A Martial God's Bloodline

"I challenge Li Xuan!"

As soon as those words were spoken, silence befell the entire venue.

Li Xuan, who was originally sitting haughtily in the seventh seat, opened his closed eyes A burst of radiant light surged forth from his eyes. Like a sharp sword, it stabbed Li Ye, who had spoken up moments ago to challenge him.

"You challenge me?"

Rising from his seat, Li Xuan's tone sounded somewhat calm. However, anyone with a discerning eye could come to the conclusion that a ball of fire was burning slowly within.

"Li Ye is like a newborn calf who isn't afraid of tigers. He just defeated Li Gei, the former seventh-placed inner disciple, and he's already challenging someone more formidable. He's challenging Li Xuan, who defeated Li Gei easily!"

Some applauded Li Ye's decision while others scoffed at him.

Distant family disciples formed the bulk of those who commended him; they represent the majority of lower-status individuals within the clan. Those who scoffed at him were mostly people like Li Xuan, who were born in the main family. They were extremely proud and did not regard branch family or extended family disciples as capable of surpassing them.

"Li Ye is unbelievably arrogant! Does he really think he's invincible?"

"Exactly, it's because of luck that he defeated an out-of-shape Li Gei. Who does he think he is? One of the clan's three great prodigies?"

Plenty of people began making sarcastic remarks. Harsh words came from just about everywhere.

Up in the stands, Li Huangran was faintly emitting a murderous aura. He never considered that Li Ye would actually challenge Li Xuan. It was obvious to everyone that Li Xuan's Level Seven was higher in stature than Li Gei's Level Seven!

"Hahaha! This kid is interesting! I like it!"

A loud burst of laughter made the elders of the Li clan, especially Li Huangran, unhappy. It came from Xiao Qing, who tagged along with Li Yating. However, Li Huangran was the only one who knew that he knew Li Ye since some time ago. When his laugh was heard, some people could not help but frown.

"Young Wanderer Xiao, we've made a fool of ourselves. This Li Ye has always been arrogant in the past, but on account of the sentiment to his father, we have tolerated it till this day. He's never learnt to be grateful and his attitude is getting worse."

An elder of Li Huangran's faction remarked in a rather displeased tone, as if he could never imagine the Dark Heaven Sect's Xiao Qing walking side-by-side with Li Ye.

"Arrogant? I don't think so. As a martial artist, you need to have a martial heart that will never give up. If one is afraid of meeting someone more powerful than oneself, it's pointless to talk about martial arts and cultivation! Why not just head home, get married earlier, and spend the rest of your life farming peacefully with your wife!"

Xiao Qing answered so rudely that the elder's face turned red. The elder wanted to show his anger but was afraid to do so. After all, the Li clan may be a hegemonic entity in Wu Prefecture City, but the other party was far from being just some clan elder from another city. Even if all three of Wu Prefecture City's great clans were combined, they would never dare to provoke Xiao Qing's sect.

Down in the arena, Li Xuan was already standing on the platform. He narrowed his eyes slightly, and stared at Li Ye, who was beginning to show some promising signs out of all the main family's descendants.

"According to our clan's hierarchy, I should address you as Third Brother, right?"

Although Li Ye was not the oldest among his generation, clan hierarchy dictated that he be the third oldest. By right, he should be addressed as the Third Young Master. Li Xuan may be one year older than Li Ye, but clan hierarchy did not take age into account.

"I modestly decline!"

Li Ye was unmoved. He knew very well that Li Xuan deserved more caution than the arrogant Li Yue. At the very least, Li Xuan was a relative unknown who suddenly revealed the formidable Level Seven cultivation. His true combat strength was close to a Level Eight Eminent Master!

"In fact, you've already achieved what you wanted. I have to admit that everyone really did look down on you in the past. But one thing is for sure: you're not your father!"

Li Xuan's words gradually became more cutting as a hint of coldness appeared in his eyes.

"My father is my father, I am myself."

Li Ye shook his head. Perhaps having a peerless Pride of Heaven as a father was not a blessing. Regardless of that, he stood there on that day simply to prove that he was not trash, that he might even be better than the clan's prodigies!

Perhaps the obsession of the soul that he fused with had an influence on him as well. He did not reject it, but was more than ready to fulfill that soul's wishes.

Their conversation ended in disagreement and both of them stared solemnly at each other.

Finally, Li Xuan took the first shot. The sudden drop in the surrounding temperature was clearly perceivable. A gush of cold air hit assailed one's face, slowing down almost all actions by at least half the normal speed.

"Li Xuan's proficiency with Ice Crystal Fist has reached at least the greater attainment stage!"

As soon as Li Xuan made his move, Li Ye began analyzing his opponent's general strength. Ice Crystal Fist, greater attainment stage! It was a pure display of his opponent's outstanding cultivation talents!

Getting into the introductory stage of battle skills and physical techniques was easy, but to cultivate it to lesser attainment required some effort and talent. For greater attainment, cognizance was needed in addition to effort and talent!

Li Xuan was clearly very cognizant in battle skills cultivation! That seemed to be the case with the Ice Crystal Fist, at least!

Before the gust of wind arrived, Li Ye's whole body seemed to be covered with a layer of frost, causing his movements to be delayed.

"Is this the might of this technique's greater attainment!"

