Having spoken his piece, the old man looked up and added, "It's really nothing major. Just that word reached us that a few youngsters went off to the Shenbao Domain, killed the Southern Heavenly King, and crippled the other three Heavenly Kings.
"Hahaha, now tell me, how could that even be possible?
"On top of that, since you folks arrived from the Shenbao Domain and possess such extraordinary cultivation, Old Du insisted on dragging us over.
"Just look—these young friends all have such kind, gentle faces. How could that be true...?
"Heaven knows where those ridiculous rumors came from.
"Right, young friend?"
The moment the old man turned his head, he saw an inscrutable smile playing across Li Guanqi's lips as the young man nodded.
"Indeed. Elder Du's information is correct. News travels quite fast."
Du Yuan remained bowed, nodding in agreement.
Zhao Yongxian, who had just been holding forth with easy banter, suddenly found himself completely unable to smile.
When he had first heard the report, it had sounded like an utter fantasy.
And yet now...
Li Guanqi and the others offered faint smiles, offering no further explanation.
Meanwhile, the cultivators gathered across the square listened in sheer terror!
The people standing before them... had killed the Southern Heavenly King of the Shenbao Domain?!
And had beaten the Heavenly Kings of the other three domains to a pulp?!
"Thank you for the kind intentions, everyone, but we shall pass on the banquet," Li Guanqi said.
"May I ask which teleportation array leads to the Xuanfeng Palace on the Lingxu Continent?"
Du Yuan's eyes grew heavy with solemnity, and he hurriedly spoke up.
"Our Du family possesses a teleportation array that happens to connect directly to the Heavenly Demon Sect on the Lingxu Continent."
Hearing that, an enigmatic grin tugged at the corner of Li Guanqi's mouth.
The instant Du Yuan caught sight of that smile, he bowed deeply and blurted out, "Our Du family merely had a few business dealings with the Heavenly Demon Sect! In fact, an issue cropped up in our partnership not long ago, and we will never have any involvement with them again!"
Li Guanqi chuckled and nodded.
"Senior Du needn't be so terrified. We aren't wicked men."
With his head bowed, the old man's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"I shall lead the way at once."
Turning aside, the old man guided them swiftly to the Du family estate.
The teleportation array, however, was located deep within an isolated spatial pocket inside the residence.
Du Yuan dismissed everyone on the grounds before personally leading the group onto the teleportation array.
The array flared with radiant light. Just as their silhouettes began dissolving into the brilliance, Li Guanqi's voice abruptly sounded in the old man's ear.
"Senior is very clever."
*Whoosh! Buzz!*
The array light vanished, and the boulder weighing on the old man's heart finally lifted with a sigh of relief.
He knew that the Heavenly Demon Sect on the Lingxu Continent was about to face a calamity...
"What a bunch of baneful fiends... Yet at such a young age, every single one of them carries a terrifying aura!"
"Sigh, the younger generation is truly to be feared!"
With that, the old man immediately summoned everyone for a clan assembly to discuss a very straightforward matter:
From this moment onward, sever all ties with the Heavenly Demon Sect completely!
***
Ye Feng frowned. "Boss, what are we going to the Lingxu Continent for?"
Li Guanqi shrugged, speaking casually. "Just following my heart.
"To kill someone. When I went to the Taiqing Domain back then, someone tampered with the teleportation array and nearly cost me my life.
"Since we're already here, we might as well kill them on our way back."
The others said nothing more. If the boss said it was to be done, they had no objections.
Li Guanqi turned to look at the woman beside him, his eyes brimming with tenderness.
Yet he smiled and remarked, "The way you act around me versus around outsiders is quite the contrast, too.
"Back in Yuntian City, I thought you were some cold, unapproachable lady.
"That lofty air... and that imperious gaze, looking as though you were peering down upon all living beings."
A faint smile appeared at the corners of Meng Wanshu's lips, and she did not deny it.
"When your status is high, countless eyes naturally watch you.
"My cultivation method and spiritual root are both of the ice attribute, and on ordinary days, there wasn't a single peer I could talk to."
The woman leaned slightly against her chair, picked up her teacup, and took a small sip, speaking as though discussing matters that had nothing to do with her.
"Everyone who approached me had an ulterior motive, or else they sneered and mocked me behind my back.
"Show them a little warmth, and they push their luck. There was no other choice.
"Over time, my temperament naturally grew a bit detached."
As her words fell, Li Guanqi's eyes filled with deep heartache.
Living like that for years on end, anyone would inevitably grow cold and guarded.
Only by doing so could one keep others from casually taking advantage of them.
Meng Wanshu suddenly broke into a bright smile, her voice soft.
"I'm just glad I met you."
"*Gag!*"
Ye Feng stood up and bolted out the cabin door, walking over to the cloud boat's railing.
"Can't take it, can't take it anymore... I need some fresh air."
Xiao Chen sat at the bow, nursing a jug of wine, and curled his lip.
"Look at you—you just had to go inside.
"I was the smart one. I didn't go in at all."
Ye Feng snapped, "Come on, turn around and face me."
When Xiao Chen turned his head, tears were streaming down his face. Seeing that, Ye Feng couldn't help but say, "Tell me, what are you even putting yourself through?"
Watching Xiao Chen like this, Cao Yan couldn't help letting out a sigh as well.
Pitiful. Truly pitiful.
"You guys are all so nice... I figured Wanshu doesn't like me, but what can I do...?"
Ye Feng patted his shoulder and said, "Once we get back to the Great Xia Sword Sect, if you take a fancy to any female disciple of Tianshui Peak, I'll talk to the peak master for you!"
"*Gasp*... Really?"
"Tianshui Peak? Your sect divides peaks by the five elements?"
Ye Feng chuckled. "Within the Great Xia Sword Sect, there are three thousand wondrous peaks and eight hundred scenic waters!
"The mountain ridges layer upon one another, soaring precipitously into the clouds—a breathtaking sight!
"Nearly ninety percent of Tianshui Peak is made up of female disciples. Are you still worried you won't find true love?"
The more Xiao Chen listened, the brighter his eyes grew. He gulped, nodding his head like a chick pecking at grain.
A sharp gleam flashed in Ye Feng's eyes, and he adopted a troubled expression.
"Sigh... but you're an outsider... with no title or standing... that makes things tricky."
Xiao Chen instantly jumped up in agitation, pounding his chest until it thudded.
"Tsk, are you stupid?! You're a Void Refining Realm powerhouse now. When you get back, won't you be part of the sect's upper echelons?
"When the time comes, just give me a title! Make me a consecrated elder, an ordinary elder, whatever! Wouldn't that solve everything?!"
Ye Feng slapped his thigh and gave a huge thumbs-up. "Aiya! Brother Xiao is truly brilliant! How did I not think of that?!"
Watching the smugly proud Xiao Chen, Cao Yan nudged Ye Feng with his elbow.
He transmitted his voice in a low murmur: "Second Brother... this guy... isn't he a little slow?"
"Shoo, shoo, how could you say that about him?
"That's called being straightforward.
"Oh, right. Big Brother said that once we're back, you should take up a post at Tianshui Peak too. It'll be a good place for you to rest and recuperate."
Cao Yan scratched his head. "Me? Can I manage that?"
Ye Feng rolled his eyes and snapped, "What do you mean, can you manage it?
"You're damn near at Void Refinement yourself! What's so hard about teaching a bunch of Foundation Establishment and Core Formation kids?"
*Buzz!*
A patch of bright light emerged in the distance. Li Guanqi slowly walked out of the cabin, his voice calm and steady.
"Brothers, come with me to settle some scores."
Chapter 567