Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

The youth with red, cropped hair stood onstage with an arrogant expression on his face. He had a tall nose and slightly thick lips. His messy eyebrows slanted downwards, framing tiger-like eyes that exuded arrogance. Although he had a masculine appearance, he was not particularly handsome.

But his strength was not to be underestimated.

When he killed his opponent, he was clean and cruel without a moment of hesitation, like a butcher slaughtering a pig. Death didn’t seem to faze him in the least.

The crowd started to discuss the youth on the stage.

Before long, all the matches were over. To everyone’s surprise, all ten disciples from the red-haired youth’s sect had emerged victorious.

The other nine disciples stood calmly behind the red-haired youth, as if their victories had been trivial.

Li Guanqi watched them with a furrowed brow. Admittedly, their auras were much stronger than those of the Daxia Sword Sect disciples. Judging by their performance, every one of them fought clean and fast, with precise, masterful technique. Not a single fight had been dragged out.

Next to Li Guanqi, Tu Kui muttered admiringly, “They really live up to the Profound Gate Pavilion’s name. With talent like that, no wonder they’re one of the Six Pavilions.”

Li Guanqi’s thoughts drifted to the enormous cloud boat he’d seen on the way to Heavenly Tiger Pass, pulled by six stallion-type demonic beasts. As it turned out, the boat belonged to the Profound Gate Pavilion, and the powerful aura he’d sensed back then must have belonged to the red-haired youth.

Tu Kui saw Li Guanqi staring at the youth and transmitted, “He’s a prodigy who joined the Profound Gate Pavilion this year. His name is Guan Qingyun, and he has a Fire King Spirit Root. He’s very powerful.”Li Guanqi gave a small nod but said nothing. This was his first time seeing Guan Qingyun in action, so he couldn’t gauge his odds against Guan Qingyun. However, his sect’s overall strength seemed incredible.

Meanwhile, Guan Qingyun regally swept his gaze over his surroundings, his lips curling into a smirk. He then leaped offstage with his fellow disciples.

The crowd parted slowly as a group of young cultivators in water-blue robes approached. Their leader was a striking young woman with a cold demeanor. She had phoenix-like eyes, thin eyebrows, a tall nose, and red lips that curved upward. Her face was oval-shaped, and her skin was as fair as porcelain. She wore a luxurious blue silk dress and held a solid blue sword in her left hand.

The crowd erupted into cheers and shouts upon seeing her, but the noise only made her frown faintly. A flash of disgust crossed her cold gaze, though her expression remained as still as water, unfazed by the clamor around her.

Guan Qingyun’s eyes lit up when he caught sight of her. He darted forward with a sprint technique, cutting off her path. Hugging his sword across his chest, he gave her a teasing grin. “Ji Linglan, everyone in the Six Pavilions knows that I, Guan Qingyun, have feelings for you! Why haven’t you agreed to be my Dao partner yet?”

Woah!

Those who hadn’t recognized him finally realized who he was—Guan Qingyun, the Profound Gate Pavilion’s prodigy, one of the Three Sects and Six Pavilions. He’d been blessed with a Fire King Spirit Root.

And the icy beauty before him was just as renowned: Ji Linglan of the Soaring Heavens Sect. She, too, possessed a King Spirit Root, though hers was a mutation of the water lineage—ice.

Several sects gathered together to watch them on the platform above. Two youths whispered excitedly, “Damn, are we gonna see the Profound Gate Pavilion and Soaring Heavens Sect clash this early in the tournament?”

“Tsk… Guan Qingyun is as arrogant as they say, flirting with her in front of everyone.”

“Hehehe… Brother, you sure she doesn’t like him?”

“You haven’t heard of her nickname, have you? She’s known as the Ice Queen.”

“Ice Queen?”

“Tsk tsk, just wait and see!”

Ji Linglan looked at Guan Qingyun, her expression unchanged. Her voice was as cold as ice. “You like me?”

Guan Qingyun’s eyes lit up. Hehe! Ice Queen? All women are the same!

He grinned and said, “Of course! This isn’t my first time conveying my love to you in public anyway.”

The conversation had drawn Li Guanqi’s attention, particularly towards the girl. Not because of her looks, but because of her incredibly powerful aura. She was at least on par with Guan Qingyun.

JI Linglan eyed Guan Qingyun for a moment. Her tone turned soft and amused. “Oh? You love me? How much do you love me?”

Guan Qingyun tipped his head back and laughed loudly. With two outstretched arms, he looked at her arrogantly and exclaimed, “How should I prove my love? Name it—I can give you anything you want!”

Li Guanqi noticed a shift in Ji Lingnan’s gaze. That guy’s going to suffer.

Sure enough, her eyes glimmered with an ice-blue light. A faint smile touched her lips as she said softly, “Kneel down and lick my feet.”

She spoke calmly, as if it were the most natural request in the world.

Though her voice was soft, it was laced with vital force. The words carried effortlessly over the crowd.

All the cultivators on Heavenly Tiger Mountain erupted into excited chatter.

Guan Qingyun’s smile vanished, his eyes narrowing as his expression darkened.

“Say that again,” he growled.

Ji Linglan snickered. “Didn’t you want to prove your love? Kneel and lick my feet. Show me how much you love me.”

Crackle!

A powerful aura erupted from Guan Qingyun. Bright red flames twisted around his body as he glared at her with a stony face.

“You don’t know what you’re doing, woman!”

Ji Linglan smirked, though there was no emotion in her eyes. “If you can’t kneel to prove your love, then get lost! Don’t block my way.”

A chilling coldness filled the air around Ji Linglan. Her voice remained as cold as before, and the tension was almost unbearable.

Then came a voice from above.

“Disciples of the Soaring Heavens Sect, enter the ring now!” Ge Qing commanded.

At once, the pressure from both sides faded. Still stony-faced, Guan Qingyun turned and yelled, “Let’s go!”

But just before leaving, he glanced back over his shoulder, shooting Ji Linglan a glare full of venom.