Shangqing Martial Arts Tournament, Mountain-Challenging Procedure

Inside the mansion, the aftershocks of the earth-shattering battle were isolated by an invisible force and did not affect the core area.

Ye Li had sealed off this area before entering the mansion, which prevented the astonishing commotion from spreading too far. He just didn't know if it could fool the powerful and influential people in the Capital City.

It doesn't matter if we can't hide it anymore.

He never intended to hide himself too much.

"..."

In the courtyard, the stone table and benches remained intact, but the faint smell of blood in the air and the lingering annihilation of the Laws silently testified to the horror that had just occurred.

Li Yingluo stood outside the mansion, her fingertips icy cold, her body even trembling slightly from the surging emotions in her heart.

She tried her best to maintain the demeanor of a princess, but the turbulent emotions deep within her beautiful eyes could not be suppressed.

Unbelievable! Unbelievable!!

Mo Qian!

That was a renowned Venerable Master under her second brother, Li Chengan. His ruthless and vicious nature, along with his unpredictable methods, made him a fearsome figure even within the Capital City!

As a newly emerging candidate for the throne.

Li Yingluo was well aware of the old man's importance; she could feel an immense pressure emanating from him whenever she walked around the palace.

She knew perfectly well that even her strongest confidants, whom she had previously recruited, would have no chance of winning against her, and might even be defeated and killed in a short time!

However, in front of this newly recruited deputy general of Longtan, this venerable man, who had been entrusted with important responsibilities by his second brother, was as fragile as a stray dog on the roadside!

There was absolutely no room for resistance throughout the entire process, and even their final desperate counterattack was futile!

There is no doubt that there is an overwhelming power disparity between the two sides!

The chilling, bloody atmosphere in the air was like a heavy hammer, relentlessly pounding on Li Yingluo's psychological defenses with her slightly rapid breathing.

Although she had some expectations about Ye Li's combat strength, those were largely based on the battle situation reported by Baiyue.

Only now, having witnessed it with her own eyes, did she truly understand the terrifying strength behind the feats of "slaying the Sword Sect's Old Ancestor" and "killing the Vajra Buddhist Disciple"!

Li Yingluo had extremely high standards.

She knew that these achievements were not due to flattery or luck; General Ye truly possessed extraordinary combat power comparable to a Venerable One!

Her breathing quickened, and she paid little attention to Ye Li's words, which were essentially the same as his instructions. Her voice, slightly tense, addressed Baiyue:

"You stay here and tidy up. I'm going inside to find him!"

Baiyue finally snapped out of her shock, but only managed to nod in agreement as her Family Head walked away.

Then, looking at the crimson bloodstains in the pit, her heart began to race involuntarily. "Is it just my imagination...?"

Compared to his performance in killing the Vajra Buddhist Disciple in Luoxia City that day, Baiyue felt that Ye Li was now much stronger!

Was it a natural improvement after becoming familiar with the realm, or... did he make significant progress in his cultivation?

Baiyue felt a chill run down her spine upon closer examination.

If it's the latter, then his talent is probably so strong that even the most outstanding geniuses can't compare!

The main gate of the Zhenyuan Mansion had been completely destroyed, but fortunately the area was very spacious, so even though the gate was broken, it did not affect the tranquility and elegance of the inner chamber.

At this moment, in the inner courtyard.

Ye Li had already taken his seat comfortably in the main seat, picked up a teacup, and snapped his fingers lightly, and a cup of steaming tea appeared in front of him.

This is a unique divine ability possessed only by Venerable Ones of the Cosmic Birth Realm.

When the Brow-Center Universe truly began to circulate, the [Power of the Venerable] born from it was actually a substance even more profound than the original Power of Law.

As long as the Venerable One wishes, he can transform it into any substance at will, though the difficulty varies.

"Have a seat." He picked up his teacup, his gaze sweeping over Li Yingluo, who still seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Judging from Ye Li's calm and composed expression alone, it would be impossible for anyone to associate him with the horrifying feat of just killing a Venerable.

Li Yingluo nodded slightly, then sat down directly opposite Ye Li.

As the latter's gaze swept over her, the reserve and pride that belonged to a princess made her subconsciously straighten her back.

The third Third Princess of the Great Sheng Dynasty kept recalling the rhetoric she had learned while trying to make her voice sound less trembling:

"General Ye is truly remarkable! Only today have I realized what truly extraordinary abilities are! To have your assistance is my greatest fortune!"

She paused, then subconsciously asked:

"I wonder how the general intends to handle today's events?"

The moment the words left her lips, Li Yingluo suddenly felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head—

She was so immersed in the lingering aura of the Venerable One's death that she completely forgot how to face her second brother Li Xuanyu, next!

