Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The annual, most spectacular Twelve Courtyards Chief Disciple competition was held today.
It was a fine day, with clear skies stretching for miles. The sun had just risen, yet the trial grounds were already packed with disciples, a dense crowd three layers deep inside and out.
"Hey! Have you heard? That Crimson Flame Young Master Gu Qingfeng is also participating in this Chief Disciple competition."
"That news has been spreading like wildfire for the past two days. Probably no one in Yunxia Sect is unaware. That guy is just too arrogant, saying the Twelve Courtyards Chiefs are all a bunch of brats, and that he could knock them all down in the snap of a finger... It's simply... too ignorant of one's own limitations."
"You can't say that. Although that guy surnamed Gu failed his Foundation Establishment, he possesses a mutated physique with a formidable body. Moreover, he's cultivated the Flame Thunder Art to Great Perfection. He's quite powerful. Didn't he defeat Li Can during the assessment? If I recall correctly, Li Can was at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer, ranked twenty-third among the inner disciples..."
"Li Can is Li Can. Compared to the Twelve Courtyards Chiefs, he's not even worth mentioning, okay? Whether in cultivation level or Immortal Arts, he falls far short. Any one of the Twelve Courtyards Chiefs could easily thrash Li Can. Does that guy surnamed Gu think beating Li Can qualifies him to challenge the Chiefs? Utterly laughable."
"Now many people are saying that guy surnamed Gu might be unable to accept the reality of his Foundation Establishment failure, causing his mind to snap... living in a fantasy... What a pity for the great beauty Ouyang."
"Yeah, truly a pity. I heard True Person Feixue has been trying to persuade her, but the great beauty Ouyang still seems to have feelings for that guy surnamed Gu."
As the crowd was discussing, a sudden commotion arose within the grounds. Looking over, they saw a group of seven or eight people entering the trial arena.
These individuals were all famous figures within Yunxia Sect: inner disciples Yun Hong and Ye Hui, along with the two young masters from the Wind Shadow Li family, Li Can and Li Sen. Leading them was a man around thirty years old.
This man bore some resemblance to Li Can and Li Sen, but his aura was far more imposing and sharp. Dressed in a cyan python robe, he appeared gloomy and sinister, clearly not someone to be trifled with.
Almost everyone in the arena recognized this man: Li Zheng.
The Wind Shadow Li family had four young masters cultivating within Yunxia Sect, hailed as the Four Heroes of the Li Family: Li Sen, Li Can, Li Zheng, and Li Wang.
Li Wang was a direct disciple of the Nine Halls, already renowned far and wide.
Li Zheng's reputation was also considerable. He was a Chief Disciple of the Twelve Courts, and moreover, the second-ranked Chief.
More importantly, he too had forged a Colorful Foundation.
"I heard Li Zheng secluded himself for a year this time. Not only did his cultivation level soar, his martial arts attainments also advanced by leaps and bounds."
"I heard that too. They say Li Zheng's cultivation has reached Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, and he's cultivated five martial arts to the Seven-Nine Perfection Realm. He's dead set on challenging Mu Zibai."
"Exactly. Mu Zibai excels in sword arts, having cultivated seven sword techniques to the Seven-Nine Perfection Realm. Li Zheng secluded himself for a year and cultivated five martial arts to the same realm. These two are just... too monstrous."
"Last year he lost to Mu Zibai. Who knows who will come out on top this year."
"Hard to say. Mu Zibai's cultivation is also at Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer. Both have Colorful Foundations. Mu Zibai excels in sword arts, Li Zheng excels in martial arts. It's truly uncertain who is stronger."
As the crowd was discussing, three more people entered the trial arena.
These three were also famous figures of Yunxia Sect, and all were Chiefs of the Twelve Courts: Huang Yao, Li Qiandong. The one leading them was none other than the elegant, imposing, and dignified foremost Chief of the Twelve Courts, Mu Zibai.
As the saying goes, enemies meeting see red. Although Mu Zibai and Li Zheng weren't enemies, their rivalry was fiercer than enmity.
One the First Chief, the other the Second Chief. Having entered the sect many years ago, Li Zheng had always been overshadowed by Mu Zibai. Seeing Mu Zibai naturally put him in a foul mood.
