Great Xia Sword Sect!
A gathering of elders and peak masters assembled inside a secret hall.
After a long discussion, they ultimately decided that the entire sect would withdraw from the world for three years!
Finally, from among the disciples, priority was given to those who had fought in the battle against Ziyang Palace, screening for those loyal to the sect.
They were required to swear a Dao oath promising not to reveal the slightest word about the cultivation method before they were permitted to practice the mysterious manual Li Guanqi had left behind!
As for this technique, Lu Kangnian and Ling Daoyan had studied it for three whole days!
The conclusion they reached in the end made even these two mighty Soul Formation Realm experts gasp in shock!
Lu Kangnian had realized at once that this could well be the foundation for the Great Xia Sword Sect's true rise!!
What damn spiritual vein? Compared to a cultivation method with an eleventh stage of Qi Refinement, it was not worth a pile of shit!
After a prolonged debate, while the elders were locked in heated dispute, Lu Kangnian smashed the dais beneath him to pieces with a single slap of his palm.
He made an immediate, decisive choice. While the Great Xia Sword Sect's momentum was at its peak in the Northern Region, it did not choose to expand its territory.
Instead, it chose to withdraw from the world for three years, biding its time and keeping a low profile!
Li Guanqi murmured inwardly, *As expected of the Sect Master.*
At that moment, the sword spirit's voice echoed in his mind.
"You're not completely foolish. If you had left the twelfth stage, and it leaked out by even the slightest mishap..."
"Trust me, the top sects across the entire Great Xia Domain—and even other domains—would annihilate the Great Xia Sword Sect at all costs!"
Li Guanqi's pupils contracted instantly. He had never imagined the consequences would be so dire!
Back then, he had only wanted to repay the sect for nurturing him, and he understood how precious a thirteen-stage Qi Refinement technique was.
That was why he had only left behind the eleventh stage.
Looking back now, he felt a lingering chill of dread. After all, he had held two jade slips in his hands at the time!
Before long, the party of three arrived at a place called Yuanping Dock.
Like other cloud boat docks, Yuanping Dock was situated atop a high mountain.
Surrounding it was a picturesque expanse of undulating mountain peaks.
Occasionally, enormous flying demonic beasts would sweep through the air, carrying heavy loads of cargo on their backs.
Ye Feng asked, "Boss, how do we sell our stuff here? Set up a stall?"
Li Guanqi gave a slight smile and nodded. "That's right, we set up a stall."
"However... this place is a mixed bag, filled with all sorts of dubious characters."
"Keep an eye on your storage bags, and don't pick fights with people over nothing."
Hearing this, the two behind him tightened their expressions and nodded slightly.
Li Guanqi naturally possessed the demeanor of a leader, which made him their boss quite naturally.
What was more, both of them were thoroughly convinced by him.
Neither of them spoke, standing flanking him on his left and right like a pair of bodyguards.
Yuanping Dock had only just opened for business. After landing, the three immediately changed into plain, coarse hemp robes.
Once inside Yuanping Dock, the shops along the street were opening their doors one after another.
Li Guanqi spotted an intersection that every traveler had to pass to reach the dock's boarding platform, and he dashed forward in quick strides.
Setting up stalls at the dock was entirely first come, first served; there was no such thing as a stall fee, and whoever snatched a spot claimed it.
After all, once the dock closed each day, no one was permitted to linger.
That was the rule!
Yet just as Li Guanqi was a single step away, an old man suddenly darted out from the side.
Li Guanqi swerved, nearly colliding with him. Who would have thought the white-bearded old man would glare and blurt out, "Are you blind?!"
Li Guanqi was taken aback, but that brief pause gave the old man a clear look at his eyes.
Pure white eyes—he was clearly blind.
Looking slightly crestfallen, Li Guanqi whispered, "I'm sorry, Old Sir. I... I really am blind..."
Hearing this, the old man immediately showed embarrassment and raised a hand, wanting to apologize.
