Chapter 17 : Chapter 17
Chapter 17: A Spiritual Weapon Is Born — Named Zhanxu
“Friends, you have watched long enough. It is time to show yourselves.”
With his hands clasped behind his back, Li Xingge looked into the distance and let out a cold snort.
As his words fell—
A burst of laughter rang out, and several powerful figures swept in from afar. The Li clan cultivators immediately drew their blades in vigilance.
Seeing this, the newcomers quickly spoke:
“Family Head Li, please do not misunderstand. We bear no ill intent. I am Zheng Lingjun of the Zheng family. Family Head Li, I greet you.”
“Zheng Lingjun?”
Li Xingge was momentarily startled.
“The Family Head of the Dongjiang Zheng Clan?”
Zheng Lingjun smiled. “Indeed.”
A faint smile appeared on Li Xingge’s face, and he gestured for his men to lower their weapons.
“Li Xingge of the Li family greets Family Head Zheng.”
The Dongjiang Zheng Clan’s reputation was known to all in Baihe County.
Since the other party had declared no hostility, Li Xingge was not foolish enough to make an enemy of him.
After all, the Dongjiang Zheng Clan was the undisputed number one family in Baihe County—far beyond what the current Qingfeng Li Clan could compare to.
Even among the Nine Great Families, there were clear hierarchies.
And the Zheng Clan stood at the very top.
Seeing Li Xingge’s composed attitude, Zheng Lingjun’s smile deepened with approval.
This young Family Head was steady beyond his years—not the type to grow arrogant with a bit of talent.
Combined with everything he had witnessed today, Zheng Lingjun was certain—
This youth would accomplish great things.
His desire to befriend him grew even stronger.
“I have long heard of Family Head Li’s name. Now that I see you in person, the rumors do not do you justice. With only Initial Entry Qi-Blood Realm strength, you fought evenly against a Qi-Blood Minor Accomplishment cultivator. After today, your name will surely resound across all directions!”
Before this, Li Xingge had been known as a genius—but without a defining battle, many elders still regarded him as just a junior.
But today, he had proven otherwise.
Li Xingge waved his hand modestly.
“I am ashamed to say that without my Grand Elder’s assistance, I might not have survived today.”
Then he shifted the topic and introduced Li Xuantong.
“Family Head Zheng, this is our Li family’s Grand Elder.”
“Li Xuantong greets Family Head Zheng.”
Li Xuantong stepped forward and cupped his fists respectfully.
Compared to Li Xingge, he understood far more clearly what Zheng Lingjun represented in Baihe County.
To speak bluntly—even the authority of the Great Zhou Dynasty did not necessarily carry as much weight here as Zheng Lingjun’s words.
Not to mention that Zheng Lingjun himself was a Qi-Blood Minor Accomplishment expert.
Even Li Xuanfeng, the former Family Head, would have treated him with utmost respect.
“Brother Xuantong, you are too courteous. Rather, I should congratulate you on advancing to the Qi-Blood Realm.”
Zheng Lingjun spoke with an easygoing smile.
Yet inwardly, he was astonished.
Li Xuantong’s Qi-Blood had already declined—his chances of breakthrough had been less than ten percent.
And yet he had succeeded.
This further convinced Zheng Lingjun—
Li Xingge was indeed one of those heaven-favored individuals.
A single man’s rise could lift even chickens and dogs to the heavens.
If he could board this ship early—
Then perhaps even the distant Innate Realm might not be beyond reach.
Li Xingge, however, felt a chill run down his spine under Zheng Lingjun’s rather heated gaze.
Could it be that this renowned Family Head had… unusual tastes?
Subtly, he took a step back.
Zheng Lingjun remained completely unaware.
He smiled warmly.
“To celebrate your destruction of a century-old enemy, I have prepared a small gift. I hope you will not disdain it.”
Before Li Xingge could refuse—
A Zheng elder stepped forward, holding a box with both hands.
Zheng Lingjun took it and opened it.
A flash of cold light burst forth, sharp enough to sting the eyes.
Inside lay a sword.
It radiated a chilling aura that made one instinctively wary.
“This sword was obtained by my clan ancestor by chance. It was forged from a meteorite beyond the heavens and can cut through iron as if it were mud. Today, I present it to you.”
At the sight of the sword, Li Xingge’s heart stirred.
Yet he still shook his head.
“Family Head Zheng, this gift is too precious. I cannot accept it.”
Few men could resist a divine weapon.
But such a gift must come with a price.
He was wary.
Zheng Lingjun seemed to read his thoughts and laughed.
“Rest assured, I have no ulterior motive. A sword is meant for a hero—and you, Family Head Li, are precisely such a hero. If you refuse again, I may take offense.”
Seeing his insistence—
Li Xingge pondered for a moment.
The Zheng Clan was vast and powerful. What could they possibly covet from the Li family?
Unable to find an answer, he stopped thinking about it.
He accepted the sword.
“Then I thank you, Family Head Zheng.”
Zheng Lingjun was delighted.
“That is more like it! And let us not stand on such formalities—‘Family Head this’ and ‘Family Head that’ sounds too distant. We hit it off at first sight. Why not address each other as brothers? I am older, so I shall call you ‘worthy brother.’ What do you think?”
Li Xingge would not embarrass him in front of so many people.
Moreover, befriending Zheng Lingjun brought only benefits.
He was not arrogant.
He bowed slightly.
“Xingge greets elder brother.”
Zheng Lingjun laughed heartily and helped him up.
“It is my honor to gain such a brother. We should celebrate with a grand feast, but I see you still have matters to attend to. Let us meet again in the future—and drink until we are drunk!”
“Once my affairs are settled, I will personally visit you.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Safe travels, elder brother.”
As Zheng Lingjun and his group departed, the smile on Li Xingge’s face gradually faded.
Li Xuantong spoke thoughtfully:
“Family Head, there is no such thing as action without purpose. For someone of Zheng Lingjun’s status to lower himself like this—his intentions must run deep. We must be cautious.”
Li Xingge nodded.
“I understand.”
Then his gaze fell upon the sword.
He opened the box and grasped the hilt.
The moment he touched it, it felt like gripping ten-thousand-year-old ice.
He drew the blade—
A flash of cold light swept out.
Sword energy danced.
In the distance, a massive boulder was cleanly split in two.
“Excellent sword!”
Li Xingge laughed.
“A weapon of such caliber should not remain nameless. From this day onward, you shall be called… Zhanxu.”
“One day, even the void itself shall fall beneath your edge.”
The sword let out a low hum.
As if in response.
A divine weapon had spirit.