Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

The man wore a dark-gold robe. Mysterious patterns shimmered across the fabric, clearly no ordinary garment.

With a flat nose bridge, a pointed chin, slightly high cheekbones, and monolid eyes, his looks were merely average.[1]

His neatly cropped black hair only made him look even more sinister.

Yet Li Guanqi sensed a faint pressure from him, something he’d only ever felt with Cang Lu. Even when Ye Feng and Xiao Chen sparred with each other, he had never felt anything like this.

Li Guanqi smiled faintly as their eyes locked. Li Guanqi’s gaze was unfathomably deep, but it lacked the man’s sharp edge.

Hah. Trying to intimidate me? Li Guanqi had never feared anyone.

As for the rest, a few had intense auras as well, but he paid them no mind. The others smiled and greeted Meng Jiangchu one after another. They hailed from some of the strongest sects in the Divine Treasure Territory. A few powerful forces hadn’t joined, but this lineup alone was terrifying enough.

Among their elders, including Wei Qing, there were three at the Mahayana Stage. The weakest of the rest were still at the late Combined Body Realm.

Meng Jiangchu smiled. “Well, since everyone’s here, let’s head to the main hall and take a seat.”

Everyone murmured agreement, and the cloud boats entered the domain one by one. The disciples inside watched in stunned silence.“Heavens… The Shura Nunnery, Immortal Guard Sect, Skylock Mountain Residence, Skyguard Sect, Nine Heavens Sect…”

“Gulp. Why did so many factions come at once?”

For a while, the disciples in the domain buzzed with speculation. But when they saw the procession’s sheer scale, they finally understood what was happening.

A young man sneered. “Tch. Looks like they’re all here for that blind guy.”

“Duh,” his companion said. “You think becoming the territorial lord’s son-in-law is that easy? The eldest young master of the Xiao family hasn’t left either. He’s definitely staying to watch the show.”

Nearby, many maidservants whispered among themselves. “There are so many people! Being the territorial lord’s son-in-law isn’t a walk in the park. These people clearly didn’t come with good intentions.”

“Exactly. With this many here at once, the territorial lord can’t just tell them to leave.”

“Sigh. My friends have said the new son-in-law is actually pretty nice.”

“But what can be done? Ms. Wanshu is so outstanding. Of course many can’t accept it.”

“I just wonder how strong the new son-in-law really is. Hopefully he won’t damage Ms. Wanshu’s reputation.”

If the maids and guards were thinking that, surely the schemers were too. Everyone had come for the spectacle.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chen—whom the guards had been speculating about—was more excited than anyone. He couldn’t wait to see the outsiders get beaten senseless.

A handsome, elegant young man[2] approached Xiao Chen and Ye Feng with a mocking smile. “Xiao Chen, I really have to hand it to you. Heh. You’ve had your childhood sweetheart snatched away, yet you can still hang around with the guy who took her.”

Xiao Chen shot him a glance and snapped back, saying, “What the hell does it have to do with you? Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, Tang Chen. Mind your own business.”

Tang Chen’s expression darkened. He hadn’t expected such a blunt response. They were all from top-tier forces, so they usually spoke politely to each other. No one had ever dared talk to him like that.

Ye Feng couldn’t help but laugh. Tang Chen turned toward him, frowning. “What are you laughing at? What’s so funny? And who are you? I’ve never seen you before. Oh, you’re with that damned cripp—”

A flash of cold steel, and Tang Chen’s mouth was sliced open. Everyone froze. The boisterous crowd fell silent.

Ye Feng’s calm eyes held unmistakable killing intent. He sheathed his sword slowly, staring straight at Tang Chen. “That was a warning. Next time, it’ll be your throat.”

A white-browed old man at the side flew into a rage. Exerting pressure at the Combined Body Realm, he jabbed a hand toward Ye Feng’s throat like an eagle’s talon.

“You ignorant bastard!”

Ye Feng’s face darkened. He prepared to unleash the power of his Ghost Hand, and black flames seeped out.

Meng Jiangchu’s expression turned icy. He let out a cold snort, and an invisible force sent the old man flying hundreds of zhang.

“Get out.”

The old man opened his mouth to speak, but when he met Meng Jiangchu’s gaze, he backed down. He called his grandson over, and they fled on their cloud boat with their tails between their legs.

Meng Jiangchu slowly turned around. His sharp gaze swept over everyone as he spoke, his voice deep. “I know why you’re all here today.”

He looked at Li Guanqi and said plainly, “This is my daughter’s Dao partner, Li Guanqi. If you want to test him, be my guest. He can take it all. However, if any shameless elders decide to interfere... you’ll have to deal with my wrath.”

No one dared even breathe too loudly. Meng Jiangchu was not someone to be trifled with.

Meng Jiangchu flicked his wide sleeve and said coldly, “Don’t even bother taking a seat. You’re not here to enjoy yourselves. Changqing, set up the martial arena.”

Li Changqing bowed. “Territorial Lord, it’s ready.”

Meng Jiangchu nodded. With a wave of his hand, everyone was enveloped in overwhelming spatial fluctuations, teleporting them tens of thousands of zhang away to a region of towering mountains and rugged peaks.

The old man formed seals with one hand and tossed out a palm-sized artifact. It swelled against the wind, quickly transforming into a massive golden martial arena.

The magnificent arena measured a thousand zhang across, its surface etched with intricate array patterns.

The arena shimmered as twelve purple crystal stones embedded themselves within it. Golden radiance erupted, and a thick barrier of arrays rose around the perimeter.

Meng Jiangchu lifted his hand, conjuring a brilliant blue throne of flames in midair. He took a seat, and ten wooden chairs appeared below.

With a calm expression, he said, “Sit.”

Only then did the elders cup their hands briefly and take their seats, their juniors standing behind them.

Li Guanqi’s lips curved into a slight smile. He squeezed Meng Wanshu’s hand, and in a flash, appeared in the martial arena.

The crowd stared in confusion, unsure what he intended to do. Xiao Chen and Ye Feng exchanged a glance, their expressions turning strange.

Li Guanqi’s voice rang out, dripping with arrogance. “Let’s save time. Come at me together, you useless trash.”

1. I explained more in Translator’s Thoughts. ☜

2. 玉树临风 (yù shù lín fēng) is a Chinese idiom used to describe a young man who is handsome, graceful, and charismatic, with an elegance and poise like a tall, beautiful jade tree swaying in the wind. ☜

Doge & Char’s Thoughts

In Chinese beauty standards, especially for men, a higher, straighter nose bridge is associated with strong facial structure and refinement. A flat bridge is often seen as lacking definition, making the face appear less striking. Meanwhile, high cheekbones in Chinese culture often give a sharp, severe, or even calculating impression. In fiction especially, they’re frequently used to suggest someone who looks cold, crafty, or hard, not warm or classically handsome.

Monolids are common and neutral in real life, but in literary or aesthetic contexts, double eyelids are more often associated with openness and attractiveness. Monolids can make a character seem narrow-eyed, reserved, or intimidating, reinforcing an “unremarkable” or “unfriendly” look.