Counterfeit Chaos

"Yi'er, I have to ask you..." Li Han suddenly turned serious, "Did your mother really leave you her set of White Tiger class martial techniques?" "White Tiger class?" Li Yi was slightly startled, taking a moment to comprehend. Instead, Li Han, seeing his expression, shook his head and said, "Don't pretend in front of me, boy. Tonight, at the Mo family's sword challenge against a hundred men, you used that very technique, right? I remember your mother once mentioned that technique was a lower-level White Tiger technique called 'Thousand Illusion Sword Light'. I saw her use it once; that time, she too, single-handedly and with just a sword, broke through hundreds of strong opponents, not meeting a single match. Of course, she was much more formidable using it than you are. You probably haven't even mastered the first layer, have you? Remember, the Thousand Illusion Sword Light is formidable, but must not be used lightly. If someone with ill intentions discovers it, this martial technique might bring you immense trouble." Li Yi was truly stunned now, realizing even his random moves could be so misunderstood. And it seems his foster mother was an extremely formidable person back in the day. However, many of her left-behind possessions are still unclear, maybe including this 'Thousand Illusion Sword Light'. Li Yi had been worrying about how to explain his sudden increase in strength, but now Li Han had unexpectedly done it for him, leaving Li Yi feeling a mix of laughter and tears.

After leaving Li Han's study, Li Yi went to rest in another separate small building. His original room was already destroyed, and his current residence, supposedly only eligible for the clan's elders, was now his due to his changed status, and naturally, no one would object. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, his Dou Qi circulated according to the pathways of the 'Heavenly Demon Nine Transformations', completing a cycle and making him feel his Dou Qi grow denser. Li Yi then exhaled softly and opened his eyes. At this moment, he was shirtless; although his body was lean, it was extremely healthy. However, on his right chest was a fiery red palm print, and his left shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages, emitting a medicinal scent. Li Yi and the Grand Elder had clashed fiercely; although it seemed minor on the surface, the injury was extremely severe. His left shoulder was better, treatable by the clan's physician and likely to recover completely in half a month. But the palm print on the chest was more troublesome. As the Dou Qi circulated within his body, he felt fine, but once the Dou Qi receded back into the vortex, Li Yi immediately felt a burning pain in his chest, causing his brows to furrow. The injury on his chest left Li Yi somewhat at a loss. After a moment, he sighed and said, "Old Coot, how should this injury be treated?" A flash of red light appeared on the Yunhuang Ring in his hand, and the figure of the Snake Venerable emerged. He glanced at Li Yi, chuckled, and said, "What, you remembered that this Venerable can help you?" Li Yi, with a frown, replied earnestly, "Old Coot, this injury is so strange. I don't feel anything when I circulate my Dou Qi, but as soon as I stop, I can feel the pain. What's going on?" The Snake Venerable chuckled coldly, slightly pointing his right hand, and after a red light entered Li Yi's body, he sighed, "Kid, you're really lucky." "Lucky? Even this counts as being lucky?" Li Yi scoffed. "Naturally," said the Snake Venerable lightly, "To encounter someone capable of using such a technique, they must be at least a Warrior or higher. Moreover, their research into fire attribute martial arts has reached a realm. That you could defeat such a person speaks only to your good fortune." Li Yi looked down at the palm print on his chest and asked in a deep voice, "Is this injury very troublesome?" The Snake Venerable chuckled, "Not just troublesome... it's extremely troublesome!" "What do you mean?" The Snake Venerable furrowed his brows in thought for a moment before hesitantly saying, "If I'm not mistaken, this is a technique only accessible to those who cultivate fire attribute Dou Qi, known as 'Counterfeit Chaos'. This technique is incredibly tricky, capable of injecting the fire poison developed from their cultivation of fire attribute martial arts into your body in an instant. However, this fire poison doesn't act immediately but slowly takes effect over time. As it spreads, your wound will hurt more and more, but you'll find that using Dou Qi to neutralize it will ease the pain considerably. However, this neutralization will only enhance the potency of the fire poison, forcing you to use more and more Dou Qi against it in an endless cycle, until your own Dou Qi is exhausted and you can no longer combat the fire poison, eventually leading to a painful death." Li Yi couldn't help but gasp, to be drained of Dou Qi and die in pain, such a method was eerily ingenious. "So, is there a way to resolve this technique?" The Snake Venerable shook his head, "This 'Counterfeit Chaos', although not a martial technique per se, is even trickier than one. If I were at my peak, I could easily dispel it, but with my current strength, even if I can dispel it, it would cause unimaginable damage to your body. So..." Hearing this, Li Yi's heart sank. He gritted his teeth, wishing he could find the Grand Elder's corpse and whip it a few more times. "However, although I can't do anything, you can," the Snake Venerable said, watching Li Yi's expression and finally chuckling softly, "Others don't know, but this 'Counterfeit Chaos', you have a chance to dispel it yourself." Li Yi's eyes twitched slightly, unable to help but say, "Old Coot, you're fooling me again! If I had a way, would I be troubled here?"

