"Li... Senior Brother Li, this little brother's admiration for you... has been there since childhood..." Xiao Mao stammered as he bowed to Li Zongbao.
Before cultivating the Mirror of Parting Emotions, Li Zongbao would certainly have nodded with a smile, responded warmly, and offered a few words of encouragement, displaying all the bearing of a master. But now, though Li Zongbao nodded slightly, he said little more than, "Mm, you're not bad either. Xiao Hua mentioned you before."
"Tch~" Xiao Hua laughed. "Big Brother has saved you several times, yet I've never seen you so respectful!"
"Hehe, Big Brother is Big Brother, and Senior Brother Li is Senior Brother Li. This little brother grew up listening to Senior Brother Li's illustrious name!" Xiao Mao knew Xiao Hua was not truly taking offense and replied with a smile. "Moreover, when I cultivated back then, I set a goal for myself in my heart—I wanted to take Senior Brother Li as my standard."
As he spoke, a trace of gloom passed through Xiao Mao's eyes, but neither Xiao Hua nor Li Zongbao noticed it.
Seeing that Li Zongbao was somewhat disinclined to engage, Xiao Hua smiled. "Among the younger cultivators of the Three Cultivation Kingdoms, Senior Brother Li has the greatest reputation. Who doesn't take you as an idol? Everyone says such things when they see you. You must be sick of hearing them by now!"
"Hehe, that must be so!" Xiao Mao nodded. "This little brother heard some fellow cultivators from Joyful Sect say that Senior Brother Li is the number one person beneath Golden Core cultivators in the Three Cultivation Kingdoms. One can only imagine how much praise you have received!"
"That was before. In the future, I fear I will have to yield the seat to another," Li Zongbao