Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

The crowd was utterly baffled, but there was no way to dodge the bow.

Lu Kangnian rose slowly and said solemnly, “To have disciples like you is an honor, both to our sect and to me as your sect master!”

A thousand storage pouches appeared, floating before every single person.

Lu Kangnian chuckled. “Open them. You’ve all earned what’s inside.”

Hiss!

Some people had already reached into the pouches with their divine consciousness, and all of them gasped.

Li Guanqi did the same and realized there were a thousand low-grade spirit stones inside. He looked around him and saw the same astonishment written on every face. They likely received the same thing.

That meant a million low-grade spirit stones had been handed out… the equivalent of nearly a thousand high-grade ones.

Lu Kangnian smiled. “Go on, take them. They’re just spirit stones. These are nothing compared to what we plundered from those four sects’ treasuries. Besides, the Daxia Sword Sect’s most precious treasure is all of you.”

The disciples grinned.Then, Lu Kangnian grew serious. “You may each enter the Scripture Pavilion once. It’s now more than three times its former size. Choose whatever techniques best suit you.”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Li Guanqi was deeply impressed. After this, every disciple who’d fought in the battle would grow stronger. And with them, the entire Daxia Sword Sect would rise to a new level.

Lu Kangnian asked Li Guanqi to stay after the crowd dispersed. He looked around, making sure no one else was near before sitting on the threshold of the main pavilion. He patted the ground beside him and motioned for Li Guanqi to come over.

“I heard from your master that you want to go and see the outside world?”

Li Guanqi chose not to hide the truth. He nodded.

Lu Kangnian smiled. “It’s alright. Young people should go out on adventures. Still, you must be very careful when you’re outside. If you encounter any trouble, you must kill in one strike. Pull any threats from the roots.

“Many core members of major clans and factions carry life jade slips. When they die, their sects are notified instantly. Some even use special techniques to leave tracking seals on you… or transmit the scene of their death back to their faction.

“Look, all I’m saying is this—when you venture out into the world, you need to stay sharp. Cultivators are often at least a little vengeful. Don’t go looking for trouble, but never drop your guard.”

Li Guanqi had heard the same from his grandfather before, but hearing it from Lu Kangnian gave him a feeling of safety. The sect master sounded like an elder reluctant to let his junior go, piling on warnings for fear of forgetting something.

Li Guanqi said suddenly, “Sect Master, I didn’t come from a good family… But in the sect, I felt a warmth I never had before. This place feels like… home.”

Lu Kangnian laughed. “Home. I like that term.”

Li Guanqi grinned and scratched his head shyly. “Sect Master, do we have life jade slips too?”

Lu Kangnian gave him a mysterious smile and waved his hand. What appeared before Li Guanqi shook his soul. Deep in a mountain, countless jade slips glowed with soft green light, like a sky full of stars.

The image disappeared, then Lu Kangnian said, “Your identity slips are tied to those life slips. If anything happens to you, the sect will know.”

Li Guanqi was inwardly shocked. There were far more life slips than there were disciples. Despite its former lack of resources, the sect had somehow managed to maintain a vast amount of life jade slips.

Lu Kangnian smiled. “I hear you’re stealing Tu Kui’s disciple too. Good. It’s better to travel with a companion. That kid has talent, though he’s not as mentally resilient as you.”

Lu Kangnian stood up slowly. “Stay one more month before you leave. Use the time to visit the Scripture Pavilion and choose something that suits you. We brought back quite a few spirit techniques from the other sects. As a senior brother of Heavenly Lightning Peak, it’s about time you showed off a little.”

Li Guanqi bowed and nodded. “Yes, Sect Master.”

Lu Kangnian laughed and teasingly scolded him, saying, “You little rascal.”

Just before he left, he turned and said, “Never forget—the sect will always have your back.”

***

The next morning, Li Guanqi showed up in the main hall of the Heavenly Lightning Pavilion. His face had lost its boyish softness since joining the sect, and he’d shot up an entire head in height. He carried himself with a confident posture, his features now sharp and defined, giving him a striking appearance.

The new recruits stood and cupped their fists. “Senior Brother Li.”

Li Guanqi returned their salute with a nod and a warm smile. He walked to the front of the hall, where he sat down cross-legged on a cushion. The other disciples followed suit, and the hall fell silent.

He began by explaining how to use the sect’s jade slips, how to spend contribution points, and other administrative matters. Then, he demonstrated the use of spells, talismans, Mo family soldier orbs, and more. With that, he introduced the new recruits to the exciting world of cultivation.

He released his vital force, gently enveloping the disciples so they could feel it for themselves, then taught them how to condition their bodies and test their current strength.

Li Guanqi felt he hadn’t taught well, but his students couldn’t have been more impressed. Even by noon, they were still reminiscing about the lesson.

After class, Li Guanqi got up and left. He thought for a moment, then went to the dining hall to ask for a few freshly steamed meat buns. He returned to the courtyard, and just as he was about to push the door open, he heard a faint voice from inside.

It was a childish voice, filled with hunger and a sense of urgency. “Who… took… my… buns…”

Li Guanqi lit up and quickly pushed the door open.

Upon entering, he saw Yu Sui’an with one eye open, glancing urgently at the door. When she saw him, her eyes reddened, and tears poured out.

“Hick. Li Guanqi… are these meat buns?”