Hearing what the man said, Li Guanqi felt rather embarrassed.
These words...
No matter how one heard it, it sounded like He Yuanting was flattering him. The scene was utterly bizarre.
Within his divine sense, Li Guanqi naturally noticed the other two groups as well.
One was a fair-faced man dressed like a noble young master from the mortal realm below. He appeared only in his twenties, gently swaying a folding fan in his hand.
Willow-leaf curved eyebrows... perhaps that was how one could describe him.
As he took two steps forward, the exaggerated sway of his hips practically reached for the sky.
Yet Li Guanqi could not fathom the true strength of this slightly effeminate-looking man in the slightest.
"My, my~ When will Brother He praise me like this too...?"
"I want some too~"
As he spoke, his body began leaning instinctively toward He Yuanting.
A wave of revulsion churned in He Yuanting's stomach. A burly, powerful hand slammed onto the man's face, violently shoving him away.
With utter disgust dripping from his voice, he barked, "Ji Shaolin! Get the fuck away from me!"
Yet in the split second He Yuanting shoved him, Ji Shaolin stuck out his tongue and licked the center of his palm.
He Yuanting suddenly felt a surge of regret...
Why hadn't he crushed that face to pieces just now?!
Clad in a form-fitting, opulent purple robe, the man flashed backward a zhang or so, casting a sultry glance at He Yuanting.
He licked his lips and looked at He Yuanting with languid, misty eyes, murmuring softly, "Brother Ting is overbearing as always. I like that."
The sickeningly sweet, coquettish voice made everyone want to retch.
Li Guanqi couldn't help rolling his eyes—fortunately, being blind, no one could tell.
Yet he noticed that when the surrounding Taixuan Sword Sect disciples heard those words, every single one shuddered, not daring to lift their heads.
For some reason, Li Guanqi sensed... fear in their emotions!
Li Guanqi's gaze instinctively turned toward Ji Shaolin.
The instant he looked at him, Ji Shaolin whipped his head around to meet his gaze!
The beaming smile he had turned on He Yuanting chilled over.
Tilted slightly to the side, the gloomy-faced man stared down Li Guanqi with narrow, serpentine eyes.
The voice that had just sounded coquettish sank into a chilling register.
In an instant, Li Guanqi felt an extraordinarily sinister, freezing aura engulf him.
He was suffocated, unable to breathe. His face flushed crimson as the space around him twisted continuously.
It was as though invisible forces were trying to crush him into paste!
*Screeech!*
A piercing sword chime rang out, yet Red Lotus was firmly pinned inside the sword coffin, unable to fly forth.
The surrounding space had practically solidified into physical matter, and the illusory origin spirit within his dantian seemed completely sealed off.
The veins on Li Guanqi's neck bulged, his face turning the dark purple of pig's liver.
The sword spirit's voice sounded slowly in his ear: "Do you want me to kill him for you?"
Li Guanqi's voice squeezed out with immense difficulty: "Not... yet... no need!!"
Suddenly!
An invisible sword qi flashed past Li Guanqi's ear, so blindingly fast that even he failed to perceive it.
There was not even the slightest fluctuation of primal energy within it.
The spatial barrier around Li Guanqi shattered instantly, and his body suddenly felt light again.
He Yuanting's figure abruptly materialized in front of Li Guanqi, his calm voice stripped of all emotion.
"Ji Shaolin, you have crossed the line."
Ji Shaolin's pupils contracted sharply at the words, only for a smile to resurface across his face.
"Aiya, why would Brother Ting get angry with me over an outsider?"
"Fine, fine, fine, I won't touch him, won't touch him."
With that, the man's gaze looked past He Yuanting to Li Guanqi, whose eyes burned with murderous intent.
With a cold, mocking chuckle, he said, "What a lucky little brat."
"Be sure you never fall into my hands. Just now... I suddenly developed an interest in you."
Li Guanqi fired back without the slightest fear, "I hope that one day I can pay you a personal visit... to seek death."
