While Nie Li and Murong Yu were fighting, two people were quietly seated in another corner of the field, enjoying tea as they watched the fight.
One of them was Long Tianming. The other one wore a silvery long robe and bore a graceful manner that was even higher than Long Tianmingâs.
âI never thought that Brother Beiyan would be interested in these newcomers.â Long Tianming looked at the youth next to him and lightly smiled. His words carried thorns; his relation with the other party was obviously not harmonious.
âI only came to watch. But the fact that even Long Tianming yourself would care about this makes me wonder which is the formidable genius.â Situ Beiyan was calmly seated. âIt seems that this youth is interesting indeed.â
âThe only reason he won against Murong Yu was because of his full-body artifact,â Long Tianming said with a smile. âSo heâs also gained Brother Beiyanâs appreciation?â
âThis boy came from the Tiny World without any background worth speaking of. Yet, he managed to get himself a set of Grade 6 artifact battle armour before he entered the East District and also became Hierarch Skycloudâs disciple. Isnât that enough?â Situ Beiyan smiled and continued, âI also heard that heâs established a force with Gu Bei, and that it grew to a few thousand members within a few days. It looks like the outside world is bustling with activity!â
Long Tianming looked at Situ Beiyan in confusion. Situ Beiyan should be on alert if someone was rising up. However, he was sitting there and just enjoying the show. Therefore, Long Tianming didnât know what Situ Beiyan was planning.
But regardless of what Situ Beiyan thought, Long Tianming wasnât going to allow the Demon League to rise. Long Yuyin had just established her Profound Note League 1 which was probably instigated by Nie Li. Although Long Tianming didnât know what Nie Liâs motives were, he could sense that Nie Liâs goal wasnât a simple one. Whatever it was, it was threatening him! At the very least, Long Tianming wasnât going to let Long Yuyin threaten his position as the future Patriarch of the Dragonseal Family!
Back then, Nie Li had gifted him three words. However, Long Tianming still didnât see the profound intent in them, and was starting to think that heâd been tricked; however, he couldnât verify it. Therefore, he didnât have a very good impression of Nie Li.
Right now, there were only three people qualified to fight for the Sect Masterâs position: Situ Beiyan, Long Tianming, and Li Yufeng. However, recently, there had been a few others whoâd popped out from nowhere and thrown things into disarray. Especially Gu Bei, whoâd just become the first-in-line successor to the Gu Clan. Now, Long Yuyin had also emerged and Li Xingyun didnât look very resigned either. All three of them were related to Nie Li!
Since Situ Beiyan was also here to observe Nie Li, it proved that he wasnât as indifferent as he claimed. Well, at least he was paying some attention to the rising Nie Li!
About half an hour later, the battle between Nie Li and Murong Yu finally ended. The flames and lightning also died down.
Nie Li appeared in the field, already wearing a new and tidy set of clothes. Murong Yu was a short distance away, laying on the ground like a dead dog without a scrap of cloth on his body. He was covered in wounds and looked unconscious.
The spectators blankly stared at the scene.
âHeavens! What happened?â
âMurong Yu lost?â
âHeâd already merged with his Saint Blood Draconic Falcon, so why is he still in such a miserable state?â
They all looked at Nie Li with reverence in their eyes. Murong Yu was an expert ranked within the top two hundred of the East District. He was the most talented expert from their previous year. But he was actually beaten so miserably by Nie Li? Didnât that mean that Nie Li would be ranked within the top two hundred upon entering the East District?
Seeing the naked Murong Yu on the ground, many of the East Districtâs girls blushed red and immediately looked away.
Xiao Yu couldnât help feeling his face boil. He looked at Nie Li. That guy was definitely doing this on purpose!
Even the usually cold Long Yuyinâs face was red.
Once Murong Yu regained consciousness and realised what was going on, he probably wouldnât have the decency to look anyone in the eye anymore. That humiliation was definitely worse than death.
âBack then, you stole my soul scales in the Ghastly Ruins. Today, Iâve gotten back at you in the martial field. Weâre considered even,â Nie Li lightly said as he glanced at Murong Yu, who was still laying on the ground.
