Only then did he recognize it. Wasn’t this the little beast his son had brought ho so ti ago, the one he carried around like a pet?
This... was the preparation Ryan was talking about?
If Li Gengxin rembered correctly, its na was sothing like Little Tiger.
Could such a small creature really be used to face an Upper Exalt? For a mont, Li Gengxin felt as though Ryan was joking.
As if sensing his thoughts, Ryan smiled and explained, "Its na is Xiao Hei. This is my preparation. Father, don’t let its size fool you. It has the strength of a Fifth rank and can fully deal with those n in black."
"Fifth rank?" Li Gengxin exclaid, shock flooding his face. He looked down at Xiao Hei’s small body, utterly unable to reconcile its cute appearance with such terrifying strength.
At that mont, Xiao Hei noticed Li Gengxin’s gaze. It lifted a tiny paw and waved cheerfully at him, as if greeting him.
This simple gesture stunned Li Gengxin even more.
Such a small, docile-looking beast... was actually a Fifth rank?
Li Gengxin had no reason to doubt Ryan. Deception at such a mont would serve no purpose. Still, he asked carefully, "Wei’er, are you absolutely sure this little fellow really has the strength of a Fifth rank?"
"Of course," Ryan replied calmly. "Xiao Hei is a Golden-Blooded Blue Tiger. Even at a young age, it already possesses 5th rank strength. Once it matures, it can reach the level of a Beast Emperor. It may look small now, but it’s extrely dangerous. Father, you mustn’t underestimate it."
"Golden-Blooded Blue Tiger... able to beco a Beast Emperor..." Li Gengxin murmured, his heart trembling with disbelief.
He might not know much about beast species, but just its potential alone told him this was no ordinary creature. Only now did he realize how fortunate it was that he had never casually teased or offended Xiao Hei in the past. A Fifth rank was not sothing the entire Li Clan couldn’t kill, even with their combined might.
When Li Gengxin looked at Xiao Hei again, his gaze had completely changed. The casual fondness was gone, replaced by solemn respect and a trace of awe toward a powerful being.
Seeing his father’s reaction, Ryan smiled. "Father, are you at ease now? With Xiao Hei protecting , those n in black won’t be able to hurt ."
Li Gengxin nodded slowly, his expression still grave. "If you truly have the protection of such a beast, then I can rest easier. Still, I’ll remain nearby. You are the future of our Li Clan. If anything were to happen to you, how could I face our ancestors or our clan?"
Ryan knew his father’s stubbornness ca from concern, so he did not argue. He simply smiled and said, "Then stay behind , Father."
In truth, Ryan had revealed Xiao Hei at this mont because he did not intend to fight personally. Before the qualification exam, Wang Zongyao had advised him to conceal his strength and save his true display for the entrance examination. Revealing everything now would be pointless.
Letting Xiao Hei act was the best solution. Ryan could quietly assist if needed, while ensuring the group in black would never stand a chance against a Fifth rank.
The father and son exchanged a few more words. Shortly afterward, the n in black finally arrived at Ryan’s ring. Both sides faced each other, the atmosphere tense, as though a battle could erupt at any mont.
Shen Yu swept his cold gaze over Ryan and asked bluntly, "Are you Li Wei?"
"Exactly," Ryan replied with a relaxed smile. "My na stays the sa wherever I go. Li Wei."
Shen Yu frowned slightly, clearly displeased by Ryan’s composure. "Answer this. When you returned to Fengyue City, who did you et?"
Once free from Western Mansion’s presence, Shen Yu’s tone lost all politeness. His words were sharp and domineering, as if Ryan were nothing more than prey before him.
Ryan’s smile did not fade. He returned the arrogance in kind. "Who I t and what I did has nothing to do with you."
Shen Yu froze for a mont, genuine surprise flashing through his eyes. He had already revealed his strength as an Upper Exalt, yet Ryan still dared to speak so fearlessly.
That alone confird Shen Yu’s suspicions. There had to be soone backing Ryan. Otherwise, this young man would never be so calm.
Ryan was strange, far stranger than he appeared. At this point, Shen Yu was almost certain that Song Fengxi’s disappearance had everything to do with him.
"The leader might be hesitating," a man in black whispered urgently at Shen Yu’s side. "The force backing this fellow could be nearby. That’s why he’s acting fearless. If we don’t seize him now and wait for them to react, catching him later will be far more difficult."
Shen Yu’s eyes sharpened. He knew the warning was reasonable. After a brief pause, he nodded decisively and lifted his hand. "Enough waiting. Move. Take him."
"Oh?" Ryan chuckled softly, his expression relaxed, not the slightest hint of panic on his face. He turned his head and looked down at the small figure in front of him. "Xiao Hei, anyone who dares to step forward... kill them."
"ow~"
Xiao Hei nodded obediently, as if accepting a perfectly ordinary task. Then, before Ryan could relax, the little beast stretched out a paw toward him and shook it back and forth.
Ryan blinked, montarily stunned.
Then he understood. His mouth twitched helplessly as he shook his head, reached into his storage, and flicked two all-attribute pills toward Xiao Hei.
The little tiger’s eyes lit up. It snapped its mouth open, caught the pills midair, and swallowed them happily. After licking its lips in satisfaction, it sat back down in front of Ryan, looking obedient and content.
"You greedy little thing," Ryan muttered with a laugh.
Most of his attribute pills had already been given to Li Wujie and the others. His stock was nearly empty. If he didn’t rein Xiao Hei in later, this little fellow might really grow into a tyrant who demanded paynt before lifting a paw.
By then, the n in black had already stepped onto the ring, their killing intent heavy as they advanced toward Ryan.
These n were all silver-robed warriors of the Wolf Sky rcenary Corps.
Unlike Zhang Yuxi, who had long been stationed outside and dulled by routine affairs, these individuals were true elites. Each had been tempered through years of internal training, forming the sharpest blade of the rcenary corps. Their strengths ranged from one-star to eight-star Exalts, and together they exuded an oppressive aura.
The audience imdiately erupted into discussion.
"It’s over. Those n are clearly here to kill him."
"I knew this would happen sooner or later. With no strength, how dare Ryan step into the qualification exam?"
"Who did he offend to provoke such a force? Even Western Mansion can’t protect him now."
"Wait... is that a pet standing in front of him?"
"Huh? It’s kind of cute."
"Poor little thing. It even stepped forward to protect its master."
"Too bad. Its owner is finished."
Mu Xianling watched from afar, shaking her head softly.
She knew Xiao Hei’s na and had always been fond of it. Seeing the small beast stand in front of Ryan stirred sothing strange in her heart. She felt a trace of pity for Xiao Hei, and even a flicker of regret for Ryan.
"If only he weren’t such a waste..." she thought, then quickly shook her head, annoyed at herself. "What am I thinking?"
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