Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli sneered coldly, recalling yesterdayâs contest where the two womenâs joint efforts ended in defeat, restrained by their immobile limbs. Although Li Xianâs strength was decent, compared to the heavenly prides of Daoxuan Mountain, it was likely far inferior. Nangong Liuli mocked, "So clueless, utterly laughable."
Bian Qiaoqiao said arrogantly, "Youâre just a petty minion. You couldnât even beat me, yet dare to boast pompously."
Li Xian raised an eyebrow, "Who says I canât beat you."
He raised his hand and pressed it on Bian Qiaoqiaoâs shoulder, giving it a gentle push. Bian Qiaoqiao exclaimed in surprise, swaying back and forth without stopping. She twisted her waist in an attempt to halt the swinging motion, but only displayed helpless embarrassment, completely ineffective.
Li Xian laughed, "Give up?" Bian Qiaoqiao said, "I...I give up. Please stop." Li Xian stopped her body.
Bian Qiaoqiao said viciously, "Youâre just bullying me because my limbs are immobile. If I were free to move, Iâd beat you in three moves, dare you try?"
Li Xian said, "Such big words, you girl, so arrogant?!" Nangong Liuli saw Li Xian provoked and quickly stirred the fire, "Sister Bian, youâre putting him in a tough spot. Such shameless fellow, what could he possibly do? He surely wouldnât dare."
Li Xian said, "Not dare? Well, you say I wouldnât dare! Then letâs try it!" He stepped forward, while Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli were overjoyed.
Li Xianâs actions suddenly stopped. The anger scattered from his face and he laughed, "Your provocation tactics are too clumsy and useless for me." Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli were furious, knowing Li Xian was deliberately teasing them. Poor sisters, manipulated by the villain, unable to retaliate.
Bian Qiaoqiao puffed her cheeks, holding back her anger to the extreme, struggling violently, making the flower ropes creak. Li Xian said, "Speaking of Daoxuan Mountain, is it really that powerful?" He picked up a piece of wine-braised venison and put it in his mouth.
Bian Qiaoqiao saw herself bound tightly and defeated in spirit, chewing slowly, her mouth wanting satisfaction, said, "Naturally." Li Xian said, "Then how did you get captured?"
Bian Qiaoqiao angrily said, "Wasnât it due to your foul trickery? If it were by swords and blades, how could I be caught?"
Li Xian said, "I see." Bian Qiaoqiaoâs eyes reddened slightly, "I disgraced Daoxuan Mountain."
Li Xian said, "Seems like Daoxuan Mountain isnât so impressive. All bark and no bite. Think about it... your elite disciples were captured by us. Doesnât that mean, among the younger generation... we of the Flower Cage Sect are far superior?"
Bian Qiaoqiao angrily said, "Nonsense! Though I was captured, I also slayed quite a few Flower Cage villains."
Nangong Liuli said indifferently, "You are arrogant and shallow, ignorant of the vastness of the world, surely you havenât seen a true heavenly pride."
Li Xian said, "Really? Please, fairy Liuli, analyze kindly." Nangong Liuli heard the word "fairy" and felt shy, thinking how in this situation she was only like a fairy in being suspended above ground.
Nangong Liuli frowned hesitantly. Disliking Li Xianâs arrogance, she said, "The disciples of the Flower Cage Sect have a narrow vision, which isnât wrong. Whatâs wrong is your arrogance and the laughable words you utter."
"A true heavenly pride possesses jade embryo porcelain bones, fairy posture and divine looks, born different from others. Rebirth Anomaly, extraordinary perception, solid Martial Arts foundation, Magic Dao inheritance, nurturing methods... Various secrets, you probably havenât even heard of them, so how would you know the gap in prowess."
Li Xian thought, "Ordinary Martial Artists indeed wouldnât have heard of it. But thanks to my wifeâs guidance, Iâve heard of it all. For this, I owe gratitude to her. In the path of Martial Arts, Iâve tread steadily because of her." His thoughts wandered.
Nangong Liuli saw Li Xianâs spirit wander, thinking he was startled, felt satisfied and said, "Enough, speaking too profoundly, this shameless fellow wonât understand."
"Letâs not mention the Golden Boy and Jade Girl of Daoxuan Mountain. You shameless fellow, you arenât even worthy of hearing their names."
Bian Qiaoqiao added, "Utterly unworthy. Sister Zhao, what a character, Brother Ji, what a hero, wretched person like you would never glimpse their greatness in your life."
Nangong Liuli greatly agreed. Li Xian remained unruffled, thinking, "No matter their greatness, what does it have to do with me? I only compete with myself, advancing step by step."
His heart was resilient, unfazed by honor or disgrace.
Nangong Liuli frowned tightly, again said, "Daoxuan Mountain gathers the essence of talents and land. Beneath the Golden Boy and Jade Girl, there are even the four esteemed gentlemen of Bamboo, Wind, Creek, and Stone, all elegant and impressive, a thousand times greater than you."
"Then thereâs the three exceptional ones of Sword, Book, and Charm, who are dozens of times greater than you..."
She enumerated the talents of Daoxuan Mountain to criticize Li Xian, mocking how unworthy, how vile he was.
Li Xian pondered privately, beginning to form a vague image of Daoxuan Mountain. Gathering the spirit of talents, majestic and towering, illustrious for generations.
Bian Qiaoqiao was also outstanding. But she was playful by nature, lazy in martial arts, lacking much experience, thus performing poorly. Yet despite that, her bones were extraordinary, her Martial Arts strong, her Inner Qi refined.
Many disciples of the great sects, since childhood, consumed Essence Treasures. Cultivating their bodies leisurely, forming a foundation early, far ahead indeed. Li Xian underwent extraordinary encounters and dangers, digesting Food Essence swiftly, yet after years of practice, couldnât match their childhood hard work.
Thereâs indeed a gap.
Moreover... the heavenly prides of Prefecture City at twenty, thirty, forty years, accumulated over decades, naturally arenât weak. Li Xian merely glanced through with shallow impressions. All because his realm was shallow then, and Wen Caishang was exceptionally formidable.
Slaying along the way. Not seeing othersâ impressiveness, decades of honed killer moves, no opportunity to display, already severely injured.
Liâs laughter gained much insight, understanding the strength of peers, neither exhilarated nor saddened. Under the candlelight, his expression peaceful, open-minded and carefree.
Nangong Liuliâs words were harsh, aiming to intensify his self-deprecation and loss of confidence, scrutinizing Li Xianâs face, only to see calmness and composure.