A month had slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Today was the day of the duel between Duan Lingtian and Li Jie.
Early in the morning, inside a clean and tidy room, Duan Lingtian stood up from the bathing barrel and slowly stepped out.
His final portion of Seven Treasures Body Tempering Liquid was completely used up.
As he gently flexed his sore and numb body, feeling the power contained within it, a subtle smile touched the corners of Duan Lingtian's mouth.
His hard work over the past month had not been in vain!
After a month of bitter cultivation, the childishness on Duan Lingtian's handsome face had faded somewhat.
The prolonged body tempering had made his physique robust and solid.
A dark purple form-fitting tunic accentuated his flawless figure.
Compared to just over a month ago—when he was still a sickly weakling who had yet to finish body tempering and become a martial artist—he was practically a different person.
Right at that moment, a soft knock came from outside the door.
"Young Master, are you awake?"
The bird-like, melodious voice caused a trace of gentleness to flash across Duan Lingtian's calm face.
After getting dressed, Duan Lingtian stepped out from behind the screen, walked slowly to the door, and reached out to pull it open.
The door opened, and soft, warm sunlight poured in, bathing Duan Lingtian in a cozy warmth.
Outside the door, a graceful young girl met Duan Lingtian's gaze, lowered her head in a flurry, and a flush crept across her face.
Today, the young girl was dressed in a light green gown that perfectly outlined her budding, delicate figure.
A pair of nascent, tender green buds unconsciously exuded the temptation of youth.
Around her slender, willow-like waist was tied a light blue sash that fluttered in the breeze...
Gazing at the young girl outside the door, Duan Lingtian was lost in thought for a moment.
"Kecier, you're up so early."
Coming back to his senses, Duan Lingtian smiled slightly.
He sighed inwardly—over the past month, as the young girl completed her body tempering, her figure had only become more alluring.
As Duan Lingtian looked her up and down, the girl's face turned as red as if it were about to bleed.
"Young Master, Madam said she's heading over first and asked me to wake you up so we can go together. I didn't expect Young Master to be up already."
The young girl blinked her autumn-like eyes, her willow-leaf brows curving into crescents as she nodded gently.
The young girl's words brought a wry smile to Duan Lingtian's face.
Did his mother really think he was still that lazy fellow who loved to sleep in?
"Kecier, you... have you broken through to the second stage of Body Tempering?"
Suddenly, Duan Lingtian looked at the girl with slight surprise, noticing her breakthrough.
"It's all thanks to the medicinal liquid Young Master concocted for me, otherwise Kecier's progress wouldn't have been so fast."
The young girl's autumn eyes shifted, her willow brows lifting slightly as she gently nodded her delicate chin, a charming smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"The medicinal liquid was secondary; the most important thing is Kecier's own innate talent. It seems the *Cold Ice Divine Sword Scripture* suits you very well... Kecier, you cultivate a sword cultivation technique, so you must have a sword. This afternoon, I'll take you out for a stroll and buy you a sword."
Duan Lingtian shook his head with a smile.
"Young Master, didn't you say the body-tempering portion of the *Cold Ice Divine Sword Scripture* doesn't have any matching sword techniques?"
The young girl blinked her autumn eyes.
"Young Master will teach you other sword techniques first. Do you want to learn?"
Duan Lingtian asked with a smile.
"Yes!"
The young girl nodded hastily, as if afraid Duan Lingtian might go back on his word.
"Kecier, let's head over as well."
He stepped out of the room, turned to shut the door behind him, and naturally reached out to take the young girl's soft, tender hand. The entire motion was smooth and flowing, as though practiced countless times.
"Mm, we mustn't let Madam wait too long."
A happy smile graced the young girl's face as she exerted a slight squeeze, gripping the young man's hand tightly.
Like a golden boy and jade girl, the youth and the maiden walked hand in hand out of the main courtyard toward the Li Family's martial arts arena.
Along the way, they drew countless gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Some of the Li Family's younger disciples looked at Duan Lingtian with eyes that seemed ready to breathe fire, wishing they could shove him aside and take his place.
There were also several young girls who looked with pure jealousy upon Kecier, who was as pretty as a little fairy.
...
The Li Family's martial arts arena was a massive expanse of bluestone ground.
On the slightly elevated terrain surrounding the arena, a bustling crowd of people had gathered. These were all disciples of the Li Family, clustered together in a buzzing uproar that shook the skies.
"It's just a duel between two youngsters, yet almost all the family elders have turned out. What a grand spectacle!"
"Indeed, even the elders who manage the family's marketplaces in Qingfeng Town are back. Today's turnout is almost comparable to an adulthood ceremony."
"To my mind, it's mainly because Seventh Elder invited the Patriarch and the Great Elder to witness today's fight. Since both the Patriarch and the Great Elder are here, the other elders couldn't very well refuse to come."
...
On the high platform in front of the martial arts arena, several tables and chairs had been arranged, and many people were already seated there, sipping the fragrant tea on their tables.
These individuals were none othera than the upper echelon of the Li Family.
The Li Family Patriarch, Li Nanfeng, occupied the central seat.
