"Stop!"
Seeing Li Yong with Li Xuan's sword at his brow, Li Wentian immediately shouted sternly. Li Yong was a disciple capable of reaching the Martial Emperor realm; his death would undoubtedly be a great loss to the Li family. Furthermore, Li Yong was Li Wentian's own grandson, and Li Wentian could no longer sit still.
"Old man, this is a fight to the death!" Li Xuan sneered upon hearing this. Under Li Yong's terrified gaze, he moved his spirit sword, which directly pierced into Li Yong's head. Blood splashed out. Li Xuan showed no mercy and severed Li Yong's head with another sword strike.
"How dare you, whelp!"
Li Wentian's expression contorted as he saw this. He moved in a flash, rushing towards Li Xuan.
"Old man, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist making a move," Li Xuan's eyes flashed with fierceness as he heard this. He gripped his spirit sword and shot towards Li Wentian.
*Clang!*
A metallic clang echoed. Li Xuan and Li Wentian both retreated several steps. Li Wentian had, at some point, produced a large saber. Judging by its luster, it was clearly a low-grade spirit weapon. After their exchange, they halted, their gazes revealing no hint of concealment, filled instead with intense killing intent.
"Heh, I've truly opened my eyes today. A fight to the death, as promised, and yet you still resort to bullying the young after the fact," Zhao Tianlong sneered, his voice instantly resonating throughout the entire arena.
"Indeed, Li Wentian. You are the Great Elder of the Li family, after all. Would you really have to suppress a family disciple just because your own grandson died?" Qian Fuyu chuckled as he spoke.
"Brother Zhao and Brother Qian speak the truth. I feel like this Li family has become Li Wentian's sole domain," the Great Elder of the Sun family, Sun Deqi, chimed in.
While Li Yong was alive, everyone had considered how to reconnect with the Li family. But now that Li Yong had been killed by Li Xuan, those thoughts naturally vanished.
Genius was something the vast continent never lacked. Only a genius who lived was truly a genius; a dead genius was merely a dead person. The five great families were inherently at odds with each other. Seeing Li Wentian bully the young, although they were reluctant to intervene directly, they spared no effort in kicking him while he was down.
Listening to the taunts from the Great Elders of the other four families, Li Wentian's expression shifted numerous times. Gazing at Li Yong's corpse on the death match stage, the killing intent in Li Wentian's eyes grew even more intense.
"This is a family matter of the Li family to begin with. It's already too much that you came uninvited. Now, are you going to interfere in my handling of family affairs today!" Li Wentian said in a deep voice, his eyes then shifting back to Li Xuan.
"Old man, I'm not afraid of you. How about we also go onto the death match stage?" Li Xuan coldly snorted as soon as Li Wentian finished speaking.
Zhao Tianlong and the others were about to speak, but they hadn't expected Li Xuan to challenge Li Wentian. A junior challenging a senior family member was quite an interesting turn of events. Moreover, since Li Xuan had initiated this confrontation with Li Wentian, they naturally had no reason to interject further.
"Good! Very good!" Li Wentian let out a bitter laugh, enraged. This way, he had no reservations. In Li Wentian's view, Li Yong had been too careless earlier. After all, Liu Qing had already revealed Li Xuan's cultivation level, so even Li Wentian hadn't anticipated Li Xuan's rapid advancement. The combat awareness displayed in that sword strike would have injured even Li Wentian if he had been caught unaware. But now that he knew Li Xuan's techniques, Li Wentian was confident he could suppress him. Then, he could personally avenge Li Yong!
"Old man, I know you're furious, but what can you do? According to the ancestral teachings, you can't kill me. Today, I'm giving you this opportunity, shouldn't you thank me?" Li Xuan said with a smile, looking at Li Wentian on the death match stage.
"I will use your head to mourn my Yong'er. I hope you can still laugh later," Li Wentian took a deep breath, his state of mind gradually stabilizing. However, the killing intent in his eyes was even more intense than before.
"This old fellow is surprisingly patient," Li Xuan observed inwardly, growing cautious as he saw Li Wentian's calmed demeanor. He had initially hoped to provoke Li Wentian into anger, which would surely expose his weaknesses. But to his surprise, Li Wentian had perceived Li Xuan's intention and forcefully suppressed his rage.
