Will She Become Bingqi?

Li Guanqi and Meng Wanshu traveled through the void, departing the Ethereal Immortal Domain ahead of the others. Yet the ripples stirred by their deeds were far from over. When Dugu Chongming finally arrived home, he saw that solitary old man. Upon learning everything that had transpired, this first-generation Sword Leader of the Eight Generals took up his sword and marched north! Clad in purple robes, the gaunt elder stepped onto the Beiming Glacier all by himself. Within the Xuan clan's estate, in the wake of Xuan Zhen's death, nearly every expert of the Northern Faction had been slaughtered to the last by Xuan Zhèn alone. Xuan Zhèn stared blankly, eyes hollow, helpless before the radiant light sealed by the power of Spirit Absolution in his palm. He had exhausted every method he knew, yet the sealing red threads remained completely unchanged. As for his daughter, Xuan Ji, not even an intact corpse could be pieced together... Grief spread uncontrollably through his heart. After preparing for so long, in the end it was far worse than drawing water with a wicker basket—instead, he had only compounded his losses. Despair, remorse, regret, and all manner of complex emotions consumed him. Perched upon the freezing throne, Xuan Zhèn shattered the seat beneath him with his fists. Every muscle in his body strained as he threw his head back and howled, "Aaargh—!" He collapsed to his knees in the great hall. In one hand was the remnant cultivation manual he could only stare at helplessly, while in the other lay only the mangled remains of his daughter. In that instant, Xuan Zhèn suddenly had no idea what meaning remained in staying alive. Just then, the earth across the entire Xuan clan territory violently shook. A ceaseless roar, like colossal weights crashing down, echoed without end. It turned out the inscribed glacier marking the entrance to the Xuan clan's territory had been cleaved to pieces! Dugu Lingxiao's figure was slightly stooped, and his thin garments made one wonder whether the old man could withstand the astral wind. Yet in the midst of this swirling blizzard, he strolled with effortless ease. The rushing snow parted around him of its own accord. A razor-sharp sword intent slowly diffused outward. Above the Xuan clan, an aged voice resounded: "Dugu Lingxiao, come to collect a debt." The old man's voice was not loud, yet amidst the howling winds of this glacial land, it was clear enough for anyone to hear. A day later, Li Guanqi, who had already returned to the Shenbao Domain, suddenly furrowed his brow. Retrieving an ancient jade slip from his storage ring, a look of understanding crossed his face as an old man's slightly weary voice sounded from within: "Little fellow, this old man owes you a favor." Li Guanqi set down the jade slip, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward. This, too, had been within his expectations. From his understanding and impressions of the Eight Generals, anyone who could become one of them was bound to be decisive and ruthless. Dugu Chongming's ordeal would certainly send that senior into a fury. As he put away the jade slip, Meng Wanshu merely glanced at him without asking any questions. Upon returning to the Shenbao Domain, Meng Wanshu had immediately sent word to her parents to let them know she was safe. Meng Jiangchu, knowing the two were unharmed, was put at ease and did not press them to rush back. As for the events in the Ethereal Immortal Domain, he had naturally heard of them, but saw no fault in their actions. Had he been there himself, his wrath would have demanded no less an answer from the Xuan clan! Li Guanqi produced a jade pendant and said softly, "What is the current status on tracking down the Heavenly Demon Hall?" Soon, Yu Hua's voice came through the jade: "Reporting to the Pavilion Master, the Heavenly Demon Hall keeps a low profile and leaves almost no traces behind after their killings. As of now, we only have some regional conjectures." Li Guanqi frowned and said in a grave voice, "I don't want to hear answers with this much uncertainty again! The utmost priority of Guanyun Pavilion right now is finding Ye Feng! Beyond that, I am willing to sacrifice everything Guanyun Pavilion has! Absolutely everything! Do you understand?" Silence lingered on Yu Hua's end for a good while before she answered solemnly, "Understood." Putting away the jade pendant, Li Guanqi closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. Meng Wanshu murmured, "Don't rush. Panicking won't help right now." Li Guanqi smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I know, but how could I not worry...?" Opening his eyes, a sharp light flickered within his gaze as he spoke in a low, heavy voice. "So many years have passed without a single shred of news. How could I not be anxious?" Li Guanqi then swept his divine sense over the jade pendant, committing the marked locations on the map to memory. Fixing his gaze in one direction, he sped off with Meng Wanshu at his side. Along the way, Meng Wanshu said softly, "No news is good news. At least it proves he is still alive." Li Guanqi frowned slightly and cast a deep look at the woman beside him. Seeming to notice his gaze, Meng Wanshu smiled and asked, "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?" As she spoke, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. That subtle frown made Li Guanqi's heart skip a beat. It was a subconscious reaction, proving she truly did not think she had said anything off. In a calm voice, Li Guanqi said, "You're right." Meng Wanshu's brow furrowed even deeper. "Then why did you look at me like that?" Li Guanqi drew a deep breath, a faint smile surfacing on his face. "Nothing." The two lapsed into silence, both clearly weighed down by their own thoughts. When night fell, Li Guanqi did not press on in a hurry. Instead, he led Meng Wanshu to the bank of a small stream amidst the mountains to rest. He needed to sort through the intelligence Guanyun Pavilion had gathered on the Heavenly Demon Hall. *Crack, pop!* The flames danced upon the campfire. Sitting opposite each other, Li Guanqi reviewed Yu Hua's messages while turning the roasted fish in his hand. Once it was cooked, he sprinkled some seasoning over it and naturally held it out to her. Yet after waiting for a long time, no one took it. Li Guanqi looked over and found that Meng Wanshu had gone to sit on a boulder by the river at some point, staring blankly up at the sky. Seeing her so lost in thought, Li Guanqi felt an indescribable emotion stir within him. *Why does she... feel a bit different?* "Naturally," the sword spirit's calm voice sounded slowly. "Did you think accepting the inheritance of a Realm Lord would be so simple? Hah, in my eyes, the fact that she can still maintain her own sense of self is already quite remarkable." Li Guanqi's brow furrowed tightly as he asked inwardly, "So... does a remnant soul of Realm Lord Bingqi dwell within the inheritance?" The sword spirit shook her head. She did not know how Realm Lord Bingqi had died. "No, it wouldn't be a remnant soul. If a remnant soul were inside the inheritance, the one standing there wouldn't be her anymore—it would be Realm Lord Bingqi. But the power transferred from Realm Lord Bingqi is simply too immense; otherwise, it wouldn't have allowed her to break through to the mid-Mahayana realm. Therefore, it is bound to carry many of Bingqi's past memories and experiences. Those memories will subtly alter who she is." A trace of worry flashed across Li Guanqi's eyes, and he asked in a heavy voice, "Then will she... turn into a different person?" Within the sword coffin, the sword spirit shrugged. Hands clasped behind her back, she murmured in a voice only she could hear, "Who knows?"