Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Pang Li’s sword gleamed a deep crimson, enveloped in his spirit qi. Though he possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root, his talent was nothing exceptional.

Li Guanqi let out a cold chuckle and lunged forward with his sword.

Clang clang clang!

Each thrust was swift as lightning, rapidly striking two weak points on Pang Li’s blade. The force of the blows stopped Pang Li’s downward swing mid-motion.

Undeterred, Pang Li unleashed a flurry of aggressive sword techniques, but none brought him closer to Li Guanqi. To Li Guanqi, Pang Li’s furious attacks were riddled with glaring flaws.

Clang!

As Pang Li completed his final stroke, the crowd remained frozen in stunned silence.

Though he had managed to force Li Guanqi back with a sweeping slash, the contempt in his eyes had already hardened into grim seriousness. After this brief exchange, Pang Li could tell that Li Guanqi was undoubtedly the stronger fighter.

Twirling his sword with a flick of his wrist, Li Guanqi taunted, “Is this all you’ve got? This isn’t fun at all.”

Boom!The stone tile beneath his feet shattered. Li Guanqi shot forward like a panther, activating Lightning Flash to gain terrifying speed. In just a few breaths, he closed the distance. By the time Pang Li registered his movement, Li Guanqi was already upon him, his eyes glinting coldly.

Pang Li raised his sword in a desperate block, but Li Guanqi’s attack was not so easily thwarted. He twisted and maneuvered his sword like a snake, moving the blade around Pang Li’s sword.

Pfft!

The sword glinted as it quickly pierced Pang Li’s body three times in succession.

Pang Li utilized the same sword technique as before, with vital qi surging powerfully through his body.

However, Li Guanqi advanced calmly, his slashes precise and confident. Every strike seemed to anticipate Pang Li’s movements, landing before he could react.

Each of Li Guanqi’s blows carried the force of a thousand jin, their terrifying speed and weight cutting off Pang Li’s sword technique.

Boom! Boom boom!

Pang Li started to move backward, each step cracking the tiles beneath his feet.

The crowd gulped. It was obvious that Pang Li and Li Guanqi weren’t on the same league. Pang Li had already burned through a considerable amount of his vital force, having executed the Blazing Fire Sword Technique twice. Meanwhile, Li Guanqi’s breathing remained steady, completely unfazed.

He stood firm, in complete control of his body.

The disciples of the Purple Sun Pavilion even started to wonder if Pang Li was letting Li Guanqi win on purpose. From their perspective, his movements seemed hesitant, always on the defensive.

Seeing the fight on the grand stage, the truth was clear to all. With every slash, Li Guanqi advanced, while Pang Li fell back.

Boom!

Li Guanqi kicked Pang Li several zhang back, then growled, “Is this all you’ve got? Or is your arrogance just because of your status as a Purple Sun Pavilion disciple?”

Pang Li coughed up blood. His ribs were caved in, and his breathing was shallow.

His eyes burned with fury. He couldn’t lay a finger on Li Guanqi despite being just three chi away.

Li Guanqi smirked. “Too slow! Far too slow!”

Then, he moved again.

Whoosh!

There was a cold glint of light. Most of the spectators couldn’t clearly see Li Guanqi’s movements.

Pang Li’s sword-wielding hand was severed cleanly at the wrist.

Pang Li slowly turned his head, enduring intense pain. He glanced at his wrist, where only a stub remained, and then screamed.

“Aaahhh! My hand! My hand! Ahhh!!”

His screams pierced through the clouds. He fell back on the ground, clutching the bleeding stump with his remaining hand.

Trembling, he backed away and fumbled for a few pills, shoving them into his mouth.

Boom!

Li Guanqi stopped, watching calmly as Pang Li staggered to his feet. Standing tens of zhang away, Pang Li’s eyes turned a menacing red.

Near the stage, Li Nanting narrowed his eyes and leaned toward the elder beside him. “Old Miao, a Spirit-Boosting Pill... don’t you think that’s a bit much?”

Old Miao stood with his arms crossed, his eyelids drooping. He replied indifferently, “In a death duel, anything goes.”

Li Guanqi stood in the spot and remarked, “The Spirit-Boosting Pill? Your aura will reach the middle of the Foundation Building Realm soon.”

The pill’s energy surged violently through Pang Li’s body, turning his eyes blood-red. Vital qi urged through him as he roared with a crazed look, saying, “I’ll kill you! Spell number two hundred and ninety-three—Blazing Eruption!”

Boom!

Dozens of fireballs, each the size of a human head, materialized on the stage and hurtled toward Li Guanqi.

The crowd gasped. “He mastered Blazing Eruption to such a level?!”

Li Guanqi shook his head slightly. He thought Pang Li had some powerful trick up his sleeve, but this was nothing at all.

In that case...

His vital force circulated around his body once. Now that he’d opened his acupoints, the circulation was much faster.

Buzz!

“Thunder Whip!”

A purple whip appeared in his left hand.

Thud thud thud!

Boom boom!

With a flick of his wrist, Li Guanqi lashed the fireballs. They shattered before they could reach him. Then, the whip vanished, and he sheathed his sword.

He charged forward.

Li Guanqi displayed the raw beauty of physical strength before the entire audience. His punches were swift, each carrying terrifying force. While ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could withstand heavy blows thanks to their tempered bodies, Li Guanqi’s strikes far exceeded a thousand jin.

Pang Li, unable to recover from his disrupted spell, couldn’t defend himself at all.

Blood spattered everywhere, quickly dyeing the tiles red. Li Guanqi held his breath as his fierce punches rained down on Pang Li.

Finally, Li Guanqi swept his leg like a giant axe, striking Pang Li’s thighs.

Crack!

Two sickening cracks rang out. Pang Li collapsed onto his knees, his face twisted in agony. His body was covered in blood, and his chest had caved in. His legs were bent at unnatural angles, forcing him to kneel before Li Guanqi.

Panting, Li Guanqi slowly raised his fist and turned to glance at Li Nanting.

Pang Li’s swollen eyes had become mere slits. His mouth dribbled blood as he swayed, barely conscious. Still, he sneered at Li Guanqi.

He grabbed Li Guanqi’s wrist and threatened with a weak voice, “So... what... if... you’ve... won...

“Pfft! Cough cough! I am the disciple... of the Azure Cloud Pavilion’s master! As long as I am alive... I will find a way to kill that damned girl.”

Li Guanqi turned and looked down at Pang Li. When Pang Li saw Li Guanqi looking at himself, his grin widened. In his eyes, Li Guanqi was going to pay for his arrogance with the ultimate price.

Flying above the arena, the white-haired elder observed quietly before turning away. “He shows good potential.”

Then, he left.