To ensure the mission proceeded smoothly, the mysterious person even arranged for someone to guide Li Sibao's actions and promised to give him a Yellow-level Technique in advance.
The first step of the mission was to gradually build up various conflicts with Xiao Chen, deliberately opposing him at every turn and instigating clashes that seemed as plausible as possible.
The second step was to use the conflict as a pretext, feign drunkenness, and attack Xiao Chen when he was alone.
The contact's official explanation to Li Sibao was that they simply didn't like Xiao Chen and wanted to teach him a lesson.
The real purpose, however, was to probe Xiao Chen's true strength. Based on the abilities he revealed, they would decide whether or not to carry out the "Pruning Operation."
This so-called "Pruning Operation" was a tailored elimination plan targeting Outer Disciples of the Li Huo Sect who weren't from established clans but had already shown significant growth potential.
Li Sibao had absolutely no idea he was already walking a path to his own doom.
Now, his mind was consumed with how to provoke a conflict with Xiao Chen and complete the first step of the mission.
For the subsequent attack on Xiao Chen to go unnoticed, this first step had to be executed perfectly.
Li Sibao was no stranger to picking fights. He had often fantasized about a sudden rise to power, where he could crush others beneath his feet.
But now that such an opportunity had truly presented itself, he was hesitant. He considered several different plans, but they all felt too forced.
While he was busy hesitating, the group arrived at the grand plaza of the sect's main peak, where red lanterns hung high in the air.
The Three-Sect Grand Competition was a Beast Taming tournament jointly hosted by the three most powerful factions in all of Li State: the Li Huo Sect, the Azure Flame Sect, and the Four Seas Sect.
The champion of the Grand Competition represented the pinnacle of Li State's younger generation, the undisputed number one in Beast Taming.
The rest of the top ten essentially represented the future of Beast Taming in Li State.
In thirty years, once this group matured, they would all be pillars of the state.
This time, not only did the Song Family have two disciples in the top ten, but Song Zhongming had also placed tenth with his sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivation, bringing great honor to both the Li Huo Sect and the Song Family.
The fact that their younger generation was so outstanding and full of promise also signaled a bright future for the Song Family, one of continued prosperity.
Thus, the Song Family spared no expense, hosting this grand celebration banquet at their own cost to display the clan's power and influence.
The moment Xiao Chen and the others entered the grand plaza, a serving girl approached to greet them and guide them to their seats.
He glanced around.
The once-empty plaza was now covered in red carpets, filled with tables and chairs, and laden with fine wines and gourmet dishes.
At the very front, a large troupe of beautiful dancers performed. To the left and right, curtains nearly ten feet high had been raised, and behind them drifted the music of strings and flutes.
"How extravagant! They're actually serving Spirit Wine!"
Chen Guangyu, who was part of their group, was the first to exclaim in amazement. The Chen Family hadn't been very wealthy in recent years, which meant his own finances were tight.
"Indeed. The Song Family is truly wealthy. These fragrant candied fruits are made from Spirit Fruit, too. A full plate like this would probably cost me two months of my stipend."
Liu Benxin chimed in, reaching out to try one of the candied fruits.
Hearing this, Jiang Sixuan chuckled. "You must be joking, Liu. With your family's fortune, why would you even care about that little stipend?"
"I'm sure that plucking a single Spirit Medicine from the Medicine Garden or a Spirit Field would be enough to buy a whole basket of these. You could eat as many as you want."
"Ah, I could never do that." Liu Benxin quickly waved his hands in dismissal. "Most of the Spirit Medicines we grow are for other people. We just earn a small fee for our hard work. How could I dare to waste them so recklessly?"
While the others chatted animatedly, Xiao Chen silently ate the food before him.
He kept his ears open and his mouth busy with food, strictly adhering to his policy of listening much and saying little.
Ye Fei, who had arrived with their group, was seated right across from him, also eating in silence.
Li Sibao, however, was growing anxious. He had planned to intentionally contradict Xiao Chen at the table.
No matter what Xiao Chen said, he would take the opposite side to create the illusion of a disagreement between them.
But the problem was that Xiao Chen wasn't saying a single word. He just kept his head down and ate. 'What am I supposed to do now?' Li Sibao wondered.
Soon, it was time for the celebratory speeches. The Song brothers, led by the Song Family Ancestor, Song Fengming, made their appearance dressed in splendid attire. They gave a speech, sharing some of their insights on Beast Taming.
The topic of conversation among the guests naturally shifted to Spirit Beasts.
"Xiao, if it were you, what kind of Spirit Beast would you choose?"
Liu Benxin turned to the quiet Xiao Chen and asked.
'Excellent question!'
Li Sibao instantly perked up. 'Finally, someone's asking Xiao Chen a question.'
If the mission didn't require him to be subtle about causing trouble, he would have asked the question himself long ago.
Li Sibao was ready. No matter what kind of creature Xiao Chen named, he would declare it to be the Spirit Beast he despised most in the world.
'And anyone who liked that kind of Spirit Beast,' he would add, 'must have a screw loose.'
However, Xiao Chen put down his chopsticks and answered calmly, "I don't know the exact type, but in any case, it's that one."
Everyone followed his finger and saw a Dragon Blood Profound Turtle—Song Fengming's own Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast.
