Martial Arts Tournament?

An hour later, Li Yao finished cultivating. He had already reached the Fifth-Rank Martial Master realm!

"Whew." He let out a long breath. "A Heaven-Rank Cultivation Technique really is incredible. In just an hour, I crossed an entire major realm, going from Third Rank to Fifth Rank."

"And on top of that..."

Li Yao took a moment to feel it. The Nine-Turn Profound Art kept circulating on its own, increasing his Spiritual Power every second.

At this rate, he would eventually break through even if he stopped cultivating altogether.

"Having a cheat is the best."

Li Yao clasped his hands behind his head.

"Wonder if Mom and Dad have reached the border yet."

Knock, knock, knock.

As he wondered, someone knocked on the door.

"Young master, are you awake? Come have something to eat."

Li Yao rubbed his stomach. He was a little hungry.

"Sure, I'll be right there."

He changed clothes, left his room, and went downstairs.

In the hall, Li Wenbin sat at the dining table. Several steaming dishes had been set out.

"Young master, come eat while it's hot."

Li Yao sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and grabbed a piece of braised pork.

"Mmm. Delicious."

"A clock through scenes of passing time..."

Just as Li Yao was about to dig in, his phone rang.

He took it out. The number was unfamiliar.

"Hello? Who's this?"

"Li Yao, it's me, Shangguan Yan."

Li Yao paused. Shangguan Yan? Why is she calling me?

"What's up, Miss Shangguan? Want another scolding?"

Shangguan Yan was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Li Yao, I just wanted you to know I haven't forgotten what happened last night."

"Okay, you haven't forgotten. What, are you going to write me another Divorce Letter?"

"You..."

"Li Yao, Imperial Capital University is holding its Martial Arts Tournament today. Come compete if you've got the guts."

With that, she hung up.

Li Yao looked at his phone and smiled.

"Shangguan Yan sure has a temper."

Li Wenbin asked, "Young master, was that Shangguan Yan?"

"Yeah. She said she remembers what happened yesterday."

"Be careful, young master. The Shangguan Family isn't one to mess with."

"It's fine. I'll deal with whatever comes." Li Yao waved a hand. "Three generations of the Li Family have defended this country. Why would we fear the Shangguan Family?"

Li Wenbin said nothing. He only nodded.

"Oh, right, Uncle Bin. Is today registration day for Imperial Capital University's Martial Arts Tournament?"

"Why do you ask all of a sudden, young master?"

Li Wenbin was baffled. Imperial Capital University held a Martial Arts Tournament every year, but Li Yao had never entered once in three years. Why bring it up today?

Li Yao shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth. "Uncle Bin, I want to enter this year's Martial Arts Tournament."

Clatter. Li Wenbin's hand trembled, and his chopsticks fell to the floor.

"Young master, what did you say?" Li Wenbin asked again, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Li Yao took another mouthful of rice. "I said I want to enter this year's Martial Arts Tournament."

"Aaaah! Young master!"

Li Wenbin suddenly crouched beside him, wrapped his arms around Li Yao's leg, and burst into loud sobs.

"You really have come to your senses! Heaven has blessed the Li Family! Aaaah!"

"..."

"Uncle Bin, you really need to stop bursting into tears at the drop of a hat."

As soon as Li Yao entered the campus, he saw a crowd of students around the bulletin board, chattering away.

He walked over and asked, "What's going on?"

One student spotted him and hurriedly said, "Li Yao, look. The university's holding a Martial Arts Tournament."

Li Yao leaned in. A large poster on the bulletin board read:

Imperial Capital University Student Martial Arts Tournament: Registration Now Open!

Champion's prize: one Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique, ten thousand Spirit Stones, and a chance to intern at the Special Operations Bureau.

Li Yao's eyes lit up.

"An Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique? That's good stuff."

As he considered it, a chime suddenly sounded in his head.

Ding! Martial Arts Tournament event detected. Side quest triggered: Enter the Martial Arts Tournament and win the championship.

Quest reward: 50,000 Background Value.

Li Yao broke into a grin.

"Fifty thousand points? I'll take that deal."

He went straight to the registration desk and signed up.

The teacher at the desk looked up at him in surprise. "Li Yao, you want to enter the Martial Arts Tournament?"

"What, can't I?"

"Of course you can." The teacher nodded quickly, though he wondered to himself: Wasn't Li Yao that notorious lapdog? Why does he suddenly want to enter the Martial Arts Tournament?

Li Yao finished registering and walked away, leaving a crowd of people staring after him in disbelief.

"Li Yao's entering the Martial Arts Tournament? Is he serious?"

"Right? He's a notorious good-for-nothing lapdog. His Spiritual Power has barely reached Third-Rank Martial Master."

"Maybe he's lost his mind."

Li Yao heard them and smiled.

Good-for-nothing? Lapdog? Let's see if you still call me useless after I win the championship.

He was enjoying the thought when his phone rang again.

Li Yao took it out and saw Li Wenbin's name.

"Hey, Uncle Bin. What is it now?"

"Young master, are you at the university?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I just got word that the Shangguan Family seems to be up to something."

Li Yao raised an eyebrow. "The Shangguan Family? What are they doing?"

"I don't know the details yet, but I hear they're investigating something. It might have to do with your grandfather."

Li Yao's heart sank.

"My grandfather?"

"Yes. Be careful. Don't let anyone from the Shangguan Family set their sights on you."

"Got it, Uncle Bin. I'll be careful."

Li Yao hung up, feeling uneasy.

The Shangguan Family is investigating Grandpa? What are they after?

He thought it over, then decided to set it aside for now. First, he would win the Martial Arts Tournament.

"System, who can I beat with my current strength?"

Ding! Host's current cultivation: Fifth-Rank Martial Master. Cultivating the Nine-Turn Profound Art has increased the density of your Spiritual Power. You can challenge Seventh-Rank Martial Masters.

"I can take on a Seventh-Rank Martial Master..."

Li Yao considered that for a moment.

Imperial Capital University has a Strength Rankings list, if I remember right. Ye Xiao is at the top. Was he Eighth Rank or Ninth Rank?

Looks like I need more Background Value. Wait...

Li Yao suddenly slapped his forehead. My family has so many cultivation resources, I could pile them up and force my realm higher. How did I forget about that? And there's the Yang Family...

"I'll make you cough up everything you took!"

Li Yao turned and headed for the teaching building.

Just as he reached its entrance, he spotted a familiar figure.

Yang Xiaoran.

She saw him too, her expression as haughty as ever.

"Li Yao, I'm very angry with you. You actually dared to hit me yesterday. If you don't give me Thirty Thousand Spirit Stones and apologize to Brother Lin Yun, I'll never speak to you again."

"You're out of your mind."

Li Yao turned and walked away.

Yang Xiaoran watched him go, gritting her teeth. "Li Yao..."

Li Yao entered the teaching building, already making plans.

I wonder if Uncle Bin has taken care of it yet.

He reached his classroom and pushed the door open.

Plenty of people were already seated inside. When they saw him enter, they lowered their heads and pretended not to notice.

Li Yao paid them no mind. He sat down, took out his phone, and looked up the detailed rules for the Martial Arts Tournament.

The Martial Arts Tournament has three stages: Preliminaries, Semifinals, and Finals. Every stage is single elimination. Matchups will be drawn by lot and held in the Martial Arts Arena. Contestants will be divided into Groups A, B, C, and D.

Champion's prize: one Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique, ten thousand Spirit Stones, and a chance to intern at the Special Operations Bureau.

When Li Yao finished reading, he grinned.

"That Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique is mine."