A Martial God’s Bloodline - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Affection

“It’ll be this, then!”

As a top ten inner disciple, Li Ye had the chance to enter the martial arts pavilion, where he would be allowed to choose and bring out one battle technique or physical technique.

“Although I can copy all the techniques here, it’ll be suspicious if I come out empty handed.”

As he thought of that, he immediately picked up the Sword Control Technique. Glancing at the entrance of the pavilion’s third floor, he felt a strong vital force lingering there.

“Back Rank battle techniques!”

It was an open secret that Black Rank techniques were housed on the third floor of the martial arts pavilion. Unfortunately, no one in the entire family—not even the elders—could enter the third floor! Only the patriarch and the Supreme Elder could set foot inside!

Ever since Li Kainian’s disappearance, the Supreme Elder was the only one who could enter the third floor.

As Li Ye was leaving the martial arts pavilion, he met the old man again.

“Senior!”

Intuition told Li Ye that there was more than meets the eye with the old man. He was thus very respectful. In any case, the old man surely had an extraordinary status since he could enter and leave the pavilion freely.

“Which one did you choose.”

The old man nodded, but his muddy gaze produced the illusion of invading Li Ye thoughts.

“This book!”

Li Ye did not seek to conceal it. He took out the Sword Control Technique and handed it over to the old man.

“The Sword Control Technique?” A petrifying vital force that could scare just about anyone erupted from the old man’s body at once. Fleeting thought it was, Li Ye could feel it distinctly!

“He really is a master hidden in the clan!”

“Are you sure you want to choose the Sword Control Technique?”

“Junior is sure!”

Make no mistake, no specific level was required to learn the Sword Control Technique, but once it was cultivated successfully, it was capable of killing someone from thousands of miles away and granted the ability to use swords as transportation! It was even more formidable than Black Level martial exercises!

Moreover, the Ichor race was born with extraordinary spiritual strength, making him perfect for cultivating the Sword Control Technique.

“Kid, the physical technique you used to head upstairs just now was the Footstep Mirage, wasn’t it? Although it is still a little green, it is no small feat to execute it with your current state. The Sword Control Technique has been in the clan for hundreds of years. It is not that there were never any young people who took a gamble like you and chose it, but history tells that those who picked it regretted it for the rest of their life! With your cognizance and talent in combat skills, it is better to choose a Yellow Rank Advanced technique. You also have the Footstep Mirage as a physical technique, and it is enough for you to study it for a long time. Battle techniques are the ones that you need to consider carefully!”

The old man’s words elicited much respect from Li Ye!

Ever since he re-entered the clan, everyone else was hostile to him except for the father-son duo Li Hounian and Li Yuanjia! However, the old man in front of him persuaded him with care and even gave opinions on his situation. No matter who the old man really was, Li Ye could hear the man’s seriousness.

Needless to say, Li Ye shook his head instead. “Senior, I am very eager to learn this Sword Control Technique. As for combat skills, I have already cultivated the Ice Crystal Fist and the Windstorm Kick.”

As soon as Li Ye made that remark, the old man shot an unusual look at Li Ye. In the end, he still left a final piece of advice. “Even so, the Sword Control Technique is too vague. Every person can cultivate it. Are you sure you’ve given it proper thought?”

“I have!”

The old man no longer attempted to stop Li Ye. He shook his head slightly, then turned away and minded his own business.

After one more profound look at the old man, Li Ye walked out of the pavilion. The minute he came out, he saw sour expressions on the face of the two elders who had blocked him earlier. There was even a trace of blood on the corners of their mouths, as if they suffered from rather serious injuries.

Seeing Li Ye coming out, a dense chilliness appeared into both men’s eyes. Despite that, they did not try to lay their hands on Li Ye again. After shooting Li Ye a cold glare, they shifted their attention away from the boy.

“What happened?”

Li Ye coincidentally noticed that Li Yuanjia was about to enter the pavilion, so he asked Li Yuanjia about the situation in a low voice.

“Father taught these two a lesson after you went in.”

“I see!”

Li Ye smiled slightly and nodded. The few interactions he had with Li Hounian showed that the man was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, especially when it came to protecting the weak! It was evident in the way Li Hounian cared for his own nephew.

Nevertheless, Li Ye was also very curious about his own uncle. It was rumored that Li Hounian had been away from home for many years, which was why Li Ye was kicked out of the clan without anyone caring to voice any objection.

Everyone was unacquainted with the clan’s Fourth Elder and no one knew what kind of state the man was at.

Li Ye began to have some understanding of his uncle’s abilities after seeing the man compel two Level Eight Eminent Masters into resentful silence.

“My fourth uncle doesn’t seem too bad either! He’s at least a Martial Grandmaster as well!”

He subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief after that thought popped up in his mind. Peril awaited him at every step shortly after he had re-entered the clan! He knew very well that Li Huangran was by no means the only one who had such malicious intentions against him. Others were surely behind him! If he was the only one, he would have taken things step-by-step, otherwise he would have been wiped out if he was not careful!

“Fourth Uncle’s appearance today might force this group of people to be a little more discreet.”

There were few Martial Grandmasters within the clan! They were all heavyweights who could dominate Wu Prefecture City!

