Li Jiancheng was absolutely not the kind of person who lost himself in arrogance. His words, though seemingly magnanimous, were in fact meant to overwhelm Huan'er with his aura and erode her fighting spirit on a psychological level.
Huan'er's beautiful face, however, betrayed not the slightest expression.
She glanced at Li Jiancheng with cold indifference.
"So the people of the Asura Dojo are nothing more than a pack of silver-tongued braggarts after all?" Huan'er said in a detached tone. "If you're looking to show off your eloquence, I'm afraid I must inform you — you've been quite unimpressive."
Li Jiancheng's expression stiffened. He had believed himself perfectly composed and refined. Yet from the look of this stunning beauty, she hadn't taken any of it to heart at all.
Could it be that this whole display was nothing more than winking at a blind woman?
Li Jiancheng was thoroughly frustrated — so frustrated he was on the verge of losing control. The most vexing thing in all the world was throwing yourself before a beautiful woman only for her to regard you like a fool.
In that moment, the killing intent in Li Jiancheng's heart truly stirred.
However, it was immediately replaced by an even more sinister fury.
"You little wench, you're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Fine, fine, fine — this young master will make sure to thoroughly humiliate you in this round. Once Peacock Sacred Mountain has fallen and you're in my hands, I'll make you tremble and yield before me! We'll see how high and mighty you remain then!"
These were the words Li Jiancheng wanted to blurt out. Fortunately, he had not entirely forgotten his identity as the young master of the Asura Dojo.
No matter how much he thought them, these words could only remain in his gut — they absolutely could not be spoken aloud. The moment they left his lips, the entire tone would change.
Huan'er was sharp and perceptive. The moment Li Jiancheng's sinister gaze fell upon her, she caught a vague hint of the vile thoughts behind it.
A flash of disgust crossed her clear eyes, and Huan'er spoke in a frigid voice: "Li Jiancheng, your Asura Dojo wishes to challenge the authority of Peacock Sacred Mountain. As the challenger, I shall grant you the first move."
What? Let me go first?
Li Jiancheng thought he had misheard. Had this little trollop lost her mind? Or had she been intimidated by this young master's overwhelming royal aura?
"Hahaha — are you certain you want this young master to strike first?" Li Jiancheng sounded as though he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
At the same time, his expression turned grave. His powerful Emperor Realm aura erupted without reservation, forming a formidable field of pressure that surged toward Huan'er in a provocative wave.
Wicked as Li Jiancheng was, he seemed to wish he could use this aura to pin Huan'er to the ground, to defile this delicate beauty with the power of his Emperor Realm domain.
Huan'er sensed the frivolous intent behind his pressure, and her slender brows knitted even tighter. A bitter thought flashed through her mind: "This rascal is so insolent and disrespectful — I should listen to Brother Chen. If there's a chance, I'll cripple him!"
Dark impulses were rare in Huan'er's heart. But even this one was ultimately suppressed: "No, I can't. Defeating Li Jiancheng is fine, but crippling him would be going too far."
Huan'er's mind was delicate and thorough. She immediately thought of the next match — that would be Brother Chen against the Asura Emperor, that old wretch. If she crippled Li Jiancheng, it would inevitably send the Asura Emperor into a thunderous rage.
When that happened, Brother Chen would be facing an enraged Asura Emperor — wouldn't that only bring trouble upon him?
It had to be said, Huan'er was meticulous as fine silk, and her consideration of matters was exquisitely detailed. Even with her intense dissatisfaction toward Li Jiancheng, she still had no intention of pushing things to the absolute limit.
Li Jiancheng had no idea that the beauty standing before him felt not the slightest fear toward him, but was rather deliberating inwardly on how to deal with him.
He had even less of an inkling that, within the span of Huan'er's thoughts, he had already walked back and forth through the gates of hell.
His mouth continued to issue provocations, garbled and unclear: "Among the young generation of the Glazed Glass Royal City, this young master has never once allowed anyone the first move. Even your so-called Young Master Zhen of Peacock Sacred Mountain — if he stepped onto this stage, this young master would still not deign to strike first. Miss Huan'er, do you know why that is?"
Li Jiancheng had found his chance to show off, and naturally he would not let it slip by.
Huan'er remained expressionless: "I have no interest in knowing."
Li Jiancheng burst into hearty laughter: "Because everyone knows that if this young master strikes first, the other side may never get the chance to make a move at all."
This was not mere boastfulness on Li Jiancheng's part. His martial path was indeed overwhelmingly domineering. Those who fought him and lost the initiative would find themselves suppressed from start to finish, beaten so thoroughly they couldn't even catch their breath. Defending from beginning to end, one might lose without ever landing a single counterattack.
"Is that so?" Huan'er did not so much as lift an eyelid.
"You don't believe me, Miss Huan'er?" Li Jiancheng spoke as though toying with prey.
Huan'er's delicate brows arched sharply: "Whether I believe you is of no consequence. From what you're saying, you want me to strike first?"
"This young master has always been rather reluctant to fight female cultivators — a true gentleman doesn't battle a lady, after all! But today, on this arena, there's no avoiding it. Even so, a contest should still be conducted with some elegance. Miss Huan'er, you take the first move. If you don't go first, I'm afraid this young master may never give you another chance."
"You're certain?"
"Absolutely certain. Hahaha — this young master is quite eager to see just how captivating Miss Huan'er looks when she attacks!"
Li Jiancheng's tone had long since crossed the line from flirtatious into truly lewd.
Huan'er remained unmoved, though a trace of displeasure finally surfaced between her brows. She inclined her head ever so slightly: "Very well, then. Brace yourself."