Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Ye Feng and Cao Yan were both startled by Li Guanqi’s reaction. Cao Yan couldn’t understand Li Guanqi’s sudden outburst, while Ye Feng, who knew Li Guanqi better, asked with concern, “What’s wrong, boss?”

Li Guanqi said nothing. He silently took out a jade slip and a tattered set of robes. The moment Ye Feng saw them, he turned pale. The earth yellow patterns on the white robe showed that it was from the Daxia Sword Sect.

And the jade slip was even more familiar: it was the identity token of a Daxia Sword Sect disciple.

“Heavenly Earth Peak… Zhao Yang.”

Li Guanqi shut his eyes. He knew Zhao Yang. Back during the battle with the Purple Sun Pavilion, Zhao Yang had stood on the front lines, charging forward with his sword in hand. Even Li Guanqi had addressed him as “Senior Brother Zhao.”

They had left the sect grounds on the very same day, and Zhao Yang was at the early Golden Core Realm.

Li Guanqi turned and glanced behind him, then led them quickly through the endless mountains.

Half an hour after they left the port, several streaks of light appeared nearby. A middle-aged man was in a rage, radiating killing intent. He roared furiously, “Search the area! Find those bastards!”

“Yes, Master!”

“Yes, Master! Everyone, hurry up!”In their hands were sketches of Ye Feng’s face.

Meanwhile, Li Guanqi found an abandoned cave overgrown with weeds. It was damp, dark, and reeked of rot. Without hesitation, the three slipped inside and camouflaged the entrance. They scattered insect-repelling powder and other agents to mask their scent.

Li Guanqi sat down and leaned against the stone wall, his mind racing. “Tell me what happened again. Don’t leave out a single detail.”

This time, Cao Yan took the lead. With his sharp memory, he recounted everything from the moment he left Li Guanqi’s stall, describing each vendor and shop he passed. When he finished, Li Guanqi frowned.

Li Guanqi said, “Something’s not right here. This was no coincidence! We’ve got something they want, and they’re targeting us.”

Then, he took out his jade slip and transmitted, “Master, could you help me check if Senior Brother Zhao Yang from the Heavenly Earth Peak is… still alive?”

At that moment, back at the Daxia Sword Sect, Li Nanting was helping Yu Sui’an change her bandages. He suddenly froze, then pulled out a jade slip. Li Guanqi’s voice echoed from it.

Yu Sui’an perked up to listen and frowned. “Grandfather, Li, did something happen? You should go handle it. I can change my own bandages.”

Li Nanting narrowed his eyes, then nodded. “Alright, Sui’an. I’ll go out for a moment.”

Yu Sui’an smiled and waved him off. Once Li Nanting was gone, she muttered, “Hmmph! That stupid blind boy did not even ask about me.

She painstakingly finished dressing her wounds, then leapt out of bed and dashed to the back mountains to pick fresh flowers. She ran downhill with a basket on her back, and all the disciples from Heavenly Lightning Peak smiled when they saw her. As she passed, one of them called out, “Off to the sect graveyard again, Little Bao?”

To their surprise, there was no hint of playfulness on her face. She merely stopped and bowed at them. “Greetings, Senior Brother Wan.”

Then, she ran off.

The disciple watched her go and murmured, “She’s growing up… She’s not as carefree as before.”

At the graveyard, she laid flowers at each grave with care and reverence. Then she pressed her palms together and closed her eyes. It was unclear what she was thinking.

As she made her way through the rows of graves, placing flowers one by one, tears began streaming down her face. She knew they had died because of her.

She was still so young, yet her tiny heart was heavy with guilt.

Meanwhile, Li Nanting replied to Li Guanqi, saying, “Zhao Yang’s not dead, but his life jade slip is faint. Barely glowing. Guanqi, what’s going on?”

Li Guanqi put down the jade slip and exhaled, a trace of relief in his voice. He didn’t want to alarm his master until he had a clearer picture. He replied, “I’m still piecing it together, Master. I’ll report again once I know more. How’s Sui’an doing?”

When he learned that Yu Sui’an’s wounds had mostly healed, his worry for her finally eased.

Ye Feng said solemnly, “If Zhao Yang isn’t dead, then why were his jade slip and sect robes with Fang Hao?”

Li Guanqi pondered, his brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t know, but I suspect he’s targeting Daxia Sword Sect disciples in general, not just a specific individual.”

Ye Feng frowned, puzzled. “But my robes only tore during the fight with that old man. I never revealed my identity. Unless… the sect jade slip!”

Li Guanqi nodded, wondering why Fang Hao was targeting Daxia Sword Sect’s disciples. “Could this be connected to the Purple Sun Pavilion? But if Great Wind Mountain Residence were truly allied with them, they’d have killed Zhao Yang outright. The fact that they didn’t suggests there’s no blood feud. If that’s not it, then what is it…”

Li Guanqi fell into a brief silence, then urgently said, “Master! Immediately investigate the new batch of disciples, plus any who were taught the technique for the eleventh level of the Qi Refinement Realm. Look into any disciples who know the information as well. Also, check if any are from Great Wind Mountain Residence. I think someone’s leaked the information!”

Li Nanting’s expression turned grim. If that were true and word of the technique spread, it could bring ruin upon the entire Daxia Sword Sect.

The atmosphere across the sect shifted in an instant. Even Lu Kangnian was pulled out of closed-door cultivation, and the investigation began.

Two hours later, they realized Li Guanqi was right. Li Nanting’s solemn voice came from the jade slip. “Guanqi, you were right. There is someone in the new batch. His father is the Great Wind Lord’s younger brother. We don’t know how he learned that the sect had received a very powerful cultivation technique.

“Has Zhao Yang been captured? Stay put! We will send people over immediately!”