Hearing this, Lu Yong carefully put the inscribed talisman away; this was clearly not the time or place to use it directly.
A flicker of envy crossed both Fu Yin's and Cui Xian's eyes.
With their level of strength, they could naturally tell just how precious that talisman was.
Even the most supreme talisman master of the Mahayana realm likely lacked the ability to craft a talisman like that!
As for Li Guanqi's claim about helping Lu Yong break through to the Mahayana realm, neither of them doubted its truth for a second.
Truth be told, Cui Xian and Fu Yin had been renowned Mahayana experts for ages.
Yet when facing Li Guanqi, both felt the strange illusion that they were standing before an ancient monster of cultivation.
Even though all three were considered Mahayana cultivators—with Cui Xian being in the mid Mahayana realm—the faint, elusive pressure radiating from Li Guanqi made them feel as though they were facing an ancient fiend of the Tribulation Transcendence realm.
Though he sat right in front of them, whenever they tried to probe his aura, it felt as if their senses were plunging into a bottomless abyss!
His aura was simply terrifying...
Li Guanqi noticed their probing senses as well, but merely smiled and paid it no mind.
In his current state... even he felt he was frightfully strong.
After three rounds of wine, Fu Yin exchanged a glance with Cui Xian, gently raised his cup, and inquired softly, "Sword Venerable, could you perhaps share some information regarding the Seventh Domain with us?"
Cui Xian raised his cup as well, looking toward Li Guanqi with a solemn expression.
A thirst for knowledge showed in his eyes too.
At their stage, if they could not find greater resources, making further progress became extraordinarily difficult.
Li Guanqi looked at the two of them. Li Congxin continued sipping his wine, making no move to interject or speak on their behalf.
Friendship was friendship, but business was business.
Li Congxin would never exploit his status or unique situation to ask Li Guanqi for favors. Whatever Li Guanqi did was entirely his own choice and freedom.
Li Congxin knew his boundaries well.
Li Guanqi glanced at him, then set down his cup and spoke softly.
"The Seventh Domain... isn't a place you two can enter yet..."
Cui Xian frowned. "Sword Venerable, why is that? While our cultivation may not be at the very apex, our strength is certainly respectable."
Fu Yin felt the same; he hardly considered his prowess inferior to anyone else's!
Li Guanqi sighed helplessly and said gently, "You must have visited the Misty Immortal Domain quite a few times by now, haven't you?"
Both men nodded in succession, not knowing why he brought this up.
Li Guanqi continued, "Then you ought to know about the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect in the Misty Immortal Domain, right?"
Fu Yin knitted his brows and replied in a deep voice, "Of course. The Nine Dragons Immortal Sect is such a mighty sect, famed throughout the lands. In the Six Domains today, hardly anyone hasn't heard of them... Sword Venerable, what do you mean by this?"
Li Guanqi looked at them.
"The Sect Master of the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect, Ye Xuan, can at best be considered a lower-middle echelon powerhouse in the Seventh Domain. How do you two think you compare to him?"
The moment those words were spoken, both men fell silent, the shock flickering in their eyes lingering for a long time.
"Ye Xuan... is only considered lower-middle echelon?!"
"Just what kind of place is the Seventh Domain?!"
Li Guanqi continued, "In the future... I hope to see you both in the Seventh Domain. When you break through to the late Mahayana realm, I will personally invite you there! Until then, you must do everything in your power to enhance your strength."
With things laid out so plainly, Fu Yin and Cui Xian pressed no further.
Beside them, Lu Yong's head was spinning from learning such staggering secrets.
Li Guanqi smiled and raised his wine cup.
"Come, drink. Thank you all for taking trouble on behalf of this troublesome brother of mine."
Li Congxin also raised his cup, sheepishly looking around at everyone. "Heh, sorry to trouble you older brothers. But... this really was my first time throwing my weight around using backing. Couldn't be helped—that old fart refused to play by the rules. I only beat up their direct son, and their grand ancestor showed up..."
Hearing that, everyone burst out laughing, their boisterous laughter echoing throughout the restaurant.
Afterward, Li Guanqi held his cup and accompanied Li Congxin as they went around outside to toast all the guests.
