509: Make your move!

"He's a good person... but not suitable..."

Li Li's words, one by one, were like heavy hammers striking Zhou Xingnian's heart, making his face even paler.

"After so many years of feelings, in the end, all I get is this one sentence... Haha..."

Zhou Xingnian gave a bitter laugh, mumbling softly. All their past interactions now seemed like a joke.

He was merely a clown with no standing in Li Li's heart.

"Cousin Xingnian, you heard it. A Li doesn't want any other relationship with you."

"Now that A Li is my fiancée, everything about her will naturally be protected by me. From now on, you should no longer appear before A Li."

Zhou Xinghu stood with his hands behind his back, his voice cool.

Li Li leaned delicately beside Zhou Xinghu, a hint of sadness in her expression, as if she didn't want to hurt Zhou Xingnian.

"Make your move."

Zhou Xingnian raised his bloodless face, his eyes, filled with sorrow and a hint of determination, looked towards Zhou Xinghu and Li Li.

"What did you say?"

Zhou Xinghu asked Zhou Xingnian, as if he hadn't heard clearly.

"Make your move."

Zhou Xingnian's gaze was resolute as he spoke again in a deep voice.

"Hahahahaha~"

Zhou Xinghu laughed softly, as if he had heard the funniest joke.

Shaking his head, he originally didn't want to make a move in front of A Li and hurt her follower, but Zhou Xingnian was pushing his luck and didn't take his good intentions to heart.

His name, Zhou Xinghu, was taken from the 'hu' in the idiom 'how can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan,' and he had set lofty goals since childhood.

Although Zhou Xingnian's talent and strength were not bad, compared to him, he was still a bit lacking.

Moreover, he had been taught by Foundation Establishment elders in the family since childhood and often received guidance from Golden Core elders in the family, so his Foundation was solid and his Magical Arts were exceptional. He was among the top Disciples of his age group and a strong contender for the top three in this Mid-stage Qi Refining group.

He didn't expect Zhou Xingnian to be so oblivious, actually wanting to make a move against him.

"Alright, I'll grant your wish."

Zhou Xinghu's expression darkened, and his Magical Power surged, causing his Magical Robe to billow without wind, his spirit soaring.

"Brother Xinghu, let's not bother with him. Xingnian grew up with me after all, and I don't want to see him lose his chance to advance further like this."

Looking at the two men in a standoff, Li Li's eyes misted over slightly, and she gently shook Zhou Xinghu's arm that she was holding.

Her pitiful appearance softened Zhou Xinghu's somewhat angry heart, and his Aura quietly subsided.

"A Li pities you, so I'll give you another chance. Go."

Zhou Xinghu's expression returned to calm.

"I don't need it."

Looking at Li Li's delicate appearance, Zhou Xingnian now noticed something unusual. She was no different from the charming, delicate, and understanding Li Li in his memory.

But looking at her now, there was always a different feeling hidden within. Zhou Xingnian didn't know what it was, and he knew that he might not be a match for Zhou Xinghu.

But the resentment in his heart prevented him from turning around and leaving.

"A Li, you heard it. Cousin Xingnian doesn't care for your good intentions."

Zhou Xinghu gently withdrew his hand from Li Li's embrace and said to her with a pained expression.

Li Li's face paled, and her body swayed, as if she didn't want to see this scene unfold.

"Xingnian..."

Li Li softly called out to Zhou Xingnian, but received no response.

After a moment of silence, Li Li stepped back.

"Make your move."

Zhou Xinghu's expression turned cold, and the Aura of his Sixth Layer of Qi Refining Perfection surged forth.

If not for this Clan Competition, he could have already broken through to the Qi Refining Level Seven.

But in that case, he would have no advantage in the Late Qi Refining Stage group.

"Abyssal Armor."

"wind-breaking axe (weapon)."

Zhou Xingnian let out a low cry, and the Aura of his Sixth Layer of Qi Refining also manifested, though it was not as profound as Zhou Xinghu's.

Boom!

Earthen yellow light flowed, and the power of the earth continuously surged from beneath Zhou Xingnian's feet.

In an instant, an earthen yellow armor covering his entire body enveloped Zhou Xingnian. Zhou Xingnian raised his hand, and from his Storage Pouch at his waist, a massive, dark yellow great axe appeared.

Boom!

Zhou Xingnian's Magical Power circulated, and his figure suddenly lunged forward, the earthen yellow figure charging forth.

"Axe Splits Mountain!"

The rapidly charging figure arrived not far in front of Zhou Xinghu in a moment.

In his hands, the massive, dark yellow great axe suddenly grew larger, raised high, and with the force to cleave mountains, it suddenly struck down towards Zhou Xinghu's figure.

Zhou Xingnian's path was one of grand and unreserved movements.

The Earth-element Legacy he cultivated was powerful and profound, completely at odds with Zhou Xingnian's delicate appearance.

Previously, many Zhou Family Disciples who sparred with Zhou Xingnian were deceived by his appearance.

"Hmph."

Beneath the great axe, raised high and striking down with full force, Zhou Xinghu let out a cold snort.

Golden light flowed around him, and just as the great axe was about to strike him, his body transformed into golden light and suddenly disappeared from his original spot.

Boom!

The massive, dark yellow great axe struck down forcefully, smashing onto the ground. A loud bang echoed, and clouds of dust surged, obscuring the view of the arena.

"Golden Spirit Sword!"

Golden light flickered, and Zhou Xinghu's figure appeared to one side of the dusty area. His expression turned cold, and he muttered to himself.

Clang, clang, clang!

The soft ringing sounds of golden artifacts echoed.

In front of Zhou Xinghu, five golden small swords, about a foot long and gleaming with cold light, appeared. Each one was an excellent existence among Medium Grade First-tier Magical Artifacts.

This Grand Competition did not allow the use of Magical Artifacts or Talismans that exceeded one's own rank.

"Combine!"

Golden light flowed around Zhou Xinghu, and his hands suddenly clasped together.

With a clang, the five golden small swords, about a foot long, quietly merged into one, transforming into a three-foot-long sword, its Aura subtly exceeding a Medium Grade First-tier.

"Go!"

Zhou Xinghu pointed his finger, and the three-foot golden longsword shot out, disappearing into the dust.

This change happened in an instant.

As Zhou Xingnian struck down with his axe, he sensed that Zhou Xinghu had already escaped.

He was about to turn around and attack again.

A powerful stream of light had already arrived not far in front of him.

Zhou Xingnian's expression changed slightly, and he held the axe with both hands, forcefully swinging it down in front of him.

Boom!

The massive, dark yellow great axe collided violently with the three-foot golden longsword.

Thud!

The three-foot golden longsword emitted endless golden light.

The wind-breaking axe (weapon) in Zhou Xingnian's hand trembled, and his body retreated several steps.

After deflecting the wind-breaking axe (weapon), the three-foot golden longsword quietly turned and continued to attack the retreating earthen yellow figure.

Zhou Xingnian had no time to use other methods and swung his axe to block.

Thud!

The golden longsword fiercely stabbed the surface of the great axe.

"Hmph."

Zhou Xingnian grunted, his Aura slightly unstable.

Just as Zhou Xingnian swung the wind-breaking axe (weapon) in his hand to block in front of him.

A golden stream of light had already appeared behind the earthen yellow figure.