Night Raid

"Old Coot, are you saying that by participating in this so-called God-Worshipping Ritual, I'll reap many benefits?" Li Yi's expression changed. "Naturally," the Serpent Venerable said lightly, "There are only nine Blood and Slaughter Lands in the world, either owned by powerful forces or extremely dangerous places where death is almost certain. With your current ability, even if you knew these nine locations, it would be suicide to go there. However, if you enter the place of the Martial Deity Hall's God-Worshipping Ritual, if you're lucky, it's not impossible to break through to Warrior level there."

"Warrior!?" Li Yi's eyes brightened, and he couldn't help but touch his nose, murmuring, "In that case, I must participate in the God-Worshipping Ritual no matter what."

"Of course, and if you really enter the Martial Deity Hall, it will bring benefits to both you and me," the Serpent Venerable chuckled, "How would those priests ever imagine that I, having barely escaped from them once, am now planning to sneak back in?" Li Yi nodded and hummed, "Your idea isn't bad, Old Coot... but relying only on my Cyclone Palm to survive the God-Worshipping Ritual won't be easy."

Understanding Li Yi's nature, the Serpent Venerable could only shake his head helplessly and said, "If you're going to participate in the God-Worshipping Ritual, not just the Cyclone Palm, even with your own set of peculiar Martial Techniques, it's still not enough... Although the God-Worshipping Ritual is only for those below Warrior level, the place itself is extremely dangerous, more so than any human threats. So, in the next three months, you need to not only find a way to condense the Dou Qi cyclone and advance to Fighter, but also learn some new Martial Techniques."

Li Yi smirked and said, "Looks like I'll have to carefully search through our family's Martial Arts Pavilion tomorrow. It'd be embarrassing to come out with a Xuanwu-level Martial Technique, even if I master it."

"The Martial Arts Pavilion is indeed worth a visit," the Serpent Venerable said lightly, "Although I doubt your family has any profound Martial Techniques, it's good to look. Otherwise, wouldn't it give something away? Also, the Azure Cloud Hand technique you snatched last time, you might as well start practicing it. Though it's nothing extraordinary, it's a waste not to use it since you've already got it."

Li Yi nodded, "Certainly. I've looked over the Azure Cloud Hand Martial Technique scroll. If I master it and combine it with my own techniques, its power will undoubtedly be extraordinary."

"However, kid, your Li family seems to have a lot of troubles. I doubt you'll be able to focus on your cultivation in the next three months," the Serpent Venerable hesitated before saying solemnly.

"The Li family's troubles? I know about that," Li Yi said lightly. "If those old farts don't disturb my cultivation, so be it. If they cause trouble, I'll just have to work harder to deal with all of them. They may all be Warriors, but I, Li Yi, am not necessarily afraid of them."

"You're confident you can handle Warrior-level fighters?" the Serpent Venerable asked with a puzzled look.

Li Yi sneered, "Of course not, but Old Coot, don't tell me you're not confident? You even dared to confront the Martial Deity Hall's fighters, let alone a few old farts?" Challenged by Li Yi, the Serpent Venerable's originally cold face showed a hint of helplessness. He shook his head and said in a low voice, "I might be able to deal with them, but the cost is too great. My soul might dissipate. Is that okay?"

Li Yi smiled, "If I get killed by those old farts, then you, Old Coot, won't find a second person to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Nine Transformations. Is that okay?"

The Serpent Venerable let out a bitter laugh, feeling somewhat outwitted by Li Yi, who was even more cunning than him. The Serpent Venerable, usually proud and arrogant, could only shake his head and sigh. Seeing the Serpent Venerable's expression, Li Yi smiled inwardly. Although their relationship was odd at first, after months of being together, Li Yi had developed a kind of mentor-disciple affection for the Old Coot. Both were highly proud, a fact they both understood but never explicitly acknowledged.

Li Yi was about to say something when the Serpent Venerable's figure suddenly flickered and vanished into the Yunhuang Ring, followed by a playful voice in Li Yi's mind, "Kid, a young girl is coming to trouble you."

A young girl? Li Yi focused and indeed heard faint footsteps coming from outside his room. He pondered for a moment and then decided to lie on his bed, feigning sleep. The footsteps grew closer. The visitor clearly lacked stealth experience, either a novice or overconfident. But either way, anyone seeking trouble with Li Yi under these circumstances was delusional.

"Creak—" A soft noise sounded as Li Yi's door was slowly pushed open. The cool breeze from the courtyard blew in, refreshing the air in the room. The moonlight streaming through the window now made the room glow faintly. A slender figure appeared at the door, her light blue dress fluttering in the wind, carrying a delicate fragrance with it.

Li Yi opened his eyes slightly and sneaked a peek. At first, he didn't recognize the visitor, but when his gaze fell on her flat chest, he immediately knew it was none other than Miss Li Nana, who had come to find him in the middle of the night.

This Miss Li Nana had a face full of wrath, as if Li Yi were an enemy from her past life. It seemed that the two slaps Li Yi had given to Li Qiao earlier today had made Miss Li Nana detest him thoroughly. Seeing that it was this young lady who came looking for trouble, Li Yi was actually relieved. He had thought it might be Li Bing. If it had been her, given her familiarity with the young Li Yi, she might have spotted some flaws. But Li Nana had never had much interaction with the young Li Yi, so he didn't have much to fear.

After Li Nana pushed open the door, she hesitated for a moment before slowly walking in. Her expression was indescribably weird, seemingly a mix of embarrassment and predominantly anger. As she approached Li Yi's bed and saw him apparently sleeping, she bit her lips, her face turning red. On the Martial Deity Continent, while the separation of men and women wasn't strictly enforced, an unmarried girl entering a boy's room was unimaginable, especially in the middle of the night. If others found out, Li Nana could only choose between marrying Li Yi or jumping off a building. She stared at Li Yi for a while beside the bed.

Li Yi, inwardly amused, cooperatively turned over and muttered in his sleep. His action scared the already nervous Li Nana, making her almost crawl under the bed. After a few moments, realizing Li Yi made no further movement, she slowly stood up again and sighed softly after looking at Li Yi's face, "Why... why did you have to humiliate Brother Li Qiao like that... He's such a good person, but you treated him like that in public. How can he hold his head high after this? You... you... I hate you!"

With those words, a resolute look flashed across Li Nana's face. Her hand rested on a dagger at her waist as she continued, "Li Yi, cousin, don't blame me... Only if you die can Brother Li Qiao live on with dignity... You... rest assured, after I kill you, I'll pay with my life for yours!" With that, she drew the dagger, its blade swirling with Yuanqi, indicating that a successful strike would be fatal for Li Yi.

Li Yi, with his eyes closed, sighed inwardly at her words. What a troublesome girl, coming to assassinate him in the middle of the night over a few slaps he gave to Li Qiao... What in the world was this about! Li Yi had countless ways to deal with Li Nana, and any of them could easily handle this novice Miss. However, following Li Han's orders, with his current identity, he couldn't do anything excessive. A plan quickly formed in his mind.

As Li Nana's dagger slowly descended, hesitatingly touching Li Yi's chest without moving further, the 'sleeping' Li Yi suddenly moved slightly. This slight movement made Li Nana resolve herself. As she raised her dagger to strike, Li Yi sighed softly in a dreamy tone, "Nana, after all I've done, won't you even give me one glance?" This sentimentally charged statement, which Li Yi had been brewing for a while, completely froze Li Nana. Her hand dropped the dagger with a clang, stunned...