The Lineage's Three Great Geniuses

Across the entire martial arts arena's ten platforms, there had been little suspense from the very beginning. Aside from a few outstanding disciples from the collateral branches, most of the spotlight had belonged to the main family's disciples!

But there were exceptions!

For example, on the second platform, a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth with an honest-looking face had defeated seven main family disciples in a row, becoming a dark horse! "This Li Datou is simply monstrous! Which one is this?"

With a scream, a young man fell from the platform and directly passed out.

"The tenth one already! And another main family disciple at that. Is this kid trying to defy the heavens?!"

At that moment, the youth on the platform still wore that simple-minded grin. Scratching his head, he said, "Is there anyone else who wants to spar?"

Everyone, especially those in the second platform's group, had dark expressions.

Even the two experts at Spirit Martial Tier Five did not dare step forward.

"Is this kid really at peak Spirit Martial Tier Four?!" These two were both relatively famous geniuses in the second group. One came from the main family, while the other came from one of the better-known collateral branches.

Yet they had clearly seen another person at roughly their level go up earlier, only to be blasted off the platform by a single punch from that grinning fool in fewer than three exchanges, passing out on the spot.

It would have been one thing if his realm were higher than theirs, but the key was that this kid was an entire realm below them! That was what made it so incomprehensible and maddening.

"This child is exceptionally gifted. The Blood Soul he condensed seems to be strength-oriented, but for him to reach such a degree... I truly look forward to seeing what his true Blood Soul will look like after he enters the Innate Realm."

In the stands, quite a few people noticed Li Datou, this dark horse who had suddenly emerged, and paid him greater attention.

There were also some impressive people on the other platforms who made a name for themselves in a single battle, but all of that was within expectations. The only exception was the sixth platform. When Li Dakui, a genius quite famous even within the main family, was sent flying by one punch, it immediately caused an uproar.

Before long, Li Datou of the second platform and Li Ye of the sixth platform became the two most dazzling dark horses at this stage.

The two of them had advanced without obstruction, with no one able to stop them. They easily swept through twenty consecutive victories and directly advanced to the next round!

Of course, Li Ye also noticed that aside from Li Datou, there was a figure on the first platform whose bearing was outstanding and whose attacks were elusive. It was Li Xuan, Li Huangran's son!

"Seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm. There shouldn't be much suspense."

Those grouped with Li Yue cursed their terrible luck. In addition to the freak Li Xuan at the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm, the first group also had three experts at Spirit Martial Tier Six and five at Spirit Martial Tier Five. It could practically be said that everyone else could only fight over the final remaining slot.

Sure enough, in the end, Li Xuan deservedly claimed twenty consecutive victories and took first place in the group. The other eight at Spirit Martial Tier Six and Spirit Martial Tier Five filled places two through nine. In the end, one lucky kid at peak Spirit Martial Tier Four seized the final chance to advance.

In half a day, all ten groups had determined their top ten.

"Great! At the very least, we can become Outer Disciples now and remain in the Lineage to cultivate!"

Quite a few collateral branch disciples secretly rejoiced, basking in the burning, jealous gazes of the hundreds around them. Naturally, many others remained calm-eyed, showing that they were not satisfied with their current results.

"Out of the ten groups, only four people managed twenty consecutive victories."

Li Ye had finished very early, so he had been observing all along. He discovered that apart from himself, only Li Xuan from the first group had used his powerful seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm to suppress everyone and win with ease. His speed had even been much faster than Li Ye's. Anyone who encountered him, even those at Spirit Martial Tier Six, was dealt with in one move.

Then there was the honest-looking youth from the second group. At peak Spirit Martial Tier Four, he had defeated three Spirit Martial Tier Five experts in succession and forcefully claimed first place. Those who had been happy for only a short while upon seeing that the strongest people in the second group were merely at Spirit Martial Tier Five immediately began cursing.

The other person was a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl from the tenth group. Her icy temperament was like ten-thousand-year frost. Yet her stunningly beautiful face drew plenty of attention, and in private, people gave her the nickname Iceberg Beauty.

"Peak Spirit Martial Tier Five, but her true combat strength isn't much weaker than an ordinary Spirit Martial Tier Six cultivator."

Li Ye had watched carefully. Although the Iceberg Beauty's realm was only peak Spirit Martial Tier Five, ordinary Spirit Martial Tier Six cultivators could not even last ten exchanges against her. As for that honest youth, though his realm was low, he had been born with divine strength. He was several times more terrifying than the Li Dakui Li Ye had defeated.

"One punch carries the force of a thousand jin! It seems his true combat strength is at least peak Spirit Martial Tier Six!"

Li Ye could not help putting away the pride that had begun to rise within him. He could fight above his realm, but that did not mean others could not. For so-called geniuses, besides cultivating faster than others, the ability to fight above one's realm was also a measure of talent! Otherwise, no matter how high one's realm was, it only meant one had cultivated longer than others.

"It's a pity I haven't seen Li Yue and the others."

