Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

News of Li Guanqi reaching the fifteenth floor of the Sword Tower despite being only at the Qi Refinement Realm spread throughout the entire sect. Yet, he simply returned to his courtyard in silence.

The days passed as he improved his sword techniques, and his sword moved faster and faster. Three slashes in a single breath became his current limit.

Sword Spirit was relentless in her demands and held him to the highest standards, but he met them remarkably quickly.

During this period, he came to truly appreciate the depth of Sword Spirit’s understanding of sword techniques. Her insights were profound, and she offered unique and invaluable perspectives.

Sword Spirit first had him practice stances without holding anything. Then, she instructed him to carry the sword box while projecting a razor-sharp ray of sword light.

When Li Guanqi struggled with this, he asked, “What’s the purpose of this exercise?”

Sword Spirit leaned against a stone pillar and said, “It’s for your aura. These things cannot be rushed. You have to progress step by step. Even the greatest prodigies only comprehend the way of the sword through experience.”

She paused, then added, “You should start preparing for the Foundation Building Realm. Since you’ve already reached the thirteenth level, there’s no need to delay your breakthrough any longer.”

Li Guanqi shrugged, recalling what his master had told him yesterday. The spirit void opening ceremony was in half a month, but they would need to travel to another sect for it. He took out his jade slip and sent a message:

“Master, I am preparing to break through to the Foundation Building Realm now.”Upon receiving the message, Li Nanting hurried over from Heavenly Son Mountain.

Upon entering the backyard, he saw a mountain-like pile of wooden logs and a very sweaty Li Guanqi.

Li Nanting couldn’t help but say, “You’re working too hard, brat. You should get some rest.”

Extending his hand, he examined Li Guanqi’s body. His eyes gleamed with approval once more—Li Guanqi’s dantian was brimming with vital qi.

“Focus on your cultivation tonight,” Li Nanting instructed. “We’ll prepare for the breakthrough tomorrow.”

With that, Li Nanting got up and left.

After a mere five months, Li Guanqi became the first among the newly recruited disciples to prepare to enter the Foundation Building Realm. Almost no one had cultivated at such a speed in the sect’s history.

Even Ye Feng of the Heavenly Metal Peak had only just reached the tenth level of the Qi Refinement Realm. However, based on his current pace, he was expected to catch up with Li Guanqi and undergo the spirit void opening ceremony alongside him.

Li Guanqi was about to break through to the Foundation Building Realm.

The news of Li Guanqi’s impending breakthrough spread like wildfire. Senior brothers and sisters from Heavenly Lightning Peak came to share their experiences on the breakthrough process. Some even recounted their failures, though Gu Ran scolded them for it.

They bickered noisily until Gu Ran chased them out.

Before leaving, she pressed a Mind Clearing Pill into Li Guanqi’s hand and patted his shoulder with a grin. “Don’t worry, Little Junior Brother! You’ll be fine!”

Li Guanqi smiled and nodded, but anxiety still gnawed at him after everyone left. Despite their encouragement, the upcoming breakthrough loomed over him like a shadow.

Sword Spirit teased him, “Reaching the Foundation Building Realm is only the first step on the long journey to immortality. What are you so nervous about? With me guiding you, you’ll at least reach the Illusory Refinement Realm in this lifetime.”

Li Guanqi pursed his lips. “That’s enough. You can brag all you want but don’t drag me into it. Illusory Refinement Realm? I’m only reaching the Foundation Building Realm tomorrow! Foundation Building Realm! I’ll still be as weak as an ant before a Golden Core cultivator.”

Li Guanqi got up and returned to his room. He tried to sleep, but he kept tossing and turning. The thought that he would soon be able to fly filled him with excitement. Ultimately, he gave up on sleeping altogether, sitting up to cultivate.

The following morning, a large crowd gathered at the plaza on Heavenly Sword Peak. Everyone was eager to witness the prodigy advance to the Foundation Building Realm—after a mere five months of joining the sect.

The plaza had a gigantic screen a hundred zhang wide. This screen displayed everything happening on the spirit ascension platform on Heavenly Pillar Peak.

The sect master had even authorized the use of an Earth-tier spirit ascension platform for Li Guanqi’s breakthrough. Disciplinarian Qin Xian usually used one, while the other two were typically occupied by elders in closed-door cultivation. This decision was a testament to how highly Lu Kangnian valued Li Guanqi’s future.

Now, there were only two people in the cultivation room: Li Guanqi and Li Nanting.

Li Nanting smiled and said, “There’s no need to be nervous. I’ve already told you about the process in detail many times. Just relax.”

“Here, take this Mind Stilling Pill. Once it takes effect, you can begin your breakthrough,” Li Nanting said, holding out a Mind Stilling Pill and Foundation Building Pill.

Li Guanqi accepted them, noticing the sweat in Li Nanting’s palms. He grinned. “Don’t worry, Master.”

Li Nanting took a deep breath and said, “Don’t worry about anything else. Just focus on your breakthrough! I’ll be standing guard outside.”

After he left the room, Li Guanqi gradually steadied his breathing.

Meanwhile, Ye Feng and Zhong Lin stood side by side in the plaza, silently watching the screen.

Ye Feng exhaled slowly. Thank goodness I didn’t bet against him back then... He’s way too talented!

Hoo...

Inside the cultivation room, Li Guanqi took a deep breath and then swallowed both pills at once.

Boom!

The sea of qi in his dantian started to swirl. A mysterious energy wrapped around him, and the medicinal power of the Mind Stilling Pill instantly spread across his body. His mind became much stiller than before.

Sword Spirit’s voice echoed in his mind. “Guard your spirit platform! Consolidate your vital qi!”

Li Guanqi instantly retracted his mind, and his divine consciousness entered his dantian.

Let’s do this!

Lu Guanqi started vigorously guiding the spirit qi around his body according to the technique Sword Spirit had taught him, causing it to collide with the vital qi in his dantian.

The immense pressure started to squeeze the vital qi into a mist. This was the most crucial step—liquefying his vital qi and reshaping his dantian into a sturdy container.

Soon, the Foundation Building Pill took effect. The crashing force intensified, and the vital qi in his dantian liquefied. Sword Spirit’s voice echoed again, this time showing him the locations of thirty-six acupoints in his body.

“Break through and open these thirty-six acupoints! It’ll be a great boon for your future cultivation!”

Li Guanqi didn’t hesitate. He immediately began directing his vital qi toward the specified acupoints and clearing them. Sword Spirit hadn’t explained why, but he chose to trust her.

Their fates had been intertwined from the moment he had received the sword box. She would never lead him astray unless she abandoned her goal of regaining her strength.

Besides, he was certain his grandfather had his own ways of keeping her in check.

I’ll take the gamble!