Trouble for the Representative Spot

Washed up and changed into new robes, Yu Tian's mouth was open like a vaccum as he inhaled the food in front of him. Apparently, he was missing for 2 whole days, and the reception he received when he was found was mild at best.

Li You Zi was the one spearheading the search with some reluctant members. They didn't find any trace of Yu Tian in the deep mines at first, but the old patriarch finally heard his voice and found him on the second day with that pet fox of his.

Finding the boy, he was subconciously relieved to see Yu Tian only being dirty with his clothes in tatters. Interestingly enough, Li You Zi didn't see any traces of apparent injuries on his body.

Feeling much better, the former god began to eat more slowly. He gave a careful glance around and noticed Li You Zi giving him an inquisitive stare while the others had already left.

Yae munched on her own food beside Yu Tian, ignoring her surroundings. She was smart enough to not speak around others to avoid complications, disdaining to even look at them.

"So, where were you?" Li You Zi finally asked, breaking the silence. "Has your talent returned?"

Internally, he was actually shocked. The patriarch could sense that Yu Tian has somehow became stronger again since his delayed breakthrough to Qi Warrior in this short period of time.

Li You Zi already knew about his talent reduction, which led to his decrease in cultivation speed.

"It's still slow." Yu Tian shook his head. "As for why I was missing, I had a fortuitous encounter by finding a hidden area."

"I see." Li You Zi nodded, scratching his beard. "I never thought that the mines for starlight ore could contain some hidden treasures."

"Where was the hidden area like?" The old patriarch asked.

"It was a strange place." Yu Tian replied and took a quick moment to think. He decided not to mention the weird creature he and Yae had encountered, because it would simply raise more questions.

Plus, he felt rather uncomfortable talking to Li You Zi. They might be related by blood in this life, but Yu Tian felt no true closeness to him like a true grandparent and grandchild relationship.

They both loved Li Mei Ling in their own way as a child and a father, but other than that there was almost nothing. It was his mother who loved, provided, and cared for him all these years through her own work and effort, having to face the scorn and dislike of the other members throughout the years.

Yu Tian owed Li You Zi nothing, and the same could be said in return.

"The water we found was all used up, so there's none left." Yu Tian shrugged. "No point in trying to get back to that area."

"There was a complete cave-in and would be a waste of time." He smiled internally as he knew it was both him and Yae that caused it.

Seeing how his grandson had already understood his thought process, Li You Zi decided not to pursuit it anymore. "I understand. We'll try to look deeper into those mines for more resources if possible."

"Sure." Yu Tian went back to eating, closing the conversation short.

...

Satisfied from having a full stomach, Yu Tian crashed down on his bed and laid there comfortably. Seeing his relaxed and carefree manner, Yae also climbed up and sat beside him.

"Aren't you going to get back to cultivating?" Yae asked.

Yu Tian sighed. "Of course I will. I'm just thinking of what we just went through."

The little fox paused, knowing that Yu Tian's mind was being troubled by something. She did take note of his odd behaviour when he was inside that well. "Did you find something down there?"

Yu Tian paused, turning slightly to look into her deep amethysts with his dark eyes. He then chuckled, stretching out a hand and gently stroked that soft, golden fur. "You know, a girl that's too smart is quite troublesome."

Yae rolled her eyes, using her paw to push his hand away. "Hmph. How about you don't change the subject and tell this princess what you found?"

"Well..."

Yu Tian decided not to hold anything back from her, telling her about the obsidian dagger he had saw. However, it had disappeared into his hand immediately when he touched it, as well as the mysterious voice that spoke into his mind afterwards.

Yae found his words unbelievable, but she could discern that he was telling the truth. "You said the voice told you that it would consume you. What was this "it" the voice referred to?"

Yu Tian scratched his head. "I'm not completely sure, but the closest guess I have is that it's related to my second martial spirit."

It was now Yae's turn to freeze in shock. She knew that Yu Tian's martial spirit, that mysterious cat, had fallen into a deep slumber in his body. The little fox was stunned to know that Yu Tian actually had an additional martial spirit.

Those with 2 martial spirits could be considered as rare as one in a hundred thousand, maybe even a million. Unlike other races, only humans could develop and cultivate martial spirits to become stronger.

This is why they've become a race that ruled over others with their combination of intelligence and power. However, having 2 martial spirits was truly heaven-defying.

"However, I can't communicate with it, and it doesn't listen to me." Yu Tian sighed. "I know that it exists with complete certainty, but it's hard to explain and prove."

Yae sighed, rather amazed. "Any other secrets on your body you've been hiding from this princess?"

The former god gave her an amused look. Yu Tian wonders what she'll think of him when he reveals that he was a god of war in his last life. Of course, he doubts that Yae would actually believe him and think he was just messing with her.

"Apparently I also have a unique physique." Yu Tian admitted with a sheepish grin. "They call it the Divine War Physique."

