Chapter 7

Seven days later would be the selection day, and at that time, the Tianhai Sword Sect would also be present. Lin Yuechu would go to showcase his strength. Li Changsheng clenched his fist, thinking, "Now that my sword spirit has been unsealed and I have become a scholar, I'll show you all who the real waste of flesh is!"

Li Changsheng looked up, and the moon was now full in the sky. He was alone on the back mountain, with the chirping of autumn insects making the place even more tranquil and pleasant.

"Years of dust on my battle robe, I specially seek the beauty on the green heights. The beautiful mountains and waters are never enough to see, and the hooves urge me to return under the moonlight." It was time to go back, Li Changsheng thought.

Although his father was the current clan leader, the Li family was already in decline. Moreover, due to his previous incompetence, the Grand Elder, who coveted his father's position, was already making moves. During the day, he had been injured, and Li Changsheng was very worried about his condition.

Walking along the mountain path under the moonlight, he arrived at the back gate of the Li family estate.

"Stop! You dare to intrude on the Li family estate!?" Two guards at the back gate blocked Li Changsheng, speaking coldly.

Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow. Under such bright moonlight, they couldn't possibly not recognize him. Their pretense of not knowing him and their harsh words clearly showed they didn't take him, the young master, seriously. He remembered that most of the people in the estate supported the Grand Elder, as rumors had it that the Grand Elder's strength had already surpassed the clan leader, Li Zhan. Compared to Li Lin, Li Changsheng was like a speck in the sky.

"Do you not recognize me?" Li Changsheng said calmly.

"Oh, it's our young master, ha ha!" One of them laughed, with no hint of respect in his tone.

"So late, where has the young master been playing around?" The other teased, blocking the entrance to prevent Li Changsheng from entering. They were all supporters of the Grand Elder and had always been disrespectful to Li Changsheng to show their loyalty. In the past, he had been too weak and had endured such treatment.

"A mere servant dares to question the master's affairs? Is this how you behave?" Li Changsheng said coldly.

"Do you even deserve to be our master? A worthless nobody!" One of the guards said rudely. In the past, Li Changsheng's cultivation was only at the first level of Qi Ling, and he couldn't even defeat them, which was why they were so arrogant.

"Get out of my way!" Li Changsheng shouted, stepping forward.

"Anyone who intrudes on the family will die!" The guards shouted in unison, reaching out. But Li Changsheng punched with both fists, a powerful force sending them flying. He was now at the fifth level of Qi Ling, more than enough to overpower them.

"If you do this again, you will be punished according to the family rules!" Li Changsheng said coldly, walking away without looking back. A scholar may not have arrogance, but he has pride! Li Bai wielded his sword and wrote poetry. 'Wu' (martial) can kill a man a thousand miles away, and 'wen' (literary) can inspire thoughts and write poetry. This is the true essence of a scholar.

The two guards lay on the ground, looking at each other in surprise. Wasn't his cultivation only at the first level of Qi Ling? How could he have defeated them so easily? No wonder they were only servants.

...

Inside the room.

Li Zhan was sitting cross-legged, cultivating to heal his injuries. Soon, wisps of white vapor rose from his head, a sign that he had pushed the elemental energy in his body to its limit, circulating it through his meridians.

"Father, how are your injuries?" Li Changsheng asked with concern after Li Zhan completed his cultivation cycle.

"It's nothing serious..." Li Zhan said. In the past, there had been a distance between him and Li Changsheng. Due to his lack of strength, they rarely spoke. Today, Li Changsheng's visit brought a sense of comfort to Li Zhan. Although he knew his meridians were severely damaged and hard to recover, he chose to hide it.

"From now on, your fate is in your own hands. I can no longer protect you." Li Zhan said. With his meridians unable to recover, his strength would drop by ninety percent, and he would no longer be able to protect Li Changsheng. In three months, during the family martial arts competition, the elders would surely challenge him to step down. Even if the Grand Elder didn't, he would step down voluntarily, as a clan leader without strength could not protect the family.

"Don't worry, Father. I will find a way to heal your injuries." Li Changsheng said. From the situation, he knew Li Zhan's injuries were far more serious than he admitted. Saying it was nothing was just to comfort him.

