This was the quickest match of today’s trials, so fast that the people below the platform hadn’t even reacted yet.

The people in the viewing tower showed surprised expressions, their gazes falling on Ming Li, examining her while whispering among themselves.

Jiang Wuyue was first astonished, then glanced at Qian Li in the distance and gave a cold snort.

The referee was the first to react, announcing loudly: “Tianchi Martial Academy, one win! Next competitor.”

Qian Li was rubbing his eyes, repeatedly closing and opening them, grabbing Fang Hui beside him and shaking him: “One move knockout?”

Fang Hui said, “Keep watching.”

Ming Li stood on the platform using only the qi circulation technique—one word spoken, utilizing the reversed airflow to dispel her opponent’s stellar power and knock him off the platform.

Quick, precise, and ruthless, used only at the moment her opponent attacked, because the instant the qi circulation word technique was released, her stellar power became overwhelming and dominant, completely suppressing her opponent without any chance for resistance.

Ming Li defeated three people in this manner, without a scratch, achieving three consecutive victories and ending the competition between the two martial academies.

“This person’s qi circulation meridian… full boundary, right?”

“If it’s not full boundary, I’ll let you twist my head off!”

“Since when did the one-word technique become so powerful? Don’t put on an act just because the girl is pretty!”

“Go try it yourself!”

“…”

The defeated martial academy students gathered together, chattering. The referee cleared his throat and announced: “Tianchi Martial Academy wins three to zero! Advancing to the next round!”

Ming Li walked down from the platform amid the applause and cheers of onlookers.

Qian Li attentively escorted her back to her seat, snatching tea from a neighboring martial academy student for her, repeatedly saying “our genius is tired” and “come sit down and rest.”

In the viewing tower, Jiang Wuyue watched Qian Li’s attentive behavior with disgust, displeased with the scene of these “lost dogs” gaining the spotlight, her expression slightly angry.

Jiang Wuyue said to the attendant standing behind her: “Can you tell?”

The attendant wore plain gray clothes with a black cloth covering his left eye. He bowed respectfully and said, “She should have four meridians at full boundary.”

Jiang Wuyue’s displeasure in her eyes increased. “Where did this lost dog find her?”

A maid stepped forward and said, “She only entered Ji Dan yesterday. She’s from elsewhere.”

Jiang Wuyue asked: “What is she doing in Ji Dan?”

The maid replied: “Looking for a martial academy, seemingly also to go to Nan Que.”

Jiang Wuyue gave a light snort, looking at Qian Li in the distance with a malicious curve to her lips. “Then it depends on whether they have the fate to make it.”

The maid lowered her voice and said, “Their competition certificate is forged. Should we…”

She raised her head to look at her mistress, waiting for instructions.

Jiang Wuyue narrowed her eyes: “Leave it be. I was afraid he would never be willing to step out of Ji Dan. When he happily leaves Ji Dan, I want to thoroughly enjoy the spectacle.”

“Gray Scorpion, go tell the people at the Elder Council that this lost dog is about to leave Ji Dan, bringing two helpers. Have them send more people.”

After speaking, Jiang Wuyue rested her chin on one hand, looking in Qian Li’s direction in good spirits, already eager to see him beaten to the ground by various forces after leaving Ji Dan.

Qian Li was busy praising Ming Li to the skies. Unaffected by this, Ming Li said: “Your biggest enemy is watching you.”

“Seeing me in the spotlight, she probably wants to raze the entire trial grounds right now. Let her look—make her angry.” Qian Li said with a frivolous smile.

Ming Li sat with proper posture, holding the teacup and said: “She is the young lady of the Jiang clan, the rulers of Zhu Que State. In other words, your biggest enemy is the ruler of Zhu Que State.”

Qian Li, who had been fanning her, paused. His hand gripping his sleeve tightened slightly as he looked at her strangely, whispering: “How do you know she’s the daughter of the ruler of Zhu Que State? There are many people with the surname Jiang.”

Ming Li brought the teacup to her lips when her junior brother’s words suddenly echoed in her mind: “Don’t eat things from outside, especially those given by strangers.”

She handed the teacup back to Qian Li.

Ming Li said, “She’s wearing thin purple waterborne agate from the Northern Border, provided exclusively to the Jiang clan of Zhu Que State.”

