The Li family was particularly lively in the early morning, as a clan meeting was about to "Hmph, this worthless brat is still alive?" A sharp voice suddenly rang out, causing many to pause. They looked up to see a group of people approaching with an air of arrogance.

The speaker was a young man, Li Yi, the son of the third uncle, Li Wangyuan. He was the same age as Li Xiaoyao—both fifteen—but already a level-six Qi Warrior.

"Oh, it's Li Kai. No wonder he's daring enough to talk like that," the crowd murmured as they saw the third uncle, Li Wangyuan, walking alongside the eldest uncle, Li Batian. Clearly, trouble was brewing.

"Say that again," Li Kai's eyes flashed coldly as he stared directly at Li Yi, causing him to flinch and avoid meeting his gaze.

"Second brother, bullying the younger generation now, are we?" Li Batian scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Hmph, as the head of the family, I won't stand for Li Yi's lack of manners. What kind of example is that?" Li Kai responded coldly.

"Well, aren't you feeling powerful today, second brother? But I wonder how long you'll stay so high and mighty." Li Wangyuan's voice was sharp. "Your disgrace of a son, carried back here by the Canghai Sect, humiliating the Li family—are we not allowed to talk about it?"

"How long will I stay in power? Li Wangyuan, are you implying that I don't have much time left as the patriarch? What, do you think you're fit to take my place?" Li Kai stepped forward, his body radiating an icy aura. Li Yi, who had been standing beside Li Wangyuan, felt a chill run down his spine and quickly hid behind his father.

"Whether I'm fit or not isn't for you to decide, but for the elders," Li Wangyuan's face darkened. He hadn't expected Li Kai to be so aggressive today.

"So you admit it. Fine, as long as I'm still the head of this family, your son has committed the crime of cursing mine in front of me. What do you say to that?"

Li Kai didn't back down, and the cold around him intensified, chilling the air until frost began to form.

"The patriarch's strength is undeniable! He's making the first move against the third uncle," murmured the onlookers. There was a glimmer of admiration in their eyes, as they had expected Li Kai to be on the defensive against his brothers.

"Do you really think I'm afraid of you, Li Kai?" Li Wangyuan, clearly prepared for a confrontation, unleashed a wave of intense heat, clashing with Li Kai's cold aura.

"Father possesses an Ice Soul Martial Spirit, allowing him to cultivate ice techniques, while Li Wangyuan's Flame Martial Spirit gives him control over fire techniques. Water counters fire, so even with equal cultivation levels, Li Wangyuan won't be a match for Father. It's clear the real focus isn't on him today."

Li Xiaoyao glanced over at Li Batian, who had a sinister smirk on his face. Then Li Batian said, "Second brother, the clan meeting is about to start. Are you implying you don't respect the Council of Elders as the head of the family?"

In the Li family, the Council of Elders held the highest authority, existing to keep the patriarch in check. By invoking the Council, Li Batian was trying to corner Li Kai and burden him with a serious accusation.

"Hmph," Li Kai scoffed, giving Li Wangyuan a disdainful look before retracting his aura and walking away with Li Xiaoyao.

Li Wangyuan, fully aware of Li Kai's contempt, had cold light flashing in his eyes. Your son got lucky this time and survived, but next time, things won't go so smoothly.

Li Wangyuan's eldest son, Li Ming, was a standout in the outer disciples of the Canghai Sect. He was sure to become an inner disciple, possibly even a core disciple. With his son's rising status, Li Wangyuan's own position would naturally rise as well, outshining a mere family patriarch like Li Kai.

Meanwhile, Li Batian's daughter, Li Xin, was exceptionally talented and had already secured a position as an inner disciple of the Yuehui Sect. Her future was boundless. Among the three brothers, only Li Kai's son was considered a waste, infamous for his lack of potential. This was the very leverage Li Batian and Li Wangyuan were using. Even the Council of Elders supported them, a trend of overwhelming momentum, while Li Kai seemed to be fighting against the tide.

At the grand martial arena, all 400-500 members of the Li family had gathered. In the center stood a raised platform of bluestone, where the family's decision-makers were already assembled.

"Honored Elders, a few days ago, members of the Canghai Sect came to our Li family. What should have been a moment of honor ended in disgrace when they delivered a half-dead failure back to us. He's brought shame upon our family. Therefore, I propose we expel Li Xiaoyao from the family. He's unworthy of being one of us."

Li Wangyuan stood up, cupped his hands respectfully toward the elders, and directly launched his attack.

