When Li Guanqi heard this news, he could not help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air.
Though he had considered that Cao Yan's background might be somewhat complicated, he had never imagined the man carried such a deep, blood-soaked vengeance on his shoulders.
More importantly... the one responsible for all of it was no outsider, but his very own maternal uncle!
Li Guanqi's chest heaved violently.
Looking back, no wonder the look in Cao Yan's eyes when looking at him and Ye Feng back then had been so resolute.
It was because Cao Yan knew just how terrifyingly formidable the enemies he faced were!
Only then had he chosen to depart on his own, refusing to drag the two of them down.
Li Guanqi asked softly, "The Southern Heavenly King... is the Heavenly King of an entire domain?"
The old man nodded silently and murmured, "This Southern Heavenly King is not someone your Qingyun Continent's Northern Heavenly King, Long Qu, can compare to."
Li Guanqi nodded and said nothing more, though a flash of murderous intent glinted deep within his eyes.
Gu Yong pondered for a moment, then spoke in a gentle voice, "Cao Yan is in no immediate danger right now. However... those pursuing him have never given up. Would you like me to sever this thread for you?"
"What is Cao Yan's current cultivation realm?"
Li Guanqi asked softly, and promptly received an answer.
"Mid Soul Formation Realm. Fighting between life and death has caused his strength to advance at extraordinary speed.
"Furthermore, he is blessed with no small fortune and has had a few fortuitous encounters of his own."
Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. After pondering in silence for a good while, he said softly, "There is no need to sever it.
"Cao Yan himself wishes to increase his strength and realm as quickly as possible.
"What about Ye Feng?"
At the mention of Ye Feng, the old man smiled rather enigmatically.
"A steadfast nature capable of moving mountains!
"The name of the sword cultivator Ye Feng will surely resound across the Six Domains one day!"
Hearing this, Li Guanqi felt rather astonished.
After all, Ye Feng had been indolent by nature; it was only after meeting him and Cao Yan that Ye Feng had begun striving and cultivating earnestly.
He didn't understand how Ye Feng had earned such profound acclaim from the old man, who showed not the slightest stinginess with his praise.
"That's quite high praise..."
Li Guanqi smiled. He was genuinely thrilled that his good brother could receive praise from such an eminent figure.
As for when the two of them would meet again, he was not in the least bit anxious.
They were each climbing their own peaks. One day, they would...
Meet at the summits, gazing across the mountains, and raise their cups to drink three thousand bowls!
Sensing the terrifying spear intent lingering across the land, Li Guanqi's heart trembled.
Even looking only at the bottomless abyss before him, he could feel just how immensely powerful the one who struck had been.
Such power... was truly terrifying.
Li Guanqi wanted to ask whose strike had wrought this, but in the end, the question remained unasked.
In the end, Li Guanqi cupped his fists in farewell to the old man, bringing this journey to a smooth conclusion.
Donning his black robe once more, thunder flashed beneath Li Guanqi's feet as he vanished into the distance.
The old man remained standing where he was, hands tucked into his sleeves, his hunched frame exuding an inexplicably oppressive aura.
With his back turned to the four people, Gu Yong said in a deep voice, "From this day forth, no one is permitted to investigate Li Guanqi's movements or whereabouts!
"His whereabouts shall be classified as top secret within Tianji Pavilion. Should word leak...
"...I will obliterate whoever is responsible!"
The four branch pavilion masters behind him shuddered from head to toe, hurriedly bowing in salute.
"Understood! This subordinate obeys!"
With a slight lift of his foot, the old man vanished from the spot in the blink of an eye.
Leaving only the four elders exchanging glances, each seeing the grave solemnity in the others' eyes.
They all knew that if even a shred of what they had seen and heard today leaked out, it would mark their doom!
Having departed Mingchuan, Li Guanqi looked down. The lands of Mingchuan were now a scene of utter devastation everywhere.
A land ideal for the survival of ghost-demons had vanished overnight just like that.
The lingering, terrifying aura struck dread into the hearts of many.
An inexplicable, mysterious power shrouded the land of Mingchuan.
Starting from that day, Mingchuan became entirely a thing of the past—and became a new forbidden zone.
No one knew how many ages would have to pass, and for that oppressive might to dissipate, before anyone could enter again to catch a glimpse of what lay within.
Not a single soul even knew what had happened in Mingchuan back then.
Those cultivators who had been displaced out of the secret realm appeared directly outside Mingchuan.
Yet an unexpected piece of news began spreading from the mouths of all the cultivators who had participated in the secret realm:
"The Yanluo Sword, Li Guanqi! He severed Ming Xiao with his sword, and subdued Xuan Lin with his fists!"
This news swept across the entire Lingxu Continent like a storm, gradually spreading to other continents as well.
Yet many cultivators in the Qingyun Continent were already accustomed to such feats.
Whenever news arrived about Li Guanqi of the Great Xia Sword Sect, he was practically either killing someone or on his way to kill someone.
And after the incident with the Mo Family of the Southern Domain, everyone had realized the Great Xia Sword Sect was not to be trifled with.
At the very least, cultivators below the Void Refining Realm dared not provoke them lightly anymore.
Li Guanqi did not traverse the void. Instead, draped in his black robe with an inscrutable expression, he walked between heaven and earth.
Treading upon the void, flying above the cloud layer with hands clasped behind his back and a deep look in his eyes, none could tell what he was thinking.
After a long time, Li Guanqi let out a soft sigh.
He muttered under his breath, "Relying on anyone is never as good as relying on oneself."
Indeed, after pondering for so long, this was the conclusion he ultimately reached.
Even though he now knew his grandfather was an extraordinary figure...
No... he should say a supreme big shot.
A supreme figure capable of striking fear into the master of Tianji Pavilion of the Great Xia Domain.
Yet Li Guanqi still had no designs on relying on that.
In his heart, Su Xuan was still the skinny old man sitting on the threshold smoking his dry tobacco pipe.
Still the quirky grandfather who tricked him into scrounging meals at the auntie's house.
Still the grandfather who, on that snowy, blizzard-swept night, pulled him into his embrace and asked if he wanted to come along.
Curling his lip, he exhaled a breath of stale air.
The sword spirit had emerged beside him at some point, and seeing him like this, she couldn't help teasing him:
"What? Feeling a bit regretful that you don't get to experience throwing your weight around?
"If you were to borrow your grandfather's prestige, swaggering across the Six Domains would be no trouble at all."
Hearing this, Li Guanqi glanced at her. Suddenly, the corners of his lips curved up into a brilliant smile.
In a gentle voice, he said, "If I did that, wouldn't I miss out on so much scenery along the climb?"
The sword spirit looked at him without the slightest surprise, a lovely smile gracing her face.
"Mm, that sounds like you."
"The saber intent inside my body... was meant as a precaution against you, wasn't it?"
Li Guanqi asked the sword spirit with a calm expression.
The woman stretched lazily, reclining languidly in the void, resting her head on one hand as she looked at Li Guanqi.
"Mm. He was afraid I would kill you."
Li Guanqi choked on that answer for a moment, yet he continued pacing forward with an unperturbed expression as he asked, "And now?"
The sword spirit turned around, clasping her hands behind her back, walking effortlessly atop the clouds.
In a calm voice, she said, "Now?
"I want you to... shatter the vault of heaven! Tread upon the Nine Heavens!
"And one day, break through and ascend.
"Carry my broken form, and have a good, proper reasoning with the immortals above!"
Chapter 451