Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 114: Must Occupy Two of the Top Five

"Junior Brother Ping’an, I feel that this Ninth Prince isn’t really a good person," said Li Qingyi, looking in the direction where Qin Mu had left.

Xu Ping’an smiled. "Born into the Royal Family, where are there truly good or bad people? It’s merely a matter of surviving," he said.

"Does Junior Brother Ping’an want to help him?" Li Qingyi asked.

"Not necessarily, but if I hadn’t agreed to him today, he would not have let the matter rest. If his target were only me, that would be fine, but his target includes you as well," replied Xu Ping’an.

"Do you mean to say that I am also from one of those seven major families?" Li Qingyi asked in surprise.

"Yes, you are most likely from that Fire Attribute Family. If you didn’t have the Fire Attribute Bloodline, you wouldn’t be able to inherit the True Phoenix Bloodline. If, in the future, you come across items like the Chaotic Flame, they might even improve your physique," Xu Ping’an said.

"Even if he makes a move against me, I won’t submit to him," Li Qingyi’s eyes suddenly turned icy.

"Actually, there’s no need for that. Agreeing to him is also a form of cooperation, each taking what we need. He might be able to provide us with assistance in the future," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.

Li Qingyi nodded.

"What’s the Ninth Prince’s strength? I can’t even tell," Li Qingyi asked, puzzled.

"Fourth Rank, Sixth Layer Realm," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.

"That strong? He looks to be only about twenty-four years old," Li Qingyi responded, somewhat surprised.

"Indeed very strong. The eunuch behind him just now, Sixth Rank. As for the specifics, I’m not sure, but if he were to strike at us, no one could stop him," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.

Li Qingyi’s pupils contracted.

That eunuch just now, although she felt quite threatened,

she had not expected him to be a Sixth Rank expert.

"Junior Brother Ping’an, you still need to be careful," Li Qingyi said with some concern.

"Don’t worry, I won’t provoke them. Tell me about yourself. Are you planning to break through to the Eighth Layer Realm tonight?" Xu Ping’an asked with a smile.

At this moment, Li Qingyi had already reached the peak of the Third Rank, Seventh Layer Realm, just a hair’s breadth away from the Eighth Layer Realm.

She had been holding back from breaking through, probably waiting to do so tonight.

"Yes!" Li Qingyi nodded.

"Good, you can break through here, I will act as your protector," said Xu Ping’an.

"Alright!" Li Qingyi initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Xu Ping’an so determined, she did not reject it.

Following that, Li Qingyi sat cross-legged in the courtyard and began cultivating.

Xu Ping’an kept watch by her side, observing her.

It must be said that Li Qingyi was indeed beautiful, especially under the moonlight; she truly possessed the aura of an ethereal fairy.

Li Qingyi swallowed a Superior Grade Third Rank Jade Spirit Pill, and the True Yuan inside her surged wildly.

The spirit energy of heaven and earth also crazily flooded towards her.

Within the Li Huo Sect, the spirit energy of heaven and earth was indeed much thicker.

Thus, Li Qingyi’s breakthrough proceeded very quickly.

After refining the Superior Grade Jade Spirit Pill, she successfully opened the eighth Mysterious Vein.

Afterwards, Li Qingyi took another Superior Grade Jade Spirit Pill to recover her True Yuan.

Following her breakthrough to the Eighth Layer, Li Qingyi’s strength increased significantly.

"Not bad, the foundation is still quite stable," Xu Ping’an commended.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Ping’an, for acting as my protector," Li Qingyi said with a slight smile.

"I actually didn’t do much, just purely appreciated," Xu Ping’an teased with a laugh.

"Was it nice to look at?" Li Qingyi retorted playfully with a captivating smile.

If anyone else saw that smile, they would probably go mad with envy.

"Beautiful! All right, go rest. There’s a competition tomorrow," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingyi also felt exceptionally joyful in her heart.

After bidding farewell to Xu Ping’an, she returned to her room with a light step.

Xu Ping’an stood in the courtyard, drawing the Sunrise Sword and continually striking with it.

