Li Kai and Li Xiaoyao walked towards the main platform, where Li Batian, the Grand Elder Li Zhen, Li Haoran, and Li Xin were seated, looking like they were the true rulers of the Li family.

As the two approached, Grand Elder Li Zhen stood up and called out, "Everyone's here, let's begin the annual tournament."

Li Kai stopped in his tracks when he heard Li Zhen, simply staring at him, which made many in the family pause, unsure of what Li Kai was planning.

"Li Kai, what are you doing?" Li Zhen asked.

"Hmph, Li Zhen, let me ask you, who is the head of the Li family right now?" Li Kai's voice was cold.

The Grand Elder's face darkened, but he still responded, "Of course, it's you, Li Kai."

"Then tell me this—our family's annual tournament, isn't it one of the most important events?" Li Kai's gaze bore into Li Zhen as he continued his questioning.

"Of course. Every year, the annual tournament is the most important occasion for our family."

"Good. So, who is supposed to preside over such an important event?"

Hearing this, Li Zhen's expression grew even darker. He knew exactly where this was headed.

"The family head, naturally," Li Zhen responded, barely concealing his frustration.

"Since that's the case, Li Zhen, then let me ask you: What are you doing up there? Do you even recognize me as the head of this family anymore?" Li Kai's voice turned icy. It was no secret that Li Zhen and Li Batian had been conspiring for some time now, and the entire family was aware of it. Recently, Li Zhen had become increasingly brazen.

"Heh, Second Uncle, you're the one who's late. The Grand Elder was just taking care of things for you. Are you really that petty?" Li Xin chimed in, her voice calm and measured.

"Silence!" Li Kai snapped. "When elders are speaking, do you think it's your place to interrupt? Li Batian, control your daughter—she clearly has no manners!"

Li Xin's face froze, cursing inwardly. Is this guy going mad now that he knows his days as family head are numbered?

"At least my daughter's not a worthless failure like your son," Li Batian sneered, casting a glance at Li Xiaoyao. With Li Xin now the shining star of the Li family, how could he let Li Kai insult them?

"Watch your words. The Li family's head is nothing more than an ant in the eyes of Yuehui Sect," one of the Yuehui disciples by Li Xin's side scoffed. Draped in luxurious robes, her cold face twisted with a hint of cruelty. Like Li Xin, she was an inner disciple of Yuehui Sect and had nothing but disdain for a mere Li family.

"Oh, so Yuehui Sect is so mighty? Then why are you still sitting here in my family's home? My father is the rightful head of the Li family, and last I checked, he didn't invite you. Or is it that you were born with thicker skin than most?" Li Xiaoyao couldn't hold back any longer. When it came to verbal sparring, who could outmatch someone like him, a man with two lifetimes' worth of wisdom? The art of words from his previous world was vast and profound.

"You—" The woman's expression shifted, but she quickly sneered. "A useless disciple from Canghai Sect dares to boast?"

"Whether I'm useless or not is another matter. At least I know what shame means. Unlike some people who come to another's house and insult the host. I didn't realize Yuehui Sect produced such rude people. Truly impressive," Li Xiaoyao shot back, his words dripping with sarcasm. Li Xin and the others immediately looked furious.

"Son of a bitch!!! How dare you insult Yuehui Sect?" A family elder stood up, pointing angrily at Li Xiaoyao.

"Laughable. Strangers come into the Li family and insult its head, and yet you stand up to defend outsiders? Let me ask you, Seventh Elder, are you a member of the Li family or Yuehui's dog?" Li Xiaoyao's words were sharp, like blades, cutting deep while staying firmly rooted in reason.

"Well said! I'd like to ask the same, Seventh Elder—do you still carry the surname Li?" Li Kai chimed in, impressed by his son's sharp wit. Not only had his cultivation improved, but his words were also incisive and deadly.

"Enough. We made a mistake here," Grand Elder Li Zhen, having received a signal from Li Batian, reluctantly backed down. He wanted to see just how long Li Kai and his son could keep this defiance up. "The annual tournament is the most important event for the Li family. We can't delay any further. Head of the family, please come preside over it."

"Hmph." With a flick of his robe, Li Kai strode toward the main seat alongside Li Xiaoyao, settling in the center of the crowd.