The Snake Venerable said indifferently, "You do have a way. As long as you can advance to the rank of Warrior and reach the second transformation of the Heavenly Demon, not only will your strength greatly increase, but this Counterfeit Chaos will naturally be dispelled. Remember, the Heavenly Demon Nine Transformations have this effect too!" Li Yi was slightly startled and then bitterly smiled, "Old Coot, you know as well as I do that I've just advanced to the rank of Fighter today. According to normal speed, it would take me ten to eight years to advance to the rank of Warrior. Even those considered geniuses, who can advance to Warrior in three to five years, are few and far between... How long are you planning to let me take to advance? I'm afraid I'd already be tormented to death by this Counterfeit Chaos before I reach that rank."

"You're right, you don't have much time," the Snake Venerable chuckled, "This Counterfeit Chaos, from the moment it enters the body until it fully manifests, takes about three months. If you can't reach the rank of Warrior within these three months, then it's basically over for you... However..."

"However, what?" Li Yi was almost driven mad by the Snake Venerable's tantalizing hints.

"However, I do have a way to temporarily seal the Counterfeit Chaos in your chest. Though I can only maintain it for a year at most, during this year, if you follow my instructions, breaking through to the rank of Warrior isn't too difficult, but..."

"But what?" Li Yi asked irritably, his teeth itching with frustration, "Old Coot, can't you just say everything all at once instead of always torturing people?"

"But, kid, why should I help you like this?" The Snake Venerable revealed a playful smile, "If I help you like this, what's in it for me?"

Li Yi was slightly startled, "Then what do you want?"

The Snake Venerable chuckled slyly, "Kid, according to our agreement, I've already made you a Fighter within two months. Shouldn't you also accept me as your master now? If you accept me as your master, not only will I seal this Counterfeit Chaos for you and help you resolve this trouble, but I will also teach you everything I know, ensuring you become an unparalleled powerhouse within three years... ensuring your three-year agreement with that young lady won't have any issues. How about it?"

Li Yi frowned, "Old Coot, you've always wanted me to accept you as my master, but what benefit does it bring to you? If you don't tell me, I won't accept you as my master, even if you threaten my life."

The Snake Venerable looked at Li Yi's expression and after hesitating for a moment, sighed, "Kid, you must know that I am currently in a soul state. Generally speaking, when people die, their souls dissipate, which is a universal truth. However, I went against this principle. The biggest reason my soul hasn't dissipated is that my physical body hasn't been destroyed, only sealed. The moment I was sealed, I left a wisp of my remnant soul in my body, allowing this soul state to escape. I've wandered the Martial Deity Continent for many years, not for anything else, but to find a successor to pass on my martial arts and techniques. If he can become an unparalleled powerhouse, then perhaps he could break my seal and return me to my physical body... That's why I've always wanted you to accept me as your master."

"You think I have a chance to help you return to your physical body?" Li Yi exhaled, wondering about the rank of the powerful being who sealed this troublesome old ghost.

The Snake Venerable nodded, "I see the possibility in you... You've managed to pass the first test of the Heavenly Demon Nine Transformations on your own, without exploding to death, showing your high talent. Over these years, I've only found you to be the one with this potential... Most importantly, I really like your temperament, kid. So, if you accept me as your master, I will naturally do everything to help you... If you refuse, then so be it."

Li Yi was slightly taken aback, not expecting these reasons. He had been calling the Snake Venerable an old ghost all this time, but he had already regarded him as a mentor. Now, it was just a matter of making it official. Li Yi wasn't a heartless person. After a moment of thought, he couldn't help but bitterly smile, "Do I really have to accept you as my master?"

The Snake Venerable, seeing Li Yi's intention, chuckled slyly, "Naturally!" After saying that, his figure already floated in front of Li Yi and slowly sat down cross-legged.

Li Yi could only stand up helplessly and performed a master-apprentice salute, then grumbled, "Old Coot, are you satisfied now!?"

Seeing Li Yi's formal salute, the Snake Venerable didn't mind his address and nodded, "Good, good, from now on, you are my successor! Excellent! Excellent! Come... kid, let me seal this Counterfeit Chaos for you!"

Li Yi nodded and sat down cross-legged. The Snake Venerable chuckled and waved his hands in the air, forming several blood-red characters that spun continuously, eventually forming a circle and slowly landing on Li Yi's chest, wrapping the red palm print like a tattoo.

Li Yi shivered all over. As the characters fell, the stabbing pain in his chest disappeared entirely. If it weren't for the palm print still there, he would've thought he was dreaming.

"It's done," the Snake Venerable said weakly with a smile, "This seal should last a year. During this time, you can't relax for a moment and need to cultivate with all your might. For this, you absolutely cannot miss the grand event two months later. Only there will you have the greatest opportunity to become a Warrior within a year!"

"That place!?" Li Yi's spirit shook, already understanding. He touched his nose and smiled lightly. It seems he couldn't miss the Sacrificial Rites no matter what.