Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Li Guanqi’s every action was a calculated move to gauge reactions. Even his casual conversations and shared drinks with Ji Yuchuan were deliberate, intended to provoke overthinking and speculation among specific individuals. For example, Yuan Hongyi.

Li Guanqi had initially suspected Jiang Yi was the problem, but now... the fact that Jiang Yi had brought the very assassin who tried to kill Song Yunshu gave him far more to consider.

Li Guanqi observed everyone in the hall. When the assassin was dragged out, no one reacted in a way that raised suspicion. As for whether Jiang Yi had sent the man himself, no one could say for sure, but Li Guanqi was certain that even if he had, any trace of evidence was long gone.

A faint smile curved Li Guanqi’s lips as he murmured, “Interesting... the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion is far more intriguing than I imagined.”

Most of those present still had no idea who the black-robed figure on the ground even was.

Boom!

Li Guanqi raised his hand and released a wave of sword qi, killing the man in front of everyone.

The blue-brick floor split into a long trench that stretched all the way to Jiang Yi’s feet. The elder remained composed, though a fine sheen of sweat had formed on his forehead. His fists clenched inside his sleeves. He had nearly moved to intervene.

The black-robed man’s head had been severed. When his robes fell away, they revealed a pitch-black iron mask fused to his face. Li Guanqi scanned the mask with his divine consciousness and frowned. It had been pressed onto the assassin’s skin while still red-hot, leaving the face beneath unrecognizable.

Suppressing his thoughts, Li Guanqi looked up at Jiang Yi and said, “Then kill him. Otherwise, it’d be a waste of your goodwill.”The atmosphere in the hall was tense and oppressive. Even Yuan Hongyi merely folded his hands in his sleeves, pretending to meditate. Among the higher-ups, only Ji Yuchuan smiled faintly, watching the scene unfold.

Li Guanqi chuckled. “Since everyone’s here, Tower Master Jiang, you may sit.”

However, Li Guanqi didn’t budge, staying seated in Jiang Yi’s designated spot.

Jiang Yi walked toward Li Guanqi’s place, stopped behind Ji Yuchuan, and spoke quietly. “Please, owner, take the main seat.”

Li Guanqi shrugged. “I don’t feel like getting up, so I’ll just sit with Brother Ji. Sit wherever you like. I’ll take your seat, and you can have mine. I’m open-minded. Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s fine.”

Down below, Jiang Han, clad in a brocade robe, felt a twitch in his face. Between today’s meeting and what they already knew of Li Guanqi, one thing was undeniable: whether Li Guanqi was genuinely magnanimous or not, he never forgot a grudge.

The hall, already quiet, fell utterly silent. The other cultivators subtly circulated their spirit qi into inner breath.

Jiang Yi, expressionless as ever, merely bowed and said, “I dare not take your seat. Please, Pavilion Master, take your seat.”

Li Guanqi toyed with his wine cup. “Since you don’t dare to sit...”

He glanced back at Jiang Yi, his voice calm but firm. “Then just stand.”

The words struck like lightning. Even Yuan Hongyi couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

This was Jiang Yi, master of the Purple Tower, the highest-ranking and most powerful of the Four Towers. He was an unparalleled authority within the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion, yet Li Guanqi was making him stand through the entire council meeting.

A public slight like that would have made anyone furious, and many expected Jiang Yi to lose his temper outright. Flickering light cast shadows across Jiang Yi’s face, as if reflecting the rage barely contained beneath. The atmosphere in the hall weighed on every chest, making each breath difficult.

Yuan Hongyi’s small eyes tracked Jiang Yi as he stood behind Li Guanqi. A cold glint lurked in the elder’s lowered gaze, and Yuan Hongyi’s face trembled slightly at the sight.

Li Guanqi poured himself another cup of wine, his voice icy. “If you keep looking at me with that gaze... I’m afraid I might just have to kill you.”

The people in the hall all felt a chill run through them.

Jiang Yi’s mind jolted. Everything Li Guanqi had ever done flashed through his mind at once, and his expression softened. He said calmly, “You’re right. I shall stand and observe.”

Li Guanqi didn’t even acknowledge him and simply left him standing to the side. He set down his cup, his gaze sweeping over everyone like a hawk. “Very well. Let’s begin. I’m new here, but thanks to Old Gu’s trust, I will oversee the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion while he’s in seclusion. If there’s anything I do wrong...”

All eyes in the hall were on him. No one breathed.

Li Guanqi’s voice paused, then grew sharp and commanding. “I expect all of you to control yourselves. Those who cannot... come find me.”

The crowd was dumbfounded. Ji Yuchuan gave Li Guanqi a long, measured glance. Tu Yongsi opened his cloudy eyes, lost in thought. Yuan Hongyi’s face was plastered with a smile, but it was all for show, and he said nothing. Jiang Yi, standing behind Li Guanqi, looked completely unbothered, as if none of this concerned him in the slightest.

Song Yunshu, also standing behind Li Guanqi, never took her eyes off him. Had it been her, she would never have summoned the entire council. She would never have humiliated Jiang Yi so publicly, either, and she would never have threatened the whole hall to their faces. What exactly is he thinking?

Yet at this moment, Li Guanqi exuded an unparalleled charisma. Despite only recently becoming the pavilion master, he already controlled the entire hall. No matter what anyone was thinking, no one at this table dared oppose him openly.

Li Guanqi’s expression softened into a gentle smile. “Of course, as a mere figurehead owner, I’ll need all your support.”

With that, the tension in the hall eased considerably.

Tu Yongsi was the first to speak. “The Red Tower will fully support you, Master Li.”

As the elder spoke, Yuan Hongyi’s eyes subtly glanced at Tu Yongsi and Ji Yuchuan.

Ji Yuchuan had been reluctant to speak, but with Li Guanqi sitting right next to him, staring him down, the pale-faced Ji Yuchuan could only bow. “The Blue Tower will also support you, Master Li.”

The moment Ji Yuchuan spoke, a chill ran through Yuan Hongyi. He had noticed Li Guanqi drinking with Ji Yuchuan when he first entered.

Yuan Hongyi could only smile and nod. Those below, seeing their tower masters speak, echoed their support. Even Jiang Yi, still standing, ultimately gave his assent.