This was a fact she had discovered after going to the Northern Border.

After listening, Qian Li turned his head to look at the viewing tower, then turned back and asked: “Is it very expensive?”

Ming Li nodded.

Qian Li declared with certainty: “You even know this! You are a young lady from a wealthy family!”

Ming Li: “…”

Qian Li raised his hand to scratch his head and grinned foolishly.

Ming Li glanced at Fang Hui, who was once again reading a book with a black cover. The text on it was densely packed, resembling curse markings or ancient cipher text, looking quite strange at first glance.

Qian Li assured them again: “My enemies will only target me. I won’t let you two get involved. When trouble comes, you should each flee on your own, don’t worry about me.”

Ming Li didn’t respond.

In the following matches against other martial academies, Ming Li continued to go first, each time winning with a single move, achieving three consecutive victories.

Until the final match, which would secure them a place in the top ten, Ming Li said: “You two go.”

Qian Li showed concern for her: “Are you tired or hungry? Should I go buy something to eat? You rest first. Let Fang Hui take this match. Hey, stop reading and pay attention!”

Fang Hui closed his book, stood up, and said to Ming Li, “Stellar power exhausted?”

Ming Li was flexing her wrist, opening and closing her five fingers. Hearing this, she made an affirmative sound, her attention focused on the pilgrimage fire within her body.

Fang Hui’s assessment was partially correct. She did stop because of her stellar power, not because it was exhausted, but because she had already gauged the strength of the martial academy students present. There was no need to continue.

Her qi circulation word technique was used very cleverly. She only mobilized stellar power at the moment of release—quick, ruthless, and precise. She withdrew her stellar power before the observers could even process what had happened. If not for seeing people being knocked off the platform, people wouldn’t have sensed any stellar power from her at all.

Ming Li watched Fang Hui’s back as he went up to the platform. This person could tell that she had consumed too much stellar power.

“Hasn’t he been reading the whole time?” Ming Li asked Qian Li.

“No,” Qian Li said profoundly. “He was just pretending.”

Ming Li nodded in understanding.

Fang Hui had a small bamboo tube tied at his waist—his book tube, which allowed him to carry his book with him. When not reading, he would put it inside.

Fang Hui now looked up at his opponent, his impolite world-weary face seemingly inscribed with the words “live or die, I don’t care.”

Because of Ming Li, other students had developed certain misconceptions about Tianchi Martial Academy, which they had never heard of before. They thought it was full of level-suppressing monsters like Ming Li, imposing and overwhelming, who could knock people off the platform with a qi circulation word technique. Therefore, when facing Fang Hui, about whom they had no information, they were very serious, their eyes full of vigilance.

People expected this to be a match full of power and drama, but Fang Hui’s expression worsened when he discovered his opponent was at First Palace Body Technique Meridian full boundary.

He was very tall and thin. Standing in a corner holding a book, with his scattered and world-weary demeanor, he was the very image of a pale, gloomy young man.

He didn’t look very capable in a fight, and in fact, he really couldn’t take a hit.

Fang Hui was overwhelmed by his opponent with the Body Technique Meridian at full boundary. Just defending against those powerful offensive moves had already exhausted him. Soon, he was struck in the chest and retreated to the edge, clutching his chest with a muffled groan, raising his hand to call out: “I concede.”

The young man who had his fist raised in an attacking position froze due to Fang Hui’s concession, blinking in confusion. This match had been unexpectedly smooth!

Ming Li watched Fang Hui walking down from the platform and blinked, asking Qian Li: “Is he pretending this time too?”

“No,” Qian Li said gravely. “He really can’t win this fight.”

“I mentioned before that he has seven meridians awakened. The only one he hasn’t awakened is the First Palace Body Technique Meridian. Most people awaken the Body Technique Meridian, even as a single meridian, but he somehow can’t sense it. Combined with his poor physical condition, he truly can’t defeat people strong in body techniques.”

Ming Li asked: “What is his main stellar meridian?”

Qian Li whispered: “The same as yours, the Third Palace Qi Circulation Meridian.”

Ming Li was somewhat surprised. If it were the qi circulation meridian, countering the body technique meridian would be very simple.