Li Sibao shot to his feet, ready to speak, but he immediately realized where he was. This was the Song Family's celebration banquet, and the surrounding Song Clan Members deeply revered that turtle.
'If I criticize that Spirit Beast now, I'll probably be beaten half to death and thrown out on the spot.'
Steward Chen looked over at him. "Li Sibao, you shot up so suddenly. Is something the matter?"
"Er, Steward Chen, I... I just got a leg cramp. It's fine now."
He managed a strained smile, but inwardly he was fuming.
Steward Chen said with concern, "Is that so? You look a little pale. Why don't you go back and get some rest?"
Li Sibao immediately sat back down and forced another smile. "It's nothing, really."
'I can't leave early,' he thought. 'I have to stay if I'm going to find another chance to make trouble for Xiao Chen.'
Seeing that Li Sibao was fine, Steward Chen turned and praised Xiao Chen, "You've got ambition, Xiao Chen, picking the best Spirit Beast right off the bat."
"However, this Dragon Blood Profound Turtle was something Elder Song came across by chance while out adventuring. It's the only one in all of Li State."
"Anyone who wants to find another will have to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage first and then venture out to search for one. Xiao Chen, that's not exactly an easy goal to achieve."
At his last sentence, several of the others chuckled. It was far more than "not exactly easy."
Chen Guangyu suddenly declared, "Junior Brother Xiao is quite insightful. Breaking through a realm is as simple as eating and drinking for him."
"Maybe he'll break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in just three to five years. Naturally, he has to set his sights high."
The reason Chen Guangyu had suddenly spoken up was that while he had been staring at Jiang Sixuan, he was surprised to find her staring at Xiao Chen.
Ever since the day the trial rankings were announced, Chen Guangyu had taken notice of Junior Sister Jiang and found himself smitten.
He had been trying to find opportunities to get close to her recently, but Jiang Sixuan had always remained rather cold and distant.
But just a moment ago, when she heard Steward Chen praise Xiao Chen for his ambition, she had actually smiled!
Chen Guangyu didn't care why she was smiling. A flame of jealousy had ignited in his heart, and he immediately spoke up to undercut Xiao Chen.
As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone nearby turned to look at Xiao Chen.
Li Sibao was overjoyed. 'Finally, an opening!' He quickly chimed in, "That's right! Xiao's cultivation progresses so quickly, he's truly a model for our generation."
"With Xiao's talent, he'd naturally look down on the Spirit Beasts of us common folk… his standards are just that high, you know."
He deliberately paused after "common folk," making sure everyone would catch his insinuation.
Li Sibao's words were simply pouring oil on the fire.
Chen Guangyu had only made a single snide remark, but now it looked like he and Li Sibao were working in tandem, passive-aggressively accusing Xiao Chen of looking down on everyone.
Yet, Li Sibao wasn't satisfied.
He offered a mock apology, continuing to stir the pot. "My apologies, Xiao. I'm a blunt person, I just say whatever comes to mind."
"But honestly, you've always been so aloof, always keeping to yourself. It's inevitable people would get that impression."
"I was just speaking my mind. I'm sure you wouldn't hold it against a nobody like me, right?"
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "You're joking, Chen. The path of cultivation is hard, and breaking through a realm is never easy. As for what Junior Brother Li said, that's pure nonsense."
"I have nothing more than a low-grade Spiritual Root. What talent could I possibly possess? The only thing I can rely on is cultivating twice as hard to make up for my shortcomings."
Liu Benxin jumped in to defend him. "Xiao cultivates bitterly for no less than six hours a day. Apart from eating, sleeping, and tending his Spirit Field, he spends every waking moment working hard."
"I see it with my own eyes every day. It's not as simple as you think, Chen. He doesn't just get results without putting in the effort."
Then his tone shifted as he turned to Li Sibao. "As for you, you're judging a gentleman by your own petty standards, making baseless assumptions and spewing vile slander."
"It's only right for Xiao to keep his distance from a scoundrel like you, lest your filth rub off on him."
"Oh, and I'm a blunt speaker too, especially to your kind. You call yourself a 'nobody'? I just see a scoundrel. I don't see a 'body'."
"So tell me, Li Sibao, what the hell are you?"
Steward Chen immediately cut them off. "All of you, be silent! Insulting and attacking your own sect brothers is completely outrageous!"
"Chen Guangyu, Li Sibao, Liu Benxin! The three of you disrespected your sect brothers right in front of me. For your punishment, you will all return and reflect before the discipline wall for one day and one night."
The Second Division had a wall engraved with the sect's regulations, and disciples who broke the rules were punished by being forced to face this wall and contemplate their misdeeds.
Liu Benxin shot Xiao Chen a smile before rising and departing with a carefree stride.
Chen Guangyu looked like he wanted to argue, but after a fierce glare from Steward Chen, he scurried away with his tail between his legs.
Li Sibao also stood up, inwardly thrilled. 'This punishment means we officially have a grudge now.'
Before he left, he shot a venomous glare at Xiao Chen, snorted, and deliberately muttered, "Hmph. So fake. Acting all high and mighty."
His chest heaved with feigned indignation. Anyone witnessing the scene could tell he had a major conflict with Xiao Chen.
Although he had been punished, Li Sibao had successfully completed the first step of his mission.
He had already made up his mind: as soon as his punishment was over, he would take some wine and a Magical Artifact and go looking for Xiao Chen.