Ryan's arrival overturned his earlier disappointment. Instead, it rekindled his fighting spirit. A warrior's path required worthy opponents, and defeating such an opponent would only strengthen one's martial heart.
Although Ryan looked battered and travel-worn, the aura he emitted was unmistakable. It was the calm, oppressive presence of a true powerhouse.
That alone was enough.
Li Mingtian felt his blood heat up. His desire to fight surged uncontrollably.
This battle, at last, was worth anticipating.
"Honestly, I didn't really want to come," Ryan said calmly, his tone indifferent. His eyes were deep and steady, as if the dark sky itself had sunk into them. "I have no interest in you. But I also don't want people saying I was afraid, so I showed up."
"Arrogant!" Li Fanghua sneered from the side, her face full of disdain.
Li Mingtian laughed instead of getting angry. He neither mocked nor rebutted Ryan's words, only nodded lightly. "Confidence is not a bad thing. Since you're here, then there's no need for more nonsense. Let's begin."
"As you wish," Ryan replied with a faint smile.
"It's starting!"
"Even though Li Wei is only an Elite, I'm still curious. I want to see just how strong Li Mingtian, the number one genius of the Li Clan, really is."
"Same here. Li Mingtian is the youngest Upper Elite in the Li Clan's history. If I had even half of that talent, I'd be strutting around long ago. How could Li Wei act so arrogantly?"
"Hah, you? With his talent? You'd need several lifetimes of reincarnation."
"Li Wei really doesn't look afraid at all. Do you think he actually has a chance?"
"Impossible. If Li Wei wins, I'll go eat the mourning stone behind the mountain."
"With Li Fanghua's hatred, Li Mingtian will absolutely kill him. He'll use Li Wei's blood to please her."
"What a pity. Li Wei just became an Elite and got arrogant for a few days, and now he's about to be reaped…"
The discussions surged like waves around the martial arena. Almost everyone sided with Li Mingtian. They had come not to see suspense, but to witness the overwhelming strength of the Li Clan's number one genius.
In their eyes, the gap between an Elite and an Upper Elite was like heaven and earth. No matter how powerful Ryan's martial techniques were, it was impossible to bridge that gap with skill alone.
On the high platform, an elder smiled faintly and spoke. "Li Wei really did come back. Patriarch, elders, both Li Wei and Li Mingtian are outstanding juniors of our Li Clan. What do you all think of this match?"
"Is there even a need to ask?" another elder replied immediately. "Li Mingtian will win without question."
"This battle is unfair from the start," someone else added.
"Mingtian's talent is extraordinary. Killing Li Wei on the ring will be easy," the Seventh Elder said coldly, his killing intent undisguised, not caring in the slightest that Li Gengxin was present.
"I think my Wei'er will win," Li Gengxin said steadily, his voice calm but firm.
At that moment, the elder who had spoken first suddenly smiled. "Since opinions differ, why don't we make it interesting? Let's place a wager."
"Oh?"
"Good idea."
"Haha, Elder Shuren, are you planning to be the banker? You might lose badly this time."
"Everyone's betting on Mingtian. Elder Shuren, don't cry when you lose everything."
The elder named Li Shuren merely smiled, unbothered. "A wager naturally has winners and losers. What's there to fear? As long as the odds are fair."
He raised both hands, three fingers on one, one finger on the other. "Li Mingtian wins, pays one to three. Li Wei wins, pays thirty."
The elders were momentarily surprised, then burst into laughter. Even so, almost everyone placed their bets on Li Mingtian. Thirty times the payout sounded tempting, but only a fool would believe Ryan could win.
Only Li Gengxin and the Seventh Elder did not immediately react.
Li Shuren turned toward them with a smile. "Patriarch? Seventh Elder? Care to join?"
The Seventh Elder said nothing. He simply took out his wager and placed it firmly on Li Mingtian.
Li Gengxin's face darkened. He glared at Li Shuren, clearly displeased.
Watching others gamble on his son's life made his heart burn with anger. However, he did not stop them. This was a collective decision of the elders. Interfering would only damage his authority.
Seeing no further response, Li Shuren stopped pressing the matter and continued collecting wagers with a faint smile.
In the arena, Ryan and Li Mingtian had already signed the life-and-death agreement. The duel was officially set. The air tightened, heavy with anticipation.
Li Mingtian looked at Ryan seriously and spoke in a low voice. "Li Wei, I truly admire you. If you hadn't killed Li Meiran, perhaps we could have become friends."
"Friends?" Ryan replied flatly. "That depends on whether you're qualified. If you want revenge for Li Meiran, then come."
Li Mingtian sighed softly. "Your arrogance really hasn't changed. Unfortunately, you must die here today. This is the condition I promised Hua'er. As long as I kill you, she'll marry me. That's what I've always wanted."
Ryan glanced toward Li Fanghua below the ring and sneered. "Her? Then you're even more disappointing than I thought. The so-called number one genius of the Li Clan, doing this for a girl who is as blackhearted as her brother… your martial path can only be limited."
"You!" Li Mingtian's face darkened. "You can insult me, but don't insult Hua'er. In my heart, she is flawless."
Below the ring, Li Fanghua's eyes shone, her gaze fixed on Li Mingtian with deep affection.
Ryan lost all interest in continuing the conversation. His voice turned impatient. "Enough nonsense. If you want to kill me, then come."
Three days without rest, endless fighting, and constant breakthroughs had pushed Ryan's body close to its limits. He needed to end this battle quickly and rest properly, or his body would eventually collapse.
Moreover, in Ryan's eyes, Li Mingtian helping Li Fanghua avenge Li Meiran was nothing more than blind foolishness. As he had said, such a martial path would never lead far.
"Fine," Li Mingtian said coldly. "Then I'll come."
His eyes sharpened. He clenched his fist and stepped forward, throwing a punch straight at Ryan.
This punch was only a test. Li Mingtian used five-tenths of his strength and did not activate any martial technique.
Yet it was enough.
The moment his fist shot out, the duel officially began. The crowd fell silent, every gaze locked onto the ring, holding their breath as the first clash unfolded.
This duel was indeed unfair.
But the unfairness was not aimed at Ryan.
It was aimed at Li Mingtian.
For three full days, Ryan had slaughtered monsters deep within the Forest of Death. By the time he stepped onto the Yanwu Ring, his cultivation had already reached Five-Star Exalt. He was no longer the so-called "small Elite" of the past.
How could a mere Elite like Li Mingtian possibly contend with him?
Even twenty Li Mingtians together would not be Ryan's opponent, let alone the single one standing before him now.
So when Li Mingtian threw his probing punch, Ryan did not dodge.
He calmly raised his hand, extended two fingers, and flicked forward lightly, tapping against Li Mingtian's fist.
"Boom!"
A dull sound echoed.
Li Mingtian's body was instantly blasted backward, sent flying several meters through the air. He barely managed to stabilize himself before falling off the ring, stumbling heavily as he landed.
"Impossible!"
Li Mingtian scrambled to his feet, staring at Ryan as if he had seen a ghost. His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.
Yet the numbness and pain surging through his fist, along with the fact that he had been blown back several meters, made it painfully clear that this was no illusion.
Ryan had shattered his punch using only two fingers.
And not only that—those two fingers had overpowered his strength head-on.
Li Mingtian was a Two-Star Upper Elite!
Even with only half his strength and no martial technique, this was not something an ordinary warrior could block—much less repel so casually.
But Ryan had done it with ease.
When had Ryan become this terrifying?