Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Yun Mengxi flung a handful of spirit stones at Cang Lu’s feet and said coldly, “Take these spirit stones and you’ll never have to worry about food or clothing again. From now on, we’ll each live our own lives, owing nothing to each other!”

Cang Lu lowered his head, staring at the spirit stones scattered before him. A wave of sorrow surged in his chest. The spirit stones seemed to have mouths, laughing at his ignorance. The shredded marriage contract on the floor was the true sign of their severed bond.

The flower that had once bloomed so beautifully had withered in an instant.

He crouched down and swept the spirit stones aside, quietly gathering every torn piece of the contract. This simple act deeply touched Li Guanqi.

In a hoarse voice, Cang Lu said, “I never once thought to use the marriage agreement as a threat. Change is the only constant in this world. You entered the sect, and your heart changed along with it. I have no right to complain, nor do I blame you. I only wanted to return the contract to you so this matter could be put to rest.”

Drip! Drip!

Two teardrops, each the size of a bean, fell onto the tattered scraps.

Sixth Elder huffed impatiently, “Hmph! Just take the spirit stones and go. Mengxi has already said she won’t marry you. Don’t linger here groveling.”

Chu Xingxian did not speak.

Wu Kun, emboldened by the elder’s words, said lightly, “I sincerely apologize for disturbing you both. This subordinate from my family is ignorant of social norms and doesn’t know his place.”Then, rising to his feet, Wu Kun prepared to teach Cang Lu a lesson, eager to flaunt his status as the young master of the Wu family. More than that, he wanted to impress Yun Mengxi and humiliate Cang Lu in front of her.

He smugly looked at Cang Lu, who still did not know what he had done wrong.

Chu Xingxian, silent until now, furrowed his brow and cast Wu Kun a single glance. That one look froze Wu Kun in place.

It felt as though a mountain had collapsed onto his chest, and he couldn’t breathe. For a moment, he felt like he would suffocate to death. His face turned purple, veins bulging at his neck and temple. When he thought he was going to die, the crushing pressure receded like a tide.

Wu Kun slumped back into his chair, drenched in cold sweat, gasping for air. His head drooped, terror etched on his face.

Chu Xingxian’s voice suddenly rang in his ear. “This is between the two of them.”

Chu Xingxian didn’t need to elaborate. It was a clear warning to Wu Kun to stay in his lane and not get involved. The message was also a subtle reminder not to overestimate his own importance, emphasizing that they were in the Phoenix Lightning Sect, not the Wu family’s domain.

Wu Kun looked down, terrified. He did not even dare to breathe too loudly.

Yun Mengxi also turned slightly pale, and she took a long look at Wu Kun.

Li Guanqi’s face darkened at Wu Kun’s words. He knew how skilled Cang Lu was at concealing his aura. Without his own powerful divine consciousness, even he would never have noticed.

However, the elder had spoken as if Cang Lu were a chicken that thought of itself as a phoenix. Li Guanqi couldn’t understand why Cang Lu chose not to reveal his incredible strength and talent. If he displayed his true strength now, it would be a slap across the elder’s face.

This so-called subordinate of a minor faction was already at mid Golden Core Realm, while a sect elder’s personal disciple—lavished with the best resources—had only just stepped into the Golden Core Realm. The gap was obvious. But Cang Lu clearly had no intention of showing his hand. Perhaps… he didn’t want something so shallow to sway Yun Mengxi’s heart.

After all, what he felt for Yun Mengxi was genuine. He liked the barefaced Yun Mengxi, who smiled even when he gave her wildflowers. Now, in silence, he gathered each torn fragment of the contract from the floor.

When he reached for the scraps beneath Yun Mengxi’s feet, she looked at him with a complicated mix of emotions. When she saw Wu Kun’s malicious gaze, she even felt furious.

Cang Lu waited for her to take a step, as she was still standing on a few more pieces of the marriage contract.

When Cang Lu had shoved the spirit stones aside, she had felt a pang of guilt, as if she had done something wrong. She was only seeking security in a wealthy family—was that truly so wrong?

But here he was, on his knees before her, gathering the pieces of their marriage contract without a shred of dignity.

Shame and anger welled inside her. It was as though he had seen through her entirely, exposing her lack of self-respect.

Her face hardened, a flash of ruthless resolve flickering in her eyes. She raised her hand to slap him.

Boom!

A crushing aura erupted, and Li Guanqi strode through the doors, his face cold. His sudden arrival stunned everyone.

The weight of his aura bore down on Yun Mengxi, forcing her to her knees. Wu Kun fared no better, smashing to the ground, chair and all, unable even to lift his head.

Cang Lu looked up to see Li Guanqi’s form silhouetted against the blazing sun. He could only see a tall and slender figure slowly walking inside.

Tang Jing lowered her head and hissed through a voice transmission, saying, “What are you doing? Sect Master Chu Xingxian is still here! Have you lost your mind?!”

Wu Kun had no idea what was happening. One moment he had been watching gleefully, and the next he was pinned to the ground. His head had cracked the tiles, breaking his nose, splitting his lips, and knocking out his front teeth.

He struggled with all his might to lift his gaze and see who it was, but he simply couldn’t.

The elder shot to his feet and bellowed, “Who are you? How dare you trespass into the Administrative Pavilion?! Guards, get him!”

Li Guanqi shot the elder a glance, then raised his hand. Wu Kun floated helplessly into the air.

At last, Wu Kun caught sight of Li Guanqi’s face. His eyes widened in horror. “It’s… it’s you! You’re that guy!”

His gaze was full of dread. He feared Li Guanqi would expose everything.

But before he could speak again, Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes and pressed his palm downward.

Boom!

Wu Kun slammed into the floor, gouging a crater a full zhang across. He shrieked in pain, the impact shattering most of his ribs.

Sixth Elder Ning Gang was enraged by the brazen display. He rose to intervene, only to be pinned in place by an overwhelming force.

Chu Xingxian looked at him coldly and said softly, “Sit down.”

Li Guanqi stepped between Cang Lu and Yun Mengxi. She looked up at him, terrified, recalling the man she had glimpsed at the inn.

He glanced at Cang Lu, who was squatting on the ground, then turned his gaze toward Yun Mengxi.

Thud.

She took a step back instinctively.

Li Guanqi could crush Wu Kun without lifting a finger. He had to be a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

His gaze felt piercing, and he knew the secret she shared with Wu Kun.

In the end, he merely said solemnly, “You can refuse the proposal, but love is not something to be mocked. You are not worthy of him.”