After bidding farewell to Li Yuanjia, Li Ye returned to his residence. Since he made it to the top ten inner disciples, a corresponding courtyard was accorded to him within the clan compound.

“Sure enough, the status of inner disciples was very different.”

Although it is only a small independent yard, it is enough to see the difference! You know, the disciples are all four or five people in a room! Among the inner door disciples, the last twenty were in separate rooms, while in the top ten, it was a separate courtyard! The higher the ranking, the larger the courtyard!

“A servant girl would even be arranged for anyone who’s in the top three.”

Li Ye was not disgusted with this kind of treatment and in fact, he found it quite proper. For a clan or a sect to maintain their long-term development, a strong generation must be born. Such a system would clearly spur the competitive spirit of their disciples.

Although the small courtyard was not large, it was much better than the run-down courtyard in Wu Prefecture City that Li Ye stayed prior to that day. Soon enough, Li Ye returned to his old house in search of Aunt Yun. He wanted her to move to the new place with him.

Unfortunately, Aunt Yun shook her head. “Oh, Li Ye. I’m used to living here after all these years. I won’t go there. As long as you come back and visit Aunt Yun from time to time, Aunt Yun will be satisfied.”

After several failed attempts at persuading her, Li Ye no longer insisted. In fact, he also felt at crossroads. On the one hand, Aunt Yun had been taking care of him for many years; however, the Li clan was also a dangerous place and he was unsure if there would be any perils lurking. Thus, he nodded when he saw Aunt Yun’s insistence. “Well, Aunt Yun, I’ll come back to visit you whenever I can.”

After leaving some gold coins, Li Ye returned to the Li clan compound.

By then however, a guest was waiting for him in his courtyard.

He pushed open the door and saw a woman’s beautiful back. She looked entranced as her mind was lost in thought.

Perhaps it was the sound of the opening door that brought her back to her senses. She turned around, revealing her sheer beauty and delicate face. Li Ye froze slightly after seeing who it was. He then smiled, but had a very strange feeling in his heart.

“Brother Li Ye, don’t you remember Yating?”

It was a familiar voice and a familiar scent. However, compared to her original inexperience, there was now a touch of sweetness in her that was unique to young girls.

Li Yating, the clan’s most prominent prodigy! Three years ago, she was entreated by Dark Heaven Sect and subsequently joined them! Few people knew however, that the Princess of Heaven whom countless young talents in the clan secretly admired, would be so amicable with a piece of trash.

“Aren’t you afraid of being hated by those people if you come looking for me?”

Although he knew her only through the fusion of his memories with his earlier soul, the sight of that young girl made Li Ye feel as though he had really known her for many years, like a younger sister whom he had grown up together with.

Upon hearing that, Li Yating smiled slightly like blooming flowers. Even Li Ye was somewhat lost in her.

Seeing him act that way, Li Yating smiled slyly and had a somewhat chiding look. She grinned and said, “What are you afraid of, these old guys have been riding roughshod over other clan members the entire time your father disappeared. Many people had long found it unbearable but few dared to resist. They still can’t control me!”

Li Yating exuded a strong self-confidence emanated from.

“You seem to have gained a lot of courage after entering the Dark Heaven Sect.”

Despite saying so, Li Ye had to admit that Li Yating’s status that day was vastly different from that of the past. Even the few authoritarian members of the clan were afraid to treat her badly, to the extent that they coaxed her nicely!

After all, the Li clan was an insignificant little clan to the Dark Heaven Sect.

“Brother Li Ye, I have seen you in your previous test.” Li Yating bit her red lips slightly hesitantly and continued softly, “This time, I came back because I wanted to give this to you. I didn’t expect that it wouldn’t be useful now.”

Once she finished saying that, a fragrant pill appeared on her small, white and tender palm.

“What is this?”

“A Soul Amassing Pill. Whoever that consumes it has a seventy percent chance of manifesting their bloodsoul.”

A mere few words made Li Ye tremble and breathe heavily. Li Yating’s words were very simple, but he could clearly understand the affection behind her words!

Soul Amassing Pill! Three simple words that meant so much!

It was an alchemical medicine[1]! Such things were extremely rare in Cloudveil Continent! Except for a few alchemists, ordinary people had no access to them at all!

At the very least, no alchemist existed in the entire Wu Prefecture CIty! Such characters were often more superb than Innate Sovereign Level Masters! The Dark Heaven Sect might find it easy to obtain such alchemical medicine, but it was a mammoth task for a disciple to do so!

Moreover, Li Yating made no mention of anything else—she simply wanted to give it to him! She wanted to just hand it over to someone that was regarded by everyone as trash, someone who could not even manifest his own bloodsoul!

“Thank you!” Li Ye would remember that act of kindness throughout the rest of his life, even if he had no need for the alchemical medicine!

[1] 丹药 – translated here as alchemical medicine, i.e. medicine created through the use of alchemy. Elixir is a common translation for this, though strictly speaking, elixirs are in liquid form. Elixirs may be used for this term if it refers to a liquid medicine. The term ‘alchemical medicine’, in the translator’s opinion, is more all encompassing because it can refer to pills or liquids or anything medicinal derived from alchemy.