Through the First Trial!

That distinct fist mark stood out glaringly amid countless marks of varying sizes and depths!

"Impossible! How could a piece of trash like him possibly leave a mark this deep?!"

A cry of shock rang out, followed by Li Xuan's younger brother shouting in disbelief. The others looked as though they had seen a ghost. Li Xuan even reached out personally to touch the fist mark, as if trying to confirm whether it was real.

"Trash! What shameful trick did you use to accomplish this?!"

"Li Yuan! Enough! Shut your mouth!"

Li Xuan's younger brother was named Li Yuan. Though still young, he had already gained considerable fame within the Lineage. Unfortunately, it was not a good reputation. He was notorious for being arrogant, domineering, and looking down on everyone.

Sure enough, even after Sixth Lord Li rebuked him, he refused to relent and pointed straight at Li Ye's nose as he cursed.

"You're nothing but trash. Don't think this young master doesn't know what wishful scheme you're plotting! You just want to return to the Lineage, don't you? You actually tried to muddle through with such tricks! Too bad you can't fool everyone's bright eyes!"

Li Yuan's still-youthful face was brimming with smug delight, as though he had performed some great service. He continued triumphantly, completely failing to notice Sixth Lord Li's face darkening by the moment.

Even Li Xuan, his older brother, was looking at him with an icy gaze that made one's heart tremble.

"Trash! You think you can leave a fist mark on obsidian as hard as iron? Then this young master can smash the obsidian to pieces with one punch! Hahaha!"

This immediately drew laughter from many people, though a small number exchanged looks that seemed to convey something.

"Fuck off!"

Li Ye could not be bothered with this little brat. Unfortunately, those words instantly ignited Li Yuan's temper!

"Trash! What did you just say? Say it again if you dare!"

Who was Li Yuan? He was the youngest son of Li Huangran, the Third Lord! Even among the main family's descendants, his status was extraordinary. When had anyone ever dared speak to him like this?

"Didn't your father teach you any manners? What an uncultured thing!"

Li Ye had not the slightest favorable impression of Li Yuan. Forget that he was Li Huangran's son—even if he were not, his arrogant, overbearing, utterly self-important behavior from beginning to end, along with constantly calling Li Ye trash, was enough for Li Ye to feel no goodwill toward this cousin of his.

"You're courting death!"

Though he had only just turned fourteen, Li Yuan's temper was anything but small. He flew into a rage at once and threw a punch at Li Ye. The blow whistled through the air with considerable force.

Seeing Li Yuan actually make a move, a cold glint flashed through Li Ye's eyes. He easily caught his fist, twisted it behind his back, and casually slapped him across the face!

Smack!

The crisp slap rang out like a bomb, leaving everyone present with their mouths hanging open!

Li Yuan himself was stunned by the blow as well. Only afterward did he let out a miserable scream and begin roaring furiously!

"Trash! I'll kill you!"

Smack!

Another slap landed, but this time, it was not Li Ye who struck. It was Li Xuan—Li Yuan's older brother!

"Enough! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough? Get back!"

Li Xuan's face was frighteningly grim. Li Yuan was so frightened that he did not dare act out again, shrinking his neck as though he feared his older brother greatly.

"Brother, this trash—"

"Shut up! Get back! Otherwise, I'll personally make sure you lie in bed for a month!"

Li Xuan's low voice made Li Yuan slink back to stand among the dumbfounded main family descendants. Yet he still shot Li Ye a vicious glare, his eyes filled with endless resentment.

After disciplining his younger brother, Li Xuan changed his expression as quickly as turning a page. A gentle smile appeared on his face as he turned to Li Ye and smiled apologetically. "Third Brother, I hope you can forgive him. My foolish younger brother is young and ignorant. Please be magnanimous over whatever offense he has caused. Once we return today, I will certainly teach him a proper lesson!"

Third Brother!

What a long-lost form of address!

Among this generation, Li Ye should have been ranked third. He had once been the lofty Third Young Master of the Lineage! Yet how many years had it been since he had last heard that title?

Li Xuan's actions left not only Li Yuan and the main family descendants dumbfounded, but everyone else as well.

As the saying went, one did not strike a smiling face. Though Li Ye had not a shred of goodwill toward Li Xuan, he could not flare up. Moreover, he saw everything clearly. Li Xuan's angry slap at his younger brother had seemed like discipline, but in truth, he had saved Li Yuan's life! Otherwise, Li Ye would not have settled things with merely a slap. At the very least, he would have left Li Yuan with torn muscles and broken bones! The pain would certainly not have been any less than what they had inflicted upon him back then!

A smile appeared on Li Ye's face. As though nothing had happened, he said, "Fifth Brother, there's no need to take it so seriously. It was just a child being mischievous. I wasn't seriously arguing with Fourteenth Brother. We were only fooling around."

"Then I must thank Third Brother!"

The two immediately exchanged false smiles, leaving the onlookers staring in astonishment.

