Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Li Guanqi coughed dryly, rubbed his nose, and grinned.

“I’ll pass on the sect master’s seat. You’re better suited for it, Sect Master. I’m fine with leading people on the frontlines, but running the sect every day and helping it grow? That’s not something I can do…”

Lu Kangnian chuckled and scolded him lightly. “So you’re getting picky now, brat? Still, I know your heart isn’t bound to one place, so I never planned to hand the position to you anyway. Wu Bing’s an excellent candidate.”

He paused, fingers drumming on the table. “As for you, you’ve made great contributions to the sect, but if I name you a peak master or higher-ranked elder, it’d tie you down. That wouldn’t suit you either.

“Still, with your cultivation, your merits, and the way the disciples look up to you, leaving you as just a disciple of Heavenly Lightning Peak no longer makes sense.”

Li Guanqi shrugged and nodded. “Then I’ll let you decide what suits me.”

Lu Kangnian smiled. After some thought, he said, “Guanqi, do you know?”

Li Guanqi looked up at him in confusion.

“The world is complex,” Lu Kangnian said in his deep, steady voice. “The path to immortality is full of trials. You’re only eighteen—still young, with little life experience. It’s good to be decisive when killing, but you must learn restraint. I know what you went through when you were being hunted, and I know what you did to the Immortal Crane Alliance and the North Sea Temple.”

He sighed. “You did well. You didn’t hesitate when it mattered, but you need principles of your own. I hope you’ll remember your true nature and never lose your humanity to bloodshed.”Li Guanqi grew solemn. He stood and bowed. “I’ll remember your words, always.”

Lu Kangnian rose as well. Still looking at Li Guanqi, he said, “You know the sect’s rules. If one day you lose your humanity, I’ll strike you down myself, even if it costs me everything.”

Li Guanqi nodded silently.

Lu Kangnian hadn’t planned to say such things, but when the Mo Family withdrew, he’d seen a flash of killing intent deep in Li Guanqi’s eyes. He’d thought the Mo Family deserved punishment, yes, but not total slaughter. Too many had been watching that day, and he worried they’d see Li Guanqi as a bloodthirsty killer.

Adding to his troubles, he’d earned the nickname “Bloody Butcher” because of the sheer number of people he’d killed.

Although Li Guanqi had a legitimate reason to destroy the Immortal Crane Alliance and the North Sea Temple, Lu Kangnian gave him a light slap on the wrist. He trusted that Li Guanqi was intelligent enough to understand his perspective.

Soon after Li Guanqi left, the ancient bell atop Heavenly Sword Peak tolled nine long times.

Everyone looked up as Lu Kangnian’s resonant voice rolled across the sect grounds.

“Due to his immense contributions and current strength, the sect hereby grants Li Guanqi of Heavenly Lightning Peak the lifetime title of Honorary Elder, equal in rank to the seven peak masters. Thank you.”

At that moment, Li Guanqi’s name appeared on the great stone stele in the main pavilion, etched on the same row as the names of the seven peak masters, perhaps even positioned a touch higher.

A jade pendant glowing with deep purple light formed before Li Guanqi. He accepted it solemnly. As always, one side bore the twin peaks of the Daxia Sword Sect, and the other a line of words.

Daxia Sword Sect Honorary Elder, Li Guanqi.

The nine tolls of the bell seemed to proclaim to the world that from that day forth, the sect had gained a new elder.

Li Guanqi took a deep breath, then cupped his fists toward Heavenly Sword Peak. Inside the pendant, he sensed a spacious storage area, as well as a folded set of faintly glowing robes. His very own Daoist robes.

Although it was only a set of spirit robes, it was valuable.

Clang!

A purple sword wrapped in lightning lay quietly within the pendant’s space. Li Guanqi’s eyes widened. “Sect Master… isn’t this a bit too much?”

Lu Kangnian appeared with a smile. “I know your sword is already of high quality, but this lightning sword is an ancient treasure sword. It’s a perfect match for you. Take it.”

To his surprise, Li Guanqi smiled bitterly. He turned and patted his sword box.

Whoosh!

The Red Lotus Sword shot out. The moment it sensed the lightning sword, it flicked it away.

Clang!

The lightning sword was sent flying over a thousand zhang, completely overpowered.

Li Guanqi shrugged. “See? It’s not as suitable as this one.”

Lu Kangnian pressed his lips together, then waved his hand. The sword flew back to him. He put it away with a sigh and wistfully said, “You really do have too many treasures, brat. Fine, have it your way.”

Li Guanqi didn’t offer any flowery thanks. He simply committed everything the sect had done for him to heart.

Then something occurred to him. “Sect Master, the Spiritfish Clan didn’t come, did they? I didn’t sense their auras when I entered the grounds.”

Lu Kangnian smiled. “The Mo Family threw everything they had at us, hellbent on destroying our sect. It’s understandable that the Spiritfish Clan didn’t come.”

Li Guanqi frowned and narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t help but scoff. “Their loss.”

Lu Kangnian motioned for him to calm down. “If what you said about their situation is true, their clan leader was likely in a bind. They didn’t help us when we were in danger, but they also didn’t suck up to us afterward. Still, if they come knocking now, our attitude won’t be as warm. If they wish to join the Daxia Sword Sect, they’ll have to pay a suitable price.”

His tone remained mild, but his gaze was firm. Lu Kangnian might have been even-tempered, yet with outsiders, he was never easy to deal with.

“Alright, go handle your business. And make sure to give those brats a morning lecture tomorrow.”

Li Guanqi grinned and cupped his fists. “Fellow Daoist Lu, don’t worry. Leave it to me.”

Before Lu Kangnian could scold him, he darted off.

Watching him go, Lu Kangnian snorted. “Damn it, we’re actually fellow Daoists now.”

Instead of returning to his master, Li Guanqi flew toward the Three Thousand Peaks, hands clasped behind his back.

When he landed on the cliff of Jade Teapot Peak, a few people were already seated there.

Zhong Lin stood up with a smile. “Brother Li’s here.”