Wang Li calmly turned his head.
What entered his sight was an unfamiliar woman—but the aura surrounding her was unmistakable.
Martial Genesis Realm.
The moment her voice rang out, the entire restaurant fell silent. The surrounding disciples turned toward the source, their expressions changing drastically. Feeling the oppressive pressure, many instinctively retreated, yet none were willing to leave. They simply watched from afar, eyes filled with curiosity.
"Who is that woman?" someone whispered.
"You don't know? Look at the token on her waist—she's from True Water Peak!"
"What?! You mean *that* one? The one who just broke through to the Martial Genesis Realm… Mu Wan'er?!"
Despite the commotion, Wang Li merely glanced at her with impatience.
"What?"
"So it really is you!" Mu Wan'er's voice trembled with agitation, as if he owed her some unforgivable debt.
Wang Li frowned slightly.
He was certain—he had never met this woman before.
Yet she dared to suppress him with her aura?
Even if it meant nothing to him, the intent behind it… was enough to offend.
"I heard you were taken in by a Peak Master," Mu Wan'er said coldly. "Do you really think you're better than me? Today, I'll prove to your master that I am far superior to you!"
Wang Li stared at her for a moment… then let out a cold snort.
"Mentally retarded!" he looked at her lightly and snorted coldly, before adding in a cold tone.
"Scram!"
The tone held complete disregard for her presence.
The word fell like a hammer.
In that instant—
Mu Wan'er's pressure collapsed.
A terrifying force surged forward, faster than she could react, slamming directly into her body.
**Boom!**
Her figure was sent flying out of the restaurant, crashing heavily onto the street.
She tried to stand—
But her legs trembled violently.
A mouthful of blood spilled from her lips.
The gap between them…
Was overwhelming.
A strange, violent force rampaged through her meridians, leaving her face pale with shock.
"How… how is this possible?" she gasped. "You've just entered the Martial Genesis Realm… how can you be stronger than me?!"
Wang Li looked at her as if she were a fool.
"Do I need your permission to break through?"
Silence.
Then—
The entire crowd erupted.
"Who is that senior brother?! So domineering!"
"Did you hear him? 'Do I need your permission to break through?' That's insane!"
"I heard her call him Wang Li… and she said he's a Peak Master's disciple?"
"You don't know Wang Li? He's a legend among outer disciples! During the selection trial, he crushed all his opponents. Not long after, he entered the Spiritual Plane, gained an outer peak position, and was personally taken in by a Peak Master. Rumor has it several Peak Masters fought over him!"
"That… that's terrifying!"
"Another dragon has risen among the outer disciples!"
"I'm just waiting for the inner disciple assessment in a few years… though with his temperament, he probably won't wait that long."
"Wait—there's another way to become an inner disciple?!"
As the discussion grew louder, Mu Wan'er's expression turned uglier by the second.
She had just broken through.
She was supposed to be the center of attention.
And yet—
In a single moment, she had been reduced to nothing more than a stepping stone.
Her nails dug into her palms as she glared at Wang Li.
"Just you wait!" she spat before being helped away.
Wang Li watched her retreating figure, the coldness in his eyes deepening.
He had no interest in trouble.
But if trouble insisted on finding him—
He wouldn't hold back.
Turning away, he noticed the gazes of the surrounding disciples. Awe, fear, curiosity…
He ignored them all.
---
High above, hidden within the clouds, several figures silently observed everything.
Among them were the Peak Masters of the Spirit Stream Sect.
Peak Master Su Rong turned toward Wang Lu, her face filled with anger.
"Wang Lu! What kind of disciple are you raising? He's ruthless even toward his fellow sect members!"
But Wang Lu… looked disappointed.
"What is this child Wang Li doing?" she muttered.
The others were momentarily stunned.
That reaction… didn't match her usual personality.
Then she sighed.
"If he wasn't going to kill her, he should have at least crippled her cultivation and limbs. It would save her trouble in the future. Sigh… my disciple is still too soft."
A chill swept through the air.
Even Su Rong fell silent, a trace of fear creeping into her eyes.
Wang Lu glanced once more at Wang Li below before turning away.
"I should return and guide him properly. He's still too immature for this world."
With that, she vanished.
The remaining Peak Masters exchanged looks.
At that moment, several of them made the same decision—
Warn their disciples.
Never provoke that monster… or his master.
Below, Wang Li placed a silver ingot on the table and stood.
*There's nothing useful to learn here.*
He left the restaurant without another glance.
For someone in the Martial Genesis Realm, remaining in the outer district was like a blazing sun in the night—impossible to ignore.
Before long, he returned to the Tenth Peak.
As expected—
Wang Lu was already waiting.
"Good disciple," she said with a faint smile, "I heard you called your master unreliable?"
Wang Li's expression stiffened.
That smile…
He knew it all too well.
It was the same expression his mother wore in his previous life right before delivering a beating.
"Master!" he said quickly. "This disciple was merely trying to confuse the enemy! How could I possibly mean such a thing?"
"Oh? Is that so?" she asked, clearly unconvinced.
"Of course! Didn't Master allow me to choose seven Earth-grade techniques? And even gave me three combat techniques? You even promised me endless cultivation methods—including ancient techniques!"
Though it sounded like an explanation…
He was clearly asking for more.
Even Wang Lu paused, slightly speechless.
*Shameless.*
Even by her standards.
But she didn't mind.
Those techniques meant little to her anyway.
"Master," Wang Li continued, "if I want to leave the sect… what do I need?"
"Oh? You want to leave?" Wang Lu raised a brow. "That won't be easy. Outer disciples are not allowed to leave. Only inner disciples can go out on missions. Core disciples can request permission for travel."
Wang Li frowned.
"So… I can't leave?"
"Why do you want to leave?" she asked casually.
At that moment—
A faint killing intent flickered from Wang Li.
It disappeared almost instantly.
But Wang Lu noticed.
Of course she did.
*Interesting…*
*It seems my disciple has quite the story.*
She smiled faintly.
"Normally, outer disciples are restricted because they are too weak. But you… have already stepped into the Martial Genesis Realm. I can make an exception."
She paused briefly before adding:
"But don't forget—the Netherworld will open soon. You shouldn't miss it."
"Thank you, Master!" Wang Li said immediately.
Then, without hesitation:
"About those ancient techniques…"
Wang Lu didn't even bother responding.
She simply tossed a small bag toward him.
Wang Li caught it instinctively.
"That's a storage bag," she said. "Infuse your essence to use it. Be careful—there are no protections. I've placed copies of several ancient techniques inside, along with some Earth-grade methods I obtained during my travels."
Wang Li's eyes lit up.
Now *this* was a real gain.
Before he could say more—
"Let me send you out."
The world blurred.
Space twisted.
In the next instant—
He was standing outside the Spirit Stream Sect.
A vast, unfamiliar world stretched before him.
Wang Li took a deep breath, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Amazing…"
But just as he took his first step forward—
The storage bag at his waist suddenly trembled.
Violently.
Wang Li's expression changed.
Because he clearly remembered—
He hadn't placed anything alive inside.
Yet now…
Something within the bag was trying to come out.
And at the same time—
A cold, ancient voice echoed directly in his mind:
**"You finally left… heir of the Netherworld."**