Invincible Under Heaven

Attending the Meeting

"Noon tomorrow?"

Zhou Juechen had a bad feeling in his heart.

"What are you planning?"

"It's nothing serious, just planning to have a nice chat with that Duke of Yue's Heir Apparent,"

Li Xian said.

Have a nice chat...

Though that's what he said, Zhou Juechen was clearly feeling uneasy inside.

After a long while, he muttered, "The Leaping Over the Dragon Gate is the foundation of talent selection, and Ascending Dragon Pavilion has strict rules. If a martial artist is willing to participate in the Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, the local powers are forbidden from persecuting them... Anyone without ties can certainly ignore this rule, but the higher one's status, the less they dare go against Ascending Dragon Pavilion's order!"

He spoke quickly: "Once you actually go to the Royal Capital to register and participate, Duke of Yue's Residence definitely won't dare make a move against you any more! Otherwise, if any evidence is left behind, Ascending Dragon Pavilion will be infuriated, and the entire Duke of Yue's Residence will face annihilation! They won't dare to risk that!"

His meaning was clear.

As long as he signed up for the Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, his safety would be greatly protected.

After all...

How could an enormous entity like Duke of Yue's Residence be willing to stake its entire future on gambling with the life of a Marrow Cleansing martial artist?

"When is the Leaping Over the Dragon Gate?"

"In another month and a half. That will be the day."

Zhou Juechen explained, "Usually we register a month in advance. As long as we go there and lay low for half a month, once you sign up, no mighty power will dare target you openly."

"Alright."

Li Xian nodded.

Over these two months, he'd heard all about the Leaping Over the Dragon Gate.

He also deeply understood that it was a grand gathering where one could freely spar with countless experts in the Leakless Body realm.

Such an event was something he absolutely could not miss.

"Should we set off now?"

"I will go to Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, but I also want to meet the Duke of Yue's Heir Apparent."

Li Xian said.

"You..."

"I'm clear about what I'm doing."

Li Xian calmly cut off what Zhou Juechen was about to say next.

Zhou Juechen opened his mouth, recalling the temperament Li Xian had brought up to him earlier...

In the end...

He couldn't get a single word out.

His expression turned bitter as he remembered the appointment with Daoist Xuan Tie for tomorrow...

Now, his plan had truly backfired.

But what could he say?

All he could do was do his utmost to protect him when the time came.

"Do you know why, even though I'm perfectly aware that serving under a great power could make my future smoother, I'm still completely unmoved?"

Li Xian pressed on.

Zhou Juechen was stunned.

But before he could reply, Li Xian continued: "Everyone only trusts themselves, especially when they seem to be in a position of power. When my interests are closely tied to theirs, they can't help but meddle."

He paused.

"But what they clearly forget is this: if they could genuinely secure such benefits, they wouldn't need to pin their hopes on others."

These words caused Zhou Juechen's heart to tremble.

He'd said he would no longer look at Li Xian with any prejudiced gaze—clearly, he hadn't lived up to that.

Human nature is not so easily changed.

He found Li Xian's actions incomprehensible, and maybe...

That was the greatest difference between them.

It was also the greatest difference between a genius and a mediocrity.

For a moment, Zhou Juechen fell into deep thought.

Li Xian said no more.

He asked for a room, and then went next door to continue refining Blood Spirit Powder.

...

The effects of Blood Spirit Powder were immediate.

Li Xian trained hard through the night, and the depletion in his Ki and Blood was greatly restored.

Marrow Cleansing and Viscera Refinement were finally completed in a full cycle.

At this point, he could be considered to have achieved minor accomplishment in Marrow Cleansing.

Anyone would now respectfully call him a Marrow Cleansing martial artist.

He could charge into battle, taking on a hundred foes alone.

With a few military exploits, he could be appointed as a roving commander, and with careful management, even promoted to Deputy General, commanding his own soldiers.

In one province, he'd be among the leading names, entering noble households and surrounded by disciples.

Even in the martial world, he'd ascend to second-tier status, walking among commanderies, every local power giving him face and treating him as a guest of honor.

But Li Xian cared little for any of this.