*Boom!*
Li Wentian's aura surged explosively, instantly reaching the peak of the Spiritual Soul realm. Zhao Tianlong and the others' pupils contracted at the sight. They were all only at the advanced stage of the Spiritual Soul realm, and they hadn't expected Li Wentian to have quietly surpassed them.
"This young man possesses strong individuality and understands the art of offense. To have cultivated to the Spiritual Soul realm at such a young age, his future achievements would undoubtedly be limitless if he were allowed to grow. It's a shame that Li Wentian is suppressing him so harshly. The Li family is likely to lose two future dragons today," Zhao Wuji stated gravely. From Li Xuan's earlier display, the others had also discerned that Li Xuan had broken through to the Spiritual Soul realm. However, against Li Wentian, who was at the peak of the Spiritual Soul realm, he was likely powerless to turn the tide.
"The low-grade spirit sword he's using, could he be a sword cultivator? If he is a sword cultivator, then the outcome of this battle is uncertain," Qian Fuyu commented.
"A sword cultivator? That's unlikely. As everyone knows, the mark of a sword cultivator is the sword of the heart. From Li Xuan's earlier movements, it was merely a mastery of speed and strength. Among those of the same level, his control is probably not inferior to ours," Sun Deqi shook his head.
Wang Wenchun, the Great Elder of the Wang family, nodded in agreement. "Many spirit masters in our Tianyun Kingdom aspire to become sword cultivators, which is why spirit swords are the most expensive spirit weapons. However, possessing a spirit sword does not mean one is a sword cultivator. This young man, it's a pity," he added.
Peak Spiritual Soul realm!
Feeling the aura emanating from Li Wentian, Li Xuan's expression grew slightly solemn. He had already pushed himself to the limit, breaking through to the mid-stage Spiritual Soul realm through last-minute effort. This battle would undoubtedly be the most difficult one Li Xuan had faced. However, even so, Li Xuan felt no fear or trepidation in his heart.
"He is strong, let him be strong, like a gentle breeze brushing against a mountain ridge. I have my own sword, and with one sword, I can destroy you."
Li Xuan's state of mind quietly underwent a transformation, which even he did not notice. However, Qingxiao, within Li Xuan's body, trembled slightly, and wisps of sword qi surged.
"Old man, years ago, you deliberately sent my parents out, putting their lives in mortal danger. Afterward, you ignored their pleas for help when their distress signals arrived. Today, after killing you, I won't spare your descendants either," Li Xuan suddenly spoke, his expression growing colder. Then, with a thought, his low-grade spirit sword lit up. Furthermore, strands of sword qi surged from within him into the low-grade spirit sword, instantly spreading throughout the entire death match stage.
Sword qi!
Seeing that Li Xuan had actually condensed sword qi, Zhao Tianlong and the others all stood up in shock. Li Xuan's words undoubtedly revealed a secret: the Li family's Great Elder had actually plotted against a clan member. However, upon seeing the sword qi, everyone's attention immediately shifted from the former. This was sword qi!
Even Li Wentian's pupils contracted sharply. He clearly hadn't expected Li Xuan to possess such a terrifying comprehension of the sword. While sword qi didn't necessarily mean one was a sword cultivator, it at least meant one had touched upon the threshold. If one could condense the sword of the heart, then they would be on the great path. Thinking of this, Li Wentian suddenly felt a hint of regret. If he hadn't acted that way back then, would he not have enmity with Li Xuan today?
"Die!"
Li Xuan shouted, and the surrounding sword qi, like a rainbow, instantly thrust out in a single sword strike towards Li Wentian.
*Screech!*
Just as Li Wentian was about to defend himself, a clear sound reached his ears. Li Wentian looked down in disbelief, only to see Li Xuan's spirit sword already piercing his chest.
"Li Wentian, defeated so easily?"
Zhao Tianlong and the others were utterly astounded. That was the peak Spiritual Soul realm, and he was struck by Li Xuan's sword in one blow? If it were them, wouldn't they also be no match for Li Xuan?
"Don't worry, they'll be down to accompany you soon," Li Xuan glanced at the terrified Li Xian and the others, then smiled slightly and slowly pushed the low-grade spirit sword deeper.
"Stop!"