Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

With Sword Spirit’s help, bit by bit, Li Guanqi finally understood the basics of the technique. He no longer used teleportation to travel, instead focusing on studying the warp technique she gave him.

The ability to flee at high speed was a life-saving skill. If he came across an enemy he couldn’t defeat, this technique could keep him alive.

If he’d learned the technique earlier, back when Zheng Yuanzhong ruptured his own nascent soul, he might have escaped the blast in time.

Sword Spirit watched him silently, lost in thought. She wasn’t sure if telling him about her enemies so soon was the right choice.

A chill of danger settled in Li Guanqi after her words.

Immortals from the heavens above…

Those who had ascended to the Immortal World were already the strongest cultivators in his world, not to mention the higher realms he had only heard of by name, like the True Immortal Realm and Profound Immortal Realm.

Even if they paid a heavy price to descend, they would still be some of the strongest people around.

The strongest cultivator he had ever met was the Northern Heavenly King, Long Qu of the Daxia Territory. And even he was only at the Divine Transformation Realm. Compared to the Immortal World, he was an immeasurable distance away.

He felt a constant threat hanging over him.Yet abandoning Sword Spirit was impossible. Their fates had been bound together the moment his grandfather, Su Xuan, entrusted him with the sword box.

Buzz! Whoosh!

Lightning split the skies. A figure shot across a thousand zhang in an instant, ripping a long tear through the clouds.

The towering trees in the mountains below looked sheared clean off, leaving a deep gouge carved into the ground.

Li Guanqi could only sustain that speed for a few seconds before stopping. When he did, he found his body covered in countless shallow cuts, each one bleeding.

Sword Spirit appeared at his side, her face tight with worry. “I didn’t think you’d learn it so quickly. Your body isn’t strong enough to bear the strain of crossing such vast distances.”

Li Guanqi looked at the blood trickling from his wounds and sighed. “So what am I supposed to do? I can’t get far before my body gives out. This won’t work. What kind of body could withstand such immense ‌spatial pressure…?”

Sword Spirit examined him carefully, then muttered, “Your grandfather gave you an excellent foundation. But in the past two years, you’ve hardly trained your physical body. From now on, you’ll need to strengthen it.”

Li Guanqi’s eyes lit up. Hastily bandaging his wounds, he hurried to her side and asked eagerly, “So… you’ll give me a body-tempering technique? Something to strengthen myself?”

Sword Spirit did not decline. “Let me think about it.”

Then, she disappeared.

Li Guanqi’s heart leaped in joy. Her answer meant there was hope.

He drifted off into a daydream, picturing himself as a martial artist with incredible physical power. If I combine that with my sword skills… it would be amazing!

Sword Spirit felt troubled. She knew too many body-tempering techniques, so she couldn’t decide which one to teach him.

As dusk approached, Li Guanqi, unsure of what to do next, stumbled upon a city bustling with unusual activity. This enormous city was nestled beside nine mountain peaks, and atop those mountains resided a magnificent sect.

The mountain summits pierced the clouds, where immortal cranes wheeled through the air. There were several ports in the area, with cloud boats gliding in and out of the city.

The streets below were brightly lit and filled with people. Smaller cities and countless villages clustered around the big city, making the whole area teem with life.

Despite all his travels, Li Guanqi rarely encountered such a thriving city. The outer towns and villages were packed so closely they seemed to merge into one.

He planned to visit a medicine shop to buy some pills for cultivation, and… Cough cough.

Li Guanqi landed slowly, then walked into Dongxiao City.

After he entered, he could feel the hustle and bustle in full force. The streets were ten zhang wide, with extremely lavish buildings on both sides.

The people weren’t dressed luxuriously, but their appearance was neat and decent. Clearly, life in Dongxiao City was decent. His plain robes made him look pitiful in comparison.

The streets bustled with teahouses, bars, gambling dens, and even brothels.

Everywhere he looked, people were smiling. They looked carefree and untroubled.

The city sat on a flat plain within a valley, surrounded by mountains. The air was heavy with moisture, and before long, his robes felt damp and uncomfortable. He circulated his vital force, blasting the moisture away.

Since there was some time until the busiest hours of the night, he decided to look for an inn.

He wasn’t picky about where he stayed. His years of hardship had toughened him up, and any shelter was enough.

But when he stepped into the inn, it felt like paradise. A girl danced beautifully on a floating stage, accompanied by melodious music.

The building had six floors, each offering its own attractions. The lower two were for drinking wine and tea, while the upper four provided rooms themed after the seasons.

A busboy hurried over, bowing low. He barely dared to breathe in Li Guanqi’s presence, sensing a faint but powerful aura radiating from him.

“Are you looking for a room, sir?”

Li Guanqi nodded slightly, then took out ten low-grade spirit stones. “Any room will do. If this is not enough, I’ll make up the rest. If this is too much, return the change.”

The busboy accepted the stones, suddenly more cautious. Guests who could spend ten low-grade spirit stones without a second thought weren’t very common.

The busboy led Li Guanqi upstairs and asked, “Do you have any preferences, sir?”

Li Guanqi glanced up at the sixth floor, which was cold and snowy. “I don’t want the sixth floor. The others are fine.”

The busboy nodded and guided him to the spring-themed third floor. As they walked, he explained, “Don’t underestimate this level, sir. It has an excellent view, and the climate is pleasant. Spring represents hope and new life.”

Li Guanqi nodded, liking the concept.

The busboy took him to the finest room on the third floor. A hot bath had already been drawn, and spirit-fruit wine would be sent up shortly.

Li Guanqi smiled and nodded, then let himself sink into the comforts of his room.

But when he stepped out again, a loud quarrel between a man and a woman echoed from the floor above.