Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Chu Menglan’s gaze was calm, though her lips were pursed. The murmuring of the crowd made her feel utterly humiliated.

She was the great pavilion master of the Profound Phoenix Pavilion, respected and admired everywhere in the Soaring Heavens Continent. Yet here she was, humbling herself at the door of a youth barely out of his teens to offer an apology.

She went upstairs, took a deep breath, and plastered a smile on her face, trying not to make it too forced.

The other customers in the building did not even dare exhale. Many hid in their rooms, too afraid to leave.

Knock knock knock!

Li Guanqi remained seated, not intending to get up. “Pavilion Master Chu, you don’t need to knock. Just come in.”

Irritation flashed in her eyes, but she suppressed it. This was reality. She couldn’t afford to offend Qi Rongxuan, and much less someone Qi Rongxuan was wary of.

“Hoo…”

Creak—

Chu Menglan entered the room with a smile, only to see Qi Rongxuan pouring Li Guanqi a cup of tea. Just what the hell is this kid’s background?With the jade box in her arms, she bowed with her head hung low, despite her usual lofty demeanor. “Apologies, Mr. Li, for the offense caused by the Profound Phoenix Pavilion’s inappropriate treatment during your visit. I hope you will forgive us and won’t take it to heart.”

She opened the jade box by a crack.

Li Guanqi took one glance and understood what it meant.

“Grand Elder Yu Guizhi was insubordinate and did not watch her mouth, offending you multiple times,” Chu Menglan continued. “I have already stripped her of the Grand Elder title and banished her for three hundred years.”

She rose slowly and met his eyes. “Are you satisfied with this, Mr. Li?”

Li Guanqi listened with amusement, gently turning the teacup in his hand. “That’s your sect’s internal matter. What’s it got to do with me?”

Chu Menglan’s breath hitched. She smiled. “An elder from our sect was at fault, so no matter what, as the pavilion master, I must make amends.”

Qi Rongxuan moved to smooth things over, smiling at her. “We’re all familiar with each other already, and that wasn’t even some big thing. There’s no need to be so stiff, am I right?”

Li Guanqi pursed his lips. There was still a flicker of irritation in her eyes when she looked at him, but he didn’t care. In the end, he still needed the Profound Phoenix Pavilion’s help.

He gestured to the side with a smile. “Pavilion Master Chu, come have a seat. Why are you still standing?”

Chu Menglan gritted her teeth, cursing him in her heart. You didn’t imply I could sit before!

She nodded with a smile, then sat between the two of them.

She had a fair neck and square shoulders, and a delicate back that made her exude sophistication.

Li Guanqi took an extra glance at her and muttered, “Who said thin branches couldn’t bear juicy fruits?”

Even though he mumbled quietly, even the weakest person present was at the late Divine Transformation Realm, so they all heard him. Qi Rongxuan coughed hard, covering his mouth to avoid spitting out his tea.

Chu Menglan’s eyes flashed with killing intent, frowning in anger. She shot to her feet, glaring at Li Guanqi. “Li Guanqi! You must have a death wish!”

Qi Rongxuan immediately pulled her aside. They’d finally made a small step toward peace, and everything had almost fallen apart because of Li Guanqi’s comment.

He gripped her arm tightly and sent her a voice transmission. “Don’t! Do not act rashly! If you actually attack him, tragedy will befall the entire Profound Phoenix Pavilion!”

Chu Menglan turned to look at him, suppressing her rage. She transmitted, “Elder Qi, who the hell is he to make you so afraid?”

Qi Rongxuan glanced at Li Guanqi, who had an awkward expression on his face.

After a moment of hesitation, Qi Rongxuan replied, “Girl, if your grandfather and I didn’t go way back, I’d leave you to fend for yourself. As for who he is… I can’t say much, but what I can tell you is this: even the head of the Daxia Territory Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion has to greet him politely. Do you understand what this means?”

Chu Menglan’s eyes widened. She’d figured Li Guanqi was someone special, but she never imagined that even someone so powerful would be afraid of him. His true identity was far beyond anything she could have imagined.

Faced with someone like that, even if he asked her to strip naked, she would show not a hint of resistance. His power and influence were extraordinary.

Her chest rose and fell as she breathed heavily. Li Guanqi closed his eyes and quietly activated his heart’s eye. He hadn’t actually meant to say it out loud. It had been instinct.

He coughed twice.

“I’m sorry, that was—” He coughed again. “Not on purpose. I did not intend to embarrass Pavilion Master Chu.”

Chu Menglan used the chance to let the matter go. She nodded expressionlessly, and the incident came to a close.

Qi Rongxuan smoothed over the tension, and Li Guanqi agreed to see Saintess Su Xi. Her time was running out.

Seeing Li Guanqi agree, Chu Menglan sighed in relief.

However, Li Guanqi had primarily agreed because he didn’t want to owe the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion too many favors. With one word from Qi Rongxuan, the Profound Phoenix Pavilion would open the transport array. Chu Menglan had come to offer this in the first place.

The three of them disappeared from the guesthouse while the rest of the crowd remained, waiting to watch the show.

Soon, Li Guanqi arrived in the Profound Phoenix Pavilion’s domain once more. This time, the disciples all bowed respectfully, fear in their eyes.

Chu Menglan wasted no time, taking them straight to the back mountains.

She threw out three jade tokens and made dozens of hand seals with her slender fingers.

A deafening rumble came from the treacherous cliff wall. The mountain, so tall it reached the clouds, split in half, and a warping light portal appeared.

They stepped inside.

The moment he entered, Li Guanqi frowned. An endless sea of fire surrounded him. The space warped from the heat of the flames. Each breath felt like swallowing a fireball.

Chu Menglan turned and glanced at him. She activated a vital force shield. “Do you need help? The flames here are no ordinary flames. With your current cultivation level, it’s going to be tough.”

Li Guanqi smirked. “There’s no need for that. They’re just earthly flames.”