"Cousin, you must do justice for me," Li Xin said tearfully before Li Xian. She then exaggerated the events of Li Xuan beating her, which instantly made Li Xian furious.
"This damned Li Xuan, I don't know why the Elder left him alive. Cousin Xin'er, don't worry, I will definitely avenge you!" Li Xian rubbed Li Xin's hands back and forth, then pulled her into his embrace to comfort her. Li Xin, nestled in Li Xian's arms, instinctively leaned closer, a triumphant glint flashing in her eyes.
"Let's go. So what if he's out? Without his dantian, he's nothing but trash," Li Xian said heroically, his mind racing as he felt the softness against him. Trampling a cripple to win a beauty's heart, why not?
"Everyone, what do you think about Li Xuan's situation?" Li Wentian asked the elders in the council hall.
"This child can withstand a blow from a Martial King and not die, he is indeed worth nurturing," said Li Wenli, the head of the second lineage, his voice deep. They had all been present earlier, and if it were them, they probably wouldn't have survived Liu Qing's strike either. Yet, Li Xuan had managed it. Although he was now severely injured, the Li family had the means to heal him.
"This child is defiant and difficult to discipline. If he grows up, I fear he will bring much trouble to our Li family," Li Wenyu, the head of the third lineage, shook his head.
"Indeed! Although this child has reached the initial spirit realm at such a young age, his actions over the years clearly show he is not a peace-loving individual. Our Li family's situation is already precarious, and any further upheaval will make survival even more difficult," Li Wenji, the head of the fourth lineage, agreed.
"But he is, after all, of our Li family bloodline, and he broke through to the initial spirit realm on his own before joining any sect. If we suppress such talent, wouldn't it be a loss for our Li family?" Li Wenzhe hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. Although the fifth lineage was in decline, Li Wenzhe was still a lineage head. Li Xuan's rise was a glimmer of hope for the fifth lineage. Coupled with the Elder Li Yuanba's previous stance, Li Wenzhe felt this might be an opportunity.
"Let's vote. Should we save this child or not?" Li Wentian gestured for everyone to quiet down, then spoke slowly. However, he emphasized the words "not save" with a slightly stronger tone. As soon as Li Wentian finished speaking, the five people in the hall fell silent for a moment before making their choices.
"Three to two. It seems my vote was rather important. However, even if I had chosen to save him, it would have been a tie. In that case, I abstain," Li Wentian said with a slight smile, glancing at Li Wenli and Li Wenzhe.
Abstain!
Li Wenli and Li Wenzhe cursed the old fox inwardly but showed no change in their expressions. They were well aware of the enmity between Li Wentian and Li Xuan. The outcome was now set for Li Xuan's fate. Critically injured by a Martial King level expert, without a fifth-grade spirit pill, death was not far off. xxs1
"Lineage Head Wenzhe, since this child is from your fifth lineage, you must ensure his life is saved. After all, Elder Yuanba has already spoken. If this child dies, it will be difficult for us to report back," Li Wentian said, his gaze shifting to Li Wenzhe as the voting results came in.
Li Wenzhe's expression changed slightly. To save Li Xuan's life with his injuries would require a fifth-grade spirit pill. But now, the fifth lineage was sparsely populated, and resources were scarce. The fifth lineage could not afford a fifth-grade spirit pill. Li Wentian's words were undoubtedly a display of his displeasure with Li Wenzhe's earlier vote. However, with matters having reached this point, Li Wenzhe could only remain silent.
North Alley.
After being rescued from the ruins by Li Wenzhe and others, Li Xuan was temporarily housed in a nearby woodshed. Upon waking, Li Xuan felt an intense pain. While Liu Qing's blow hadn't killed him, Li Xuan's bones were nearly all fractured. If Li Xuan hadn't broken through to the initial spirit realm within the Prison Realm, that strike would have been fatal.
"Do you regret it?"
At that moment, Yi Qin's voice suddenly echoed in Li Xuan's mind. Li Xuan responded with a wry smile. If one could face others' insults to their parents without anger, how could they be called human?
"Regret? If one bows and scrapes before the strong, and remains indifferent even when their loved ones are insulted, what meaning is there in living?" Li Xuan chuckled and replied.
Boom!
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, a rumbling sound emanated from within his body. Then, sword light flared, and Li Xuan's injuries began to heal at a visible rate. Not only that, but his aura also started to ascend.
"What is this..." A trace of surprise flickered in Li Xuan's eyes, but he knew this was not the time for questions. He immediately sat up, crossed his legs, and began to circulate the cultivation mantra taught by the yellow-shirted woman, guiding the sword energy within him.
Hum!
Time passed, and after a full five minutes, Li Xuan suddenly opened his eyes. A sword gleam flashed, and all the aura emanating from Li Xuan was retracted into his body.
"Breaking through requires breaking down. Congratulations," Yi Qin's voice entered Li Xuan's mind. Li Xuan's thoughts stirred, and his figure vanished.
"Senior, what is happening?" After entering the Prison Realm, Li Xuan bowed to Yi Qin before him and asked.
Yi Qin smiled slightly, "Although you did not become a sword cultivator through conventional means, you do meet the standards. Sword cultivators have always been upright individuals. To put it plainly, they do not employ underhanded or hypocritical tactics. Even when facing an insurmountable foe, a sword cultivator will still draw their sword. And your words just now have earned the acknowledgment of Qingxiao within you."
"So that's how it is... By the way, Senior, you just said that sword cultivators will still draw their swords against insurmountable foes. Wouldn't they die?" Li Xuan nodded in realization, then his thoughts shifted, and he asked.
"That's why there are so few sword cultivators in this world. Among those of the same cultivation level, sword cultivators are almost invincible. However, very few sword cultivators manage to grow to maturity. Little one, keep working hard," Yi Qin said with a smile, her mind drifting to that existence. With just one sword, she, who had been invincible for hundreds of years, was suppressed. Thinking of this, Yi Qin couldn't help but wonder how that person had grown to such power back then.
"I will," Li Xuan said with a firm nod. However, when he looked up, Yi Qin had already disappeared. Seeing this, Li Xuan pouted, then with a thought, he left the Prison Realm.
"Li Xuan, get out here!"
As soon as Li Xuan returned to the woodshed, a voice echoed into the room. Li Xuan's lips curled slightly. Li Xian really couldn't wait to come and get beaten. In that case, he might as well collect some interest on their new and old grievances.
"You two, go drag that Li Xuan out," Li Xian commanded his two guards after receiving no response for a long time.
Bang!
As the two guards reached the doorway, a bang resounded. The next moment, both guards were sent flying backward.
Watching the two guards being kicked away, Li Xian and Li Xin's pupils contracted sharply. Then, under their horrified gazes, Li Xuan's figure slowly emerged.
Li Xuan glanced at Li Xian and Li Xin, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Are you looking for me?"