Duan Xian Strikes!

Hearing those words, Gu Lie's pupils shrank to needlepoints, his expression turning solemn. He took two steps forward until he stood before Li Guanqi. Meeting the young man's eyes, he asked in a deep voice, "Can I go?" Li Guanqi took a deep breath. Looking at the old man, he said with utmost gravity, "The Seventh Domain... is dangerous! Incredibly dangerous!" With that, Li Guanqi laid down an isolating barrier and directly revealed the true purpose behind the Seventh Domain's existence to Gu Lie. He went on to describe the several fierce battles he had experienced since entering the domain. "If you go, you might die!" He was not forcing Gu Lie to venture into the Seventh Domain. Yet he had clearly felt Gu Lie's overwhelming excitement earlier upon receiving the true dragon essence blood. It was not that the old man was merely absorbed in crafting weapons these days. Rather, he had reached his absolute limit—unable to break through, unable to advance any further... For a pure martial artist, his use of primal energy was actually restricted to releasing flames for pill refining and forging iron. Gu Lie's willpower and physical body were undoubtedly formidable, but advancing along the martial path was simply too difficult. Having pursued the dual cultivation of spirit and martial paths, Li Guanqi knew firsthand how arduous it truly was. Yet within the Immortal Burial Pavilion, there were cultivation methods and secret technique scriptures specifically meant for martial artists! Moreover... Li Guanqi harbored a bit of self-interest. Gu Lie was one of his own; he could look after him. If he and his sworn brothers were to ascend one day, Gu Lie could remain behind to protect the Great Xia Sword Sect! Gu Lie was a man who deeply valued loyalty and bonds. Li Guanqi trusted his own judgment of character. Furthermore, the Seventh Domain's fighting strength was currently depleted. With Gu Lie's strength as an eighth-rank martial artist, he was easily a match for three mid Mahayana realm cultivators! Li Guanqi did not conceal his thoughts, laying them out plainly before Gu Lie. Having finished, Li Guanqi added through an earnest voice transmission, "No need to give me an answer right away. This matter carries grave consequences. In every slaughter against the Immortal Realm cultivators, the casualties among the Seventh Domain's cultivators are never light. Consider it thoroughly before you decide, Senior." To his surprise, Gu Lie simply waved a hand and said quietly, "I'm going!" Gu Lie did not need to think about it. He knew just how difficult it was to enter the Seventh Domain. Not every powerful cultivator was granted entry. This was an opportunity—a chance to climb a step higher! He had no intention of missing it! Li Guanqi smiled and nodded. "Alright! When I leave this time, we will go together." Gu Lie gave a smile of his own, then transmitted his voice to Li Guanqi: "Do you need any help with the sect's troubles?" Li Guanqi smiled faintly. "Just a trivial matter. I can handle it alone." After leaving Pill Peak, Li Guanqi returned to Yuhu Peak and entered seclusion. He needed to bring his condition to its peak. It was also an ideal time to consolidate his realm and integrate his full strength. As he settled into quiet cultivation, Li Guanqi discovered that his power of laws naturally countered Duan Xian's blood fiend power. Even so, he knew the man still kept the Blood-Burning Profound Flame in reserve. That was something he had to guard against at all times. Blood fiend power possessed intense corrosive properties that even his own physical body struggled to withstand. On top of that, Duan Xian held half of the Ancient Spirit-Burning Ring. Even Li Guanqi could be severely scorched by such a relic. Snapping awake from his meditative state, Li Guanqi retrieved a jade slip and asked in a low voice, "Father-in-law, do you know of the Blood-Burning Profound Flame, ranked eighth among the heavenly flames?" Far away in the Celestial Spirit Realm, Meng Jiangchu was busy forging a new Heavenly King Pagoda when his brows knit slightly. Listening to the voice from the jade slip, his brow furrowed even deeper, and he replied gravely, "I know it. The Blood-Burning Flame is somewhat similar to the Yinming Profound Flame within Ye Feng's body. It can ignite the opponent's essence blood from within, burning until every drop is consumed and reducing their internal organs to ash! It is a rather wicked flame. Why do you ask?" Clutching the jade slip, Li Guanqi's eyes