They all want to change my future.

Chapter 40 Li Zhi of Zhaoyang Prefecture

"I guess so."

Li Zhi waved his hand dismissively, "I should thank that kind person for actually giving me an experience pack to level up."

Although she didn't quite understand the strange wording, Ji Baizhi chose to be respectful and simply asked softly:

"Young master, are you truly alright?"

"Don't worry." Li Zhi smiled. "Miss Lin herself has confirmed that I'm more than capable of handling these situations."

"That's good."

Ji Baizhi nodded, her divine sense seemingly sweeping across the shadowy corner of the courtyard, finding nothing unusual.

Thinking to myself, what a clever concealment, but with Lin Yueyin protecting me in the shadows, it's definitely safe.

She then said gently, "A few more sparring sessions would indeed benefit your cultivation, so I won't stop you."

"Hmm." Li Zhi nodded, turned to leave, but then suddenly turned back. "Oh, right, there's something else I need to tell you first."

"What is it?"

"Next, I might borrow your name for a while."

"Huh?" Ji Baizhi was slightly taken aback, then smiled slightly, "Young Master, please use it as you wish."

She seemed to have misunderstood something, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice lowered: "After all... young master is now considered a member of my Zhaoyang Manor."

Seeing her like this, Li Zhi knew she had misunderstood, but it seemed she wasn't wrong either.

This title truly requires courage, as it concerns Li Zhi's future plans.

However, I should still tell her first.

Thinking of this, Li Zhi naturally spoke up, "After the fight, I need to discuss something with you about the Red Silk Pavilion. I have a plan."

"Yes, I will wait for you to return, young master."

Ji Baizhi looked up at him, her gaze deep and unwavering.

Li Zhi suddenly had a strange feeling that if he never returned, Ji Baizhi would turn into a stone waiting for her husband.

Shaking his head to dismiss these wild thoughts, Li Zhi turned and waved, "I will come back."

"May you achieve great success, young master."

As Ji Baizhi finished speaking, Li Zhi walked towards the gate of Zhaoyang Mansion.

The moment the gate of the mansion was pushed open, the air on the long street seemed to freeze for a moment.

Countless gazes secretly fell from all directions, like a fine spider web, silently enveloping the figure in the green robe.

Li Zhi was completely unaware and walked calmly toward the most bustling north-south main road in the capital.

As he walked, undercurrents surged behind him.

Some hurried away to report, some whispered messages, and others hastily gathered their companions...

All these movements converged into an invisible undercurrent, rapidly spreading through the streets and alleys of the capital city on this spring afternoon.

Li Zhi finally stopped at the most open square at the intersection of the main roads.

The area was teeming with people, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, vehicles, and pedestrians chatting filled the air.

He unsheathed his gentleman's sword and stuck it, still in its sheath, into the bluestone slab in front of him.

Then take a deep breath and speak loudly.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it clearly drowned out the surrounding noise, like a pebble thrown into a pool, creating ripples:

"Li Zhi of Zhaoyang Prefecture is here to seek guidance from the talents of the capital."

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire street fell silent.

The crowd parted to the sides like a tide, clearing out a large circular area.

Countless gazes were fixed on the young man in the blue robe in the center of the arena.

"He actually took the initiative to come out and issue a challenge; how arrogant!"

"This is Li Zhi? He looks quite ordinary..."

"What's your cultivation level? What realm?"

"Those who came to participate in the Dragon Gate Trial are probably no more than three realms high, right?"

"To reach the third realm at such a young age is quite an achievement..."

A buzz of discussion arose, but Li Zhi seemed not to hear it.

His gaze swept calmly across the crowd. After waiting a moment and seeing no one step forward, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Is there no one to offer guidance?"

"How dare you!"

A sharp shout suddenly came from afar.

A figure leaped up from outside the crowd, flipped in mid-air, and landed steadily in the middle of the field.

The newcomer was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in a close-fitting outfit, holding a long sword, with a hint of arrogance between his brows.

"Duan He, from the Duan family of the capital." He bowed with his sword in hand, but his tone lacked respect. "Please."

Li Zhi nodded without saying anything more, and drew his Gentleman's Sword with a clang.

When Duan Hai saw him draw his sword, his eyes narrowed. The sword was so long. He immediately took a defensive stance.

After all, Li Zhi's reputation has soared recently that he dares not be careless.

Moreover, this weapon is quite strange; it's best to be on guard.

But the next moment, he froze.

Li Zhi's sword strike was not fast.

It's even a bit slow.

The longsword rose in an almost clumsy arc before slashing straight down.

It is the most powerful and forceful move in the Gentleman's Swordplay, the "Head-on Blow".

Duan Hai almost burst out laughing.

You dare to show off such a crude and straightforward technique?

He instinctively raised his sword to parry, thinking that after blocking the sword, he could immediately turn the defense into offense and teach this arrogant brat what exquisite swordsmanship really meant.

The two swords clashed.

"clang--!"

A dull, loud bang.

Duan Hai's cold smile suddenly froze.

He felt an unimaginable force coming from the sword, like Mount Tai pressing down on him, or like a raging tide crashing against the shore!

His hand instantly split open, the longsword flew out of his hand, and he was lifted off the ground by the immense force, falling backward and crashing heavily onto the bluestone ground several feet away with a "bang," raising a cloud of dust.

The entire room fell silent.

Duan Hai lay on the ground, his mind blank, with only the numbness in his arms and the tightness in his chest.

What the hell? Is this sword that heavy?

Li Zhi sheathed his sword, lightly flicked his wrist, and looked at the crowd:

"Next."

"I'll do it!"

Another figure leaped into the arena.

This was a burly man, carrying a thick-backed machete, his face trembling with menacing flesh, clearly a man of fierce and ruthless strength.

He knew clearly in his heart that going head-to-head with Shadow was his forte.

Without even announcing his name, he shouted and swung his sword straight at us!

The wind howled, its force heavy and powerful.

Li Zhi remained unmoved, raising his longsword once more.

It was still that same wake-up call.

"clang--!"

The clang of swords clashing was even louder than before.

The burly man was jolted backward, knife and all, his arm holding the knife trembling violently, and all color drained from his face.

He gritted his teeth, wanting to attack again, but he lacked the strength to lift his sword.

Li Zhi glanced at him and continued calmly:

"Next."

Soon, a third person rushed up.

This was a young man wielding a gun; his spear moved like a dragon, its sharp points aimed directly at Li Zhi's face.

Li Zhi drew his sword and slashed down, delivering another sharp blow to the head.

"Bang!"

The spear tip was smashed downwards by the longsword, the young man's hand was split open, the spear slipped from his hand, and he was pulled forward and fell, rolling several times before he could barely keep his balance.

In a short period of time, he defeated three people in a row.

Li Zhi was left alone in the arena.

He stood there, sword in hand, his blue robe fluttering slightly. His gaze swept once more over the silent, trembling crowd, his tone filled with undisguised disappointment:

"Is this all the talent in the capital is there? Not a single one who can fight?"

A spring breeze swept across the square, swirling up a few fallen leaves.

In a private room on the second floor of a teahouse in the distance, Qu Hongxiao gently put down her teacup.

"Li Zhi of Zhaoyang Prefecture? Choosing that name... it seems they've begun their operation."