Han Li was increasingly intrigued by this "Senior Brother Li" that Little Calculator spoke of so highly. It sounded like this person had quite the reputation, but his question still lingered: Is this person really that extraordinary?
"You've never heard of Senior Brother Li?" Little Calculator asked, a look of surprise on his face.
"I've been in seclusion for years," Han Li replied simply, offering a sheepish grin.
"Right, right! How could I forget that? My memory is really terrible! I just assumed everyone in the Seven Peaks Sect would know who Senior Brother Li is!" Little Calculator suddenly realized his mistake and hurriedly apologized.
"Can you tell me more about Senior Brother Li?" Han Li asked, genuinely curious now.
"Of course, Junior Brother Han! Senior Brother Li's story is well known even among the older disciples," Little Calculator began enthusiastically, practically brimming with excitement. It was as though he was recounting the story of a great hero—his eyes sparkled with admiration. "You see, Senior Brother Li joined the sect four years ago, but not with the same batch as you. He didn't pass the first test, so he became a registered disciple. But just six months later, during another test, he topped every category and even withstood thirty moves from a senior disciple in a one-on-one sparring match! That record broke all previous achievements and caught the attention of several high-ranking figures within the sect. They were all amazed by his ability."
Han Li listened carefully. Little Calculator's words painted a picture of a truly remarkable person.
"At first, people thought he might just be a flash in the pan. His roots were considered average, and his potential was limited. The sect's top elders didn't take him in as a direct disciple, and after his two years of basic training, he was sent to a regular protector disciple. He only learned a few basic martial techniques, like the Thunder Slash, which is considered a mid-level skill in our sect," Little Calculator continued.
"But here's where it gets interesting! Senior Brother Li didn't let that stop him. Using his Thunder Slash, he performed phenomenally in the next junior disciple competition, climbing into the top sixteen! He was the only new disciple to rank that high, which once again turned the spotlight back on him."
Little Calculator's voice grew even more animated as he continued, clearly enjoying recounting Li's feats. "In the following years, Senior Brother Li kept outperforming others. His skills were so sharp that he dominated every competition, including last year's Grand Competition where he took third place! Can you believe it? The first two places were claimed by disciples who had been in the sect for nearly a decade, with much deeper internal strength. Many people believed that if Senior Brother Li had the same level of internal cultivation as them, the first place would've been his without a doubt."
Han Li couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. This Senior Brother Li is more than just skilled; he's extraordinary!
"After that," Little Calculator continued, "Senior Brother Li was sent on several important missions outside the sect. While most of us were still refining our skills in the sect, he was already making a name for himself. He earned the moniker 'Li the Tiger' in the martial world, and now he's about to be granted special permission to enter the Seven Jue Hall and learn even more profound techniques!"
Han Li was silent for a moment, processing the story. This Senior Brother Li truly has the makings of a legend. From a mere registered disciple to becoming one of the sect's brightest stars—he's an inspiration.
As the conversation unfolded, Han Li noticed that Zhang Changgui's side had finally sent out an opponent for the final match. A disciple stepped forward, his posture confident, and Han Li could tell from the way he carried himself that he was no stranger to combat. The man drew a bright, gleaming soft sword, slender and supple—an impressive weapon that required skill to wield properly.
Seeing the newcomer, Senior Brother Li opened his eyes slowly, his gaze intense and focused. With a sudden roar, as if the heavens themselves had spoken, his voice reverberated through the air. The sound was so powerful that it made Han Li's ears ring, and it visibly shook the opposing fighter, causing him to falter for a moment.
Before the opponent could recover, Senior Brother Li's blade sliced through the air in a series of fluid, rapid movements. The blade became a streak of light, weaving an intricate web of strikes that trapped the opponent in a flurry of flashing knives. It was clear that the outcome of this fight would be inevitable.
Despite the opponent's best efforts to defend with his soft sword, the speed and power of Senior Brother Li's strikes were overwhelming. Each attack was more forceful than the last, and soon it was apparent that the soft sword fighter had no chance of winning.
"Who is this guy?" Han Li couldn't help but ask, intrigued by the opponent's impressive swordsmanship despite his inevitable defeat.
"Zhao Ziling," Little Calculator replied, "He's the disciple of Fifth Elder and specializes in the Willow Whip Sword Technique. It's a very tricky style, difficult to defend against."
"So, how does Zhao Ziling compare to Senior Brother Li?" Han Li asked.
"Ha! There's no contest. Zhao Ziling is good, but he's nowhere near Senior Brother Li's level!" Little Calculator answered with a grin, clearly confident in his sect's champion. "Zhao Ziling is probably their best fighter, but even he can't take down Li the Tiger."
Sure enough, it wasn't long before it became evident that the match was as good as over. Zhao Ziling's swordplay, though skilled, couldn't stand up to the crushing force of Li's attacks. The knife-wielding Senior Brother Li simply overwhelmed him, and the outcome was only a matter of time.
As Han Li watched, he began to feel something was off. He had observed that all the disciples here, including those from Zhang Changgui's side, were young—none of the older, more experienced disciples had shown up to watch the fight. Even if they weren't allowed to participate in the match, Han Li thought, they should at least be here to observe.
He turned to Little Calculator and asked, "Why is it that there are no older disciples here? Even if they can't participate in the fight, shouldn't some of them be here to watch? It's strange that all I see are us younger disciples. What's going on?"
Little Calculator's expression shifted at the question. He gave Han Li a strange look, and Han Li felt a sense of unease. Did I ask something I shouldn't have? Han Li wondered. The change in Little Calculator's demeanor made him uneasy, but he wasn't sure why.