Although he had taught Li Guanqi a great deal on ordinary days, he knew very well in his heart that what he had imparted could never account for Li Guanqi reaching his current level.
His present strength even gave Li Nanting the surreal feeling of being excessively powerful!
"If he takes part in the Hundred Sects Tournament, he might truly lead the Great Xia Sword Sect to an unprecedented standing!!"
Yet regarding Li Guanqi's current circumstances, Li Nanting did not intend to pry too deeply.
After all, once one stepped onto the path of cultivation, even a Qi Refinement cultivator could stumble upon heaven-defying opportunities.
Furthermore, toward Li Guanqi's grandfather whom he had never met, he had always harbored an inexplicable sense of awe.
He did not believe that mysterious old man had left Li Guanqi without any fortune.
When Li Guanqi returned to Yuhu Peak, he swept down from the sky and landed within the spirit-gathering array.
After activating the formation, he laid his longsword across his knees.
Li Guanqi closed his eyes, focused his mind, and entered a state of cultivation, slipping almost instantly into an incomparably ethereal state.
Scene after scene of the earlier battle against the two elders began flashing repeatedly across his mind.
Absorbed in watching the imagery, Li Guanqi furrowed his brows, contemplating the gains and losses of the fight.
Meanwhile, the figure of the sword spirit slowly materialized from the sword casket. Looking at the spirit qi constantly undulating around the youth, admiration flickered in its eyes.
"As expected of an Ethereal Dao Body... Such comprehension is monstrous.
"And this is only with nine spiritual runes shattered. If he fully unlocks the first seal later, the quality of his golden core during Core Formation will likely be extraordinarily high."
Watching the youth cultivate diligently, a glint of complex emotion flickered in the sword spirit's eyes.
Yet in the end, it let out a soft sigh, as if still undecided, and its figure dissolved into specks of spiritual light, returning into the sword casket.
When Li Guanqi opened his eyes again, night had already fallen.
However, he discovered a slip of paper left on the wooden door of his cabin:
"Waiting for you at Daqian Waterfall."
The handwriting was unmistakably Ye Feng's. Looking up, Li Guanqi indeed saw no sign of Ye Feng on the peak he had chosen for cultivation.
Tossing out his flying sword, Li Guanqi leaped onto Canglang and shot through the air.
As the wind howled like a tiger in his ears, Li Guanqi slowly released a barrier of pale purple spiritual energy to shield himself.
Instantly, the howling wind was sealed outside the barrier, and his speed increased a fraction more.
Flying past the layered, craggy peaks, the moisture in the air grew steadily heavier.
A faint rumbling soon reached his ears, sounding distinctly like surging water.
Maneuvering his flying sword to turn around, Li Guanqi caught sight of a precipitous cliff four to five hundred zhang tall.
The rushing torrent of the waterfall poured down like the Heavenly River, shimmering faintly under the moonlight.
Yet even here, many disciples of the Great Xia Sword Sect were engaged in arduous cultivation.
Some figures climbed relentlessly against the pounding cascade; others practiced swordcraft amid the raging currents at the very foot of the falls.
Beneath the waterfall, two rocky platforms protruding about a zhang could be faintly seen.
These jutting ledges were clearly engineered deliberately by the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Ye Feng and the others were right among them on the uppermost platform nearest the crest of the waterfall, struggling to hold horse stances with swords in hand.
Seeing Li Guanqi arrive, the group leaped out from under the waterfall.
Ye Feng and his companions staggered over to a nearby boulder and collapsed onto the ground.
Looking at their exhausted faces and raw, red backs, Li Guanqi couldn't help asking, "What are you guys doing?"
Ye Feng lay limp on the ground, saying feebly, "We just saw so many people over here, so we figured we'd give it a shot.
"Against the relentless pounding of the waterfall, we can't even hold our swords steady..."
Li Guanqi had never been to Daqian Waterfall before, but quite a few senior sect brothers recognized him and called out greetings.