"Mu Zibai, this year I will definitely make you relinquish the position of First Chief!"
"Is that so?" Facing Li Zheng's provocation, Mu Zibai seemed unperturbed, smiling faintly. "Then we shall wait and see."
"Mu Zibai, don't get cocky! My third brother secluded himself for a year, his martial arts advancing by leaps and bounds. This year he will definitely beat you to the ground!" Li Sen stepped forward, strutting arrogantly.
"It's merely cultivating five martial arts to the Seven-Nine Perfection Realm." Mu Zibai didn't speak; it was Huang Yao who spoke, his tone disdainful. "Zibai long ago cultivated seven sword techniques to the Seven-Nine Perfection Realm..."
"Huang Yao! Since when is it your turn to speak here? You're nothing but the weakest trash among the Twelve Courtyards Chiefs!" Although Li Sen's cultivation wasn't high, relying on the Li family's influence, he naturally didn't fear Huang Yao, the weakest of the Chiefs.
"Heh! Even if I, Huang Yao, am the weakest Chief, I'm still stronger than you." Huang Yao sneered. "I heard not long ago, you were severely injured by a good-for-nothing in the Redleaf Valley. I heard later Li Can tried to avenge you... and ended up vomiting blood non-stop. What a joke!"
"Huang Yao! You're looking for death!" The Redleaf Valley incident was a scar for Li Sen. Having it torn open by Huang Yao now, how could Li Sen not be furious? Yet he didn't act impulsively, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth as he shouted, "Don't think I don't know! A month ago, the three of you were beaten half to death in a cave dwelling!"
These words caused not only Huang Yao to be greatly shocked, but even Li Qiandong and Mu Zibai's expressions changed slightly.
If the Redleaf Valley incident was Li Sen's scar, then the cave dwelling incident was the scar for Mu Zibai, Huang Yao, and the third person. To avoid this matter spreading and damaging their reputations, the three had not only begged Qingning not to tell others but also given many benefits to Huo Yong of the Windfire Sect. How did Li Sen find out? Could it be that Huo Yong of the Windfire Sect was untrustworthy?
"Heh, you thought bribing Huo Yong could keep this matter hidden?" Li Sen deliberately spoke loudly, then turned to address the entire crowd. "I'm afraid you all don't know yet, right? Our Yunxia Sect's esteemed First Chief, Mu Zibai, along with Li Qiandong and Huang Yao, were beaten black and blue in a cave dwelling a month ago. Afraid of losing face, they deliberately recuperated outside for over a month before daring to return. Hahaha..."
As Li Sen's words fell, the trial grounds immediately descended into chaos, everyone discussing fervently.
Huang Yao's face turned livid with anger, wishing he could kill Li Sen on the spot. Li Qiandong's expression wasn't great either; after all, this was a matter of losing face. Mu Zibai seemed relatively composed, speaking solemnly, "That person was a senior who had cultivated for many years, at the Golden Core realm. Out of respect for him as a senior, I originally brought him into the cave dwelling. After discovering some resources inside, that villain grew greedy and attacked Huang Yao. Only then did I act... Unfortunately, his cultivation was too high; we were no match... Although we were seriously injured, I managed to trap that villain in the cave dwelling with a stratagem."
Mu Zibai was indeed clever. His words were neither servile nor overbearing, further shaping himself into a brave and resourceful person who dared to fight a Golden Core expert. However, as soon as he finished, Li Zheng opposite him burst into loud laughter.
"Mu Zibai, oh Mu Zibai, you really know how to spin a tale... A Golden Core realm villain? Robbing your resources? Hahaha! Huo Yong told me everything. That person wasn't a Golden Core expert at all, just a young man who kicked you all until you were vomiting blood from your mouths and noses!"
"And you say he grew greedy? Clearly, it was you who grew greedy, trying to rob his resources, and ended up getting beaten like dead dogs! Mu Zibai, you are utterly hypocritical!"
Mu Zibai feigned composure, responding, "That's just Huo Yong deliberately slandering me."
"Deliberate slander? Should I invite Huo Yong over right now for a face-to-face confrontation?"