Chapter 15: An Unexpected Confrontation
“Junior Brother, the day after tomorrow, Master will hold the Dharma transmission ceremony for Yunsheng and the others…”
In an open space at the back mountain of the San Yi Sect, a message that Lu Jin told him earlier this morning flashed through Li Ang’s mind.
“The day after tomorrow?”
“So soon…”
Nearly a week had passed since the day he exposed Wu Gensheng and another to Zuo Ruotong.
During this week, Zuo Ruotong neither approached him nor the two men, as if unaware of anything.
“Must it be like this, Master…”
Li Ang sighed softly, then began his cultivation for the day.
After persistent training during this period, his professional levels had now reached [Entry-level Qi Refiner lv5 (122/500)] and [Qi Refiner (San Yi) lv3 (157/300)] respectively.
“Unfortunately, skill experience grows too slowly.”
Glancing at the panel showing [Reverse Life Triple (Entry 79/100)] and [Qi Men Dun Jia (Entry 97/100)], Li Ang could not help but sigh.
Due to its difficulty, the experience gain rate for Reverse Life Triple was noticeably slower than for Qi Men Dun Jia.
But fortunately, at the current pace, once he returned to his previous world, Reverse Life Triple should soon reach [Proficient].
Calming his mind, Li Ang began to assault a nearby tree stump.
He had now discovered a good method to simultaneously improve proficiency in two skills.
That was to maintain the Reverse Life state while using the hexagram “Dui” position’s technique to enhance himself.
Although the consumption was a bit high, it allowed simultaneous proficiency growth in both professions.
As Li Ang’s body radiated white light, his hands began to take on a metallic sheen.
At the same time, the experience for both skills slowly increased.
[Activating Reverse Life Triple, skill experience +1]
[Using Qi Men technique, skill experience +1]…
The “Dui” hexagram spell he currently used was inspired by Zhuge Qing’s “Dui: Black Glaze” from the original story.
Unlike Zhuge Qing’s partial crystallization of the body, Li Ang’s technique granted parts of his body properties of ordinary metals,
such as hardness and sharpness.
He named it “Dui: Golden Spirit,” though unfortunately, this technique could only be used while standing in the “Dui” position.
Finally, after Li Ang’s unrelenting effort, a message popped up on the panel:
[Current proficiency: Qi Men Dun Jia (Proficient 1/500)].
---
“Finally upgraded…” Li Ang exhaled softly as he dispelled the two states on his body. “But does mastering the next level really require 500 experience points?”
Though somewhat unexpected, it was no big deal to him; after all, he would eventually max out his proficiency.
“Let me see what difference mastering has from entry-level.”
With that thought, Li Ang shifted slightly and raised his hand to cast “Li: Fire Rope.”
In the next moment,
a flame like an arrow shot forth, striking the tree stump.
“Power, speed, control, and precision have all improved.”
Watching the now ignited stump, Li Ang stroked his chin thoughtfully.
But he soon snapped back to reality and rushed to the “Kan” position to extinguish the fire with water techniques.
“Setting fire to the mountain means a long prison sentence,” he muttered, wiping cold sweat from his brow. “Almost set the whole mountain ablaze.”
After calming down, Li Ang moved to the “Xun” position and tried the wind technique.
“Xun: Wind Mirror.”
As he silently recited the spell’s name, a gentle breeze suddenly stirred in the clearing.
This technique’s ability was simple: to sense subtle shifts in the surrounding airflow and create wind pressure to hinder an enemy’s movement. Previously, at entry-level Qi Men Dun Jia, its effect was quite weak.
Now, every slight disturbance in the air was received by Li Ang.
Small animals, insects, and… a breath that shouldn’t be there.
“Hm?”
Li Ang furrowed his brows and looked toward the nearby thicket.
“Who’s there?”
At that moment, he shifted his foot slightly, and a small stone flew toward the bushes.
*Pfft—*
The sound of leaves being pierced echoed.
Within seconds, two figures emerged from the thicket, one wearing an awkward smile:
“Don’t attack, Senior Brother Li, it’s us.”
Upon recognizing them, Li Ang’s pupils constricted.
It was Wu Gensheng and Li Muxuan.
‘Why are they here?!’
‘Have they been watching me all these days?’
Since Li Ang had only detected one breath with “Xun: Wind Mirror,” he initially assumed it was a passing senior brother.
The appearance of this duo caught him by surprise.
---
Elsewhere, Wu Gensheng felt a bit helpless. He had hidden well, but who would have thought Li Muxuan would give them away.
Moreover, he hadn’t expected Li Ang’s progress in Qi Men Dun Jia to be so rapid.
They had been spying on Li Ang daily, and only recently had they been discovered.
Wu Gensheng looked at the slightly wary Li Ang opposite them and quietly tugged Li Muxuan’s sleeve.
“Brother, didn’t you say you had questions to ask Senior Brother Li?”
He intended to have Li Muxuan defuse the situation, but the mischievous youth lowered his head slightly upon hearing this.
“I do have questions I want to ask Senior Brother Li.”
As he spoke, he pulled out a yellow paper folded into a triangle from his bosom.
Seeing this, Wu Gensheng hurriedly grabbed his arm and whispered:
“Weren’t we supposed to vent our anger together?”
Li Muxuan slightly shook off his hand, lifted his head to look at the slowly retreating Li Ang, and said in a tone devoid of emotion:
“Sect Leader, there’s no need.”
“This boy’s existence proves that the head of the Zuo Sect back then was not wrong.”
With that, he tore open the yellow paper.
As Li Muxuan did so, his small frame gradually grew taller.
Seeing this, Li Ang narrowed his eyes.
“Li Muxuan…”
He hadn’t expected the other to drop the act so soon. According to the original story, his identity was only to be revealed after Zuo Ruotong’s words during the Dharma transmission ceremony disrupted the defense.
Though many thoughts raced through his mind, Li Ang quietly shifted his steps to the “Kun” position.
Then…
“Kun: Raise Dust!”
Before his words fell, a vast cloud of dust surged from the ground, obscuring both sides’ vision.
Li Ang immediately turned and fled. He wasn’t foolish—if it were just Li Muxuan, he might have tried to fight. But with the unfathomable Wu Gensheng present, it was a different matter.
Unfortunately, he had barely taken a few steps when Wu Gensheng blocked his path.
The fully revealed true Sect Leader glanced casually at the young man ahead and shrugged.
“Sorry, since my disciple has already made a choice, I can only ask you to fight him.”
“But I won’t intervene, rest assured.”
Li Ang fell silent. After a moment, he turned to the expressionless Li Muxuan and exhaled lightly.
In the next instant, clusters of Qi swirled around him, dyeing his hair white. Then, he strode boldly toward Li Muxuan.
After so much training, did they really think he was easy to bully?!