Within Tianxuan City, the sky and earth changed color.
The fight between Zhao Li and Venerate Shenzang caused quite a stir, alerting many people.
However, upon sensing the occasional overflow of powerful energy from above, many trembled slightly. They didn't dare approach to watch, fearing being wiped out by the residual waves. They looked towards the center of the energy, but could see nothing.
Zhao Li and Venerate Shenzang exchanged blows for dozens of rounds. Zhao Li used Low Grade Dou Techniques with ease. Seeing that he couldn't finish the fight quickly, Venerate Shenzang had thoughts of retreating.
The two exchanged one more move, touching and then separating instantly.
Coincidentally, both unleashed their killing moves.
Venerate Shenzang used an Earth Rank High Grade Dou Technique, sacrificing his Blood Qi Power. Black mist dispersed, revealing only a withered and emaciated figure.
Zhao Li, however, used the killing move he had only recently comprehended.
"Withering and Flourishing Finger, One Finger of Withering and Flourishing!"
"Li below, Zhen above, Lai Zhang, Thunder-Fire Abundance!"
A giant bone finger collided with a circular wheel of intersecting thunder and fire.
Beneath the finger, there seemed to be a power capable of crushing everything. If it landed, Tianxuan City would likely be half-destroyed. But it was blocked by the slowly rotating thunder-fire wheel.
The Thunder-Fire wheel possessed immense power, rotating slowly, engulfing the surrounding energy, growing stronger and stronger. It seemed to surpass a certain limit, then suddenly erupted.
Great form is without shape, great sound is without voice.
Although both retreated quickly, they were still affected by the energy wave and were thrown back a great distance.
Zhao Li took out a Pill and swallowed it. His digestive system worked, absorbing the medicinal power, and he quickly recovered some mobility. He then rushed towards Venerate Shenzang.
With his powerful physique and the medicinal Pill, he had only just recovered. He believed Venerate Shenzang was in the same state.
Venerate Shenzang struggled to get up, his face filled with disbelief.
"This is impossible, I don't believe it!"
With this strike, Venerate Shenzang's defenses were broken. Seeing Zhao Li chasing after him again, fear arose in his heart. He opened a Spatial Channel and fled into it.
Zhao Li heard Venerate Shenzang's voice of disbelief and sped up. However, before he could reach him, a dark channel appeared. After Venerate Shenzang entered, it closed on its own.
Venerate Shenzang's sinister voice came through:
"My Soul Hall has noted you."
Hearing this, Zhao Li stopped. Ignoring whether Venerate Shenzang could hear him, he said flippantly:
"As long as you have the ability, I'll be waiting anytime. Oh, right, my name is Xu Changqing. You came up wanting to fight earlier and I forgot to tell you. Don't forget it."
Zhao Li felt helpless and a bit of a headache. Venerate Shenzang had still managed to escape.
He knew the size of the Soul Hall, and even more so, the even more terrifying Soul Clan behind it.
Forget it, when soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth. Zhao Li stopped thinking about it. He turned his head, looking at Sun Xiaochuan with a half-smile, saying nothing.
When Sun Xiaochuan saw Venerate Shenzang cause a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, he was both terrified and delighted. With such power, Zhao Li would be severely injured even if he didn't die.
But before he could be happy, he saw Zhao Li courting death by fusing thunder and fire, and he cursed inwardly:
Lunatics, they're all lunatics.
He then moved even further away.
After one move, both were sent flying. Before he could be happy, he heard Venerate Shenzang's defenses break, and then he ran away. He became even more afraid and hid, only hoping that Zhao Li wouldn't notice a small figure like him, preparing to leave quietly.
Suddenly, he felt a gaze and his body froze. He turned his head and saw Zhao Li's half-smiling expression.
He immediately knelt down.
"Senior, please spare my life. I'll give you anything you want, I won't refuse. I'm even willing to be your ox or horse. I'm a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, I have a lot of money. Spare my life, and I'll take you to get it."
Zhao Li hadn't originally paid much attention to Sun Xiaochuan. If it weren't for the Jade Token in his hand, he would have been killed long ago. He just didn't expect him to be colluding with the Soul Hall.
"Tell me, how did you get in touch with the Soul Hall?"
Sun Xiaochuan told Zhao Li about the Soul Hall contacting Alchemists and pushed all the blame onto Venerate Shenzang.
Zhao Li saw that Sun Xiaochuan didn't know much and wouldn't be able to say anything more no matter how much he asked. He was just begging for mercy.
