Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Boom!

The entire Daxia Sword Sect watched in astonishment as Li Guanqi drew in the Spirit Qi of Heaven and Earth at a speed visible to the naked eye. Colors resembling a setting sun gradually emerged in the sky above the sect, converging into brilliant, seven-hued clouds that swirled as if accumulating energy.

Lu Kangnian watched approvingly, muttering, “Based on the strange phenomena in the skies... It looks like the brat succeeded! He reached the Foundation Building Realm despite having such a large dantian.

“This brat’s starting point is far higher than the average cultivator’s. If he continues at this pace, his golden core will be exceptional when he reaches the Golden Core Realm!”

The lights attracted the immortal cranes within the sect’s territory. Everyone could see the colorful lights and clouds above, with a hundred immortal cranes circling in the sky beneath the clouds. Those cultivators who had reached the Foundation Building Realm sensed that the Spirit Qi of Heaven and Earth in the area contained lightning spirit power.

Suddenly, Li Guanqi’s eyes sprang open and flashed brightly.

“Haargh!”

Boom!

A powerful shockwave burst from him, instantly consuming the spirit qi in the cultivation room. Li Nanting, who had been keeping a close watch, reacted swiftly. He flung an array tray into the chamber, flooding it with dense spirit qi. The lights in the sky flared even brighter.

Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, the lights above gathered into a single beam and shot down into the cultivation room.Li Guanqi stood in the room with a proud look in his pure-white eyes. He radiated a powerful aura laced with a hint of regalness. Finally, unable to contain himself, a triumphant smile spread across his face.

His vital force had doubled.

The once-illusory sea of qi within his dantian had condensed into liquid form, increasing the density of his vital force.

Li Guanqi could no longer hold his excitement back. He pulled out a sword and threw it into the air.

His mind buzzed, and his liquefied vital force formed a connection with the sword.

A profound sensation overtook him. He could feel the sword in his mind and move it as if it were an extension of himself.

So this is how Foundation Building Realm cultivators control their swords without touching them.

Li Guanqi felt an indescribable sensation towards the lights in the sky, perceiving a strong life force flowing through his body.

Thud!

He placed a foot upon the hovering blade. It dipped slightly under his weight, but he quickly found his balance. His years of martial training had made his body strong and steady.

Buzz!

Li Guanqi controlled the sword in his mind and then shot out of the cultivation room into the sky. A surge of emotions welled up inside him. He clenched his fists tight.

He circled once around Heavenly Pillar Peak on the sword. Then, he shot up in a straight line, piercing through the clouds.

Li Guanqi hovered above the layer of clouds, gazing down at the golden clouds illuminated by the sunlight. His eyes reddened.

A hundred immortal cranes circled around him, and he could even extend his hand and touch their wings.

He looked down, faintly seeing the treacherous peaks and meandering rivers across the Daxia Sword Sect’s lands through the cloud layer.

For the first time, he understood why people said the sect had “eight hundred strange peaks and three thousand rivers.”

Flying had taken up less than ten percent of his vital force so far. A quick estimate of his remaining vital force told him he could sustain flight for six hours, which would be enough for him to fly six hundred li.

Now, he was able to travel a thousand li a day!

He turned around and flew back to the sect, his white robes flapping loudly in the wind. Then, he formed an invisible vital force shield in front of him to block the wind.

Whoosh!

He descended like a majestic streak of light, landing gracefully on the grand stage in the sect plaza.

Li Guanqi leaped off the sword and then bowed. “Greetings, Sect Master and Elders.”

Lu Kangnian laughed. “Good, good, good! You’ve been here for only five months and seven days, yet you’ve already advanced from the Body Tempering Realm to the Foundation Building Realm!

“You faced obstacles, and your spirit root gave you some advantages, but no one can deny how hard you’ve cultivated! Every disciple of the Daxia Sword Sect should strive for this spirit!”

Lu Kangnian’s expression turned serious as he continued to speak.

“Do you all think that Li Guanqi has been enjoying his days as an inner sect disciple? Let me tell you this—Li Guanqi has gone on two missions in total. His cultivation fell right before his first mission, but he still managed to kill a tier-two ghost, resolve its attachment, and then guide it back to reincarnation using the Soul-Guiding Curse!

“On his second mission, he killed a rogue Foundation Building cultivator conspiring to overthrow a dynasty despite being only at the tenth level of the Qi Refinement Realm!”

The crowd drew in a sharp breath. Some people gasped in surprise.

Almost three thousand people stood below the stage, and many of them had not reached the Foundation Building Realm despite having joined one, two, or more years ago.

Lu Kangnian squinted and said, “Perhaps some may say that he achieved this because he has an excellent master, or perhaps because he’s exceptionally talented.

“But let me tell you this... Li Guanqi has entered the Sword Tower sixteen times and used the spirit ascension platform for closed-door cultivation seventy-eight times since he joined! He has gone through a total of thirty-nine wooden piles in his backyard from his punching practice! This is why he could achieve the Foundation Building Realm so quickly!”

Everyone immediately understood. They looked at the youth who stood tall on the stage and could not help but gain a new level of respect for him. At the same time, it ignited the fire of passion in their hearts. The fire was invisible, but it burned. It burned until they felt uncomfortable, especially when they recalled the times they slacked off.

“The journey of cultivation is covered in thorns. Cultivation is like rowing your boat against the current. If you do not move forward, you’re going backward! Hard work is the key!”

Lu Kangnian’s powerful voice filled with vital force echoed throughout the entire sect.

“Today, Li Guanqi, a disciple of Heavenly Lightning Peak, has achieved the Foundation Building Realm after just five months in the sect. He shall be awarded three bottles of Vitality Boosting Pills and five hundred contribution points for his efforts! I hope that all disciples will take him as a role model. Work hard on your cultivation and achieve a breakthrough as soon as possible!”

All the disciples bowed and shouted, “For the glory of the sect!”

Then, Lu Kangnian told Li Guanqi via voice transmission, “Come with me, kid. I’ve got something to talk to you about.”

Li Guanqi quickly bowed and replied via voice transmission, “Yes, Sect Master.”

The crowd dispersed. Li Guanqi and Li Nanting followed Lu Kangnian to the main pavilion of Heavenly Son Peak.

Lu Kangnian sat on the dais and rubbed his brow. He looked at Li Nanting and asked softly, “What have you told him?”

Li Nanting bowed and replied, “Nothing yet. He was focused on his breakthrough, so I did not dare say anything.”