Aside from the empty seat beside him, all the other positions were fully occupied. Behind each of these Li Family elders stood a varying number of young men and women.
As the Ninth Elder of the Li Family, Li Rou sat at the very edge, her expression calm, her composure unshakeable even if Mount Tai were to collapse before her.
"Ninth Elder, what remarkable composure."
Seventh Elder Li Kun and Li Rou were separated by the Eighth Elder. He tilted his head to look at Li Rou with a faint smile.
He wore the expression of someone who had victory firmly in his grasp.
Yet Li Rou acted as though she hadn't heard a word, ignoring him completely and leaving the Eighth Elder in the middle struggling to suppress a peculiar smile.
"Hmph!"
Li Kun laughed out of extreme anger.
He wanted to see just how long this Li Rou could keep up her act.
Today, his eldest son, Li Jie, would undoubtedly cripple Duan Lingtian to avenge his down-and-out younger son.
"Great Elder!"
"Great Elder!"
...
At that moment, the crowd in the distance parted.
Accompanied by a wave of reverent cries, an elderly figure strode forward and mounted the high platform.
It was none other than the Great Elder of the Li Family, Li Huo!
"Great Elder!"
Including Patriarch Li Nanfeng, every single Li Family elder rose to their feet and bowed respectfully to the old man.
This elder was not only the most formidable existence in the Li Family, but also a Grade Nine Alchemist of lofty status.
On the Yunxiao Continent, only alchemists who had attained a formal grade could be considered true alchemists.
To become an alchemist required meeting extremely harsh and demanding conditions.
One could say that out of a thousand Condensing Pill Realm martial artists, not even one might necessarily become an alchemist.
The three major families of Qingfeng Town each possessed a single Grade Nine Alchemist.
Only the Li Family's alchemist was one of their own; the alchemists of the other two families had been hired from outside at great expense and could leave at any time.
The old man nodded slightly, took his seat beside Patriarch Li Nanfeng, and closed his eyes to rest.
"Xiaojie, since the Great Elder has arrived, you may go down to the arena."
Seventh Elder Li Kun said. Li Jie, who had been standing behind him all this time, nodded, stepped forward, and entered the spacious martial arts arena.
"Even the Great Elder is here, and Li Jie has taken the stage. Why hasn't Duan Lingtian arrived yet?"
"This Duan Lingtian sure has a high opinion of himself!"
"Could it be that he's too scared to show up?"
...
The Li Family disciples surrounding the arena discussed it animatedly, some even sneering with contempt at Duan Lingtian.
"Ninth Elder, the Great Elder is already here. Why hasn't your son Duan Lingtian arrived yet? Could it be he's too cowardly to come?"
On the high platform, Seventh Elder Li Kun deliberately asked in a loud voice.
"Rest assured, Seventh Elder. Since my son made a promise, he will naturally come."
Li Rou gave a cold snort.
"Ninth Elder, I feel this battle today is completely unnecessary. Why don't you simply forfeit on behalf of your son, so as to avoid him getting hurt and damaging the harmony between you and Seventh Elder?"
Sixth Elder Li Ping—a middle-aged man with a knife scar across his face, who had always maintained close ties with Li Kun—spoke up indifferently.
"Sixth Elder, judging by your words, you seem to think Li Jie's victory is absolute?"
Fifth Elder Li Ting could not help but chime in.
"That is an acknowledged fact."
Li Ping laughed.
"Then I'll make a wager with Sixth Elder... If Li Jie wins, I will lose you five hundred taels of silver. But if Duan Lingtian wins, you will lose me five hundred taels as well. How about it?"
Li Ting looked deeply at Li Ping and said slowly.
As a Li Family elder, his monthly stipend was only a little over a dozen taels of silver; with a single move, Li Ting was wagering several years' worth of salary!
The Li Family higher-ups present, including Patriarch Li Nanfeng, looked at Li Ting in surprise, never expecting him to have such profound confidence in Duan Lingtian.
Even Great Elder Li Huo opened his eyes and cast a deep look at Li Ting.
Hearing Li Ting's words, Li Ping's eyes lit up.
He was a gambling addict by nature, and in his view, Li Ting was practically delivering money right to his doorstep.
However, five hundred taels was an amount he currently could not scrape together.
Most of his money had long since been squandered away in the gambling dens.
"What, is Sixth Elder afraid?"
Seeing Li Ping fall silent, Li Ting smiled.
Li Ping's face flushed red as he turned his head to look at Seventh Elder Li Kun beside him.
"Sixth Elder, I will lend you five hundred taels of silver. Furthermore, I will put up another five hundred taels to wager with Fifth Elder. Would Fifth Elder care to accompany us?"
Sensing Li Ping's predicament, Li Kun's burning gaze locked onto Li Ting.
Li Ting frowned.
Although five hundred taels was only a few years of his stipend, when combined with his daily expenses, the savings he had accumulated over the years only amounted to around eight hundred taels.
Li Kun, who managed to hoard a thousand taels in savings, was considered quite wealthy among the Li Family elders.
It could be said that Li Kun was staking his entire family fortune and fighting a desperate battle this time!