Chapter 137 Successfully Received

Soon, the three finished drawing lots. The Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Chu Family of Maan Prefecture was matched against Zhu Zelin of Yuanwu Prefecture. Lu Xilou was matched against the Qi Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and Chen Li was matched against the hired hand, Fellow Daoist Li.

Lu Xilou and Zhu Zelin used their Divine Sense to probe Fellow Daoist Li, sensing that his Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation seemed a bit more solid than theirs. Zhu Zelin couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for Chen Li.

The first match was between the Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator and Zhu Zelin. The two engaged in close-quarters combat. Upon contact, Zhu Zelin was clearly slightly weaker. After a dozen breaths, Zhu Zelin was forced back step by step. It was evident that Zhu Zelin's close-combat ability wasn't very good, and he was quickly defeated!

Zhu Zelin had spent a year doing production tasks for the Alliance, so he likely relied on Formation battles. His close-quarters fighting skills truly weren't up to par.

Maan Prefecture won the first round. Lu Xilou felt a bit passive. If he lost, wouldn't it all be over?

The second match was between Lu Xilou and the Qi Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Both engaged in close-quarters combat. Lu Xilou attacked with full force. As expected of a veteran Foundation Establishment Cultivator of over twenty years, the Qi Family Cultivator couldn't withstand Lu Xilou's full-power assault and was quickly defeated.

Yuanwu Prefecture won the second round, with both sides having won one match each. Lu Xilou breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the Qi Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator seemed to see victory, as how could Chen Li, who had just reached Foundation Establishment, possibly compare to a veteran Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Fellow Daoist Li who had been cultivating for over twenty years?

At this moment, Zhu Zelin said to Chen Li, "Nephew Chen, the opponent shouldn't be weak. If you can't win, we are both Formation Masters, so there's no need to fight to the death!"

He thought at the time that if Lu Xilou had drawn this hired hand, Fellow Daoist Li, their side would have had a much greater chance of winning.

Chen Li replied to Zhu Zelin, "Mm, thank you for the reminder, Uncle Zelin. I know what I'm doing!"

Lu Xilou had intended to say something more, but he held back, trusting Chen Li.

Fellow Daoist Li looked at Chen Li, thinking that since the opponent had just advanced to Foundation Establishment, the threat wouldn't be significant. It would be best to finish quickly and wrap things up.

Fellow Daoist Li said to Chen Li, "Fellow Daoist Chen, let's begin!"

Chen Li stepped forward and said calmly, "Come on."

Chen Li took out his silver fire spear, a Fourth Grade Magical Artifact. At that moment, his opponent also took out a long sword, which also appeared to be Fourth Grade based on its aura.

Chen Li rushed out, and his opponent flew towards him in close combat.

The instant the spear and sword clashed, Fellow Daoist Li sensed something unusual. Chen Li had actually managed to take his move without being repelled. This guy had some substance.

Fellow Daoist Li attacked with his sword again. Chen Li 'struggled' to defend. Fellow Daoist Li, refusing to believe it, attacked faster and faster with his sword, but Chen Li still 'struggled' to defend.

After a dozen breaths, the two were still locked in combat, stunning the Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the Qi Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Maan Prefecture. Was this spear technique really that difficult to deal with?

They fought for so long, watching Chen Li constantly 'struggle' to defend, yet he held firm, looking like he was just one sword strike away from being knocked down, but it was always just one sword strike away. He kept stringing along Fellow Daoist Li.

Chen Li's performance also stunned Zhu Zelin. Both were fragile, both were Formation Masters—how could Chen Li be so fierce!

After a few more breaths, Chen Li deliberately showed signs of weakening energy, looking like he was about to collapse.

Seeing this, Fellow Daoist Li indeed unleashed another rapid sword strike. Chen Li again displayed a look of 'painful' endurance. Fellow Daoist Li's rapid sword strike still failed to defeat Chen Li. The opponent grew anxious and unleashed several consecutive moves. Chen Li still 'hard-pressed' endured.

Fellow Daoist Li thought to himself, This is bizarre, I can't break through at all, he's too damn resilient! At this point, his own aura began to wane, his Spiritual Qi was significantly depleted, and he couldn't keep up the offensive.

Seeing this, Chen Li feigned a final burst of strength, found a gap in his opponent's defense, and launched a continuous series of attacks. Finally, Chen Li pressed his spear against Fellow Daoist Li's neck, just a hair's breadth from the flesh.

When Fellow Daoist Li saw the spear just a hair's breadth from the flesh on his neck, he swallowed several times, not daring to move an inch. Terror instantly enveloped his heart, and a bead of sweat broke out on his forehead, his heart rate accelerating!

