C5 You Are Not Qualified

Zhao Xiangfei emerged with his long hair billowing behind him, his strides wide and purposeful. His expression was so dark and stormy it looked as though rain might pour from his scowl. With a thunderous bellow, he unleashed, "Roar!"

His roar echoed powerfully, a formidable aura surging from his frame, marking him with an air of dominance. Without hesitation, he summoned the Black Tortoise Sect's esteemed Profound Level High Grade martial art—the Black Tortoise Holy Body!

Instantly, his body expanded, and a protective aura, akin to a tortoise's shell, materialized from within, casting a deep azure glow. It was as though he donned the Black Tortoise Armor, a thick carapace enveloping him.

This transformation was the work of his cultivation technique. The Black Tortoise Protection, akin to battle armor, boasted a defense so impregnable it was hailed as the ultimate shield. And with the rise of his Profound Qi, the Black Tortoise Protection's offensive and defensive capabilities would only grow stronger.

"Lee Qi, your provocation has sealed your fate. I swear, you will fall by my hand!"

His words seethed through clenched teeth, his eyes ablaze with unmasked murderous intent.

Wang Tianlong's face drained of color. "Heavens above! He's mastered the Black Tortoise Holy Body. I never imagined Zhao Xiangfei would grasp the Black Tortoise Sect's signature technique so soon after his initiation."

"This is bad! Lee Qi is on the brink of defeat!" Wang Ling'er stood at the ready, poised to intervene.

Having reached the Celestial Essence Stage herself, she doubted her ability to fend off Zhao Xiangfei now empowered by the Black Tortoise Holy Body. But with no other option, she steeled herself, determined to shield Lee Qi from harm.

Lin Ao expressed his astonishment, "Who would have thought Zhao Xiangfei would master the Black Tortoise Holy Body? Its augmented strength and defense are beyond what the Holy Bear Dominating Body can match. Lee Qi is surely outmatched this time!"

His faith in the Black Tortoise Holy Body was unwavering, just as his belief that Zhao Xiangfei would personally vanquish Lee Qi.

His face broke into a grin as he watched the unfolding clash between Zhao Xiangfei and Lee Qi, as if witnessing a mismatched duel between a grown man and a mere child.

"Junior Brother Zhao has mastered the Black Tortoise Holy Body. Lee Qi doesn't stand a chance!"

"I've always known about the might of the Black Tortoise Holy Body; it's a shame I'll never have the chance to practice it."

Zhao Xiangfei's four followers were brimming with excitement, as if they were already witnessing Lee Qi being swiftly and decisively taken down by Zhao Xiangfei, unable to rise again.

Lee Qi, however, remained utterly unconcerned. While the Black Tortoise Holy Body was a martial skill of considerable prestige in the Black Tortoise Kingdom, to him, it was as insignificant as trash.

The techniques he discarded without a second thought were far superior to the Black Tortoise Holy Body.

With a gaze that seemed to penetrate the very fabric of the universe, Lee Qi could see through every martial skill in existence, including the Black Tortoise Holy Body, riddled with flaws. Zhao Xiangfei was the least of his concerns.

"Prepare to meet your end!"

With a roar, Zhao Xiangfei launched a punch with all his might. His fist glowed, and as his Fist Strength whirled, it emitted a crackling sound, signaling the peak of his power.

Zhao Xiangfei, already formidable with the ninth level of Body Tempering strength and nearly a thousand kilograms of Pure Power, had his strength doubled by the Black Tortoise Holy Body. His Defense Power was also at its peak, leaving him with no reservations as he unleashed his full-force attack.

He stomped the ground fiercely, leaving two deep craters, and fissures snaked across the limestone floor.

His punch, swift as thunder, barreled toward Lee Qi, its might radiating outward. The chair behind Lee Qi shattered instantly, and Wang Tianlong and the others retreated to avoid the residual energy.

Wang Ling'er alone did not back down, determined to stand shoulder to shoulder with Lee Qi in defiance.

"A single pinky finger is all it'll take to finish you," Lee Qi declared, his tone even and unimpressed.

He made a fist but extended only his pinky, slowly advancing it toward Zhao Xiangfei's oncoming punch. That finger stood firm, like a towering column ready to puncture the heavens.

"Is he serious? He's going to face his opponent with just his pinky?" Wang Tianlong exclaimed in disbelief.

The Wang family elders were equally astonished, their mouths agape, struggling to accept what they were seeing.

Lin Ao's voice cut through the air with icy certainty, "Lee Qi is as good as dead! He has no idea of the might of the Black Tortoise Holy Body. It wouldn't matter if he used his whole fist; in a head-on clash, he wouldn't stand a chance against Zhao Xiangfei."

"Brother Zhao is invincible! Take him down with a single punch and show him the true strength of our Black Tortoise Sect!"

"Brother Zhao is unstoppable, crush him!"

Provoked once more by Lee Qi, Zhao Xiangfei's fury ignited a surge of power within him. He mustered all his might, his aura blazing like a rainbow, creating a whirlwind that sent furniture spiraling through the air.

"Die!"

Then, a pinky and a fist collided.

But the anticipated outcome did not materialize. Lee Qi's pinky stood firm like a towering pillar, unshaken.

Conversely, Zhao Xiangfei let out a wail of agony as he was hurled back, skidding across the ground to crash down twenty meters away.

