li Xian, with a poised and confident demeanor, stopped a waiter and asked, "Are there any seats available inside?"

The waiter was busy serving dishes. He quickly glanced at Li Xian's clothes, then at the four teenagers behind him, and was about to speak up and shoo them away. But then he sensed that Li Xian had an extraordinary air about him, and before he could finish speaking, he changed his tone and asked, "Sir, this is Fragrant Treasure Tower. Are you sure you haven't come to the wrong place?"

"We..." Liu Shu's cheeks flushed red, she was shy and embarrassed, feeling utterly ashamed.

Li Xian smiled and said, "We've come to Fragrant Treasure Tower."

The waiter said indifferently, "Alright, there are still tables upstairs. Please help yourselves, you five."

Fragrant Treasure Tower four stories high, but in the Prefectural City, it's not considered a particularly impressive restaurant. You could find a few similar establishments on Red Candle Street in Qingning County. Li Xian only had two hundred taels of silver, so he naturally acted within his means, even though it seemed like an unattainable sum to Hong Chengbing and the others.

There's an empty table on the second floor near the terrace.

After taking their seats, Li Xian called over the waiter and ordered the dishes. Braised pork, spicy beef... all hearty meat dishes. He estimated that it would cost around thirty taels of silver to prepare them.

This is already very expensive.

Li Xian laughed and said, "This restaurant is open for business. We are guests, here to eat, so what's there to be afraid of?"

"One may exhaust one's physical strength, but not one's ambition. If one's ambition is not exhausted, where cannot one go?"

Upon hearing this, the three gradually relaxed.

Just then, a voice was heard. "No, no." A man in a blue robe walked slowly over, holding a folding fan and gently fanning himself.

The man was dressed in magnificent clothes; upon closer inspection, he wore animal-patterned boots, a jade pendant and sachet at his waist, and his hair was adorned with pearls and jewels. His noble air was unmistakable.

Upon seeing this person, Liu Shu, Lu Xuan, and Hong Chengbing immediately changed color, revealing fear, while Li Xiaofan clenched his fists.

Immediately tense, Li Xiaofan and Liu Shu exchanged a glance and whispered, "Damn it, how did we run into him here!"

Li Xian, with his keen mind, smiled calmly and said, "May I ask what advice you have for me, brother?"

The man in the blue shirt said, "I wouldn't call it guidance, it's more like correction." He paced back and forth, speaking slowly, "Brother, that's even more inappropriate; I'm not your brother."

Li Xian said calmly, "Please speak if you have any corrections."

"You just said that poverty doesn't diminish one's spirit? That one can be at ease anywhere?" The man in the blue shirt said, "I say that poverty diminishes one's spirit. There are some places you are born to never set foot in."

"But some ignorant and arrogant people, wanting to peek into the magnificent palace, clamor that poverty doesn't diminish ambition, shamelessly trying to appear cultured."

"But he's a clown, jumping around and singing for money, utterly repulsive."

"Wang Cheng, don't go too far!" Li Xiaofan was very well-mannered and had a long-standing grudge against Wang Cheng. He had once won a debate against Wang Cheng, and Wang Cheng had held a grudge ever since.

Normally, Li Xiaofan would ignore Wang Cheng's provocations, but today Wang Cheng's words were directed at Li Xian, which greatly angered him.

Li Xian laughed and said, "Whether I can set foot here or not is none of your business, is it?"

"Naturally, it has nothing to do with it." Wang Cheng lightly waved his folding fan and said, "It's just that drinking in the same building as you people lowers our standards. If you don't leave, I... will never come to Fragrant Treasure Tower again."

He was followed by several companions. They had been invited to a gathering and were supposed to go to the private rooms on the third or fourth floor. However, Wang Cheng saw Li Xiaofan, Hong Chengbing, and the others, he deliberately provoked them.

The commotion quickly attracted the attention of the manager of Fragrant Treasure Tower, a middle-aged man named Hu Dazhen.

Liu Shu tugged at Li Xian's sleeve and said, "Brother Xian, let's go. We can't fight them. They're used to bullying us. If we back down, they'll ignore us."

Li Xian looked at Hu Dazhen and said calmly, "Shopkeeper, you've opened this shop to make a living; the reasons behind it are clear, and you can decide."