As night fell, a bright moon hung high in the sky.
Two figures lay atop the restaurant's roof, their hands pillowed behind their heads as they gazed at the star-studded sky.
"You've made great progress lately, brat."
Li Congxin curled his lip and couldn't help asking, "What realm are you in now?"
Li Guanqi pondered for a moment.
"Half-step Tribulation Transcendence, I suppose... Though killing someone newly entered into the Tribulation Transcendence realm wouldn't be much trouble."
Li Congxin swallowed hard upon hearing that.
In a hazy sense, he had naturally felt the change within Li Guanqi. Yet Li Guanqi was equally surprised by Li Congxin's improvement; this speed was breathtaking, perhaps even faster than his own had been back in the day...
Much of this was thanks to the many precious materials Li Guanqi had used to reshape his body and spiritual roots back then.
Now, Li Song possessed what amounted to a Saint Grade lightning spiritual root. With Li Guanqi behind him, he had never lacked resources. Being cautious by nature, Li Congxin had explored several mystic realms and reaped plenty of benefits.
The corner of Li Guanqi's mouth curved upward. "Work hard on your cultivation and come find me in the Seventh Domain as soon as you can."
Li Song grinned. "Don't worry, Brother, I'll definitely come to the Seventh Domain to find you soon!"
Hearing Li Song call him 'Brother,' an inexplicable emotion rose in Li Guanqi's heart, bringing a gentle smile to his face.
Slowly rising to his feet, he said, "Come on, let's spar. Let me see how strong you are now."
As the words left his mouth, Li Guanqi suppressed his cultivation down to the early Void Refining Realm.
Li Song immediately looked displeased. "Looking down on me?"
Yet Li Guanqi bluntly replied, "Even at early Void Refinement, I'm afraid I might beat you to death. How about I use half-step Void Refinement instead..."
Li Congxin was thoroughly provoked. Reverse-gripping Yanluo, he shouted, "Come on, come on! I refuse to believe it today!"
With a faint smile, Li Guanqi shaped a bounded realm without even deploying his domain.
Standing in place, he coalesced a blade of origin power in his right hand.
"What's the meaning of this? You won't even draw Red Lotus?!"
Li Guanqi picked his ear. "Didn't I just say? I'm afraid I'd beat you to death..."
*Boom!*
Li Congxin wasted no more breath. Unshackling Yanluo, his figure blurred as he shot forward like a bolt of lightning!
Li Guanqi stood rooted to the spot without budging an inch. With a casual lift of his spiritual blade, he parried the blow, sending Li Congxin flying dozens of zhang.
Refusing to accept defeat, Li Congxin lunged again, sword raised.
Yet no matter how furiously he attacked, Li Guanqi merely stood there, casually deflecting each blow with an idle flick of his hand.
Li Guanqi let out a disappointed sigh.
"Terrible. Simply terrible... Your swordsmanship is a disorganized mess, soft and powerless... What... are! you! doing?!"
As the shout fell, a terrifying lightning capable of destroying heaven and earth erupted from Li Guanqi's body.
A purple sword light flashed across the air. In an instant, blood sprayed from Li Congxin's chest, leaving a deep, gruesome slash across his torso.
Li Congxin retreated violently, his eyes filled with disbelief!
Because... the power Li Guanqi had just unleashed was only at the early Void Refining Realm.
Yet he had been completely powerless to resist it!
Li Guanqi's face darkened, his eyes narrowing.
He had realized that Li Congxin's Carefree sword intent seemed to have led him astray...
Being carefree did not mean acting completely on whim, nor did it mean chaotic disorder.
His sword dao should not be like this!
His current sword dao had abandoned the true essence and origin of lightning.
Li Guanqi decided to give Li Congxin a proper lesson...
On what the heaven-destroying, earth-shattering origin of lightning truly was!
Li Congxin could not help shivering; he could sense genuine killing intent rolling off Li Guanqi!
"Brother... is this really necessary?"
Li Guanqi sneered coldly.
"It is. Very much so! From here on, you'd better take this seriously... If you stay this slack, it will cost you your life!"
Chapter 1271