It should be noted that although his death was seemingly casual, Mo Qian was no ordinary stray dog; he was a well-known and capable lieutenant of Second Brother's side!

And now they've died so easily here... Could it be that the two sides have skipped the basic standoff and jumped straight to a fight to the death?!

So, what should we do?

She's just getting started, and she's not ready to fight her two blood relatives to the death!

"You're asking me?"

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his voice.

He clearly hadn't expected that, even now, the leader of the faction he had joined still hadn't come up with a clear strategy to deal with the external enemy.

Could it be that the throne of Dasheng is really determined by whose subordinates are the most capable fighters?

"Don't misunderstand!"

Li Yingluo immediately realized her slip of the tongue and quickly added, "Of course, I already have a plan. I just wanted to hear the General's advice..."

"Lie."

"... It's my problem."

"I truly did not expect you to kill him outright!"

Li Yingluo gritted her teeth, finally realizing the urgency of the situation, and could only ask, forcing herself to speak:

"Well... since he came to Trouble first, the blame shouldn't lie with us, right?"

"Isn't this the residence bestowed upon you by the Emperor?" Ye Li frowned slightly and couldn't help but ask in return.

"Then let me ask you, this old man, who sneaked into the mansion late at night with the intention of assassinating the princess, should be punished according to the laws of the Great Sheng Dynasty?"

"According to the law, he should be executed!" Li Yingluo's eyes brightened slightly.

This was her first time dealing with such a situation, but fortunately she wasn't too stupid and quickly grasped the key points. She immediately began to murmur aloud, her speech gradually increasing in speed:

"In other words, it means that my second brother's trusted subordinates are courting death. Such a serious crime is something I'm already being lenient about by not using it to hold him accountable. Why should I worry that he will bring it up himself?"

After saying that, she suddenly looked at the young man opposite her, her expression excited. "General, I didn't know you could think of this during the court assembly in two days?!"

Court meeting?

Is the rumored Emperor of Dasheng, who has been thoroughly investigated, finally about to emerge from seclusion...? Ye Li's thoughts were in turmoil.

He took a sip of tea without commenting, then cut straight to the point:

"Tomorrow morning, I plan to visit [Shiguang Academy]. Have you had any noteworthy opportunities or experiences recently?"

"Yes!" Finally getting to the topic she had prepared for, Li Yingluo perked up, her initial nervousness dissipating considerably. She quickly replied:

"Within the current dynasty's state religion, the Shangqing Palace, a grand event called the Shangqing Martial Arts Tournament is held regularly, aiming to invite many of the nation's most outstanding talents to the Shangqing Palace to compete for the pinnacle and reign supreme in the Great Sheng Dynasty!"

"The crown jeweler among them will receive personal guidance from the Imperial Preceptor. Those who excel in the martial arts competition and become outstanding talents of the Great Sheng Dynasty may even have the opportunity to directly become disciples of the Imperial Preceptor and become immortals!"

"Logically speaking, to participate in the [Shangqing Martial Arts Tournament], one must first rank among the [top three] in the academy's quarterly competition. You don't have a spot."

She paused, quickly organized her thoughts, and then continued explaining with a rising tone at the end:

"But the cultivation of Gentleman in the academy has always been metaphysical. Some may even achieve enlightenment on the spot, crossing the insurmountable chasm that ordinary people cannot overcome in thousands of years, and cultivating an extremely rare and noble spirit."

"Therefore, to prevent true prodigies from missing out on this grand event, the top three participants in the martial arts competition can be changed. As long as one conquers the famous peaks guarded by the top three after the mountain visit, one can take their place in the competition!"

"Attack the mountain..." Ye Li tapped his fingers lightly on the rim of the teacup, producing a crisp, soft sound.

His eyelids were slightly lowered, as if he were pondering something.

Li Yingluo assumed he was worried about the difficulty of climbing the mountain, so she immediately comforted him, "Although the challenge of climbing the mountain is extremely difficult and not a fair Combat Duel, with your strength, there should be almost no problem!"

"This process may take some time. I have already secured a retreat spot for you at [Wenhazhai]. There, you can learn about the techniques of the top three, and then you will be able to..."

She was calculating how to secure more favorable conditions for Ye Li, or how to make some necessary arrangements in advance.

I had prepared myself for the boy to thank me.

However, Ye Li's next words made her hold her breath instantly:

"Too slow."

Ye Li frowned slightly and interjected, "Since we're going to fight, why bother going to Wenhazhai to find out what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Li Yingluo's breathing hitched slightly.

Then, under her gaze.

Ye Li casually put down his teacup and turned his gaze outside the mansion, landing on the dark mountain range that stretched for more than ten thousand miles.

His calm tone carried an undeniable decisiveness, causing Baiyue, who had just stepped into the mansion, to freeze in place once again:

"It's simple, I'll just attack it tomorrow."