Battle Against the Eighth-Ranked Inner Sect Disciple!

"Nephew Xiao, you jest. This boy was not previously an Inner Disciple—not even an Outer Disciple. How could he have cultivated a Combat Technique that only a tiny number of Inner Disciples are qualified to cultivate?"

Quite a few people nodded at those words. After all, this was not some low-grade Yellow Rank battle skill one could casually find on the streets. Even among inner sect disciples, only a select few were qualified to cultivate a high-grade Yellow Rank battle skill.

How could a youth at the peak of Spirit Martial Tier Four, who had only entered the ranks of outer sect disciples this year, possibly have learned it?

Li Hou Nian's brows furrowed slightly. To be honest, even he found this point rather troublesome. Li Huangran had seized precisely upon this weakness, intending to condemn Li Ye beyond redemption.

"Is that all?"

Yet, contrary to everyone's expectations, Xiao Qing burst into laughter upon hearing this. Ignoring Li Huangran's unsightly expression, he shook his head and swept his gaze over the crowd as if looking at idiots before loudly declaring, "Isn't it just a high-grade Yellow Rank battle skill? Such trash can be learned with a single glance. There's no need at all to steal a battle skill manual!"

An uproar erupted; one word stirred a thousand waves!

"What arrogant words!"

With an angry snort, an inner sect disciple glared darkly at Xiao Qing, who had spoken so wildly. This man ranked fifth among the inner sect disciples. The terrifying aura of the eighth level of the Spirit Martial Realm that he exuded was enough to make even some enforcement elders sigh in admiration.

Unfortunately, Xiao Qing paid him no heed. Instead, he turned to Li Ye and asked, "Little brother, was what I just said correct?"

How could Li Ye fail to understand? He immediately nodded in agreement. "This brother is absolutely right. I truly learned Frost Fist after watching it once just now. There was no need to steal a Combat Technique manual and cultivate it in secret."

The instant those words came out, the crowd erupted once more.

"What utter nonsense! How could a high-grade Yellow Rank battle skill be learned after one viewing? Third Elder, these two are spouting nonsense. Do not believe them! Especially this man—his origins are unknown. Perhaps he is an enemy sent by one of the other two great families! He must be captured!"

One enforcement elder snorted furiously, and most of the others wore much the same expression.

However, Li Huangran took a deep breath and stared intently at the seemingly rough Xiao Qing before him. How could he not know of Xiao Qing's relationship with Li Ye? But he understood even more clearly the identity behind this young man. Let alone himself, even the entire Li Family—no, even if all three great families of Wuzhou City were added together, they would not equal even one finger of the Heavenly Profound Sect!

Casting an indifferent glance at the beautiful young woman sitting there as though none of this concerned her, Li Huangran understood. Li Hou Nian alone was enough to make success uncertain for him. Now, with these two youngsters added to the mix, he knew the situation could not be forced.

So be it. There will be other chances! There is no need to fall out with the Heavenly Profound Sect over such a trivial matter!

With that thought, Li Huangran's expression abruptly changed. A trace of a smile resurfaced, and like a kindly elder, he patted Xiao Qing's shoulder and nodded. "What Nephew Xiao said is not without reason. However, you come from a place like the Heavenly Profound Sect, so naturally you disdain a high-grade Yellow Rank battle skill. Others may not be the same as you."

"Then let this little brother prove it."

Xiao Qing looked utterly unconcerned, leaving the others unable to read him. It was obvious that he had been helping Li Ye out of trouble earlier, yet now he was following Li Huangran's lead. Why?

Only Li Ye knew that in that instant, the two had exchanged a knowing glance. It was clearly Li Ye who had deliberately prompted Xiao Qing to answer this way.

"Good! Since Nephew Xiao says so." Li Huangran turned to Li Ye, a faintly sinister air in his voice. "Li Ye, if you can prove that you can learn a high-grade Yellow Rank battle skill with a single glance, then this matter shall be dropped!"

"How am I to prove it?"

At this point, the two enforcement elders had already released him. Facing Li Huangran, Li Ye's voice was icy, and his gaze held not the slightest fear.

"Very simple! Consider the battle just now your victory over Li Yuan. But in the next battle, you will directly challenge one of the inner sect disciples! Li Ye, every inner sect disciple has cultivated at least one high-grade Yellow Rank battle skill. As long as you can learn your opponent's battle skill during the exchange, that will suffice!"

Li Ye was also greatly startled by those words.

Directly challenge an Inner Disciple! He had only won four or five matches in a row just now. Even counting this match against Li Yuan, he still had not met the requirements to challenge an Inner Disciple.

Yet no one objected. Judging from what had happened earlier, few Outer Disciples could contend with Li Ye. Challenging an Inner Disciple was not overly excessive.

Li Yuan, however, was immediately unwilling upon hearing his father's decision. He shouted, "Father! I refuse to accept this! I haven't lost yet!"

"Shut up!" Li Huangran snorted coldly and cast an icy glance at his youngest son. Li Yuan immediately slunk down from the arena in resentment. Yet as he passed Li Ye, he said in a low voice, "Trash! Let's see how you die later!"

Li Ye ignored him completely and simply waited for the outcome.

"Any Inner Disciple?"

