The atmosphere at the banquet was lively. After making an appearance, Thunderbolt Douluo Yu Yuanzhen left gracefully. No one felt it was out of the ordinary.
A rank 95 Titled Douluo was already a pinnacle existence on this continent. Showing up to meet with younger generations was an immense honor.
After the banquet, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling accompanied Li Zhexian on either side. Just as they were about to leave, Elder Yu Jinghan stepped forward with a smile:
"Little friend Zhexian, the clan leader requests your presence."
Li Zhexian nodded.
"You all head back first."
Yu Feng and the others agreed.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling said in unison, "We'll wait here for you."
Following Elder Yu Jinghan, Li Zhexian arrived in front of a study. After cupping his hands in thanks to Yu Jinghan, he pushed the door open and entered.
The study was simply furnished and completely open. There was only a screen painted with a hidden thunder dragon, a tea table, and two floor cushions.
At that moment, an old man in a blue robe sat on a cushion. His posture was as straight as an ancient pine, his white eyebrows angled up toward his temples like lightning. A hint of a smile lingered on his heroic face.
The instant Li Zhexian's gaze met the old man's, it was as if a sea of thunder surged before his eyes. An ancient, colossal dragon, coiled in the thunderclouds, lowered its head and stared at him.
His Great Spine Sword Bone released a soaring sword intent.
Li Zhexian regained his senses, cupped his hands, and said, "This junior, Li Zhexian, greets Senior Thunder Douluo."
Yu Yuanzhen looked at the young man in the white robe who was neither humble nor arrogant. The smile on his lips deepened. "What a natural-born swordsman. Sit."
Li Zhexian sat across from Yu Yuanzhen as instructed. He saw the elder tilt the teapot. The liquid pouring from the spout was not water, but a thunderous liquid wrapped in a blue-violet electric glow.
"Thank you, senior, for lending me your aid."
Yu Yuanzhen held the teapot in his right hand and waved his left hand casually. "No need to be so polite."
"Like the Ye Clan and that old poison,my help was an investment in your future."."
He slid the cup of thunderous brew across to Li Zhexian.
"It was just an investment, after all. Now, it seems this investment was very much worth it."
Li Zhexian answered,"You overpraise me, senior," then received the cup with both hands and drank it in one go.
Instantly, a tingling sensation surged through all his limbs and skeleton, and he felt a faint power silently growing within him.
"This tea is indeed extraordinary."
Yu Yuanzhen asked with interest:
"Not to your taste?"
Li Zhexian smiled easily.
"Compared to tea, this junior prefers strong wine."
Yu Yuanzhen blinked, then laughed heartily.
"A fine man indeed."
"No wonder the Ye Clan seeks to win you over. I believe you will defeat Chen Xin and win the contest of the Heavenly Healing Pagoda."
The words "Heavenly Healing Pagoda" were spoken by a top-tier powerhouse like Yu Yuanzhen, not just by Madam Ye.
Li Zhexian's heart stirred. He asked curiously:
"Senior, you also follow the Heaven's Healing Pagoda?"
"When it concerns Chen Xin and the name of the number one support Martial Soul, how could it not draw attention?"
Yu Yuanzhen's tone paused, carrying a trace of wistful remembrance.
"Speaking of which…"
"In the past, the Douluo Continent was far more brilliant than today."
"Not only was there the Heavenly Healing Pagoda to determine the number one support, but there was also a grand event that all Titled Douluo above rank 95 longed for."
"Oh?!" Li Zhexian's back straightened. An event that Titled Douluo above rank 95 longed for?
Could this be another secret not mentioned in the original work?
Was this another secret the original work never revealed?
He chose his words carefully and asked, "This kind of grand event... this junior has never heard of it..."
"Sigh..." Yu Yuanzhen sighed lightly, drinking down the thunderous tea, a flash of lightning flickering deep within his eyes.
"That grand event had no formal agreement."
"It was only because the previous generations of Tang Chen, Qian Daoliu, and Bo Saixi were respectively hailed as 'Invincible' in the land, sky, and sea. This created a stir among the Titled Douluo, and later, an unwritten agreement was made: every fifty years, they could once again decide the title of 'Invincible Douluo.'"
