"Oh? What kind of results? Let your master take a look."
Li Qingqiu sat at the long table. He poured tea as he smiled and asked. He deliberately acted as if he did not know. In his heart, though, he was already feeling a bit of anticipation.
Yuan Li walked to the center of the courtyard. He planted his feet in a horse stance. Both hands clenched into fists and were drawn back to his waist. He took a deep breath. In an instant, his physique visibly grew stronger by a small margin. Compared to the other disciples, it still could not be called robust. But compared to his usual thin and frail body, he had indeed become noticeably sturdier.
His robe began to flutter lightly. An indescribable momentum spread out from his body.
Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow. He discovered that inside Yuan Li's body, aside from vital energy, there was now an additional special power. This power originated from his tendons, bones, blood, and flesh. Moreover, vital energy could stimulate this power and make it stronger.
As expected. Being able to trigger a prompt was never just about mastering some technique. It meant creating something new.
"This is?" Li Qingqiu asked in surprise.
After mobilizing that special power within him, the twelve-year-old Yuan Li's expression became filled with killing intent. He looked like a completely different person from before.
"Master, I call this power Gang Yuan. While cultivating the Heavenly Firmament Golden Body Art, I discovered that the human body itself contains endless mysteries, even resembling the cyclical principles of heaven and earth. Vital energy is transformed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. So I wanted to awaken the potential of the physical body. That's why I created Gang Yuan. Gang Yuan can also be empowered by vital energy. Although my cultivation realm hasn't increased, my actual strength has risen dramatically."
As Yuan Li spoke, his expression remained cold and stern. His hair also began to drift upward.
Li Qingqiu was not sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that once Yuan Li activated Gang Yuan, he seemed to lose his emotions.
Now interested, Li Qingqiu stood up, walked around the long table, and stopped in front of Yuan Li.
"Punch me once. Use all your strength."
Yuan Li was only at the Nurturing Essence Realm, second layer. Hearing his master's suggestion, his brows furrowed and he hesitated.
"What, kid? You don't seriously think that just because you comprehended Gang Yuan, you can beat me to death, right?"
Li Qingqiu teased him in an exaggerated tone. Yuan Li's small face instantly flushed red.
He stopped hesitating. He spread his stance. His body curved like a drawn bow. His rear foot twisted, his hips rotated, and he poured all his Gang Yuan and physical strength into his right fist. Then he punched forward.
A fierce gust of wind rushed straight at Li Qingqiu, even kicking up a cloud of dust.
Pa!
Li Qingqiu raised his hand and caught Yuan Li's fist. His long hair fluttered with the impact.
Yuan Li felt that his master's palm was unbelievably solid. The moment his Gang Yuan struck it, it dispersed completely.
He let out a breath of relief. His robe stopped fluttering. His expression returned to normal. His body also shrank back slightly. He broke into a smile and exclaimed, "Master, you're amazing. I'm nowhere near your level."
Li Qingqiu withdrew his hand and smiled.
"Your Gang Yuan is very good. That punch just now—if a disciple at the Nurturing Essence Realm, fifth layer were caught off guard and took it head-on at full force, they would probably suffer extremely serious internal injuries."
Hearing this, Yuan Li was overjoyed. He jumped excitedly on the spot.
"Tomorrow, I'll have someone erect a monument for you. This path will be named the Body Cultivation Dao. In the future, you'll be allowed to establish a school within the sect and pass on the Body Cultivation Dao," Li Qingqiu continued.
Yuan Li was instantly delighted and hurriedly bowed to thank his master.
Erecting a monument was an enormous honor. Of course he would not refuse out of false modesty. He also felt that the Gang Yuan he created truly deserved such recognition.
Li Qingqiu told him to go rest. He immediately saluted and withdrew.
After the boy left, Li Qingqiu finally raised his right hand and shook it lightly.
"What domineering force. This kid…"
Li Qingqiu was secretly shocked. His hand was actually a little numb from the punch.
He could tell that when Yuan Li threw that punch, nearly all of the Gang Yuan inside his body had been expended.
