Chapter 18: Senior Brother Li (Part 2)

"Is this Senior Brother Li very famous? What is his background?" Han Li was somewhat surprised.

"You don't even know Senior Brother Li?"

"Didn't I say I've been in seclusion for several years?"

"Right, right, I forgot about that! My memory is really bad. I always feel that there can't be any disciple in the Qixuan Sect who doesn't know Senior Brother Li, and I forgot about you being in seclusion, Senior Brother Han." Little Abacus suddenly realized and hurriedly apologized.

"Can you tell me about this Senior Brother Li?"

"Senior Brother Han, of course I can. We young disciples know the deeds of Senior Brother Li like the back of our hands." Little Abacus saw that Zhang Zhanggui's side hadn't sent out an opponent for Senior Brother Li yet, so he began to tell Han Li about the various legends of this famous person.

"Senior Brother Han, it's not me, Little Abacus, bragging to you. Not only do we disciples of this batch know Senior Brother Li's affairs very clearly, but the older senior brothers also know quite a bit. Back then..." He began to tell Han Li the story of Senior Brother Li with high spirits, looking so vibrant and spitting as he spoke that it was as if he were the protagonist of the story himself.

Listening to Little Abacus recount the deeds of this Senior Brother Li, it really did have a bit of a legendary color.

This Senior Brother Li also came up the mountain four years ago. Of course, he wasn't in the same batch of examinees as Han Li. He didn't pass the test all at once back then and became a registered disciple. However, in the test half a year later, not only did he get first place in all categories, but in the final confrontation with the senior brothers, he was the only one who lasted over thirty moves. This record broke the test results of all previous registered disciples and attracted the attention of many high-level big shots. After an examination, the result was shocking: Senior Brother Li's bone structure was only average, and his growth potential was limited. This diagnosis made people feel it was a pity, and as a result, he wasn't taken as a disciple by any high-level figure. After two years of basic training, he still apprenticed under an ordinary Dharma Protector and only learned a few sets of ordinary martial arts. The Galloping Thunder Blade Art was one of the very ordinary mid-level martial arts of the Qixuan Sect.

If it stopped there, Senior Brother Li couldn't be considered a legend; it could only be said to be a tiger's head with a snake's tail. But not long after, he relied on this inconspicuous Galloping Thunder Blade Art to shine brilliantly in the small-generation disciple competition the following year, charging into the top sixteen in one go. He was the only one among all the newly entered disciples to rank among the best, which once again made him the focus of the sect.

In the various competitions that followed, Senior Brother Li was always incomparably brave and unstoppable, winning very high rankings and winning a lot of face for their new disciples. In last year's grand competition, he even took third place in one go. One must know that the top two were disciples who had been in the sect for over ten years. Although they were small-generation disciples, they were already twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Just the internal energy cultivation was much deeper than his. Many disciples believed that if Senior Brother Li's internal energy were as strong as theirs, first place would definitely be within his grasp.

Just like that, Senior Brother Li once again received attention from above and was specifically named to be sent outside the mountain to participate in many major sect actions. When other new disciples were still practicing martial arts hard in the sect, he had already begun to make many contributions for the Qixuan Sect and had the resounding reputation of "Li Hu" (Li the Tiger) in the Jianghu. It is said that he is also about to be allowed to enter the Seven Absolutes Hall as a special case to practice more profound martial arts.

Hearing this, Han Li couldn't help but be moved. If everything were true, this Senior Brother Li was really not simple. Relying on the identity of a registered disciple, he was actually able to fight for such achievements; he himself felt a bit of admiration.

On Zhang Zhanggui's side, after half a day of prevarication, a disciple finally bit the bullet and walked out.

This disciple also looked like his martial arts were not weak. He pulled out a bright, soft sword from his waist. This soft sword was only as thick as a thumb, soft and powerless; one look and one knew it wasn't something an ordinary mediocre person could use.

Senior Brother Li felt someone arrive in front of him and slowly opened his eyes, his eyes full of spirit.

He suddenly shouted loudly, like a thunderclap in a clear sky, shaking everyone in the arena until their ears buzzed. The person opposite him was also shaken, and a look of panic appeared on his face.

Following the shout, the long blade swung, a stream of blade light flashed, and several linked moves operated, instantly transforming into more than a dozen blade shadows, surrounding the opponent in a blade net.

This person was also alert. Although he was a bit flustered, the soft sword was elusive, vicious, and tricky, and his defense was also watertight.

"Who is this person?" Han Li couldn't help but ask.

"It's Zhao Ziling, the Fifth Elder's disciple. His 'Flicking Willow Sword Art' is very difficult to deal with."

"How does he compare to Senior Brother Li?"

"Of course he won't be an opponent." Little Abacus said proudly.

"Then why doesn't Zhang Zhanggui send someone more powerful?"

"Hehe! Zhao Ziling is the most powerful among them. Besides, among us new disciples, who can beat Senior Brother Li? Whoever they send is in vain." He laughed with a bit of schadenfreude.

Sure enough, although Zhao Ziling's sword art hadn't become chaotic, his momentum was completely gone, and he was being pressed to death by Senior Brother Li's long blade. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that his failure was only a matter of time.

Han Li watched for a while, and a doubt arose in his heart.

"I have a matter I find very strange. Why are there no older senior brothers present? Even if they aren't allowed to participate in the competition, there should be some people coming to watch the fun, right? But here, inside and outside the arena, there isn't a single older senior brother; they are all us teenage new disciples watching the competition. What is going on?" Han Li bluntly raised his question.

Little Abacus heard Han Li's question, his expression changed, and he looked at him with a strange gaze, making him feel a bit confused. Could it be that he had asked about some taboo?

===== CHAPTER 19 =====