As for who would die...
Hearing this, Ji Shaolin burst into laughter, then turned to He Yuning.
"You've got good taste. It's just that this friend of yours... won't live long."
With that, he turned, swayed his hips, and sashayed away, waving a hand. "He Yuanting, don't forget what we discussed."
He Yuanting's face darkened, but he said nothing more.
Meanwhile, the man in the navy-blue robe on the other side stepped in to smooth things over with a laugh.
The man had a full beard, a burly frame, and a massive axe tucked into his waist.
"Hahaha, Old He, don't be mad. It's not like you don't know what kind of person he is."
"There's no point getting worked up over him."
He Yuanting sneered at Ji Shaolin's receding back. Staring at his palm, he rubbed it vigorously, cursing in utter disgust, "Fucking bad luck..."
"Old Li, who the hell could stand him acting like that every day?"
Turning to Li Guanqi, he smiled and asked, "Are you all right? Did he scare you?"
Li Guanqi shook his head. He had etched this grudge into his heart. When an opportunity arose in the future, he would certainly pay him a visit to have a good chat.
*Ji Shaolin.*
He Yuanting smiled. "Since nothing is wrong, come, let's head to the grand hall and sit for a bit."
Seeing this, Li Guanqi spoke up softly, "Senior He, this junior has a request. I wonder if you might grant it."
The man was momentarily taken aback, unsure what request Li Guanqi could have for him.
*Could it be that because I showed him high regard, he thinks he can push his luck and ask for favors?*
At the thought, the smile on the man's face gradually faded.
"Oh? What is it? Let's hear it."
By now, He Yuning had also noticed the subtle shift in his father's tone.
He immediately sent an anxious voice transmission to Li Guanqi: "What could you possibly need?! Phrasing it like that—what do you think my father is going to assume?!"
Yet as if he hadn't heard him, Li Guanqi merely bowed slightly.
Then he straightened, glanced first at He Yuanting, and looked back at the sword scar behind him.
He said softly, "This junior does not belong to Senior He's Taixuan Sword Sect, yet today I received the approval of your sect's forebear, who imparted his sword intent to me without reservation."
Hearing this, He Yuanting's expression remained neutral. Losing a Sword Heart Realm sword intent pained him deeply as well.
However, considering that Li Guanqi was someone his son had brought back, he had to appear generous no matter what.
Haggling over it would only make him look petty.
Li Guanqi's voice sounded once more.
"Therefore... this junior boldly makes a request: I would like to leave a wisp of my sword intent here in the Sword Abyss as well. I wonder if Senior might agree?"
Hearing this, He Yuanting shuddered violently, his eyes flashing with brilliant light!
Yanluo Sword Li Guanqi!
At this moment, Li Guanqi's sword intent was at its absolute peak, only a single step away from the Sword Heart Realm.
Moreover, his sword intent happened to lie right between the Sword Gall Realm and the Sword Heart Realm!
A sword intent in such a state was exceedingly rare, and no sword cultivator would casually leave behind a manifestation of their sword intent.
He Yuanting realized that he had just judged a noble man by a petty mind's standards.
The corners of his lips curved upward. With a wave of his broad hand, he teleported all the sect disciples ten thousand zhang away.
Looking at Li Guanqi with sharp, gleaming eyes, he said in a deep voice, "That you could comprehend Severed Cliff is your own skill. That you leave behind your Yanluo Sword Intent is your goodwill."
"The Taixuan Sword Sect accepts this kindness!"
"You may leave it wherever you wish."
Having said that, He Yuanting glanced at He Yuning beside him, his eyes filled with gratification.
He was genuinely thrilled that his son had found such a friend.
Hearing those words, Li Guanqi's eyes hardened with determination. He pointed toward the rock beside the Severed Cliff sword scar and said softly, "Right here, then."
With his mind entirely focused on engraving his sword intent, Li Guanqi failed to notice in the slightest that within the distant crowd, a pair of eyes was watching him intently.
Chapter 489