Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Yet despite everything, Peng Luo still wore that same smiling expression. He lowered his head, flexed his fingers, and rubbed his palms with interest, clicking his tongue as he savored the lingering sensation.

Li Guanqi ignored him. His divine consciousness surged wildly as he devoured the cold poison within Su Xi’s spirit platform, face pale and drenched in cold sweat. He hadn’t expected such terrifying divine consciousness consumption. He was already pushing the Yin Hellfire to its limits, and the more dangerous the process became, the more his tension mounted.

After all, he was guiding heavenly fire through another person’s meridians and spirit platform. If he made a single mistake, the woman before him would die without a trace.

Outside the mountain peak, Chu Menglan paced anxiously at the edge, with no idea what was happening inside. All she could do was place her hope in Li Guanqi. She had already tried every method she could think of. If even he couldn’t save Su Xi, then this was simply Su Xi’s fate.

Perhaps sensing her unease, the old man beside her spoke gently, “Don’t worry. If anyone else claimed to be confident, I wouldn’t believe it. But I trust Young Master Li.”

Chu Menglan gave him a long look but said nothing. She ‌murmured softly, “It’s been an entire night. Why is there still no news? Could something have gone wrong?”

The old man chuckled. “No news is good news. Don’t be so anxious.”

Just as they spoke, the light barrier inside suddenly bulged like an overfilled leather pouch. A thunderous boom erupted, followed by several streaks of fiery sword qi shooting outward.

A woman’s furious shout exploded from within. “Hand over that radish!”

Li Guanqi burst out of the explosion, sprinting as he yelled, “It wasn’t me! I’m your lifesaver, remember?!”A woman in a blazing red dress shot out after him, her sword slashing out streak after streak of sword light.

Clang! Clang!

Li Guanqi flicked his fingers, bare-handedly deflecting two sword beams.

Boom! Boom!

Sword light carved through the air beside him, blasting the mountaintop apart and setting the peak ablaze.

The newly awakened Su Xi stood there, chest heaving, eyes shimmering with icy killing intent. A large white radish clung desperately to Li Guanqi’s collar, shouting, “I count as half your lifesaver too! You’re repaying kindness with betrayal!”

If Peng Luo had stayed quiet, it would have been fine. But his words made Su Xi’s blood rush to her head. Flames coiled around her sword as she lunged forward.

Swish!

Chu Menglan appeared between them, lifting a hand to stop Su Xi. She gave the girl a strange look. She didn’t know what had happened, but Su Xi was clearly unharmed.

“All right, Xi’er, stop fussing. Since nothing’s wrong anymore, hurry and recover your strength.”

She couldn’t hide the joy in her eyes. She hadn’t expected Li Guanqi to possess such methods. Her gaze shifted to the odd radish spirit, Peng Luo. The pure, dense energy inside him left her astonished. It seemed Su Xi’s quick recovery was thanks to him.

Su Xi opened her mouth to argue, but Chu Menglan stopped her again. Su Xi stomped her foot in mid-air in frustration. When her gaze landed on Li Guanqi, her expression grew complicated.

It was true that he saved her life. But…

His divine consciousness was so careful and thorough… Didn’t he basically see everything?

The thought made her face burn. A blush crept up her cheeks as she stole a timid glance at Li Guanqi, lightly biting her lip in embarrassment. Handsome and strong...

Chu Menglan’s face darkened when she saw Su Xi’s heart practically fluttering. She had no intention of losing both her disciple and her dignity. She waved her hand, whisking Su Xi away.

Then she turned to Li Guanqi and bowed deeply. “The Profound Phoenix Pavilion will remember this great favor. If Young Master Li needs the transport array activated, we will prepare it for you at any time.”

Li Guanqi let out a breath. “The sooner, the better. Also, prepare some spirit stones and pills. I used up way too many.”

Chu Menglan relaxed visibly. She had feared he would ask for something else. The tension in her heart finally released, and her smile became more natural.

“Young Master Li, please rest for a while in the main hall,” she said gracefully. “I will return shortly.”

Truth be told, the thought of the ancient old demoness made Li Guanqi shiver. But on his shoulder, Peng Luo was practically drooling.

“This lady—mmph!”

Li Guanqi clamped Peng Luo’s mouth shut and forced a stiff smile at Chu Menglan. “He misses his mother.”

***

A while later, Peng Luo sat on the table with a bruised face, muttering curses under his breath. He glanced up at Li Guanqi, who simply shrugged. “Why are you looking at me? I can’t beat her either.”

Peng Luo’s courage suddenly flared. With lightning speed, he jammed a finger up Li Guanqi’s nostril. “Then you shouldn’t have thrown me to her to get beaten! I’ll die with you!”

Li Guanqi’s fingers became a blade, severing Peng Luo’s wrist in one swipe. He took the detached hand and popped it into his mouth.

Crunch. Crunch.

“I’m saying this for your own good. Can you stop thinking about that stuff all day?”

Crunch. Crunch.

“And listen. Provoke anyone you want, but not that woman. Otherwise, when she slices you up for research, I won’t even try to stop her.”

Peng Luo sighed weakly. “Life is hopeless... life is hopeless!”

Creaaak.

Chu Menglan returned with three storage rings. Two were filled with tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones, and the third was packed with nearly a thousand pills for Divine Transformation Realm cultivation, along with other healing pills.

Li Guanqi was stunned by the Profound Phoenix Pavilion’s wealth.

Qi Rongxuan laughed. “Just take it. Controlling a trans-territory transport array for a century is worth way more than this.”

Li Guanqi didn’t stand on ceremony. After taking the rings, he tossed a bottle of pills to Peng Luo and grinned. “Good work.”

Peng Luo stared in disbelief. “For me? Really?”

When Li Guanqi nodded, his expression softened for a moment before he burst into a pleased grin, stuffing two pills into his mouth. Somewhere in his heart, something shifted. His gaze toward Li Guanqi grew increasingly complex.

Li Guanqi stood up. “I’ll accept the items. When can we activate the array?”

Chu Menglan answered softly, “It’s already prepared.”