Inner sect disciples naturally varied in strength. The powerful ones, such as the top six, had all entered the eighth level of the Spirit Martial Realm. Their strength rivaled that of ordinary elders! Even Li Huangran was merely at the peak of the eighth level of the Spirit Martial Realm!

The weaker ones, those at the very bottom, were only at the peak of Spirit Martial Tier Six. Though they were much stronger than outer sect disciples, they were not impossible to surpass.

"Of course not! I watched your performance in the previous matches. Among the Outer Disciples, no one is your match! In that case, ordinary Inner Disciples would hold no challenge for you."

Li Huangran's words surprised quite a few people. Everyone had already seen that there was an irreconcilable conflict between Li Ye and the Third Elder. Those who understood the situation were even more astonished, unable to comprehend why Li Huangran was praising Li Ye so highly.

Only Li Ye knew that Li Huangran was a weasel paying respects to a chicken—he meant no good.

Sure enough, Li Huangran then said with a cold smile, "Li Wei, you will fight him!"

Li Wei!

A cold glint flashed through Li Wei's eyes when his name was called. He had not expected Li Huangran to choose him!

The others also cried out in surprise. Although Li Wei had previously lost to Li Xuan and dropped one rank among the inner sect disciples, he was still ranked eighth! His cultivation had reached the peak of the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm, and his strength was incomparably terrifying. Even among the enforcement elders, few could defeat him.

"They're actually making the eighth-ranked Inner Disciple, Li Wei, fight him!"

Though Li Wei was inwardly furious—having just been defeated by Li Xuan, he was now being named to fight an outer sect disciple at the peak of Spirit Martial Tier Four—he dared not voice his anger before the Third Elder.

However, he directed all that resentment straight at Li Ye.

"Come out! Receive your death!"

Leaping onto the arena, Li Wei's eyes brimmed with killing intent.

As one of the strongest disciples ranked near the top of the Inner Disciples, he had always believed that if not for the suppression of his realm, he could have even challenged the top three! He was not the least bit inferior to the three great geniuses.

First, his defeat at Li Xuan's hands had caused him to lose face. Now, he had to act against an Outer Disciple three realms beneath him, making him feel a trace of humiliation!

Li Hou Nian frowned and said quietly to Li Ye, "How confident are you? If you cannot do it, your Fourth Uncle will refuse it for you."

Clearly, Li Hou Nian did not think highly of Li Ye's chances.

No matter what, they were separated by three realms. There was practically no hope. Even Li Datou, who possessed innate divine strength, had only dared to challenge those Inner Disciples ranked near the bottom.

"Hmph, little brat, you are not your father. Even if you encountered some fortuitous opportunity and changed your trash physique, you cannot change your fate! For two generations, neither father nor son will ever rise above the rest."

Li Huangran wore a solemn expression, as though he were doing so for fairness' sake, but inwardly he sneered without end.

Xiao Qing hesitated for a moment, but before he could speak, Li Huangran said first, "Nephew Xiao, what do you think of this? Li Wei is an inner sect disciple of the Li Family who has cultivated the high-grade Yellow Rank battle skill Gale Legs to a certain level of mastery. If this boy can learn Gale Legs, then what happened earlier will be as Nephew Xiao said—it was this old man who worried too much."

Cursing the old fox inwardly, Xiao Qing could only give Li Ye a helpless look. Though the Li Family treated him with great courtesy because he came from the Heavenly Profound Sect, he was still only a junior. There were some matters in which he could only go so far.

"Fourth Uncle, don't worry. I'm confident."

Below the arena, Li Ye gave Li Hou Nian a reassuring look.

Since Li Ye had no objections, Li Hou Nian said no more. However, he did not move far from the arena. Seeing this, Li Huangran sneered faintly in his heart, though he said aloud, "Li Wei, remember, this is merely a sparring match. Stop when appropriate, and do not strike too heavily! You must not cripple or maim anyone! Otherwise, the Fourth Elder will immediately intervene and stop your match!"

The crowd's expressions changed slightly. They inwardly thought that Li Huangran was indeed someone who could stir clouds and rain within the Lineage. With one casual sentence, he had immediately blocked Li Hou Nian's excuse to interfere.

As for Li Wei, he too understood the meaning hidden within Li Huangran's words. A sinister smile immediately surfaced on his face as he nodded. "Li Wei will remember the Third Elder's words!"

Boom!

Li Wei took one step forward, and in an instant, his entire body became elusive where he stood. Several afterimages appeared in succession.

"Although Li Wei lost to Li Xuan earlier, few among the Inner Disciples can rival him. Li Ye is going to be in trouble."

Quite a few people did not think highly of Li Ye. The gap between the two was far too great. One was the disparity in realm—three whole realms apart. In the past, even a gap of one realm was enough to determine victory or defeat, much less three!

Storm of Gale!

In an instant, the crowd saw Li Wei split into three or four figures. Each one kicked out dozens of times in a heartbeat, and countless leg shadows almost completely sealed off the upper, middle, and lower paths! There was not even the slightest room to maneuver!

"Li Wei must have carefully observed the battle between Li Ye and Li Yuan just now! He wants to seal off Li Ye's advantage in speed!"

The crowd understood at once. They inwardly remarked that Li Wei was worthy of being a powerful veteran Inner Disciple—his ability to adapt was truly exceptional!