Qian Li said, “It’s strange. The Third Palace is his main stellar meridian, but he finds it very difficult to cultivate. Sometimes he can’t even sense his qi circulation meridian. Until now, he’s only reached the third boundary.”

No wonder he was powerless against someone with Body Technique Meridian at full boundary.

Qian Li sighed: “The first time I saw him, he was being beaten to the ground by a group of thugs who had awakened the Body Technique Meridian. If I hadn’t stepped in, he would have been beaten to death.”

Fang Hui’s complexion wasn’t good. He returned and sat down without a word.

Qian Li patted his shoulder, stood up, and comforted him: “Don’t panic, it’s a minor situation. Watch your big brother avenge you!”

Fang Hui raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, leaned back against the chair, raised his head to look at the sky, appearing half-dead.

Ming Li looked at Qian Li.

He walked onto the platform with a casual air. His opponent was still the same young man from before. The young man was rather innocent and asked Qian Li with puzzlement: “Were you deliberately losing?”

Qian Li shook his head and said, “We were outmatched and willingly conceded. But this time, you’d better be careful.”

He seemed quite serious.

The young man also clenched his fists again, assuming his stance: “Bring it on!”

The moment both sides mobilized their stellar power, they launched their attacks. Their fist winds collided violently, creating friction that produced visible stellar sparks.

Unlike Fang Hui, although Qian Li’s main stellar meridian wasn’t the Body Technique Meridian, he was still at Body Technique Meridian full boundary. He also diligently strengthened his body, and the spiritual techniques and abilities he cultivated were very suitable for his strong stellar meridians. In battle, he erupted with powerful and fierce strength.

Unlike the earlier scene where Fang Hui was one-sidedly crushed, the two people on the platform now exchanged solid blows, competing with each other in a back-and-forth, making for a very exciting match.

Ming Li felt that Qian Li’s power was filled with an indescribable savage ferocity, different from his usual lackadaisical demeanor. In battle, he was very calm and perceptive, finding his opponent’s weakness within a few moves, attacking fiercely to break through it, giving no chance for retaliation.

The young man who was knocked off the platform twisted his brows, clutching his chest and trying to raise himself, but was unable to get up.

Qian Li was startled and hurriedly jumped down from the platform, extending his hand to help, but was fiercely glared at by the young man’s companions, who pushed him away.

“Sorry about that,” Qian Li scratched his head and smiled foolishly.

In the viewing tower, Jiang Wuyue’s expression darkened slightly, seeing this scene. He had become even more formidable than before.

From a pampered young master to a lost dog wandering in the wilderness, he always refused to yield to her wishes, making her feel vexed.

Why hadn’t he fallen to his knees and begged after falling from the clouds into the mud? Why could he still be so resilient? All these years, she had thought this lost dog must be struggling painfully in Ji Dan every day, living worse than a servant.

Yet he was still so full of vitality, even becoming stronger than before. This was unacceptable to her.

She hadn’t traveled from Zhu Que State to see the lost dog being thrashed and kneeling to beg!

The more Jiang Wuyue thought about it, the angrier she became. She smashed the cup in her hand viciously on the ground, startling others who were quietly discussing.

Qian Li fought more and more fiercely, winning two consecutive matches and securing a place in the top ten of the martial academy trials.

After smashing another cup, Jiang Wuyue stood up and left with a dark face.

When Qian Li returned, he was visibly pleased, comfortably leaning back in his chair, but then heard Ming Li say: “I won’t participate in the upcoming matches.”

Fang Hui said: “Neither will I.”

Qian Li immediately sat up straight: “You mean I have to go alone?”

Fang Hui said expressionlessly: “We’ve already made it into the top ten.”

Qian Li turned his head to look at Ming Li. She was still stretching her five fingers, contending with the pilgrimage fire inside her. She said, “I need to conserve stellar power and can’t fight anymore.”

“All right,” Qian Li scratched his head. “I should also conserve stellar power. I’ll go process the trial certificate, then go back to pack a few things and we’ll set off.”

After explaining their forfeit to the referee, he received the martial academy trial ranking certificate and happily led his two companions home.

*

Qian Li’s home was small.

It was a small wooden cabin on the edge of a rural field.

