Hearing Lu Kangnian's words, Li Guanqi felt an inexplicable twinge in his heart.
Lu Kangnian looked at Li Guanqi and chuckled softly. "The spiritual energy in the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven is exceptionally dense, making it ideal for your current recuperation."
Li Guanqi replied with an awkward smile, "You noticed?"
Lu Kangnian nodded and said gently, "Mm. I can't sense much—after all, your cultivation realm is far beyond mine. It's just a feeling... Later, when you are ready to break through to the Body Integration Realm, I will help you activate the Jingchan Glazed Array."
Li Guanqi nodded with a smile, but soon voiced the concern weighing on his mind. "Sect Master, our Great Xia Sword Sect's heritage runs so deep that it will inevitably attract covetous eyes. Who else... knows about all this?"
Lu Kangnian's expression turned solemn. He naturally understood what Li Guanqi meant. Li Guanqi feared that once past generations of disciples, elders, and other members returned, too many people would know, and some might harbor wicked designs.
"Only past sect masters and pavilion keepers!"
Li Guanqi nodded. It seemed the secret was known to very few.
Li Guanqi smiled. "No matter. That isn't a problem. Once we finish the structures within the domain boundary during this period, we can proceed with preparations." Looking up at the man, he said softly, "With me here, feel free to do as you see fit, Sect Master."
Lu Kangnian's lips curled into a slight smile at those words. Originally, he had planned to spend his entire life in mediocrity and let it be. But Li Guanqi's emergence had allowed him to see hope—the hope of the sect's rise!
All these years, the Great Xia Sword Sect had remained dormant, recuperating and biding its time. It was never because past sect masters lacked ambition, but because no disciple among them could shoulder that ambition and carry the Great Xia Sword Sect forward!
Lu Kangnian felt as though he could see a grand avenue strewn with thorns lying right before him. Yet once he set foot upon this path, there would be no turning back.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Kangnian looked at Li Guanqi with burning fervor and said in a resolute voice, "It is time for the Great Xia Sword Sect to rise! From this day forth, unseal one hundred peaks and thirty scenic waters! This will inevitably stir turmoil across the Northern Region, and the sect's consumption of spirit stones is bound to surge. Doesn't your Guanyun Pavilion run an auction house? When the time comes, take out some items to auction off."
Li Guanqi grinned. "Rest assured. For the upcoming period, I will likely remain stationed at the sect to guard it. Furthermore, I will immediately arrange someone from Guanyun Pavilion to handle liaisons. As for the Six Ancient Sacred Sect, there's no need to worry over them. Our arrangement is mutual; when the time comes, we need only carry ourselves with full dignity."
Lu Kangnian and Li Guanqi exchanged a glance, resembling an old fox looking at a young fox. The clicking of abacus beads practically flickered in both their eyes.
The two then chatted a bit more about Guanyun Pavilion and the Six Ancient Sacred Sect. Li Guanqi also made a casual inquiry about the Spirit Fish Clan.
"That clan has been recuperating quite well. Over the past two years, their numbers have grown somewhat. Furthermore, several core pillars of the spirit clan are currently helping instruct disciples on Tianshui Peak; their affinity with water-attribute primal energy is simply astonishing. They have also faithfully honored our prior agreement. All in all, they're doing quite well."
Lu Kangnian nodded repeatedly, clearly very pleased with the Spirit Fish Clan's conduct after submitting to the Great Xia Sword Sect. They, too, now viewed themselves as part of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Not long after, Ji Yuchuan arrived at the Great Xia Sword Sect accompanied by Qianqiusui.
Su You did not come; he was a man who operated from the shadows, unsuited for stepping into the public eye.
Li Guanqi then made introductions between the two sides. A brilliant gleam flashed deep in Lu Kangnian's eyes.
He had not expected an expert like Ji Yuchuan to actually be Li Guanqi's subordinate! That was a genuine Body Integration Realm grand powerhouse!
It seemed Li Guanqi's earlier confidence was indeed well-founded!
Ji Yuchuan and Qianqiusui also showed immense respect toward the master of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Li Guanqi said with a smile, "I'll leave the rest for you all to discuss. I'm going to take a stroll."
Ji Yuchuan smiled and bowed respectfully. "We bid you farewell, Pavilion Master."
*Whoosh!*
With a single step, Li Guanqi teleported directly to Tianlei Peak.
He did not soar through the sky, nor did he make any commotion.
Clad in white robes, the smile on Li Guanqi's face gradually faded, his heart growing inexplicably heavy.
The afternoon sunlight washed over him with gentle warmth.
Flanking the mountain path ascending toward Tianlei Peak's summit stood countless towering ancient trees. A breeze drifted past, setting the leaves rustling softly. The afternoon wind was not stiflingly hot, and the sunlight filtering through the foliage cast dappled shadows across the ground.
Yet Li Guanqi felt as though his ears were missing a certain lively chatter.
Along the way, he encountered many newly inducted disciples of Tianlei Peak, who stopped in their tracks with excited expressions and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Elder Li!"
Li Guanqi nodded faintly in acknowledgment. Further along, he crossed paths with several former fellow senior brothers. They were far less formal, raising their hands in greeting with warm smiles.
"Hahaha, Junior Brother, you're back?"
"Yes, Senior Brother Zhao. Heading to Tianzhu Peak?"
"No, aren't there major events underway? I'm heading into the domain boundary to put in some hard labor. See you later!"
The corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curved slightly. He still loved the atmosphere of Tianlei Peak.
Familiar faces, familiar people... only some individuals would never be seen again.
It was precisely because of this that he wished to walk a little slower.
Yet no matter how slowly he walked, the mountain trail eventually reached the summit.
Standing before that familiar courtyard gate, Li Guanqi froze in place for a long time.
He raised his hand before the door, yet did not bring himself to knock.
From inside the courtyard, Li Nanting's voice rang out: "Brat, what is keeping you from coming in?"
*Creak!*
The door swung open. An elderly man clad in the robes of a peak master sat in the courtyard, looking at him.
On the table sat dishes to accompany liquor, a flagon of wine, and two cups.
Li Guanqi smiled and called out softly, "Master."
Li Nanting's expression remained tranquil, though a flicker of grief would occasionally pass through the depths of his cloudy eyes.
Lowering his head, Li Guanqi unhooked the small pagoda from his waist and set it upon the table.
Within the pagoda, malevolent spirits seemed to wail; though faint, the shrieks never ceased.
Li Nanting's heart twitched. Raising his hand, he pushed the small pagoda back, his voice turning slightly hoarse. "The dead cannot return to life. This pagoda... is of no use to me."
The old man raised his cup and threw back the fiery liquor in one gulp. Only after a long silence did he ask in a low voice, "And then...?"
With a wave of his hand, Li Guanqi conjured a screen of light displaying the scene of Yu Sui'an's birth following her reincarnation.
The moment Li Nanting laid eyes on the baby girl, tears welled up in his eyes.
Reaching out a hand to gently caress the girl in the image, he murmured in a trembling voice, "What is she called?"
Looking at the screen of light, Li Guanqi said softly, "Yun Chuxue. She has no talent for cultivation. Her parents are good-hearted people, and the elders of the family harbor no preference for sons over daughters; all of them adore her."
Li Nanting closed his eyes, tears trickling down uncontrollably. Looking at the heavy snowflakes drifting across the scene, he smiled.
"Yun Chuxue... a good name..."
"That's wonderful... truly wonderful..."
"This cultivation world—better that she never stepped into it. Being an ordinary, happy little girl is better than what we have."
Chapter 729