The Li Family is a small clan at the foot of the Cyan Yang Mountain Range. Their main development route is herb gathering and alchemy. There aren't many experts in the clan, with only two Early Stage True Dao martial artists and several dozen in the Transcendence Realm. Compared to the Four Great Families, they are exceedingly weak.
Precisely because of this, the Li Family decided to hire sect disciples to escort the herb gathering team into the mountains. After all, sect disciples are filled with geniuses who frequently challenge stronger opponents. A disciple at the Third Layer of the Transcendence Realm can be comparable to the family's Fifth Layer guards, and their martial techniques are significantly stronger.
At this moment, the elderly figure spoke, capturing everyone's attention. Chu Ming also opened his eyes and stood up.
"Patriarch Li, speak freely if you have anything to say!" A disciple wearing the inner sect garb of Cyan Nether Mountain said loudly, and the other disciples nodded. Li Lin, feeling rather emotional, looked at the dozen inner sect disciples. If these disciples were all from the Li Family, perhaps in just a few years, the Li Family could develop into an intermediate family, with the hopes of becoming a large family not being out of reach. Unfortunately, hope remained just that - hope, and could not be achieved.
"Due to some reasons, the number of hired guards this time has been reduced from fifteen to five!" Li Lin said awkwardly. Originally, he had planned to hire more sect disciples, but he hadn't expected the cost to be so high. Even if they managed to gather herbs this time, they might not even break even.
As soon as he finished speaking, the faces of the dozen sect disciples changed, looking slightly displeased. Even Chu Ming didn't look happy. Geniuses are naturally proud, and the Li Family's actions made them feel as if they had been played.
"What does Patriarch Li mean by this? Are you toying with us?" A disciple from the Martial Extreme Sect sneered coldly, questioning loudly. Even though Li Lin was a True Dao expert, he showed no fear. With the sect behind them, the Martial Extreme Sect could easily send an elder to wipe out the Li Family. Moreover, this time, the Li Family was clearly in the wrong.
"It seems the Li Family does not hold our Five Great Sects in high regard!" A disciple from the Celestial Star Sect in a blue robe mockingly said, while the other disciples watched coldly.
"Everyone, calm down!"
At this moment, a woman standing beside Li Lin spoke ethereally. Seeing that it was a woman speaking, the sect disciples slowly calmed down, though their gazes remained cold.
"Listen to me, even if you are not selected as guards this time, the Li Family will compensate each of you with two thousand taels of silver!"
The woman standing next to Li Lin spoke again. As soon as she finished, several attendants came forward with trays holding white silver notes. The faces of the sect disciples finally eased somewhat.
"May I know who this young lady is?"
A Cyan Nether Mountain disciple stepped forward and asked softly. It wasn't that he had any improper thoughts about the woman. For martial artists, if they were to seek a companion, they would look for someone with comparable strength. Otherwise, if one died and the other lived alone, what would be the point? He asked mainly to know if this woman had authority in the Li Family.
"This is my daughter, Li Lingru!" Li Lin said flatly. Seeing the sect disciples gradually calm down, he felt a little relieved. These sect disciples were all proud, and he truly feared leading the Li Family into a disastrous situation.
"Everyone, our Li Family's herb gathering team will enter the Cyan Yang Mountain Range tomorrow morning. Therefore, the selection of the five guards will be decided tonight. Those not selected will still be treated well. You can enjoy good food and lodging for a day, and we guarantee you will be satisfied!" Li Lin said sincerely. Despite his cultivation being at the True Dao, he dared not show any neglect towards these sect disciples.
Hearing this, an inner sect disciple from the Martial Extreme Sect stepped forward and asked, "Patriarch Li, what are the rules for the selection? Please explain."
Li Lin smiled and said, "It wouldn't be practical to have individual duels, so I have decided on a free-for-all. You see the red circle on the training ground? In a moment, you shall all enter the circle and engage in a free-for-all. The last five standing will be the guards for this time!"
Clearing his throat, Li Lin added, "To ensure fairness, during the free-for-all, you must not gang up on a single person. You must fight one-on-one. When others are engaged, you must find another opponent. Please remember this!"
Everyone looked towards the training ground and indeed saw a red circle about five zhang in diameter. It could barely fit twenty people for a free-for-all, but once the fighting started with sword lights and palm strikes flying, it would be very easy to affect others. It can be said that the difficulty is very high.
"I like the challenge!" said an inner sect disciple from Burning Fire Valley, nodding with a proud expression.
Not wanting to be outdone, an inner sect disciple from the Celestial Star Sect laughed, "Celestial Star Sect's martial arts are wide and aggressive, perfect for this kind of competition. Hahaha..."
"Cyan Nether Mountain disciples have never feared anyone!"
