Before he could move again, a tall figure dropped onto the ring, blocking his path, as steady as an unshakable mountain, standing before Ryan.
Li Gengxin.
"Uncle Ying," Li Gengxin said calmly, "It was a duel between juniors, signed with a life-and-death pact. Li Meiran died from defeat. You barging in like this… isn't it excessive?"
"Excessive?" The Seventh Elder spat with his eyes bloodshot. "Li Wei killed my grandson! My bloodline! How is this excessive? Do you expect me to kneel and thank him?!"
"And if my son had died?" Li Gengxin asked coldly. "Would you let me take revenge on Li Meiran then?"
The Elder's expression stiffened.
Li Gengxin's voice grew sharper as he continued. "The purpose of the life-and-death stage is to settle grievances. Win or lose, live or die, there should be no grudges afterward. This is the rule of the Li Clan. Are you planning to break it?"
Before the Elder could reply, a voice full of grief and rage cried: "Brother!!!"
Li Fanghua leaped onto the ring, tears streaking her face, sword trembling in her grip.
"You murderer! Li Wei, I will kill you!"
Ryan gave her a single glance and said flatly: "You aren't qualified."
"You… YOU BASTARD!" Li Fanghua screamed, stabbing the air with her sword. "Fight me! Life and death, fight me!"
"No," Ryan said plainly. "You aren't qualified enough. You'd only die."
He didn't fear her, but he refused to slaughter someone who had not wronged him personally. Killing indiscriminately was no better than being a beast.
But Li Fanghua took the refusal as humiliation. She lunged toward him in blind rage.
"Hua'er!"
A hand flashed out and grabbed her wrist.
Li Mingtian appeared on the ring.
His expression was calm, but his presence was like a blade. "Hua'er," he said softly, "you cannot fight him. You are not his opponent."
Then he turned toward Ryan, staring at him with a warrior's excitement.
"Li Wei," he said, "if Fenghua has no qualifications… what about me?"
A ripple ran through the crowd.
Li Mingtian.
The Li Clan's greatest genius.
A two-star Upper Elite at only eighteen years old, almost the same as the seventh elder.
Li Fanghua's face flushed with relief and sweetness. "Brother Mingtian will avenge us… Li Wei will die."
The Seventh Elder's eyes also gleamed with satisfaction. "Good. With Mingtian stepping forward, Li Wei cannot escape."
All eyes locked onto Ryan.
Would he accept?
Would he dare?
The entire clan held its breath.
Li Mingtian stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back.
"Sign the life-and-death pact with me," he said, voice steady. "Do you dare?"
The ring fell silent.
Even the wind held its breath.
Everyone waited for Ryan's answer.
The moment Li Mingtian stepped onto the Yanwu Platform, the entire crowd erupted like boiling oil.
"Is that really Li Mingtian? Our Li Clan's top genius?"
"I heard he's been secluded in the Qingxin Courtyard for months. Why would he come out now?"
"Li Mingtian fighting Li Wei… this is insane."
"Even if Li Wei could kill Li Meiran, there's no way he can challenge Li Mingtian! That's a war master!"
"If Li Wei refuses, the Seventh Elder won't let him leave the clan alive."
"Of course, Mingtian will come, look at who's standing beside him! Li Meiran's sister!"
"Ohhh… no wonder."
Whispers surged like waves across the arena.
Li Xue finally squeezed her way to the edge of the ring, her voice tight with worry.
"Wei-Ge… that's Li Mingtian. He's stronger than my father says. It's rumored he's already reached Upper level."
Before Ryan could answer, the Seventh Elder's cold snort cut the air.
"Li Wei, why are you so quiet? Afraid? Earlier, your father stopped me because an elder cannot attack a junior like me. What about Mingtian then? He is a junior, too. If you fear death, then kneel, cripple your cultivation, and crawl out of my Li Clan. The old man might spare your worthless life."
His stare swept over Li Gengxin with open contempt. Title or not, he was older in seniority, and now driven mad by the death of his grandson.
Li Gengxin didn't retreat a bit though.
"Wei'er," he said quietly, "if you are not confident, then it's fine to refuse. Your father will protect you."
Ryan felt a warm surge inside.
He bowed his head slightly. "Father… no need. I'm confident."
Sky Eye Technique had already told him:
Li Mingtian, Two-star Upper Elite
And Ryan?
Now a Nine-Star Elite… just one step from transcending to Upper Elite.
With his martial arts, speed, hidden techniques, and the system backing him, Ryan knew he could win.
But more importantly…
With the system, leveling was easier than breathing.
Why fight now, when in three days he could become unstoppable?
Ryan stepped forward, confidence calm and steady. "Li Mingtian," he said, "since you wish to fight for Li Meiran, how could I refuse? Three days. Three days from now, you and I will battle on this ring."
The crowd froze.
Li Mingtian's eyes lit up, his fighting spirit blazing.
"Three days? Fine," he replied. "I'll wait. I look forward to stepping on you, so you understand what a real genius is."
"Li Wei," Li Fanghua hissed, "you will pay for my brother's life!"
Ryan glanced at her coldly. "Yeah, right… First, you lost your brother, and now, you dragged your unrelated lover to his death..."
The Seventh Elder's voice trembled between rage and hate.
"Patriarch… I hope you are as fair in three days as you claim today."
Li Gengxin replied, voice steady as iron. "My son made his own choice. Once the duel post is signed, even I won't interfere. Unlike some people, I won't go insane and bully the younger generation."
"You…!" The Seventh Elder shook with fury, then turned and stormed away.
Soon, the spectators scattered, all buzzing with excitement.
Ryan vs. Li Mingtian.
Three days later.
A battle between geniuses.
Soon, as the clan members were dispersed by the order from the Patriarch, only three people remained on the silent ring.
Li Xue.
Li Gengxin.
Ryan.
Li Gengxin then stepped forward, his brows knit with concern. "Wei'er… are you truly certain? Mingtian is the greatest talent of the Li Clan in a century. He is just as strong as the seventh elder."
"Father," Ryan smiled, "believe me."
Li Gengxin stared at him for a moment… then slowly nodded.
This son… was no longer the boy from before.
"Very well. I trust you. Work hard, your father will not interfere." With a final pat on his son's shoulder, he gave Li Xue a knowing look and walked away.
Soon, only Ryan and Li Xue stood on the empty ring.
A warm, quiet breeze blew between them.
"Xue'er," Ryan said softly.
She lowered her head instantly, her cheeks turning red. "Y-Yes…"
"Thank you."
Before she could react, he pulled her gently into his arms.
Li Xue gave a small gasp, but didn't resist.
After a tiny struggle, she buried her face into his chest, her voice trembling like a shy whisper. "Xue'er's heart… already belongs to Wei-Ge. What I did… I did willingly…"
A soft chime rang in Ryan's mind.
"Ding! Gained 5 favorability with Li Xue. Current Favorability: 80. Li Xue has fallen for you."
"Silly girl," Ryan murmured, stroking her soft hair. The warmth, the scent, the small trembling breaths, it almost made him forget everything else.
If he could… he would hold her forever.
But he stepped back.
He wasn't worthy yet.
And he still had mountains to climb to claim her as his own.
But for now...
Ryan clenched his fists.
He had three days.
Three days to grow stronger.
Three days before fighting Li Mingtian.
His eyes became sharp as blades as he murmured. "Mingtian… Shangguan Siyu… Heaven's Gate… One after another… all of you will be nothing but stepping stones for my path to become the War God."