Chapter 108: Not to be underestimated
"Alas, the Li family has grown formidable in recent years. Their strength is not to be underestimated—especially with other influential factions such as the City Lord's Manor and the Mercenary Guild in the picture. These powerful forces may not stand idly by should conflict arise. If that happens, the Gu family may truly find itself besieged on all sides."
Elder Shui let out a weary sigh, his expression etched with concern.
This was precisely why the Gu and Li families, though long at odds, had never engaged in outright warfare—each wary of becoming pawns in a greater game, vulnerable to opportunists waiting in the wings.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Gu Qingli spoke with composed ease.
"If it comes to a confrontation with the Li family, I do have certain connections—with Young Master Sikong of the City Lord's Manor, and Guildmaster Shao Yan of the Mercenary Guild. I'm confident they will not side with the Lis."
She spoke with quiet assurance, a calm certainty in her voice.
The clan elders and Gu Yifeng looked at her, momentarily stunned. For her to speak so confidently of such powerful figures hinted at bonds stronger than they had imagined.
"You… truly believe they will stand with us?" Elder Mu asked hesitantly.
"Without doubt."
Her tone was tranquil, yet carried an unshakable conviction.
"I believe securing their support will not be an issue."
Only then did the patriarch and the elders seem to fully register the magnitude of Gu Qingli's potential. Her talent was rare across the entire continent—a thirteen-year-old Nine-Star Martial Warrior who had ascended to such heights with almost no aid from the clan's resources.
And she had just turned thirteen.
Barring unforeseen calamity, she was destined to rise as a peerless force.
What's more, she was also an alchemist—an identity and talent so coveted that any clan with even a shred of sense would strive to win her favor.
If both the City Lord's Manor and the Mercenary Guild were to stand behind the Gu family, toppling the Li clan would be well within reach.
A wave of cautious optimism surged through Gu Yifeng and the elders.
"Still, this matter requires careful planning," Gu Yifeng cautioned.
The Li family, as the second most powerful clan in Loulan City, had deep-rooted strength and could not be so easily crushed. However, with support from such formidable allies, the odds had shifted in their favor.
In the following days, Gu Qingli paid no heed to the fate of Gu Qinglin's family.
She focused solely on her cultivation. The day of her duel with Vice-Captain Qi was fast approaching.
Time passed in a tranquil yet urgent rhythm.
On the day of the duel, Gu Qingli arrived early at the designated battleground.
It was an expansive arena located in the heart of the Mercenary Guild district, frequented solely by mercenaries. Towering and imposing, the structure resembled a colossal arena—its scale far greater than that of the Youth Hall, though it was not adorned in opulence, but rather exuded a dignified austerity.
To Gu Qingli, the architecture evoked the grandeur of an ancient Roman coliseum.
The news of the once-disgraced Sixth Miss of the Gu family challenging the renowned Vice-Captain Qi had already spread like wildfire throughout the mercenary world.
Though once mocked as useless, Gu Qingli had recently stunned the city by helping the Snow Tiger Group successfully complete a perilous mission. Her name now carried unexpected weight.
Vice-Captain Qi, on the other hand, had long been a prominent figure in the mercenary world—skilled, seasoned, and widely respected.
This duel, naturally, had become the talk of the city. Though it was still early, the vast plaza was already teeming with people.
With a sweeping glance, Gu Qingli noted that most in the crowd were burly, battle-hardened men—muscles taut as iron, voices booming like thunder.
Clearly, the majority were mercenaries. Yet mingled among them were also young nobles, likely eager to witness the extent of her power for themselves.