As Li Xiaoyao finished speaking, the entire martial arts arena fell into sudden silence. Li Xiaoyao, challenging Li Yi? Even Li Kai was momentarily stunned, looking at his son in surprise. Meanwhile, an elder, who had risen to leave, sat back down with renewed interest, his gaze fixed on Li Xiaoyao.

Li Wangyuan, however, smiled coldly. He had been holding back a surge of anger, not expecting this worthless boy to challenge his son, Li Yi.

"Li Yi, accept his challenge," Li Wangyuan instructed, casting a meaningful look at Li Yi.

Li Yi stared at Li Xiaoyao, feeling insulted. Among the family disciples, his talent was average, but when compared to Li Xiaoyao, he could always find pride. Thus, every time he saw Li Xiaoyao, he never hesitated to taunt him. But now, this so-called most useless of the younger generation had the audacity to challenge him, making Li Yi feel utterly humiliated.

"If you can withstand three of my moves, I won't fight any further," Li Yi stepped forward, determined to crush Li Xiaoyao with the most brutal methods and show him just how weak he was.

"If you can take even one punch from me, I'll admit defeat," Li Xiaoyao shook his head, speaking calmly. This indifferent tone immediately darkened Li Yi's expression, as if he couldn't even withstand one punch from Li Xiaoyao.

The crowd stared in disbelief. Was Li Xiaoyao out of his mind to make such a boastful claim?

"A worthless person's words may sound pretty, but in the end, he's still worthless. Only someone like you would boast like that," Li Yi mocked.

Li Xiaoyao smiled. Was he really boasting? He had only spoken one sentence.

"I'm going to make my move," Li Xiaoyao said, not wanting to waste more words. As soon as he spoke, his body moved forward, fist slowly rising, then suddenly swinging toward Li Yi.

"One punch?" A cruel glint flashed in Li Yi's eyes as he too swung his fist. He wanted to show Li Xiaoyao just how vast the gap between them truly was.

The air suddenly trembled as a powerful wave of force surged from Li Xiaoyao's fist, creating a fierce sound. The crowd watched as waves of energy barreled toward Li Yi, overwhelming him.

The Nine Waves Technique!

Li Yi's face changed instantly, realizing how intense the pressure was. But it was too late to retreat. As their fists collided, Li Yi felt wave after wave of ferocious power surge through his body, each wave stronger than the last, with no end in sight.

"Urgh!"

With a muffled grunt, Li Yi's body was sent flying, leaving the entire crowd frozen in place. This scene was strikingly similar to the earlier fight between Li Kai and Li Batian. Just like that, Li Yi was sent flying with a single punch, unable to offer any resistance.

Li Wangyuan stood up, staring blankly at his son lying on the ground.

"How is this possible? How?" Li Yi muttered in disbelief, unable to accept the harsh reality. The crowd suddenly recalled Li Xiaoyao's earlier words: "You call me worthless. But what will you say if one day you find out you're even worse than me?" The truth before them seemed to confirm the prideful statement of the young man.

"Is this really the so-called useless young master of the Li family?" The crowd couldn't help but wonder. To send Li Yi flying with one punch would require a strength of at least six thousand pounds.

"You constantly call me worthless, yet you can't even take one punch from me. So what does that make you?" Li Xiaoyao looked at the venomous glare Li Yi shot him and said mockingly.

"And you," Li Xiaoyao's gaze shifted to Li Wangyuan. "As an elder, you've always thrown the word 'worthless' around. Now that your son was defeated with one punch, when you called me worthless, were you also referring to your son?"

"You think reaching the sixth level of Qi Martial Stage makes you mighty?" Li Wangyuan's face darkened at being reprimanded by a junior.

"Mighty? Not really. Just returning what you and your son have given me," Li Xiaoyao replied indifferently. He turned and walked away, adding, "Those who humiliate others will themselves be humiliated!"

"Those who humiliate others will themselves be humiliated!" Li Kai muttered, a glint of admiration flashing in his eyes. His son had truly changed, even speaking such profound words.

...

Li Xiaoyao returned to his courtyard and resumed his cultivation. Defeating Li Yi, who was at the fifth level of the Qi Martial Stage, wasn't enough to make him proud. There were many stronger talents in the family, like Li Ming, who had once thrown him out of the sect. Li Ming's talent was much greater, at the eighth level of Qi Martial Stage, and Li Batian's children were even more gifted. Especially Li Batian's daughter, Li Xin, who was said to have reached the ninth level of the Qi Martial Stage.

In three months, the annual family gathering would occur, and the disciples who trained in the sect would return. If Li Xiaoyao didn't raise his strength in time, he might be humiliated again.

For warriors, the flow of time during cultivation often passed unnoticed. For those who could absorb the essence of heaven and earth, even going ten days without food would have no adverse effects. The energy of the world was the purest nourishment.

Ten days passed, and Li Xiaoyao finally stepped out of his room, exhaling a long breath. In this time, he had reached the peak of the sixth level of the Qi Martial Stage and was only one step away from breaking into the seventh level.

He made his way to his father Li Kai's room.

"Son, isn't it better to cultivate at home? Why must you return to the sect?" Li Kai was worried when he heard that his son wanted to return to the sect. The last incident still weighed heavily on his mind.

"Father, some things are unavoidable. If I hide at home, always under your protection, how can I grow and become a true martial artist?" Li Xiaoyao's eyes were firm. The sect was far more powerful than the Li family, with superior techniques, martial arts, and fierce competition. Only in the sect could he truly grow.

Seeing the determination in his son's eyes, Li Kai sighed inwardly. His son had grown up. Hiding at home under protection was the behavior of the weak. How could one become a martial arts master that way? Yet, as a father, he couldn't help but feel reluctant to let go.

"If you're determined to return to the sect, I won't stop you. But be careful," Li Kai nodded.

"Don't worry, Father. I'll train hard and surpass them all," Li Xiaoyao said with unwavering confidence. With his dark martial soul, his cultivation speed was many times faster than normal, and his comprehension had greatly improved. Combined with his determination, he believed he wasn't any less talented than the so-called geniuses.

Li Xiaoyao didn't take much with him — just a swift horse, some dried food, and a few silver coins.

"Father, I'm leaving." Outside Cangyun City, Li Xiaoyao looked back at his father one last time.

"Be careful," Li Kai nodded. With that, Li Xiaoyao mounted his horse and rode away. In an instant, the horse turned into a white blur and disappeared beyond the city.

As he rode across the vast land, Li Xiaoyao felt a surge of passion in his heart. This world was limitless, and a great ambition began to grow inside him.

In his previous life, Li Xiaoyao had loved martial arts and dreamed of wandering the world as a swordsman, singing on horseback, living the life of a wandering hero. Now, in this life, he had the chance to do just that — one man, one horse, roaming the world at will.

A jug of wine, a song of sorrow, a lifetime of wild abandon! A hero rides with sword in hand, leaving blood-stained skies in his wake!

This life was destined to be extraordinary. This life was destined to be legendary!