Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

At that moment, the three elders of the Purple Sun Pavilion looked incredibly grim, especially Yu Chang, who stood at the front with a gloomy look.

Maybe it was the crushing gap in cultivation between him and Lu Kangnian. Or perhaps it was simply that Lu Kangnian had not shown the slightest regard for the Purple Sun Pavilion’s authority.

In the end, all three of them had been forced back by a single strike of Lu Kangnian’s sword. As an elder of the Purple Sun Pavilion, Yu Chang had never encountered such merciless treatment.

The immense disparity in mental state left Yu Chang feeling thoroughly unhappy.

Yu Chang’s face was as dark as water, and he let out a cold snort. “Hmph! Let Lu Kangnian keep acting tough for a few more days. If they don’t hand over the culprit in three days, he won’t walk away unscathed!”

The three figures vanished in a blink and reappeared thousands of zhangs away. Nascent Soul Realm cultivators’ teleportation techniques were too fast, and even Golden Core Realm cultivators couldn’t hope to follow.

Once the three had departed, all the disciples of the Daxia Sword Sect erupted into thunderous cheers, which soared into the heavens.

Only now did many disciples fully grasp the sheer weight and dominance of the Purple Sun Pavilion in the Northern Territory.

In the past, they had only heard tales about the strict discipline of the Daxia Sword Sect. After experiencing many things firsthand, they understood the seriousness with which the sect upheld its codes and principles. No disciple, whether from the inner or outer sect, was exempt from punishment. Some disciples even feared the sect’s harsh punishments over minor matters.

But now, they all witnessed what it truly meant for a sect to uphold its values. Previously, they might have believed that the sect’s teachings only really extended to its disciples—that all the talk about standing firm against power and never bowing when in the right was merely empty rhetoric.But no longer.

They had witnessed their formidable Sect Master driving back three Nascent Soul Realm cultivators with a single sword strike. They had heard his unwavering, thunderous declaration. Every disciple’s heart swelled with pride and excitement.

All disciples of the Daxia Sword Sect shouted in unison, “No regrets joining the Daxia Sword Sect in this life!”

Seizing the moment, Lu Kangnian gave a rousing speech before instructing the disciples to return to their duties. Then, together with the other peak masters, he took to the skies and disappeared.

Standing atop a mountain, Li Guanqi felt equally fired up. He summoned the Emerald Wolf Sword and flew toward the Heavenly Lightning Peak.

When he arrived at Li Nanting’s secluded courtyard, he found Second Elder Xu Zhengjie already there. Seeing him arrive, Xu Zhengjie burst into laughter. “Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you, and here you are. Hahaha! Guanqi, come sit.”

Li Guanqi bowed respectfully and stepped up beside the two elders.

Xu Zhengjie reached out to examine his aura, and his eyes filled with admiration. “This kid’s breakthrough speed is insane, yet his foundation is still rock solid. He’s a monster.

“Are you really planning to let him and Gu Ran compete in the Tournament of a Hundred Sects?”

Li Guanqi frowned. He hadn’t expected the elders to disregard the Purple Sun Pavilion and immediately start discussing the tournament.

Li Nanting looked up at the young man and smiled softly. “You’re probably thinking we’re not taking the Purple Sun Pavilion’s threat seriously, right?”

Li Guanqi furrowed his brows and nodded slightly. He had personally witnessed the massive power of the Purple Sun Pavilion.

The Pavilion had several times more Golden Core Realm elders than the Daxia Sword Sect. As for Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, he guessed they had far more as well.

The old man lifted a wine cup and took a sip before turning to Li Guanqi with a gleam in his eye. “Don’t worry. The Daxia Sword Sect isn’t as weak as you think. It’s just that in recent years, the sect’s resources have been scarce, and there haven’t been many disciples capable of competing for them. It led to a vicious cycle within the sect.”

At this point, both elders revealed satisfied smiles.

“But in recent years, the tide’s been turning. Talented disciples are on the rise—not just you.

“Disciples recruited by other peaks have also been exceptional. Many have already reached the Golden Core Realm. They train diligently, so you rarely see them around the sect.

“They only emerge when they lack contribution points or spirit stones.”

Li Guanqi felt somewhat reassured, especially as he feared the Purple Sun Pavilion wouldn’t let the matter go.

Xu Zhengjie chuckled as he set his wine cup down. “Don’t worry. This matter may have started because of you, but it’s not only about you. To Zheng Hao, killing you was just a step toward a larger goal.

“Besides... like your master said, the Daxia Sword Sect isn’t as simple as it seems.”

After some light conversation, Xu Zhengjie suddenly had the idea to personally guide Li Guanqi.

The three of them moved to the sparring arena atop the Heavenly Pillar Peak.

Xu Zhengjie flicked his sleeve and said casually, “Guanqi, today this old man will give you a proper lesson.”

It was Li Guanqi’s first time sparring against an elder suppressing his cultivation to match his own. He bowed solemnly. “Thank you for your guidance, Second Elder.”

But once their fight began, the atmosphere changed.

Xu Zhengjie had suppressed himself to the mid Foundation Building Realm. At first, he was casual. Soon, though, he turned completely serious.

In the end, he turned to Li Nanting and shouted, “What the hell?! Come help me out. I can’t beat this brat when I’m suppressed!”

Li Nanting, who had been observing from the side, sprang into action. With a gesture, a fine iron sword soared into his waiting hand.

And in a flash, three figures leaped across the arena, sword-light gleaming in every direction. Even against two elders, Li Guanqi was barely at a disadvantage, holding his own with just one sword.

After half an hour, both old men wore grave expressions.

Xu Zhengjie had originally been a little jealous that he hadn’t taken Li Guanqi as his disciple.

He’d also wanted to test the boy’s strength firsthand. After all, the Tournament of a Hundred Sects often involved real danger.

But now, both elders looked deadly serious.

Xu Zhengjie nudged Li Nanting and asked via voice transmission, “What kind of monster did you train?! His combat instincts and battle sense are the strongest I’ve ever seen!”

Li Nanting looked at Li Guanqi, then coughed lightly and put on a mysterious air. “Some things cannot be explained.”.

Even after leaving, Xu Zhengjie couldn’t figure out how Li Nanting had raised such a monster.

Li Nanting, for his part, wore a bitter smile. He had taught Li Guanqi many things, but deep down, he knew that wasn’t enough to explain the youth’s terrifying growth.

He was abnormally strong.

If he joins the Tournament of a Hundred Sects, he might actually lead the Daxia Sword Sect to a historic ranking!

However, considering Li Guanqi’s current condition, LI Nanting didn’t plan to question him further.

On the path of cultivation, even a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator could stumble upon heaven-defying opportunities.

Especially with Li Guanqi’s mysterious grandfather, whom Li Nanting had never met. That old man still filled him with an inexplicable sense of awe.

There was no way a figure like that would leave his grandson with nothing.