Being able to pour all one's strength into a single strike was no simple matter.
No wonder he was the one Li Qingqiu had already chosen as the sect's future number one.
Zhao Zhen, Ji Ya, and Li Yang were all outstanding. But in Li Qingqiu's eyes, the one he truly expected the most was still Yuan Li.
It was not just because of the Indestructible Tyrant Body, but also because of his transcendent comprehension, unmatched within the sect.
Looking across the entire sect, perhaps only Yun Cai, who possessed the Myriad-Law Spirit Eyes and Hundredfold Tempering, could compare with Yuan Li.
No matter what, these two represented the future of Qingxiao Sect. Li Qingqiu would definitely nurture them personally. He would not assign them to the Eight Halls or the Sword Sect. He would keep them firmly in his own hands.
As the sect grew larger and larger, internal factions would inevitably increase, and conflict would be unavoidable. Li Qingqiu was not blindly arrogant. While expanding the authority and foundation of each hall, he would also strengthen the power of the Sect Master's own faction.
Yuan Li had not even awakened the Indestructible Tyrant Body yet, and he had already given Li Qingqiu such a huge surprise. This made him extremely happy.
That very night, Li Qingqiu instructed Yuan Qi to go to the Heavenly Works Hall and have a monument made for Yuan Li.
When Yuan Qi heard the news, he was first stunned, then wildly ecstatic. He even asked Li Qingqiu if he had mistaken the person's name. As a result, Li Qingqiu scolded him and sent him away.
Late at night.
After completing all of his tasks for the day, Yuan Qi returned to his own courtyard. This courtyard belonged only to the two brothers.
He saw that Yuan Li was still practicing punches and immediately hurried over.
"You little brat, did you really open up the path of body cultivation?" Yuan Qi asked excitedly.
Yuan Li withdrew his fists and nodded. "That's right. I call it Gang Yuan."
"That's great! Why do you think your big brother works so hard? Isn't it all for you? The Sect Master has more and more disciples now. To secure your position, I can only push myself even harder. Now you've shown your own potential. With you and me together, you'll definitely become the disciple the Sect Master values the most in the future. What Zhao Zhen? What Ji Ya? None of them can compare to you. Of course, don't compete with Xu Ning for favor. She's different. She's the senior disciple, and she made enormous contributions during the early days of the sect."
Yuan Qi spoke excitedly. His words deeply moved Yuan Li. Although Yuan Li had no intention of competing for favor, he had always seen his older brother's hardship clearly.
Many people privately questioned Yuan Li's talent, but none dared say it openly. That was not only because he was the Sect Master's disciple, but also because Yuan Qi was currently a favored figure before the Sect Master.
The more Yuan Qi spoke, the happier he became. He even began to shed tears.
Back then, he had been imprisoned within the Seven Peaks Alliance while holding Yuan Li, who was still wrapped in swaddling clothes. Those days were unforgettable, filled with fear and anxiety.
Yuan Li had no memory of that time, but he kept it firmly in his heart. He was not only grateful to Li Qingqiu, he had also sworn to become strong and never again fall into the position of a captive.
Because Yuan Li was constantly questioned, Yuan Qi also carried immense pressure. He simply never spoke of it.
After so many years, days as joyful as this night were rare. The only one that could compare was the night when Li Qingqiu carried the two brothers and slaughtered a path out of the Seven Peaks Alliance.
He looked at Yuan Li and smiled.
"Little brother, come on. Show me. Your big brother is at the Nurturing Essence Realm, third layer. I'm stronger than you."
Yuan Li smiled and said, "Brother, how much strength do you want me to use?"
"What? You want to beat your own brother to death? Or do you look down on me? Just throw the punch!" Yuan Qi laughed loudly.
Earlier, Yuan Li had already thrown a full-force punch at his master. There was not much Gang Yuan left in his body, so he did not think too much and planned to expend what remained.
As Yuan Li mobilized his Gang Yuan, Yuan Qi's expression became unnatural when he saw the changes in his younger brother.
