An exclamation of admiration involuntarily escaped Zhou Shiyu's lips.
He had never imagined that a sword cultivator could temper his physical body and fist techniques to such a state.
Skin like steel, flesh like stone, a frame like a mountain!
The sheer power of his blood and qi moved even him.
Even though both of them pursued the dual cultivation of spirit and martial paths, Zhou Shiyu felt utterly inferior before Li Guanqi's physical body.
That single fist technique, Ten Thousand Mountains—Zhou Shiyu pondered it for a long while and realized that even if he faced that punch himself, he would likely have to go all out.
And the outcome... would still be uncertain.
In his mind, he constantly replayed every detail of Li Guanqi throwing that punch. As someone who naturally wielded earth-element primal energy, his insights ran especially deep.
Cupping his hands, he bowed to Li Guanqi. The accomplished should be revered as master.
Since he could learn from the man, he was even willing to address him as teacher.
"Thank you, Brother Li, for generously sharing your guidance."
Li Guanqi waved his hand, paying little mind to such a minor matter.
Instead, it was Gu Huai and the others who rushed over in a fluster.
With such a massive commotion stirred up, they had assumed Li Guanqi and Zhou Shiyu were fighting each other.
Seeing the old man arrive, Li Guanqi took the opportunity to bid farewell.
"I have troubled you greatly these past few days. As for the alliance between the Great Xia Sword Sect and the Six Ancient Sacred Sect, I will see to it as soon as possible."
"Now that all matters are concluded, I shall not impose any longer."
Gu Huai led the five division masters in bowing to Li Guanqi. What Li Guanqi had done could truly be said to have straightened the spine of a sect that had been on the verge of collapsing!
Gu Huai spoke with solemn sincerity. "Rest assured, young friend. In our cooperation, the Six Ancient Sacred Sect will never use our power to bully or oppress. Please put your mind at ease."
The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curved slightly. Nodding, a flash of lightning erupted beneath his feet, and he vanished from the Six Ancient Sacred Sect.
Having departed the Six Ancient Sacred Sect, Li Guanqi felt some concern for Meng Wanshu's situation, as well as the sword his father-in-law was forging for him.
Stroking his chin, he glanced back toward the Six Ancient Sacred Sect and muttered under his breath,
"This Zhou Shiyu... what kind of way can I find to rope him in...?"
Li Guanqi held great admiration for Zhou Shiyu—not merely for his sword talent, but even more for his character and temperament.
He saw nothing wrong with Zhou Shiyu refusing his invitation.
Were roles reversed, even if someone at the Body Integration Realm came trying to take him under their wing, he wouldn't agree either.
The reason was simple: I don't consider myself half a bit inferior to you, so why should you get to be my boss?
Li Guanqi took out his Tianji jade pendant and transmitted his voice softly: "Elder Gu, I want to return to the Shenbao Domain. Where is the nearest cross-domain teleportation array?"
Soon, the old man's exhausted voice came through the jade pendant.
"I've sent the details to your pendant."
"As for the Six Ancient Sacred Sect... just keep your wits about you. For now, you don't need to worry about any old monsters at the Body Integration Realm showing up."
"However, you must understand that the rule no one dares violate is that only those under a hundred years old may take action."
"Among the Ancient Clans... it's not impossible that there are peerless monstrosities who have yet to reveal themselves to the world!"
Li Guanqi's eyes flickered. Only now did he learn of this rule!
*No wonder... No wonder I've never seen anyone of advanced age appear from the Ancient Clans from start to finish!*
*In other words, if there really is someone under a hundred at the Body Integration Realm, they would probably suppress everyone with overwhelming dominance the moment they emerge, wouldn't they?*
Li Guanqi's expression turned grave, his eyes narrowing slightly.
For some reason, ever since he heard this news, he felt an inexplicable pressure.
He had an intuitive sense that among those deeply hidden Ancient Clans, true prodigies of heaven definitely existed!
Although he had rarely met a match among cultivators of the same realm up to now, or even among his peers,
he had always remained vigilant toward the Ancient Clans.
For those Ancient Clans that had been passed down for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, the depth of their foundation was likely far beyond his imagination.
Just the Sun clan alone had forced him to marvel at the formidable talent of their disciples.
Li Guanqi pondered for a moment. "Alright, Elder Gu, I understand."
From the jade pendant came the old man's teasing voice: "Still, no need to worry about all that."
"If anyone blind really dares make a move against you, this old man will move Tianji Pavilion straight to the Great Xia Sword Sect!"
Hearing this, Li Guanqi grinned broadly. It seemed the old fellow knew how to play his cards...
Such an action was virtually equivalent to handing Tianji Pavilion right over into his hands.
Yet he didn't actually want to do that. After all, Gu Yong only said such things out of respect for his grandfather.
A glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes. With countless thoughts swirling in his mind, he tore open the void and sped toward the nearest cross-domain teleportation array.
This cross-domain teleportation array was not open to the public; it belonged exclusively to Tianji Pavilion.
The moment the array's barrier vanished, the disciple guarding the teleportation array unexpectedly pulled out a jade slip swirling with dense demonic energy and transmitted his voice:
"Lord Mei, he has stepped onto the teleportation array. The spatial coordinates are—"
Before the disciple could state the coordinates of the location, a blurry figure suddenly rose slowly from the shadow beneath his feet.
A short blade slashed violently, severing his head!!
*Spurt!!!*
Ge San looked at the jade slip in his hand, thick with demonic energy, a wave of lingering fear washing over him!!
He hastily pulled out his Tianji jade pendant and explained everything to Gu Yong.
Putting down the jade pendant, Gu Yong's expression shifted slightly, but Li Guanqi had already entered the teleportation array and could not be reached at all!!
With his hands tucked into his sleeves, the old man rose and paced slowly through his study.
He murmured under his breath, "Mei... Is it the four tiers of Chi, Mei, Wang, and Liang?"
"Is Mei at the Void Refining Realm, or... the Body Integration Realm?"
"If it's the Body Integration Realm, doesn't that mean the final tier of the Sha...!!"
"Impossible... How could a mere evil cultivator organization possess Tribulation Transcendence Realm experts?!"
After a long silence, the old man slowly took a step forward, his entire form vanishing directly from the Tianji Domain.
On the way, Gu Yong transmitted a message: "Brother Meng, the Sha is going to move against Guanqi."
"Location!"
Inside the teleportation channel, Li Guanqi remained completely unaware of all this.
Holding a sword of thunder loosely in one hand, Li Guanqi practiced his sword techniques continuously.
The two sword techniques he had comprehended through the Dao Rhyme Stone gave him a much deeper understanding of his own sword intent.
Yet at present, he had still not touched the realm barrier of the Body Integration Realm, which meant...
he likely still had a long way to go before reaching Body Integration.
Practicing his sword, Li Guanqi thought to himself that once he finished this busy stretch, he would probably need to enter seclusion as well.
He realized that the Void Refining Realm required profound comprehension of the boundary between the void and reality; only when he found that path would it be time for him to step into Body Integration.
In the void space.
Three figures wearing blood-red masks sped through the void as a raspy voice slowly sounded.
"Can't you determine the exact location?"
Another figure, cloaked entirely in black robes, spoke in a chilling voice:
"Use the Blood-Oath Compass. Remember, he must be taken alive!!"
Chapter 713