Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Li Guanqi’s brow tightened. His heart sank. He hadn’t expected Ye Feng to end up in another territory after they parted.

An ancient ruin… I really wonder how Ye Feng’s doing.

And what is Cao Yan’s real identity? Even the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion can’t track him down.

Soon, he calmed down. There wasn’t much information to go on, but no news was still the best news he could hope for.

After some thought, he appeared in his master’s courtyard.

Yu Sui’an was snoring on a reclining chair. The sight made him smile.

Li Nanting grinned upon seeing him. “Boy, that guqin piece from Jade Teapot Peak echoed throughout the whole sect.”

Li Guanqi scratched his head, unsure how to respond.

Li Nanting lit his pipe and started puffing. Smoke curled around him as he looked at Li Guanqi with a complicated mix of emotions. “Sometimes it’s better to play dumb. That girl’s a good one. Don’t waste her time.”

There was a hint of memory in his tone.Li Guanqi sat on the steps and leaned back a little. He pulled the wine gourd from his waist, downed a mouthful, and squeezed his eyes shut.

“I don’t feel anything toward her,” he said quietly. “I didn’t dare lead her on.”

Li Nanting’s eyes flicked toward him. He pursed his lips. “Your standards are high, kid. I wonder what sort of prodigy you’ll fall for.”

Li Guanqi smiled without answering. The girl in his heart wasn’t a prodigy. She was just the prettiest girl in her village.

He passed Li Nanting a special jade slip with powerful energy rippling within. “This is for Little Bao, for protection. And don’t be stingy with your own. I’ve made a few more for you.”

He passed Li Nanting five more jade slips. He would’ve made more if he could, but jade slips sturdy enough to endure his power were too rare. For all the enemies he’d killed, he had only found a handful.

Li Nanting frowned. He glanced around, then spoke through a voice transmission. “Didn’t you already check Cang Lu? You said you found nothing wrong. That kid’s gifted and has been improving fast. Even the Sect Master has been giving him extra resources.”

Li Guanqi nodded. “I didn’t find anything, but it’s best to stay cautious.”

Li Nanting stayed quiet. He put the jade slips away and studied Li Guanqi. Something had clicked for him. “When are you leaving?”

Li Guanqi paused and lowered his eyes. “I’ll stay a few more days and give a few more lectures. Three to five days, probably.”

Li Nanting bit ‌his pipe stem. The tobacco had gone out. He thought about lighting it again, but he gave up on the idea. He knocked the ash from his pipe. “It was bound to happen. Be careful out there.”

Over the next few days, Li Guanqi taught without rest. Inner and outer sect disciples, elders, ceremonial elders… everyone attended. The opportunity to learn from someone of his standing and cultivation was a rare privilege.

Yu Sui’an spent two whole days with him, propping her chin in her hands as she watched him closely. She’d grown harder to fool. From the first day, she guessed that he might leave, yet she never asked him to stay. She simply watched him quietly.

After his final lecture ended, the disciples rose to their feet. A sea of white-robed figures bowed together. “Thank you for your teachings, Elder Li!”

Their shout shook the heavens. Li Guanqi straightened his robes and bowed back. “One day, the burden of guiding the Daxia Sword Sect to glory will fall to you. The path ahead is long and difficult. Do your best. I wish each of you a smooth path to immortality.”

That night, his courtyard filled with people. Lu Kangnian, Qin Xian, and even Ling Daoyan from Heavenly Pillar Peak had come to see him off. They drank and laughed late into the night.

The next morning, Li Guanqi left quietly. As he flew across the sky, he felt a wave of emotion. He looked back at the sect and released a wisp of sword qi that lingered on Jade Teapot Peak. The purple lightning hovered in mid-air, powerful enough to kill a cultivator at the peak of the early Divine Transformation Realm. A parting gift for the sect.

Li Guanqi flew with his hands behind his back. He felt different compared with his previous departure. He looked to the distant horizon, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He looked at the map of the Northern Territory, confirmed the direction, and headed out. This time, he had a destination: Ye Feng’s home.

Ye Feng hadn’t returned in a long time, and he was out of contact in some ancient ruin. Since Li Guanqi was back, he decided to check on Ye Feng’s family. He vaguely remembered the location of the Qiongtai Mountain Residence. It wasn’t far.

Whoosh!

The clouds overhead split cleanly, as if sliced by a blade. A gust swept through, but when people looked up, they saw nothing except a flicker of purple light.

Li Guanqi didn’t dare let Nine Heavens out. It liked to sleep, so he let it sleep.

As for Sword Spirit… he couldn’t sense her at all. Whatever she was doing with the bone sword had to be important.

Two hours later, a mist-shrouded mountain range came into view, rich with spirit qi. Rows of buildings soon appeared.

Li Guanqi smiled. He scanned the area with his divine consciousness and found that the Qiongtai Mountain Residence was bustling with activity.

A young man in brocade robes shot into the air, eyeing him cautiously. “This is Qiongtai Mountain Residence. May I know your business here, Fellow Daoist?”

Li Guanqi smiled and gave him a polite fist salute. “I’m Li Guanqi. Ye Feng is my good friend, and I’m here to meet Patriarch Ye.”

The youth’s eyes widened, finally noticing Li Guanqi’s pure white eyes and overwhelming aura. His expression brightened, and he bowed quickly. “I’m Ye Kang. An honor to meet you, Elder Li! I only asked because of protocol. Please don’t mind me. This way, please.”

As he guided Li Guanqi inward, he sent a message to notify the patriarch. Before they even reached the entrance, a dozen figures rose into the sky to greet him. At their head was Ye Feng’s father, Ye Tianying. Joy lit his face as he laughed. “Hahahaha! Nephew, what brings you here? I heard you’d returned and wanted to visit you, but I wasn’t sure it’d be appropriate.”