Li Guanqi's voice was frigid, carrying a cold aloofness that pushed people thousands of miles away.
The seductive allure on Song Zhi'ang's face gradually faded. The tension, pounding heartbeat, and anticipation in her eyes slowly gave way...
Turning into confusion, humiliation, and embarrassment...
Her beautiful eyes widened, staring into Li Guanqi's eyes through brimming tears.
She said nothing, not even reaching out to pull up her fallen robe.
Only after a long while did Song Zhi'ang, staring unblinkingly at Li Guanqi, speak in a slightly trembling voice. "Why..."
Li Guanqi stood with his back to the door, not offering even a single word of explanation.
Stepping aside, he cleared the doorway and walked outside.
Whether it was because of the cold wind blowing past or not, Song Zhi'ang kept her head down, her whole body trembling slightly.
Tears dripped down, pattering onto the bed. She raised a hand and wiped messily at her tears.
With tears blurring her vision, the woman wiped away the rouge and powder from her face, draped her outer garment over herself, and slowly rose to her feet.
Her gaze gradually turning cold, she walked up behind Li Guanqi, head down, without a word.
"Though I, Song Zhi'ang, came from humble beginnings, I am already in the Nascent Soul realm today!
"I cultivate diligently, earning the respect of peers of my generation. What is lacking about my figure or my face?
"I can't understand—where do I fall short compared to that! Dao! Companion! of yours?!
"You... you clearly could have rejected me gently..."
Li Guanqi turned around with cold detachment, lowering his gaze to look down at Song Zhi'ang.
In an icy voice, he said, "You will never compare to Wanshu. Not in the slightest.
"Do you think I like her because of her figure and face?
"Or do you think I like her because of her monstrous cultivation and family background?"
Song Zhi'ang snapped her head up, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes, and pointed a finger directly at Li Guanqi's nose as she growled under her breath, "Is that not so?!
"Her father is the Domain Lord of the Shenbao Domain! A lord of the Six Domains!!
"From birth, she was clothed in silk and fed delicacies, with countless cultivation resources. Even piling resources on someone could produce a peerless expert!!"
Li Guanqi shook his head, looking at Song Zhi'ang with utter disappointment in his eyes.
"You don't understand... which is why you can never compare to her.
"I like her simply because she is who she is. Nothing more."
With those words, Li Guanqi raised his hand and made a grasping motion toward her, tearing through space and hurling her straight out!
From that moment, a frigid voice echoed across the entire Great Xia Sword Sect!
"From this day forth, Song Zhi'ang is stripped of her position as outer sect steward!"
Infused with primal energy, Li Guanqi's voice reverberated through the whole sect, ensuring everyone learned the news!
The disciples of this generation couldn't help but recall that woman in the dining hall with her gentle, sweet smile.
For a moment, no one understood what had happened!
Li Guanqi frowned slightly. Suddenly turning his gaze toward the outer sect, he let out a sigh and vanished from where he stood.
Song Kangning knelt with both hands pressed flat against the ground. Keeping his head down, the man spoke softly.
"This humble old man, Song Kangning, pays his respects to Elder Li."
Li Guanqi raised his hand intending to lift him up, only to find the man utterly unwilling to rise.
Li Guanqi did not force the matter, letting the man remain on his knees.
Beside the man lay a generous amount of spiritual fruits and meat left over from the last banquet.
The man was still dressed in the same coarse hemp clothes.
The white robe granted to him by the sect was neatly folded beside him, resting atop a sheet of oiled paper for fear of soiling it.
Song Kangning let out a long sigh and spoke earnestly.
"That Song Kangning has been able to scrape by for the past ten years is entirely thanks to Elder Li's kindness in rescuing us father and daughter back then.
"Now... after stepping onto the path of cultivation, my daughter's disposition has changed considerably.
"If she has offended Elder Li, I beg Elder Li to be magnanimous and not lower yourself to the level of a foolish girl.
"Her... throughout her childhood, she lived like a rat crossing the street, with everyone shouting to beat her down.
"She cultivated, touched the immortal way... and became a senior in everyone's eyes. It was inevitable that she would get a bit carried away in her heart."
Hearing this, Li Guanqi couldn't help but cut in.
"Hmph! What is the point of learning the arts of an immortal sect if one fails to learn filial piety toward one's parents? Better not to have learned at all!
"When even the most basic bond between father and daughter can turn so cold, why do you still plead on her behalf?!"
Kneeling on the ground, Song Kangning's face was already bathed in tears. As he spoke those words, he was the one whose heart was pierced by daggers!
"Therefore... this humble old man has come to bid farewell. Thank you to the Great Xia Sword Sect for sheltering father and daughter all these years."
Unable to bear the sight, Li Guanqi turned his head aside and helped the man to his feet.
Song Kangning smiled, cupped his fists in salute, hoisted his small bundle onto his back, and walked down the mountain path.
Han Chengxian stood in the void with his hands clasped behind his back, looking on with an indifferent expression.
Yet his heart was far from calm. He muttered under his breath in resentment, "This boy doesn't even fancy women???
"Could it be that he's impotent?!
"Sigh... What a pity. The devotion gu bug I left for that girl didn't even get used."
Swish!
Li Guanqi's figure abruptly materialized right beside Han Chengxian!
Catching sight of Li Guanqi's grim expression from the corner of his eye, the old man felt a chill run down his spine, but he forced a composed smile.
"Elder Li."
With a cold, mirthless smile, Li Guanqi said, "If you're the one behind this mischief, you'd better pray I never find out.
"Otherwise... you'd better have your eyes take turns standing guard when you cultivate."
Han Chengxian swallowed hard and hurriedly said, "How would I dare... I only listened to that girl for a short while that day!
"If you don't believe me... you can investigate yourself!!"
Li Guanqi gave him a deep look, then turned to leave.
No one knew where the departed Song Zhi'ang went, and the sect's identity jade slip had also erased her name.
As for Song Kangning... no one knew where he went either.
Sitting atop the mountain peak, Li Guanqi drank his wine and murmured, "Does everyone change?
"She was once such a wonderful person—gentle, shy, always considerate of others.
"Yet now she has become someone so narrow-minded..."
Gulp, gulp.
Song Zhi'ang ought to be glad that her eyes when looking at Li Guanqi had held only anger and unwillingness.
If back then...
Dark clouds crept over more than half of the bright moon hanging in the sky.
In the void, the woman wailing bitterly was suddenly enveloped by a shroud of pitch-black demonic qi, vanishing silently into nothingness.
Over the past few days, Xi Yunhuai had also prepared the formation Li Guanqi needed, even constructing a separate Ruin Opening Realm!
Once Li Guanqi finished using this formation, it would serve as the Great Xia Sword Sect's dedicated place for disciples' ruin openings.
Moreover, its quality... surpassed the Ziyang Palace's ruin opening formation from back then by far more than several grades.
Inside a pitch-black hall, beneath a cracked blood-red mask, hid a pair of eyes filled with bone-chilling cold!
"How fast... In that case... let's have a carnival for everyone!!!
"Pass down the order to officially initiate the Turmoil Plan! Seize the opportunity to gather soul power!!"
Shadows flickered below, one dark figure after another vanishing on the spot!
They scattered in all directions, merely waiting for their leader's command.
They were also utterly shocked in their hearts—their leader had actually suffered such severe injuries this time!
It was said that the person who wounded their leader hadn't even died. That was what made it truly terrifying.
Chapter 756