There was only one thing that truly mattered to him.

"I'm stronger than I was in my previous life!"

...

At noon,

Li Xian stepped out of his room.

Out in the courtyard, Zhou Juechen was already there waiting.

"Hall Master Zhou,"

Li Xian greeted politely.

As if the little disagreement from the night before had never happened.

Zhou Juechen looked at Li Xian and nodded heavily.

"Let's go."

Such a forthright response took Li Xian by surprise.

Taking a glance at him, he remarked, "You seem a bit different."

"I realized I was overthinking things,"

Zhou Juechen responded.

"So you've figured something out."

Li Xian smiled.

"I haven't yet achieved Primordial Unity or a Leakless Body, so maybe it doesn't mean much coming from me. But in my humble opinion, the most important thing in achieving Primordial Unity is a purity of heart. Maybe the reason you haven't broken through is your heart isn't pure enough."

"Indeed, my purity isn't enough."

Zhou Juechen nodded.

Ever since Marrow Cleansing and Viscera Refinement, his only goal had been the Leaping Over the Dragon Gate.

Everything he did was in preparation for it.

Yet for years, he'd been stuck at the threshold of the Leakless Body, with almost no hope of reaching the Leaping Over the Dragon Gate.

After spending a whole night reflecting, perhaps...

He needed to set everything aside, clear all distractions, face his own heart directly, and find out what his true martial path was.

Li Xian said no more.

He even wondered now if he'd already said enough to Zhou Juechen.

Everyone had their own beliefs and philosophies.

Let go of the urge to help others, and respect their destiny.

...

The two quickly left Canglang Sword Sect and went straight to Guan Tao Tower in the small town at the foot of the mountain.

At this time, the second floor of Guan Tao Tower had already been reserved by Duke of Yue's Residence.

When Li Xian and Zhou Juechen were led upstairs by Luo Teng, the Captain of the Guards, they discovered that, besides Daoist Xuan Tie and Yan Kaigui, there were also the young commandery princess Yan Ruxue, marquis Residence's lady Liu Yanran, as well as Ma Fu, another Marrow Cleansing expert who had joined the Duke's Residence.

Ma Fu's foundation in the Marrow Cleansing and Viscera Refinement realm was not deep and he had yet to reach mastery.

The key was...

In terms of status, he was a senior to Zhou Juechen, and he had a close relationship with the Zhou family's Patriarch.

"Hall Master Zhou truly is trustworthy, really bringing the person to us,"

As soon as they met, Yan Kaigui stood and offered proper courtesy.

"Please, have a seat."

He also pushed a box on the table towards them.

"Master Luoxia's manuscript is right here."

Ma Fu followed up with a smiling greeting.

"Juechen, has it been half a year since we last met? Do you remember when I stayed at the Zhou family, you were so eager to consult me about martial arts? Today, let's catch up properly."

"Li Xian! The person you relied upon most, Zhou Juechen, has already betrayed you! He brought you here just to hand you over to us. Did you see our lineup today? You're finished! Not even an immortal can save you now!"

Yan Ruxue, unable to contain her excitement at finally washing away her past humiliation, stood up and shouted.

However, compared to Yan Kaigui, Ma Fu, and Yan Ruxue, all of whom rushed to speak and declare their stance, Li Xian remained exceptionally calm.

"Relax."

He even pressed his hand down towards Yan Kaigui and his sister, "What do you mean not even an immortal can save me? If a real immortal showed up, wouldn't you all drop to the ground and prostrate yourselves, begging for mercy? Settle down, be seated, all of you."

This brazen attitude, along with Zhou Juechen's lack of reaction, made Yan Kaigui frown.

Did he have regrets?

But then, it was not unexpected.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have called Ma Fu, who happened to be nearby, to come in the middle of the night.

With two martial artists in Marrow Cleansing and Viscera Refinement, plus Luo Teng and more than a dozen of the Duke's personal guards, against a Zhou Juechen acting with reservations and a mere Viscera Refinement martial artist whose Blood Jade Demon Technique had only just given him Marrow Cleansing combat ability...

It was more than enough!