A Vast Gap

"Li Huo must have some confidence to dare issue a challenge."

"Otherwise, although I heard he broke through to Spirit Martial Tier Eight and became a Martial Dao Master a year ago, don't forget that Li Mo reached the Martial Dao Master level two years ago. Who knows how far his strength has risen over those two years?"

From the conversations around him, Li Ye learned that more than seventy percent of the people did not think highly of Li Huo's challenge. Even among Martial Dao Masters, the gap in strength could sometimes be enormous.

The simplest example was that even among Martial Dao Masters, differences in the Combat Techniques and Movement Techniques they cultivated, or even how deeply they had mastered them, could affect the final disparity in their strength.

"Li Mo! Two years ago, you defeated me in three moves. Today, I will surely avenge that humiliation!"

So Li Huo had suffered a crushing defeat at Li Mo's hands two years ago. Now, he had returned to prove himself!

"It was the same two years ago, and today, two years later, you still have no chance! Defeating you will still take only three moves!"

Arrogant! Li Mo made no attempt to hide his arrogance, yet in everyone's eyes, he had the qualifications to be arrogant!

Because he was the foremost of the Lineage's three great geniuses! One of Wuzhou City's four great geniuses!

"You are as arrogant as ever, but I am no longer the same as I was!"

With a loud shout, Li Huo instantly unleashed the powerful aura belonging to a Martial Dao Master. Feeling that powerful aura, Li Ye felt a faint sense of wariness.

"The gap between the seventh and eighth levels of the Spirit Martial Realm is at least tenfold in Blood Soul Power. It seems that even if I reach Spirit Martial Tier Five, I would still be somewhat lacking against a Spirit Martial Tier Eight Martial Dao Master."

At Spirit Martial Tier Four, the Blood Soul Power within Li Ye's body was equivalent to that of an ordinary person at the peak of Spirit Martial Tier Six, close to the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm. Now that he had entered Spirit Martial Tier Five, his Blood Soul Power had increased more than threefold, yet it was only roughly equivalent to an ordinary person at the peak of the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm.

"If I do not use Blood Eyes, my chance of winning against a Spirit Martial Tier Eight Martial Dao Master is less than ten percent. Even if I use Blood Eyes, considering a Martial Dao Master's mental willpower, my odds are likely only thirty percent, forty at most."

Li Ye quickly reached that conclusion. To be honest, he was not worried. As he continued to break through, this gap would grow smaller and smaller, and one day, he would even surpass it.

A faint red glow appeared around Li Huo's body.

"Blood Soul Aura!"

At that sight, many people's eyes burned with fervor.

What martial cultivators cultivated was the Blood Soul Power within their bodies. Yet from Spirit Martial Tier One to Six, aside from strengthening the body, it was difficult to wield that power. Only upon reaching the seventh level of the Spirit Martial Realm could one truly use this strange power. Like internal energy, it greatly enhanced one's combat strength. Even using certain powerful Combat Techniques required the expenditure of Blood Soul Power.

Once one became a Martial Dao Master, this power could even be transformed into Astral Energy, producing astonishingly destructive force!

"It seems Li Huo intends to go all out from the very beginning!"

Seeing the barely discernible red glow around Li Huo's body, many people immediately understood his intentions.

"Although Martial Dao Masters can force the Blood Soul Power within their bodies outside and create tremendous destructive power in the form of Astral Energy, the consumption is also immense. Even with a Martial Dao Master's exceptionally abundant Blood Soul Power, this state can only be maintained for around ten breaths."

The person seated beside Li Ye spoke calmly. Li Ye looked over, only to see that he had also turned to look at him. He nodded amiably at Li Ye, his gaze clear and tranquil.

Li Ye had heard of this person before.

"Li Yuan Jia, fifth among the inner disciples. He ranked only below Li Yue, one of the Lineage's three great geniuses. He broke through to Martial Dao Master at eighteen. He kept a low profile and never showed off." Yet none of that was the most important part. What mattered most was that Li Yuan Jia was Li Hou Nian's adopted son! Though not his biological son, Li Hou Nian had adopted him from an orphan of a collateral branch, and he had displayed talent far surpassing that of the main branch's disciples.

"My father has mentioned you before. He once secretly asked me to look after you if the opportunity arose. But from what I can see now, Brother Ye, your strength no longer requires much protection from Father and me."

A calm voice reached his ears. Clearly, because of Li Hou Nian, Li Yuan Jia was considered part of Li Ye's side. Naturally, Li Ye would not give one of his own people the cold shoulder. He merely nodded slightly in greeting.

"How much chance does Li Huo have?"

Li Ye asked casually in a low voice. By then, Li Huo and Li Mo had already begun fighting. Their fierce clash gave him an even deeper understanding of the strength of Martial Dao Masters.

"None at all." Li Ye had thought that Li Huo, staking everything on one desperate gamble, would at least have a thirty or forty percent chance. Yet Li Yuan Jia, one of the top five inner disciples, shook his head and denied it outright.

"Why?" Li Ye was very curious about that.

"Li Huo's move is a desperate gamble. In the short term, the power of his Blood Soul Astral Energy will greatly increase his strength, but it cannot last. Yet that is not the most important point. The most important thing is that the gap between him and Li Mo is even greater than he himself imagines."

