Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Everyone was stunned. Li Guanqi had dispatched the Supreme Sword Sect’s disciples swiftly and ruthlessly. Though he looked as if he were at his limit, he remained standing tall on the stage, back straight, unwavering.

None of them knew what miracle this blind youth might pull off next.

Qin Xian’s fists tightened beneath his sleeves, knuckles bone-white. His face was calm, but a flicker of worry flashed through his eyes.

As soon as the battle ended, he rushed forward, lifted Li Guanqi into his arms, and left.

Sixth place. The Daxia Sword Sect had never been ranked so high before. If the Daxia Sword Sect won again, it might even take the championship.

Everyone could see the massive toll it had taken on Li Guanqi. Facing the Supreme Sword Sect’s final prodigy, he’d nearly died more than once.

Whether he could win again didn’t matter anymore. Everyone had witnessed his grit and courage. Many people even considered having their children apply to the Daxia Sword Sect the next time they recruited disciples.

When the Daxia Sword Sect returned to their quarters, Ye Feng and the others swarmed around Li Guanqi.

“Brother Li, are you alright? It’s okay to give up if you can’t hold on any longer! This ranking is already incredible!”

Pale as a ghost and leaning against Qin Xian, Li Guanqi said, “It’s… still… not enough…”Ye Feng scowled. “Not enough? Do you have a death wish? If this keeps up, you’re gonna die on that stage! Is it really necessary?”

Li Guanqi turned to look at him. “Yes, it is! I took on the Hell Challenge because I want the world to see what the Daxia Sword Sect is made of! If I don’t go through with this… then I might as well spend the rest of my life with my tail tucked between my legs.”

Ye Feng opened his mouth, but no words came. He looked at Li Guanqi with a mix of worry and respect, then muttered, “Staying alive comes first.”

Qin Xian helped Li Guanqi inside, gave him some healing pills, and assisted him in rearranging his meridians. Though they’d seen it before, the elders were still amazed at how quickly he could absorb medicinal power.

The elders had heard the conversations between Li Guanqi and the others. Qin Xian remained silent the whole time until finally, he said, “I’m sorry you all have to suffer… The sect has started to decline, and we need young people like you to keep it going.”

Li Guanqi gave a silent smile. He knew the sect was already giving them everything it could.

Why were the elders rarely gathered together? Because even someone like Second Elder Xu Zhengjie of the Heavenly Lightning Peak had to hunt demonic beasts or gather spirit stones on normal days.

The Daxia Sword Sect fulfilled its responsibilities without complaint, doing everything it could to ensure its disciples didn’t fall behind. That was why Li Guanqi was willing to make sacrifices.

After recovering a little, Li Guanqi said, “Elder Qin, I want to go watch the matches at Heavenly Tiger Mountain.”

Qin Xian frowned. “In your state? Aren’t you worried someone will see through the act?”

Li Guanqi shook his head with a faint smile. “I’m this weak already. How would they know?”

Qin Xian smiled and let him go.

On the way up Heavenly Tiger Mountain, Li Guanqi spotted Yu Sui’an and waved. She grinned and leaped onto Li Guanqi’s back. “Haha! Let’s go, let’s go! Uh… where are we going?”

Li Guanqi laughed. “You said ‘let’s go’ without knowing where we’re going?”

“It’s not important. We just need to go,” Yu Sui’an said, adorably shaking her head.

“Wait,” he said in surprise, “are you already close to the seventh level of the Qi Refinement Realm?”

Yu Sui’an beamed with pride. “Duh! Grandfather Li says I’m a genius! I’ve been cultivating whenever I have nothing to do. Grandfather Li will scold me if he thinks I’m slacking off.”

Whoosh!

The two of them flew to the top of Heavenly Tiger Mountain. He arrived just in time to watch the Purple Sun Pavilion fight the Soaring Heavens Sect.

The Daxia Sword Sect’s fight had already ended, so few people noticed Li Guanqi. But he noticed that the girl on his back suddenly stiffened, clearly anxious. He patted her gently before settling down on the Daxia Sword Sect’s empty viewing platform.

From his vantage, he could clearly see the match between the Purple Sun Pavilion and the Soaring Heavens Sect. As his gaze drifted to Zhao Beichen, he turned as if sensing it.

Their eyes met briefly. Zhao Beichen’s handsome face remained expressionless, without a flicker of emotion in his eyes. After a glance, he turned his attention back to the fight.

Li Guanqi asked, “Sword Spirit, is Zhao Beichen strong?”

A lazy voice responded in his mind. “He’s quite strong.”

Lately, Li Guanqi had been giving all his vital force to Sword Spirit for fear of accidentally breaking through. As such, she’d been dormant most of the time.

“A Saint Spirit Root, innate sword seed, and King Spirit Void… Tsk tsk… Put him in the immortal realm, and he’d still beat the descendants of those immortals.”

Li Guanqi drew in a sharp breath, then teased, “You wouldn’t be tempted to take him as your master, would you?”

Sword Spirit said with great contempt, “Take him as my master? Hahahahaha. Hilarious. Even those great immortals in the heavens wouldn’t dare say that to me.”

Li Guanqi sighed. “Great immortals? I don’t think I could boast like you even if I tried.”

Still, her words put him on guard. He hadn’t expected Zhao Beichen to possess a Saint Spirit Root too. But what was an “innate sword seed”?

“King Spirit Void… What about my spirit void? What tier is it?”

Sword Spirit gave an arrogant smirk and was just about to reply when Li Guanqi cut her off with a wave. “Alright, alright. You don’t have to say it. It’s strong and amazing, right? I get it. I get it.”

The Soaring Heavens Sect disciple on the stage was grievously wounded, but he managed to seize victory with a risky final move.

Zhao Beichen rose to his feet slowly, glanced at the stage with a cold look, and then leaped onstage like a great Peng[1] bird.

1. A Chinese mythological bird. ☜