Only Li Yuan glared at Li Ye resentfully. If looks could kill, Li Ye would likely have been killed countless times already!

Only then did Sixth Lord Li suddenly come back to his senses. He gave Li Ye a deep look, his gaze incomparably complicated.

Yet he took a deep breath and announced in a clear voice, "Li Ye has passed the first round!"

Whoosh!

This result brought the matter to a close, but no one knew what kind of repercussions today's events would bring.

The news that the former trash Third Young Master had cast off his disgraceful name, returned to the Lineage, and passed the first round of testing spread in an instant like a swarm of locusts sweeping across the land.

Those were matters for later. After announcing the result, Sixth Lord Li dismissed the others, signifying that they had lost their chance for this year. Of course, they would not leave immediately. The New Year was only two days away, a time for everyone to gather together, and the New Year tournament was only now truly beginning!

The first round had merely been a warm-up. The true highlight would be tomorrow's grand event, where all Lineage descendants who passed the first round would compete against the elite descendants who had not needed to take the test in the first place, fighting for their rankings!

Li Ye left as well. He had already achieved his purpose today. He believed that the old immortals within the Lineage would soon learn what had happened.

"The matter with Li Yue must have been concealed. But I want to see whether certain people can still cover the sky with one hand after today!"

He knew very well who had truly wanted to drive him out back then! He was in no hurry. Today was merely the beginning. Tomorrow would be when the real show began!

Watching Li Ye's departing back, Li Xuan's previously smiling face instantly darkened.

"Brother!"

"Shut up! We'll talk after we return!"

After the two brothers left, Sixth Lord Li stood alone before the enormous obsidian stone, staring blankly. As he gazed at the incomparably distinct palm print in the center—one that had remained unsurpassed for many years—scenes from the past flashed continuously through his mind like lantern slides.

"In the blink of an eye, nearly thirty years have passed."

For some reason, a warmth no one had ever seen appeared in his smile. As though reminiscing, he murmured to himself, "Back then, I was only a child, while Second Brother had already risen like a meteor, at a speed that left those old fellows in the Lineage dumbfounded. But they treated you like that..."

Shaking his head, he looked at the fist mark beside the palm print, one of nearly equal depth. He reached out and touched it, softly murmuring, "Just as expected, he is your son, Second Brother! It seems everyone, myself included, was wrong! Terribly wrong! But I hope that this time, those old fellows will not make the same mistake they did back then!"

As he spoke, Sixth Lord Li's eyes suddenly turned cold. Yet in the next moment, his body trembled, as though he had sensed something, and a smile curved across his lips.

"Fourth Brother, since you're here, there's no need to skulk about."

The next moment, a burst of hearty laughter rang out.

"Hahaha! Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother! Everyone says that among our generation, Second Brother had the most monstrous talent, Eldest Brother was the most steady, Third Brother was the most sly and sinister, I was the most wild and unruly, Fifth Brother ignored worldly affairs and devoted himself to seclusion, while you amounted to nothing. Among the six of us brothers, your talent stone was the worst. But now it seems that aside from Second Brother, Sixth Brother, you are the Lineage's greatest surprise!"

A towering figure appeared directly upon the martial platform. Who else could it be but the Li Family's Fourth Lord, Li Hou Nian, who had just returned to the Lineage?

Hearing this, Li Xuanji merely smiled without speaking. Where was his usual unsmiling manner now? Upon seeing Li Hou Nian, he immediately stepped forward and embraced him tightly!

"Fourth Brother! You're finally back!"

At this moment, there was no need for words between brothers. Everything was understood without being spoken.

"If I didn't return, this family would truly become a place of foul winds and murky smoke!"

Li Hou Nian snorted coldly. In the half day since his return, he had evidently learned quite a bit about what had happened during the years he had spent away, especially one matter that caused a blaze of fury to rise in his chest.

Li Xuanji gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He did not respond, merely asking, "Fourth Brother, how long are you planning to stay this time?"

"There are some matters that I think it is time to settle!"

Though he had not answered the question directly, Li Xuanji could only smile bitterly again and let out a sigh.

At that moment, Li Hou Nian also saw the marks on the obsidian. Like Li Xuanji earlier, a look of reminiscence appeared on his face. When he saw the distinct fist mark, as though it had just been stamped there, he asked, "That boy left it?"

Li Xuanji nodded without saying anything more.

"Hahaha!" Li Hou Nian laughed heartily, sharp light flashing repeatedly through his eyes. "Good! It seems tomorrow will be quite exciting!"

But in the next moment, his gaze darkened. "Sixth Brother, it is inconvenient for me to act. Keep watch! Watch out for certain people's little tricks!"

After hesitating briefly, Li Xuanji nodded. "I understand! Unless it is the Supreme Grand Elder, I will ensure that he appears safely in the arena tomorrow!"

"With those words from you, I can rest easy!"

With that, Li Hou Nian strode away. Li Xuanji also had the obsidian stone taken back and returned on his own to make preparations.