A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

“Why? I don’t think that old woman is that strong!” Li Guanqi said, indignant.

Sword Spirit stopped walking. She turned to look at him with amusement. “You think you could kill her, don’t you?”

Li Guanqi nodded firmly. He felt powerful, maybe seventy percent sure he could win.

Sword Spirit’s eyes twinkled. “What if I told you that was just one of her clones?”

Li Guanqi’s eyes went wide. “What? A clone?”

Satisfied with his reaction, Sword Spirit said, “That’s right. Though she’s only strong enough to produce one.”

Li Guanqi’s expression turned solemn. He realized his mindset had slowly shifted. As he grew stronger, he’d lost some of his respect for more powerful cultivators. That kind of carelessness could be fatal.

Sword Spirit continued, “With your current abilities, you could kill an early Illusory Refinement Realm cultivator. However, if they can make a clone, or even multiple clones, you’ll be in serious danger. Never let your guard down.”

Li Guanqi’s chest rose and fell slightly. He let out a long exhale. “Yes, Ma’am!”

Sword Spirit smiled. “Raise your cultivation level as quickly as possible. The Divine Transformation Realm is only a glimpse into the Dao. When you reach the Illusory Refinement Realm, you’ll truly be a cultivator.”

Li Guanqi quietly committed her words to memory.

***

Not long after he left, the whole Profound Phoenix Pavilion was anxiously preparing to welcome an important visitor.

Chu Menglan wore a luxurious dress and stood nervously at the front, with all the elders arrayed behind her.

Buzz!

A long rift opened in the air, and a smiling, white-haired old man stepped through.

Chu Menglan hurried forward and bowed. “I, Chu Menglan, along with all our elders, welcome Elder Qi to the Profound Phoenix Sect!”

The guest was Qi Rongxuan of the Soaring Heavens Continent’s Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion. He waved her off with a smile and said directly, “I know what happened. Take me to the girl.”

The old woman was all smiles as she stepped aside to lead him to the pavilion.

After passing the main hall, he stopped abruptly. He turned to Chu Menglan, his expression grave. “Did anyone come here just now?”

The old woman paled, thinking he was annoyed that they’d been fighting someone before his arrival. She smiled and said, “No, no. Probably just some lingering sword qi from disciples practicing their techniques.”

Qi Rongxuan didn’t believe her. He turned to Chu Menglan. “I’m asking you. Did a young man with a large sword box on his back come here?”

Chu Menglan paled, but seeing his serious expression, she didn’t hide the truth. “Yes. Li Guanqi from the Azure Cloud Continent was here.”

Qi Rongxuan’s tone sharpened. “Where is he?”

The old woman thought there had to be a grudge between Li Guanqi and Qi Rongxuan. Fearing it would affect the Profound Phoenix Sect, she opened her mouth to explain.

Qi Rongxuan snapped his head toward her. The aura of a high-ranked leader erupted from him as he glared at her. “Shut your mouth!”

Then he turned back to Chu Menglan. “Tell me, where is he now? What the hell happened? Why did he attack?”

He had recognized Li Guanqi’s sword intent. He’d felt Li Guanqi’s terrifying sword intent in the ancient ruins just days ago. How could he ever forget it?

Chu Menglan sensed something was off. She hurriedly explained everything through voice transmission.

Qi Rongxuan rested his hands on his back. He glared at the old woman and huffed coldly.

“Good job, Profound Phoenix Sect.”

With a sweep of his sleeve, he turned to leave.

“You dare provoke him? Well, save yourselves then!”

Qi Rongxuan left furiously, leaving the elders and the horrified Chu Menglan in stunned silence. She never would have dreamed Li Guanqi’s words would prove true so soon.

She couldn’t fathom why Qi Rongxuan, an influential member of the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion, would fear a youth at the Divine Transformation Realm.

Suddenly, she shuddered, staring at Qi Rongxuan’s back in terror. If her sources were right, he had also been in the ancient ruins.

Does this mean the disappearance of the Hell Rivers is related to Li Guanqi?!

The old woman approached Chu Menglan, her annoying voice once again filling the air. “Pavilion Master, I think we need to come up with our own solutions! These outsiders aren’t reliable at all!”

Whoosh!

A fire-red sword flashed, and her severed arm flew high into the air.

Chu Menglan glared at the old woman coldly and slapped her across the face, sending her flying hundreds of zhang back.

Chu Menglan’s voice echoed across the sky.

“From today onward, you are stripped of your title of Grand Elder. You are banished to the Cliff of Repentance for three hundred years to reflect on your errors.”

Whoosh!

She caught the old woman’s severed arm and produced a milk-white jade box. Taking a deep breath, she left alone.

***

Fifteen minutes later, a beautiful woman in a luxurious dress appeared at the door of a crowded guesthouse. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Heavens! Isn’t that Pavilion Master Chu Menglan of the Profound Phoenix Pavilion?!”

“Why is she here? It seems like she’s looking for someone?”

A youth in luxurious robes scoffed. “Looking for someone? Are you crazy? Who would make the pavilion master of the Profound Phoenix Pavilion come to them?”

“Then who is she waiting for?”

Meanwhile, Qi Rongxuan and Li Guanqi were drinking tea in an upstairs room.

“Hey, kid. Chu Menglan is here. Are you going down to meet her?”

Li Guanqi pursed his lips and poured Qi Rongxuan a cup of tea. “My goodwill was rejected like sticking my hot cheek to their cold backside.[1] I’m in no hurry to go downstairs.”

Qi Rongxuan nodded. “It’s just activating a trans-territory transport array. You could’ve just told me. It’s such a small matter. I’ll get it done for you.”

Li Guanqi smiled. “I didn’t want to trouble you, Elder Qi.”

Qi Rongxuan stroked his beard and smiled. “What are you talking about? If you say that, you’re implying you don’t see me, Old Qi, as one of your own. Don’t worry. I’ll get this sorted out for you. I can’t believe the tiny Profound Phoenix Sect could be so ignorant.”

Chu Menglan stood downstairs, enduring the strange looks from the crowd. Finally, she bowed and called out, “I, Chu Menglan of the Profound Phoenix Sect, would like to meet Mr. Li!”

The entire street fell silent.

Someone swallowed audibly. “She’s begging to meet him... Who the hell is this Mr. Li?”

“Chu Menglan has to come meet this person personally... How important is this guy?”

Ten full breaths later, Li Guanqi’s languid voice drifted down from upstairs.

“When did you arrive, Pavilion Master Chu? Come upstairs.”

Chu Menglan’s expression flickered between irritation and relief, but in the end, she climbed the stairs with the jade box in her arms.

The moment she went up, the crowd below erupted in conversation.

“It’s a man’s voice! Chu Menglan... is going upstairs... in broad daylight... Sss...”

“Shhh! Are you asking for death?”

“Don’t finish that sentence. I’m begging you...”

1. To stick one’s hot cheek to another’s cold backside means one’s enthusiasm is met with coldness—similar to being given the cold shoulder. ☜