Chapter 17: Senior Brother Li (Part 1)

One could only see the two of them amidst a flurry of blades and shadows, shifting and maneuvering. Their two weapons were danced into two balls of cold light, colliding from time to time, unable to distinguish who had the upper hand.

Han Li watched for a while but couldn't make heads or tails of it. He only felt that the two were fighting very intensely and impressively. He couldn't tell which were brilliant moves and which were blunders, and as for who was more skilled, that was even further beyond the understanding of an outsider like him.

"Junior Brother Han, I wonder under which Martial Uncle you are cultivating? Now that you've come out of seclusion, your cultivation must have greatly advanced, right?" Little Abacus finally couldn't hold back and spoke up, respectfully inquiring about Han Li's master.

One must know that every inner sect disciple of the Qixuan Sect, after two years of basic training in the Hundred Forging Hall, would be sent to a senior-generation sect member to kowtow and apprentice, learning more profound martial arts. Only after completing their apprenticeship would these disciples take on specific duties within the sect.

Of course, this was only the apprenticeship process for ordinary disciples. If a disciple performed outstandingly in the entrance test, they could bypass the two years of basic training and enter the Seven Absolutes Hall directly. Being taken as an inner-chamber disciple by one of the Sect Masters to be taught the sect's secret techniques could be called a carp leaping over the dragon gate, soaring into the sky in one bound.

During the two years of basic training, if there were those who performed exceptionally, they also had the hope of being noticed by Elders, Hall Masters, or Guest Elders, and being taken as personal disciples. Although the future of these disciples couldn't compare to the Sect Master's disciples, they were still much more highly valued than ordinary disciples.

Little Abacus heard that Han Li had just come out of seclusion somewhere, and coupled with the fact that he had never seen this person before, he naturally guessed that this person was a disciple of some high-status big shot within the sect, and thus asked respectfully, wanting to step forward and build a connection.

"I was noticed by a Guest Elder a few years ago and taken as a disciple. As for which Guest Elder it specifically is, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to mention his name." Han Li knew his thoughts very well, but on his face, he put on a shy expression, though his words were intentionally tinged with a bit of pride.

"Is that so? Senior Brother Han is truly lucky. Your status in the sect will surely be very high in the future, with a bright future ahead. I hope that if there is a chance, Senior Brother can help look after this younger brother." Little Abacus didn't mind that Han Li was unwilling to reveal his master's name; in any case, whichever Guest Elder it was, they were stronger than his own master. His tone changed immediately.

"Senior Brother Han, one look and I can tell you are no ordinary person. Soaring to great heights in the future will be a matter of course." He continued to flatter.

"This person looks dark and has a stupid look on his face, how could a Guest Elder take him as a disciple? Why is it that someone as clever as me doesn't have any big shot wanting me?" Little Abacus muttered to himself, but the expression on his face became even more respectful.

Han Li heard his tone change drastically, and he himself had changed from 'Junior Brother Han' to 'Senior Brother Han' in an instant; he found it somewhat amusing.

However, Han Li didn't have the slightest intention of looking down on him. One must know that fawning over the powerful is just human instinct; who doesn't want to live better and climb higher? Not to mention that one could tell from his name that he was a person who was calculating and good at maneuvering.

However, he was destined to be greatly disappointed. Although what he said just now wasn't false, this identity as a Guest Elder's disciple was just a sham. Any disciple in the Qixuan Sect could easily knock him down. If he treated him as a big tree to lean on, he was afraid he had found the wrong person.

Han Li secretly gave a bitter smile while listening to Little Abacus's flattery as if nothing were the matter, and he had to occasionally respond to him with a few words.

"Senior Brother Han's martial arts are high and strong. If you were willing to enter the arena, you would surely be able to beat that sword-wielder until they were in shambles, you would surely..." Little Abacus's mouth didn't stop saying nice things, while he was also distracted, carefully observing Han Li's every move.

"Eh! How strange. A Guest Elder's disciple should have deep internal energy and not-so-weak skills, but how come I can't see this person's depth? This person's temples aren't slightly bulging, and there's no sharp light leaking from his eyes. No matter how I look at it, he's a person who doesn't know martial arts." The more Little Abacus observed, the more puzzled he felt.

"The winner has been decided." Han Li's light sentence came over, interrupting his train of thought.

Little Abacus was startled and hurriedly turned his gaze back to the arena.

Sure enough, the sword-wielder had already thrown his sword to the side. One arm was bleeding profusely, and the other hand was pressing tightly against the wound. His face was ashen; it seemed he wasn't convinced of his defeat. This was no wonder; the martial arts of these two were about the same. Just now, he had accidentally fallen for his opponent's trick and lost by a single move.

Seeing this, Little Abacus had a look of regret on his face, and his mouth kept saying "What a pity."

"What exactly happened? What is there to regret?" Han Li didn't see any logic in it, but since there was such a ready-made commentator beside him, it would be too sorry for himself not to ask.

"In this competition, if the people on Wang Dapang's side win, they will have won three matches, and the last match won't need to be fought. It's a pity they still didn't win!"

"Oh!"

"But it doesn't matter. Now there's only the last match left. The person appearing on Wang Dapang's side is the one with the highest martial arts among our batch of disciples. His 'Galloping Thunder Blade Art' is incomparably fierce and can shatter stones and break metal. Haha! Being able to see Senior Brother Li's signature blade art, I haven't come in vain. No matter who Zhang Zhanggui's side sends out, we are sure to win." Little Abacus was a bit dejected at first, but then he became excited, looking full of confidence in that Senior Brother Li.

"Has it already reached the last match?" Han Li responded casually, thinking to himself, who is this Senior Brother Li? Why don't I recognize him?

At this moment, a cold-looking youth walked out from Wang Dapang's side. This youth held a long blade that shot out cold light, walked step by step to the center of the arena, and then without a word, closed his eyes.

"Senior Brother Li! Senior Brother Li! Senior Brother Li!..."

Seeing this youth appear, the people outside the arena were all excited, calling out this youth's name in unison, one sound after another, each louder than the last. This roar shook the entire arena. At this moment, one could no longer distinguish who were the rich disciples and who were the poor disciples; there was only a unified cheer for this youth.

===== CHAPTER 18 =====