A Blind Swordsman's Sword Coffin

Li Guanqi sat on the cloud boat’s deck, enjoying the sight of his friends joking around. They were heading home. He’d been alone when he left the Azure Cloud Continent, and he never thought he would return with so many people.

Meng Wanshu sat at the front of the ship and took off her shoes. Spirit qi flowed around them like a glowing river, illuminating the pitch-black void and its mysterious territories.

She swung her legs gently, resting her hands on the bow of the ship. She smiled. “Can we visit the village this time too?”

Li Guanqi looked at her beautiful face and returned the smile. “Yes, of course.”

She suddenly turned to meet his eyes and gave him a warm smile. “Sometimes, I feel like your personality changes quite dramatically.”

“Oh? How so?”

Meng Wanshu frowned, thinking. “You’re a gentleman with me, but you’re violent when you need to be. Sometimes you’re cold, but other times, you take friendship very seriously. Basically, I feel like you’re very complicated. Your mind is a mess.”

Li Guanqi paused. He couldn’t refute that. It was true. He often found himself contemplating and worrying about a multitude of things.

She looked out at the void. “Just follow your heart without overthinking. That way, you won’t be so tired.”

She glanced at Ye Feng. “Look at him. He always does what his heart wants.”

Li Guanqi turned and caught Ye Feng staring at Peng Luo, drooling. Li Guanqi shook his head with a wry smile. “True.”

Meng Wanshu cocked her head. “Isn’t that a good thing? The heart and the body become one. No need to hold yourself back or restrain your heart. Just do what you want to do.”

Li Guanqi felt as though a bomb had exploded in his mind. The heart and the body become one. No need to hold yourself back or restrain your heart.

It felt like waking up. A warm smile—one that came from his heart—crept onto his face. Even his aura changed, becoming like polished jade. Lightning flickered around him as if in celebration, and a strong but gentle vital force surged through him.

Li Guanqi sat down cross-legged with a smile on his face. Meng Wanshu smiled in understanding and lay down on the bow, looking up at the dots of light scattered across the void.

The others noticed the change in Li Guanqi and froze.

Xiao Chen pursed his lips. “Such unimaginable talent... He gained insight just like that, as if it was nothing!”

Cao Yan said nothing. He simply glanced at Li Guanqi’s back and smiled.

Ye Feng downed some wine and chuckled. “Boss has put too much stress on himself these past few years. Now... I think he’s figured many things out.”

Time passed quickly. Through the transcontinental transport array, they soon returned to the Daxia Territory. Along the way, Li Guanqi remained deep in thought. There were too many things to consider.

Buzz!

A luxurious cloud boat materialized on the transport array, drawing many looks. The youth in white robes sitting at the bow slowly opened his eyes.

A strange aura filled the air, and everyone in the plaza stopped breathing for a moment. But it lasted only an instant. Li Guanqi’s aura softened and grew sophisticated. Everyone smiled when they saw Li Guanqi. Everyone smiled upon seeing him.

Whoosh whoosh!

A group of figures emerged. The cultivators in the plaza were astonished and quickly retreated dozens of zhang. They all bowed to the newcomers but remained silent. These arrivals were the patriarchs of the major factions who controlled the transport array.

“These people don’t usually appear in public,” someone whispered. “Why are they all here today?”

Three elders in luxurious robes approached, looking panicked. They didn’t fly after teleporting over. Instead, they strode forward quickly on foot.

The leading elder was an energetic old man with white hair but a youthful face. He stepped forward, bowed, and gave a fist salute. “Greetings, Seniors. I am Zhao Yongxian of the Zhao family, from Tingyu Bay in the Cangwu Continent. I’ve heard of your achievements.”

“Du Yuan, Du family,” the second elder said.

All three bowed deeply as they introduced themselves.

The bystanders were startled. The three elders had stopped and bowed, greeting the newcomers as their seniors. The former were the ancestors of three major families, each at the Illusory Refinement Realm, which was why their families were powerful enough to control the transport array.

Yet these three powerful figures were bowing toward five youths. In fact, they were bowing so deeply they were almost on their knees.

Li Guanqi was taken aback. He’d never been to the Cangwu Continent, but they clearly knew him and were afraid of him.

He gently raised his hand, his spatial force lifting them to their feet. He gave a quick fist salute, and the others followed suit. They were all Illusory Refinement Realm cultivators, after all. It would be inappropriate to put on airs.

“Senior, who are these...?”

Seeing Li Guanqi’s politeness, Zhao Yongxian and the other elders sighed in relief.

Zhao Yongxian smiled. “It’s nothing. We came to greet you after learning of your arrival. We were afraid that—”

Before he could finish, the old man behind him struck him with a walking cane. This elder wore navy brocade robes and had deep-set eyes that marked him as a strict man.

Du Yuan forced a stiff smile. “Nothing, nothing! We prepared a feast after learning of your arrival. We hope you’ll give us face and come by. Let us have the honor of hosting you.”

Cao Yan frowned and sent Li Guanqi a voice transmission. “Brother Li, these guys seem terrified of us. Should we ask them why?”

Li Guanqi felt the same and decided to be upfront. “Seniors, why do I get the feeling you’re afraid of us? We’re a bit confused.”

Du Yuan looked down with an apologetic smile. “No, no. Of course not. We—”

Zhao Yongxian pursed his lips and said, “Why don’t we just tell them? These kids don’t look like that kind of people.”

Du Yuan couldn’t stop him from speaking his mind this time.