“Elder, why does Li feng get to swagger his way into the pool when we had to sweat for it?”
The elder’s eyes squinted, it wasn’t everyday a junior challenged an elder. “This is the decision of the patriarch and is irrefutable”
The elder’s tone remained unfettered. This wasn’t the first time, somebody had doubts about Li feng’s matter. And also because a word from the clan head was akin to the decree of the emperor himself
However, as if not hearing the warning behind the elder’s words, Li Jian continued in a subservient tone.
“But, my juniors would want to know why, they being closer to the core formation realm were deemed unworthy of the free spot and yet he...”, he did not finish his sentence, the meaning evident by the gloomy expressions that had crept up the defeated disciples faces.
In their taunts , they had actually forgotten the reason of Li Feng presence. They instantly turned towards the gloomy elder, waiting for an explanation. They were akin to struggling rich men poking a beggar in the dirt with a stick. But if gold appears in that same dirt…
The elder’s face darkened, they had been countless riots over Li feng unclear allocation of resources, but never had the tension been so focused. Surely, the disciples did not think of this themselves . The elder immediately realised he had been led by the nose, but he couldn’t act impulsively. If the situation wasn’t handled carefully, the disciples might lose faith in the clan, and the results, could not be imagined.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Li feng should compete like everyone else” The corners of Li Jian mouth revealed a quick flash of disdain.
But the defeated disciples had no such qualms and began sneering. Even though they knew Li Feng had limited intelligence and possessed no combat ability they couldn’t help but shamelessly nod their heads in approval.
The frown on the elder’s face deepened. This was his scheme all long. But, wasn’t it a little bit - weak. However, when he recalled the previous movements in the crowd, his sleeping qi instantly churned forming a palm towards Li Feng. Almost as instant, Li Jian let out a roar.
“Now!” He had never planned to win the battle of words with the elder, and instead had been delaying for this moment.
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Along with Li Jian’s command , countless auras like threads of silk surged from the crowd, converging into a golden net above Li Feng. Each one of the threads contained the strength and pressure of a core formation warrior. The pressure Li feng felt was akin to shouldering a small mountain. Anymore and he would turn into a meat patty, noticing the sudden development, the elder quickly retracted his golden palm.
In that moment of hesitation the golden threads of qi intertwined and wrapped around Li Feng. The forces slamming unto Li feng’s body sent ripples of shocks into his body and continued to spread towards his brain.
Meanwhile, the elder’s face paled as he stumbled backward, hit by the recoil of forcefully retracting his Qi. Forcefully intervening would have put Li Feng, who was still a mortal in grave danger. But in doing so, he had allowed the disciples to capture Li Feng.
No matter, how he explained it , it was a fact that countless juniors were able to wrestle away a person under his protection. The face he had lost was definitely not be small. The elder quickly analysed his choices to reverse the situation but none was applicable. If he acted forcefully then while he’ll rescue Li feng, the geniuses would be implicated. The web -like formation they had cast was jumbled as coiled roped with a delicate egg at the centre. He can either get the egg by tearing apart the ropes or by slowly untangling them.
“I propose, Li feng be cut away from the clan resources and be reallocated to me instead.” But, Li jian wouldn’t give him the chance. Along with a wave of his hand. The space between Li feng and the golden aura closed causing small drops of blood to trickle out of Li feng ears.
“Don't!”, the elder raised his hand forming a claw towards Li Jian but at the thought of the many disciples that would be implicated, halted the energy flow in his veins , ultimately dispersing the attack in resignation. Even though he had been told to protect Li feng at all costs. One ‘eccentric’, Li Feng was not worth the sacrificing an entire generation of geniuses.
While he was lost in thought, a light flashed below Li feng’s abdomen and vanished as fast as it appeared. Although small it wouldn’t have escaped the elder’s senses if he wasn’t disoriented.
“Okay, okay… move the blade away first.”, He could envision himself being the object of ridicule among his peers and suddenly he seemed to recall Li feng. His dull eyes and vacant gaze, unaware of the situation he was in. _Ignorance was truly bliss_.
He could he have rescued him. But it truly was a loss to lose a generation worth of geniuses over the contributions of the deceased. His sleeved hands immediately crushed a jade token, setting off the message within. Never had he thought, his first time issuing a distress signal would be at the hands of core formation juniors.
But, his reaction was already too late, because a silhouette veiled beneath a blue curtain was already speeding towards the back mountains. Hills and tress fragmented, unable to bear the pressure of the sword intent she was emanating.
However, the protagonist , Li feng had no idea of the danger that was around him and had arrived in a white space. That final pressure, Li Jian had exerted on his brain had forced open a space in consciousness. And the clueless Li feng had unwittingly followed.
Ahead of him, was a bright white light. Attracted by its blurry blob like existence, Li Feng steps approached. As he got closer, the blob light started taking shape. With each step a feature became discernible a head, neck , feet and hands. Five meters apart, Li feng could see what it was. No matter, how dumb one was , if they stared into the mirror, they’d always recognise the animal being reflected.
As he continued approaching the light, he found his conscience seeping and some memories of his past flashing through his eyes. Instinctively he reached out his hand. But just as he was about to grab it, a familiar presence appeared. He could recognise that aura anywhere, that familiarity.
Unknowingly he retracted his hand and turned around, but in that split second, he missed a key transformation that would have determined the fate of him and the clan. But what was joy or anticipation to him was dread for the rest of disciples. The nostrils dripped with blood, the air they were breathed had turned it double edged swords and they could feel layers of skin being sliced by the chilly wind that had appeared out of nowhere. Involuntarily they looked above, where a blue silhouette had silently appeared.