Only I am Venerable

Everyone was stunned, including Hai Yufeng, who had just been struck by his own lightning. His handsome face was now a mask of dejection. He stood there in disbelief, staring up at Yongchun, who hovered in the sky like a goddess, his eyes glinting with incredulity.

’How could she have become so powerful?’ Back then, even if Yongchun had a slight edge on him, she could never have held such an overwhelming advantage.

Over the years, Hai Yufeng’s power had grown rapidly. Although he hadn’t broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm, he was confident that he feared no other Martial Artist in the Thunder Tribulation Realm.

His mastery over the Heaven and Earth Laws had already reached a terrifying level. For instance, if that bolt of lightning had struck a Martial Artist at the Pill Nascent Soul Transformation realm, Hai Yufeng was certain he could have blasted them directly into dust!

Not even a speck would remain!

But Yongchun had also mastered this kind of Law, and her control and understanding of it were countless times greater than his!

Yongchun had shown mercy.

There was no doubt about it. Hai Yufeng was uninjured. The previous exchange had looked perilous, but Yongchun hadn’t used her full power at all.

The bitter taste of defeat welled up from the bottom of his heart. A bleak smile touched the corners of Hai Yufeng’s lips.

"Yongchun, it’s been many years. Your power has grown ever stronger! I have lost." True experts knew when they were beaten. No matter how arrogant or domineering they were before, they wouldn’t make excuses for their failure. If they were the type to constantly make excuses for themselves, they would never have reached their current heights.

"I will honor my promise and leave the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace," Hai Yufeng said slowly. His eyes, full of complex emotions, glanced at the equally shocked Qin Li. He gave a faint smile. "Qin Li, consider yourself lucky this time. The next time we meet, I won’t let you off!"

Qin Li had indeed been stunned by Yongchun’s power. ’It makes me wonder about the peerless experts of the Primordial Era,’ he thought. ’What must a Martial Artist who reaches the Earth Immortal Realm be like?’

’Even someone at Yongchun’s Thunder Tribulation level would have been considered a god-like being in the world of my past life!’

’They can call the wind and summon the rain, use the Five Elements of heaven and earth to attack, and live for thousands, even tens of thousands of years... If that’s not a god, what is?’

’But in this world, they are also human. They have feelings and desires, their own likes and dislikes. Does that mean the gods my ancestors worshipped in my past life were actually people like Yongchun? They weren’t gods—they were human!’

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Qin Li suddenly heard Hai Yufeng’s words and was snapped back to reality. He smiled faintly, looking at Hai Yufeng with an innocent expression. "I have no grievance or grudge with your Hai Family. I don’t even know you. Why must you press me so relentlessly?"

"No grievance or grudge?" A cold sneer appeared on Hai Yufeng’s lips. "Let’s not speak falsehoods. Qin Li, don’t harbor any delusions of luck. I will eliminate you!"

A flame of anger ignited in Qin Li’s heart. ’I really don’t have any major feud with this Hai Family. I fought Hai Jinzun once, but he was less skilled. Isn’t it normal for him to lose?’

’Is this a world where you’re allowed to bully people, but no one is allowed to fight back?’

’Then there was the matter with that bald youth impersonating the Artifact Refining Master, Master Jin, which I exposed. If the Hai Family were a responsible and magnanimous clan, they should have thanked me for stopping those people from tarnishing their reputation!’

’And this Hai Yufeng is supposed to be a respected senior, yet he keeps saying he’s going to eliminate me!’

’On what grounds?’

’Is it just because my talent is high and my power is growing quickly? Is that getting in the Hai Family’s way?’

However, Qin Li felt there was no point in saying any of this aloud. Since the man was so intent on eliminating him, why bother trying to reason with someone like that?

Hai Yufeng’s words were crystal clear. He was blatantly telling everyone, ’The Hai Family is wary of Qin Li, so we must eliminate him! We can’t let him rise to power and destroy our family one day.’

Everyone knew this was a foolish assumption. Never mind whether Qin Li could actually rise to power; even if he did, would he necessarily turn against the Hai Family?

This world was vast; it wasn’t just the Land of the Far West! To eliminate someone over such an unfounded threat... the Hai Family’s tyranny and arrogance were truly something to behold.

At that moment, Yongchun descended from the sky and landed beside Qin Li. She said coolly, "Hai Yufeng, you are forcing my hand!"

Hai Yufeng flinched slightly, a deeper flash of anger and jealousy in his eyes. He smiled. "Yongchun, you don’t understand. The Hai Family is more than just me, Hai Yufeng! This wasn’t my decision. And how long can your Moon Shaking Immortal Palace protect this man? I’m not trying to stir up trouble, but your own palace has already fractured because of him. Heh heh, he’s a grown man. Can Qin Li really stand hiding behind a woman forever?"