When the nearby students of the East District heard what Nie Li had said, they felt the urge to vomit blood. It was normal to have your soul scales stolen. But Nie Li had stolen Murong Yuâs clothes!
Nie Li leapt down from the stage and walked towards Gu Bei and the rest.
Gu Bei and Lu Piao winked at Nie Li. This move from Nie Li really had the right flavour!
Huang Yu and Nanmen Tianhai couldnât help smiling bitterly. They had to set new rules now. Otherwise, wouldnât Nie Li end up challenging the entire East District? After all, Nie Li owned an entire set of Grade 6 artifacts!
As Huang Yu and Nanmen Tianhai were discussing amongst themselves, Venerable Flameless walked to their side and spoke in low voice, âElders, Hierarch Skycloud has called me to pass on a few words. He wants you to send several people to test Nie Li!â
Upon hearing Venerable Flamelessâs words, Huang Yu and Nanmen Tianhai were shocked within their hearts.
Who was the Hierarch Skycloud, you ask? He was one of the five major existences in the Divine Feathers Sect! People of Nanmen Tianhai and Huang Yuâs level didnât even have the qualifications to meet Hierarch Skycloud!
Venerable Flameless was the eldest disciple of Hierarch Skycloud; therefore, his words couldnât be doubted. Furthermore, how would they dare question Hierarch Skycloudâs words?
âRest assured, Venerable Flameless. Weâll make arrangements for it!â Huang Yu immediately replied.
âVery well.â Venerable Flameless lightly replied as he sat down in the seat behind them. A chilly light flashed through his eyes as he swept them over Nie Li, who was sitting with Gu Bei. He coldly smiled.
The competition continued.
Nanmen Tianhai stood up and his voice echoed throughout the entire stage. âTake Murong Yu away. A new rule has been made for this competition. No one is allowed to use any artifact above Grade 3!â
At Nanmen Tianhaiâs words, the students of the East District were slightly stunned. There wasnât such a rule before. Could it be because of Murong Yuâs case? As they thought about the Thunder Godâs Meteorite Sword in Nie Liâs hands, they realised that Nie Li had used artifacts to win against Murong Yu! Even Elder Nanmen Tianhai couldnât put up with it any longer and, therefore, forbid the use of artifacts above Grade 3!
No wonder Nie Li was able to win against Murong Yu! Only then did the students of the East District understand what was going on. Based on strength alone, Nie Li probably wasnât Murong Yuâs proper opponent!
When Nie Li heard this, he looked towards Nanmen Tianhai and Huang Yu. One familiar figure in that direction made him narrow his eyes.
He never expected Venerable Flameless, who heâd confrontated in the Skycloud Hall, had also arrived!
âSo we canât use artifacts anymore. I planned to bully those people from the East District like Nie Li was doing!â Lu Piao said a little regretfully. He never thought that theyâd forbid the use of artifacts so quickly. How boring!
Li Xingyun couldnât help rolling his eyes. If Nie Li, Gu Bei, and Lu Piao were to wear their Grade 6 Artifacts in battle against the students of the East District, then itâd be weird if Nanmen Tianhai and Huang Yu didnât do anything. Li Xingyun remembered when he first arrived in the East District; back then, heâd also gotten beaten by his seniors. He couldnât bear remembering that experience. However, Nie Li and the other two didnât show up to get bashed; they were there to bash others!
This was simply untolerable?!
Nanmen Tianhai coughed and calmly said, âBy right, Nie Li should replace Murong Yu in rank, now that heâs defeated Murong Yu. However, after discussing it with Elder Huang Yu, weâve decided that Nie Li should undergo another test. He may only replace Murong Yuâs position if he passes that test!â
It seemed that Elder Nanmen Tianhai couldnât stand it either; therefore, heâd given Nie Li a difficult problem. Everyone wondered what kind of test itâd be?
The students of the East District couldnât help raising their expectations. Earlier on, Nie Li had beaten Murong Yu up so badly, and left the students of the East District like themselves with no pride. It looked like Nie Li was going to pay the price now!