See? Isn't the Door Open Now?

Along the way, Qianqiusui asked out of curiosity, "Li Wuji, aren't you afraid that I might be taking you somewhere extremely dangerous?" Li Guanqi shrugged and chuckled softly. "You're coming with me anyway. Unless you're looking to die and paying for someone to be buried with you, I really can't think of any reason to refuse." Qianqiusui found the young man quite amusing and offered a faint smile. Looking at the imposing sect perched halfway up the distant mountain, she said, "I'm mainly going to Baizhang Prison to discuss some business. I run an auction house, but a recent shipment of pills from Baizhang Prison has been long delayed. That's why I decided to make the trip myself to check on it." Li Guanqi frowned slightly. Yunding Auction House, of course he knew of it. What surprised him, however, was that Qianqiusui's auction house sourced its medicinal pills from the Luoxia Domain. "What kind of pills require you to make the trip in person?" Qianqiusui glanced at him but did not tell him what they were. Even though she felt an inexplicable sense of trust and reliance toward him, that did not mean she was completely without guard. "Hehe, anyway, they're very important, and that's all that matters." "Fair enough. It's none of my business anyway." Before long, they ran out of time for idle chatter as the jade slip in Qianqiusui's hand kept urging her to hurry over. Buzz! A cyan ward screen blocked the two outside. Qianqiusui cupped her hands and called out clearly, "Qianqiusui of Yunding Auction House has come to seek an audience with Sect Master Wei!" Whoosh! Whoosh! Two figures in purple robes swooped over. Their eyes lit up the moment they saw Qianqiusui. "Do you possess a token from the sect master?" At those words, Qianqiusui's expression turned frosty, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly. Her haughty demeanor returned as she said coldly, "Little brother, your Sect Master Wei invited me here personally. You had best go ask him." The gaunt youth sneered. "Without the sect master's token, why should I believe you? What if you sneak into Baizhang Prison to steal something—how would I answer for that? If you don't have a token, head back." Li Guanqi let out a derisive scoff. "Truly, barking mad dogs can be found anywhere..." "What did you say?! Say that again!" Li Guanqi shrugged, stepped forward at an unhurried pace, and gently pressed his slender palm against the barrier. "Hmph, arrogant fool! This is the signature defensive formation of our Baizhang Prison! Hahaha, what an idiot!" Even Qianqiusui hurriedly called out, "Don't be reckless! We're here to ask for a favor..." Seeing her almost pleading expression, Li Guanqi raised his hands and shrugged. "Well, do you have another way?" Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Three figures came hurtling in from the distance. The jade slips at their waists flashed faintly, allowing them to ignore the ward screen and fly straight through. Seeing this, the two outer disciples at the entrance quickly lowered their heads, bowed, and declared loudly, "Welcome back, Senior Brother Sun!" Yet the three who had just entered suddenly stiffened. Sun Zhen swallowed hard, his body freezing midair. The moment he turned and clearly saw Li Guanqi's face, his heart quaked. He swiftly flew over to him, bowed deeply, and stammered, "Uh... Senior, what brings you here?" Li Guanqi pointed at the two disciples inside. "I came with a friend to take care of some business. Your sect master even invited her, but these disciples of yours won't let us in." Sun Zhen remained bent at the waist, cold sweat dripping down in beads. With his head lowered, he scrambled to the side to part the barrier and guided the two forward. "Seniors, the junior disciples were ignorant... Please do not take offense, Seniors." "Senior Brother Sun, they don't have—" Smack! "Get lost!" The two outer disciples kept their heads down, not daring to utter a peep. Walking into the sect, Li Guanqi curled his lip, glanced back at the barrier behind him, and suddenly gave a sharp yank! Rumble! Crack! In an instant, the outer barrier of Baizhang Prison shattered like a scrap of old cloth! Li Guanqi leaned right up beside the disciple's face, pointed at the pulverized ward, and chuckled. "See? Very brittle." Seeing this, a colossal wave of shock surged through Qianqiusui's heart! The aura he had just revealed was very likely that of half-step Void Refinement. *What terrifying strength...* Soon, the shattered barrier reformed. Li Guanqi looked at the dazed woman and said, "Let's go. Weren't you in a hurry?" "Oh, right, right!" With that, the two flew up toward the purple-gold palace atop the mountain peak. Behind them, the disciple remained standing respectfully in place, waiting until they had departed before daring to leave. Qianqiusui turned to Li Guanqi with an unreadable gaze. "I didn't expect you to know an inner disciple of Baizhang Prison. "There's such a massive difference in cultivation between you two... Are you from the Luoxia Domain?" Li Guanqi smiled without a word, offering no explanation. Suddenly! Li Guanqi raised his eyes slightly toward the sky ahead. Buzz! A mighty pressure came bearing down upon them! Qianqiusui's face instantly went pale, and Li Guanqi also pretended he could barely bear the weight. The air twisted faintly, and a man draped in a shimmering purple-gold robe appeared thirty feet away. The man was somewhat portly, with eyes so narrow one might mistake him for being asleep if they didn't look closely. His robe was stretched taut across his belly, and when he clasped his hands behind his back, his fingers could not even link together... "Hmph! Qianqiusui, the companion you brought has quite the gall! To dare destroy the outer barrier of our Baizhang Prison!" Her face pale, Qianqiusui bowed low and humble. "My apologies, Sect Master Wei. "This bodyguard of mine lacks manners. Whatever loss he has caused your sect, I will compensate double." Through Qianqiusui's divine sense transmission, Li Guanqi learned that this man was Wei Qian, the sect master of Baizhang Prison. While Qianqiusui was still offering apologies, Li Guanqi nearly burst out laughing upon hearing the name. *Wei Qian... as in 'for money'???* Qianqiusui immediately shot Li Guanqi a glare. Wei Qian gave a cold snort, his expression softening only after hearing the promise of compensation. "Come, let us discuss business in the main hall." With that, the man turned and vanished from the spot in a single step. Feeling the pressure lift, Qianqiusui finally let out a breath of relief. "Watch what you say. That man has a foul temper." Li Guanqi smiled and nodded, and they soon arrived at the main hall. The moment he reached the entrance, Li Guanqi's brow knitted slightly. It seemed quite a crowd had gathered inside today. Yet the firmly closed doors barred both of them outside. Qianqiusui's face darkened instantly. This was a blatant attempt to humiliate her! Inside, the hall was packed with people, but they all seemed to be there merely to watch her make a fool of herself. Still, she had no choice but to swallow her fury. Leaning forward, she knocked on the door and called out, "Qianqiusui of Yunding Auction House requests an audience with Sect Master Wei!" Even through the heavy doors, Li Guanqi could hear mocking laughter erupting from within. Thump, thump, thump! "Qianqiusui of Yunding Auction House requests an audience with Sect! Master! Wei!" There was still no response from inside the hall. Looking at Qianqiusui's livid face, Li Guanqi sighed. He abruptly raised his leg and lashed out with a kick! Bang!! The two thirty-foot-tall redwood doors exploded outward like a pair of razor-sharp blades! Whoosh! Whoosh! The two door panels shot straight past Wei Qian's flanks, lodging themselves slanted into the stone floor. Tucking his hands into his sleeves, Li Guanqi turned to Qianqiusui, who had turned sheet-white, and smiled. "See? Isn't the door open now? "Don't try this yourself, though—I can only do it because I have the strength to back it up." Stepping into the hall, Li Guanqi suddenly thought... Every now and then, doing things without thinking was actually quite refreshing.