Only I am Venerable

Chapter 290: Chapter 288: The 1st Battle

Qin Li felt his body suddenly lighten. Before he could even react, he found himself inside a strange barrier. He looked around and saw that he was surrounded by people, all with different expressions. Many of them were clearly unaware of the rules of the Venerable Tournament and had been teleported here with no mental preparation whatsoever.

Some people were even slapping at the projected barrier, shouting and screaming to get out. For many, coming here was simply about broadening their horizons and watching the spectacle. ’What a joke,’ they thought. ’Sure, lucky people exist—the kind who face a slightly weaker opponent in every elimination round. But what if your luck is bad? What if you run into an enemy who’s also stronger than you? Isn’t that just asking for death?’

Although there were several thousand people present, so the chances of running into a specific person weren’t necessarily high, you couldn’t rely on ’what ifs’ in this world.

Many of the disciples from the great families and major Sects, who already knew the rules, were snickering to the side. They watched the disciples from the small families and Small Sects acting like country bumpkins, their faces filled with undisguised glee at their misfortune. There wasn’t a trace of sympathy to be found.

Shangguan Shiyu leaned against Qin Li, her face expressionless. Another seventy or eighty young Qin Family disciples were also gathered around him. They had all known this would happen, so they remained calm.

Qin Suo was also in the crowd, giving everyone a pep talk and reassuring them. He told them not to be afraid if they ran into someone from the Cui Family. If they couldn’t win, they should just admit defeat and not worry about losing face.

In reality, as long as they didn’t encounter a monstrously powerful expert like Cui Leng, most of the young disciples were evenly matched. If it came down to a real fight, they wouldn’t necessarily lose!

But in terms of overall foundation, the Qin Family was far weaker than the Cui Family. Thus, most of their members were here for the opportunity to learn and train. A fledgling that never bravely takes its first step from the nest will never have the chance to soar.

"What a bunch of ignorant country bumpkins!" the Cui Family’s young miss sneered, as if she had finally found an outlet for her frustrations. She looked with disdain at the terrified disciples from the small families and Small Sects.

"Why even bother with those ignorant nobodies? If I ran into them, I’d kill them all with a single sword strike each and be done with it! Hmph. This world wasn’t made for the weak!"

A young man from the Cui Family, who looked to be in his thirties, said with a cold expression.

The preparation area wasn’t particularly large, so it felt somewhat crowded with so many people. As a result, the Cui Family youth’s words were heard by many. While the young disciples from the great families and major Sects didn’t think much of it, the disciples from the small families and Small Sects all turned to glare at him in anger.

Every person, regardless of their strength or status, has their dignity!

However, the Cui Family disciple was clearly unfazed. He snorted coldly, "What are you looking at? If you have a problem, we can settle it in the arena!"

The preparation area and the fighting arena were visible to the outside world, but no sound from within could be heard.

Qin Hanyue, Qinling Mountain, and the others were already standing in a safe zone, so she hadn’t been teleported inside. A group of older Qin Family members stood beside them. Though not considered exceptionally powerful, they were all at the Celestial Level. They had come to support the younger generation and handle logistics.

Qin Hanyue watched her husband and son in the preparation area, her heart aching with worry. "Old Ancestor," she said softly, "the Cui Family has already torn away all pretenses with our Qin Family. I’m afraid the matches will be fought to the death!"

Qinling Mountain let out a soft sigh. "Han Yue, I’ve considered all of this. But there is no growth without sacrifice! The biggest reason our families have stagnated for a thousand years is that we’ve lived too comfortably. Once our young disciples turn eighteen, as long as their strength is at the Profound Level or higher, they receive a monthly stipend from the family. It increases when they reach the Earth Level, and upon reaching the Celestial Level, they can live out their lives in peace and comfort. Not everyone has the ambition to conquer and rule. Take our recent auction of the Elixir Formula, for example. We gained control of five secular nations and became incredibly wealthy. It’s easy for people to grow complacent in such times. If we truly want to grow stronger, it can only happen through the crucible of blood and fire!"

Qin Hanyue nodded seriously but said nothing. The faces of the Qin Family elders beside her mostly showed shame, but also deep contemplation.

Qin Suo had finished his speech and was just waiting for the tournament to begin. Suddenly, he spotted Qin Li and Shangguan Shiyu. A thought occurred to him, and he said, "Qin Li, uh... I’m done talking. Is there anything you want to add?"

Qin Li paused for a moment, then looked at the Qin Family disciples, who were all staring at him with expectant faces. ’I guess it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t say something,’ he thought. He smiled, raised his hand, and said, "Let’s all work hard together to build the Qin Family into a super-power! And if anyone stands in our way... just cut the bastards down!"

The Qin Family disciples were stunned for a second, then erupted into a thunderous cheer. It was as if every one of them had suddenly been filled with a new strength. Their fervor made everyone around them turn to look.