Li Ye finally understood. Although he had overestimated Li Xuan's strength when he saw Li Xuan holding back when battling Li Wei, it was only then that he realized how he had actually underestimated it!

"With battle skills and physical techniques, only ten percent of its true effects can be executed in the introductory stage. Lesser attainment would then allow a thirty percent execution, while greater attainment brings it to almost ninety percent!"

It was evident that there could be huge differences in execution within the same battle technique, such as if one person cultivated to the lesser attainment stage while the other reached the greater attainment stage.

Of course, some freaks were able to cultivate their techniques to mastery! Almost ninety-nine percent of the technique's might could be brought out! Those who reached the perfection stage would have truly integrated and mastered the technique as a whole!

Unfortunately, very few people could do so. The higher the rank of a technique, the more difficult it was to cultivate it.

Taking Yellow Rank Advanced as an example, even Grandmasters  who were Level Nine and above may not even be able to cultivate those techniques to the mastery stage! Not even everyone could achieve the greater attainment stage!

Whoosh! A cold fist of wind surged past his body. Li Ye felt a slight warmth on his cheek. A red gash appeared and some fresh blood flowed out, but it froze rather quickly.

"I'm at least thirty percent slower!"

Li Ye's heart skipped a beat. Speed had always been his biggest advantage. Even if his trump card—his bloodpupils—was not considered, his speed was already much faster than ordinary people. At that juncture, his speed advantage was weakened under his opponent's frosty air, but it was still more or less able to cope.

For a moment, Li Ye repeatedly avoided Li Xuan's attack and looked for an opportunity to fight back.

Up in the stands, some clan elders were beginning to look uneasy. As they looked at the situation unfolding in the arena, they went from having contemptuous looks when Li Ye challenged Li Xuan, to the extremely solemn expression that they had then.

One elder whispered, "Li Ye's level doesn't seem to be high, but his speed really makes you wonder. He's even surpassed the ordinary Level Seven Martial Masters. He really is approaching the level of Eminent Masters. Li Xuan's Ice Crystal Fist hampered Li Ye's speed, but it won't be a burden on Li Ye in that short period of time. "

Another elder nodded to himself and said, "But in the long run, nothing can change the final result. Li Ye's biggest weakness is that he has too low a level. Even if he has learned two Yellow Rank Advanced battle skills, he can't wield them at their appropriate strengths. From what we've seen earlier, he can only exert about ten percent of its ability from the introductory stage, regardless of whether it's the Ice Crystal Fist or the Windstorm Kick. It isn't enough to pose a great threat to Li Xuan."

"That's right. Li Xuan, on the other hand, lacks in physical technique and only learnt one Yellow Rank Intermediate physical technique in the Windflow Stride. But he has already reached the lesser attainment stage, with speed and reflexes that are not inferior to any Eminent Masters. His Ice Crystal Fist in particular, has reached greater attainment, and his cognizance of the technique amazes even me!"

Several elders were obviously not optimistic about Li Ye's chances. They thought much higher of Li Xuan instead.

"After all, he is the eldest son of Third Elder. Like father, like son. Perhaps he might have the opportunity to challenge the higher-placed inner disciples, or even the clan's three prodigies."

A horse-faced elder even remembered to flatter Li Huangran. Even the elders had higher or lower standing, and Li Huangran evidently had a higher status.

No one felt optimistic about Li Ye, not even Xiao Qing, whose face seemed slightly serious by then. As the adjudicator of that match, Li Xuanji looked calm but there was a flash of anxiety in his eyes.

On the contrary, Li Hounian did not seem too worried about Li Ye's safety. Li Huangran felt a slight concern after noticing Li Hounian's composure.

After a long battle, Li Ye's predicament gradually turned out to be what many predicted. He had less room to maneuver and the frost-covered his entire body, slowing down his movements tremendously.

"Li Ye, you're no match for me!"

Li Xuan did not seem to be in a hurry, but was instead enjoying a good game of cat and mouse.

"Are you sure about it?"

Li Ye seemed to smile in the face of Li Xuan's provocation. No one noticed that his pupils turned blood-red for a fleeting moment, as it had already returned to normal.

"Hmph! I must acknowledge that you're good. You shouldn't complain after defeating Li Gei. It's unfortunate that you have to challenge me! Now then, I'll kill off your determination!"

Boom!

An even more powerful vital force erupted from Li Xuan's body! Everyone could not help themselves from exclaiming! They clearly felt Li Xuan's vital force jumped from initial phase Level Seven to peak Level Seven!

Even Li Huangran was a little surprised then. Apparently, he had no knowledge of his own son's hidden strength.

At that moment, Li Mo had even begun to take Li Xuan more seriously. Li Xuan's true strength had certainly caught Li Mo's attention.

As for Li Ye, everyone was no longer confident in his chance to seal victory.

Suddenly, a huge surge of vigor bore down on Li Ye and stifled his breathing.

武道大师 – we retain this as Eminent Master for consistency purposes in the flow of the story, since we are sure that it refers to an Eminent Master. It simply has an extra phrase 武道 (= Martial/The Martial Way) added before it, but we opt to drop this in order not to cause confusion between this and Martial Masters, which are known in the story as 武师.武道宗师 – similar to the above, we opt not to add the word Martial before Grandmaster and simply refer to all such instances as Grandmaster.