Bang! Bang! Bang! ...
Li Le had not raised a Spirit Power barrier. Clearly, he knew his Spirit Power could not match Lin Ke's, so the Ape-Arm Scorpions on his body had been defending him all along.
And this revealed just how substantial his resources were.
Five spirit-grade superior Ape-Arm Scorpions, and judging by their fluctuating auras, all were at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
That meant Lin Ke was not fighting Li Le one-on-one, but one against six.
This made Lin Ke increasingly aware of his shortcomings.
During his earlier fight with Lin Quan-meng, she had only commanded a single Green Bamboo Insect. The greater gap between them had lain in her movement technique, the Axi Moon Dance.
That was a gap Lin Ke could hardly bridge, so he had not considered how to make up for it. After all, he could not comprehend intent simply because he wanted to.
But now, despite being utterly outclassed by Lin Ke in spells, Spirit Power, and several other respects, Li Le was still fighting him to a standstill. The main reason for that gap was plain to see.
And unlike comprehending intent, which Lin Ke could hardly accomplish at will, this was a gap he could bridge.
For one, he lacked more powerful offensive spells, or perhaps he needed to develop other applications of Mountain-Moving and Sea-Overturning.
For another, there were spirit insects!
He was already considering spending a hefty sum on several mid-grade spirit insects to breed later.
With his Niwan Palace and Lin Can, raising spirit insects would only be easier for him than for Li Le and his father.
Just as Lin Ke and Li Le remained locked in their evenly matched fight, a booming laugh rolled down from the distant sky:
"Hahaha! True Person Yuan Yong, your Ape-Arm Scorpions are still so easy to beat! All it takes is something sharp to counter them, haha!"
It was Rain Spider True Person's voice!
At the same time, a figure plummeted from the sky like a cannonball and slammed into the ground, sending up an enormous cloud of dust.
Only then did Rain Spider True Person descend from above, her Spider Spirit Insect perched on her shoulder. She had already dispelled the Moisture-and-Egg Transformation Method.
Smiling broadly, she flew over to Lin Ke, sent Li Le flying with a slap, and asked Lin Ke with a smile, "Well?"
Rain Spider True Person defeated Li Le's father? A smile appeared on Lin Ke's face too, and he cupped his hands in reply. "True knowledge comes from practice."
Who knew where Rain Spider True Person's slap had sent Li Le? Judging by the direction, he was probably somewhere near True Person Yuan Yong.
Lin Ke also understood that although Rain Spider True Person was helping him, she could not possibly fight True Person Yuan Yong to the death on his account.
Fighting True Person Yuan Yong for his sake was already more than enough.
It was the same everywhere: the bigger fist spoke the hardest truth.
If Lin Ke were a Nascent Soul True Person, he could have killed Li Le outright without any trouble.
"True knowledge comes from practice?"
Rain Spider True Person's eyes lit up at Lin Ke's words. "True knowledge comes from practice-well said! Profound meaning in a few simple words! It seems you've gained quite a lot."
Then she looked toward Zong Ya, whom Lin Ke had protected with Mountain-Moving and Sea-Overturning and Turn Earth to Steel, and gave her shoulder a slight shake.
The winged spider with yellow-and-black markings on her shoulder immediately leaped down and easily broke through the earth hardened by Turn Earth to Steel with its two forelegs.
Then it gently circled its forelegs, and loops of crystal-clear thread appeared between them.
So those threads were what had bound Zong Ya earlier, rendering her unable to move.
"Junior Brother!" Zong Ya blurted out the moment she was freed, her eyes full of worry.
But she had also witnessed the entire course of Rain Spider True Person helping Lin Ke, so she calmed herself and bowed to her. "Thank you for your help, Rain Spider True Person! Thank you!"
Rain Spider True Person smiled and waved a hand. "A sect naturally has its rules. I despise conduct like Li Le's. He deserved punishment."