It was now dusk, and there were patches of gorgeous clouds in the direction facing the cabin door. Qian Li pushed the door open, inviting Ming Li to come in and sit.

Inside, there was a faint woody fragrance. The owner of the cabin seemed to frequently return from the martial academy to clean, as there wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen.

“Let me grab a few things. We won’t delay; we’ll leave tonight,” Qian Li said as he walked toward the bedroom, lifting the door curtain. “But given Fang Hui’s physical condition, we’ll need to buy him a horse for the journey.”

Fang Hui, who had been named, slumped in the chair, emptying his mind.

Ming Li stood in the middle, looking at the black spirit tablet on the table directly facing the main door. Three characters were carved on it: “Zhao Tingyi.”

She vaguely remembered this name.

Now that she had been dead for five years, counting back, this would have been about ten years ago.

*

The Zhu Que State had two major families—the Jiang clan and the Zhao clan.

The former was the ruling family of Zhu Que State, while the latter possessed hereditary miraculous abilities and had close relations with the Nan Que Seven Sects.

One day, a young lady of the Zhao family rescued a man and brought him home. As she carefully nursed him, feelings gradually developed between them. This man was not a cultivator but a frail scholar.

Therefore, others were not particularly vigilant.

Yet it was this refined, delicate scholar who could not lift a finger that manipulated both the Jiang and Zhao families in the palm of his hand.

He schemed to make the Zhao clan fight internally first, then used the Zhao clan to kill the heir of the Jiang family, triggering a conflict between the two families.

The Zhao clan was outmatched, and news came that the scholar had been captured by the Jiang family. The Zhao young lady went to the agreed meeting place to save him, severing her stellar meridians and becoming crippled.

Yet she still couldn’t see the scholar. Instead, she learned that the cultivation secrets of their hereditary miraculous abilities had been deciphered and widely spread. Papers detailing the cultivation methods were all over the streets of Zhu Que State. The dignity unique to the Zhao clan was thus cruelly trampled underfoot.

What made the Zhao young lady even more desperate was that when she returned to the Zhao family, she found everyone dead.

They had been killed by their hereditary miraculous abilities.

Only her child remained, kneeling blankly among the corpses of the clan members. Faced with his mother’s questioning, he trembled and said: “It was Father…”

The reason Ming Li could recall these events upon seeing this name was because of her junior sister, Qing Ying.

Her junior sister Qing Ying was originally named Zhao Ying. She was a child of the Zhu Que State Zhao family, who had been living away from home.

When the Zhao clan was exterminated, Qing Ying and Zhou Zixi happened to be in Zhu Que State, and they intercepted the Jiang clan’s attempt to eliminate the Zhao young lady.

The Jiang clan attacked these two, provoking Ming Li, far away at Yaoguang Mountain in Bei Dou, to fire an arrow.

That was the first arrow Ming Li shot after obtaining the Divine Wood Bow.

The Jiang clan was intimidated by this and had to let the Zhao young lady go.

Ming Li hadn’t paid attention to what happened afterward, only hearing from her junior sister that the Zhao young lady had refused her help and left with her child, their whereabouts unknown.

Now, seeing this spirit tablet, Ming Li understood why Qian Li would say Jiang Wuyue was his biggest enemy.

The compromise from the Jiang clan, rulers of Zhu Que State, was to let him live his entire life without leaving Ji Dan. If he stepped out of Ji Dan, he would be killed without mercy.

*

“Ready!”

Qian Li, who had finished packing, lifted the door curtain and came out. In the instant the curtain was lifted and fell back, Ming Li glimpsed the walls of the dim room covered with densely packed papers.

Fang Hui rose from his chair. Qian Li pressed his palms together and bowed to the spirit tablet, saying: “This is my mother.”

Ming Li thought for a moment and said, “My condolences.”

She didn’t expose Qian Li’s identity.

Qian Li straightened up and smiled: “Mother, I’m leaving now.”

The three walked toward the outside. Qian Li walked last. As he closed the door, he scattered fire stone powder. When he turned around, he ignited the powder, instantly setting off a raging fire that engulfed the wooden cabin.

The blazing fire mirrored the distant sunset glow.

Qian Li walked toward the two standing on the field ridge, raising his eyebrows and smiling: “Let’s go!”