flickered. "Just as I thought..." He had suspected as much when examining the corpses of the Great Xia Sword Sect disciples. It seemed the flame's unique properties were virtually identical to what he had deduced. After offering a few reassuring words to Meng Jiangchu and mentioning that he would return in a few days, Li Guanqi set down the jade slip, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Ancient Spirit-Burning Ring... spirit-burning... blood-burning... Heh, could you be trying to draw upon the power of the Ancient Spirit-Burning Ring?" Li Guanqi grew intensely vigilant. Both of his adversary's forces posed a genuine threat to him. No wonder Nangong Xuandu had remarked back then that this man was troublesome to deal with. Sitting with eyes closed in cultivation, immense waves of primal energy surged around Li Guanqi. Under his subconscious guidance, lightning shifted into various radiant forms of spiritual light. A subtle yet powerful aura of laws permeated the void, casting thick, heavy dark clouds over the entire Great Xia Sword Sect. The stray remnants of this lingering might alone rivaled the power of a Body Integration Realm heavenly tribulation. Just like that, after three consecutive days, Li Guanqi's eyes suddenly snapped open! A streak of bloody light was hurtling toward the Great Xia Sword Sect at terrifying speed! *Swish!* Li Guanqi and Lu Kangnian stood side by side, treading upon the void. The two exchanged an imperceptible glance, and then Li Guanqi shattered the void, vanishing instantly. Lightning flashed. Massive wings of thunder beat violently, his figure streaking forth like a bolt of violet lightning! At the same time, Lu Kangnian gave the order to activate the sect-protecting grand formation. Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. Duan Xian abruptly wheeled around, raising his hand to slash out several sword strikes! Beating his thunder wings, Li Guanqi wove through the air several times in an instant, cleanly evading every arc of sword-light. His brows furrowed. These strikes... Though their power was identical to what he had faced last time, he could not shake the feeling that something was amiss. The enemy was fleeing at an extraordinary speed—even faster than before. While suspicion crept into Li Guanqi's mind, he remained hot on the man's heels. *This doesn't make sense... If he charged straight at me like this, how does he plan on capturing the sect master?* Li Guanqi's eyes narrowed. He resolved to test his opponent! With that thought, the thunder wings behind his back snapped forward, unleashing a tempest of wild lightning! Amidst the deafening roar of thunder, the distance between Li Guanqi and Duan Xian shrank in an instant to less than a hundred zhang! Duan Xian appeared just as he had before: short of stature, cloaked in black robes. Seeing Li Guanqi close the gap so swiftly, a trace of anxiety flashed deep within his eyes. In a breath, the boundless river of blood manifested once more. The blood river coalesced into countless ferocious great demons that charged ferociously toward Li Guanqi, while Duan Xian concealed himself within the torrent, constantly shifting his position as he thrust with his blade! His sword intent was considerable—at the early Sword Soul realm. In an instant, over a hundred crimson great demons accompanied by a dense, bewildering barrage of sword-light surged toward Li Guanqi. Li Guanqi's eyes flashed as he felt the crushing weight of the pressure. He stomped down hard, unleashing an endless torrent of thunder! The heavens and earth convulsed. Fierce winds ravaged the terrain wherever the two passed, shattering the surrounding mountains and tearing the earth apart. Lightning condensed into a three-zhang spear that hurtled through the air toward the great demons! At the same time, relying on his superior speed, Li Guanqi dodged left and right, his left hand gripping his sword as he unleashed a relentless flurry of slashes! The instant the spear impaled a great demon, Li Guanqi's expression drastically shifted! "Something is wrong! You are not Duan Xian!" *Boom!* The figure's body swelled up in a grotesque, unnatural manner. *Bang!* The rupturing body burst like an overinflated bladder. The boundless river of blood gathered into a spherical orb of blood, enveloping Li Guanqi completely within. A terrifying force erupted, and crimson flames ignited across the surface of the blood orb. This bizarre sphere of blood was no ordinary technique, but an exceptionally specialized seal! "Blood Prison!"