The opponent clearly had the ability to kill him. Fellow Daoist Li quickly conceded.

Chen Li won!

Chen Li retracted his spear and deliberately said, "I thank you for going easy on me. Fellow Daoist Li's cultivation is profound. I have already reached the end of my rope and only managed to win by a narrow margin of one-tenth by relying entirely on this spear technique."

Chen Li offered the other party an out. Fellow Daoist Li quickly cupped his hands, "Fellow Daoist Chen is too modest. Thank you for showing mercy. I was simply inferior in skill. There is no need for comfort, Fellow Daoist. I can accept the loss!"

Then he said to the Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the Qi Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator, "I lost. You don't need to pay the reward, and don't look for me again in the future!"

With that, he turned and left without any hesitation.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew past. The Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the Qi Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Maan Prefecture watched Fellow Daoist Li turn and leave, their faces turning ugly. He actually lost.

Is this Chen Li really that formidable?

The Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator sized up Chen Li. In the end, he dismissed any other thoughts. Although he was somewhat unwilling, with only the two of them left, the tide had turned against them.

Zhu Zelin hadn't expected Chen Li to win. If he had to fight this spear technique in close combat, he probably couldn't defend against it.

Lu Xilou glanced at Chen Li. At this moment, Chen Li's aura was chaotic, giving the impression that he had expended considerable energy in the hard-fought battle.

Lu Xilou felt that he himself probably wasn't Chen Li's match against this spear technique.

The Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator cupped his hands towards Chen Li and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, honor is at stake. We concede, and from now on, we will abide by your terms!"

Chen Li replied to the Chu Family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator, "Good!"

... ...

... ...

Ten days later, following this battle, the news spread to all the surrounding Foundation Establishment Families.

In the neighboring prefectures, Chen Li gained a formidable reputation. Having just advanced to Early Foundation Establishment Stage, he could fight evenly with a veteran Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had cultivated for twenty years. Although he won by a slight margin, he still won.

Many Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans gained a reference point for Chen Li's combat strength, and quite a few Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans placed a label on the Chen Family: not to be provoked.

Through this battle, Chen Li smoothly secured jurisdiction over Liangxi County, along with the tribute relationship with four Qi Refining Immortal Clans, totaling five families including the Yun Family.

The Chen Family's tribute quota from the Qi Refining Immortal Clans was kept consistent with that of the Lu Family and the Zhu Family.

Chen Li completed the territorial division and transfer of benefits for the newly advanced Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan. The process was bloodless. The Qi Refining Immortal Clans assigned to pay tribute to the Chen Family praised the decision, as stability was paramount.

The territory in Liangxi County previously managed by the Lu Family, Lu Xilou transferred it to the Chen Family at the lowest market price to maintain good relations with Chen Li.

Within Liangxi County, the Chen Family took over another dozen mountain peaks and several dozen mu of Spiritual Fields. Chen Songxuan led people to take possession and arrange for Non-Clan Cultivators of the Chen Family to be stationed there.

Chen Li had no special instructions for the Mortals within Liangxi County; they were to continue their lives as usual, and the requirement remained that they could only have their Spiritual Root tested by the Chen Family upon reaching the age of ten.

There would likely be many Mortals coming to test their Spiritual Roots in the future, and the number of Non-Clan Cultivators would also increase significantly. However, this posed no threat to the direct lineage of the Chen Family. Chen Songxuan of the song generation alone could suppress them now.

The highest cultivation of these Non-Clan Cultivators was only Early Stage Qi Refining. Not to mention that Zhu Lingyue was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and he himself was a Golden Core Cultivator—how could they pose a threat?

One month later, the Chen Family had finished digesting the newly acquired territory. Chen Family Non-Clan Cultivators could be seen stationed on all the major peaks, and the Chen Family's Defensive Formation Arrays had been deployed.

Chen Songxuan patrolled the various mountain peaks periodically, and the stationed Cultivators were rotated regularly.

The Guest Welcoming Pavilion on Qingfeng Mountain had also been prepared. While awaiting the Foundation Establishment Immortal Banquet, Chen Li went fishing on Black Magpie Mountain to relax and unwind.

He also occasionally went to the Boundless Forest to practice the Wind Shadow Evasion Technique, or went to the Beast Hunting Sect Cultivation Market in the Taihu Mountain Range to sell some Spiritual Plants, or found a shop to drink tea, watching the crowds of people, finding his state of mind much calmer.

Chen Li lived leisurely, and half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Today was the day of the Chen Family's Foundation Establishment Immortal Banquet. The Formation Array on Qingfeng Mountain was removed to welcome the Cultivators attending Chen Li's Foundation Establishment Immortal Banquet.