Within the Li Family, there were truly three geniuses who were famous throughout Wuzhou City!

Among them was the current acting patriarch's son, Li Yue, who had briefly exchanged blows with Li Ye at Virtue Moon Tower!

Yet although Li Yue had entered the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm before turning seventeen, he could only rank last among the Li Family's three great geniuses!

"I heard that Li Yating, one of the three great geniuses who was chosen by the Heavenly Profound Sect and entered it back then, will be returning this time too. This is truly something to look forward to! I wonder what the outcome will be when the three great geniuses clash!"

"Not just that. Li Xuan has now entered the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm as well. He is fully qualified to contend with those three! In the future, there will no longer be three great geniuses, but four!"

Conversations drifted into his ears. Whether they were collateral branch disciples or young masters and ladies of the main family, everyone could only look up to those few Li Family geniuses who commanded the attention of all. After all, those people did not merely crush the younger generation. Even some elders of the older generation were only evenly matched with them.

"Three years ago, Li Mo suppressed the other two with his peak seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm at the age of fifteen. Three years have passed now. I wonder what realm he has reached!"

Li Mo! The Li Family's publicly acknowledged number one genius, hailed as the person most likely to catch up to the legend of Li Kainian. At the same time, he was the eldest son of the current acting patriarch!

"Hmph, Li Mo is indeed formidable, but don't forget that Li Yating was only fourteen three years ago. She was only slightly behind Li Mo, and in the end, she narrowly lost by a single move before being noticed by the Heavenly Profound Sect. Now that she has returned in force, it won't be easy for Li Mo to hold onto his position as the Lineage's number one genius!"

"Don't forget Li Yue! It must be said that the First Elder's two grandsons are both dragons among men and phoenixes among women. Li Mo alone suppresses everyone of his generation, while even his younger brother Li Yue ranks among the three great geniuses. It truly makes people jealous!"

Of course, it was obvious that among the three great geniuses, people still favored Li Mo and Li Yating. Li Yue was clearly a notch weaker than the two of them.

Li Ye clearly saw that in the stands, apart from some of the Lineage's elders, there were only three chairs occupied by people who were not elders. On one of them sat a young man around eighteen years old.

His face was cold and indifferent, his bearing arrogant. His gaze as he looked down upon the masses resembled that of an emperor high above all living things.

"Li Mo!"

Li Ye's heart tightened. He clearly remembered the man's disdainful, cold mockery from back then.

The other two chairs were empty. Li Ye knew they belonged to Li Yating and Li Yue. As the Lineage's publicly recognized three great geniuses, their status within the Lineage was equivalent to that of elders! Their standing was even higher than that of some stewards.

"The lowest rank in the Li Family is Outer Disciple, yet even that draws countless people like ducks to a stream. Above Outer Disciples are Inner Disciples, who can enjoy treatment equal to that of young masters from the main family. But before elders, they are still not worth much. Only people like the three great geniuses receive special attention from the Lineage! Even elders dare not do anything to them! In fact, they themselves possess strength no weaker than that of ordinary elders."

As such thoughts flashed through his mind, Li Ye's goal was not simply to become an Outer Disciple!

"At the very least, an Inner Disciple, perhaps even the top ten!"

Within the entire Li Family, among those under eighteen, there were several besides the three great geniuses who had reached the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm. Naturally, some had only recently broken through, such as Li Xuan and the like.

Thus, Li Ye's most conservative goal was to fight for a place in the top ten! Of course, his greater ambition was to challenge the Li Family's three great geniuses—and defeat them!

Only then could he make those people in the Lineage understand just how foolish they had been to drive him away back then!

Suddenly, Li Ye saw someone in the stands winking at him. Taking a closer look, he nearly choked—it was actually Xiao Qing!

"This kid came too. It seems Li Yating should have arrived."

Sure enough, before the Lineage's referee could announce the start of the next round, waves of exclamations and clamor rose from the distance.

Then several figures swept up into the stands. One graceful figure among them drew the attention of many people. There was also a young man in white following close behind.

"Yating, it has been many years since we last met. Your strength has become even harder to fathom."

Li Mo, who seemed to look down on everyone, finally reacted after another figure appeared beside him. His eyes narrowed as he spoke with hidden meaning.

Li Yating! Seeing that familiar lovely face, Li Ye did not know why, but warmth rose in his heart. Back then, that little girl who had not even turned fourteen had been the only person to stand up and protect him. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. The little girl of old had now grown into a graceful young beauty, drawing burning admiration from countless young people in the Lineage.

"Likewise." Li Yating smiled faintly. A tiny canine tooth added a touch of playful sweetness to her appearance, causing even Li Mo to lose himself slightly as a trace of greed flashed through the depths of his eyes.

But Li Yating had no time to look at him. Her beautiful eyes swiftly swept through the crowd below, as if searching for something, leaving everyone puzzled. Yet soon, she seemed to find what she wanted to see. A knowing smile appeared on her face, only to vanish again moments later.