Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Ge Qing asked solemnly, “Are you sure?”

Li Guanqi ignored Li Nanting’s attempt to stop him and shouted, “I am!”

Ge Qing gave him a long, searching look. Then, the name of the Daxia Sword Sect on the stone stele shone with blinding radiance.

The name shifted, settling into twenty-sixth place, below the initial twenty-five.

High above, Ge Qing’s voice echoed like thunder. “A disciple of the Daxia Sword Sect has taken up the Hell Challenge!”

Buzz!

A strange ripple containing killing intent radiated in all directions.

Ge Qing glanced at Li Guanqi again and continued, “It’s been three centuries since anyone last attempted the Hell Challenge. That last challenger… was also from the Daxia Sword Sect.”

Li Guanqi turned his head toward the hunched cripple.

And in that instant, it was as if he saw the spirited youth that Gao Qiwen once was, roaring at the skies just as he was now, wagering everything he had.Only then did he finally understand the anger in his master’s eyes. It wasn’t fury. It was worry.

Li Guanqi grinned and said, “Master, don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you!”

Whoosh!

Li Guanqi leaped onto the stage.

Ge Qing explained, “The stele will now select a random sect. That sect must send ten disciples at the late Foundation Building Realm for the Hell Challenge. The duels will proceed one-on-one, without breaks. If the challenger prevails, his team gains thirty points. If he fails… he won’t get another chance.”

Sss!

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

Someone muttered, “Who came up with these rules? They’re impossible. Just send in the weaker disciples first to wear him down, then finish him off with the stronger ones.”

That was exactly what everyone thought upon first hearing the rules. The rules were brutal, and there was almost no chance of succeeding.

That was how Gao Qiwen fell to Chen Qing of the Profound Heavenly Sect. Back then, Chen Qing had only been the sixth opponent.

Gao Qiwen sent a voice transmission. “You must win, brat! Don’t spend too much vital force on the first few opponents. Finish them off quickly!”

Ge Qing’s voice boomed once more. “The matchups will now refresh due to the Hell Challenge!”

A ray of spirit light shot from his palm toward the stele.

Buzz!

The words on the stele started to change. Everyone held their breaths, keeping their eyes on the stele.

The red name of the Daxia Sword Sect stood out starkly as the opponent’s name appeared beside it.

Gasps broke out again.

Daxia Sword Sect vs. Profound Gate Pavilion.

The matchup snuffed out the hope that had flared moments ago, and the spirits of the Daxia Sword Sect plummeted.

Ye Feng’s face went pale. We’re finished…

Even Tu Kui blurted out, “Why don’t we just… go home? You can still give up.”

Li Nanting pursed his lips without a word, keeping his eyes on Li Guanqi.

Tu Kui turned toward Li Nanting and shouted, “Old Li! Are you seriously letting him go through with this madness? This kind of talent only comes once in a thousand years. Are you really going to let him throw his life away?!”

Getting no reply, he turned to Qin Xian, desperate. “Old Qin, say something! Are you really going to let him do this?!”

Qin Xian’s eyes were bright. He turned to ask Tu Kui softly, “Madness? Since when did risking one’s life for one’s sect become madness? If he dies out there, then he dies with dignity! The Daxia Sword Sect will hold a grand funeral to celebrate him! He made this decision on his own, and I trust him! We should trust him!”

Yu Sui’an appeared behind the old man and tugged at his sleeve worriedly, muttering, “Little blind boy…”

When Zhao Beichen saw the pairing, he chuckled. “Interesting! He had the guts to take on the Hell Challenge, and what did he get? The Profound Gate Pavilion. Hehe…

“With Guan Qingyun’s antics, he’ll probably be the last one to fight. Li Guanqi… will you stand a chance against him?”

Ji Linglan looked at Li Guanqi in puzzlement. She couldn’t understand why he would take such a reckless risk. She sighed, then led the other disciples of the Soaring Heavens Sect into the air to watch the battle.

The pairing also frustrated the Profound Gate Pavilion disciples. It was like a beggar dragging a noble into a contest of wealth—disgusting and offensive.

Guan Qingyun snickered. “Since he’s challenging us, let’s not become his stepping stone! Disciples of the Profound Gate Pavilion! Whoever knocks him off the stage gets three thousand spirit stones!”

Very soon, the Profound Gate Pavilion gathered ten late Foundation Building Realm disciples.

The Hell Challenge was why each sect was allowed to bring twenty spectators, many of whom were late Foundation Building disciples.

Though the Hell Challenge rarely occurred, every sect came prepared for the possibility. It was standard practice to bring at least seven late Foundation Building Realm disciples.

Li Guanqi had heard about the Hell Challenge from Qin Xian, but it had been an offhanded mention.

Whoosh!

A muscular-looking Profound Gate Pavilion disciple leaped onstage.

Everyone watched excitedly.

The youth looked at Li Guanqi arrogantly and said, “I am Cao Yang of the Profound Gate Pavilion!”

Li Guanqi pulled out his sword calmly and held it in one hand. “I am Li Guanqi of the Daxia Sword Sect!”

Both of them radiated a faintly suffocating aura. They stood ten zhang apart.

Suddenly, a young but determined voice cried out, “Do your best, little blind boy!”

It was Yu Sui’an, waving her fists as she sat on Qin Xian’s shoulders, her face flushed from shouting.

Then, the Daxia Sword Sect roared, “Do your best, Brother Li!”

“Junior Brother Li! Do your best! Flatten the Profound Gate Pavilion!”

“Junior Brother, stay sharp!”

Supporting one another, Zhong Lin and Lin Dong waved their arms and joined the roar. “Brother Li, do your best!”

Ge Qing announced, “The Hell Challenge… begins!”

Gong!