"Neither have we from Martial Extreme Sect!"
When it came time for the Cyan Yang Sect, a look of disdain appeared on everyone's faces. The few disciples from Cyan Yang Sect were of little use, with the strongest only at the early stage of the Fourth Layer of the Transcendence Realm, with no reputation in the martial world. They seemed to be here to make up the numbers rather than perform a task, raising everyone's spirits.
"Patriarch Li, I think martial artists at the Ninth Layer of the Postnatal Realm shouldn't participate in the selection. Otherwise, if someone accidentally gets killed, that wouldn't be good!"
A disciple from Burning Fire Valley looked at Chu Ming in the corner and mocked lightly. His words immediately drew everyone's attention to Chu Ming, filled with ridicule. Additionally, the disciples from Cyan Yang Sect harbored some resentment towards Chu Ming. They thought, "Why did you, a Postnatal martial artist, take on such a task and embarrass our sect?" Their expressions also turned unpleasant.
"Young hero, what do you think?" Li Lin didn't dare to make a decision on his own, fearing that it would completely offend the sect disciples if he did. Therefore, he asked Chu Ming's thoughts. However, in his heart, he hoped Chu Ming would withdraw from the selection. Otherwise, if someone really died during the selection, he wouldn't know how to explain it to the Cyan Yang Sect.
Chu Ming sneered, "Who kills whom, we'll see in a moment. Saying it now is just pointless talk!"
"You're courting death!" As soon as he spoke, a disciple from Burning Fire Valley couldn't hold back any longer. The one who stepped forward was a tall youth, about 1.9 meters tall, with a broad back and muscular build. His arms were thicker than an average person's thigh, indicating a strongly built body. A scorching aura emanated from his surroundings as if he were a human torch, steadily advancing towards Chu Ming. He was trying to intimidate Chu Ming and humiliate him publicly.
As he walked, his momentum grew stronger, hoping to crush Chu Ming and make him a laughingstock.
"That Chu Ming really is reckless, daring to provoke Yan Zhenhai. Even though Yan Zhenhai is at the early stage of the Fourth Layer of the Transcendence Realm, his physical strength is so great that even martial artists at the late stage of the Fourth Layer dread him. Those who oppose him often get torn apart by his bare hands..." An inner sect disciple looked at Chu Ming sympathetically, as if he could already see Chu Ming's miserable condition.
"I doubt they'll actually fight. Li Lin is the patriarch of the Li Family after all; he wouldn't just stand there and watch things escalate."
"That's true, what a pity though!"
As discussions continued, Yan Zhenhai's momentum grew even stronger!
Humph!
Just as Chu Ming was about to act and teach Yan Zhenhai a lesson, Li Lin stepped forward.
"Hold on, the selection is about to start. Please give me some face and hold off for now!" Li Lin said, feeling a headache. These sect disciples were arrogant, but for a Postnatal martial artist to provoke a Transcendence Realm martial artist, he was simply courting death. However, this was not of much concern to him.
Yan Zhenhai glared at Chu Ming, saying, "For the sake of Patriarch Li, I'll let you off for now, hmph!" He then spat on the ground, gave Chu Ming an angry glare, and withdrew his momentum, returning to the Burning Fire Valley faction.
Meanwhile, the disciples from the Cyan Yang Sect were discussing in low voices, faces darkened.
"What should we do? After all, Chu Ming is a disciple of our Cyan Yang Sect. Can we really just watch while he gets bullied by others?"
"What can we do? If only there were senior brothers or sisters here. For now, we should mind our own business!"
"I hate it. If only I were stronger!"
Chu Ming, who was about to act, had no expression on his face. To be honest, he was provoked by Yan Zhenhai's attitude and for the first time felt the intense competition among sect disciples. However, those who want to take his place must first ask if his sword agrees.
"The selection begins, everyone please enter the red circle!"
After waiting for a moment, Li Lin slowly stood and spoke. Immediately, the sect disciples, who were sitting on the ground, stood up and walked towards the red circle. The disciples from Burning Fire Valley and Cyan Nether Mountain were the first to step in, eyeing everyone fiercely. The disciples from the Martial Extreme Sect and Celestial Star Sect stood there, exuding a cold and aloof demeanor. These two sects were the ones Burning Fire Valley and Cyan Nether Mountain feared the most.
"Do you from Cyan Yang Sect still want to enter the circle? Get out of here! But that bastard Chu Ming must come in!" A disciple from Burning Fire Valley shouted at the Cyan Yang Sect disciples, his words filled with ridicule.
Finally, the disciples of Cyan Yang Sect also entered the circle. Seeing everyone had entered, Li Lin nodded and loudly announced:
"The selection begins!"