Chapter 79: Let the match begin

"He...."

Zhao Yuan's words visibly shook Fang Lingjue. Wang Zuocai had been just as strong as him before Fang Lingjue made his breakthrough. Now, not only did Wang Zuocai fail to make it into the top ten, but he had been crippled too?

"An arm cannot twist a thigh. Going against them will do us no good. Cooperation is the only way to achieve a win-win situation," Zhao Yuan remarked.[1]

"Yes," Li Pin responded, still withholding any further elaboration. Perhaps he simply didn't want to linger on this topic.

Seeing this, Zhao Yuan sighed. After a thoughtful pause, he said, "If you persist, I'm afraid the Five Elements Sect won't be able to offer you much help."

Although Li Pin had anticipated this would happen, he was still somewhat surprised. He smiled and replied, "So, the Five Elements Sect is drawing a line with me?"

"Not at all," Zhao Yuan responded. "We just believe there's no need to escalate the situation to this extent."

Li Pin nodded. "I understand."

Li Pin then turned to Fang Lingjue and said, "Let's go."

Fang Lingjue glanced at Zhao Yuan and remarked, "Your advice might've been in good faith, and it might've worked on martial artists who are well over thirty. But have you considered that you're essentially telling a twenty-two-year-old genius, who's on the path to becoming a Martial Saint, to abandon his beliefs and back down? Don't you think this could sabotage his future?"

With that, he turned and left with Li Pin.

Zhao Yuan had been displeased by Li Pin's blunt departure, but when he heard Fang Lingjue's words, he was shaken. He murmured, "Sabotage his future?"

Suddenly, he came to the abrupt realization of what he had done.

Yes!

From their perspective, challenging the Solar Vermillion Sect and the unwritten rules of the martial arts community in Jiang Province might not be wise. After all, they were not young anymore. Even if opportunities arose in the future, reaching the Aura Cultivation realm would have been their limit.

However, Li Pin... was different. He was only twenty-two, with the potential to become a Martial Saint in the future! And not the kind recognized by title, but a true Martial Saint capable of condensing Martial Will and manifesting Spirit Force effortlessly.

Since achieving this required a pure heart and unwavering conviction... forcing Li Pin to retreat, to act against his true desires, was no different from sabotaging his future!

"If he can really achieve true Martial Saint status through condensing Martial Will... then what does it matter if we challenge the Solar Vermillion Sect, or the entire martial arts community in Jiang Province for that matter?" Zhao Yuan muttered to himself.

At that moment, he finally understood why Li Pin remained unmoved despite their efforts to persuade him. Their perspectives and ambitions were simply on different levels.

"A true Martial Saint...." Zhao Yuan took a deep breath. "No... I must inform the Master about this... The Five Elements Sect must reconsider their decision."

***

Li Pin's dinner was hosted by Yuan Tailai, the owner of Red Sun Fashion.

Clearly, he was confident in Li Pin's ability to break into the top ten of the martial competition, showing great warmth and friendliness towards him.

After finishing his dinner, Li Pin returned home to his training room. He ignited a Concentration Incense, adjusted his state of mind, and began practicing the first phase of his self-created meditation technique, Chaos Meditation Art.

As for the incident concerning Wang Zuocai, he wasn't affected by it whatsoever. Whether Wang Zuocai was simply outmatched or targeted by forces backing Gu Haoran was irrelevant. The weak sought peace and justice, while the strong trampled rules and brought chaos. Essentially, they were the same.

The difference was that, during chaotic times, the strong would oppress the weak without restraints. Whereas during peaceful times, they still dominate but cloak their actions in a guise of fairness.

Many were aware of their pretenses, including the pretenders themselves. They knew that others knew they were pretending, yet they persisted in their deception because society not only accepted but also embraced this fa?ade.

They immersed themselves in a society that used peace and justice as a shield, avoiding the harsh realities of the world.

Even what some believed to be the "truth" was often a constructed illusion. All rules were created by the strong, for the benefit of the strong, including the perceived reality.

"Scholars use knowledge to bend laws, and warriors use martial prowess to defy restrictions."[2]

At the root of it all, it was the powerful exploiting the powerless. This has been the way of the world since ancient times.

Li Pin closed his eyes and quietly immersed himself in the Chaos. Despite not contemplating the universe directly and only dwelling within the chaos itself, the infinite and disorderly changes stirred a profound shock within him. No civilization's brilliance could compare to the vastness of the galaxy.

This shock resonated through Li Pin's spirit, filling his mind.

After a long while, when he felt a deep-seated weariness from within his heart, he ended his practice.

The Chaos Meditation Art, while not as extreme as meditating on the universe, would likely result in an increase of at least 0.1 in his mental spirit attribute upon recovery.

Progressing at a rate of one point in ten days. This surpassed any other form of meditation.

***

By the time Li Pin had rested for an hour, his phone rang.

Ring-ring!

Li Pin answered the call, and soon, Li Yunyao's cheerful voice came through.

—Brother! We're coming tomorrow! Are you excited to see us?

"Are you happy?"

—Yes, I am!

"Then cherish this moment of joy... because the next time you smile might be three or four days later," Li Pin teased.

—

Ah?

"I've arranged for a moving company. They'll arrive in the Sunshine District in two days. Get everything that you want to bring ready," Li Pin explained.

—We're moving?

Li Yunyao exclaimed in surprise.

—Are we really going to live in Jiang Province City? Are we really moving from the county to the capital?"

"Of course," Li Pin confirmed.

—Awesome! I love Jiang Province! There's so much delicious food and fun things to do, way more than in Liuchuan County.

"Once we're settled in Jiang Province, you can eat whatever you want," Li Pin assured her.

—I'll tell Mom right away and get her ready.

Stomp, stomp, stomp!

Li Yunyao exclaimed cheerfully before dashing off. From the phone, Li Pin could hear her footsteps clattering down the stairs.

Soon, Li Pin's mother took over the call.

After a brief conversation, Li Pin's mother agreed to move to Jiang Province City in three days. Her decision was motivated by the city's safer environment and better educational opportunities. Other than that, it was also because Li Pin and Li Yunyao were there.

After hanging up, Li Pin refocused his mind, immersing himself in sensing every subtle change within his body. He meticulously controlled each of the circulation of his qi and blood.

In the next moment, he activated the Blood-Seething Secret Art and unleashed the Eight Enormities True Fire Force.

To an outsider, it might seem like he was engaged in a life-and-death struggle, but in reality, this was just Li Pin's everyday training regimen.

***

The next morning, Li Pin arrived at the martial competition venue.

It seemed as though they didn't want to give him any time to rest or recover, as his match was scheduled first.

Unsure whether it was due to the martial society's secrecy or for some other reason, Jiang Qingyue hadn't received his match schedule in advance.

Li Pin only realized that his opponent was also from the Solar Vermilion Sect after he stepped into the arena.

His opponent was Han Li, a peak Core Formation martial artist from the capital city. He had what it took to clinch a spot in the top ten in any provincial martial arts competition. However, Li Pin's gaze lingered on Han Li only for a short moment before shifting to the middle-aged man in an official uniform who was stepping onto the arena too.

This man radiated an aura of immense threat far greater than Han Li's.

Lin Pin was struck with surprise.

Aura Cultivation?

"Alright, since both of you are here, let's not waste any more time. Let the match begin," the middle-aged man said calmly.

1. An expression to describe the futility of going against someone who is much stronger than you. ☜

2. suggests that scholars and warriors utilize their respective skills and capabilities to challenge or manipulate established rules. ☜