Chapter 28: Yang Wudi

"Uncle, are we really going to settle scores with Li Xun?" Xue Beng asked curiously.

"Xue Beng, Yu Tianheng has made up his mind; there is no need to waste effort on him. Besides, the First Prince is to be proclaimed Crown Prince in a few days, so we must not act rashly." Xue Xing looked at Xue Beng with profound meaning. "From now on, you must act even more like a playboy, but do not provoke Li Xun."

"I understand, Uncle." Although Xue Beng did not fully grasp the reasoning, he nodded.

"Xue Beng, you must not let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect take root within the academy, but do not make it too obvious." Xue Xing nodded and walked out. He certainly wouldn't go to trouble Li Xun himself, but he still needed to contact the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

...

"Sister Ye, are you really going to leave with Yu Tianheng?" Li Xun frowned. "Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is an auxiliary sect, it has many powerful Spirit Masters and more than enough resources. If you join us, my teacher will certainly not treat you poorly."

"Besides, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect is already in decline; it is not as formidable as the rumors suggest and cannot be compared to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ye Lingling wore a look of apology. "Little Brother Li Xun, this is not something I can decide. I have discussed everything you mentioned with my family elders, but I don't know what kind of cooperation they reached with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect; even I cannot change their decision."

Since it had come to this, Li Xun had no choice. "Alright then, Sister Ye, let's keep in touch."

"That is what I was thinking. Li Xun, you must save a good spot for me in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Ye Lingling narrowed her phoenix eyes and smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Over the past six months, she and Li Xun had interacted frequently and discussed this matter many times. However, her elders had likely negotiated more favorable terms with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, and she was powerless to intervene. The Nine-Heart Begonia spirit was incredibly rare, with at most two heirs per generation; out of a desire to protect their own, the family kept a very tight rein on her, which caused her to lose much of her own agency.

With nothing more to say, Li Xun and Ye Lingling shared a smile and waved goodbye.

Yu Tianheng had already left. Before departing, he had somehow managed to pull three members of the team along with him, offering some unknown price. Ye Lingling was one of them; the other two were Osluo and Yufeng.

"Heh, so they don't want me to participate in the Spirit Master Tournament!" Li Xun laughed and shook his head. In truth, the departure of these three had no impact on him. While Ye Lingling's spirit had powerful functions, he still had Ning Rongrong. As for Osluo and Yufeng, although they were minor geniuses, they were neither particularly strong nor weak; he didn't care much for them.

However, the departure of the four was a heavy blow to Qin Ming, leaving the team leader listless throughout the day.

"I need to find an opportunity to poach some people, even if just to fill the quota," Li Xun mused.

...

With one troublemaker gone, the following days at the academy were much calmer for Li Xun. At nine years old, his spirit power had already reached level twenty-five. His chakra had also grown significantly, and he had mastered the Body Flicker Technique to perfection.

During this period, Xue Qinghe ascended to the position of Crown Prince. Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng gradually faded into the background.

Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect personally went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to demand an explanation regarding Yu Tianheng. However, he was immediately rebuffed by a shocked Ning Fengzhi: "Little Xun and Yu Tianheng had a fair duel. Brother Yuanzhen, what sort of explanation are you looking for?"

"If that is what Sect Master Ning thinks, then let us have a fair duel ourselves." Yu Yuanzhen was furious and immediately prepared to attack.

"Old Dragon, you have gone too far." Sword Douluo stood expressionless, his Seven-Kill Sword faintly radiating a biting chill.

"I have gone too far? Tianheng was seriously injured and nearly had his ability to pass on his lineage affected. You dare say I have gone too far?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, both Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo fell silent. They had only learned of Li Xun's victory over Yu Tianheng when Yu Yuanzhen arrived. They had assumed Yu Yuanzhen was merely struggling with his pride, not realizing that Yu Tianheng had been nearly crippled at the root.

"In a battle between Spirit Masters, injuries are inevitable..." Ning Fengzhi pondered. "We express our deepest sympathies for Yu Tianheng. If necessary, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can help arrange for healing Spirit Masters..."

"Ning Fengzhi, you go too far!" Yu Yuanzhen roared, a blue dragon coiling around him. Did Ning Fengzhi think he couldn't afford a healing Spirit Master?

"Brother Yuanzhen, what is the meaning of this?" Ning Fengzhi frowned.

"Hmph! Have your sect's Li Xun come personally to apologize to Tianheng, and this matter will be settled," Yu Yuanzhen snorted coldly.

Ning Fengzhi's face turned cold as stone, and he remained silent. Even if Yu Tianheng had truly been crippled, he could not agree to such a demand. There was no logic in apologizing after winning a duel.