"You're being straightforward, but as the head of this family, I haven't even spoken yet. Since when is it your place, third brother, to give orders? Get back to your seat," Li Kai responded with force, fully aware of Li Wangyuan's intentions. He wanted to see how his opponents planned to expel his son and then seize his position as patriarch.

"Second brother, that's not right," Li Batian's sinister voice chimed in, adding fuel to the fire. "You may be the head of the family, but third brother is still one of the leaders, acting in the best interests of our clan. Your useless son has indeed brought disgrace upon the Li family and should be expelled."

"My son is my responsibility, not the family's. It's none of your business. Li Batian, I know you've been eyeing my position for a long time. Let's settle this right here, right now. You and I will fight. If you win, I'll leave the Li family with my son. But if you lose... keep your mouth shut!" Li Kai stepped forward, his presence radiating strength. He moved to the center of the platform, exuding an overwhelming aura, and challenged Li Batian without hesitation.

Li Xiaoyao watched his father, who was usually composed, suddenly become so aggressive. He realized that in this world where martial strength reigned supreme, only the powerful had the right to speak. His father intended to use his might to silence them.

"You think I'm afraid of you?" Li Batian growled in rage. He was furious that Li Kai had the audacity to insult him, and he stepped forward to face him.

The elders remained silent, pleased with the escalating conflict. If Li Kai couldn't defeat even Li Batian, and with a son known for being useless, the position of family head was bound to change hands.

"Let's see what gives you the right to be so arrogant!" Li Batian sneered, but before he could say more, Li Kai cut him off. Ice-cold energy engulfed the platform, and everyone in the arena felt a bone-chilling cold penetrate deep into their bones.

This was the power of a martial soul. Li Kai's soul was the Ice Soul, and once released, everything around him was consumed by the freezing cold.

"Frozen Wasteland!" Li Batian had just begun to activate his martial soul when Li Kai shouted loudly. The cracking sound of ice followed as the platform was encased in frost. The entire stage turned white, covered in cold ice, and in an instant, Li Batian was frozen solid, trapped within the ice.

"Boom!" A loud explosion shattered the ice. Li Batian's body flew backward, blood spurting from his mouth as he crashed heavily to the ground.

The elders stood up, shocked at the scene before them. Li Batian was utterly defeated, unable to withstand even a single strike.

"Frozen Wasteland... Li Kai has actually mastered the eighth level of the Ice Seal Art. No wonder he's so dominant," the Grand Elder's eyes flickered. With Li Kai's Ice Soul Martial Spirit and the powerful Ice Seal Art, he instantly froze Li Batian, then struck him down in one seamless move. Li Batian didn't even have time to react. Had Li Kai been just a fraction slower, things might not have gone so easily.

The members of the Li family were stunned, witnessing such a domineering side of Li Kai for the first time, far more overwhelming than Li Batian.

Li Batian coughed up another mouthful of blood, his gaze filled with resentment as he glared at Li Kai. But Li Kai remained indifferent. He knew that his two brothers were behind Li Xiaoyao's injuries. Since they had already tried to kill his son, there was no need for him to hold back out of brotherly affection.

"Elders, let's continue the clan meeting," Li Kai said, waving his sleeve as he calmly returned to his seat, as if nothing had happened.

"Haha, Li Kai, as the head of the family, you've shown great leadership by advancing your cultivation. I believe our Li family's young members will be motivated to train harder. This clan meeting has achieved its purpose; let's call it off," the Grand Elder said with a faint smile. There was no point in continuing the meeting now.

"Grand Elder, in that case, I'll take my leave," Li Xiaoyao cupped his hands toward the Grand Elder and prepared to leave with Li Kai.

"Li Kai, I want to see how long you can protect this good-for-nothing," Li Wangyuan said coldly, clearly dissatisfied that his plan had failed.

"Exactly, a disgrace to the Li family!" Li Yi chimed in, but when Li Kai's gaze swept over him, he quickly fell silent.

"Son, let's go," Li Kai said, unwilling to engage with them further. But Li Xiaoyao didn't leave. Instead, he turned around and began walking toward Li Yi. The crowd froze, unsure of what he intended to do.

Li Kai was equally surprised as he watched his son approach Li Yi. When Li Xiaoyao stopped just a short distance from him, he looked at Li Yi and said, "Li Yi, you keep calling me a useless waste. I wonder, if one day you realize you're even worse than me, how will you handle that embarrassment?"

"Are you dreaming? You, a useless waste, dare to compare yourself to me?" Li Yi scoffed, clearly not expecting such words from Li Xiaoyao.

Li Xiaoyao's eyes glimmered, and then he smiled faintly, speaking with an icy calmness, "Li Yi, I, Li Xiaoyao, challenge you."