Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Lightning surged around Li Guanqi, his aura spiking to its peak. He gripped the Yanluo Sword in both hands and slashed down at the black-robed figure.

Boom!

“Blood Shura!”

Boom!

The raging lightning seemed to take on a coat of blood. Li Guanqi looked as though he stood atop a mountain of corpses, bringing his sword down upon the heavens.

The mysterious man’s eyelid twitched. Facing the lightning sword steeped in that sea-of-blood illusion, he let out a cold snort and slashed out with his own blade. A surging sword light roared forward, and the two clashed.

Boom!

The explosion was deafening. Tens of li away, Gu Li’s face went pale, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body hurled backward as if struck by a heavy blow. An instant later, he saw a sky full of sword light shatter Li Guanqi’s strike.

Just as that sword light was about to engulf Li Guanqi, Gu Li gritted his teeth and slapped a special talisman onto himself. At the same time, an inconspicuous talisman on Li Guanqi’s back flared, and a cold sensation surged up his spine to the top of his head.

Li Guanqi twisted his head toward the distant void. “Gu Li!”Whoosh!

The sword light before him vanished, and the next moment, he stood tens of li away, exactly where Gu Li had been. The two had swapped places in a flash of lightning.

Li Guanqi had no time to think. Explosions roared one after another as he drove his speed to the absolute limit, the void collapsing behind him in a trail that pierced through space like an arrow.

By the time he arrived, the mysterious figure had already vanished. Burning talisman fragments filled the sky like cherry blossoms swept away by the wind.

In the spot where Li Guanqi had stood was a man drenched in blood. Blood ran down the man’s forehead, blurring his vision. His once-elegant robe hung in tatters, and large patches of his flesh had been sliced from his body.

“Gu Li! Are you alright?!”

Li Guanqi rushed to Gu Li’s side. Gu Li’s aura was faint, and there was no time to think; Li Guanqi scooped him up and sped toward the Daxia Territory.

Meanwhile, in the Ethereal Immortal Territory, Zhao Zongcheng’s expression darkened. A cracked soul lamp, long since extinguished, now leaked faint wisps of green smoke. The old man’s hands shook as he lifted his head and fixed Meng Jiangchu and Gu Changsheng with a bloodshot glare.

Zhao Zongcheng forced down his grief and reached out with one hand. The wisps of smoke condensed, taking on the silhouettes of Li Guanqi and Gu Li.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, and the ensuing uproar nearly overturned the venue.

“I’ve long heard the Yanluo Sword Sovereign is narrow-minded and merciless, that he never leaves survivors. I didn’t think it was actually true!”

“That’s right. Even here in the Ethereal Immortal Territory, people have heard of Li Guanqi slaughtering whole families.”

“Hmph, a man this petty and vengeful is truly rare. He seized the opportunity and killed him the moment he left.”

The heated discussion showed no signs of dying down. Zhao Zongcheng looked coldly at Meng Jiangchu and Gu Changsheng before speaking in a harsh tone. “What else do you have to say? My grandson was murdered, and the soul smoke clearly points to Li Guanqi and Gu Li!”

Gu Changsheng frowned deeply. He had no idea what had happened, but he refused to believe Gu Li or Li Guanqi would commit such a murder.

Meng Jiangchu stayed calm, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. “Soul smoke isn’t everything. If I wanted to kill someone, I could pin it on a hundred different people. We still don’t know how Zhao Bin died. The best course is to bring those two back first.”

Zhao Zongcheng’s temper flared, and his oppressive aura surged forth uncontrollably. “Meng Jiangchu, you’re talking nonsense! The proof is right in front of you, yet you’re still defending Li Guanqi! He killed my grandson to settle an old grudge. After Zhao Bin was expelled from the Ethereal Immortal Territory, Li Guanqi cut him down on his way back, and now you’re standing here twisting the truth!”

At his words, many began to nod. They had all watched Zhao Bin get thrown out of the Ethereal Immortal Territory earlier. Li Guanqi had left the auction halfway, and Zhao Bin had died soon after.

More importantly, the soul lamp showed Li Guanqi and Gu Li. To many, that already looked like ironclad proof, and Meng Jiangchu, Territory Lord of the Divine Treasure Territory, was plainly shielding him.

“Hah, as expected of him. Even with evidence this solid, he still covers for his son-in-law.”

“Of course he does. For a son-in-law that gifted, I’d do the same.”

“Still, this won’t end easily. Zhao Zongcheng may not even care much for Zhao Bin, but with an opening like this, he won’t let it pass without making someone pay.”

“Brother Li, your analysis makes perfect sense, haha. That old man looks so heartbroken that even I’m starting to believe him.”

“This is too exciting. With something this big happening, the auction probably can’t continue anymore.”

The woman on the stage, Ru Meng, clearly wasn’t facing this kind of situation for the first time. She said softly, “Since so grave an incident has occurred, I’m afraid none of you are in the mood to continue. We’ll take a two-hour break. The auction house has resting rooms prepared for all honored guests, along with spirit fruits and spirit tea. Please, make yourselves at home.”

***

At the Qin King’s Manor, Qin Wushang lowered his eyes to the wine cup in his hand.

Crack!

The cup shattered. The icy aura made the maid in the room tremble slightly, her head bowed, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Qin Wushang slowly stood up, took out a handkerchief, and wiped his hands. When he finished, he tossed the expensive cloth onto the floor. “Look into it.”

His figure twisted, and he vanished. He crushed a silver-white scroll, clasped his hands behind his back, and stepped into a silver light curtain. When he appeared again, he stood in the southern region of the Ethereal Immortal Territory.

Beast’s roars echoed across the layered mountains. Beneath the clouds, the ranges hid countless powerful exotic beasts. Qin Wushang crossed a thousand zhang with every step, and wherever he passed, the mountains fell silent.

After a while, a gate a hundred zhang tall rose before him. Nine soaring jiao dragons were carved into its surface, so lifelike they seemed ready to leap free. Their serpentine eyes, with dark-gold irises, slowly shifted.

Qin Wushang frowned. He raised a hand, and dozens of sword lights shot out.

Boom, boom, boom!

The eyes of the nine carved dragons were pierced through.

The commotion drew the experts of the Nine Dragon Immortal Sect. But when the furious elder saw that the intruder was Qin Wushang, he swallowed his anger and bowed. “Young Master Qin, what brings you here?”

Qin Wushang remained calm. He raised his head a fraction and looked at the elder. “I’m here for Ye Bingxin.”

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