Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

In the battle that followed, Li Guanqi did not strike the disciples as overwhelmingly powerful. What they saw instead were techniques that seemed petty, shameless, even downright despicable.

Admittedly, he did manage to defeat ten people alone without depleting even thirty percent of his vital force. Even when he pressed his sword against the last youth’s throat, the crowd still had not realized what had happened. They were utterly shocked by the battle because he had employed every underhanded tactic imaginable: trying to use his status as an elder to intimidate them, allying with others only to betray them, and switching sides multiple times.

Aiming for the eyes and kicking at crotches were the least of his offenses. He preyed on their minds, feigning weakness, begging for mercy only to lash out the next instant, and so on. He even pretended to be gravely injured and shouted for the fight to end, then suddenly erupted with terrifying strength.

Every move was just unbelievable. Many even began to despise him.

Standing at the center of the stage, Li Guanqi could read their faces clearly.

Looking at the silent crowd, he only shrugged in mock exasperation. “Why the long faces? I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Once you’re out in the world, rogue cultivators will use tricks far nastier and more underhanded than mine.”

Someone muttered under their breath, “He’s just being dramatic…”

Li Guanqi ignored it. Instead, he told them about the dwarf Ye Feng had encountered in the mountains, projecting the scene with his stone. The instant the image faded, a chill ran down everyone’s spines. They realized that if they had been in Ye Feng’s place, they would also have fallen into the trap.

If they had noticed something was wrong, they might have attacked the woman, but they wouldn’t have suspected the baby she was carrying.

Whenever they thought of that dwarf suddenly leaping forth, they shivered.Li Guanqi then showed them the day he faced more than a hundred Golden Core Realm cultivators.

Only then did the crowd begin to grasp how terrifying he truly was. His power was so overwhelming that no one dared refute him.

Gradually, the disciples mulled over everything that had happened onstage. As they studied his tactics, they realized just how impressive it actually was. His retreat routes, his psychological warfare, the negligible drain on his vital force…

It was all under his control. Not a word or gesture was wasted.

Every look, every motion, carried deep meaning.

Many of them suddenly understood.

If they had stood in Li Guanqi’s shoes, and if they had been able to act as he had, then perhaps they also could have faced ten cultivators at once. With this realization, sharp breaths filled the air. What had first seemed absurd now seemed a practical strategy for survival.

As unsatisfied with the fight as they were, the disciples who were still standing on stage fell deep in thought.

Li Guanqi smiled. Without sparing a glance at the elders overhead, he said, “Let’s return to the main pavilion. I’ll go over this with you.”

That battle had completely won the hearts of the inner sect disciples. Even those who had initially wanted to cause trouble, like Tang Chuan, quickly flew to the pavilion.

At this point, showing off no longer mattered. Learning how to survive did. And Li Guanqi could teach them.

The main pavilion was packed. The empty spaces Li Guanqi had seen earlier were now filled with a crowd of disciples, some even standing on their swords, hovering in the air.

There were five layers of people stacked vertically in the hall. When Li Guanqi arrived at the entrance, another elder who had been there to watch the drama was pulled away by a group of disciples.

Both inner and outer sect disciples squeezed in. When Li Guanqi appeared, the mass of people instinctively parted, forming a zhang-wide path for him despite the limited space.

Smiling faintly, he walked to the platform.

Behind him, the disciples rose to their feet and greeted him loudly. “Greetings, Elder Li!”

With his strength, Li Guanqi had won their respect.

He returned their greeting with a warm smile, sat on the platform cushion, and pressed his palm downward, gesturing for them to sit. At once, the crowd settled, and even those hovering above in the air sat down cross-legged.

Li Guanqi raised his projection stone, replaying the battle. As the images shimmered into view, he explained every detail of the battle.

After his explanation, many of their doubts were answered. People asked numerous questions, and he answered them all. They were genuinely impressed by his capabilities.

They had never imagined how much thought could be hidden in the chaos of a battle.

“When you fight,” Li Guanqi said, “you must keep your mind clear. The moment you give in to anger, you hand the enemy the advantage.”

There were a thousand people in the hall, but only his voice could be heard. The crowd remained completely silent.

When he finished, thunderous applause broke out. He saw in their bright eyes not laziness, but hunger for strength. If they had been admitted to the Phoenix Lightning Sect, it meant they were not useless.

“I’ve recorded all your cultivation levels,” Li Guanqi said. “From this day until I leave the sect in a month, each and every one of you will advance by one cultivation level.”

Hiss!

The crowd erupted in murmurs. Li Guanqi let the storm pass before continuing, “Anyone who fails, along with the ten who show the least progress—inner and outer sect alike—will be expelled.”

The hall burst into chaos. No one had expected such harsh terms.

“What? How is that possible!”

“He can’t be serious! I’m already at the tenth level of the Foundation Building Realm. Does he expect me to break into the Golden Core Realm in a month?”

Li Guanqi smirked. “It doesn’t matter where you stand now. In that same month, I will advance to the middle stage of the Nascent Soul Realm.”

Gasps rippled through the hall.

“Has he lost his mind? That’s the Nascent Soul Realm!”

“Gulp… I thought he was strict with us, but he’s even stricter with himself.”