Nangong Meng

In an inconspicuous corner.

"Young master, were we too cruel?"

Li Dan muttered as he looked at the wary gazes of everyone around them.

Li Xiao's expression was indifferent.

"It was just a puny Xiao Lineage. If I hadn't been strong enough today, we would have been the ones to die."

Li Dan nodded in agreement.

If their roles had been reversed today, they would certainly have died. He believed that, given Xiao Huohuo's character, the Li Lineage would not have escaped retaliation either.

This was the immutable rule of the cultivation world: the weak were meat for the strong.

The strong might not get beaten, but those who fell behind certainly would.

As long as you were strong enough, everyone would show you some respect. Face was something you earned yourself, not something others gave you.

At this thought, Li Dan felt as though an immortal had laid a hand upon his head, and understanding suddenly dawned on him.

When he looked again at the passersby pointing and whispering, Li Dan held his head high and puffed out his chest, his face full of pride.

"The boy can be taught."

Li Xiao nodded in satisfaction.

"Are you... Li Xiao?"

Suddenly, a gray-haired woman with kind eyes approached the two of them with a young man.

Confusion flickered in Li Xiao's eyes. He seemed to have no impression of this person.

"You're Li Xiao?"

Behind the woman, the young man in white robes glanced at Li Xiao, his fighting spirit surging.

"Li Xiao, everyone out there calls you the number one of the younger generation. How about a fight?"

Li Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly, and his Peak Saint presence flashed out for an instant.

Before Li Xiao could act, the woman slapped the young man on the head and scolded him.

"You little brat, itching for another beating? Huh? Want to spar with your grandma?"

Then the woman gave Li Xiao an apologetic smile.

"Li Xiao, this boy is my grandson. He spends all day making trouble. Don't stoop to his level."

One did not strike a smiling face. Li Xiao smiled faintly.

"And you are?"

The woman hurriedly introduced herself.

"I'm Nangong Meng of the White Tiger Sect. I even held you when you were a month old. Your grandfather and I are old... old friends."

Understanding dawned on Li Xiao, and he took a closer look at her.

Nangong Meng looked about forty. Though time had left indelible marks on her face, he could still tell she had been a beauty in her youth.

Seeing her bashful manner, Li Xiao muttered inwardly.

Old friends? I doubt it's that simple. Grandfather was quite the ladies' man too.

No wonder he refused to come along on this trip to God-Worshipping Mountain.

At this thought, Li Xiao smiled.

"Oh, Aunt Meng. Grandfather mentions you often."

A complicated expression crossed Nangong Meng's face. Soon, she collected herself and said with a sigh,

"Ah, Li Kuangfeng has a fine grandson. Come visit the White Tiger Sect when you have time."

Then Nangong Meng pulled the young man away.

"Li Xiao, let's spar next time."

From a distance, the white-robed young man's voice echoed in his ears.

Li Xiao rubbed his chin, watching their retreating figures with a meaningful gaze.

"Spar, spar! I ought to beat you to death."

After they had gone some distance, Nangong Meng unleashed a barrage on Bai Xiaolin.

"Grandma, why are you hitting me? Am I your grandson, or is he?"

Bai Xiaolin muttered, clutching his head.

"Why am I hitting you? If I hadn't stopped you just now, you really would have gone to meet your great-grandmother."

Nangong Meng's face darkened. Remembering that dangerous presence from earlier gave her a fright.

She could not see through Li Xiao's cultivation. There was only one explanation.

Either Li Xiao was a mortal with no cultivation, or his realm was far above hers.

The first was clearly impossible. The instant Li Xiao had inadvertently released his pressure earlier, she had felt as though she had fallen into an ice cellar.

"From now on, no matter what happens, you are not to make an enemy of Li Xiao. Do you understand?"

Nangong Meng looked seriously at Bai Xiaolin before her and warned him.

Seeing that Nangong Meng did not seem to be pretending, Bai Xiaolin nodded solemnly in agreement.

When Bai Xiaolin agreed, Nangong Meng let out a breath of relief.

"Today's rumors are true. I'm afraid he was behind what happened to the Pan Lineage too."

Soon, all the sect disciples who had come to God-Worshipping Mountain had arrived.

Li Xiao led Li Dan to wait quietly at the foot of the mountain. No one around them dared approach to cause trouble.

The next moment.

With a thunderous boom, the formation on God-Worshipping Mountain opened.

"God-Worshipping Mountain is open. Please begin your ascent as soon as possible. You have one day."

After a burst of golden light, a voice from God-Worshipping Mountain echoed through the void.

"Young master."

"Go on. Take this with you."

Li Xiao tossed Li Dan a jade slip as he spoke.

Li Dan caught it and tucked it into his robes without asking any questions.

He believed the young master had his reasons for everything he did. Besides, this jade slip was clearly no ordinary item. In any case, the young master would not harm him.

Then Li Dan headed toward God-Worshipping Mountain.

Li Xiao watched Li Dan's figure disappear, then raised his head slightly and narrowed his eyes at the summit.

"That place is rather interesting."