Qin Suo gave a wry smile. ’Is this the charisma of a true powerhouse?’ he thought. ’I worked so hard, talking myself hoarse, and everyone was still listless. But with a single sentence, Qin Li got their blood boiling.’

In truth, the passion of youth needs little encouragement.

Just then, Qin Li’s gaze fell on the Cui Family Martial Artist who had just been spouting nonsense. A cold smirk flashed in his eyes. The next moment, the first beam of light shot out and enveloped the man, instantly teleporting him into the fighting arena.

The young Cui Family disciple was stunned for a moment, likely not expecting to be the first one chosen. Immediately after, Qin Li commanded the Golden Palace to teleport a middle-aged man from one of the smaller families—one whose Primordial Power fluctuations were incredibly strong.

The scenery shifted, and the two men instantly appeared in the fighting arena.

Outside, everyone from the various families and Sects stopped talking. They held their breath, their eyes fixed on the scene inside.

The Cui Family and their allies naturally hoped for an opening victory. Meanwhile, the members of the small families and Small Sects who had just been insulted were watching the middle-aged man eagerly, hoping he would teach the Cui Family a lesson!

Let them know that the Cui Family wasn’t the only power in the world!

"Are you going to surrender on your own, or are you going to wait for me to beat you to a pulp?" This young Cui Family disciple was named Cui Yuxing. At thirty-three, he was the sixth son of the Cui Family Master and the sixth younger brother of Cui Leng. He had already reached the Celestial Integration Realm at such a young age, so it was no wonder he was so arrogant. In an ordinary small family or Small Sect, a cultivator at the Celestial Integration Realm could already sit on an Elder’s throne!

The middle-aged man opposite him was from a small family on Profound Island. Coincidentally, his surname was also Cui. Whether he was descended from a branch of the main Cui Family was impossible to verify now. At first, he’d felt a certain kinship with the Cui Family, as they shared a surname and his ancestors had, in all likelihood, branched off from them.

But he had never expected the Cui Family disciples to be so unbearably arrogant, especially this man before him. Still, considering them kin, the middle-aged man, whose surname was also Cui, spoke politely, "I am also named Cui. My name is Cui Wudi. May I have the honor of knowing your name...?"

"Haha, Wudi? Invincible? You’re killing me! A piece of trash like you dares to call himself Invincible? You’re not worthy of knowing my name. Besides, you’re about to die anyway!" The Cui Family youth sneered with disdain. "Don’t think you can cozy up to me by making up a name. Come on, enough talk. Let’s fight!"

As he spoke, Cui Yuxing drew an ancient-looking longsword from his back. The moment it was unsheathed, a biting chill filled the air. He pointed its tip at Cui Wudi.

Cui Wudi’s face flushed red, and a glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes. This was the last straw! The people of the Cui Family... were far too overbearing!

"Brother Wudi, kill that arrogant bastard!"

"That’s right! The great Cui Family is high and mighty; we’re not worthy of them! Even though you share a surname, their ’Cui’ must be written in gold!"

"Brother Wudi, kill that son of a bitch! All of us from the small families and Small Sects are behind you!"

Outside the arena, several of the Cui Family’s Supreme Powerhouses couldn’t help but frown, clearly displeased with Cui Yuxing’s arrogance. ’There’s a time and a place for making enemies,’ one thought. ’These small families and Small Sects might seem weak individually, but if they were to unite, they would become a force that couldn’t be ignored!’

Cui Yuxing let out a sinister chuckle, his body suddenly blurring into a streak of light. At the same time, an intensely cold aura exploded within the fighting arena. It was a bone-piercing chill. He thrust his sword viciously toward the spot between Cui Wudi’s eyebrows!

Cui Wudi gave a cold smile, and his hands suddenly turned the color of red gold!

He fearlessly reached out to grab Cui Yuxing’s sword!

"Ah, the Red Gold Hand! It’s actually the Red Gold Hand, a technique famous seventeen hundred years ago!" someone in the crowd of spectators cried out in alarm.

"It really is the Red Gold Hand! That Cui Family kid is in trouble now!"

"Heh heh, the Cui Family is really having a run of bad luck! First, there was Qin Li slapping them in the face again and again, and now even a disciple from a small family possesses such incredible skill!"

Outside, the expressions of the few Cui Family elders at the Venerable Realm, as well as a group of other senior Martial Artists, turned grim the instant the Red Gold Hand appeared.

In the preparation area, a look of shock flashed through Cui Leng’s eyes. "Yuxing, be careful!" he yelled.

Unfortunately, the barrier around the fighting arena was one-way. Sound could travel out, but not a single sound from the outside could get in.

"Courting death!" A savage look appeared on Cui Yuxing’s face. He poured every last bit of his Primordial Power into his sword. The Treasure Sword tore through the air, letting out a piercing shriek!

BOOM!

Cui Wudi’s golden hands instantly collided with Cui Yuxing’s Treasure Sword! A tremendous bang erupted. When they looked again, the Treasure Sword in Cui Yuxing’s hand had been snapped clean in two!