One of them poked his head out from the cliff face beneath the waterfall and shouted, "Haha, Junior Brother Li has come to Daqian Waterfall too?
"Care to give it a try?"
At these words, many senior brothers training around the surrounding peaks began to chime in and clamor.
"Haha, come on, Junior Brother Li, try it out and see if you can withstand the pounding!"
However, several senior sisters from Tianshui Peak meditating nearby scolded them.
"You're all harboring bad intentions! Junior Brother Li, don't listen to them—cultivate as you see fit."
Li Guanqi swept his divine sense lightly across the area and spotted at least a dozen senior and junior sisters from Tianshui Peak scattered around the peaks.
Because the moisture near the waterfall was extraordinarily thick, it was best not to use origin energy to erect a barrier isolating oneself from heaven and earth once in a state of cultivation.
Consequently, their sect robes clung tightly to their bodies, accentuating their shapely curves.
On the surface, Li Guanqi stared blankly ahead, saying, "This junior brother thanks all the senior sisters for your concern."
Yet inwardly, he muttered, *Sometimes, being blind is pretty great...*
*I've been in the sect for nearly a year, yet I've never come here once! Unacceptable! Totally unacceptable!*
However, Li Guanqi failed to notice that at the very top of the waterfall, upon an overgrown cliff face, an unkempt, disheveled man was staring down at him.
Seeing his blank, vacant gaze, the man tilted his head back, took a swig of liquor, scratched his back, and muttered:
"Damn it, isn't that just 'blind in the eyes, but sharp in the mind'?... That brat's mind's eye sees clearer than mine!
"Little bastard..."
Beside Li Guanqi's feet, Lin Dong saw the eager look on Li Guanqi's face and advised, "Guanqi, if you want to try, I'd suggest you start with the highest platform to adjust."
The others also grew interested, all wanting to see whether Li Guanqi could withstand the pounding of the waterfall.
Li Guanqi smiled faintly, looked around, and laughed aloud.
"Senior brothers, if you want me to go up and make a fool of myself, shouldn't there at least be some stakes?
"This junior brother will be the house—care to place some bets?"
At this, the crowd erupted in good-natured laughter and scolding.
Yet amid the commotion, Ye Feng scrambled up and grabbed Li Guanqi's arm.
With unwavering determination in his eyes, he said, "Old Li, I have absolute faith in your strength!"
With that, he shoved a storage bag into Li Guanqi's hands and gripped them tightly.
With an expression of utter trust, Ye Feng said solemnly, "Second tier, ten breaths! Two hundred stones!"
Noticing Li Guanqi's darkened face, Ye Feng couldn't help adding in a hushed tone, "That's really all I have left, or I'd have bet more..."
This brought a roar of laughter from everyone around. Li Guanqi's face darkened further, and he stepped on Ye Feng's face, snapping irritably, "You were born without gambling luck!"
A disciple from Tianjin Peak chuckled and said, "Tsk, tsk, Junior Brother Li is truly shrewd! The Sect Master gave you so many merit points, and you still want to fleece us!
"I could hear you clacking that abacus all the way from inside my blankets! Come on, put me down for ten stones—third tier, fifteen breaths!"
Following that, shouts of wagers rang out one after another.
Even a senior sister from Tianshui Peak on the mountain tossed down some spirit stones with a soft laugh. "Count me in for some fun then. The lowest tier, three breaths, fifty stones.
"By the way, my name is Lin Qingyu. Remember it so you know who to pay later."
The woman possessed a voluptuous, graceful figure—looking down, she couldn't even see the tips of her toes—and her delicate features were as refreshing as clear spring water.
Li Guanqi raised an eyebrow, surprised that Lin Qingyu had placed the largest bet of all!
Beside him, Zhong Lin spoke softly: "The previous cohort's favored daughter of Tianshui Peak, Lin Qingyu. It seems she'll also be taking part in the Hundred Sects Tournament."
Chapter 112