A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

When his sword struck the bolt of lightning, it shattered into countless arcs of electricity that scattered across his body, piercing through his robes and tearing open his skin. Yet for all its devastation, it also helped him temper his still-forming golden core.

The pockmarked golden core in his dantian started to become spherical and smooth, undergoing significant change.

Meanwhile, Zhao Beichen stood atop a mountain peak, flinging out countless protective robes and talismans in frantic succession, struggling to withstand the heavenly tribulation even though the lightning he faced was merely half the intensity of Li Guanqi’s.

The crowd watched as a thin figure charged again and again into the sky—like a warrior unsatisfied with the unfairness of life, unwilling to bow to fate. This was Li Guanqi’s tribulation, and to truly walk the immortal path, he had to survive it.

The sixth lightning bolt struck, then the seventh, then the eighth.

The silhouette moved slower and slower.

But he always leaped from the ground after facing the lightning strike, still raising his sword at the sky.

His entire body was scorched black, covered in wounds where the lightning had torn through his skin. Blood and flesh splattered around him, and some gashes cut so deep that bone showed through.

The top part of his robes was so tattered that he ripped it off. He landed on a mountain peak, forming a large crater. He spat out a mouthful of blood, then slowly looked up.

His left arm was barely recognizable, covered in burns. He looked up at the rolling lightning clouds with blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth and roared, “Come at me!”

Boom!

After a long buildup, the clouds released their final bolt of lightning. It struck like a falling pillar as thick as a water bucket, startling the crowd.

“That bolt was enough to kill an early Golden Core Realm cultivator!”

Li Guanqi launched himself skyward, the ground exploding into a crater beneath his feet. Gripping his Red Lotus Sword in his right hand, he unleashed the Thunderbolt technique with his left hand at lightning speed. He poured the last of his vital force into the blade, which responded with a piercing sword cry.

Clang!

What happened next was seared into every onlooker’s memory forever. A charred figure soared into the sky, his sword wreathed in lightning that stretched an entire zhang long.

Then, he slashed.

He cleaved the heavenly lightning down the middle, as if chopping firewood.

Boom!

There was a deafening boom. The figure was drenched in blood as his arms hung limply by his side. He stood in the sky alone, and there was no more lightning.

The thunderclap rang through the clouds. Blood poured from his body, both arms hanging limp at his sides.

He stood alone in the sky.

The lightning was gone.

Buzz!

Spirit qi rushed toward Li Guanqi so quickly that he felt like it was boiling. The golden core in his body became completely smooth, and complicated, mysterious patterns began to appear on its surface, transforming it from a bright gold to a purple-gold. Then, seven-colored qi from the surroundings poured into his body.

His wounds began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye. Burnt skin turned to scabs, which then peeled away. Strength surged through his body, and he smiled, then turned his gaze to Zhao Beichen.

Zhao Beichen was still locked in his tribulation. His body was mangled, and his talismans and treasures spent. His injuries were just as horrifying as Li Guanqi’s had been minutes earlier.

But then Li Guanqi did something that made everyone’s jaw drop.

He turned into a purple streak of light and charged at Zhao Beichen.

In the blink of an eye, he arrived underneath Zhao Beichen’s heavenly tribulation cloud.

Gasps filled the air. A Golden Core Realm youth nearby shouted in disbelief, “Has he gone mad?! If he rushes inside like that, he’ll also get hit by the lightning!”

After he spoke, a middle-aged man nearby pursed his lips and mused, “He split a lightning bolt two hundred zhang long. Do you think he will care about something half the size?”

Zhao Beichen’s eyes flickered with panic. He forced himself to retreat at high speed, his vital force flaring.

“Have you fucking gone mad?! You madman! You’re a madman! Are you trying to get me killed?!”

Li Guanqi didn’t answer. His gaze locked onto Zhao Beichen, and his sword lashed out.

“Purple Ripple Demon Sword Technique!!”

Countless purple sword shadows materialized around him, their overwhelming killing intent paralyzing Zhao Beichen with such terror that all thoughts of fighting back fled his mind.

The final bolt of lightning brewed in the rolling clouds above.

He didn’t want to die, not like that.

In desperation, Zhao Beichen hurled his last protective jade pendant and slashed his sword at Li Guanqi.

Many people had an opinion on his course of action, and one person even snickered. “Hehe. The prodigy of the Purple Sun Pavilion isn’t that strong after all. Can’t do anything without his magical treasures.”

Several people snapped back at the man who had spoken. “Hah! Based on your looks, I doubt you even have any magical treasures to help you survive a heavenly tribulation.”

“He’s fighting someone who’s out for blood. Why shouldn’t he fight back? Should he just keep raising his sword at the sky and let Li Guanqi kill him? Are you an idiot?”

The first guy shut his mouth.

Amidst the electrical chaos, Li Guanqi charged at Zhao Beichen, seemingly on track to be stabbed by Zhao Beichen. Zhao Beichen’s heart leaped with joy at the sight of his approaching opponent. But just as his blade was about to pierce Li Guanqi’s chest, Zhao Beichen’s vision suddenly blurred.

He had slashed at a wildly unpredictable angle, yet he still missed.

Suddenly, two bolts of lightning descended, one for each of them.

However, Li Guanqi ignored the heavenly tribulation’s lightning, his sword unwavering as it continued towards Zhao Beichen.

A deafening explosion rocked the air.

“You wouldn’t dare, brat!”

Boom!

A wave of dizziness assaulted Li Guanqi, and blood trickled out of every orifice in his head. Zhao Beichen managed to parry Li Guanqi’s strike. Li Guanqi had no time to think, immediately turning to leave. As he did, he saw a white-browed old man reaching out to grab Li Hua.

Li Guanqi flew backward and muttered, “Boom.”

Boom!

The lightning spear pinning Li Hua detonated, but a protective ball of light formed around Li Hua, absorbing the worst of it. The explosion shattered half of his shoulder, but he survived.

Li Guanqi glanced at Zhao Beichen, who was slowly going unconscious because of the lightning attacks. Li Guanqi’s eyes flashed with unwillingness, but he had no choice. He had to retreat.

Suddenly, a piercing whistle shrieked through the sky. A silver spear streaking with golden light flew toward him.

It came from the white-browed old man—the one who had moved to take Li Hua.

The spear distorted the air as it tore through space. Its power was suffocating.

Li Guanqi felt a chill. If the spear found its mark, he would die.