"Old Dragon, then let us have a bout!" Chen Xin’s Seven-Kill Sword flickered with cold light, and his personal domain unfolded.

Yu Yuanzhen’s spirit rings lit up, and with a roar, he charged forward...

A long while later, Yu Yuanzhen walked out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s main gate with a gloomy face.

...

Li Xun was unaware of what had happened within the sect; he was currently considering another matter.

"Don't tell me Yang Qianjun really had his legs broken by Yang Wudi!" Li Xun sat cross-legged on his bed, chin resting on his hand. It had been over a year. Yang Qianjun had gone back to steal—or rather, "take"—the second volume of Yang Wudi's medical texts, but he had never returned. Li Xun wasn't worried about failing to get the book; after all, he held a contract personally signed by Yang Wudi's grandson. Given Yang Wudi's proud and stubborn nature, he wouldn't go back on his word.

"Dugu Yan's poison symptoms have become increasingly obvious recently; it is time to resolve this matter." Perhaps due to her young age, the toxins in Dugu Yan's body were not yet fatal, but as their relationship deepened, Li Xun felt it was time to plan ahead.

"Yang Wudi is a tough man; it seems I will have to bring Grandpa Sword along as a bodyguard to be safe."

...

In Longxing City of the Star Luo Empire, Li Xun took off his heavy winter coat and walked down the wide street with Sword Douluo. They had arrived by flying on a sword. Sword Douluo’s cultivation was high, so he was unaffected, but Li Xun had nearly frozen to death in the sky.

Watching the passing pedestrians, Li Xun relaxed his body. The city felt more vibrant than Heaven Dou City, with the sounds of peddlers and the laughter of children along the way, bringing an unexpected peace to his heart.

After asking for directions, the two soon arrived at a mansion. The building was not large, but it featured a plaque with the character for "Break" written in a vigorous, powerful hand.

*Bang, bang, bang.* Li Xun knocked on the door ring three times.

Before long, the gate opened, and an old man peered out. "May I ask what business you have here?"

"Sir, may I ask if this is the residence of the Breaking-Type Clan?" Li Xun smiled and bowed respectfully.

Perhaps due to Li Xun’s polite knocking or his respectful demeanor, the old man hesitated. "It is. May I ask what business this young master has?"

"I am an acquaintance of Yang Qianjun. We agreed to meet a year ago, but I have not heard from him since, so I have come to inquire."

The old man was startled, his expression becoming complex as he looked Li Xun up and down. "So it was you!"

"Please, come in. The Master said that if you ever came, I should take you to see him." The old man paused. "Young Master is truly generous, but he also caused Young Master Qianjun quite a lot of misery..."

Li Xun’s eyes lit up, his smile widening. "Pray tell, sir."

Seeing Li Xun's smile, the old man’s mouth twitched. "Young Master Qianjun received so much money—how could he possibly hide it? He was discovered within two days of returning, and then the Patriarch beat him until he was bedridden for three months... Even his affair with that little girl from the Bai family was discovered."

The old man looked left and right. "Both of them are currently grounded. However, it was a blessing in disguise; the two children have now been betrothed." The old man, seemingly happy to satisfy his desire for gossip, added, "Young Master Qianjun was even calling out your name while bedridden, haha!"

"So, I suppose I am his matchmaker. I shall have to ask for some wedding money later," Li Xun laughed. He hadn't expected his actions to lead to such an outcome.

As they spoke, they arrived at the reception hall.

"Please wait here for a moment, I will go call the Master."

"Thank you, sir..."

Not long after, a gruff voice echoed from outside the hall. "Your grounding isn't over yet! You will come out when I say you can come out!"

"Grandfather, Li Brother has come to visit; how can I not see him?"

"I think your skin is itching for a thrashing. Go back, or I’ll beat you!"

"..."

Li Xun heard every word clearly inside the room. He had known Yang Wudi was a rough-hewn man, but he hadn't expected such a crude personality—this was essentially the "spare the rod, spoil the child" method of the countryside.

"You arrogant brat from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you finally showed up!"

As soon as Yang Wudi entered the room, he saw the two figures sitting on the side.

"I am Li Xun, I have long admired your reputation, Senior Yang." Seeing the man enter, Li Xun quickly stood up and bowed. "This is my Sword Grandpa, an elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin nodded with a smile.

Yang Wudi’s eyes narrowed, and he quickly bowed to Sword Douluo. "Greetings, Crowned One Chen Xin."

"No need for formalities. I am only here as a driver today," Sword Douluo said with a smile, casting a glance at Li Xun.

Seeing this, Yang Wudi knew exactly what was going on and couldn't help but curse inwardly. *The brat is cunning, bringing someone like him along...*