236: provocative

Meanwhile, Li Shengfeng and the others were following the Ten Thousand Swords Sect's guiding Disciple towards the Sect's annex.

Ancient trees towered on both sides of the bluestone path, with Spiritual Qi coiling around them. As the group rounded a bend, a whooshing sound suddenly came from ahead, and several figures landed steadily in the middle of the path, blocking their way.

The young man at the forefront wore silver-white battle armor, with an imposing and heroic face, and a hint of domineering arrogance in his brows. It was none other than Lei Wushuang, the Genius Disciple of the War God Hall.

He stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over Li Shengfeng and the others, a cold sneer playing on his lips: "Are you the Disciples of the Li family?"

Li Shengfeng's heart tightened. He stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said, "Indeed. May I ask Your Excellency, what is your intention in blocking our path?"

"Intention?" A thin-faced Cultivator beside Lei Wushuang immediately interjected shrilly, "Your Old Ancestor is far too ignorant of what's good for him! The Heavenly Dao Alliance personally sent someone to invite him to join, yet he dared to refuse. Does he really think his Nascent Soul cultivation makes him so impressive?"

Another short, stout Cultivator chimed in, his voice full of disdain: "Not only is he ignorant of what's good for him, your Old Ancestor is completely muddle-headed!"

"His Disciple, Li Hentian, is a notorious female Devil Head. She has killed countless Righteous Path Cultivators, and not only does he not stop her, he even condones and protects her.

I think he's long been entangled with Demonic Path Cultivators. He's probably a Demonic Cultivator disguised as a Righteous Path one!"

"Presumptuous!" Li Shengfeng's eyes widened in anger upon hearing this. "My Old Ancestor is upright and honorable! While Senior Sister Hentian's actions may be controversial, she has never wantonly killed the innocent. It is not for you, people of the War God Hall, to slander her!"

"Slander?" Lei Wushuang took a step forward, Spiritual Qi surging around him, bringing with it a sense of oppression. "A female Devil Head, a madman who dares to refuse the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and you Disciples who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth—do you even qualify to talk to me about slander?

Today, I will cleanse the Righteous Path and let you know the consequences of offending the War God Hall and the Heavenly Dao Alliance!"

Before his words finished, Zhao Kui had already made the first move, a giant fist condensed from earthy-yellow Spiritual Qi smashing towards Li Shengfeng.

Li Shengfeng was prepared, drawing his sword to parry. The clang of metal echoed through the forest.

Sun Fatty was not to be outdone, taking out a folding fan. As the fan opened, countless poisoned needles shot out, aiming directly at the other Disciples.

The two sides instantly became entangled in battle. As a Heavenly Spiritual Root, Li Shengfeng's strength was naturally not weak, so he easily withstood the attacks from Zhao Kui and Sun Fatty.

In the shadows, Li Xiangyun stood with his hands behind his back, taking in the entire struggle.

There was not a ripple in his eyes; he had no intention of intervening, nor did he show any worry.

Lei Wushuang and the others' provocation was too deliberate, clearly aimed at him. He wanted to see who else was hiding behind this.

Moreover, Li Shengfeng and the others had always stayed within the Li family, lacking practical combat experience. Lei Wushuang and his group served as excellent "touchstones."

"Useless!"

The battle below intensified. Seeing that Zhao Kui and Sun Fatty couldn't take down their opponents quickly, a hint of impatience flashed in Lei Wushuang's eyes. The long sword in his hand hummed, clearly indicating he intended to personally intervene.

The moment Lei Wushuang pointed his sword at Li Shengfeng, a figure swept in with a sharp whooshing sound, landing between the two sides.

The newcomer wore the robes of a Ten Thousand Swords Sect Elder, with a lean face. It was Sun Ping, who had been missing for some time.

And looking at Sun Ping, who suddenly dared to show himself, Li Xiangyun increasingly felt that this was a conspiracy targeting him.

Upon seeing this, Li Shengfeng and the others immediately felt relieved, believing that an Elder would step forward to uphold justice. They all withdrew their moves and retreated to the side.