On the field, however, Li Huo was enveloped in a layer of red light, looking majestic and imposing as he seized the initiative at once, drawing loud cheers from many onlookers.

"How much of Li Mo's strength do you think Li Huo can force out?"

At that moment, nearly all the inner disciples ranked in the top ten were whispering among themselves. As for Li Mo, the Lineage's number one genius, they did not know whether his existence was a blessing or a curse. For years, they had been pressed beneath him, enduring boundless humiliation.

"Hard to say. But over the past year, Li Huo has stabilized his initial Spirit Martial Tier Eight cultivation and is nearing Spirit Martial Tier Eight, Minor Achievement. Now that he is risking everything and directly stimulating his Blood Soul Astral Energy, even Li Mo will have to treat him cautiously."

The speaker was ranked tenth among the inner disciples. With Li Wei, ranked ninth, and Li Xuan, ranked eighth, both injured and out of the competition, he and Li Ye were the only two among the top ten inner disciples whose realms had not reached Martial Dao Master.

"Wrong. In my view, Li Mo has not even revealed half his strength. He is simply toying with that idiot Li Huo! Li Huo is fighting so desperately, yet in his opponent's eyes, he is nothing more than a clown!"

With a cold snort, Li Ye looked over and saw the person ranked second among the inner disciples. He was twenty-three or twenty-four years old, rather old among the inner disciples, yet his aura was also the most terrifying. His name was Li Ji.

Sure enough, when Li Ye looked carefully, although Li Huo appeared imposing on the field, Li Mo wore a cold smile. His expression was calm, even carrying a trace of mockery. With his hands clasped behind his back, he moved as leisurely as if strolling through a courtyard, dodging left and right beneath Li Huo's frenzied attacks. His figure drifted unpredictably, carefree and elegant.

It directly drew shrieks from many love-struck young girls! Though he was not handsome and could even be called somewhat ugly, as one of Wuzhou City's four great geniuses, he still lacked no women's admiration in this world where strength reigned supreme.

"Although Martial Dao Masters can briefly stimulate the Blood Soul Power within their bodies and produce a force similar to Astral Energy, it cannot be sustained. Once too much is consumed, the resulting weakness will leave them inferior even to an ordinary person!"

Li Yuan Jia's calm analysis sounded beside him. Li Ye nodded in deep agreement, then heard Li Yuan Jia continue, "The Cloud Soaring Continent has existed for countless ages. The Spirit Martial Rank is merely the starting point. It is said that only by breaking through the shackles of the Spirit Martial Rank, stepping into the Innate Realm, and becoming a King Tier powerhouse can one truly master the mighty power of Astral Energy. Martial Dao Masters and even Martial Dao Grandmasters are merely like children imitating adults—ridiculous and laughable."

At that moment, the pale red Astral Energy around Li Huo's body gradually faded away, while his aura instantly declined as well.

"Li Mo! Are you looking down on me?"

Realizing that he once again could not match the man before him, who was even one or two years younger than himself, Li Huo was filled with unwillingness.

"Looking down on you? Do I need to think highly of trash like you?"

The moment those words came out, not only did Li Huo's face turn livid, but the expressions of all the inner disciples who had reached the Martial Dao Master realm, including Li Yuan Jia, also turned ugly.

Li Huo might have been the weakest among them, but they were not much stronger than him! Li Mo's words had insulted all of them!

"Li Mo! You may be powerful, but aren't you being too arrogant?"

Several people instantly rose to their feet, their expressions hostile.

"Hmph, a bunch of trash. Do you really think you can contend with me? Stop wasting time. Come at me together!"

Even Li Ye was greatly shocked by such arrogance. The strongest inner disciples were all here. Aside from Li Yue, who was absent for some unknown reason, every one of the others was a Martial Dao Master. If several of them joined forces, they could rival a Martial Dao Grandmaster for a short time!

"Arrogant!" Someone immediately roared in fury. No one tried to stop them. Perhaps the Lineage's higher-ups were more than willing to see such a trend of mutual competition.

"A group of ignorant fools. Since that is the case, I will let you know what it means to be a frog at the bottom of a well!"

Li Ye soon understood why Li Mo was so arrogant.

"Impossible!"

Boom! At that instant, Li Mo's aura surged violently! He directly broke through from Spirit Martial Tier Eight and entered an even higher level!

"Spirit Martial Tier Nine! A Martial Dao Grandmaster!"

At that moment, the strongest inner disciples, including Li Yuan Jia, all cried out in shock! Their surging fighting intent vanished without a trace in an instant!

Li Ye felt a terrifying pressure crash toward him, leaving him unable to move. Though he was not the main target, he still felt an irresistible, horrifying oppression.

There was no need to fight at all. Every inner disciple was utterly convinced.

"Spirit Martial Tier Nine! And from the looks of it, he has at least reached Spirit Martial Tier Nine, Great Achievement! Li Mo hid himself deeply indeed!"

Li Yuan Jia drew a deep breath, shook his head, and gave a bitter smile.

The gap was simply too great—so great that they could not even summon the desire to catch up.