Hu Dazhen looked troubled, hesitated for a long time, and decided that peace was the best course of action. She then said:

"Alright then, Young Master Wang, my little shop just caught a four-tailed red fish. I'll make ginseng fish soup and give it to you for free. How about we call it even?"

Wang Cheng said calmly, "It seems I'm too proud to let Manager Hu kick us out."

Hu Dazhen chuckled, disliking the self-righteous Wang Cheng. Wang Cheng said, "Li Xiaofan, don't you have a wisp of Fortune? Why don't you consider the implications of this matter?"

The Great Martial Dynasty valued both civil and military affairs.

Martial arts can grant immortality, while literary arts can bring peace to the world.

Literature carries destiny and weighs principles. When principles are sound, destiny protects; when principles are flawed, destiny obstructs. But Li Xiaofan's Fortune weak, and this "scale" is too fragile to bear the weight of things.

"Manager Hu, since Brother Wang isn't qualified, what about me?" A thin man stepped forward and said calmly, "I, Wan Run, have lost my appetite just looking at them. I have absolutely no intention of looking down on them. I hope Manager Hu can mediate and handle this matter for me."

Wan Run crossed his arms, raised his head, and said arrogantly, "You should have heard of my reputation. I, Wan Run, am not very talented, but I recently entered the Heroes Ranking, ranking sixty-seventh."

Hu Dazhen's expression changed as she weighed the pros and cons in her mind: Although Wang Cheng was a wealthy young master, he lacked both literary Fortune and martial Essence Consumption. Hu Dazhen was mindful of his family background and would treat him with utmost respect. Even if she truly offended him, the loss wouldn't be significant, and he wouldn't be able to act recklessly. But Wan Run was different; a renowned martial artist who wielded considerable influence. If she offended him to death, the matter would be difficult to resolve.

He then said, "Since... that's how it is, then there's nothing I can do. My dear friends, sometimes matters of first impressions are truly hard to explain. I would appreciate it if you..."

"Wait a minute," Li Xian said, "Does being a master on the Heroes Ranking mean you can intimidate others with your power?"

"Snort!"

Wan Run had a very volatile temper. Even after revealing his identity, this fellow still dared to resist. Upon reflection, one couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain. He immediately said:

"I'm going to suppress you anyway, so what? I hate your 'poverty doesn't diminish your ambition' nonsense. Today, I'll not only suppress you, I'll also crush your spirit."

After saying this, Wan Run looked around, picked up a peanut with both hands, and shot it towards Li Xian's knees. Li Xian pinched the peanut between his two fingers, and with a "bang," the peanut shattered into powder.

Wan Run intends to display his skills and prowess. If he wins by punching and kicking, he may win, but it won't be impressive. He needs to integrate martial arts into other areas before showcasing them to earn praise.

He looked around, searching for something useful. Suddenly he spotted a gauze curtain. He walked over in a few steps, tore it down, rolled it up in his hand, and threw it at Li Xian.

The gauze curtain slapped shut as someone skillfully channeled their Inner Qi through it. If someone were to be covered by the curtain, it would feel as if they had been punched more than ten times in an instant.

This skill truly drew gasps of amazement from onlookers. "This is... Robe-Back Fist! Legend has it that those skilled in this style of boxing like to wear loose robes. Their fists are concealed beneath their sleeves, and with a flick of the sleeve, it's as if a thousand punches are delivered!"

"Impressive, impressive. Wan Run uses a gauze curtain instead of sleeves. The gauze curtain is lighter, yet it exudes such power. He has probably already reached Major Accomplishment mastery."

As the gauze curtain brushed against the ground, chopsticks snapped and dishes shattered... Li Xiaofan exclaimed in alarm, "Brother, be careful!"

Li Xian sneered, lightly tapping his Scabbard, and unleashed the Great Luo Saber Technique. Wan Run said, "Heh, the gauze curtain is as soft as water, and I hold it in my hand. How could your sword technique possibly cut through it? You can't even see through this section, it's truly..."

With a tearing sound, the gauze curtain was cleaved in two. The Inner Qi the curtain was indeed as soft as water. Li Xian's Great Luo Saber Technique was like a raging bull in a muddy swamp, difficult to parry.