"You don't need to worry about my injuries. Focus on improving your strength as soon as possible." Li Zhan said. He only hoped that Li Changsheng wouldn't be the worst in the family martial arts competition. If he was, both father and son would likely be expelled from the family. Even if he lost the clan leader position, he would likely be suspected by the Grand Elder, but for his son, he could choose to endure.

"Then I will take my leave." Li Changsheng said and left Li Zhan's room.

In the following days, Li Changsheng practiced tirelessly. At first, although he had integrated the memories of this Li Changsheng, he was not yet proficient in sword techniques and the use of elemental energy. After seven days of practice, he had fully mastered these techniques and could use them with ease.

Moreover, his elemental energy had reached the peak of the fifth level, with signs of breaking through to the sixth level.

Soon, the day of the sect's disciple selection arrived.

On the seventh day, the morning sun shone on the ancient and elegant Yuzhou city. Outside the city, a clear stream flowed gently, and the bamboo groves cast dappled shadows on the ground.

In the city center stood a grand estate, towering over the entire town. The dark red glazed tiles, the eaves, and the dragon heads on the roof were distinctly Chinese. This was the city lord's residence, and in front of it was a vast training ground, paved with square stones, exuding a majestic aura.

The surrounding area was filled with spectators. Today was the day of the major sect's disciple selection, a dream for every young man and their parents. It was said that representatives from the seven major academies, including the Confucian and Taoist schools, would also be present to select disciples, making this day very important for the residents of Yuzhou.

On the left side of the viewing stand were the seats for the major families. Among them, a middle-aged man stood next to a young girl in a blue dress. She was about sixteen or seventeen, with fair skin and a delicate face, a rare beauty wherever she went. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her slightly raised chest showed her youthful vigor.

They were Lin Hai and his daughter, Lin Yuechu. The young men nearby couldn't help but look at her with admiration. Lin Yuechu was not only one of the three beauties of Yuzhou but also a genius, reaching the seventh level of Qi Ling at a young age. She was always the center of attention wherever she went. Feeling their gazes, Lin Yuechu smiled slightly.

Although she looked down on these ordinary people, she enjoyed the feeling of being adored. She already knew she would be selected as an inner disciple by the Tianhai Sword Sect, which would elevate her status even further. She was looking forward to the moment when the Tianhai Sword Sect announced this, and everyone would look at her with envy.

"Is that Lin Yuechu? She's so beautiful!" Some of the family disciples began to talk.

"Of course, she's one of the three beauties of Yuzhou. And she's a cultivation genius, reaching the seventh level of Qi Ling at such a young age! It's embarrassing for us men."

"Look at her, born into a newly established small family and reaching the seventh level of Qi Ling. And you, with so many resources, are still stuck at the fifth level..."

"That's because she has talent, and talent is given by parents," the scolded child retorted.

...

"A woman like her is destined to be admired from afar, unreachable."

"Ah, I wonder who will have the good fortune to marry her." Someone sighed.

"You don't know, do you? I heard that the Li family's waste of flesh, Li Changsheng, actually had the nerve to propose to her a few days ago," someone gossiped.

"Li Changsheng? Hahaha!" The person laughed, "The one who is still at the first level of Qi Ling? I wonder who gave him the courage."

"What happened after that?" The other person was very curious, eager to know how Li Changsheng was humiliated.

"Well, the Li family tried to pressure the Lin family using their past favors and influence. Lin Yuechu proposed that if Li Changsheng could withstand her three sword techniques, she would marry him. But the Li family's waste of flesh didn't even have the courage to fight." The person said. Later, the Tianhai Sword Sect's people injured Li Zhan, but the Lin family didn't publicize this due to the involvement of the Tianhai Sword Sect.

"Truly a waste of flesh!" The other person said coldly.

"Keep your voice down, the Li family is not to be trifled with." The person then looked towards the Li family's area. The Li family was a major clan in Yuzhou, with many strong members.

The current clan leader, Li Zhan, sat in the center, flanked by the four elders. Li Zhan looked somewhat dejected, while the Grand Elder looked spirited. The Li family was a significant clan in Yuzhou, and smaller clans dared not easily offend them. Standing next to the Grand Elder was a handsome young man, the Li family's genius, Li Lin, who was also participating in the selection.

Next to Li Zhan stood a young man in white, with a scholarly and refined appearance. He was the super waste of flesh, Li Changsheng, as they called him.