Volume Three: Rising Fame Chapter Fifty-One: Fixed Gaze

Among the white fox pack, one not only had to evade the fangs, claws, and tails striking from all directions but also remain vigilant against the attacks from the Ninth Prince’s men. If someone of fifth-rank cultivation were here instead, they might have already suffered several bites.

But Li Yu was different. Beyond the subtle advantages of his lightning attribute spirit domain, even his mastery of body techniques—honed through countless hours of practice—was comparable to those who had trained for decades.

As time passed, the slightly weaker white foxes joined the fray, adding to the chaotic battle.

“Not yet... wait a little longer...” Li Yu muttered, seizing a white fox by the jaw and flinging it forcefully away.

He glanced around. Of the eleven fighters, four had fallen, and the rest bore injuries of varying severity. Still, these were elite young warriors from prominent clans. As time went on, they formed a makeshift defensive circle back-to-back. Within it, there was space reserved for those who needed to rest when their stamina waned.

Taking turns, they held their ground. For a time, the white foxes found themselves unable to break through, and their casualties began to mount swiftly. Even the leading, burly white fox now licked its injured forelimb from the rear.

“Time to slip away!” Li Yu whispered.

“Then let’s go,” came the reply from beneath the ground—Sanyi Frost’s voice. Seeing Li Yu’s strength, she no longer harbored much worry.

However, just as Li Yu leapt out from among the white foxes and had taken only a few steps, a figure suddenly slanted across his path, blocking his advance.

“Ninth Prince... Ying Yongge?” Li Yu raised an eyebrow, looking at the young man before him.

As a royal participant, Ying Yongge’s profile had been laid out on Li Yu’s desk for advanced study. Fifth-rank cultivation at the initial stage, with a third-rank fire attribute bloodline—such talent surpassed most of the competitors in this contest. Those superior to him included only two other royal contestants.

“Li Yu, do you regret rejecting my invitation now?” Ying Yongge stood less than ten meters away, snow swirling around him, his fiery red hair whipping in the wind. He stared intently at Li Yu’s face, hoping to detect traces of regret, resentment... or even pleas.

Li Yu blinked in confusion.

What was wrong with this guy? Did he think he had him figured out?

Li Yu pondered silently. Perhaps there was some truth to this assumption.

Judging by Ying Yongge’s current fifth-rank cultivation, facing someone like Li Yu, who was at the peak of sixth-rank cultivation, it seemed unlikely he’d falter. Moreover, Li Yu covertly glanced back at the group of clan members entangled with the white foxes.

If it weren’t for those people having ignited true fire against the white foxes, the sheer numbers against him would have been overwhelming—close to a crushing defeat. But only Li Yu knew that, if push came to shove, the outcome wouldn’t be as Ying Yongge hoped.

“Just because the Qing Clan favors you, you think you’re invincible?” Ying Yongge’s brow furrowed tightly. To his surprise, he glimpsed a hint of mockery in Li Yu’s eyes.

And the emotions he had longed to see—resentment, frustration—were utterly absent.

This realization filled Ying Yongge with uncontrollable rage. With a powerful leap, he launched a fierce attack toward Li Yu.

He was determined to teach this arrogant youth, who had first spurned his invitation and then ignored him, a lesson in humility.

“Not bad at all!” Li Yu’s eyes reflected intense flames. This strike was no mere show.

His long sword crackled with lightning, enveloped in a radiant electric glow. Despite the many thoughts racing through his mind, his movements were swift and precise. He leapt to meet Ying Yongge’s thrust head-on.

This was no superficial duel; Li Yu clearly saw whether the attack was a killing move or a feint.

He had no intention of holding back. After all, earlier in the valley, Ying Yongge’s strike had startled the white fox tribe, clearly aiming to finish him off.

“Bang!”

The flames in Ying Yongge’s hand were scattered by Li Yu’s lightning.

Midair, the two clashed and immediately disengaged, swapping positions.

Li Yu hovered above, plucking a singed strand of hair from his head and smirking. “Heroes of the world should never be underestimated.”

“Fifth-rank cultivation? Impossible... How could the Qing Clan hide you so well?” Ying Yongge stared in disbelief. Blood seeped from his left shoulder, his eyes flashing with cruelty. The wound glowed red, and a faint burnt scent rose from it.

The bleeding soon stopped.

In a one-on-one duel, slight differences in strength mattered little. This was not a tale of gods or demons fighting for centuries; here, a blade’s cut would not have time to heal before the next strike.

Such duels were as much psychological warfare as physical. How much power to exert in each move? What damage to exchange for the opponent’s? When to unleash a killing blow? Was the opponent’s attack a trap or a bluff?

Too many variables.

In their recent exchange, Ying Yongge had already suffered a notable setback.

He had fought at full strength against an opponent of lower rank who had already been somewhat worn down. This gave Ying Yongge a false sense of assured victory, breeding a degree of contempt.

Yet Li Yu had been hiding his true capability, and when he finally unleashed it—whether by design or accident—had Ying Yongge not reacted swiftly, he might have fallen then and there.

“Enough. You follow your sunny path; I’ll cross my own narrow bridge,” Li Yu said calmly, looking down at Ying Yongge. He was taken aback by the ruthless bleeding control displayed by his adversary but spoke with serene confidence, “If your men can’t hold on, you should go help them.”

After all, Ying Yongge was a prince of the Ming royal family, and with so many witnesses present, Li Yu knew that if he were to strike a killing blow, he would have to ensure no one escaped. That was no easy feat. Besides, with the snow fox spirit vine now in his possession, his foremost priority was to transfer part of it to Blue Star—a foolproof plan in the making.

Ying Yongge glanced back. His subordinates, though battered, could hold their ground for several more hours.

Turning back, he found Li Yu already turning to leave.

“Fifth-rank lightning bloodline... to reach such terrifying heights in so short a time—if allowed to go, he will surely become a menace,” Ying Yongge thought grimly.

His hands moved faster, launching a fierce assault on Li Yu once more.

“Are you done yet?” Li Yu had anticipated this and drew back his sword, engaging Ying Yongge in renewed combat.

He had initially believed that after revealing his fifth-rank cultivation, any further thoughts Ying Yongge had would be postponed. After all, the longer the fight dragged on, the greater the chance something would happen to those surrounded by white foxes.

Yet Li Yu never imagined that the Ninth Prince would fixate so stubbornly on him alone.