Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Li Guanqi managed to recover Lin Dong’s severed fingers during the incident. Although his fingers were successfully reattached thanks to Elder Lan He’s treatment, he was unable to participate in the training session at the secret realms this time around.

The four drank some wine at Li Guanqi’s courtyard, then returned to their own quarters. The entire sect was immersed in fervent cultivation, with the second examination for new disciples fast approaching.

Everyone in Li Guanqi’s circle of friends was especially motivated after witnessing the speed of his progress. Even the usually lazy Ye Feng cultivated like his life depended on it.

Li Guanqi’s injuries also healed quickly during the next few days.

Three days later, only faint pink scars remained where the black-robed man had struck. For the past two days, Li Guanqi had been focused on improving his sword techniques, as Sword Spirit had been thoroughly dissatisfied with his performance against the black-robed man.

Atop Jade Teapot Peak, Li Guanqi moved through the air with practiced grace, his chest bare and his sword gleaming in his grip. He had completely mastered the Azure Lotus Sword Technique. Once, he even dared to reach beyond his limits, attempting to draw artifact soul power directly from his spirit void. The moment he injected the artifact soul into a magical tool, the tool let out an unbearable scream. He didn’t dare try again.

Sword Spirit explained, “Only soul artifacts can hold artifact souls. Even magical treasures cannot withstand them.”

Only Li Guanqi could see Sword Spirit’s illusory form. She frowned and asked, “How many spirit stones do you have now?”

Li Guanqi looked up and did a brief mental count. “Almost ten thousand? But the spirit stones on the altar used for the dragon egg will run out soon. They’ll last for a month at most.”

Sword Spirit nodded faintly. “Starting today, you shall give me one hundred low-grade spirit stones daily. I’ll create a sword cultivator in the realm within the sword box realm to help you cultivate.”Li Guanqi froze, then shouted, “A hundred spirit stones per day?! You might as well rob me!”

Sword Spirit shot him an exasperated look, rolled her eyes, and turned back toward the sword box.

“Practice alone, then. Also, you haven’t given me any vital force in three days.”

Li Guanqi breathed heavily. He mulled over it for a long time. “I’ll give you whatever you want. But you’ve got to tell me... What exactly is this thing you’ll create? Also, how long will a hundred spirit stones last you?”

Sword Spirit smirked with amusement. “The Hundred Prides Illusory Realm! As for how long a hundred low-grade spirit stones will last...”

Sword Spirit showed him one finger.

Li Guanqi frowned. “One day?”

She shook her head.

“One shichen?[1]”

She shook her head again, then replied, “The time required to burn one incense stick[2].”

Li Guanqi’s face turned green. “Half an hour? A hundred spirit stones?!”

“This illusory realm exhausts spirit stones at a terrifying speed. The main reason is that I cannot maintain it for long in my current form. Still, why don’t you try it out? It’s up to you.”

Li Guanqi’s expression changed from shock to resolve. He gritted his teeth and asked his final question. “How large is the gap between myself and this Hundred Prides Sword Cultivator?”

To his surprise, her eyes showed a hint of seriousness. “As large as the gap between the clouds and the earth. The gap between you and other true prodigies is too large. This world is larger than you imagine, and talent is nothing on its own. Only those who survive in the end are considered truly talented.

“Some people are born with sword bodies, meaning their root artifact soul awakens at birth and follows them through life. Some achieve momentous enlightenment and break through three realms in an instant. Yes, some people are skilled with the sword, but they often die young.”

Dissatisfaction burned through Li Guanqi after hearing her words. With clenched teeth, he tossed a hundred spirit stones in her direction. “I’ll try!”

Li Guanqi was actually a prideful person. After his recent massacres, he’d begun to feel like even late Foundation Building Realm cultivators were beneath him.

Sword Spirit’s gaze sharpened. She had long noticed the change in his attitude. Arrogance was deadlier than lack of talent. The cultivation world was never short on prodigies—those hailed as “once-in-a-century” freaks or bearers of “once-in-ten-thousand-years” Dao bodies. But to her, all those titles were illusions.

Li Guanqi had an Empty Spirit Body. She wouldn’t let him die an early death. If he died, she wouldn’t survive for long either.

Su Xuan’s Mount Meru Immortal Rune had bound their fates together. She would not let Li Guanqi underestimate the obstacles ahead. Her goal was simple: to shape him into the strongest sword cultivator in the world.

Buzz!

An invisible barrier appeared within the wooden house. The sword box hovered in midair, with only Sword Spirit there. No one else was present within the sealed space.

Li Guanqi stood on the altar in the sword box’s realm. In the blink of an eye, the scenery around him warped, and an endless field of stone tiles stretched out beneath his feet.

Buzz!

The space around him distorted slightly, and a silhouette appeared ten zhang away from him. This man wore azure-colored robes and stood six chi tall, making him more than half a head taller than Li Guanqi.

His face was blurry, so Li Guanqi could not see his features clearly. However, Li Guanqi could feel that this person’s aura was at the mid Foundation Building Realm, just like himself.

The next moment, Li Guanqi’s vision blurred. He instinctively raised his sword to protect himself. His pupils shrank to pinpricks—a blade’s chill touched his neck.

He reappeared in the wooden house, eyes blank and unmoving for a long time. The feeling of death still lingered on his skin, sending chills through his entire body.

Sword Spirit said, “Now you see the gap between yourself and true prodigies. Mid Foundation Building Realm cultivators are not weak—you’ve simply never encountered a strong one yet. While you can feel proud of yourself, never be arrogant!”

Li Guanqi’s expression started to change from disbelief into humility. He took a breath and sighed. He looked at Sword Spirit and bowed. “I have learned my lesson!”

“Do you still want to continue?”

Li Guanqi looked at her, his eyes burning with resolve. “Yes!”

At last, Sword Spirit smiled. “Don’t just watch your opponent’s eyes. Study every muscle. You’ll learn to read their movements before they make them. If you fight left-handed, you’ll be faster than him. Want to give it a shot?”

“No, I want to rely on myself!”

That night, Li Guanqi spent nearly five hundred low-grade spirit stones. But he could now hold his ground for fifteen minutes against that faceless figure. Pale and exhausted, he sat cross-legged atop Jade Teapot Peak, reviewing everything he had learned from those battles.

Sword Spirit nodded to herself as she gazed at his back. Perhaps he did not have the most powerful physique, but he had the greatest potential out of everyone she’d ever seen. His harsh childhood had also tempered his will like steel.

She smiled faintly and murmured, “Thirty-two deaths in two and a half hours, and he hasn’t broken down yet. He can even still his mind to listen to advice from external sources. With a heart like that, he has great potential.”.

1. One shichen() refers to two hours.

2. The time taken to burn one incense stick () is typically half an hour