"Come along. The Dao Foundation Sect Grand Tournament is about to begin. Although you aren't the main participants, watching more will do you good."
The Sect Grand Tournament?
Lin Ke was quite interested. He could see the prowess of others at the Dao Foundation level, especially those at the Dao Foundation late stage.
He was also looking forward to the battles.
It was precisely the recent battles at the Year Festival that had made him realize the importance of actual combat.
Still, Zong Ya's situation mattered too.
Lin Ke came to Zong Ya's side and asked with concern, "Senior Sister, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"Li Le lured me here by saying your life was in danger, but he didn't hurt me." Zong Ya shook her head and sighed. "I didn't think it through. Looking back now, I was truly foolish."
Lin Ke understood how concern for someone could throw the mind into turmoil. "As long as you're all right, Senior Sister."
As for Zong Ya's special constitution, he planned to tell her afterward so she could be careful.
Rain Spider True Person waited with a smile while the two spoke. Only after they finished did she say, "Since everything is fine, let's go."
As she spoke, she glanced at the spot where she had knocked True Person Yuan Yong down. "True Person Yuan Yong and Li Le probably won't trouble you again anytime soon. If..."
She was about to continue when a thin membrane abruptly appeared across the sky, accompanied by a shrill scream:
"Alert! Alert!"
"The demons of the Poison Tempering Mountains have risen in revolt!"
The words had barely faded when a tremendous noise erupted in the air, followed by an explosion that bloomed like fireworks.
"A Nascent Soul self-detonation?! This is bad!" Rain Spider True Person's expression changed drastically. "You two, head back! Something has happened to the sect! The Dao Foundation disciples' tournament is canceled!"
Before Lin Ke and Zong Ya could comprehend what had happened, Rain Spider True Person had already vanished without a trace.
The next instant, an enraged roar rang out from somewhere high in the sky, followed by another muffled boom. The higher-ups were probably already exchanging blows.
The demons of the Poison Tempering Mountains have risen in revolt?! Lin Ke's expression shifted slightly.
He had anticipated that the Cloud Frontier Beast Venerable would go mad over the Mysterious Bead. After all, Lin Ke knew just how precious it was.
But he had not expected the Cloud Frontier Beast Venerable to drive the demon beasts of the Poison Tempering Mountains into a frenzy in such a short time.
The Cloud Frontier Beast Venerable was in the Ailao Great Forest!
Who knew how many hundreds of millions of li lay between it and the Poison Tempering Mountains!
"Junior Brother!" Zong Ya frowned deeply. "It seems war is about to descend upon the sect. Come with me first..."
"Senior Sister, come with me to the Green Mulberry Garden!" Lin Ke interrupted her. "My place is safer!"
The Green Mulberry Garden was ordinarily remote, but in wartime, bustling places would naturally attract more attention than secluded ones.
The demon race were not mindless wild beasts. If the great formation was breached, they would surely choose to go after the treasures in the sect's heartland.
"Well..." Zong Ya's gaze flickered. Clearly, she too had thought all this through in an instant.
Fortunately, Zong Ya was not an indecisive bleeding heart like the heroines of those novels Lin Ke had in mind. Instead, she said crisply, "All right!"
Then she added, "Formations, cultivation pills, spirit artifacts, and spirit insects will definitely rise in price. I'll go to the Spirit Insect Cave to buy some supplies first. Junior Brother, head back and make preparations!"
Although the sect had not yet descended into chaos, no one was a fool. The prices of many supplies would surely rise like boats on a swelling tide as stocks were consumed.
Buying extra reserves against unforeseen needs was the right decision.
So, without further discussion, the two flew toward their respective destinations.
As for the distant Year Festival square?
It had already fallen into chaos.
Fortunately, Lin Ke and Zong Ya were outside the city at the time, so they were not impeded by the densely packed sect disciples.
Before long, Lin Ke returned to the Green Mulberry Garden.
"Fang Tong, summon everyone to see me at once!"
Before you continue