He suddenly felt that something was wrong. But the dignity of being an older brother did not allow him to take back his words. He swallowed hard, set up his stance, and prepared to receive the attack.
…
Early the next morning, a new monument was erected along the Forging Path. It attracted passing disciples to stop and look. The news spread rapidly.
The Sect Master's third disciple had actually opened up the Body Cultivation Dao!
The news spread like a whirlwind. Because Yuan Li's cultivation aptitude was too poor, his name had long been well known. Many disciples privately called him a stain on the Sect Master's judgment.
And yet he had opened the Body Cultivation Dao?
Some were shocked. Some were curious. Others were skeptical.
At noon, Yuan Li arrived at Lingxiao Courtyard to visit Li Qingqiu. Yuan Qi followed beside him.
Yuan Qi's right arm was wrapped in white cloth. Inside, three wooden boards were clamped in place. It was clearly a fractured bone.
At this moment, the Xiao clan's three brothers were also in the courtyard, accompanying Li Qingqiu in conversation.
Xiao Wudi saw Yuan Li and his eyes lit up. He immediately stood and said, "Senior Brother Yuan Li, I heard you created the Body Cultivation Dao. Can you let me try your Gang Yuan?"
After a night of rest, Yuan Li's Gang Yuan had mostly recovered. Hearing Xiao Wudi's request, he hesitated slightly and glanced at Yuan Qi.
Li Qingqiu smiled and said, "Let him feel it. Don't hold back. With me here, even if he's left with only a single breath, I can still save him."
Yuan Li smiled when he heard this.
Xiao Wudi was not angry at all. Instead, he looked at Yuan Li with anticipation.
The two walked toward each other. Their gazes collided, sparks seeming to fly.
Yuan Li was usually humble, but deep in his bones flowed the blood of a powerhouse. He did not want to lose to anyone.
…
Inside another courtyard, Li Yang was practicing with his spear. His cousin Zhao Linglong stood nearby. There was also another person with her, a middle-aged man.
"Yang'er, say something already!" the middle-aged man said helplessly.
He came from the Li clan. His name was Li Da, Li Yang's second uncle.
Li Yang stopped his movements. Holding the long spear, he looked at Li Da and said, "Since you insist on asking, I'll tell you. You'd better give up those thoughts completely. Otherwise, they'll bring catastrophic disaster to the Li clan. You must understand this clearly."
The words 'catastrophic disaster' made Li Da's face change drastically.
Zhao Linglong's gaze shifted slightly. She thought of the Sect Master's methods and felt that he was absolutely capable of doing such a thing.
Li Da subconsciously asked, "Which point?"
"Within Qingxiao Sect, no one is allowed to stand above the Sect Master. True Person Qingxiao is the best example. It's not just that the Sect Master won't allow it. The Eight Halls, the Sword Sect, and even those great families won't allow it either. The Li clan must not bring trouble upon itself," Li Yang said coldly.
Li Da instantly understood. Cold sweat poured down his back.
Once the relationship between the Li clan and Li Qingqiu was exposed, if Li Qingqiu refused to acknowledge it, there would be plenty of people eager to deal with the Li clan.
Li Da followed up quickly. "Of course. That's only right. No one can stand above the Sect Master."
"However, the Sect Master allows Li clan disciples to enter Qingxiao Sect, as long as they pass the assessment," Li Yang said, changing his tone as he spoke seriously.
Li Da's eyes lit up. "That's enough. That's enough. The Li clan doesn't need any other status. We're willing to offer ourselves to the Sect Master, to help him restrain the other great families. The Zhu clan, the Pei clan, the Qin clan, the Cai clan, and so on. Even if the Sect Master uses them, it may not be smooth."
Li Yang smiled and said, "If the Li clan is willing to contribute to the sect, the sect will naturally treat Li clan disciples well. Don't think too much. We enter the sect based on strength. Do you understand?"
Li Da nodded. "Whatever the other great families can offer, our Li clan can also offer. And even…"
"And even what?"
"And even the world!"