Li Ba

As time progressed, the Li family's clan assembly reached its climax amidst repeated shouts of encouragement. Notably, the famous younger generation of the Li family, including individuals like Li Qiao and Li Chen, won their matches effortlessly. Li Qiao's opponent, a girl from a collateral branch, lost to him in less than three moves under his Seven Spiral Slash. Although Li Chen appeared lazy and lecherous, his skills were commendable. Facing another eight-crystal Yuanqi level fighter from the family, he won after a prolonged battle with a single decisive move. However, the most attention-grabbing participant in this assembly was undoubtedly Li Bing. When she stepped onto the stage, without any particular action, just the release of her fighting spirit turned the arena as cold as winter. Her opponent, without even trying to resist, conceded immediately. This easy victory slightly disappointed Li Yi, who had developed an interest in the seemingly cold and unapproachable Li Bing.

Finally, as if prearranged, all the matches in the Li family assembly concluded, leaving only the last bout. The Fourth Elder, overseeing the platform, showed a rare smile as he read the names from the roster: "Li Yi! Li Ba! Face off!" With this announcement, the previously noisy training field fell silent, and the once languid gazes from the VIP seats sharpened. Everyone was curious about how Li Yi, who was still considered a waste three months ago, would perform in this assembly.

The younger members of the Li family smirked playfully upon hearing these names. Although Li Ba was from a collateral branch of the Li family, everyone knew he was a formidable opponent. Despite his seven-crystal Yuanqi level, his natural strength made him a tough fighter among the younger generation. And Li Yi's reputation was well-known to all. A waste facing such a fierce opponent – regardless of whether it was a deliberate arrangement by the family elders, it seemed Li Yi was headed for a bad outcome. People are like that, relishing in seeing someone of higher status than themselves lose face.

Ignoring the various jealous, mocking, and playful looks around him, Li Yi slowly approached the stage, eyes slightly narrowed. As he passed, the younger members of the Li family stepped back, laughing, as if everyone was anticipating his moment on the stage.

In the VIP seats, Li Han's eyes flashed coldly. He looked at the First Elder beside him with a somewhat mocking expression, "First Elder, your arrangement for this final match is truly commendable! I believe not only myself but all the guests here have been looking forward to this moment, right?" The First Elder chuckled lightly, "Patriarch, you're exaggerating. Our Li family's clan assembly has always been fair and just. If Li Yi happens to face Li Ba, it's merely bad luck. Why should the Patriarch be angry?"

Li Han scoffed coldly, "When did I say Li Yi was unlucky? On the contrary, his luck is excellent... How else could he prove his strength without defeating a formidable opponent?" Seeing Li Han's expression, both the First and Third Elders exchanged looks, feeling uneasy. What made Li Han so confident? Li Ba might only have a seven-crystal level, but his combat strength was comparable to a nine-crystal fighter.

The other guests in the VIP seats, overhearing Li Han and the elders' discussion, showed no particular reactions. Until the outcome was decided, anything else was superfluous. Mo Er, touching his short beard, looked at Li Yi from afar, feeling suddenly tense. If Li Yi lost today, their subsequent plans... Thinking this, his eyes met the Third Elder's, sharing an unspoken understanding.

Long Ao Tian, sitting next to Mo Er, stared at the slowly advancing Li Yi. For some reason, this Li family's waste gave him an extremely fearful sensation, causing frustration and irritation in his heart. The two white-robed priests from the Martial Deity Temple watched Li Yi's entrance without any visible reaction, but their eyes seemed to deepen further.

In the training field, Li Yi had slowly made his way onto the platform. Standing opposite him was a nearly two-meter-tall robust man with bulging, dark muscles and uncontrollable Yuanqi radiating from his body. His formidable aura was palpable even several meters away. This was the notorious Li Ba of the Li family! Li Yi smiled slightly, eyes narrowing – it seemed the elders had arranged a worthy opponent for him. The Fourth Elder, standing between them, could tell that Li Yi had passed the first stage of cultivation, but he couldn't discern his exact Yuanqi level. An odd thought crossed the Fourth Elder's mind: could a waste transform into a genius? Could a dead fish really turn over?

Under everyone's gaze, the Fourth Elder quickly put aside his baffling thoughts and said, "Begin, but remember, if you feel outmatched, concede immediately. Don't be rash and lose your life!"

Li Yi nodded nonchalantly, the curve of his mouth growing more sinister. Opposite him, Li Ba, exuding a fierce aura, grunted in acknowledgment. The Fourth Elder, witnessing this scene, sneered inwardly, secretly hoping Li Ba could finish off Li Yi with a single blow. This thought flickered briefly in his mind before he retreated to a corner of the platform.

As the Fourth Elder stepped back, the atmosphere on the stage tensed significantly. Li Ba, looking down on Li Yi, flashed a grim smile and said, "Young Master Li Yi, don't blame me for not warning you. If we start fighting, I can't guarantee you won't get hurt. If you're scared, it's not too late to concede now." Li Yi shook his head and replied indifferently, "No need for that. If you hurt me, it's just my bad luck."

"Very well!" Li Ba nodded. "In that case, Young Master Li Yi, let's begin!" As his words fell, Li Ba's hands tensed slightly, and the faint Yuanqi at his fingertips became more intense. After a brief pause, he suddenly lunged towards Li Yi like an arrow, his fists surging with Yuanqi, aiming straight for Li Yi's chest with a shout: "Mountain Splitting Fist!" The Mountain Splitting Fist, a mid-level Xuanwu fighting technique, could split mountains and crack stones when mastered.

Faced with this powerful punch, Li Yi remained calm. As Li Ba's fist neared his chest, Li Yi stepped back slightly and swung his right hand, perfectly blocking Li Ba's punch. "Reversing Wind Palm!" A faint blood-colored Yuanqi appeared between Li Yi's fingers, following a strange trajectory before deflecting to the side. Unexpectedly, Li Ba's punch felt like it hit a sponge, causing a momentary tightness in his chest. Before he could react, he was flung to the side, his concentrated Yuanqi exploding on the ground, creating several cracks on the solid surface. Li Ba, propelled by the momentum, stumbled back several steps before regaining his balance.

The crowd was astonished! Seeing Li Ba's mountain-splitting punch effortlessly diverted by Li Yi, everyone thought they were seeing things. The spectators on the high platform, who had expected Li Yi to lose in one move, were now staring in disbelief. How could this be possible?

Li Ba, with a flushed face, took a deep breath and regained some composure. His arrogance now tempered, he looked at Li Yi seriously and asked, "What kind of fighting technique is that?" Li Yi touched his nose and said lightly, "Does it matter?" "Indeed," Li Ba sneered, "As long as I can defeat you, nothing else matters. Since Young Master Li Yi truly has some skill, I won't hold back anymore!" With that, Li Ba's right hand curved like a hawk's claw, forming a strange shape. He then lunged at Li Yi again. As he surged forward, a strong wind pressure formed in his right palm, and with a shake of his hand, a formidable aura rushed towards Li Yi. "Corpse Rending Claw!" The Corpse Rending Claw, a high-level Xuanwu fighting technique, was an unpredictable and lightning-fast claw strike.

Narrowing his eyes and sensing Li Ba's fierce aura and rapid attack, Li Yi shook his head and muttered softly, "Still... too slow." Before the words fully left his lips, his right palm swept towards Li Ba again...