Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

At the girl’s command, the Profound Phoenix Pavilion disciples immediately formed a complex sword array. They rushed to surround Li Guanqi, trapping him at the center.

All five had Metal Spirit Roots.

Wind howled through the valley as sword qi flew in all directions. Mist blanketed the entire region, leaving Li Guanqi blind to his surroundings. He could only sense them changing positions rapidly as they circled him.

They were mere Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, but through the array, their auras surged until they bordered on the half-step Divine Transformation Realm.

Inside the sword array, their strikes would be as powerful as those of a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Sword lights shot from every direction.

Li Guanqi’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t even bother drawing his sword. Lightning flashed beneath his feet as he weaved through the blade lights, relying solely on his sprint technique. Hands clasped behind his back, he said in exasperation, “What is the meaning of this? Why attack before we’ve even had a proper conversation?”

The leader’s voice rang through the mist. “One look is enough to tell you harbor ill intentions, thief! Take him down!”

No explanation. Before she had even finished speaking, the attacks intensified.Li Guanqi continued dodging as his vital force surged. He didn’t take their assault seriously at all. The sword lights grew more densely packed, but he wove between them effortlessly.

“He’s fast!” the leader said, flying quickly through the mist. “I can’t believe he’s dodging all this! Hmph!”

“I’ve already said I came to save the saintess,” Li Guanqi replied. “What’s wrong with you people?”

When no answer came, Li Guanqi stopped dodging.

Whoosh!

Seeing Li Guanqi halt, the girl seized her chance.

“Metal Soul-Breaking Array, Rain of Swords!”

Dozens of sword lights rained down on him, their sharp whistling filling the air.

Li Guanqi stood his ground and raised his hands.

The disciples thought they had him. Then their eyes widened.

Li Guanqi held up his right hand and tapped each sword light, moving so fast his hand blurred into afterimages.

Explosions rang out in rapid succession. Every golden sword light vanished.

A white-robed figure stepped out of the mist.

The girls stared at the youth standing before them, at a complete loss.

Li Guanqi glanced at them and then erupted with a terrifying aura, crushing all five to the ground.

The leader’s face flushed with exertion, and her pupils trembled. Her collar was soaked with cold sweat.

“What are you doing?! I’m a disciple of the Profound Phoenix Pavilion!”

Li Guanqi slowly squatted down, then slapped her.

Her eyes glazed over, and panic set in.

“I told you my reason for coming here,” Li Guanqi said coldly. “Was it so difficult to just pass the message?”

He turned toward the mist and shouted, “Find me someone who can make decisions!”

Boundless lightning erupted from his body, and the thick mist lifted from the entire valley in an instant.

The girl on the ground gaped. Finally, she understood just how powerful Li Guanqi was. All he’d needed was one finger to shatter their sword array.

Since when did a monster like him appear in the Soaring Heavens Continent?

When the lightning dissipated, the space ten zhang in front of him warped.

An old woman appeared, wearing luxurious ink-green brocade robes and gripping a dragon-headed cane in her left hand. A rosary of milk-white beads hung from her right. Her white hair was pinned up immaculately, not a strand out of place. Her back curved slightly with age, her expression serious. Wrinkles covered her face, the skin on her cheeks sagging toward the corners of her mouth. Her lips were thin, and her eyes held nothing but sternness.

The moment she appeared, the disciples shuddered and shouted, “Greetings, Grand Elder!”

The old woman’s gaze swept across the ground before rising slowly to meet Li Guanqi’s. Her milky eyes flashed.

“Who are you? Why did you attack our disciples?”

She spoke with arrogance, her glare a clear threat.

Li Guanqi stood straight as a sword. “I am Li Guanqi of the Azure Cloud Continent. If I had meant to cause harm, your disciples would be dead.”

She squinted, evaluating him. He didn’t fear her at all, and he was very strong.

“Hmph. You’re not from the Zhongnan Heavens. Why have you come to the Profound Phoenix Pavilion?”

Li Guanqi shrugged. “I heard Saintess Su Xi was poisoned, so I came to see if I could help.”

The old woman’s eyes flashed. Her robes suddenly flapped despite the still air.

The plants throughout the valley began growing at astonishing speed. Grass that had barely reached his heel now climbed to his knee. The surrounding trees shot up several zhang, their branches trembling with loud rustling sounds.

“The saintess is perfectly fine. Where did you get this information? Where are you from?”

Li Guanqi was surprised. She was extremely guarded, which meant the news hadn’t spread. The Profound Phoenix Pavilion was trying to keep the situation under wraps.

The old woman was definitely in the Illusory Refinement Realm, though he couldn’t gauge her exact level. Her aura ran deep as an abyss, and she radiated fierce killing intent. She was not in a friendly mood.

Li Guanqi thought to himself, Should I name-drop to solve this matter?

But he quickly dismissed the idea. Though he seemed to have a good relationship with Gu Yong, he shouldn’t trouble someone so important over every little thing. It was best not to ask for favors. He hadn’t reached the level where Gu Yong genuinely needed him anyway.

While he mulled this over, the old woman suddenly cried out, “Tell me! Who sent you here?!”

The plants throughout the entire valley grew once more, forming dense branches that encased the valley like vines.

A powerful spatial ripple pulsed through the air, and the space within the mountain valley shifted.

Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. It’s hard to be a good person these days...