Chapter 283 – The Weaponsmithing Contest, Masters Showing Their Flair - Part 2
Early summer.
A messenger galloped into Holy Tree Temple with grim news. The frontline had collapsed.
The reason was plain. The Lotus Cult’s upper ranks had suddenly grown stronger; new spirit artifacts littered the battlefield, many of which were surely Zhu Ban’s work. Worse, Peng Mi had broken through to fourth rank, tore open the defensive line, and turned the tide.
Word raced through the temple’s upper echelons, and Li Yuan, in his secret chamber, heard it too.
He glanced at Ping'an lying at his feet and wavered yet again.
If the Five Element Alliance truly crumbled, there would be no more hesitation. He would simply take his son and leave.
“Again!”
Flat on the floor like a wounded leopard, Ping'an should have been broken, his confidence smashed time and again by Li Yuan. Yet every time he clawed his way back up, laughing, sword in hand.
The sight reminded Li Yuan of those indomitable Bronze Saints from old tales.
“When will you win even once?” he taunted, lowering his eyes to the ring at his feet. “At least force your father to step outside the circle.”
But he knew the boy couldn’t. Ping'an’s just wasn’t strong enough; miracles belonged to Li Yuan himself. Yes, the boy had innate shadow blood, but that also came from his father.
“My ultimate move is almost finished, Dad! When it’s done I won’t lose, I won’t!” Panting and eyes blazing, Ping'an looked nothing like a normal teenager, more a tireless war‑machine.