Chapter 67: Renown Spreads Far and Wide

“Smack!” Li Anshan landed a heavy slap across his face. “Shut up!”

“Chief, I…” Xue Tianren was confused. He couldn’t understand why Li Anshan would slap him just because of that rascal Li Jiansan.

“You fool! How dare you behave so brazenly before Master Li? Do you have a death wish?” Li Anshan’s voice was icy cold.

Xue Tianren, still dazed, stammered, “Him? That brat I nearly beat to death…”

“Take this idiot away, cripple both his hands, and expel him from Azure Dragon Stronghold!” Li Anshan commanded the three guardians behind him coldly.

“No, please…” Terror seized Xue Tianren, chilling him to the bone. He still didn’t understand. Just moments ago, victory was within his grasp, but after Li Anshan saw Li Jiansan, everything changed so drastically. Now, for the sake of Li Jiansan, Li Anshan was willing to cast him out. Just who was this Li Jiansan?

“Chief, spare me…” Xue Tianren begged desperately. He had offended so many people before; if not for the protection of Azure Dragon Stronghold, he would have died countless times over. Being expelled now was far more agonizing than death.

Li Anshan walked over to Li Jiansan and asked politely, “Master Li, are you all right?”

Li Jiansan cast him a cold glance. “So, you’re the chief of Azure Dragon Stronghold?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Li Jiansan’s tone turned frosty. “That means you’re the one who ordered the attack on Shengjing Sect?”

“You could say that…” Li Anshan replied, quickly shaking his head. “But I truly didn’t know this was your domain. If I had, even with ten times the courage, I wouldn’t have dared to provoke you.”

Li Jiansan paused, then said, “So, regarding this matter…”

“It was all my fault. To make amends for the damage we’ve caused, I’ll offer you the richest spiritual vein in our stronghold,” Li Anshan said.

Li Jiansan frowned. “Do I look like someone who’s short of a spiritual vein or two?”

“However, since you’re so sincere in your apology, very well, I’ll accept it. Now, take your men and go.”

Li Anshan dared not show the slightest disrespect. He bowed repeatedly, replying, “Yes, yes, we’ll leave immediately.”

After the men of Azure Dragon Stronghold departed, Li Qingming’s eyes were filled with utter astonishment. Even he, usually so steady and composed, could not keep his calm. His son had changed so much—gone was the former dejection, replaced by rapid advancement in martial arts. In just a few days, his son had transformed from a useless nobody into the genius who seized first place in the monthly trial. Moreover, his demeanor and methods had become shrewd and experienced; even the scheming Grand Elder, whom Li Qingming had never dared move against, had been eliminated by his son’s plotting. Now, he could command formations at will and had created a tier-two grand array…

His son had undergone a complete transformation. If not for the same physical features, Li Qingming would have doubted whether this was truly his child.

Even more astonishing, the chief of Azure Dragon Stronghold had, with just a few words, been forced to withdraw, leaving behind his menacing designs. He had shown Li Jiansan the utmost deference, even offering up their richest spiritual vein to placate him. That vein was practically half the wealth of the stronghold! Azure Dragon Stronghold had just handed it over like that?

It was simply unbelievable!

Li Qingming was still in a daze. “What… what on earth is going on?”

Li Jiansan replied calmly, “Father, I’ve encountered some fortuitous opportunities recently. I can’t tell you the details…”

He truly had no way to explain the system’s existence to his father, so he simply gave a vague excuse.

“It’s all right, I understand,” Li Qingming said, not pressing further. After all, everyone has their secrets—his son was no exception.

Three days later, Shengjing Sect had fully recovered from the recent battle, and news of the sect’s defense had spread among the major factions. Now, all the major powers’ banquets were abuzz with just one topic—the attack by Azure Dragon Stronghold on Shengjing Sect.

After scheming for so long, the Azure Dragon Stronghold had finally launched its assault. Everyone had expected a straightforward victory for them, but to everyone’s shock, they were utterly defeated and forced to retreat—news that shook the entire city.

“Did you hear? The deputy chief of Azure Dragon Stronghold was crippled by Shengjing Sect!”

“No way, he was a master of the Golden Core stage!”

“It’s absolutely true. I heard he’s already been expelled from Azure Dragon Stronghold. Why else would they drive him out?”

“Heh, that’s nothing! I’ve got an even juicier bit of news: the chief of Azure Dragon Stronghold, to quell the conflict, actually handed over their own spiritual vein,” a purple-haired youth whispered conspiratorially.

“What! That’s impossible—how could they give their spiritual vein to Shengjing Sect?”

This news exploded like a bomb, leaving everyone stunned.

After all, a spiritual vein was a source of spirit stones, essential resources for martial cultivators. Spiritual veins were coveted by all major powers, fiercely contested sacred grounds. Yet Azure Dragon Stronghold had handed theirs over—wasn’t this digging their own grave?

“Don’t doubt it. Shengjing Sect brought out a tier-two grand array this time. No wonder Azure Dragon Stronghold gave in.”

“What, a tier-two grand array? Does Shengjing Sect have a formation master?”

“I heard the array was set up by their young sect master, Li Jiansan!”

“That can’t be. That has to be a rumor! Wasn’t Li Jiansan a good-for-nothing? How could he possibly lay out a spiritual array?” someone questioned immediately.

The others’ faces showed skepticism as well, clearly finding it hard to believe.

The youth smirked. “Heh, do you still think he’s a waste? I’m telling you, he’s already risen. Not long ago, he won first place in Shengjing Sect’s monthly trial!”

“And after this battle, do you still doubt him? He’s not just a genius in cultivation, but also in formations! Shengjing Sect’s protective array was improved to a tier-two grand array by him. Otherwise, why do you think Azure Dragon Stronghold was defeated so quickly?”

“He really set up a tier-two grand array!” Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.

Even among the region’s major factions, those who had protective arrays were barely at tier one. No one had expected Shengjing Sect’s array to reach tier two, and for it to have been improved by Li Jiansan himself!

“My god! Li Jiansan really turned the tide and made a name for himself in a single battle…”

“Li Jiansan—this name will surely resound everywhere soon…”