"Hai Yufeng, shut your mouth!" Yongchun’s delicate brows shot up as a chilling killing intent emanated from her. She was truly enraged. "Don’t force me to strike you again!" she said coldly. "Don’t you think this goading is a bit low-level? What do you mean, hiding behind a woman? Don’t forget, Hai Yufeng, before you were thirty, you probably hadn’t even reached the Shattered Void Realm! You were just obediently trailing behind your family’s elders, playing the meek grandson! What right do you have to talk about him?"

Hai Yufeng’s face turned ashen. He nodded and said coolly, "Fine, Yongchun. I won’t argue with you. Go on and protect your little lover!"

With that, he turned and said to the group of renowned members and disciples of the Hai family, "We’re leaving!"

"Hai Yufeng, you’re spouting vicious slander! What ’little lover’?" Yongchun’s face went pale with anger. Though she looked impossibly young, her true age was immense, and she had no experience with romance. Her feelings toward Qin Li were purely an appreciation for his martial talent; she had no other intentions. After what Hai Yufeng said, it probably wouldn’t be long before a rumor spread: *Elder Yongchun, the great ancestor of the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace, has taken a fancy to a young man not yet thirty...*

This was nothing less than blatant defamation!

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Heh heh, it’s nothing. Don’t take it seriously." Hai Yufeng’s ability to infuriate people was in no way inferior to his own strength.

"Wait." Qin Li, who had been mostly silent, suddenly called out to Hai Yufeng and his group as they were about to leave.

"Oh? What is it? Is Young Master Qin finally willing to step out from behind a woman and face us like a real man?" Hai Jinzun finally spat out the words he’d been holding back, then stared coldly at Qin Li.

"You’re just someone I already defeated. Who the hell do you think you are? You think you have the right to talk to me like that? So I’m hiding behind a woman? You couldn’t even beat me, so what does that make you?" Qin Li fired a volley of taunts at Hai Jinzun, then said, "Get lost. This has nothing to do with you!"

"Qin Li, I’ll kill you!" Hai Jinzun was so enraged by Qin Li’s words he nearly spat up blood.

"Stand down!" Hai Yufeng barked, stopping Hai Jinzun’s impulsive move. He narrowed his eyes, looking Qin Li up and down, then suddenly chuckled. "As expected of the man who caught Yongchun’s eye. You certainly are different. What did you stop us for? You can tell me, can’t you?"

Qin Li smiled, nodded, and said directly, "Listen up, old man. You want to kill me, right? Fine. Starting today, I swear before everyone here: I will annihilate your Hai Family!"

The moment Qin Li said this, everyone was dumbfounded. The members of the Hai Family erupted in fury, while the people from the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace all looked at Qin Li as if he were an idiot.

They all thought to themselves: ’Is this guy sick in the head? Has he gone mad? Annihilate the entire Hai Family? How can anyone boast that brazenly? What kind of family is the Hai Family? They’re a transcendent power on par with the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace! Hai Yufeng alone could easily destroy Qin Li. What’s he going to use to annihilate their entire family?’

"You’re insane!" Yongchun said, looking at Qin Li anxiously.

As soon as Yongchun finished speaking, an ancestor of the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace, a bewitching woman who looked to be in her thirties, said coolly, "That oath is your own. Do not drag our Moon Shaking Immortal Palace into this. The Moon Shaking Immortal Palace has always prioritized peaceful development. Our principle is to oppose war. Therefore, your words can only represent you personally. They have nothing to do with the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace!"

"That’s right. Whether you’re Qin Li or Qin Fang, your words represent you alone! Don’t think you can drag the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace down with you!" another ancestor of the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace said.

"Yongchun, you see? This is the man you’ve taken a liking to. Tsk tsk, so arrogant! Annihilate my Hai Family? Hahaha, good! I’ll be waiting for you to do it!" Hai Yufeng seemed delighted, but there was no trace of a smile in his eyes, only a glint of icy killing intent. He turned and left.

The group from the Hai Family all glared at Qin Li with hatred, as if they were looking at a dead man.

After all the Hai family members had gone, the several ancestors from the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace walked toward Qin Li. Yongchun immediately stepped in front of him, looking coldly at the approaching group.

Qin Li reached out, gently pushed Yongchun aside, and smiled. "Don’t worry, I’m fine. I’m not in the habit of letting women shelter me from the storm."

"Qin Li, don’t listen to..."

Qin Li cut Yongchun off. "I don’t care what they say. I will remember the kindness you have shown me, Senior!"

As he spoke, Qin Li suddenly sent a telepathic message to Yongchun: "Please help me look after the three women from the East under Elder Mo: Bu Yunyan, Zhao Qianqian, and Linghu Feiyue."

After speaking, Qin Li looked up at the group of Moon Shaking Immortal Palace ancestors and said slowly, "I know what you want to say. I can tell you directly, my reasons for coming to the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace are not as complicated as you imagine, and I never intended to drag you into my affairs. So, you don’t need to be afraid. I will leave now!"

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I’ve had a bit too much to drink and I’m exhausted. Apologies, only two Chapters today... (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com for more Chapters and to support the author and legitimate reading!)