Chapter Seventy-One: You Are Not Worthy

Lin Yi and Li Zhihan hailed a taxi, and before long, they arrived at the Li residence.

“Dad, I’m home.”

Li Zhihan gently pushed open the villa door, only to see several people seated in the hall.

It was Li Mingfeng, Hong Wu, and Miao Yunhe.

“You actually remember to come home,” Li Mingfeng said, deliberately putting on a stern face.

However, as soon as he saw Lin Yi following behind Li Zhihan, his expression darkened.

“Why are you here?” Li Mingfeng asked, frowning.

Lin Yi came straight to the point: “Do you happen to have a spirit stone?”

At his words, everyone in the hall turned their attention to him.

Li Mingfeng was about to ask how Lin Yi knew about it but quickly realized it must have been Zhihan who told him. This foolish girl—her loyalty shifted so quickly.

At that moment, Miao Yunhe stepped forward, half joking, half probing: “Lin Yi, what, you want that spirit stone too?”

“Yes, I do want it,” Lin Yi replied without concealment.

He had an earth mother stone that could produce all kinds of spiritual liquid; paired with a spirit stone, it would likely further enhance his strength.

“Haha.”

Miao Yunhe was amused by Lin Yi’s words. “I’m sorry, Lin Yi, you’re too late. Uncle Li has already given the spirit stone to our Seven Star Society. In return, our society will help the Li family rise in Jiang Province.”

“I see.”

Lin Yi’s face remained unreadable as he continued, “Who’s in charge at the Seven Star Society? I’m willing to trade for the spirit stone.”

Li Mingfeng suddenly roared, “Enough, Lin Yi! Please understand the situation—this is the Li family.”

A flash of ridicule appeared in Miao Yunhe’s eyes. As Uncle Li said, this kid has no sense of propriety.

Who here doesn’t outrank Lin Yi, and yet he dares to covet the spirit stone.

“Dad…”

Li Zhihan had just spoken when Li Mingfeng shot her a glare.

Hong Wu also stood up, beckoning to Li Zhihan: “Girl, come here. I have a cup of tea for you. After three bows, I’ll take you as my personal disciple.”

Li Mingfeng winked at Zhihan, urging her to hurry over.

“Master Hong, I’m sorry, but I already have someone in mind as my teacher,” Li Zhihan said, taking a deep breath.

A flicker of displeasure crossed Hong Wu’s face. He, a half-step grandmaster of the Seven Star Society, personally offering to accept a disciple, was directly rejected.

Where did that leave his dignity?

Li Mingfeng was even more furious, striking at Li Zhihan, but Miao Yunhe stopped him.

“Uncle Li, Zhihan is still young. She must have been misled by someone.”

Miao Yunhe spoke with righteous conviction, then turned to the stubborn Li Zhihan: “Zhihan, who is the teacher you want to apprentice under? Our Seven Star Society has connections in Jiang Province—perhaps I know them.”

Li Zhihan bit her lip and remained silent.

Hong Wu said coldly, “Hmph, if not for your father begging me to take you, do you really think you have the qualifications?”

Li Mingfeng glared, urging, “Why are you standing there? Hurry up and pay your respects.”

This opportunity had cost him a spirit stone. If Zhihan refused, not only would the spirit stone be wasted, but a great chance would be lost.

Lin Yi glanced around and suddenly spoke, “The teacher she wants to apprentice under is me.”

For a moment, everyone stared at Lin Yi in astonishment.

She wants to apprentice under him?

Was this kid really so clueless?

They were talking about martial arts!

He was just an ordinary person—he probably hadn’t even heard of it.

They really thought composing a song for Li Zhihan was enough to become her teacher? How naive.

“Lin Yi, this isn’t your place to speak,” Li Mingfeng reprimanded.

Lin Yi ignored him, looking at Hong Wu: “It’s not that she’s unqualified to be your disciple, but that you’re unqualified to teach her.”

Hong Wu, usually calm, felt his anger stirred by Lin Yi.

Miao Yunhe smirked, thinking, if you don’t seek trouble, trouble won’t find you.

“You say I’m unqualified?” Hong Wu’s voice boomed as he approached Lin Yi step by step.

With each step, his aura surged like a tidal wave, pressing down on Lin Yi. Even those in the innate realm would be unable to withstand it.

Yet Lin Yi’s expression did not change.

“Well, you do have some ability.”

Hong Wu sneered, intensifying his aura like a fierce tiger bearing down.

The terrifying pressure of a half-step grandmaster caused everyone in the hall to feel their chests tighten.

Li Mingfeng was witnessing such power directly for the first time and felt increasingly grateful for his decision regarding Zhihan’s apprenticeship.

Lin Yi looked at Hong Wu, now a breath away, and said softly, “Your aura is too scattered—only one-tenth remains.”

