Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman

Qinhuang City’s grand, imposing architecture had even Meng Wanshu nodding in approval. The buildings stood in perfect order, and every street was spotlessly clean.

As the three made their way through the city, everyone stopped to watch. The black-armored guards followed several paces behind, maintaining a respectful distance.

Qin Wushang’s authority as crown prince was on full display. Regardless of their cultivation level, anyone who caught sight of him had to descend and bow from a hundred zhang away.

Qin Wushang didn’t spare them a glance, continuing his casual chat with Li Guanqi.

A thought seemed to occur to Li Guanqi, and a faint smile crossed his face. “I think I know who’s waiting for me.”

Qin Wushang stared at him. “You guessed? No way… I only just found out myself.”

Li Guanqi merely gave him an enigmatic smile and said nothing.

Qin Wushang pursed his lips. “Your comprehension speed is downright absurd. Still… you shouldn’t put off your spirit comprehension for too long. It’ll hold you back.”

Li Guanqi frowned slightly and nodded. “Mm. Once I’ve dealt with the matters at hand, I plan to enter seclusion for a while.”

Qin Wushang nodded, then took out a jade slip and sent a message. “Go to the clan and wait for me.”Soon after, the three arrived at the city lord’s estate. The enormous grounds sprawled across dozens of li, practically a world unto itself.

Beyond the solemn, imposing buildings lay pavilions, small bridges, and flowing streams. The spirit qi was so dense it pooled around their ankles.

Even the ground tiles were carved from large mid-grade spirit stones. The white, jade-like tiles glowed faintly, each one capable of sustaining itself for ten years.

The entire residence exuded majesty. Everyone they passed wore robes embroidered with the Qin clan’s insignia in gold thread, and all who saw Qin Wushang treated him with the utmost respect.

Qin Wushang led the two of them to his private palace. The moment they entered the hall, they saw an azure-robed swordsman sitting in a chair, his expression dark and solemn.

A faint smile touched Li Guanqi’s lips. Just as he had expected, it was Nangong Xuandu.

Unable to reach Xiang Huaizhi, Nangong Xuandu naturally tried to find out Li Guanqi’s whereabouts through the Gu clan. Once he learned Li Guanqi had come to the Ethereal Immortal Territory, finding Qin Wushang was only a matter of time.

Qin Wushang had been watching Li Guanqi’s reaction the whole time, and that unruffled calm made him purse his lips again. “You guessed this too?”

Nangong Xuandu looked at Li Guanqi and said coldly, “Where is Xiang Huaizhi?”

Li Guanqi couldn’t help but chuckle at the anger in his voice. “He should still be at the Gu clan residence.”

Then Li Guanqi remembered Peng Luo and added quickly, “Ah, Brother Qin, a supernatural being will be arriving shortly. Have someone guide him in.”

The words had barely left his mouth when a radish-like head poked out of thin air.

“Guide who?” Qin Wushang’s eyes narrowed with interest as he watched Peng Luo emerge from the void.

Peng Luo braced his hands against the void’s edge and hauled himself out, only to dive right back in. After some rummaging, he dragged Li Zixuan out.

Nangong Xuandu licked his lips when he saw that Peng Luo had already reached tier seven.

Li Zixuan remained in his true form. Peng Luo had forbidden him from assuming human form, insisting, “Your old man hasn’t transformed yet, so you’re not allowed to either.”

Li Zixuan bowed awkwardly to everyone while Peng Luo waved a hand nonchalantly. “Oh, come on, why all the formality? We’re all old friends, aren’t we? Right, Senior Nangong?”

Nangong Xuandu smiled faintly. “I failed to brew you into wine last time. Now… It’s about time.”

He unhooked the wine gourd from his waist, pulled the stopper, and reached for Peng Luo.

Peng Luo’s eyes went wide, and he clutched Li Guanqi’s leg. “Senior, don’t joke like that! I’ll offer tribute, okay? Just don’t brew me into wine! What if I can’t hold my pee and end up ruining your spirit wine?”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Peng Luo knew what was expected of him. He offered up a small piece of himself and plucked two green leaves from his head, and Li Zixuan broke off a piece as well.

Nangong Xuandu accepted their offerings, then drew a jade bottle from his robes and handed it to Li Zixuan. “Some spirit elixirs I obtained in my early years. They’ll do you good. Grow well.”

Li Zixuan stared blankly at the bottle, still unsure what was happening, when Peng Luo suddenly shoved his head down.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Peng Luo grabbed Li Zixuan by the head and forced him to kowtow repeatedly. “Ah! How embarrassing! Hurry up and thank Senior Nangong!”

When that was done, Li Guanqi raised his hand and sent Peng Luo and Li Zixuan into the sword coffin space.

But before he could say another word, both came flying back out, clutching their backsides.

Peng Luo stared at Li Guanqi in shock and sent a pained voice transmission. “Why did you provoke her! Why! Ow…”

With no other choice, Peng Luo dragged Li Zixuan back into the void.

Qin Wushang smiled. “What an interesting little fellow.”

His gaze drifted to Nine Heavens, the true dragon coiled around Li Guanqi’s wrist, and a trace of envy crossed his face. After admiring the dragon for a moment, Qin Wushang got straight to the point. “All right, let’s talk. You came to see me because of the problems with your soul, didn’t you?”

Nangong Xuandu cut in, looking at Li Guanqi. “Are you sure it was people from the Lu clan and the Zhu clan back then?”

Li Guanqi shook his head, his voice grave. “I only saw that the two cloud boats resembled the Zhu clan’s cloud boats, but the designs weren’t identical. I can’t be certain.”

The moment he finished speaking, Nangong Xuandu rose with a cold laugh. “No need for proof. The resemblance is enough.”

With that, he strode toward the doors. At the threshold, he paused and glanced back. “Tell Xiang Huaizhi that if he breathes a word of this, he’s a dead man!”

Nangong Xuandu practically ground the words out through gritted teeth. Li Guanqi could only smile awkwardly. “Alright, alright. Don’t worry, Senior Nangong.”

Nangong Xuandu turned to Qin Wushang. “Wushang, see to Guanqi’s affairs. Help him however you can.”

Qin Wushang rose and bowed. “Understood. Rest assured.”

That confirmed Li Guanqi’s suspicions. Qin Wushang truly was a candidate to become one of the Eight Generals.

Li Guanqi’s eyes narrowed. “Are there many other candidates?”

Qin Wushang took a sip of tea and smiled. “Each of the Eight Generals has only one corresponding candidate. I’m just one of them. Eight of us in all.”

Li Guanqi nodded slowly. No wonder Qin Wushang had said “we” when they first met.

A knock sounded at the door.

Qin Wushang raised a hand. “Come in.”

The doors slowly opened, and a graceful woman in a form-fitting black dress walked in. It was Ru Meng, the auctioneer of Qinhuang City’s auction house.

Li Guanqi frowned, wondering why Qin Wushang had summoned her.