"Divine War Physique?" Yae has heard of unique physiques, and even possessed one herself with her bloodline, but had never heard of the Divine War Physique. "What's kind of unique physique is that?"

Before Yu Tian could explain more to her, a voice empowered by spiritual energy filled the clan, summoning the youths and their parents to the main hall for an important announcement.

Yu Tian had a gut feeling that it would be regarding the inter-clan competition. "I'll tell you later. Let's go check out and see what's this all about."

...

"We greet the patriarch!"

Being one of the last ones to arrive, Yu Tian had to stand at the very back of the spacious hall. It had been rebuilt not too long ago, so there were still some marks and blemishes on the walls that weren't completely fixed yet due to construction.

He noticed a familiar elder standing beside Li You Zi at the front of the hall, holding a large piece of parchment paper. This was the same elder who had been the announcer during their inner clan tournament about 2 years ago.

"Has everyone arrived?" Li Ming asked the old patriarch.

Ever since the demise of Li Chang and Li Cheung, the grand elders, Li Ming was promoted as one of the new grand elders. Yu Tian noted that this elder was someone who didn't seem to hold a grudge against him or his mother, although he never interacted with them either.

"We can begin." Li You Zi said with a wave of his hand. "You can announce what was decided."

"Understood, patriarch." Li Ming nodded respectfully, opening up the parchment paper.

"I'm pretty sure everyone has heard about the inter-clan competition happening in less than a month." Li Ming spoke loudly so all of them could hear. "Governor Yan had asked us to start submitting every clan's representatives today, so the tournament can be prepared on time."

"There are only 2 spots, and this tournament is especially important for the 4 main families of Stardust City." The elder spoke, his face that had shown traces of wrinkles scanning across the hall. "After the tragedy about 2 years ago, the other families, aside from the Shan clan, have looked down at us after we had nearly lost everything."

The family members immediately became somber. Li Ming also sighed sadly, shaking his head. "As part of the older generation, we apologize to you for not providing you with the same cultivation materials and training that the other clans could provide."

Yu Tian resisted the urge to yawn, drowning out the elder's long-winded speech. Some of the youths in the room were already crying from Li Ming's words that moved their heart, but to Yu Tian it was pointless quibble.

He was only here to make sure that he took one of those 2 spots. If Yu Tian could win and somehow earn the favour of the governor, it would be a closer step to getting into the royal capital and saving Li Mei Ling.

Not only that, the rewards they give out might also be able to help awaken Qiu Xue. This was the fastest and most efficient way to become stronger, and he still has his vow of revenge against Li Changpu.

For his mother and martial spirit, Yu Tian wasn't going to let anyone else get in his way.

"After long debates and contemplation, here's who the elders and patriarch had decided to represent our clan." Li Ming's eyes finally reached the bottom of the paper.

"The first representative of our clan, who had just arrived back from Celestial Academy for this competition... Li Yaoyao!"

Seeing the pretty girl step up in front of everyone and turn around, everyone else clapped and cheered. She beamed happily with a slight shyness when her parents cheered for her louder than anyone else.

"Yaoyao's cultivation is already at a level 5 Qi Warrior? At only 13 years of age?"

"Haha! With Yaoyao, our Li family is sure to have plently of glory brought back to the clan!"

"Our second representative..." Li Ming spoke again, causing the loud excitement to suddenly quiet down. "Someone who also travelled back from Soaring Sky School to join us..."

"Li Yang!"

Hearing that it wasn't him, Yu Tian's fist instinctively tightened as the noises of celebration resumed around him. The former god saw another boy stepping up to the front beside Li Yaoyao, a proud smile on his face.

Yu Tian could also detect a trace of infatuation from him when he briefly glanced at Li Yaoyao when Li Yang stood beside her.

"Li Yang's talents isn't as good as Li Yaoyao's, but he's still a level 6 Qi Warrior." Li You Zi nodded. "He has the highest cultivation among the children under 16 years of age."

At 15 years of age, it meant that this would be his last chance being eligible for the inter-clan competition. Yu Tian had almost forgot that there were still other members of the younger generation in various schools outside the clan.

As they've returned just recently, most of them were exempted from having to help out at the mines for the time being.

Soaring Sky School was one of them. Unlike the 8 major Academies that nurtured the strongest within the empire, there were schools that nurtured youth who weren't selected by these academies in the 4 nations.

It wasn't a major powerhouse by any means in Vermillion Bird Nation, but not even the 4 major families in Stardust City would dare to offend them. Each school was still a force to be reckoned with.

"I object!" A loud, confident voice cut through the noisy crowd, causing Li Yang's face to stiffen.

The hall fell completely silent as every head turned to the source of the voice. Most of their stares turned unfriendly as they saw Yu Tian staring back at them calmly, his arms folded.

Most of the older cousins that returned with Li Yang also openly showed hostility in their eyes.

"He doesn't deserve it." Pointing a finger at Li Yang, Yu Tian unflinchingly issued his challenge, a look of slight disdain in his eyes.

"That spot should be mine, not his!"