Legacy

Li Guanqi was slightly taken aback, not expecting the sect to entrust such an important matter to him to preside over. Shen Lan, perhaps sensing his doubt, said softly, "You are the backbone of the sect; you have inspired everyone. "Many of those gathered at the foot of the mountain came because of you, and you are the most outstanding disciple of your cohort. "That is why this matter is entrusted to you." Li Guanqi pondered for a long time before giving a slight nod. Shen Lan told him to assemble at the square in the time it took an incense stick to burn, then vanished in a flash. Li Guanqi rubbed his face, returned to the wooden cabin, and retrieved a brand-new sect robe. After dressing, he looked at his reflection in the mirror and noticed faint, sparse stubble had grown on his face. Steeling his spirit, Li Guanqi transformed into a streak of flowing light and flew toward the square before the main hall on Tianjian Peak. From the battle against Ziyang Palace, the sect square had been mostly reduced to rubble. Yet Ling Daoyan had insisted on preserving the site, laying down an elemental energy barrier to maintain it in its ruined state. When Li Guanqi arrived, ten spirit-testing platforms stood arranged across the square. The recruitment standards for this cohort had also been raised accordingly; one needed at least dual spiritual roots to enter the Great Xia Sword Sect. Yet even with such criteria, the talent of this cohort far surpassed that of his own. In just half the time it took an incense stick to burn, several disciples with heavenly spiritual roots had already appeared one after another. He noticed their clothing and bearing were extraordinary; clearly, they came from prominent clans. Yet when Li Guanqi arrived stepping through the air, the dense crowd below instantly fell into a commotion! They all seemed to recognize him! Li Guanqi had no idea what was going on. Only then did Shen Lan, beside him, explain via voice transmission: "Back when you initiated the Purgatory Challenge at Mount Tianyu, people recorded every single one of your battles with shadow-casting stones. "And then there was your later battle in the Fuyou Mountain Range. "Right now, many are speculating what rank you will hold on the Great Xia Domain's Core Formation Prodigy Ranking when Tianji Pavilion releases it in three months." Li Guanqi shook his head slightly. He did not care much about such things, treating it merely as light entertainment. Under the scolding shouts of the sect elders, the testing of spiritual roots continued. Time flew by swiftly, and surprisingly, over nine hundred disciples met the stringent criteria! Li Guanqi was somewhat astonished by this number. After all, his cohort, even including disciples with tri-element impure spiritual roots, had numbered just over three hundred. This time, the requirements were on par with those of any top faction! Furthermore, among these disciples, three had actually manifested king-grade spiritual roots! Ahead of all the elders, Li Guanqi flashed forward and appeared before the youth who possessed a king-grade lightning spiritual root. The youth had jade-like features, an upright posture, and sharp, well-defined contours. When he looked at Li Guanqi, his eyes brimmed with worship and admiration. Looking at him, Li Guanqi said softly, "Wei Li, are you willing to join Tianlei Peak, where I belong?" Flushed with excitement, the youth nodded heavily and answered, "I came here specifically to join Senior Brother Li's Tianlei Peak!" Li Guanqi gave him a slight nod, then flew back to the high platform. This time, Tianlei Peak was allocated over eighty disciples! One had to know that in previous years, Tianlei Peak had failed to recruit a single disciple for several consecutive years. Yet this time, many of those with lightning spiritual roots had clearly come specifically for Tianlei Peak. This was perhaps the largest intake of disciples Tianlei Peak had ever seen in the history of the Great Xia Sword Sect. Once the elders of each peak had gathered and lined up their disciples, Shen Lan gently patted his shoulder, indicating that he could say a few words. Li Guanqi pondered for a long time before taking a step forward through the air, coming to a stop before one of the spirit-testing platforms. A crowd of innocent youths and maidens stared wide-eyed at him, their gazes filled with admiration and excitement. Seeing this, Li Guanqi felt deeply moved; over a year ago, he had been just like them. His gaze swept across the crowd, noting that not a single person showed the slightest trace of contempt because he was blind. *If I were still the blind beggar from back then, perhaps... it wouldn't be anything like this.* Li Guanqi's slightly deep voice rang out slowly. "A year and a half ago, I was as wide-eyed as you, filled with longing for what lay ahead. "Just like you, I endured the test of character and stood before the spirit-testing platform." Here, Li Guanqi paused briefly, then spoke softly. "Perhaps an elder has already instructed you to guard the identity jade slip given upon entering the sect with great care." *Swish!* A purple jade slip appeared in his hand. Li Guanqi looked down at the slip, still stained with blood, and said softly, "Once... I didn't understand why they repeatedly warned us to keep such an ordinary, mundane jade slip close at all times." The youth slowly raised his head, his pure white eyes sweeping across the surrounding crowd. The vast square fell deathly silent as everyone waited for what Li Guanqi would say next. Li Guanqi pointed toward the ruins of the shattered square beside him, his voice rising with intensity. "Until I lived through the slaughter against Ziyang Palace! "At that moment, I finally understood why! "When I first entered the sect, the Sect Master personally recited the Great Xia Sword Sect's creed to every incoming disciple. "Now, I will pass those words on to you." *Clang!* Red Lotus shot out of the sword casket in an instant, and Li Guanqi vaulted onto the blade, soaring into midair! The youth still bore injuries upon his face. With a resolute expression, he looked toward the broken walls and ruins, calling out in a deep voice, "Today, you enter the sect, and for the rest of your lives, you are disciples of the Great Xia Sword Sect! "As you embark upon the immortal path of cultivation, so long as you walk upright and act with integrity, the sect will do everything in its power to protect every single disciple under its banner!" Laced with vigorous elemental energy, his voice carried for thousands of feet! Every youth and maiden who heard those words flushed with overwhelming fervor! Li Guanqi shouted in a resonant voice, "Everyone, remember every single word I speak next! "The Great Xia Sword Sect creed! "The sword in hand never points at the weak; the sword in heart never fears a strong foe! "Right the injustices under heaven; slay those under heaven who deserve to die! "If one day you cross swords with a formidable enemy in upholding this creed, the Great Xia Sword Sect... will mobilize its entire might to ensure your safety!" His ringing voice resonated with immense power, striking everyone's ears like thunder! Perhaps once, people thought the Great Xia Sword Sect's creed was nothing more than a joke. Yet everything the Great Xia Sword Sect had done proved to all: The Great Xia Sword Sect honored its word! Below, countless disciples raised their fists in excitement toward the ruins of the shattered square, chanting in unison the words Li Guanqi had just proclaimed! "...will ensure your safety!" The resounding echoes lingered without fading, the collective declaration carrying far across the territory of the Great Xia Sword Sect. At that moment, all disciples throughout the sect's lands stopped what they were doing and shouted the sect creed at the top of their lungs from where they stood! Watching the youth holding his fist high, Shen Lan and the other elders and peak masters felt their eyes moisten. In Li Guanqi and the disciples of his cohort, who had weathered the baptism of war, the elders saw something known as a 'legacy.' If a day ever came when the Great Xia Sword Sect faced an insurmountable enemy, so long as a single disciple remained alive, the will and creed of the Great Xia Sword Sect would be carried on forever! A single spark could start a prairie fire!