Boom!
Li Guanqi slowly rose from his chair, his white robes fluttering violently in the fierce wind!
With his hands clasped behind his back, Li Guanqi looked down with boundless haughtiness and contempt in his eyes.
In an instant, heaven and earth roiled as thick, dark clouds formed a funnel that slowly rotated above the summit of Tianjian Peak.
Within the vortex of dark clouds, lightning seemed to leap and dance, accompanied by an endless, deafening rumble!
The lightning-attribute spiritual energy between heaven and earth went wild, forming several storms that encircled the grand hall!
Step by step, Li Guanqi approached the crowd. With every step he took, torrential flames surged beneath his feet!
The flames were blistering and dazzling, the terrifying heat making everyone feel as if they had been plunged deep into magma in an instant.
Yu Bo trembled all over, his knees crashing violently against the floor!
The two had barely managed to resist Li Guanqi's pressure before, but now they were tossed about like a solitary boat in a tempestuous sea.
He Ying's face changed drastically, and he quickly joined the two of them to jointly resist the descending pressure from Li Guanqi.
Yet even so, the three of them could only struggle desperately to hold on beneath that tempestuous pressure.
The white-bearded elder's knees bent again and again!
Behind Li Guanqi, the sword casket slowly slid open, and the illustrious Red Lotus Sword flared with blinding, scarlet light.
Li Guanqi had not even drawn his sword, yet lightning sword qi was already rampaging across the entire hall!
Standing outside the doors, Wu Bing curled his lip and muttered, "Why did you have to provoke him...?"
In the beginning, Wu Bing had felt a tinge of jealousy toward Li Guanqi's talent, but as the gap between them grew wider and wider, he had actually grown much more relaxed. He couldn't catch up anyway, so why bother fretting over it?
Besides, the Great Xia Sword Sect needed someone like Li Guanqi!
Li Guanqi stood straight as a sword, a mere three feet before the three of them.
Looking down at them, he spoke with a calm gaze.
"Is this where your confidence comes from?"
At those words, a tremor ran through the hearts of all three!
Indeed, Li Guanqi was putting them in their place!
He was giving them a clearer awareness of who they were.
A scoff slowly escaped Li Guanqi's lips.
"Back then, when we invited you to merge into our sect, it was because we thought both sides could benefit and coexist in peace.
"Yet... you were craven and afraid of death, fearful of being targeted by the Mo Family, and so you lingered in the Keli River a hundred li outside the Great Xia Sword Sect.
"Did you... perhaps misunderstand something?"
At this point, Li Guanqi's expression darkened.
"To merge into the Great Xia Sword Sect is your honor and your blessing!
"Put away all your haughty airs!
"If you want to negotiate, show some sincerity."
These words were directed at Yu Bo, and by now, he surely understood the situation.
"Of course, I see that some among your Spirit Fish Clan aren't quite convinced.
"How about this: whoever isn't convinced can step forward. I won't bully you either.
"Anyone can step up, at any cultivation realm, and I'll find a disciple from our sect to fight a death match with you."
Silence.
Within the entire hall, aside from Li Guanqi's voice, not a single person dared to utter a word.
The suffocating atmosphere weighed heavily on everyone's chest.
Seeing that no one spoke, Li Guanqi sneered. "Since you don't dare, then watch where you look. Stop glaring with defiance and resentment all over your faces."
With that, Li Guanqi slowly turned around and sat back down on his chair. In the blink of an eye, the terrifying pressure around him vanished into thin air.
Yu Bo and the other two slumped on the floor, gasping for breath in great gulps.
The three of them looked as though they had just been fished out of a pond, drenched from head to toe in cold sweat.
Li Guanqi gave a faint smile. Outside the door, Wu Bing instantly caught the hint and hurriedly brought over a few dry towels to hand to them.
Then, without a word, he flashed back to his post by the door.
Li Guanqi smiled softly. "Senior Brother, why don't you take the disciples of the Spirit Fish Clan on a tour right now, so they can take in the eight hundred scenic waters of the Great Xia Sword Sect?"
Wu Bing nodded with a smile, then gestured outside and said amiably, "Everyone, let the leaders discuss their affairs. I'll take you on a casual stroll around."
His face still pale, Yu Bo waved a hand to his worried clansmen behind him. "Go on."
A hint of worry flashed in Lan Xun's eyes, and her gaze held a trace of anger as she looked at Li Guanqi.
Even so, she led the crowd out of the grand hall.
After they departed, the doors of the grand hall slowly closed.
Only the four of them remained inside.
The elder couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. "Young Master Li truly proves that heroes emerge from youth. It seems an old man like me has no choice but to yield to age."
Hearing this, Li Guanqi chuckled internally.
*The old fellow is still trying to play the venerable elder card even now...*
The old man was hinting that Li Guanqi had been ruthless, showing no mercy even to an old elder like him.
Li Guanqi's expression remained unchanged, acting as if he hadn't caught the underlying meaning.
With a faint smile, he said softly, "I usually respect the elderly and cherish the young.
"Can we have a proper talk now?"
By now, Yu Han no longer dared to speak recklessly. He had clearly sensed the disparity between himself and this youth.
It was the difference between clouds and mud!
"Third on the Tianji Rankings... well deserved indeed."
Taking a deep breath, the elder said solemnly, "On behalf of the Spirit Fish Clan, I am willing to merge into the Great Xia Sword Sect!
"From now on, we shall share both sweetness and sorrow, facing trials and tribulations together!
"All we ask is that you find us a place within the territory of the Great Xia Sword Sect sufficient for us to rest and thrive.
"The Spirit Fish Clan has a natural affinity for water, and all our members possess water spiritual roots. We can serve as consecrated elders within the Great Xia Sword Sect and instruct disciples.
"What does my young friend think?"
Li Guanqi curled his lip, cursing the old fox internally for trying to take all the benefits.
If that was all, why would he have gone through so much trouble?
Li Guanqi shook his head and said mildly, "When did I ever say the Great Xia Sword Sect agreed to let the Spirit Fish Clan merge with us?"
He Ying's brow furrowed tightly, his eyes fixed firmly on Li Guanqi as he said in a deep voice, "What do you mean by this?"
Li Guanqi shrugged, leaning back in his chair as he spoke lazily.
"Back then, when I told you to come, it was so we could face the enemy that is the Mo Family together.
"In the final analysis, this whole ordeal began because of your Spirit Fish Clan, leading me to kill Mo Congyun.
"When the Mo Family led their forces to attack the Great Xia Sword Sect, even I, having set out much later, managed to arrive in time.
"Did you... really not have enough time?"
As his words fell, their expressions turned rather unsightly.
Li Guanqi scoffed. "You can't just expect to reap all the benefits.
"Besides... do you truly believe the Great Xia Sword Sect is so short on a few hands like yours?"
He paused briefly, then raised his voice into a resounding shout.
"With me, Li Guanqi, in the Great Xia Sword Sect, we have no need whatsoever for the three of you as helpers!"
Choked by his words, none of them could offer a rebuttal, because what Li Guanqi said was the truth.
Yu Bo's eyes flickered, his posture suddenly slumping.
He let out a sigh and said softly, "My young friend, there is no need to say more. State your terms directly."
Chapter 393