Zhao Li sighed inwardly. He had originally been wary of Sun Xiaochuan putting up a desperate fight and planned to deal with him later, but he didn't expect him to bring such a big problem.
To prevent any accidents, Zhao Li's Yin Spirit reappeared. Vast Soul Power surged from all directions towards Sun Xiaochuan.
Sun Xiaochuan died, silently, his soul scattered.
After Zhao Li comprehended the Rules of Thunder, his Yin Spirit had solidified significantly, gaining a hint of a different aura.
"Is the Soul Hall already looking for Alchemists? It seems the Nihility Devouring Flame has reached Nine-star Dou Sheng. Tsk~ Clashing with the Soul Hall at this time isn't a good thing..."
From the information obtained from Sun Xiaochuan, Zhao Li had some guesses and sighed deeply.
Seeing that Zhao Li had finished dealing with things, Li Lei brought his men forward. He was about to kneel down immediately but was stopped by Zhao Li.
Zhao Li could stop Li Lei's action but couldn't change his attitude. Li Lei's tone was respectful, and he clasped his fists in thanks:
"Senior, thank you so much this time. Otherwise, my Li Family would likely not have escaped this calamity."
Now, even if Zhao Li told him to call him Little Zhao again, he wouldn't listen. He didn't have that kind of courage.
Zhao Li let him have his way. It wasn't like he could beat Li Lei up just because he didn't listen to him.
"Now, if it were Li Ming, that might be an option."
Zhao Li couldn't help but think.
A wave of exhaustion washed over him. Zhao Li felt like his whole body was about to fall apart.
The fight with Venerate Shenzang had been a true slugfest, and although the final fusion of thunder and fire looked simple, Zhao Li had poured all his mental energy into it, not daring to be careless for a moment. Even he found it a bit much to handle.
All he wanted now was to slip away quickly, get a good night's sleep, and rest.
"This is a Rejuvenation Pill. You all know its effects. Take it and give it to Old Master Li first. We can talk about the other things later."
Zhao Li took out the Rejuvenation Pill, handed it to Li Lei, and then returned to his room.
Seeing this, Li Lei's heart stirred with excitement. His Li Family had actually managed to befriend someone of this caliber.
He glanced at Li Ming, who understood and left first.
Then he turned to the Alchemists and said:
"Everyone has witnessed what happened today. That esteemed senior will eventually leave. At that time, my Li Family might be targeted by the Soul Hall for revenge. If any of you wish to leave, I will not stop you."
Li Lei's words were sincere. These few were old members of the Li Family, uncles who had watched him grow up. Naturally, he didn't want anything to happen to them.
His prediction of being retaliated against by the Soul Hall was also highly likely.
However, he knew he couldn't blame anyone else. If it weren't for Zhao Li, Sun Xiaochuan alone could have turned the Li Family to dust.
Hearing Li Lei's words, the few of them exchanged glances, then smiled.
They understood what Li Lei was saying, but none of them chose to leave.
Even if the Soul Hall sought revenge, there was still some time.
By then, as long as Li Zhenxuan recovered, they could at least contend with the Soul Hall. Besides, they all knew who the Soul Hall truly cared about.
"What nonsense are you speaking, nephew? Are we the kind of ungrateful people who run away at the first sign of trouble? I'm hoping to take advantage of the senior's presence here to ask for guidance and improve further!"
If Sun Xiaochuan were still alive and heard this, he would probably shout, 'Just say my name already!'
"Exactly. Nephew, you don't need to worry about us old fellows here. Go and check on Brother Zhenxuan first."
Hearing this, Li Lei was moved. He said no more and turned to leave.
...
Li Lei walked alone down a narrow, cramped corridor. This was the path leading to the family's secret chamber.
After Li Zhenxuan returned, his severe injuries were difficult to heal. He only lasted a month before falling into a deep sleep.
Li Lei walked to the end of the dark path, pushed open the stone door, and his eyes lit up as he entered the secret chamber.
Seeing the old man lying on the stone bed with a tightly furrowed brow and weak aura, he hurried over.
Li Lei took out the Rejuvenation Pill and carefully helped Li Zhenxuan take it.
The pill melted upon entering his mouth. Li Lei watched Li Zhenxuan nervously.
Soon, the effects of the Rejuvenation Pill kicked in. Li Lei heard a groan echo in the quiet secret chamber.
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