Chapter 160: The War is Coming

This was not merely a duel between Gu Qingli and Li Ke'er—it was a veiled confrontation between the Gu and Li families.

All of Loulan City knew that these two clans were locked in a blood feud, a vendetta that would not rest until one side was utterly vanquished. Reconciliation was out of the question, and for these two representatives of the younger generation, such a possibility was even more remote.

After He Yutao admitted defeat, Li Ke'er was brimming with smug satisfaction. In her eyes, He Yutao had conceded because he knew he wasn't her equal.

In truth, He Yutao had simply been drained of strength. Moreover, he held Li Ke'er in low regard—too low, in fact, to even deem her worthy of battle.

"Xiao Li, you must be careful!"

Si Kongran's voice carried a rare gravity.

Behind him, the Gu family members were all speaking at once with anxious concern.

"Sixth Miss, Li Ke'er is clearly no match for you, so she's bound to resort to underhanded tricks. You must stay vigilant!"

"That's right, Miss! Your safety must come first, above all else!"

It was the first time Gu Qingli had felt such warmth from her entire clan—their concern was almost overwhelming.

"Ahem, rest assured, everyone. I know what I'm doing. I won't engage her head-on."

At this moment, Gu Qingli turned her gaze toward the patriarch and her father, sensing that they too had something to say.

"Xiao Li, you've always had your own mind," her father said gently. "I'll say only this—your body is a gift from your parents. Take good care of yourself."

"Xiao Li," Gu Yifeng added solemnly, "should anything happen, the elders and I will charge the stage without hesitation to protect you."

Gu Qingli couldn't help but feel as though she weren't walking into a battle arena, but rather into the jaws of a dragon's lair.

Just what kind of wickedness had the Li family committed to inspire such universal dread?

Before stepping onto the platform, Gu Qingli noticed Shao Lan waving at her.

Beside him stood Uncle Shao Yan, so she felt no need to worry. Still, she hadn't expected Shao Lan to initiate a gesture of concern. His face remained stoic and aloof, but his awkward care was evident.

Gu Qingli gave him a radiant smile in return.

Shao Yan, observing this from the side, couldn't help but chuckle. In that moment, he was more certain than ever that approaching Gu Qingli had been the right decision.

Without her encouragement, Shao Lan might still be shut away in his room. Yet now, he was not only willing to step outside, but to stand before the masses—what remarkable progress.

The thought brought tears to Shao Yan's eyes, like a proud father witnessing his child's first step.

As long as Shao Lan had taken this step, and with Qingli at his side, his heart would surely grow ever brighter.

"Master, everyone keeps saying the Li family is full of schemes. Do you think they'll try something against Xiao Li?"

Shao Lan's concern only grew. Unlike Gu Qingli, who at least had some familiarity with Loulan City's power dynamics, Shao Yan was completely ignorant of them, having lived in his own world for years.

"It's not a matter of if—they absolutely will."

"Then... is Xiao Li in danger?"

Shao Lan's silver eyes grew clouded with worry as he watched Gu Qingli, now standing upon the platform.

"Don't fret," Shao Yan said softly. "If she's in peril, I'll never stand idly by. But much will depend on her own instincts. I believe with all my heart that Xiao Li can handle whatever schemes the Li family throws at her. Against overwhelming strength, trickery is but a futile whisper."

He had full confidence in Gu Qingli—and after all, he knew she was adept in the art of poison.

The girl might be young, but she was far from naïve. She planned meticulously, and surely had prepared for contingencies. If Li Ke'er truly attempted anything sinister, she would know how to defend herself.

Shao Lan felt somewhat reassured by his master's words, though he couldn't take his eyes off the girl in pink.

Li Ke'er arrived on the stage moments later, casting a dark, venomous glare at Gu Qingli.

Raising an eyebrow, Gu Qingli noticed something strange in her gaze—was she... seeing her as a dead woman?

Really now, the fight hadn't even begun, and she was already condemned? Gu Qingli's thoughts sharpened—clearly, the Li family had given Li Ke'er some hidden weapon or secret technique that made her feel victory was guaranteed.

"You wretched thing, this time you're dead for sure!"

"And who exactly are you calling 'wretched'?"

Gu Qingli's mind flashed to the classic tropes of modern novels, and her voice oozed lazy amusement.

Ah yes, the impulsive woman—rarely the wisest sort. Li Ke'er had once seemed composed and clever, but recently, stress had pushed her toward madness.

What Gu Qingli didn't yet realize was that she had become Li Ke'er's heart demon. Unless she was vanquished, Li Ke'er's cultivation would forever be hindered.

"Of course I'm talking about you!"

"Oh!"

Gu Qingli's expression turned mock-serious, a light of mockery in her eyes. So fiction really did stem from life—furious women truly couldn't think straight.

A ripple of laughter burst from the onlookers around the arena.

Most present were cultivators with acute hearing, and the conversation between the two girls had not been hushed—naturally, it spread quickly through the crowd.

Li Ke'er soon realized what had happened, and the glare she shot at Gu Qingli was so sharp, it might well have been a thousand blades.

"Well, at least Sixth Miss Gu has a silver tongue. Let's see if her strength can match her words."

"You won't have to wait long to find out."

With a flick of her wrist, Gu Qingli summoned a length of silk ribbon—elegant and flowing.

Though it looked delicate, it was embedded with a magical beast core, cleverly concealed from view. Dongfang Kunlun had chosen this weapon precisely because it was discreet, unlikely to draw undue attention.

Tension crackled between the two girls, the air thick with icy energy. A flicker of emerald light danced through Gu Qingli's eyes, then slowly spilled from her form.

Li Ke'er, as a Spirit Illusionist, wielded gray energy—powerful, yet beneath it, Gu Qingli sensed a hollow core.

Propped up by pills and potions, her strength lacked foundation. It might serve her now, but it would surely come back to haunt her in the future.

Still, the advantage of temporary strength was undeniable—it would amplify her spirit beast's power.

Clearly, the creature she had contracted was one the Li family had spared no expense to obtain—undoubtedly more formidable than Li Ke'er herself.

In the path of the Spirit Illusionist, it was the power of the beast that determined the master's fate.