Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Unlike Li Guanqi, whose methods were cold-blooded and ruthless, Xiang Huaizhi preferred to settle matters according to karmic cause and effect.

Everything seized from the Yu clan went to Li Guanqi. He set aside the ancient jade box for Yun Jie, intending to let her manage its contents herself one day. As for whether she would remain with the Daxia Sword Sect, it was entirely her decision.

Xiang Huaizhi emerged from the sealed barrier with a dark expression. He cocked his head and asked coldly, “Where’s that old fossil from the Yu clan?”

Nangong Xuandu shrugged. “Yu Chang’an? The old man bolted the moment he saw me. I have no idea where he’s hiding. He’s only at the late Mahayana Realm, so he isn’t much of a threat. You’ll have to deal with him yourself, though. Also, you might want to get in touch with Yu Shan.”

Xiang Huaizhi grimaced at the mention of Yu Shan. He shrugged and said, “And where am I supposed to find him? He’s impossible to locate unless he reveals himself. You haven’t seen him in over seven centuries, have you?”

Nangong Xuandu rubbed his brow, visibly troubled. “True… His ability to transform into ten thousand thing is troublesome. Still, give it a try. Yu Chang’an remains a loose end.”

Xiang Huaizhi sighed, a look of longing crossing his eyes. “I suppose that’s the only option.”

Li Guanqi had been silent the entire time at the side. It was only when Nangong Xuandu spoke the name Yu Shan that he reacted.

Li Guanqi had remained silent throughout, but Nangong Xuandu’s mention of Yu Shan caught his attention.

Yu Shan, the sixth of the Eight Generals and the one in charge of intelligence!Meng Jiangchu turned to Li Guanqi. “Are you still planning to visit the Nine Dragon Immortal Sect?”

Li Guanqi smiled faintly. “Of course. And Senior Gu and Gu Li need to come with me. Otherwise... certain matters will be difficult to settle.”

Gu Li clicked his tongue, and the talisman hidden beneath Li Guanqi’s clothes flickered faintly.

With Tang Ru still busy investigating the Gu clan, it was not a good time for them to return.

Han Yuan and the others chuckled. “Since we’re already in the Ethereal Immortal Territory, we old-timers will go catch up with a few old friends. You youngsters can handle your own affairs. Old Jiang, Old Guo, let’s go.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three departed.

Following a brief silence, Nangong Xuandu said softly, “I’ll be leaving as well.”

Xiang Huaizhi watched him walk away, then suddenly asked, “Don’t tell me you still haven’t tracked down the Lu clan?”

Boom!

A torrent of azure sword light split heaven and earth.

Xiang Huaizhi raised a curtain of crimson fire. He let the sword light tear through it, but he had already sidestepped with a laugh.

The strike gouged a terrifying scar into the ground below. The resulting chasm cut across several mountain ranges like a heavenly divide. Residual sword qi swept outward, toppling ancient trees and shredding them into splinters.

Nangong Xuandu glanced back at Xiang Huaizhi with a sneer. “I hope you find Yu Chang’an soon.”

The corner of Xiang Huaizhi’s mouth twitched, and he said irritably, “Relax. When I find him, I’ll give his soul a thorough tempering.”

Nangong Xuandu stepped into the air and vanished.

Xiang Huaizhi grew visibly more vexed after watching him leave. He swept his gaze over the group, clasped his fists, and finally locked eyes with Li Guanqi.

“You, boy. Stop making us worry so much. If that flame spirit seal breaks again, there truly won’t be anything we can do. And don’t rush to find the Qilin soul or the Seven-Colored Glass Flower. I’ll ask around after I return. All right, I’m leaving too. I can’t let Nangong beat me there.”

Everyone cupped their fists in farewell. Xiang Huaizhi strode off at an unhurried pace.

Behind him, crimson flames and dense smoke continued to churn within the azure barrier. Everything within a radius of tens of thousands of zhang had been consumed by fire.

It seemed Xiang Huaizhi could not bear to let such a tainted place remain in the world.

The Eight Generals owed no one an explanation for those they killed. If any explanation was due, it was perhaps only to the four above them and to their lord.

Gu Changsheng gazed after Nangong Xuandu and Xiang Huaizhi, admiration shining in his eyes.

Meng Jiangchu laughed. “Old friend, forget it. Neither of us has any hope of becoming one of the Eight Generals, but…”

Meng Jiangchu left the thought unfinished, but Gu Changsheng understood what he meant.

He murmured, “Let’s go. We’re heading to the Nine Dragon Immortal Sect.”

Ye Xuan had already received word of their impending arrival. The news that the Yu clan had been wiped out left him stunned.

He still knew almost nothing about Xiang Huaizhi or Nangong Xuandu. His clearest impression of the two men was that they were powerful, ruthless, and decisive.

Xiang Huaizhi was at least somewhat known within alchemist circles, though his identity remained shrouded in mystery. The azure-robed Nangong Xuandu, however, was a complete unknown. No one had seen him until the war between the Six Territories and the ancient clans.

Ye Xuan said quietly, “Open the mountain gates and prepare a banquet. Have the elders receive our guests.”

The elder below bowed respectfully and withdrew to make the arrangements.

Ye Xuan stood in his deep-blue robes, his expression solemn as he gently rubbed his brow.

“Nangong Xuandu… Could he really be the Nangong Xuandu from that era? If so, he’s a truly venerable senior. Just who exactly is Li Guanqi?” he murmured.

Ye Xuan closed his eyes and mentally tallied all the factions and figures connected to Li Guanqi.

“Long Hou, Xiang Huaizhi, Nangong Xuandu... None of them belong to the Six Territories or the Ethereal Immortal Territory. I really would like to visit the Seventh Territory... Hoo...”

A faint smile tugged at Ye Xuan’s lips. He was equally curious about the qualifications Xiang Huaizhi had mentioned.

The Seventh Territory was a place even the powerful cultivators of the Ethereal Immortal Territory could only speculate about. Very few had ever truly entered it, and some even claimed it was nothing more than another vast realm like the Ethereal Immortal Territory.

Yet, Ye Xuan had always harbored a vague, inexplicable sense that the Seventh Territory concealed countless profound secrets.

Before long, Li Guanqi’s group arrived at the Nine Dragon Immortal Sect.

The imposing mountain range was wreathed in swirling mist. Immortal cranes circled overhead with piercing cries, and the lush green peaks overflowed with spirit qi.

Countless supernatural beings and great demons inhabited the surrounding mountains, with many serpents and pythons coiled among the peaks. Their presence made the yin qi around the sect exceptionally dense.

The Nine Dragon Immortal Sect had over seven thousand disciples. Most wore dark-blue sect robes accented with gold embroidery. Each disciple’s chest bore the emblem of nine ink jiao dragons, stitched so vividly they appeared ready to leap from the fabric.

The entire sect was in a festive mood. Every disciple knew that the sect’s guardian ink jiao dragons were carrying the offspring of a true dragon.

However, they had also heard that one of the offspring carried by the three pregnant ink jiao dragons had already been given away. The disciples endlessly speculated about who could possess enough standing to convince their sect master to part with one. Those offspring were the sect’s most precious treasures, yet the sect master had actually agreed to give one away.

Only Ye Xuan knew the full story. Xiang Huaizhi’s proposal was no trade—it was outright robbery. The man was nothing but a bandit!

Ye Xuan had been forced to agree because he couldn’t defeat Xiang Huaizhi…