Double Pupils... Pretty Nice to Look At

Shi Li's gaze darkened, and his hand hidden inside his sleeve clenched involuntarily as he asked Shi Yi:

"Yi'er, what do you think of that Li Dao?"

At his words, Shi Yi quickly withdrew his gaze. He pondered for a moment before slowly answering:

"His talent is good, and his combat prowess is formidable enough. Among the younger generation, he already counts as someone very impressive."

"But once I fathom the power of the Double Pupils and fully master their mysteries, no matter what geniuses the Eight Regions produce..."

"They'll be nothing but clay chickens and straw dogs."

Shi Li froze at his words. Seeing his serious expression, he felt deeply gratified.

Looking at the extraordinarily mystical Double Pupils in his eyes, he wholeheartedly agreed.

"We, too, believe that the day will come when you reign over the Eight Regions, Yi'er!"

Shi Yi nodded without saying anything more, merely bidding farewell to the four elders.

Then he prepared to return to his cave abode and continue studying Daoist Arts. This battle had benefited him considerably as well.

Shi Li watched Shi Yi vanish from the spot in an instant, but a flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes.

"Although that day will surely come, we cannot allow any mishaps in the meantime."

"Do any of you have a plan?"

The old woman who had stood to one side watching everything smiled and said leisurely:

"I heard from the clan's youngsters that the techniques Li Dao used were practically identical to those of 'Damn You, Daoist,' who caused such an uproar some time ago."

"In my opinion, even if the two don't share the same lineage, they must be closely connected. Tell the Rain Clan and Demon Spirit Lake about this. I'm sure they'll know what to do."

Fortunately, the old woman had heard that "Damn You, Daoist" was only a six-year-old child whose strength amounted to just three Cave Heavens.

Otherwise, she would have suspected that Li Dao was the Little Devil King from the Void God Realm!

But she quickly dismissed that thought. Opening two Cave Heavens in just a few months would have been far too shocking.

She leaned more toward the idea that Li Dao and that Little Devil King shared a lineage, which would explain their inherited techniques.

A sharp gleam flashed through Shi Li's eyes at her words. Their Martial King Manor had searched for the Little Devil King before as well.

Although they had returned empty-handed, they knew all about the grudges between the Rain Clan, Demon Spirit Lake, and the Little Devil King.

If they told those two factions about this, it would save them a great deal of effort.

"Whether there's any connection between the two or not, we must tie them together somehow. Go and take care of it."

A flicker of delight crossed Shi Li's eyes. With a ready-made blade for killing at hand, how could he leave it unused?

Just as he was considering whether to send some Death Guards to assist, someone came rushing over in a panic.

"E-Elder... something terrible has happened!"

"A Bear Child has appeared in the Void God Realm, proclaiming that he's going to break Lord Shi Yi's records!"

Shi Li's expression darkened at the first part, but the rest eased his anger a little, and he immediately ordered the man to explain.

The man wasted no time and recounted everything exactly as it had happened.

"Another fellow who smashed the Starting Ground's passage as soon as he entered the Void God Realm. Don't tell me he's the next Little Devil King!"

"But this Bear Child is coming straight at our Martial King Manor!"

"Hmph, it seems our Martial King Manor has lain quiet for too long. Now just anyone dares to provoke us!"

Shi Li's expression was grim as well. Looking at the Training Grounds reduced to rubble beneath his feet, anger flickered in his eyes.

"Let's go. I want to see just who this fellow is, daring to pick a fight with our Martial King Manor!"

"And don't forget about Li Dao. Make sure that matter is handled properly!"

While the people of the Martial King Manor had their attention drawn to the Bear Child who had appeared in the Void God Realm, elsewhere, on the road back...

Xia Youyu looked curiously at Li Dao beside her, wonder sparkling in her eyes.

Although she had known this junior brother of hers was monstrously gifted, she had never imagined he would be this extraordinary!

"Junior brother, tell me what it was like fighting that Double Pupils One."

"Was he as terrifying as the rumors say?"

Even Liu Yun cast a curious glance his way, thoroughly pleased with the extraordinary genius they had picked up along the way.

Li Dao was still savoring the earlier battle and had not caught what she had said. Although neither side had used their full strength in this fight...

He had still gained a great deal from it and discovered many shortcomings that had never surfaced before.

As expected, fighting experts lets me deepen my understanding of Daoist Arts much faster.

This visit to the Martial King Manor was well worth the trip!

As he pondered, he felt someone tug his arm. Turning his head slightly, he met Xia Youyu's somewhat reproachful gaze.

"What is it, senior sister?"

Xia Youyu was rather speechless at his reaction, but she repeated her earlier question anyway.

"Tell me, what do you think of Shi Yi?"

"Mm... his Double Pupils are pretty nice to look at."

Only after pondering for a moment did Li Dao answer hesitantly.

Xia Youyu rolled her eyes at his words.

"Is that what I was asking?"

"When you fought him, did you feel he was strong or not?!"

Beside them, even Liu Yun, whose face had been tense, could not help chuckling at Li Dao's answer.

Li Dao naturally knew what Xia Youyu meant. He had merely wanted to ease the somewhat tense atmosphere.

"Ahem."

"His strength puts him in the first tier of the younger generation."

"The power of his Double Pupils is formidable too."

A sly gleam flashed through Xia Youyu's eyes as she asked leisurely:

"Then how confident are you that you can beat him, junior brother?"

Li Dao answered without giving it much thought:

"Within the same cultivation realm, I fear no one!"

As he spoke, an air of invincibility burst forth from him. His eyes shone brightly, as though he had said something utterly ordinary.

Xia Youyu froze. She had expected him to offer some modest pleasantries, not to be so forceful.

Then a brilliant smile spread across her lips, and she said to him:

"Then it's settled. The next time you fight him, give him a good thrashing."

"I've disliked him for ages, always wearing that stiff face as though everyone owes him money."

"If not for the elder's instructions, I wouldn't have bothered with someone like him."

Seeing Xia Youyu's manner differ from her usual

self, Li Dao did not think much of it and nodded in agreement.

Beside them, however, Liu Yun was rather speechless that they had decided something so momentous so quickly.

That was the Double Pupils One! A born sage, an invincible being-with all those titles heaped upon him, how had he become so cheap in their mouths?

Although she grumbled inwardly, she did not voice it, instead reminding them:

"Word of what happened at the Martial King Manor will probably spread very soon. Although no one there saw through your identity..."

"There are bound to be plenty of clever people. This will certainly stir up considerable ripples afterward."

"Our most pressing task is to return to the Heaven Mending Pavilion as quickly as possible!"