Yu Yuanzhen's dignity was, naturally, respected. As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd quickly responded:
"Thunder Douluo, you speak too heavily!"
Yu Xiaogang was supported to his feet by Liu Erlong and Flender, one on each side.
Blood seeped from the corner of his lips, a stark purple palmprint burned across his cheek. His fingers trembled as he wiped away the blood, yet his eyes still held that unyielding stubbornness that refused to bow.
"Please…"
His voice slurred; he was still trying to speak.
But the next moment—
Liu Erlong and Flender quickly stopped him.
If he kept talking, neither of them doubted that with Yu Yuanzhen's temper, he would truly kill the so-called Grandaster with a single palm.
The two half-dragged, half-carried Yu Xiaogang back to their table.
On the wheelchair—
Zhao Wuji could no longer be recognized as the former "Immovable King."
His head hung low, his emaciated frame shaking uncontrollably. Bloodshot eyes brimmed with pain and venomous hatred.
"Li… Li Zhexian…"
Even now—
Zhao Wuji did not regret ambushing Li Zhexian.
As a teacher, avenging his student—what fault was there in that?!
His only regret…
Was that he hadn't finished the job back then.
He should have ignored the risk of exposure, even at dawn—should have flattened that whole forest to the ground, leaving no chance for future consequences!
Zhao Wuji tried to clench his fist.
But now—
Even such a simple expression of hatred had become a luxury.
Throughout the whole exchange—
Li Zhexian did not speak a single word.
He merely looked coldly at the ruined Zhao Wuji, then emotionlessly drained the wine in his cup.
—The rain from that night seemed to fall upon him once more.
Back then, he had exhausted every means just to seize a sliver of life.
It was also the first time he tasted the scent of death.
"Ah, Brother Zhexian, ignore those useless things! Come on, let's keep drinking!"
Feng Buyu, Huo Wushuang, and the others hurriedly raised their cups.
"Since we're all in high spirits today, allow me to present a performance for you all, as a little offering of celebration." Li Zhexian spoke, then turned toward Feng Bailong, bowing slightly: "This junior will show his incompetence and ascend the tower first."
Feng Bailong stroked his beard and laughed.
"Go."
Li Zhexian turned to the quietly seated Snow Empress.
"Senior Snow Emperor, please watch over Little Yazi for a moment."
The Snow Emperor nodded slightly. With a wave of her slender hand, the struggling little Yazi landed in her embrace.
Zheng—!
A pure, ringing sword cry echoed across Heaven Dou City.
People all throughout the city looked up.
A youth in white robes, stepping on glazed sword qi, rose soaring into the sky—
Ascending straight to the tallest tower in Heaven Dou!
"Look! It's Lord Sword Wine!"
"What is Lord Sword Wine doing?!"
"Is he ascending the Douluo Tower? Is Lord Sword Wine taking his Title?!"
Yu Tianheng, Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang and the rest all stood up, eyes filled with admiration and envy as they watched Li Zhexian climb step by step.
"I've never seen someone ascend the tower to receive a Title!"
"It's been many years since a new Titled Douluo emerged!"
"Brother Zhexian is truly incredible!"
Under the gaze of thousands—
Li Zhexian stepped on sword qi, rising effortlessly.
On the Douluo Continent—
Titled Douluo are the highest realm.
Every empire and great sect erected a high tower within their territory.
Titled Douluo could ascend this tower, inscribing their honorific title and battle records—
For all Spirit Masters under heaven to admire, and to set their sights upon.
Wind howled at his ears, clouds swirled around him, brushing the hem of his robes.
Li Zhexian now stood atop the highest point of Heaven Dou City.
He looked down upon the vast, prosperous city beneath him—
A surge of boundless pride rose in his chest.
"As the ancient poem says:
'When one rides high on the spring breeze, the horse gallops swiftly;
In a single day, one sees all the flowers of Chang'an.'"
"Truly, these lines capture the thrill of inscribing one's name atop the golden rankings, and the romance of riding a horse to behold all the blossoms!"
