The Will of the Strong

The two of them flew several hundred li through the air before finally landing in a deserted, mountainous region. Li Guanqi sensed that there were no demonic beasts inhabiting this vast range, making it an ideal place to rest for a while. Finding a secluded spot in the shade, they sat cross-legged on the ground, though neither began cultivating right away. Deep worry was etched across both of their faces. Ye Feng parted his lips to speak, but held back. Li Guanqi looked up at him and said gently, "Speak your mind. No need to hold anything back." Ye Feng let out a soft sigh. "It's nothing, really... I'm just worried about Big Head." "We haven't spent that much time together, but Cao Yan is a genuinely good guy." "He's so sensitive, always fretting that he's being a burden to the two of us." Li Guanqi nodded in agreement. He didn't know whether Cao Yan had always been that way, or if his time spent captured as a blood slave had shaped him into who he was. Yet no matter the reason, Cao Yan had treated both of them with utmost respect. He might have possessed a somewhat timid temperament, yet back when Ye Feng had struck against the elder from Changfeng Villa, Cao Yan hadn't hesitated for a single instant to make a ferocious move of his own! His strike had been decisive, without the slightest hint of dragging his feet. Even disciples from prominent sects and great clans might not possess such character. He understood precisely when to endure and when to strike. Li Guanqi sighed softly and murmured, "Cao Yan... who is he, really?" "And who is hunting him?" "What on earth does he carry that justifies a Nascent Soul realm cultivator chasing him down?" Countless questions hung over his heart like a shroud of dark clouds. Although he had known from the sword spirit's words that Cao Yan was entangled in complex matters, he had never imagined their very first encounter would involve a cultivator of the Nascent Soul realm. Out of dozens of Core Formation cultivators, perhaps only one could break their core and form a Nascent Soul. The Nascent Soul realm marked those who had truly stepped onto the great path of pursuing immortality. Core Formation brought merely a few centuries of longevity, whereas reaching the Nascent Soul realm granted a lifespan of a thousand years. Neither of them cultivated. In truth, both understood that Cao Yan was facing a situation where survival was a one-in-ten chance at best. Yet with their combined strength, they stood no chance against such an opponent! In a direct confrontation, that man could have slaughtered Ye Feng in an instant. Had Li Guanqi not been by his side, Ye Feng would have died long ago. Even Li Guanqi had only gained a slight edge in speed thanks to the boost from his Wind Thunder Wings. The chasm between cultivation realms was simply too difficult to cross! Cao Yan possessed over a dozen teleportation talismans. The moment he drew the pursuer's attention, even Li Guanqi and Ye Feng could no longer sense where he had gone. All they could do now was wait for Cao Yan to contact them once he was out of danger. Soon, an entire day passed. Throughout the day, both remained taciturn and silent until night fell. Li Guanqi glanced at Ye Feng and said in a low voice, "Let's stabilize our cultivation realms first." "I believe fortune favors the good. Cao Yan will be fine!" Buzz! Suddenly! Li Guanqi's expression shifted slightly. He swiftly retrieved a jade slip from his storage ring. Channeling primal energy into it, a woman's voice abruptly rang out from within! It was Qianqiusui's voice. "He isn't dead. However... from this moment onward, Yunding will have no further dealings with you." "His identity is extremely sensitive; I cannot reveal it." "My advice is that you part ways with him for good. Otherwise, what awaits you will be relentless pursuit, and the enemies will only grow stronger!" Bang! The woman's voice cut off abruptly, and the jade slip in Li Guanqi's hand shattered to pieces! It was clear that she wanted nothing more to do with them. Li Guanqi looked up at Ye Feng, entirely indifferent to Qianqiusui's refusal to maintain ties. Both broke into foolish grins. Ye Feng chuckled, "Heh, as long as he's alive, that's enough." "Man, Big Head really doesn't let anyone rest easy!" "I'm going to hurry and calm my realm. Not having it stabilized has been bugging the hell out of me." With that, he dropped down onto a massive boulder, closed his eyes, and entered cultivation. Li Guanqi smiled faintly as well, not feeling the least bit pained over the shattered jade slip in his hand. He had never intended to cling to Qianqiusui's coattails in the first place. A person's own strength was the only thing that truly mattered. Li Guanqi slowly closed his eyes and began stabilizing his cultivation as well. "As long as he's alive, everything is fine... So long as one is alive, anything is possible." Both Li Guanqi and Ye Feng felt mixed emotions regarding Cao Yan's departure. Though they didn't know how he had managed to escape that man's clutches, it was good news after all. The bad news was that they likely wouldn't be able to contact him for a very long time. Still, knowing he was safe was enough. Even so, Li Guanqi now clearly understood that with his current strength, even facing the half-step Nascent Soul Fang Yishan had pushed him to his limits. Against a genuine Nascent Soul cultivator, only death awaited him! This served as a wake-up call. Back when he was in the Foundation Establishment realm, he had harbored no fear when facing Core Formation cultivators. Now, however, he realized the disparity between higher realms was simply too vast. So vast that against absolute power, all techniques and sword maneuvers were rendered futile. A resolve to become stronger began to take root in the depths of his heart. Had the enemy not been set on pursuing Cao Yan, the two of them likely would not have survived today. He never wanted to experience anything like this again; that suffocating sense of powerlessness had nearly choked him. In the face of a formidable foe, pouring out every ounce of his strength had only managed to wound the man slightly. Gradually, Li Guanqi's mind settled into peace. Meanwhile, the sword spirit had not fallen into slumber. The woman stared intently at the three spiritual runes hovering above her head. Within these runes was contained the earth-shattering intent of three sabers! Her eyes narrowed slightly as she murmured, "Even under these circumstances, you refused to intervene... Are you confident he can resolve everything on his own?" "Or... do you consider all these perils trivial compared to me?" The three spiritual runes hung silently high above, entirely unmoved. The sword spirit slowly raised her head, Li Guanqi's silhouette reflected in her beautiful eyes. Her vermilion lips parted softly. "The will of the strong. Not bad." "Sigh... It seems I can't just leave him entirely to his own devices from now on. If he really dies, I'll be forced back into slumber again." "So be it!" While stabilizing his cultivation, Li Guanqi replayed everything that had recently transpired in his mind. Had he been more adept at leveraging the people around him, he should have had Qianqiusui escort them personally back then. Yet that was merely relying on external strength. If only he possessed a method to instantaneously surge his own power... For now, however, the most pressing matter was resolving his lifespan. With only three years of life remaining, wandering around looking like a walking corpse was hardly ideal.