When Li Guanqi defeated the disciple of the Wushang Sword Sect in overwhelming fashion, no one in the audience had yet processed what had happened.
Seeing the youth—who had clearly reached the end of his tether—still standing ramrod straight upon the elevated stage, everyone was rooted to the spot.
They had no idea how many more miracles this blind youth could create for them!
Beneath his sleeves, Qin Xian’s fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white from sheer excitement.
On the surface, however, he maintained a placid demeanor, with even a trace of worry flickering in his eyes.
The instant the battle drew to a close, he flickered across the space, hoisted Li Guanqi onto his shoulder, and hurried away.
Sixth place!
This was a ranking the Great Xia Sword Sect had never achieved before.
If the Great Xia Sword Sect succeeded in their challenge tomorrow... and if their accumulated points put them in the lead, they would seize the championship outright!
Yet anyone could see that Li Guanqi’s nerves were already strained to their absolute limit.
In fact, against the final prodigy of the Wushang Sword Sect, he had skirted disaster several times.
Whether he could defeat his opponent tomorrow no longer mattered to the spectators.
Everyone had witnessed the unyielding resolve and indomitable spirit displayed by this disciple of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Many in the crowd were already beginning to consider whether to bring their sons and daughters to join the Great Xia Sword Sect during this year’s disciple recruitment.
Back at their lodgings, Ye Feng and the others swarmed forward.
"Old Li, are you alright? If you can't hold on, just drop it! This ranking is already plenty good!"
Leaning against Qin Xian, Li Guanqi's face was as pale as paper. He only murmured softly, "Not... not enough..."
Hearing this, Ye Feng grumbled exasperatedly, "Not enough! Not enough! Are you trying to throw your damned life away?!
"Keep this up, and mark my words, those sects will chop you down on that stage sooner or later! Is it really worth it?!"
Li Guanqi turned to Ye Feng and said in a heavy voice, "It's worth it!
"Since I've decided to fight, I will make everyone see what our Great Xia Sword Sect is made of!
"Otherwise... we might as well crawl through life with our tails tucked between our legs!"
Ye Feng opened his mouth, but in the end, nothing came out. He only looked at Li Guanqi with a complicated expression.
Lowering his voice to a whisper, he said, "I'll say it again: your life matters more."
Qin Xian supported Li Guanqi into the room, began unblocking and soothing the meridians throughout his body, and brought out several healing pills for him.
Even after witnessing it several times, the speed at which Li Guanqi absorbed medicinal efficacy still left the elder amazed.
As for the conversation between Li Guanqi and the others, the elder had heard every single word.
Going about his work in silence, Qin Xian murmured softly, "You children have had it hard...
"The sect has fallen into a bit of a decline, leaving it to you young people to carry the banner."
Li Guanqi smiled faintly without speaking.
He knew very well that what the sect provided its disciples was already the best it could muster.
Why were the peak elders barely seen day in and day out?
Even the second elder of their Tianlei Peak, Xu Zhengjie, had to go hunt demon beasts on ordinary days just to scrape together spirit stones.
The Great Xia Sword Sect was, in truth, an utterly devoted sect. To ensure the cultivation of its disciples was not held back, it exhausted every possible means.
That was precisely why he was willing to make this choice.
Having recovered somewhat, Li Guanqi spoke in a low voice: "Elder Qin, I want to go to Mount Tianyu to take a look."
The elder frowned and asked softly, "Going like this... aren't you afraid someone will see through your act?"
Li Guanqi chuckled and shook his head, countering, "I look weak as a wilted reed. Who could possibly see through it?"
Hearing that, a faint smile touched the corners of the elder’s mouth, and he simply let the boy do as he pleased.
On his way out, Li Guanqi ran into the little girl and waved to her.
A bright grin spread across Yu Sui'an's face, and she bounded straight onto his back.
"Haha, let's go, let's go~
"Uh, where are we going?"
Li Guanqi burst into laughter. "You don't even know where we're going, yet you're already chanting 'let's go.'"
"Where we go doesn't matter, as long as we're going!"
The little girl bobbed her head proudly.
Li Guanqi cast his flying sword and leapt into the air with her on his back, commenting with mild surprise, "You're... already nearing the seventh layer of Qi Refinement, aren't you?"
Hearing this, Yu Sui'an puffed up with pride. "Well of course! Grandpa Li said I'm a genius.
"Whenever I have nothing better to do, I cultivate a little. Otherwise, if Grandpa Li sees me slacking off too much, he'll scold me."
*Whoosh!*
The two of them soared through the air, arriving at the summit of Mount Tianyu.
His timing was immaculate: Ziyang Palace and Lingxiao Pavilion were currently engaged in their tournament match.
Because the Great Xia Sword Sect’s fierce bout had already concluded, very few people noticed Li Guanqi's arrival.
However, Li Guanqi felt the little girl on his back stiffen, seemingly nervous.
He gently patted her back, then found an empty, deserted viewing platform and sat down.
This was the designated section for the Great Xia Sword Sect, completely devoid of spectators.
So he simply settled down there with Yu Sui'an.
From their vantage point high above, they had a clear view of the arena below.
Li Guanqi's gaze slowly drifted toward Zhao Beichen, who seemed to sense something and turned his head to look back.
Across that handsome countenance, the look was exceptionally tranquil—free of joy or sorrow, his eyes devoid of the slightest ripple.
With just a single glance at Li Guanqi, he turned away, locking his eyes back onto the arena.
At that moment, Li Guanqi asked mentally in a low voice, *Sword spirit, is this Zhao Beichen strong?*
The sword spirit’s somewhat languid voice drifted over: *Quite formidable.*
Lately, Li Guanqi had refrained from cultivating for fear of breaking through his realm, but the origin energy he gained had all been fed to the sword spirit.
As a result, the sword spirit had mostly been deep in slumber.
*A saint-grade spiritual root, an innate sword embryo, plus a king-grade spirit ruins... Tsk, tsk.*
*With talent like his, even in the Immortal Realm, he'd wipe the floor with the direct offspring of Daluo Golden Immortals.*
Li Guanqi drew in a sharp breath upon hearing this, then quipped teasingly, *You haven't gotten the urge to take him as your master, have you?*
A voice thick with disdain rang out: *Take him as master? Hahahahaha, what a joke.
*Even the Immortal Lords and Immortal Venerables up above wouldn't dare utter such words.*
Li Guanqi felt somewhat helpless. *Fine, fine, I get that you're amazing, alright?*
Then he muttered under his breath, *Immortal Lords, Immortal Venerables... boast all you want.*
Still, what the sword spirit said put him on high alert.
He had not anticipated that his opponent possessed a saint-grade spiritual root as well—and what was an innate sword embryo?
*A king-grade spirit ruins...*
*Then what grade is the spirit ruins I awakened?*
The sword spirit chuckled proudly, just about to open its mouth.
Yet Li Guanqi waved a dismissive hand. *Alright, alright, no need to say it. It's ridiculously impressive anyway, right?
*Got it, got it.*
On the arena stage, the disciple of Lingxiao Pavilion was severely injured, but managed to claim a razor-thin victory by a single move!
Zhao Beichen let out a long sigh, his brow furrowing slightly.
Things were pretty much as he had anticipated; the disciples of Lingxiao Pavilion were indeed formidable.
The youth rose slowly to his feet, casting an indifferent glance at the elevated stage. Then, with a subtle shift of his footing, his figure soared toward the stage like a great roc.
Chapter 143