However, Sun Ping didn't even glance at Li Shengfeng, turning directly to Lei Wushuang, cupping his hands with a smile: "Young friend Lei, calm your anger. It's just a squabble between juniors, why get so upset?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Li Shengfeng and the others changed drastically.

Lei Wushuang, however, seemed to have expected this, his smile deepening: "Elder Sun is right, but they slandered the War God Hall and protected a 'female Devil Head.' If we don't get an explanation, where will the War God Hall's dignity be?"

He swept his gaze over Li Shengfeng and the others, his tone provocative, "It's simple if you want me to apologize. Come out and fight.

If you win, I will apologize publicly; if you lose, you will obediently admit to your Old Ancestor's crime of colluding with the Demonic Path."

"You are going too far!" Li Yushuang, already furious at the slander against Li Xiangyun, could no longer restrain herself upon hearing such a provocation. She drew her sword, its blade gleaming with a faint icy blue light. "I'll fight you!"

Before her words finished, Li Yushuang tapped her toes on the ground, her figure shooting towards Lei Wushuang like an arrow. Her long sword swept horizontally, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

It was Li Xiangyun's "Ice Peak Sword Art."

A hint of surprise flashed in Lei Wushuang's eyes, then he raised his sword to parry. Amidst the clash of metal, cold Qi instantly condensed into frost on the sword blade.

The commotion of their battle quickly attracted a large crowd of Cultivators. When the Ten Thousand Swords Sect Disciples saw the sword art Li Yushuang was performing, the crowd immediately erupted.

"Isn't that Ice Peak True Monarch's Ice Peak Sword Art?"

"No wonder her swordplay is so sharp; she must have received the True Monarch's true 傳!"

On the field, Li Yushuang pushed the finesse of the Ice Peak Sword Art to its limit. Her sword moves were as dense as flying snow, each strike imbued with freezing Qi, attempting to lock down Lei Wushuang's movements.

But Lei Wushuang was, after all, a top Genius of the War God Hall. His long sword flew, at times incomparably fierce, at others agile and cunning, not only effortlessly neutralizing Li Yushuang's sword moves but also continuously pressing closer.

"That's enough!" Lei Wushuang suddenly let out a low shout, his long sword erupting with dazzling silver light, and a Sword Qi imbued with a domineering aura cleaved straight out.

Li Yushuang's pupils constricted. She poured all her Spiritual Qi into unleashing her final move, "Ice Seal for a Thousand Miles," attempting to block the Sword Qi. But the moment the two collided, the ice barrier shattered with a roar, and the residual power of the Sword Qi struck her shoulder, sending her flying. Her long sword also slipped from her hand and fell to the ground.

Li Yushuang clutched her bleeding shoulder, struggling to stand, but was suppressed by Lei Wushuang's Spiritual Qi, unable to move.

The surrounding Cultivators discussed animatedly upon seeing this scene.

"Alas, she still lost... Not everyone can become Ice Peak True Monarch. The same Spiritual Root, the same sword art, but the difference is still too great."

"Lei Wushuang is too formidable! He can even break the Ice Peak Sword Art. His strength is probably enough to walk sideways in the Early Stage Foundation Establishment!"

Lei Wushuang looked down at the fallen Li Yushuang, his tone contemptuous: "With only this much skill, you dare to stand up for your Old Ancestor?"

He turned to Sun Ping, "Elder Sun, it's time to give the War God Hall an explanation, isn't it?"

Sun Ping smiled and nodded, his gaze falling on Li Shengfeng and the others, his expression gradually chilling.

As Sun Ping's gaze turned cold, Li Shengfeng tightened his grip on his long sword, about to step forward to stand up for Li Yushuang and the Old Ancestor, when a faint but firm voice suddenly came from behind him: "I'll do it!"

Li Shengfeng froze, then abruptly turned his head, his pupils contracting sharply.

The one who spoke was none other than Li Yongsheng, who had always followed at the end of the group, usually silent and rarely interacting with others...