Throughout the rest of the fight, Li Guanqi's performance did nothing to make the disciples perceive him as powerful.
Instead, they witnessed a spectacle that could only be described as...
Despicable, unscrupulous, petty, underhanded, resorting to any means necessary... utterly shameless.
Yet it had to be said that despite all of that, Li Guanqi still accomplished the miraculous feat of fighting ten opponents alone, having expended less than thirty percent of his primal energy.
When the last youth found Li Guanqi's sword pressed against his throat, the disciples below still had not fully grasped what had happened.
Each clash within the match had truly shown them what it meant to leave an audience dumbfounded.
He used his status as an elder to make promises to some, capitalized on team members betraying one another, and ultimately went back on his word.
Eye-gouging and groin-kicking were child's play compared to how he manipulated human nature.
He feigned begging for mercy only to critically wound someone in a split second; he faked injuries to halt the bout, only to suddenly spring into violence.
Every last trick was so outrageous that it even left many people brimming with ill will toward this youth.
Standing upon the stage, Li Guanqi naturally noticed everyone's expressions below.
Surveying the dead-silent crowd, he gave a rather helpless shrug.
"Why do you all look like that?"
"What do you think of what I just showed you? It's nothing."
"If you ever go out into the wider world, the tricks rogue cultivators use are infinitely more insidious than mine."
At those words, a disciple could not resist muttering, "Sensationalist nonsense..."
Li Guanqi did not waste time arguing. He plainly recounted the encounter he and Ye Feng had had with the dwarf in the mountain range.
Paired with the shadow-casting stone in his hand, his words carried undeniable conviction.
When the images projected by the shadow-casting stone vanished, a chill ran down every disciple's spine.
For they realized that had they been in that situation themselves, their choice likely would have been identical to Ye Feng's.
Even if some had suspected something was amiss and chosen to run the woman through, none of them would ever have suspected the infant in her arms.
The mere thought of that dwarf suddenly leaping out turned their hearts cold.
Then, Li Guanqi displayed the recording of more than a hundred Core Formation cultivators besieging him.
Only then did they truly realize just how terrifying the youth on the stage was!
A strength like that... extinguished any thought of resistance.
Gradually, disciples began to dissect everything that had just occurred on the stage.
Yet the more they analyzed it, the more they realized how extraordinary Li Guanqi truly was.
His escape routes, psychological warfare, conservation of primal energy...
Everything had been entirely within his control. Throughout the whole battle, he had uttered hardly a wasted word, nor made a single meaningless move or gesture.
Practically every motion, every glance, held deep intention.
And by now, many had also come to a realization.
If they put themselves in Li Guanqi's shoes, if they reacted just as he had...
It seemed... they too could take on ten cultivators of their own realm at the same time and slaughter them one by one!
When that thought clicked, they could not help drawing sharp breaths.
It had seemed absurd on the surface, but upon closer consideration, if one truly ran into such a lethal predicament out in the world, doing this... could actually break the deadly trap!
Even the challengers on the stage who had looked disgruntled were now lowering their heads in contemplation.
Seeing this, Li Guanqi smiled faintly. Without sparing a glance at the elders suspended in midair, he spoke up. "All right. Back to the main hall—I'll review the fight with you."
This battle had completely won over all the inner disciples!
Even the few who had previously wanted to stir up trouble like Tang Chuan rushed through the air toward the hall.
Compared to throwing their weight around, they cared far more about surviving in the future!
And the youth before them could teach them exactly that!
By the time Li Guanqi returned to the main hall, areas that had previously had open space were now packed shoulder to shoulder.
Some had even flown up on their swords, hovering in midair!
Layer upon layer, the air inside the hall held as many as five tiers of people...
When Li Guanqi arrived at the entrance, Elder Li, who had still wanted to watch the spectacle, was promptly pulled away by a throng of disciples.
Whether outer disciples or inner disciples, the jam-packed hall parted down the middle to clear a path fully ten feet wide!
Li Guanqi smiled faintly and took slow steps toward the dais.
Behind him, the disciples all rose and bowed, calling out in unison, "Greetings, Elder Li!"
With his formidable prowess, Li Guanqi had earned the respect of every disciple!
A gentle smile appeared on his face as he took his seat upon a prayer mat atop the dais.
He pressed a hand gently downward, and all the disciples seated themselves cross-legged on the floor, while those above sat cross-legged in midair.
Li Guanqi then raised his hand and brought out the shadow-casting stone.
He began to break down every detail of the battle, including what every glance in different directions had meant.
Following his explanation, many of their doubts were resolved.
Throughout the review, many asked questions, and Li Guanqi answered each one.
Because of this, Li Guanqi's strength and shrewdness impressed them even more.
They had never imagined someone could process so many considerations in the heat of battle!
Li Guanqi said softly, "When fighting someone to the death, you must remain calm."
"The moment you lose your head, you fall into a passive position!"
Nearly a thousand people sat below, yet only Li Guanqi's voice echoed through the hall in pin-drop silence.
When he finished explaining everything, thunderous applause suddenly erupted below the dais!
Li Guanqi could see the thirst for strength burning in their bright eyes.
They were not inherently lazy by nature.
Having been chosen from countless masses to enter the Wind Thunder Sect, how could any of them truly be good-for-nothings?
Yet at that moment, Li Guanqi spoke up softly. "I have memorized the strength and realm of every single one of you."
"Starting today, until the day I leave the Wind Thunder Sect one month from now..."
"I want all of you... to advance by one realm!!"
*Hiss!*
The moment those words left his mouth, a stir rippled through the crowd below.
Li Guanqi let them discuss among themselves. Only when the clamor died down after a good while did he speak again.
"Those who fail to do so, or the ten outer disciples and ten inner disciples who make the least progress, will all be expelled from the Wind Thunder Sect!"
As soon as his voice fell, the entire hall erupted into pandemonium.
No one had anticipated that Li Guanqi would make such a demanding requirement!
"What?! How is that possible?"
"Bullshit! How could anyone manage that? I'm already at the Foundation Establishment Great Circle—does that mean I have to break through to Core Formation within a month?!"
The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curved slightly as he said softly, "Regardless of realm, I too will break through to middle Nascent Soul within this month!"
"Huh?! Has he lost his mind... That's the Nascent Soul realm we're talking about!"
*Gulp...* "I thought he was harsh enough on us, but who knew he was even harsher on himself..."
Chapter 305