Sometimes, it's possible, other times, it's impossible.

But sometimes, the impossible must be made possible.

So—

Fight!

Nine shallow, one deep, three left, three right, moving like an eel, advancing like a leech.

He forced himself out of "Wise Man Mode" and used the techniques he had learned from watching "Bending Flower Hand," combining them with flexible movements to soak his bedding with a large amount of water.

In the end, Jiang Li gave Gongsun Qingyue a thorough lesson.

...

...

When the winter sun once again shone upon Dinghu, Jiang Li walked out of the Tianxuan Hall with a steady gait.

"Phew."

He exhaled toward the morning sun and subconsciously rubbed his lower back, "That was tough."

It wasn't that his body couldn't take it, for his "One-foot Hammer" was strong enough to allow him to battle for ten days and nights without flagging. The main issue was that sense of lethargy, akin to phantom pain.

My body is still telling me I can do it, but my consciousness can't take it anymore, feeling drained.

This illusion-like sensation doesn't respond even to the "One-foot Hammer" or "Nourishing Life Master." Had it not been for senior sister's paper tiger provocation, Jiang Li might really have caved in.

'It must be the Old Demon up to her tricks. After being berated in person, if she doesn't retaliate, then she doesn't deserve to be my master.'

Jiang Li immediately suspected Tianxuan as the culprit.

After a brief period of avoidance, she finally made her move; the moment she did, Jiang Li couldn't pretend ignorance even if he wanted to. Controlling dreams was Tianxuan's specialty, and she had, with the assistance of several elders, dragged the entirety of Dinghu into a dream.

Furthermore, should Jiang Li actually surrender due to that sense of emptiness, Gongsun Qingyue might even realize she's been cheated... no, she definitely would.

Even if she didn't know, there would be someone to inform her.

The sparring between master and disciple had officially begun, with the Old Demon joining the battlefield in earnest.

Given Jiang Li's calculated thinking, after going through this ordeal, he would inevitably start to suspect the relationship between Tianxuan and Gongsun Yuanxi, leading to an investigation. Correspondingly, upon discovery, Gongsun Qingyue would most likely interfere.

Then, with one investigating and the other obstructing, the battle between the junior brother and sister began, inadvertently handing the Family Head the reins.

Jiang Li, with his astonishing wisdom, quickly deduced the likely outcomes and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, 'Jiang still has some spicy tricks up her sleeve.'

With that thought, Jiang Li rubbed his lower back somewhat wearily, as if trying to massage away that sensation.

"Such a young one with a bad back, seems like you had a hard night," a voice came from the right. Jiang Li turned to look and saw a white-haired but youthful-looking elder step onto the square in front of the Tianxuan Hall, teasing Jiang Li.

The elder was dressed in a green robe, exuding a carefree demeanor. In his behavior, there was an air of frivolity, like a mischievous old child.

Elder Yun.

Once during his time as an Outer Disciple, Elder Yun, a friend of Elder Wan who had taken good care of Jiang Li, served as an elder in the Artifact Pavilion and had a deep relationship with Jiang Li. In fact, Jiang Li's "Bending Flower Hand" was a friendly contribution from Elder Yun.

This frivolous elder approached with a teasing glint in his eyes, reaching into his sleeve and said, "I happen to have a copy of 'Inner Canon of Huangdi' here. It's said to be passed down from our founding ancestor, and though it's unclear if it really came from our founder or was created in their name by later generations, the principles and techniques within are undoubtedly correct. Young Jiang, would you like it?"

The elder showed no estrangement from having not seen each other for a long time, speaking with familiarity and not changing due to the shifts in the times.

Thinking so, the times when he used to get cultivation techniques from the Daoist Law Pavilion seemed like only yesterday, which made Jiang Li somewhat nostalgic.

Back then, Jiang Li had not yet lived on the Gongsun family's generosity, and although times were a bit austere, well...

Actually, there wasn't much good about it.

Jiang Li's nostalgia receded like the tide, and he stared intently at Elder Yun without a word.

Elder Yun had just pulled out a booklet from his sleeve only to meet Jiang Li's piercing gaze, causing him to halt his movement.

Then, Jiang Li suddenly spoke, "Great Venerable."

Elder Yun replied, "What?"

"You are the Great Venerable," Jiang Li said solemnly.

At this instant, a nearly imperceptible change flickered across Elder Yun's expression; although almost nonexistent, it was indeed there.

Jiang Li, looking at the text that appeared on the Karma Collection, showed surprise. "I didn't expect you to truly be related to the Great Venerable."

Elder Yun: "..."

