The Candidates!

"Ning Chuan, where have you been these past few days? You never give us a moment's peace. If you hadn't come back, my sister would have gone out to look for you herself!"

Ning Chuan had just returned to the Shen family estate when he ran into Shen Qingqing.

Shen Qingqing looked at Ning Chuan with disappointment filling her eyes.

"I went out to cultivate for a few days. Has something happened to the Shen family? The Spirit-Seizing Battle hasn't started yet, has it?"

Ning Chuan asked in confusion.

"Cultivate? Every meridian in your body is shattered. Don't tell me you could still form a Spirit Sea? I'd say you either went out carousing with those disreputable friends of yours or visited a brothel!"

Shen Qingqing said with a cold laugh.

After Ning Chuan saved Shen Qianxun, she had begun to think a little better of him. But seeing that he was still the same as ever left her utterly disappointed.

"How did you know I'd formed a Spirit Sea?"

Ning Chuan asked, blinking.

"You, with a Spirit Sea? Stop making a spectacle of yourself! Come with me. Things aren't looking good for this Spirit-Seizing Battle!"

Shen Qingqing snapped, her eyes full of worry.

She simply assumed Ning Chuan was boasting.

"The Spirit-Seizing Battle? What's going on?"

Ning Chuan asked.

"For the Spirit-Seizing Battle, our Shen family and the Li Family agreed that only family members under twenty could compete. With my sister's cultivation, victory should have been as certain as something already in our grasp! But I hear the Li Family's eldest young master, Li Zhenfei, is coming back from the Black Tortoise Academy!"

Shen Qingqing explained as they walked toward the Elder Hall.

In the Spirit-Seizing Battle, the Shen family and the Li Family would each field five people, and the winner would claim the spirit stone mine.

Among the Shen family members under twenty, Shen Qianxun was naturally the strongest. She had now reached the seventh level of the Spirit Sea Realm, while the Li Family's strongest contender, Li Chengliang, was only at the fifth level of the Spirit Sea Realm.

With Shen Qianxun competing, victory should have been firmly in their grasp.

But now, word had it that the Li Family's eldest young master, Li Zhenfei, who cultivated at the Black Tortoise Academy, would return to take part in the Spirit-Seizing Battle himself.

Li Zhenfei's talent had never been inferior to Shen Qianxun's. His cultivation was probably even higher than hers now, and with Li Chengliang as well, the Li Family had two Spirit Sea Realm cultivators.

The Shen family, however, had only one Spirit Sea Realm martial artist: Shen Qianxun.

Their prospects in the Spirit-Seizing Battle were naturally grim!

"Who says our Shen family only has two people in the Spirit Sea Realm? I'll take part in this Spirit-Seizing Battle too. Leave that Li Zhenfei fellow to me!"

Ning Chuan said with a faint smile.

"Ning Chuan, I'm not joking with you. Stop trying to show off! The Grand Elder and the others already dislike you. Don't spout nonsense when we get there and cause my sister more trouble!"

Shen Qingqing stamped her foot and spoke with some irritation.

"All right!"

Ning Chuan replied noncommittally.

Soon, they arrived at the Elder Hall.

Inside the Elder Hall, Shen Qianxun sat at the head as family head. Dressed in white, she had snow-white skin, an incomparably beautiful face, and cool, brilliant eyes. An otherworldly, transcendent grace came naturally to her.

Shen Wan and the Shen family's elders sat on either side. Behind the Shen family's Grand Elder stood an exceptionally handsome young man with a faint smile on his lips.

It was none other than Shen Ruzhuo!

When everyone saw Shen Qingqing and Ning Chuan enter, their gazes settled on Ning Chuan, some mocking, some disdainful, and some cold.

The sight of Ning Chuan only made Shen Wan's anger flare. "Where have you been carousing this time? You disgraceful thing, get over here!"

Over the past two days, Shen Qianxun had not only had to worry about the Shen family's affairs and decide on the candidates for the Spirit-Seizing Battle, but also search for Ning Chuan. Watching it all had made Shen Wan's heart ache.

The Grand Elder, Shen Ruzhuo, and the others all showed faintly mocking expressions.

Shen Qingqing tugged at Ning Chuan, then hurried to stand behind Shen Wan.

Ning Chuan remained composed. He paid Shen Wan no heed and simply walked off to one side.

A trace of disappointment also appeared in Shen Qianxun's eyes as she looked at Ning Chuan. Still, she said nothing about it. Sweeping her gaze over everyone, she said evenly, "Let's discuss the candidates for the Spirit-Seizing Battle."

"Family Head, barring any surprises, the Li Family will field three people at the ninth level of meridian opening and two in the Spirit Sea Realm for this Spirit-Seizing Battle! Those include Li Chengliang and Li Zhenfei, who will soon return! How are we to deal with Li Zhenfei?"

The Shen family's Grand Elder spoke slowly.

At the mention of Li Zhenfei's name, everyone's expression shifted slightly. After all, Li Zhenfei was a renowned genius in Flame Dragon City who had entered the Black Tortoise Academy to cultivate three years ago.

Who knew how powerful Li Zhenfei had become by now?

Li Zhenfei's name put tremendous pressure on them all. He was also the key to victory or defeat in this Spirit-Seizing Battle!

"Leave Li Zhenfei to me!"

Shen Qianxun said evenly.

"Li Zhenfei is a disciple of the Black Tortoise Academy and a Martial Dao genius. His cultivation is probably no lower than yours now, Family Head. But even if you can deal with Li Zhenfei, what about Li Chengliang? Besides, I heard that Li Yunfei seems to have broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm too!"

Shen Ruzhuo said with a casual smile.

"What?!"

Everyone's expression changed. If Li Yunfei had broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm, the Li Family would have three Spirit Sea Realm martial artists.

No matter how strong Shen Qianxun was, how could she deal with three Spirit Sea Realm martial artists?

Were they truly doomed to lose this Spirit-Seizing Battle?