"It's just that..."
"With those three either in seclusion or having vanished without a trace, and with the continent's undercurrents surging and a storm brewing, who still remembers that verbal agreement for the 'Heavenly Ridge Martial Tournament'?"
'Heavenly Ridge Martial Tournament'?" A light flickered in Li Zhexian's eyes.
This was clearly the Mount Hua Sword Tournament of the Douluo world!
In the original timeline, such a grand event would indeed not take place
The "surging undercurrents and brewing storm" that Yu Yuanzhen mentioned most likely referred to the new Spirit Hall Pope's ambition to expand, which had caused great unease among the major powers.
And the facts would indeed prove this. If the original work's plot were followed, a war would sweep the continent in the next few years, started by Spirit Hall.
Countless powers would be turned to ash and smoke, and even the Upper Sect and Lower Four Sect would not be able to escape their fate.
In such a chaotic world, how could there be a "Heavenly Ridge Martial Tournament"?
However, Li Zhexian could clearly see the fierce and unrestrained glint in the old eyes of this rank 95 Thunder Douluo when he mentioned the "Heavenly Ridge Martial Tournament."
When Yu Yuanzhen spoke of the "Celestial Ridge Tournament," a blaze of irrepressible light surged in his aged thunder-gaze.
To determine three "Invincible Douluos"! This was indeed a grand event that all top-tier powerhouses longed for!
That truly was a glory to make all peak powerhouses yearn with every fiber of their being!
After a few more moments of casual conversation, Li Zhexian stood up to take his leave.
Watching the white-robed young man disappear beyond the door, a faint flash of lightning appeared behind the screen, and a person slowly walked out.
His appearance was somewhat similar to Yu Yuanzhen, but he looked a few years younger, with sharp features between his brows.
Thunderlight flickered behind the screen, and a man slowly stepped forth.
His features resembled Yu Yuanzhen's somewhat, though a few years younger, and his brows were keener, more cutting.
"What do you think?" Yu Yuanzhen's fingertips caressed the warm rim of the cup.
Yu Luomian was silent for a moment before saying, "A dragon among men."
"Brother, did you mention the 'Heavenly Ridge Martial Tournament' to him because you believe he will reach the level of Super Douluo in the future?"
Yu Yuanzhen took a sip of tea, his voice low and certain. "This child's future achievements in the Sword Dao will never be lower than Chenxin's."
"So..." He looked up. "The small, insignificant grudge between Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and him will be dropped."
"This... is for the best for those two as well."
A trace of bitterness crossed Yu Luomian's face.
"For you, Brother, even as Xiaogang's father, to let go… then I too, though Erlong is my daughter, can let go."
Yu Yuanzhen's hand upon the cup trembled ever so slightly, his knuckles paling.
A surge of smoldering rage crept up his heroic face.
Every time he thought of his own son having an illicit relationship with his cousin, he felt a surge of rage shoot straight to his head.n.
He wanted nothing more than to strike them down with one palm...
"A disgrace to the clan!"
"A disgrace to the clan!"
A low roar, filled with the wrath of thunder, exploded in the quiet study.
Meanwhile, back at the banquet hall,
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling truly were still waiting for him.
Seeing Li Zhexian, the two women moved with light steps, coming to greet him.
The three walked shoulder to shoulder toward the guest courtyard arranged by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan.
"Tomorrow you'll be entering the simulation training chamber?"
Dugu Yan smiled charmingly.
"That's right. With the Spirit Master Tournament so near, our goal this time is the championship!"
"Championship, is it…"
Li Zhexian gave no answer, neither denial nor assent.
Ye Lingling's azure eyes blinked, meeting Dugu Yan's. Their lips curved with faint smiles, a dimple showing on her left cheek.
"But before we train…"
"We want to see how long Sword Wine can endure within the Azure Sky Lightning!"
Li Zhexian's sword brows lifted slightly.
"You two still remember that."
"Of course we do!"
Dugu Yan grinned slyly:
"We both think you can last ten minutes in the Azure Sky Lightning."
"Ten minutes, hm…"
A glint stirred in Li Zhexian's eyes.
Upon his brow, the imprint of the Qinglian Sword flickered once and vanished.