Chapter Ten: The Curtain Falls (Second Update)

The Divine General Zhenwei, who had always guided Li Yuanhua in his cultivation of the "Three Elemental Arts," gazed at Li Yuanhua, whose strength had just surged dramatically in the hall, his expression shifting as he spoke in a low voice.

The aura emanating from Li Yuanhua now was far more powerful than before, yet extremely unstable. It was clear he had forcibly boosted his cultivation with a secret art, a state that could not last.

Within the hall, Yang Ning's shouted warning had no effect; with Li Yuanhua so close, he lunged swiftly at Li Fu, leaving Yang Ning no time to intervene.

True essence rapidly gathered in Li Yuanhua's palms as he shouted fiercely, "Divine Shattering Palm!"

The wild surge in his strength brought with it a powerful pressure, stirring gusts of wind throughout the hall.

The breeze lifted the hair from Li Fu's brow, revealing a pair of cold, clear eyes.

Even a clay figurine has its temper—provoked again and again by Li Yuanhua's attacks, Li Fu's anger finally ignited.

Instead of retreating before Li Yuanhua's fierce strike, Li Fu clenched his right fist, his body bending slightly, like a lion poised to leap. In that moment of silence, he shot forward with the swiftness of an arrow, meeting Li Yuanhua's double palms head-on.

"Lotus Fury!"

A heavy, muffled shout echoed through the hall as Li Fu's fist collided forcefully with Li Yuanhua in full view of all.

"Bang!" The two clashed in midair. After a moment's stillness, Li Yuanhua's once ferocious face turned deathly pale, blood spilling continuously from the corner of his mouth.

The terrifying force sent Li Yuanhua flying like a kite with a broken string, hurling him toward a corner of the hall as he spat blood.

As Li Yuanhua's body shot backward, just half a meter from the floor, Yang Ning managed to steady him, preventing him from crashing ignominiously to the ground.

Seeing Li Yuanhua land seemingly unscathed, the spectators in the hall all breathed a sigh of relief. Yet Yang Ning's sword-like brows knit in concern.

With his right hand resting on Li Yuanhua's shoulder, Yang Ning could feel the tremors running through his body—a violent internal force was raging within him.

A faint sound, and that energy exploded in Li Yuanhua's arm, the aftershock so powerful that even Yang Ning, standing behind him, could feel it.

A spurt of blood, followed by a scream of agony, echoed through the hall as Li Yuanhua clutched his right arm.

His arm dangled uselessly, the bones broken by Li Fu's hidden force. Sweat streamed from his brow, and his eyes blazed with murderous intent as he glared at Li Fu.

“How is he?” Xu Changhai asked Yang Ning, his face grave.

Yang Ning shook his head, signaling that it was nothing serious, then turned his cold gaze on Li Yuanhua and said, “You are too reckless! This was but a simple sparring match—was it necessary to use forbidden arts against the young lord? Men, take him away and see to his wounds. He is not to leave the residence until Lord Marquis Diwu returns.”

“Wait!” Several of Li Yuanhua’s friends in the hall protested.

“Lin Han, what do you intend?” Xu Changhai’s brows furrowed as his voice thundered.

Lin Han stepped forward, glaring resentfully at Li Fu. “From the beginning, this was only supposed to be a simple contest. Now that Li Yuanhua has lost, why did the young lord have to be so ruthless?”

Li Fu snorted, his voice icy. “Was I the one who proposed this match? He had already lost, yet he tried to ambush me from behind. And then he recklessly used forbidden arts to force his cultivation to the Heaven Origin Upper Realm—do you think he was sparing me? Am I not allowed to defend myself, but must simply stand here and let him attack as he pleases?”

Lin Han was chastened by the harsh rebuke, his face flushing then paling. Not only had Li Yuanhua ambushed Li Fu from behind and used forbidden arts, but he had ended up with a broken arm for his trouble—a humiliating defeat.

Still, Li Yuanhua was the adopted son of Marquis Diwu and stood a good chance of inheriting the Celestial Strategy Hall. Even with a new young lord emerging, it did not mean Li Yuanhua’s prospects were over. After all, Li Fu was the Grand Tutor’s disciple. With two lords presiding over this generation, who could say the future would not be the same?

“The young lord’s skill is clearly above Yuanhua’s. Was breaking his arm truly a necessary response? Yuanhua only wished to test the young lord’s identity—was such violence needed?” Lin Han drew a deep breath, looking at Li Yuanhua’s pain.

“Enough! Do you take no notice of my presence?” Xu Changhai stomped his foot, a dreadful pressure bearing down on Lin Han as he shouted in anger.

“My lord, is Li Yuanhua’s broken arm to be so easily dismissed? At the very least, the young lord should apologize!” Lin Han sneered.

A twitch flickered at the corner of Li Fu’s mouth, a chill glinting in his eyes. Clearly, the fault lay with the other side, and now they demanded he apologize?

“Insolence!” Xu Changhai strode down from the dais, his face dark as he thundered, “Li Yuanhua initiated this challenge and then ambushed the young lord from behind—an affront to his status. His injury is his own fault, being the weaker man. How dare you ask the young lord to apologize? Lin Han, if you persist in this unruliness, I will have you expelled from the Celestial Strategy Hall!”

“But...” Lin Han tried to protest, but was interrupted by Li Yuanhua from the side.

“It was my fault. I should not have attacked the young lord from behind. I was simply outmatched. I acknowledge his identity—the move he used was indeed the Grand Tutor’s technique. I offer my apologies to the young lord. Lin Han, say no more.”

Li Yuanhua approached, bowed low, and gave Lin Han a meaningful look, shaking his head.

Though unwilling, Lin Han eventually lowered his head and said to Li Fu, “Young lord, we were in the wrong. Please forgive us.”

As Li Yuanhua and Lin Han conceded, Xu Changhai’s tense expression finally eased. He closed his eyes, then announced, “Li Yuanhua defied his superior and is confined for one month, pending Lord Marquis Diwu’s return. Lin Han, for your insolence, you are demoted to Centurion effective immediately. Does anyone else question the young lord’s identity?”

No one in the hall dared object; thus, the farce came to an end. Li Yuanhua, supported by Lin Han, left the hall, followed by several of his close allies.

Li Fu took this outcome in stride, returning to his seat beneath the wary gazes of the crowd. Seeing the fear in their eyes, he could not help but shake his head.

...

“What’s troubling you?” Yang Zixu asked softly, seeing that Li Fu did not look well.

“Don’t you think I’ve lost the hearts of the people today?” After a moment’s silence, Li Fu voiced his concern.

He had just escaped one fiasco on Chang’an Street, only to be drawn into the murky waters of Celestial Strategy Hall—and had injured Li Yuanhua, who commanded great respect among the younger generation. Now, seeing the wary eyes around him, he wondered if he had been in the wrong.

“You’re overthinking it. Power struggles among the young blood in Celestial Strategy are nothing new, especially with Li Yuanhua. Not long ago, he even had a secret rivalry with Brother Yang Ning. Most here are of Li Yuanhua’s faction; the rest are still at the northern front and haven’t returned. With time, you’ll understand.”

Yang Zixu glanced around at the young officers in the hall and scoffed.

“But why did Master send me here? Does it have something to do with my origins?” Li Fu was starting to feel lost.

“Who cares? Isn’t it every man’s ambition to carve out a name for himself on the battlefield?” Yang Zixu seemed unconcerned by Li Fu’s doubts and added with a mischievous grin, “Do you know how many people would give anything to enter Celestial Strategy Hall? Why do you think Wang Han fell silent the moment the Divine General threatened him with expulsion?”