Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Han Tiange’s pupils dilated in shock, but he immediately released his vital force domain in response. The suffocating pressure seemed to extend through the sky. He did not fear Ling Daoyan.

Then, Han Tiange turned to look at Lu Kangnian, who was still standing in the same spot. Han Tiange smirked. “Don’t worry! I’ve prepared some grand gifts for the Daxia Sword Sect.”

Glancing beside him, he continued, “You can come out now!”

Buzz!

A white-browed old man appeared beside Han Tiange in a flash. He wore purple robes, his eyes drooped, and he had a goatee.

Lu Kangnian’s eyes widened in shock, and he muttered in disbelief, “Guan Youzi!”

Even Ling Daoyan narrowed his eyes at the newcomer. He mocked him without holding back, saying, “The great rogue cultivator of the Northern Territory, Guan Youzi! Even you have become someone’s dog!”

Guan Youzi looked down at his Purple Sun Pavilion robes. He crossed his arms and squinted, and the number of wrinkles on his face increased. He chuckled. “I had no choice. I didn’t want this either, but they offered me too much to refuse.

“Let’s do this: I’ve already heard the whole story, so why don’t I act as a peacekeeper and mediate? Hand over the blind kid, and I’ll talk to my side. Then this whole mess can be settled.”

His appearance shocked the distant spectators as well. He was a rogue cultivator who’d reached the Divine Transformation Realm, so everyone treated him with utmost respect. Rogue cultivators were notoriously difficult to deal with because they answered to no one and had no fear. Many had tried to kill him over the years, and yet he remained standing.After hearing Guan Youzi’s words, they suddenly felt that the Purple Sun Pavilion was sacrificing its dignity for the battle. Then again, it made sense—a barefoot man has nothing to fear from one who wears shoes. In this fight, the Daxia Sword Sect was the barefoot one, with nothing to lose and everything to gain. On the other hand, the Purple Sun Pavilion could not afford even an ounce of failure in this battle.

With the appearance of Guan Youzi, a mid Divine Transformation Realm cultivator, the entire situation shifted into dangerous territory.

Up to this point, the Daxia Sword Sect hadn’t feared the Purple Sun Pavilion. They had the upper hand with two Divine Transformation Realm cultivators. The Purple Sun Pavilion might have had more Nascent Soul Realm elders, but against a single Divine Transformation cultivator, they were no more than paper tigers.

Now, however?

Below the barrier, Daxia Sword Sect disciples tightened their grips on their swords, watching their sect master above. That was their sect master.

Lu Kangnian turned to glance at the youth with the sword coffin on his back.

Li Guanqi felt his gaze and lowered his head with a bitter smile. He shifted his feet, preparing to step forward and hand himself over.

Sword Spirit’s voice appeared in his head. “It’s actually quite simple. Just step out and let the two of them chase after you.”

Li Guanqi did not take Sword Spirit’s suggestion seriously. He took a deep breath, ready to speak, but in the sky above, Lu Kangnian grinned. He turned and thrust his sword forward. “If I hand him over now, I might as well have hidden my head in my pants from day one! Utter nonsense!”

Boom!

Lu Kangnian stepped forward. Earth-element vital force erupted from him. “All disciples of the Daxia Sword Sect—prepare to kill!”

Boom!

All Daxia Sword Sect disciples shot into the air. Ling Daoyan charged at Han Tiange while Lu Kangnian engaged Guan Youzi. The war that would determine the survival of the sects erupted instantly.

All types of spells flared in every direction. Streaks of light tore across the sky, colliding and clashing.

Li Guanqi stood still in a daze. The air rang with the whooshing noises of his fellow disciples taking flight.

In that instant, it felt as if his heart had ignited. He felt like his blood was boiling, and his mind had never been clearer.

Through his heart’s eye, he could see every figure in the sky, clashing with the purple-robed enemies in ferocious combat.

He spotted a familiar face in the crowd—Zhao Beichen. Killing intent surged in his chest.

The sword coffin on his back began to tremble. The Red Lotus Sword couldn’t wait to be freed.

Clang!

A sword cry echoed across the sky, and the sword coffin opened. The Red Lotus Sword blazed with crimson light and shot into Li Guanqi’s hand.

Boom!

Purple lightning arcs coiled around the sword.

Light flashed beneath Li Guanqi’s feet. In the blink of an eye, he shot past the crowd like a starving beast, rushing straight for Zhao Beichen.

Zhao Beichen stood ready with sword in hand, his expression solemn. He hadn’t come to terms with his defeat yet. That was why he’d come, despite his master’s objections.

Boom!

Golden light flared. He shot toward Li Guanqi like a streak of lightning.

Clang!

Their swords collided at high speed.

The distance between their faces was less than a palm. For a brief second, their eyes locked. No words. Just mutual, endless murderous intent.

Sword light exploded, and they both retreated a dozen zhang back. Then, they charged at each other again.

Whoosh whoosh! Clang clang clang clang! Ding Ding! Clang clang!

The speed of Li Guanqi’s left-handed swordplay surged to a new peak—ten slashes in a single breath.

Veins bulged along his left arm, engorged with blood. His terrifying strength and speed began to overwhelm Zhao Beichen.

Vital force roared from his dantian. It was as if his fury demanded an outlet.

Li Guanqi’s blade fell like a torrential storm. Though Zhao Beichen was a prodigy in his own right and fought tooth and nail to defend himself, against such terrifying sword speed, countless wounds began to blossom across his body.

Suddenly, Li Guanqi’s expression turned icy. He waved his sword and roared, “Soul Dissolution! Red Lotus!”

Boom!

His sword’s edge turned a bright red, and the sword’s spine gradually turned black, giving the sword a demonic, menacing look.

Boom!

Violent lightning vital force stirred the air within ten zhang of them. Li Guanqi’s killing intent reached its apex, and his movements changed in an instant.

After Soul Dissolution, the Red Lotus Sword became steeped in killing qi. Its most basic trait was sheer destructive power.

“Purple Ripple Demon Sword Technique!”

Li Guanqi attacked Zhao Beichen with blinding speed. Zhao Beichen felt cold dread as the sword flashed toward him, his chest tightening. He instinctively forced himself to a halt and took a half step backward.

Whoosh!

The sword passed just shy of his arm, nearly severing it. Blood drained from Zhao Beichen’s face. Li Guanqi was behind him now, close enough that he could feel his breath. This was the face that haunted even his dreams.

With no time to spare, Zhao Beichen crushed the jade ring on his index finger.

Boom!

A barrier of icy-blue light erupted in front of him. The lightning-wreathed crimson sword slammed into it.

Boom! Crack!

The light barrier shattered. Zhao Beichen flew backward, but Li Guanqi pursued him with an unpredictable sword technique—the final three moves of the Purple Ripple Demon Sword Technique. All the strength that had brewed in the technique’s opening movements would now be released.

Li Guanqi’s pure white eyes grew larger as he closed the distance, filled with the bloodlust of a man-eating beast. Zhao Beichen mustered every ounce of strength he could and swung his sword. Golden light blazed as violent sword energy shot out. Then a ray of purple sword light flashed like lightning and vanished!

“That was… the Purple Ripple Demon Sword Technique!”

Pfft!

The world gradually became blurry, and it seemed to spin in Zhao Beichen’s eyes. Zhao Beichen looked down at himself.

“I’ve… lost… again. His sword… it was too fast… He’s too… strong…”

Li Guanqi stood in the same spot. His chest was bleeding from a sword cut. His blood ran hot, but it wasn’t as hot as the fire raging in his heart.