“Still talking nonsense at this point,” Hong Wu frowned.

Lin Yi shook his head, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp as a blade.

Hong Wu felt an overwhelming sense of danger descend, immobilizing him.

“You…!” Hong Wu stared at Lin Yi in shock.

He was a half-step grandmaster, yet Lin Yi had suppressed him with aura alone.

Could this young man be a grandmaster?

Lin Yi didn’t answer directly, instead swiftly withdrawing his aura. “Do you still want to try?”

Hong Wu’s face shifted between red and green, unable to gauge Lin Yi’s strength.

He’d never seen such a young grandmaster.

“Does he have some special artifact?” Hong Wu wondered, a smoldering anger in his chest.

He’d almost been fooled by this kid.

“You brat, you’re courting death, daring to toy with me like this.”

The more Hong Wu thought, the angrier he became. He punched fiercely at Lin Yi’s chest.

If hit, even someone at the fifth level of the innate realm would have to spend months in bed.

Lin Yi’s gaze chilled, and he threw a punch in return.

“Haha, is this kid stupid, daring to go toe-to-toe with our master?”

“Exactly—everyone knows Master Hong is a boxing master. He can break a tree as thick as a person with one punch.”

“I wonder how many months Lin Yi will spend in bed, daring to provoke the master.”

Miao Yunhe and the others watched with amusement from the sidelines.

Bang.

Lin Yi’s fist collided with Hong Wu’s, producing a grating impact.

A figure was sent flying, crashing heavily into the hall wall, leaving cracks in the wall behind.

When everyone looked, they realized it was Hong Wu—Master Hong—who had been sent flying.

Not only that, his right arm was gone.

How could this be possible?

Everyone was stunned, doubting their own eyes.

Hong Wu was a half-step grandmaster, ranked among the top in Jiang Province.

Yet he had been struck by a young man, losing not only the fight but his arm.

Lin Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm: “Do you still think you’re qualified?”

Hong Wu endured the pain, his heart swelling with resentment.

His entire martial ability lay in his fists. With one arm crippled, his strength was halved.

Moreover, with his decline, his enemies were sure to come knocking.

“Young man, impressive skills.” Hong Wu gave Lin Yi a long look and strode toward the door with his three disciples.

But just as he stepped out, Lin Yi’s voice rang out: “If you give me the spirit stone, I can restore your arm.”

Hong Wu froze mid-step.

“Really?” Hong Wu asked hoarsely.

Lin Yi said nothing, taking out a pale pink pill—an Elixir of Life, refined from red ginseng.

Even for lost limbs, a sufficient dose would restore them.

For Hong Wu’s situation, at least three pills were needed.

Lin Yi tossed the pill to Hong Wu.

Hong Wu hesitated briefly, then swallowed it.

If Lin Yi had wanted his life, that punch earlier would have been enough.

No sooner had Hong Wu taken the pill than the bleeding stopped, and his empty right arm began to slowly regrow.

It stopped at about one-fifth, but even so, everyone was astonished.

Hong Wu’s eyes burned with hope as he asked, “What kind of pill is this? It can regrow a limb!”

“Elixir of Life. If you give me the spirit stone, I’ll give you four more, enough for a full recovery,” Lin Yi said calmly.

Hong Wu nodded. “Fine, the spirit stone is yours.”

He turned to Yao Jianing. “Xiao Ni, bring out the spirit stone.”

Yao Jianing dared not protest, hurriedly removing her backpack and retrieving a square brocade box.

“Master, here,” she handed it to Hong Wu.

Hong Wu opened it; inside was a pale blue spirit stone, somewhat resembling agate.

“So this is a spirit stone—how beautiful,” Li Zhihan gazed at it with wide eyes.

Lin Yi was surprised as well—it was a mid-grade spirit stone.

The spiritual energy within a mid-grade stone was comparable to a full golden core.

“Here you go,” Hong Wu tossed the spirit stone to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi caught it, lightly caressing the stone before vaporizing it with his spiritual power.

“A spatial artifact!”

Hong Wu and his disciples were full of envy. Spatial artifacts were priceless—impossible to buy even with money.

With the transaction complete, Hong Wu left with his three disciples.

Once they were far from the Li home, Miao Yunhe asked, “Master, are we just letting this go?”

“Of course not. Actually, this spirit stone was meant to be a gift for Qiao Weiliang, Grandmaster Qiao,” Hong Wu said darkly.

“Grandmaster Qiao?” Miao Yunhe exclaimed, “Master, is that the Grandmaster Qiao from Sichuan Province—the one who defeated three grandmasters in succession?”

“Yes,” Hong Wu nodded. “Lin Yi has now taken the stone Grandmaster Qiao needs. His strength is impressive, but against Grandmaster Qiao, he’s no match.”