Each swing was better than the last.

The sword momentum was pervasive, and soon thereafter, the sound of thunderous explosions filled the courtyard.

...

He had stayed up all night.

Xu Ping’an had been practicing his swordplay in the courtyard all night long.

It wasn’t until the next morning that he entered his room to take a bath.

Early in the morning, the practice arena of the Li Huo Sect also came alive.

Today was the day of individual combat, which they were all eagerly anticipating.

Although the Beichen Sword Sect had suddenly emerged as the dark horse to win first place in the team competition,

Many still believed that Xu Ping’an and Li Qingyi were only suited for team combat, where their coordination shone.

Yet, their individual combat power was not on par with that of Situ Feng, Tang Yu, Ji Lin, and others.

Therefore, in this individual competition, the top five places would surely include three from the Li Huo Sect.

As for the other two spots, they would go either to the Tyrant Heavenly Sect or the Yudao Sect, definitely not to the Beichen Sword Sect.

After all, team competitions and individual battles are totally different matters.

Members of the Li Huo Sect, Tyrant Heavenly Sect, and the Yudao Sect also held this belief.

"Xu Ping’an, you must have felt very proud yesterday, but today you’ll realize that team competitions and individual battles are completely different matters," Xu Chengyu said with indignation as he passed by Xu Ping’an.

Others from the Tyrant Heavenly Sect also carried an air of arrogance.

Hearing these words, Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the irony.

Indeed, team competitions and individual battles were different matters.

But how could they know they were better than him without even fighting first?

"You don’t have the qualifications to say that to me, do you?" Xu Ping’an said with a light laugh as he looked towards Xu Chengyu.

Xu Chengyu’s face instantly turned ashen.

That’s right.

Even if Xu Ping’an might not be a match for Lei Hu and Lei Bao,

He was clearly stronger than Xu Chengyu.

"Humph, I’m speaking on behalf of Brother Lei Hu and Brother Lei Bao," Xu Chengyu immediately retorted coldly.

"So what you’re saying is, you yourself don’t have the qualifications to say this to me. Come back when you do, and then you can talk," Xu Ping’an still had a smile on his face.

Xu Chengyu’s face turned even more iron blue.

"Xu Ping’an, it seems you are quite arrogant. Chengyu is right, there is no chance for the Beichen Sword Sect to make it into the top five," Lei Bao stated as he stepped forward, coldly interjecting.

Seeing Lei Bao take over, Xu Chengyu instantly had a look of triumph on his face.

"Whether the Beichen Sword Sect can make it into the top five isn’t for you to decide. Now, I don’t care to argue with you. Let’s settle it at the arena," Xu Ping’an said with a smile.

"Then let’s settle it in the arena. This time, two of the top five places will be claimed by my Tyrant Heavenly Sect," Lei Bao stated confidently.

Xu Ping’an smiled and without giving further attention to the latter, headed towards the Beichen Sword Sect’s rest area.

At this moment, Zhao Tianlong and Xie Tianqiong were already waiting there.

"Xu Ping’an, don’t push yourself too hard. Just by securing the first place in the team competition, our Beichen Sword Sect has already achieved great honor, so don’t feel any pressure," Zhao Tianlong said to Xu Ping’an.

"Right, just do your best. It’s fine even if you don’t make it into the top five," Xie Tianqiong added.

"Pressure? What pressure could I possibly have?" Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

It seemed even the two elders didn’t have high hopes for him.

Seeing the expression on Xu Ping’an’s face, Zhao Tianlong showed a hint of suspicion, "Do you actually have confidence in making it into the top five?"

Xie Tianqiong also looked forward with anticipation.

But before Xu Ping’an could reply, Li Qingyi suddenly said, "Elders, don’t worry. In this individual competition, our Beichen Sword Sect is certain to take two of the top five places."

The moment these words came out, Zhao Tianlong and Xie Tianqiong were stunned.

Xu Ping’an just chuckled and watched with amusement as Zhao Tianlong and Xie Tianqiong looked on in shock.