Trouble Comes Knocking

In the training field, the young men and women had already noticed Li Yi's arrival. The young men merely showed a hint of scorn in their eyes, aware of Li Yi's intention to learn to cultivate Qi and participate in the clan conference in two months. They had discussed several times in private how to humiliate Li Yi at the conference to impress the elders, perhaps even vying for the position of the family head.

The beautiful young women, upon noticing Li Yi, screamed in unison, with a couple of them exaggeratedly hiding behind the more valiant young men, as if terrified.

Li Yi inwardly rolled his eyes. Although his reputation was not good, being known as a womanizer, he had no interest in these mediocre women. However, this was inevitable, considering Li Yi's notorious reputation for womanizing in Wanzhao City. Since the young men and women in the Li family were not closely related by blood, their fear of Li Yi was understandable.

Shaking his head slightly, Li Yi chose not to engage with them and turned towards the main gate. However, sometimes, even if you don't look for trouble, trouble finds you.

Li Yi had barely walked a few steps when he suddenly heard a burst of laughter from behind. In a moment, a young man approached him and said, "So it's Li Yi, my cousin. I heard that you went to the secluded area of the back mountain for intensive training, vowing not to leave until you became a Douzhe. Seeing you here today, you must have succeeded, right?"

This young man, around eighteen or nineteen years old, tall and with a handsome yet somewhat haggard appearance, seemed like the type who could survive on his looks alone. The haggardness did not make him look weak; rather, it added a unique charm to him.

He was Li Qiao, the grandson of the Li family's great elder and the oldest of Li Yi's generation, making him Li Yi's elder cousin.

Li Yi wasn't too keen on dealing with him but didn't want to appear too out of place. He nodded slightly and, after a careful look at Li Qiao, noted the pride in his eyebrows before responding softly, "So it's Big Cousin. I didn't expect you to joke with me like this... Knowing that even a talented person like you hasn't become a Douzhe yet, it would be absurd for me, a useless person, to achieve that in a month. I've just been training hard for a month and felt a bit stifled, so I wanted to come out for a stroll."

At that moment, the Li family's young men and women had already gathered around, watching from a distance. Hearing Li Yi's words of apparent weakness, although they were surprised by his change, they still let out sneers one after another.

Most of these youngsters had not yet broken through to the Fighter level, so they couldn't detect the faint Yuanqi fluctuations on Li Yi's body. However, the few middle-aged people instructing them, who were high-level Fighters themselves, only needed a glance to notice the Yuanqi movement in Li Yi. It was clear that this young master of the Li family was not as weak as everyone had thought. At his age, just a month of cultivation to successfully purify his meridians was already quite a feat. Most people in the Li family had guessed that Li Yi would become a complete invalid after three months, but no one had such high hopes for him.

Li Qiao, hearing Li Yi speak, displayed an even more eager smile: "So, Cousin Li Yi... I thought you had taken a wrong path and genuinely wanted to cultivate diligently. Now seeing that you haven't changed at all, I am much relieved. How was this month for you? Do you want me to ask Old Three and the others to accompany you to the Tianxiang Tower? I heard they recently brought in some exotic girls, each with her own unique charm."

As he spoke, Li Qiao extended his hand to pat Li Yi's shoulder, obviously trying to show some affection. But Li Yi slightly frowned and dodged nimbly, leaving Li Qiao's hand to fall through the air. Then, he took a few steps back and smiled lightly: "If Big Cousin likes that sort of thing, feel free to go yourself. I have other matters today and cannot accompany you."

After saying this, Li Yi bowed slightly and walked towards the main gate. The previous Li Yi might have feared this big cousin, but with Li Yi's past life experience, how could he regard such a petty character seriously?

Seeing Li Yi ignore him and walk away, making him lose face, Li Qiao could feel the scornful gazes of the surrounding family members. After all, in the Li family, everyone was constantly competing for prestige and power.

So, being overshadowed by Li Yi, whom everyone in the family looked down upon, was something Li Qiao couldn't accept. He wasn't a fool, and after a moment of contemplation, he came up with a startling possibility. He took a deep breath to regain his composure, then quickly blocked Li Yi's path again, laughing heartily: "Cousin Li Yi, I'm truly delighted to see you so earnest! Seeing you like this, I guess you must have succeeded in purifying your meridians and started cultivating Yuanqi. But I wonder, what level of Yuanqi have you achieved? How about we spar a bit, and I'll help you test your strength?"

At his words, the surrounding Li family members were astounded, while the few family members with Fighter-level cultivation didn't make a sound, implicitly acknowledging his suggestion.

Li Yi frowned slightly and sighed inwardly. It seemed the trouble caused by the previous Li Yi was not insignificant. Was it really so difficult to quickly prepare things and continue his secluded cultivation?

However, he knew that if he kept avoiding confrontation, this big cousin Li Qiao would probably not let him go. So, he feigned a bitter smile and said: "Big Cousin is joking. Although I have cultivated a bit of Yuanqi, how can I be your opponent? Moreover, I haven't practiced any combat techniques, so how could I be a match for you, Big Cousin?"

Li Qiao laughed heartily and said: "Isn't that perfect? I just learned a high-grade Xuanwu combat technique from our family today. If you, Cousin Li Yi, can withstand my three moves, I will teach you this technique. What do you say?"

Everyone around gasped in unison. The Li family, despite its vastness, was only known to possess mid-grade Zhuque combat techniques, which only the family head was qualified to learn. Now that Li Qiao had learned a high-grade Xuanwu technique, it indicated his future achievements would be significant, and the family's expectations for him were high.

Many were envious of Li Yi, wishing they had the chance to withstand those three moves. After all, many in the Li family practiced low-grade Xuanwu techniques, and even mid-grade techniques were highly coveted, let alone high-grade.

Seeing Li Yi still not responding, Li Qiao waved his hand with a magnanimous smile: "How about this? I'll let you use one hand and one foot. What do you say?"

After saying that, he swung his arm, and a surge of Qi emanated from his movement, pushing back the family members behind him a few steps, opening up a pathway.

"Li Qiao, my cousin, has already reached the nine-crystal Yuanqi level!?"

"Doesn't that mean he's just a step away from becoming a Fighter!?"

Amidst the mixture of envy and jealousy, Li Qiao's reputation soared to its peak. Li Yi, seeing this situation, knew he had to step in. If he continued to play it low-key under these circumstances, he didn't know what kind of humiliation he might face. With Li Yi's nature, he was not one to willingly accept this.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Since Big Cousin is so kind, then I shall humbly accept the challenge."

With that, he gestured slightly with his hand and walked towards the center of the practice field. The surrounding Li family members were stunned, unable to believe that the usually timid Li Yi had actually agreed...

Li Qiao's expression changed several times, but eventually, all his emotions turned into a resentful thought in his heart - "Li Yi, you don't know what's good for you. Then, I will make your newly cultivated Yuanqi turn to nothing! Today, I'll make sure you won't have the chance to rise again!"

Li Yi slowly ascended the wooden platform, followed by Li Qiao who leaped up with more flair, impressing many. The scene even elicited screams from several young girls. To them, Li Qiao standing opposite the infamous playboy Li Yi seemed remarkably heroic...

"Cousin Li Yi, please," Li Qiao said.

"Big Cousin, please," Li Yi responded.

"Then, I won't be courteous," Li Qiao smiled slightly, "Please be careful, Cousin Li Yi."

Before his words fell, Li Qiao lunged towards Li Yi, his right hand forming a palm strike like a blade - "Mid-grade Xuanwu: Bone Crushing Palm!"