Chapter 56: This Young Man Is Very Strong

Li Xingyao was infuriated when he heard his younger brother utter such spineless words and immediately cursed, "Get lost! I have no brother like you!"

Li Xingchen stared in shock, "Brother, are you saying you enjoyed being beaten?"

"I enjoyed your damn—!"

If only he wasn't tied up so tightly, Li Xingyao would have sent his own blood brother back for a remolding, so he'd finally understand what true 'enjoyment' meant.

"It's all about dignity, do you understand? Can I admit defeat in front of everyone? That would disgrace not only myself, but our entire Li family and the whole Crimson Flame Sect! Do you get it, you foolish pig of a brother!"

Fuming, Li Xingyao lunged at Li Xingchen, mouth open to bite, only to discover he was still at a distance and could only gnaw at the air.

This made him even angrier, and he bit the air several more times, as if determined to devour it all and suffocate Li Xingchen.

On the stage, Qingxi watched the brothers’ antics, unable to hold back his laughter.

In the end, he handed Li Xingyao back to Li Xingchen, claiming victory in the challenge.

Yet Qingxi felt no joy, for as his gaze swept the hall, he saw an elder standing atop the main hall’s roof.

That man was none other than Hong Jiu, the master of Volcano Island.

With him guarding the exit, Qingxi knew he couldn't leave, so he thickened his skin and stayed, intending to challenge Mu Yue.

Although Qingxi’s reading ability allowed him to discern Mu Yue's identity, she had sat in the first row of the Narcissus Gate’s camp from the moment she entered, never openly revealing who she was.

Therefore, Qingxi couldn’t point her out directly for a challenge—doing so would surely expose him.

With these worries in mind, he walked off the stage, drawing astonished looks from everyone.

"What’s going on? He’s actually giving up his position as champion?"

"What kind of move is this?"

All the sects were dumbfounded, their minds unable to process it. The disciples of the Spirit Essence Sect were especially crestfallen.

Since learning Qingxi was one of their own, they had been the most delighted.

Especially after witnessing Qingxi display the cultivation of a Qi Refining grandmaster, defeating Li Xingyao with a single move and proceeding to school him like a stern father, they regarded him as a genius equal or superior to the top ten inner disciples.

Even Wan Hu, who had been brimming with confidence, now gripped his armrest tightly, overwhelmed by pressure.

He had fought Li Xingyao before—though he’d won, it was a narrow victory.

But Qingxi had crushed Li Xingyao in one move. Though he’d taken advantage of Li Xingyao’s loss of his spiritual sword, Wan Hu had imagined himself in Qingxi’s place and realized that even with his own strength, he could not achieve such a decisive victory.

Even if he were to win, it would take at least ten moves.

This meant that, under similar circumstances, Qingxi's strength was greater, making Wan Hu’s heart clench with increased pressure.

Unconsciously, Wan Hu elevated Qingxi from a potential rival to a true, formidable adversary.

As for Zhou Yuanlong, he shrank back, terrified Qingxi might notice him.

He’d originally planned to seek revenge, but after witnessing Qingxi thrash Li Xingyao, he wilted immediately.

He secretly prayed Qingxi wouldn’t pursue their past grievances.

Otherwise, even if he wasn’t weak, he’d be beaten into submission.

Yet just as everyone believed Qingxi would sweep through all challengers and ascend to the summit of this year’s Eastern Domain Heroes Assembly, he… stepped off the stage!

What a spectacle!

Spirit Essence Sect disciples sighed in disappointment.

Mu Yue and Wang Shuiling exchanged glances, unable to fathom Qingxi’s intentions. Could it be… he’d forgotten the rules of the arena battle?

The same thought occurred to both women.

But Qingxi stepping down brought relief to the disciples of Crimson Flame Sect and Bliss Sect.

If Qingxi had remained on stage, everyone would have had to challenge him until he was defeated. Seeing Qingxi vanquish Li Xingyao, none of the Crimson Flame Sect disciples dared go up.

Even the top ten Bliss Sect disciples, Hua Rui and Ru Hong, frowned, recognizing Qingxi’s formidable strength. Even if they went all out, victory was uncertain.

After a moment, the two reached a consensus.

This youth was powerful!

As for the disciples from the prominent families who had always remained passive, they were stunned, soon plunging into heated discussion.

If the Eastern Domain were divided into five major powers, the four great sects would each claim a spot, while the combined families would barely count as one.

But among them, the number of geniuses was too small.

Especially those present today—at best, their cultivation was only at the thirtieth level of Qi Refining. After witnessing Qingxi’s terrifying strength, they resolved to content themselves as happy, idle spectators and not step onto the stage.

"Wait, you stepped off the stage—are you forfeiting your qualification as champion?" Wang Shuiling rose, her ethereal voice echoing through the hall.

Standing below the platform, Qingxi snapped from his thoughts at her words, only then realizing he had walked down.

He felt a crushing sensation, as if countless divine beasts stampeded through his heart.

"I actually stepped off the stage… Was I out of my mind?" Qingxi slapped his forehead and said, without blushing or breathlessness, "I was just going to the—restroom. Do you believe me?"

"Pfft!"

Everyone burst out laughing.

The female disciples could no longer maintain their composure; even Mu Yue smiled sweetly and murmured, "He truly is an amusing fellow."

Wang Shuiling could only laugh helplessly. "Very well. Since you didn’t know the longstanding rules of the arena, this time we’ll overlook it. Young man, if you wish to receive more challenges, simply return to the stage."

Qingxi thought for a moment, but did not leap onto the platform. Instead, he said, "I care little for the arena rankings. I came to this Heroes Assembly at the command of my master, Ouyang Changfeng, and under the pressure—or rather, the agreement—of a certain troublesome old man."

Realizing he’d misspoken, Qingxi quickly corrected himself, "My name is Qingxi. I came here for one purpose: to challenge the personal disciple of the Volcano Island master. May I ask, who among the Narcissus Gate camp is the master’s protégé?"

Qingxi’s words first stirred waves among the Spirit Essence Sect disciples.

Ouyang Changfeng!

Among the inner disciples of Spirit Essence Sect, he was nearly a household name.

He had, in the sect’s ranking battles, defeated many late-stage innate experts with only mid-stage innate cultivation, and contended three moves with a grandmaster.

Though he ultimately lost, his strength was indisputable.

Even disciples from Crimson Flame Sect, Bliss Sect, and Narcissus Gate had heard his name and excitedly stood up.

"So his master is Ouyang Changfeng—what a formidable figure!"

"It’s said once Ouyang Changfeng breaks through to late-stage innate, he’ll be able to rival grandmasters. That’s the strongest below the Spirit Steel Realm!"

"No wonder this youth is so powerful; he has such an impressive master."

After the Spirit Essence Sect disciples erupted, ripples spread through the rest of the crowd.

Within the Narcissus Gate camp, Mu Yue slowly stood.

Wang Shuiling glanced at her and said, "This youth’s strength is impressive. If that’s all he has, you will easily defeat him. If he’s been holding back, you’ll still win, though it may take some effort."

{Update posted. It’s a bit late—please forgive me, everyone!}