"And today, I—Li Zhexian—"
"Shall laugh as I gather the winds and clouds to inscribe my name, leaving my Title forever upon the Sun and Moon Tower!"
Li Zhexian's clear voice reverberated endlessly throughout Heaven Dou City.
"My name is Li Zhexian."
"At six years old, I awakened innate full Spirit Power—
yet wasted six entire years, unable to progress a single step."
With a sweep of his sleeve, he wielded his sword as a brush and the clouds as his ink, writing bold, unrestrained characters upon the high tower.
"I refused to be mediocre.
Drinking beneath the moon, dancing with my sword, I awakened the twin Martial Souls—Sword and Wine."
"As a Spirit Grand Master, I traveled Heaven Dou—
and in one strike, crippled a Spirit Elder…"
His youthful voice rang across the skies, domineering and unrestrained, each word sharp as a blade.
One massive glass-like character after another manifested through the clouds, imprinting themselves across the tower—visible to every eye in the city.
Spirit Masters followed his strokes with excitement.
The people of Heaven Dou whispered in astonishment:
"Lord Sword Wine actually has such a past?!"
"So that means his actual cultivation time is six years less than people thought? Hiss—what terrifying talent!"
"A single sword strike to cripple a Spirit Elder while only a Spirit Grand Master?! He could already fight across ranks back then!"
"At that time, Lord Sword Wine was only mildly famous in the arena—he wasn't even known throughout Heaven Dou yet!"
"Leaving one's Title upon the tower… how magnificent!"
The admiration in the eyes of Feng Buyu, Huo Wushuang, and the others deepened further.
Huo Wu caught sight of Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and the other girls staring up with intoxicated adoration—and sighed inwardly.
One glimpse of Zhexian ruins a lifetime.
Feng Bailong and the other Titled Douluo listened quietly, knowing full well the hardships hidden behind his words.
"One strike to cripple a Spirit Elder…"
Flender clenched his fists, muttering through gritted teeth:
"Is Ma Hongjun even not worthy of being named?"
Yu Xiaogang's face was cold as iron.
Liu Erlong's expression dimmed.
"As a Spirit Grand Master, ambushed by Spirit Sage Zhao Wuji—
fought desperately and barely survived." Li Zhexian paused midsentence.
Zheng—!
A shard of glass-like sword qi burst through the clouds, descending from the heavens.
In the next moment—
The sword qi shattered silently.
Li Zhexian stepped forward into the air, standing suspended, his robes fluttering, gazing down at Yu Xiaogang and the other two.
"The former karmic debt will be settled today."
"I will heal Zhao Wuji.
If he can withstand a single punch from me—our past grievances end here."
His tone was calm, yet carried a chilling cold.
"You already wield the strength of a Title.
How can Zhao Wuji possibly withstand you…" Yu Xiaogang forced himself upright, teeth clenched as he looked up.
"Then include your Golden Iron Triangle—
take one sword from me." Li Zhexian replied lightly: "For Senior Yu Yuanzhen's sake, I will not take the three of your lives."
Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Flender exchanged a look.
And instantly understood each other.
They agreed.
More accurately—
they had no choice.
Refuse, and Zhao Wuji dies.
Accept…
and perhaps a sliver of life remains.
"Sun and Moon Radiant— Golden Fusion!"
Flender roared.
Golden light surged from their bodies, forming a golden triangle suspended in the air. A mysterious force rippled outward.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes sharpened:
"Luo Sanpao!"
The round, pig-like Spirit Beast leapt into the center of the triangle.
In an instant—
Yu Xiaogang's two Spirit Rings, along with the seven rings each from Liu Erlong and Flender—sixteen in total—flew out and plunged into Luo Sanpao.
"Roar—!"
Luo Sanpao convulsed violently.
Then, under countless horrified gazes—
Its body swelled at terrifying speed. Golden rhombus scales sprouted across its skin, muscles bulged like mountains, and twisted horns split forth.
Within just a few breaths—
A more than twenty-meter golden dragon coiled above the trio.
Its golden dragon eyes brimmed with majesty—
Locked unblinkingly upon the white-robed youth.