Chapter 16: Senior Brother Li (2)

“Is Senior Disciple Li very famous? What’s his background?” Han Li asked, a little surprised.

“You don’t even know Senior Disciple Li?”

“Didn’t I seclude myself for several years?”

“Oh, right, right, I forgot about that! My memory is terrible. I always assume no disciple in the Seven Mysteries Sect wouldn’t know Senior Disciple Li, so I completely forgot you were in seclusion, Senior Disciple Han.” Little Calculator suddenly realized this, quickly apologizing.

“Could you tell me about Senior Disciple Li?”

“Of course, Senior Disciple Han. We young disciples all know Senior Disciple Li’s deeds very clearly.” Seeing that Zhang Changgui’s side hadn’t yet sent out an opponent for Senior Disciple Li, Little Calculator began recounting the various legends about this famous person to Han Li.

“Senior Disciple Han, I’m not boasting, but it’s not just our group of disciples who know a lot about Senior Disciple Li; many older senior disciples do too. Back then…” He excitedly began telling Han Li Senior Disciple Li’s story, his eyes sparkling and saliva flying, as if he were the protagonist of the tale himself.

Listening to Little Calculator recount Senior Disciple Li’s deeds, they truly had a legendary quality.

Senior Disciple Li had also joined the mountain four years prior, though not in the same intake as Han Li. He hadn’t passed the initial assessment immediately and became a registered disciple. However, in a test six months later, he not only achieved first place in all categories but also became the only person to withstand thirty moves in the final sparring session with the senior disciples. This record broke all previous test scores for registered disciples and attracted the attention of several high-ranking figures. Upon examination, the surprising result was that Senior Disciple Li’s natural talent was only average, and his growth potential was limited. This diagnosis was considered a pity, and consequently, he wasn’t taken on as a disciple by any high-level master. After two years of basic training, he still became a disciple under an ordinary protector, learning only a few common martial arts techniques. The Wind and Thunder Blade Technique was one such very common mid-level martial art of the Seven Mysteries Sect.

If his story had ended there, Senior Disciple Li would not have been considered a legend, but rather a promising start with a disappointing finish. However, not long after, he utilized this unremarkable Wind and Thunder Blade Technique to shine brightly in the junior generation’s grand competition the following year, successfully advancing into the top sixteen. He was the only new disciple to rank among the top contenders, an achievement that once again made him the sect’s focus.

In subsequent competitions, Senior Disciple Li consistently demonstrated incredible bravery and unstoppable momentum, always achieving high rankings and bringing significant honor to all the new disciples. In last year’s grand competition, he even secured third place. It’s important to note that the top two ranked disciples had joined the sect over a decade ago. Although they were part of the “junior generation,” they were already twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, and their internal cultivation was far more profound than his. Many disciples believed that if Senior Disciple Li’s internal cultivation were as strong as theirs, first place would have been easily within his grasp.

Thus, Senior Disciple Li once again garnered attention from the leadership and was specifically chosen to participate in numerous significant external missions outside the mountain. While other new disciples were still diligently training martial arts within the sect, he had already begun earning considerable merit for the Seven Mysteries Sect, establishing a formidable reputation in the martial world as “Ferocious Tiger Li.” It was even rumored that he would soon be granted special permission to enter the Hall of Seven Absolutes to cultivate more profound martial arts.

Hearing all this, Han Li couldn’t help but be moved. If everything was true, this Senior Disciple Li was truly remarkable. To achieve so much despite being just a registered disciple, Han Li felt a degree of admiration himself.

After half a day of prevarication, one disciple from Zhang Changgui’s side finally stepped forward, gritting his teeth.

This disciple appeared to be quite skilled in martial arts. He drew a gleaming soft sword from his waist. The sword was only as thick as a thumb, soft and seemingly without power, indicating at a glance that it was not a weapon for an ordinary or mediocre practitioner.

Feeling someone approach, Senior Disciple Li slowly opened his eyes, which shone with intense spirit.

He suddenly let out a loud roar, like a thunderclap in a clear sky, making everyone’s ears ring. The person opposite him also trembled, a look of fear appearing on his face.

As the roar left his lips, his long blade began to swing. A streak of light flashed as several continuous forms were executed, instantly transforming into more than a dozen blade shadows that enveloped his opponent in a net of blades.

The opponent was quite alert. Although somewhat flustered, his soft sword moved erratically, proving insidious and tricky, defending meticulously.

“Who is that person?” Han Li couldn’t help but ask.

“That’s Zhao Ziling, a disciple of the Fifth Elder. His Willow-Sweeping Swordplay is very troublesome.”

“How does he compare to Senior Disciple Li?”

“He’s certainly no match,” Little Calculator said proudly.

“Then why doesn’t Zhang Changgui send someone more formidable?”

“Haha! Zhao Ziling is the strongest among them. Besides, who among us new disciples could possibly defeat Senior Disciple Li? Sending anyone else would be pointless,” he said with a hint of schadenfreude.

Indeed, although Zhao Ziling’s swordplay hadn’t yet faltered, he had lost all momentum and was completely suppressed by Senior Disciple Li’s long blade. Any discerning eye could see that his defeat was only a matter of time.

After watching for a while, a doubt arose in Han Li’s mind.

“I find something very strange,” Han Li stated bluntly. “Why are there no older senior disciples present? Even if they’re not allowed to compete, surely some would come to watch the spectacle. But here, inside and outside the arena, there isn’t a single older senior disciple; only us teenage new disciples are watching the match. What’s going on?”

Little Calculator’s expression changed when he heard Han Li’s question. He looked at him with a strange gaze, leaving Han Li feeling a bit bewildered. Had he perhaps asked about something taboo?