For Such a Human Spirit Realm, It Is Worth It

Looking at Lan Xun, Li Guanqi noticed that her cultivation had advanced rapidly; she had already reached the middle Void Refining Realm. After a moment's thought, Li Guanqi rummaged through his storage ring for quite a while, but failed to find a single Body Integration Pill. Shrugging, he said straightforwardly, "I'll have someone send a Body Integration Pill over later." Lan Xun was flattered and was about to decline. Yet Li Guanqi's expression hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "You cannot refuse!" Lan Xun looked taken aback, unsure of what had brought this on. Li Guanqi said somberly, "Back then, if you hadn't brought that fish pearl to help sustain my master's life, I wouldn't have been able to preserve his divine soul to this day. This debt of gratitude is etched into my heart." Hearing this, Lan Xun did not decline any further. She simply had not expected a figure like Li Guanqi to still remember that matter. Yu Bo, on the other hand, found it entirely natural, for Li Guanqi still remembered even the earliest agreement between the two of them with crystal clarity. Dismissing the clansmen, Li Guanqi followed Yu Bo down beneath the waters to the palace of the Spirit Fish Clan. The azure seawater could not come within an inch of their bodies. Yu Bo did not manifest his true form, and the two walked side by side. Every member of the Spirit Fish Clan they encountered along the way manifested their true form, halting in place to bow and pay their respects. Li Guanqi gave slight nods of acknowledgment, and before long, they arrived before an immense blue palace. An incense stick's time later, Li Guanqi walked out from the Spirit Fish Clan's main hall. His heart was inevitably heavy. If the Spirit Fish Clan had arrived haughty when they first sought refuge with the Great Xia Sword Sect, then back then, the Great Xia Sword Sect had shown them that they had no right to be arrogant. Yet after living alongside one another for so many years, the Spirit Fish Clan had long since melded into one with the Great Xia Sword Sect... Unbeknownst to Li Guanqi, over the passing years, the Spirit Fish Clan had quietly observed many sect disciples of exceptional character! What was more... they had taken the initiative to present dozens of bone swords! These bone swords carried the wills of the Spirit Fish Clan's ancestors. And every disciple of the Great Xia Sword Sect who received one, while perhaps not the most powerful in raw strength, was undeniably a person of sterling character and upright resolve! Li Guanqi retrieved the Guanyun Jade Pendant and said in a low voice, "Pay close attention to all Great Xia Sword Sect disciples who have received a bone sword from the Spirit Fish Clan. Give them resources, but do not intervene unless they face a mortal crisis!" Soon, Yu Hua's voice came through the jade pendant. "Understood, Pavilion Master." After a brief pause, Yu Hua asked further, "Shall we intervene to put some pressure on them?" Li Guanqi shook his head, gave a wry smile, and said softly, "Do you really think the cultivation world isn't treacherous enough as it is? There is no need to intervene too much. Everyone has their own destiny; this is all we can do." Lowering the jade pendant, Li Guanqi's eyes flickered. He knew in his heart that in the next twenty to fifty years, these individuals would become the new backbone of the Great Xia Sword Sect! Neither he nor the sect master could watch over the Great Xia Sword Sect forever. He now had to plan much further ahead for the sect's future development. Having seen to all of this, Li Guanqi suddenly sensed that Li Zixuan had found the place where Pengluo was undergoing his tribulation. Taking a step forward, his figure vanished from where he stood. Atop the crown of a towering ancient tree stood a youth with worry evident in his eyes. *Whoosh!* "Worried about him?" Hearing this, Li Zixuan turned his head, a flash of surprise in his eyes before he gave a slight nod. Li Guanqi smiled faintly. "Aren't you worried, Benefactor?" Li Guanqi took out a jar of strong liquor and began to drink. Meeting Li Zixuan's anxious gaze, he said softly, "I believe in them more than they believe in themselves. That is why I am not worried in the slightest." *Rumble! Boom! Boom! Boom!* For a hundred li around, dark clouds gathered in dense layers, and fierce gales whipped up as a tempest gathered. Deafening thunder rolled across the skies, causing the earth to tremble faintly. Every beast within a hundred li was suppressed by this heavenly might, pinned to the ground and howling in agony. Many low-tier beasts even exploded and died, unable to withstand the crushing pressure! Li Zixuan was naturally attuned to spirits. Hearing the ceaseless wailing echoing in his ears, he could not bear it. Li Guanqi noticed his distress. With a sigh, he casually swept his hand, teleporting every beast within a hundred li far away! His terrifying strength was unfathomable, akin to the descent of an immortal. Li Zixuan's surroundings instantly fell into absolute stillness, leaving only the howling winds of heaven and earth and the patter of raindrops falling toward the ground. Li Guanqi sat cross-legged opposite Li Zixuan and waved him over. There was nothing wrong with Li Zixuan's kind heart, but this cultivation world was a place that devoured people whole. His kindness would ultimately bring him harm one day. Once Li Zixuan took his seat, Li Guanqi lowered his head and remained silent for a long time. Li