"Ah!"

Lee Qi's pinky had not only bested Zhao Xiangfei in their clash but had also severed one of his fingers and punctured a bloody hole in his palm. His finger strike was so potent it could skewer the heavens and traverse the cosmos.

Witnessing his severed finger and the gaping wound in his palm, Zhao Xiangfei was in utter disbelief.

The sight of Lee Qi's pinky still pointing at him, as if to say 'You're no match,' was the ultimate insult.

"You must have harnessed Profound Qi; there's no other explanation for your strength!"

Wang Tianlong was utterly astounded, now seeing Lee Qi in a new light.

"Could Lee Qi truly be a prodigy? Was the 'worthless' son-in-law just a ruse? After the way I've treated him, what if..."

Wang Tianlong wasn't the only one filled with fear; the Wang family elders were consumed by guilt.

From the moment Lee Qi stepped through the Wang family's doors, they had never shown him the slightest kindness.

Now, recalling his extraordinary display of power, they were rendered speechless, their bodies quivering with trepidation.

Wang Ling'er's eyes sparkled as she defended her husband, "He's not worthless. He's a true genius!"

Lee Qi approached Zhao Xiangfei with a contemptuous glint in his eye, giving him a cold, disdainful stare. "The Black Tortoise Holy Body? To me, it's less significant than a fart, and yet you treasure it? Sure, it's marginally better than the Zhao family's pathetic Bear Body technique."

Lee Qi spared no mercy in his verbal lashing of Zhao Xiangfei, leaving no room for dignity.

"You..." Zhao Xiangfei fumed, "Martial Uncle, Lee Qi is showing contempt for our Black Tortoise Sect. You must take him down!"

Meanwhile, Lin Ao was still reeling from the revelation of Lee Qi's strength. 'Incredibly strong! Unbelievably so!' He mused, 'If I could make him my disciple, my status in the Black Tortoise Sect would skyrocket. But if he refuses, I must eliminate him to avoid future threats.'

Stepping forward with an air of superiority, Lin Ao declared, "Lee Qi, you possess great strength! Would you consider me as your master? Under my tutelage, your progress would be swift. And as for injuring my nephew, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones."

He maintained the condescending tone of a senior throughout, causing Lee Qi to frown. In his past life, he was a revered figure in the Immortal Realm, worshipped even by Immortal Emperors. And now, this insignificant man dared to offer to be his master? The Immortal Realm's powerhouses would surely scoff at the notion.

"Do you truly wish to take me as your disciple?" Lee Qi inquired.

"Absolutely! With my innate talent, vast experience, and formidable strength, I am more than qualified to be your master," Lin Ao boasted confidently.

Lee Qi burst into laughter, his reaction an enigma to all.

With a whimper, Zhao Xiangfei interjected, "Martial Uncle, weren't you here to enforce a marriage? Why are you now intent on taking a disciple?"

"Silence! I, your Martial Uncle, have my own plans," Lin Ao snapped back coldly.

Fuming with rage, Zhao Xiangfei coughed up blood, his complexion ghostly pale. 'Forget about the past? My fingers are broken, my hand is bleeding... This is outrageous...' he seethed internally.

Wang Tianlong and his peers were utterly astounded. Lee Qi's exceptional talent had actually prompted the venerable Daoist Lin to offer him discipleship—a stroke of immense fortune.

For the average person, securing an audience with Daoist Lin was a challenge, to say nothing of becoming his disciple. Now, with Lin extending the offer to Lee Qi, acceptance seemed a foregone conclusion.

"We're in trouble. Given how we've treated Lee Qi before, if he becomes Daoist Lin's disciple, won't he seek retribution?"

A Wang family elder's concern was palpable.

At his words, a wave of unease washed over the other elders. Their faces were a sight to behold, cycling through a spectrum of emotions until settling on a sickly liver color.

Wang Tianlong's face was particularly ghastly.

It should have been a momentous occasion—his son-in-law joining the Black Tortoise Sect.

But now, he was filled with regret for his past actions toward Lee Qi.

Lee Qi, with his five millennia of martial arts experience, had braved life and death to attain the level of Supreme Being, earning the reverence of many in the Immortal Realm.

For Lin Ao to suggest discipleship was, to others, a coveted honor, but to Lee Qi, it was nothing short of an affront.

Lee Qi's demeanor turned solemn, his presence commanding, reminiscent of a War God incarnate. He declared, "Forget you—no one across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, throughout the myriad realms, is worthy to call themselves my master. You... simply do not qualify!"

His words left the crowd in a state of shock.

Lin Ao, confronted with the formidable presence of Lee Qi, couldn't hide his astonishment. "Who are you, exactly, to make such a bold claim?"

"You don't have the standing to know!" Lee Qi retorted with scorn. His aura withdrew, and he resumed his unassuming demeanor.

Lin Ao, scrutinizing Lee Qi once more, saw only an ordinary man, wondering if his eyes had deceived him. He sneered, "Lee Qi, I offered you the chance to be my disciple, but you can't see the value in it! Fine! Today, I'll show you my power, though you won't live to tell of it. Defy me, and death is certain!"

"Worship me and live! Defy me and die!" Lee Qi declared with an icy tone.

In that instant, he appeared to transform back into the War God incarnate, unbeatable in his might!