A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

Chu Menglan observed Li Guanqi, noting his air of confidence. This confidence, she realized, stemmed from genuine ability, not mere arrogance.

Then again, he did have the capability to back it up. The Hell Rivers region had vanished, yet he emerged unscathed. Rumor had it he’d claimed all the treasures from the ancient ruin, though no one knew why the entire region had disappeared.

Every faction across the Soaring Heavens Continent had scrambled to investigate. But even the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion, which proclaimed to know everything, offered the same answer to all inquiries—they didn’t know.

This only added to Li Guanqi’s mystery.

People with that kind of confidence usually considered lowly tactics beneath them, so Chu Menglan believed he was telling the truth. “Do you know what’s happening in two days?”

Li Guanqi shrugged. He had only the vaguest information. “I was hoping you could fill me in.”

Fatigue showed on Chu Menglan’s face. She leaned back slowly, her tight dress outlining her figure, though she didn’t seem to notice. “Grudges between the three factions controlling the transport array have been accumulating for a long time. That’s why we established a rule: every hundred years, each faction sends one disciple to fight for control of the array. Among the current cohort in the Profound Phoenix Pavilion, only Su Xi is decent enough, so...”

“So it came to this,” Li Guanqi said.

Chu Menglan nodded, bitterness plain on her face. “I’ll be honest. We’ve tried everything. I even invited a sixth-tier alchemist. Nothing worked.”

Li Guanqi shrugged. Su Xi was the saintess of the Profound Phoenix Pavilion. It was only natural the sect had tried every method available.

He rose. “To be honest, while I’d appreciate your help to get to the Taiqing Territory, I’m not entirely confident I can help your saintess. I’ll need to examine her first.”

The old woman paled. She slammed her staff against the floor, vital force surging through her as if she were about to attack. Glaring at Li Guanqi, she said, “Are you playing us, kid?”

Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes, and his gaze turned cold. “Watch your tone, old woman. Don’t make me cut you.”

Filled with rage, the old woman looked ready to pounce on him.

Chu Menglan was embarrassed by her subordinate’s outburst, but she had her own pride, and Li Guanqi had shown them disrespect. She fixed him with a cool look. “You shouldn’t have such a short temper at your age. It’s bad for your health.”

He’s acting as if he’s my equal.

Li Guanqi was so annoyed that he laughed. He knew what Chu Menglan was thinking. He kicked the table aside, drew his Red Lotus Sword, and completed his Heaven-Opening form[1].

Boom!

Lightning sword qi circled the Red Lotus Sword.

Sword Spirit appeared at his side and took his hand without a word.

The world shuddered. The secret realm housing the Profound Phoenix Pavilion began tearing apart, countless black fissures spiderwebbing through space under the crushing pressure.

Chu Menglan shot to her feet, staring at him with her beautiful eyes. Her heart raced. Goosebumps erupted on her arms, and cold sweat dripped down her forehead.

The old woman buckled under his aura. Her legs shook so violently that without her staff, she would have collapsed to her knees.

“Don’t talk down to me,” Li Guanqi said, his voice calm. “Do you really think I need your help to get to the Taiqing Territory? I could negotiate with the Heavenly Demon Sect or the Dark Shadow Sect just as easily. I could even join them temporarily. Do you think the disciples of the Profound Phoenix Pavilion could stop me?”

His eyes narrowed. “I gave you face. You refused my goodwill.”

Chu Menglan stood frozen, pinned by his aura.

Li Guanqi huffed coldly. His sword carved a massive gash through the pavilion.

Crash!

Bricks, tiles, and beams tumbled to the ground. Even the reinforced space split open.

“Don’t come begging later,” he said, then stepped forward and vanished.

The old woman’s back was soaked with sweat. She glared at the spot where Li Guanqi disappeared. “Pavilion Master, are we really letting him go that easily?”

Chu Menglan slapped her across the face. “Remember your place, Yu Guizhi! Do you think his identity is that simple? Use your head! His identity aside, the strength he just displayed made me feel like death was breathing down my neck!”

The old woman’s expression cycled through shock and fear before she finally hung her head. “I apologize. But it’s the same with or without him, isn’t it? The next visitor arrives today. With their help, the problem will be resolved.”

Chu Menglan’s face betrayed a war of irritation, worry, and something like relief. But she still felt unsettled. She sank into her chair and massaged her forehead. “Repair the main pavilion and prepare to welcome the guest.”

She shot Yu Guizhi a cold look. “And watch your mouth.”

Chu Menglan disappeared, leaving to bathe and change her clothes. The next visitor was too important.

***

After leaving the Profound Phoenix Pavilion, Li Guanqi glanced back at Sword Spirit. “Why’d you let me go off on them like that?”

Sword Spirit stood behind him, chuckling. “Doctors don’t go begging patients for help. Those two obviously didn’t trust you. Might as well wait for them to come crawling.”

Li Guanqi pursed his lips. It made sense. He walked toward the guesthouse, hands clasped behind his back, then paused. “If you had to intervene, how much of my lifespan would you need to kill Chu Menglan?”

Sword Spirit gave him a warm smile. “She’s a peak Illusory Refinement Realm cultivator, but it would be much better than last time. Ten years.”

Li Guanqi’s eyes lit up. He raised his eyebrows and rubbed his palms together. “Only ten years? With my current lifespan, you could launch at least a hundred attacks! I’ve got nothing to worry about! I can finally hold my own!”

Sword Spirit clasped her hands behind her back and leaned toward him with a grin. “I meant you’d have ten years left.”

Li Guanqi’s face fell, as if he had swallowed a basket of bitter gourds. “Ten years... left...”

Sword Spirit’s expression turned stern. “Never put your life in another person’s hands. Not even mine. Work hard on your cultivation. That old woman has a couple of tricks up her sleeve. In a real fight, you’d still get hurt.”

1. This is the first time the author has used this phrasing, implying that Heaven-Opening is a ”state” or ”form” that he can reach. ☜