Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Sun Zhen didn’t hesitate, slapping a golden talisman onto himself. It burned instantly, flooding him with powerful vital force. His eyes flashed as he dissolved his soul into his sword, and he gripped the blade with both hands, facing the surging waves of lightning.

Despite knowing the risks of taking a direct hit, he didn’t back down. Instead, he drove his sword forward, unleashing a heavy burst of sword intent. Both were at the Sword Heart Realm, but Sun Zhen’s sword intent was heavier.

He stepped forward, pulled his hands back, and slashed out a tightly condensed hundred-zhang sword light.

“Green Mountain, Earth-Splitting Slash!”

Boom!

Fist force and sword light collided, and the deafening roar shook the heavens in a single breath. Many clutched their ears, sealing their senses with vital force, yet countless Baizhang Sect disciples still collapsed, blood trickling from their ears as their eyes rolled back.

Wei Qian stared at the ruined hall and shattered mountain, too terrified to utter a word.

From the smoke and dust, two figures were hurled backward.

Li Guanqi’s left hand was nearly split open, blood dripping steadily from the wound. Blood trickled from the corner of Sun Zhen’s mouth, half his shoulder and chest caved in. Half his body was charred black, lightning still crackling across him. He was soaked in blood.

Sun Zhen’s eyes locked onto Li Guanqi, his voice trembling. “You’re… absurdly strong. How could the Six Territories have a rogue cultivator as strong as you?”Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. Does he really not know?

Testing him, he sent a voice transmission. “There are others even stronger than me. I heard Li Guanqi of the Daxia Territory is formidable. He’s blind, just like me.”

Sun Zhen chuckled. “True enough, you’re both blind. But that guy… compared to you, he’s far behind. Well… not too far.”

Li Guanqi’s eyes narrowed further. Sun Zhen knew of him, yet seemed unaware of what happened to the other ancient clan, the Liu clan.

Li Guanqi looked around, but it was not the time to ask. He returned to Qian Qiusui’s side with a smile. “Is everything settled?”

Wei Qian bowed quickly. “Senior, it was all a misunderstanding. I misread Senior Sun’s intentions. It was my fault. I’ve already apologized to Fellow Daoist Qian.”

Qian Qiusui had no desire to provoke Wei Qian. She nodded with a smile. “We can leave it at that. Sect Master Wei has admitted his mistake.”

Li Guanqi nodded, not sparing Wei Qian another glance. He looked at Sun Zhen, who was busy purging lightning from his body, and grinned. “Wanna find a place to drink?”

Sun Zhen’s eyes lit up. During his two years hidden at the Baizhang Sect, he’d rarely gotten to drink. He nodded at once. “Good, let’s go! I know a fine place.”

Qian Qiusui followed, and the three departed from the Baizhang Sect.

The place Sun Zhen mentioned wasn’t far. The tavern was on the Yanchang Plain, just below the sect. When they reached the city, Qian Qiusui looked up at the signboard, and her lips twitched.

Moon Gazing Tower.

It was the same tavern Li Guanqi had visited before, where Qian Qiusui had gone to hire a guard. She never imagined she’d return.

Sun Zhen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his robes still in tatters. He asked smugly, “Brother Li, what do you think of this place?”

Li Guanqi looked at the signboard, smelled the fragrance drifting out, and closed his eyes in delight. “Great minds think alike. I didn’t expect Brother Sun to cultivate amongst mortal distractions too.”

Sun Zhen froze at the phrase, then nodded solemnly. “Indeed.”

The two exchanged grins and strode inside, chests puffed out.

The madam at the door recognized Li Guanqi as the previous guest from the top-floor suite and greeted him warmly. But when her eyes fell on Qian Qiusui, her expression shifted to a sly smile. “Gentlemen, are our girls not good enough? Why bring your own?”

Li Guanqi coughed awkwardly. He was about to explain when the madam waved her fan dismissively. “No need to explain. It’s okay. We’ve had such cases before.”

She turned and shouted, “Girls, seven of you, come here!”

Sun Zhen burst out laughing, clutching his stomach while Qian Qiusui’s face darkened. She lifted her chin and pursed her lips.

Soon, the two men were surrounded by women and led upstairs. Li Guanqi asked only for music and dance. Sun Zhen gave Li Guanqi a thumbs-up. “Brother Li, your cultivation of the heart is truly admirable!”

Li Guanqi handed him a wine jar. “Of course. If I didn’t have discipline in this, I wouldn’t have discipline in anything.”

Qian Qiusui relaxed. It wasn’t what she’d feared. If it had been, she wouldn’t have known where to even hide. Spotting a guqin nearby, she sat down and placed her slender fingers on the strings. Gentle, melodious notes filled the air, stunning the surrounding women.

Sun Zhen smiled, changed into a green Daoist robe, and sat opposite Li Guanqi. They clinked cups and drank deeply.

The fiery liquor burned down their throats. Sun Zhen closed his eyes, exhaling sharply. “Whoa! This wine is strong!”

Li Guanqi smiled. “If the wine isn’t strong, why drink it?”

Both men sat with their own thoughts. Sun Zhen poured another cup and chuckled softly. “Brother Li, where do you think the Yanluo Sword Sovereign is now? The one who shook the Six Territories a year ago.”

Li Guanqi drained his cup, smiling as he looked at Sun Zhen. “What do you think?”

Sun Zhen lowered his head, pouring more wine. “I think you’re him.”

Li Guanqi sat cross-legged and met his gaze with a quiet smile. “If you say I am, then I am. If you say I’m not, then I’m not.”

Sun Zhen’s wrist trembled mid-pour, nearly spilling his wine.