Zixuan was patient as well, asking no questions and merely waiting in silence. Li Guanqi looked up at Li Zixuan and asked softly, "What do you believe is the purpose of cultivation?" Li Guanqi had even prepared himself to deploy the power of heart demon manipulation. If Li Zixuan sought the Great Dao of immortality, desired to tread the summit, and possessed the ambition of the strong, Li Guanqi had resolved to use heart demon manipulation to make him experience ten lifetimes—first to witness the malice of human hearts, and then to behold this dog-eat-dog cultivation world. Yet Li Zixuan merely smiled. In a gentle voice, he replied, "Benefactor, I know what you wish to ask. I was originally just an unremarkable spirit creature in the mountains, until I met you and my dad... I have no grand ambitions, nor is the path of immortality the pursuit of my lifetime. Cultivating the Dao now is merely to keep myself safe." Hearing Li Zixuan say these words, Li Guanqi suddenly felt that the figure before him was not an impassioned youth, but rather an old man in his twilight years who had seen through all worldly affairs. Li Zixuan continued, "I do not seek immortality; I only hope that while I am alive, I can see more, travel more, and meet more interesting people. I do not seek ascension, for the Human Spirit Realm is vast enough for me to roam for a very, very long time. Perhaps one day in the future, when I miss my dad and have seen every corner of the mortal realm, I might wish to ascend." Li Guanqi smiled. He realized that the youth before him was remarkably simple and pure. Yet precisely because of that, Li Zixuan was exceptionally clear about what his pursuits and goals were. If that was the case... The black flames lingering around Li Guanqi's body slowly dissipated. Raising his hand, he flicked a finger! A wisp of sword qi shot into Li Zixuan's glabella! "Keep this wisp of sword qi to save your life. I won't say much else. Since this is your true heart, I trust you can hold fast to it. In this life, one experiences much—good and bad, tears and laughter. I hope you... live a life of peace and fortune. You can know a person's face but not their heart; in all things, think one step further, and always keep your guard up." A bright smile blossomed on Li Zixuan's face. He nodded solemnly and said, "Zixuan will etch it into his heart." *Rumble! Boom! Boom! Boom!* The heavenly tribulation manifested, and Li Guanqi gripped his sword as he stood. Li Zixuan smiled faintly. "Benefactor says he isn't worried, but deep down, he cares after all..." Across the firmament, thunderclouds churned, the void shattered, and lightning cleaved through heaven and earth, piercing through all existence! Pengluo and Jiuxiao's Tribulation Transcendence Realm heavenly tribulations were taking place at the very same time! A great dragon demon and a spirit plant creature—the combination seemed rather bizarre. Fortunately, Li Guanqi's preparations had been exceedingly thorough, and the breakthrough proceeded very smoothly. Heaven and earth trembled, and the space for a hundred li around was shrouded by an invisible force so that no one could peer inside. Three days later, Li Guanqi returned to the Great Xia Sword Sect. In the end, he decided to leave Li Zixuan at the sect. Naturally... this was the result of Pengluo 'threatening to end his own life.' Inside the wooden cabin atop Yuhu Peak. Li Guanqi stood on the summit, drinking wine. Inside the room, Pengluo clutched Li Zixuan's hand, snot and tears streaming down his face as he lamented, "Your dad has to go back to being a dog... bah, a medicinal catalyst! My son... your dad is doing this for your own good. Even though your strength isn't enough right now, if you went to the Seventh Domain, you'd definitely suffer worse than your dad. Alas... your dad's life has been so bitter..." The corner of Li Guanqi's mouth twitched, and he snapped crossly, "Enough already! I'm blind, not deaf!" At his words, Pengluo shuddered in fright and hastily shut his mouth. *Hum!* A burly figure approached from afar. Clad in a dark gold robe, Gu Lie looked at Li Guanqi, his expression resolute as he spoke. "I am ready. Shall we set off?" Li Guanqi walked into the room, grabbed Pengluo by the green leaves on his head, and hauled him outside. "Time to go, time to go." "Dad!" "My son!" Li Guanqi turned around and smacked Li Zixuan upside the head. "Don't learn from him!" *Smack!* He then slapped Pengluo upside the head and said exasperatedly, "Look at the tragic drama you two are putting on! Anyone who didn't know better would think I was committing some heinous crime! Scram, hurry up and stabilize your realm." Clutching his backside, Pengluo slipped into the void with a shifty look, chuckling foolishly. "I just didn't want you to take him to the Seventh Domain... His strength is too low; it'd be useless for him to go." Li Guanqi shoved Pengluo's head completely into the void with one hand, not bothering to entertain him. Turning toward the smiling elder, Li Guanqi grinned. "Let's go." Before they could depart, a crowd of elders and disciples stepped upon the void, lining up on both sides. "Respectful farewell to Elder Gu! First Elder!" "Respectful farewell to Elder Gu! First Elder!" Shouts rose and fell one after another. Perhaps the disciples did not know why Gu Lie was leaving, but the peak masters and elders certainly knew. Gu Lie's eyes reddened slightly. Looking back at everyone, he cupped his fists in salute. He murmured softly, "For such a Human Spirit Realm, it's worth it!"