Yet Li Guanqi's brow twitched slightly, a layer of misty tears instantly welled in his eyes, and he spoke in a sorrowful voice.
"My life has been hard since the day I was born. My parents died early..."
"A few years ago, the snow was too heavy and I couldn't beg for food. I almost starved to death in the street."
Hearing this, the old man felt terribly guilty. Shifting aside, he said, "Little brother, I'm sorry."
"An old man like me has a blunt tongue, but I truly meant no harm. Please don't take it to heart."
As he spoke, the old man stepped aside, giving up his spot.
Li Guanqi walked smoothly into the prime spot at the intersection, laughing wildly in his head.
*Just watch this young master make you die of guilt today!*
Sitting down on the ground, he continued:
"I've got two younger brothers below me."
"One has a huge head and can't speak, and the other is a half-wit whose hands and feet are twisted up and who drools all the time. I even have to spoon-feed him."
"I just thought that if I came early today to grab a good spot, I could sell a few little trinkets."
Saying this, he pointed in the direction of Ye Feng and Cao Yan.
Ye Feng's face turned black. Needless to say, it was obvious who the "huge head" was.
But that half-wit after that...
When he turned his head, Cao Yan was already walking toward Li Guanqi, gesturing wildly with his hands as he went.
Li Guanqi also pointed to himself, then to the old man, and then to the ground.
He had no idea what any of it was supposed to mean, but Cao Yan acted as if he completely understood what Li Guanqi was conveying, bowing respectfully to the old man.
"Aba, aba-aba-ba... aba aba!"
Despite his advanced age, the old man plastered a warm smile across his face and bowed back in return.
Li Guanqi even heard a crack from the old man's lower back. When he turned his head to look at Ye Feng, he nearly burst out laughing.
Ye Feng's eyes were rolled back, and drool was trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Having somehow found a scrap of ragged cloth to tuck into his collar, his two hands were curled and contorted like chicken claws, and his legs wobbled awkwardly.
Dragging his feet on tiptoe with saliva drooling down, he stumbled toward them, his head jerking with periodic twitches as he went.
Seeing this, the old man's heart ached so deeply that he slapped himself hard across the face twice—*smack, smack!*
Looking at the three of them, he felt utter remorse.
*I'm a fucking monster!!*
*I truly deserve to die!!*
*Why did I have to have such a damn rotten mouth?!*
Catching the old man's remorseful gaze, the three did everything they could to stifle their laughter, pinching their own thighs until they bruised purple.
The old man stepped up to support Ye Feng over, while Ye Feng continued playing the fool, slurring, "Th-thank youuu..."
The old man waved his hands in haste, gesturing for the two of them to sit down beside Li Guanqi.
Deciding not to go far either, he simply sat down beside Li Guanqi.
Cao Yan didn't mind seeing this; he was supposed to be a "mute" anyway, so staying silent was easy enough.
In their perception, this old man was merely a middle Foundation Establishment cultivator.
To be only at middle Foundation Establishment at such an old age meant his aptitude was ordinary, and he had no hope of stepping into Core Formation in this lifetime.
The old man then sighed as he practicedly spread a black velvet cloth across the ground, dumping out everything in his storage bag in one go.
Jars and bottles, porcelain shards, cosmetic rouges and powders, so-called miraculous spirit pills...
All in all, looking over the wares, Li Guanqi understood: the old man's entire operation revolved around the single word "swindle."
Still, the dock had an unwritten rule: sales were final, buyer beware.
The old man casually weighed down the corners of his cloth with a few items. Li Guanqi gave them a glance, utterly uninterested.
As the old man was smoothing out the velvet cloth, the sword spirit's amused voice suddenly rang out.
"That half piece of jade pendant by the old man's foot looks like something good. Find an opportunity to trade with him."
Li Guanqi was caught by surprise. Who would have thought he could actually find gold in a chamber pot?
Still, he didn't let it show, maintaining an unruffled calm on the surface.
Then, before the wide-mouthed shock of the old man, he pulled out a few of his own items...
Chapter 204