Enjoy your moment, Li Kai. Once I become a core disciple of the sect, I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me, Li Xin thought coldly.

"Let the annual gathering begin," Li Kai's eyes swept over the training grounds. There were about 400 to 500 people in the Li family, with around 70 youths between the ages of 12 and 18—prime years for cultivation. But unfortunately, the family had been fractured, with too many harboring selfish ambitions. The once cohesive group had lost its unity. Maybe my father made a mistake leaving the family head position to me, Li Kai thought bitterly. If it weren't for his powerful martial spirit, he wouldn't even care about this bothersome role.

Father, rest assured, I won't let the Li family decline while it's in my hands, Li Kai vowed to himself, feeling a pang of guilt as he recalled his father's dying words. Yet, he hadn't been able to fully focus on the family.

The annual tournament was, in essence, a test of the younger generation's cultivation progress—an evaluation of how much they had grown over the past year. The youth represented the future of the family.

The event's format? Combat. The family would assess its young warriors by having them prove their strength in battle.

The second elder of the Li family stepped onto the stage and announced loudly, "For the first round, we'll have a free-for-all. Everyone, get on the platform. The last 32 standing will advance to the next round."

With that, the second elder stepped down, and the young disciples of the Li family quickly took their places on the stage. Li Xiaoyao nodded toward his father before making his way up as well.

I wonder if Li Xin and her crew are going to target me on purpose, Li Xiaoyao thought to himself as he stood near the edge of the platform, his eyes flickering with caution.

Seventy-three young disciples stood atop the massive battle platform, their eyes darting around cautiously. The weaker ones were especially on edge, knowing they were likely the first targets in this free-for-all. Li Xin stepped onto the platform with a commanding presence, and the crowd parted for her wherever she went. No one dared to provoke her. The purpose of the first round was to eliminate the weak, and few would mess with the stronger fighters unless they had a death wish. Li Xin was one of the strongest, and the crowd knew better than to try anything with her.

As for Li Xiaoyao, he quickly realized that several people had their eyes on him. Their gazes were sharp, like predators sizing up prey. To them, he looked like an easy target, a pushover they could easily deal with.

The fighting on the platform had already broken out, and a young man wielding a long spear approached Li Xiaoyao. Others instinctively moved aside, clearly aware that this was someone not to be messed with.

"Hey buddy, could you do me a favor? You just need to walk off the stage before you embarrass yourself," Li Wu sneered at Li Xiaoyao. Li Wu was the son of the Seventh Elder, with whom Li Xiaoyao had clashed earlier. Half a year ago, Li Wu had already reached the seventh level of the Qi Martial Realm, and by now, he had likely advanced to the eighth level, on par with Li Dan's strength.

"He's mine," a cold voice interrupted. Li Xin, dressed in her phoenix-tailed robe, strutted over, exuding arrogance.

"It's all the same to me," Li Wu said as he stepped aside, clearly not interested in challenging Li Xin over Li Xiaoyao.

Li Xin stopped in front of Li Xiaoyao and said, "Relax. No one's going to touch you this round. You'll advance easily. It'd be too boring if you got knocked out this early."

"Huh?" Li Xiaoyao blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected Li Xin to be the one ensuring his advancement—it was almost laughable. But if he could make it to the next round without fighting, why not? Then again, having witnessed his skills, Li Xin likely understood that unless she took him on personally, very few people here could actually take him out. After all, back at Canghai Sect, Li Xiaoyao had severed the arm of a ninth-level Qi Martial Realm fighter with just a single strike.

"What's Li Xin doing? Why's she protecting that good-for-nothing?" The Grand Elder, who had been eagerly waiting to see Li Xiaoyao humiliated, muttered under his breath to Li Batian, clearly confused by Li Xin's move.

"Don't you think it's gonna be hilarious watching a worthless loser make it to the second round?" Li Batian chuckled darkly. "Besides, once the second round starts, it'll be one-on-one battles. Everyone will have to fight multiple rounds. Can you imagine what this loser will face then?"

Li Zhen smirked, finally catching on to Li Xin's plan. "Heh, why didn't I think of that? This is gonna be quite the show." In his mind, he already picture that Li Xiaoyao getting pummeled over and over in the second round. By then, his sharp tongue wouldn't have much use anymore, and there would be no escape from the repeated beatdowns AT ALL...