However, Li Xian's addition of the "Clearwind Leg" principle completely changes things. Clearwind Leg emphasizes gentleness and silence. It is contrary to the opening and closing, vertical and horizontal principles of the Great Luo Saber Technique, but Li Xian Peak Mastery of both and can perfectly integrate them.

The water is soft, and the breeze is even softer.

Li Xian took another step forward, demonstrating the essence of the "Four Directions Fist." A single sword technique, yet it embodied the shadows of three Peak Mastery martial arts. In an instant, the sword shadows flashed frequently, and no one in the entire second-floor audience could open their eyes.

Wan Run was stunned. When he came to his senses, he suddenly felt a tightness in his throat as Li Xian lifted him up with one hand.

Li Xian said, "I think you've misunderstood."

"If you can really use the Genius Ranking to suppress others, then I'll have to suppress you in return."

Wan Run's face twitched, utterly humiliated. He immediately channeled his Inner Qi and retaliated with a backhand strike. Li Xian was greatly disappointed. "Heroes Ranking, is this all the strength you have?"

He was thrown directly out of the building. Wan Run gathered his strength and energy in mid-air to slow his fall, but he felt the force was too heavy to resist and crashed heavily to the ground.

Although he managed to land with both feet on the ground after assuming a fighting stance mid-air, his leg bones were fractured, making it difficult to move. Running was also impossible...

Li Xian, holding a teacup, went to the terrace, looked down at Wan Run, and took a light sip of tea. He said, "Please have some tea!"

Using the Inner Force the "Jade Luo Palm," he gently shook the teacup, shattering it into over a hundred tiny fragments. He then used the "Cloud-Soaring Hand" technique to shoot these fragments into Wan Run's body.

To date, all the martial arts techniques he has used have reached the Peak Mastery! It's a pity that those present haven't reached that level and are unaware of their power.

Wan Run in excruciating pain in both legs and couldn't avoid it.

He was covered in blood in an instant. Although the injury was not fatal, the broken porcelain, imbued with the force of the palm strike, was stuck in his flesh and blood, making it very difficult to remove!

It was a severe injury that involved pulling out tendons and tearing off skin. Li Xian sat down calmly, composed and unperturbed. All the onlookers around him were astonished.

Li Xian said, "Manager Hu, since Wan Run has no appetite, I've already asked him to leave. Shouldn't you serve us our food now?"

"Okay, okay..." Hu Dazhen nodded repeatedly, as if waking from a dream. After a moment, she suddenly came to her senses and asked, "May I ask... may I ask your name, great hero?"

Li Xian laughed and said, "What great hero? My name is Li Xian. Hurry up and serve the food!"

Hu Dazhen immediately went to the kitchen, pondering the name "Li Xian." Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "The Vicious Commandant... Li Xian? He's the Vicious Commandant Li Xian?"

Recalling Wan Run's miserable state, he muttered, "The reputation of Vicious Commandant not in his appearance. He may have a handsome face, but he commits heinous acts."

Wang Cheng fled in terror, but Li Xian was not about to let him go. She picked up a peanut and shot it at his pressure point, causing him to wail in pain.

Li Xian suddenly froze, realizing that his methods were becoming increasingly ruthless. There was a trace of his wife.

In the time it takes to eat a meal.

We were full and satisfied.

Li Xian escorted Xiao Fan back to the Prefectural Academy. As they descended from the restaurant, Li Xiaofan called out, "Sister Gu! Sister Gu!"

A beautiful woman in purple robes walked gracefully towards us, her features exquisite, her lips as red as cherries. Her mere presence was a rare and beautiful sight.

She was the same age as Li Xian, and thus lacked the maturity and ruthlessness of his wife, as well as her voluptuousness, sexiness, and captivating charm. But like a flower in full bloom under the blazing sun, the arrogance hidden between her brows made her the most beautiful and alluring woman Li Xian had ever seen.

Li Xiaofan smiled and said, "Brother, this is the wife I picked for you, Gu Nianjun!"

"Make the most of this opportunity. If you win her over, you'll be unstoppable in Yunan Circuit!"