This sudden turn of affairs left him feeling utterly befuddled, truly a disconcerting sensation for an old hand in the Jianghu. The expression on his face nearly crumbled.

"I returned to the Sect five days ago, and for the first three days, I saw none of my old acquaintances. On the fourth day, I entered the Heavenly Origin Cave Heaven and with the help of the Great Venerable, I injured a formidable enemy; thereafter, I met no one else."

By now, Jiang Li had already cast aside his previously drained appearance, and his gaze was as sharp as a sword, fixed on Elder Yun. "The reason is that I was thinking, if I continue not to meet anyone, then perhaps certain individuals would seek me out on their own initiative, like someone from the Great Venerable or the Great Venerable himself. After all, the Great Venerable had just taken action, showing that he deeply cares about the affairs of the Sect.

He might come to probe my intentions."

Elder Yun's expression became exceedingly strange, as if he was suffering from a toothache, his facial muscles twitching.

Jiang Li continued, "Therefore, I planned to deliberately avoid meeting others, waiting for someone to come to me. And I would test each person who sought me out."

How to test?

Of course, with deception.

Deceive them, to see if anyone related to the Great Venerable would actively seek me out, and also to see if they could be tricked by my ploy.

Jiang Li had once used divination to uncover the hidden identity of Feng Manlou. Others might not be able to deduce the Great Venerable's identity, but Jiang Li might really be able to do it. The Great Venerable's side knew this as well.

Therefore, it was worthwhile to attempt deception.

Even if the deception revealed nothing, there would be no loss; just consider it a joke.

After all, Jiang Li, the legitimate head of the Jiang family, future head of the Gongsun Family and husband to the future family head, and standing in for the Yaoguang Elder, playing a joke would show he is approachable and unpretentious, which is a good thing.

Yet, Jiang Li never expected that with such a deception, he would directly reel in a big fish.

No matter how cunning or superior in acting one might be, when faced with the unexpected, a look of astonishment will inevitably show. Even if one could remain composed with Mount Tai collapsing before them, the slightest incident could stir ripples.

That is the truth behind the unexpected.

"Are you a follower of the Great Venerable, or are you the Great Venerable?" Jiang Li's eyes revealed complex patterns, and he even took out Ochre Whip, enhancing the Emperor's Qi Observation Skill with the Yisi Divination augmented by Li Chunfeng's Dao Fruit.

"I am not, don't spout nonsense," Elder Yun flatly denied.

"Then hit me with your full strength,"

Jiang Li looked at him, raising his hand, "or I will hit you with my full strength. Rest assured, with the Ochre Whip here, as long as Elder Yun you are still breathing, I can save you. Heaven will bear witness to your identity."

Jiang Li did not even explain why Heaven could bear witness to identity, clearly he was certain of Elder Yun's identity.

Elder Yun's pained expression grew increasingly apparent, and for a moment, he was left without a response.

Because the method Jiang Li proposed could indeed prove his identity.

Elder Yun was no Lu Tianpeng. If he were to engage with Jiang Li, one of the two would undoubtedly face punishment.

Any response would indicate a questionable identity.

"Wait a moment! Setting aside how you could be in contact with the Great Venerable's people, what about this 'Heaven bears witness'?" Elder Yun countered, "I am an elder of the Sect's Artifact Pavilion..."

He hadn't finished his sentence when Jiang Li already raised his palm, "Then I shall strike. With the elder's status and position, even if I made a move against you, I wouldn't face punishment."

Currently, only individuals from the Feng family and princes or fourth-grade experts from the Ji Royal Family could cause Jiang Li to face Heaven's Punishment. The status of Dinghu Sect's Artifact Pavilion elder was truly not enough to make Jiang Li suffer Heaven's retribution.

The cold calculus of value measurement, which represents Heaven's judgment, is based on differences in strength, status, and qi fate.

Innate Qi converged within his palm, Qi mechanism surging, ready to strike.

"I..."

As Elder Yun saw Jiang Li about to take action, feeling both the absurdity and a sense of bemused helplessness, he conceded, "All right, you guessed right, are you satisfied now? You are quite a formidable figure yourself, and yet you resort to such petty tricks, truly unbecoming."

He sighed deeply, filled with a sense of resignation.

He had calculated every possibility, yet he had not expected Jiang Li to make such a move—and, more to the point, for him to fall for it. It was utterly preposterous.

"It doesn't matter whether it's a petty trick or a killer move; if it works, it's a good strategy," Jiang Li, seeing the elder finally admit it, slowly retracted his Qi, "Sometimes the more simplistic and unadorned it is, the more difficult it is to guard against."

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