Li Guanqi vs. Lu Wuhen!

When the crowd saw a young man walk out from the Lu clan, those unfamiliar with the clan breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Hahaha, a youngster stepped up! Looks like the Lu clan has run out of people!" "Even if they're just putting on a show, couldn't they at least send out someone with a full beard? Hahaha." Those uttering such remarks generally lacked high cultivation, for none of the true powerhouses spoke. Once many Six Domains cultivators noticed this, the noisy chatter gradually subsided. The Zhu clan's ancestor looked at Lu Wuhen's receding figure and frowned slightly. A person like Lu Wuhen... Talented, powerful, and ambitious! Having such a disciple was an asset for a family's prosperity, but he was also a double-edged sword. Handled well, he could slay foes and overcome any obstacle. Handled poorly, the wielder's grip would slip and cut off their own fingers. Lu Hengtian's expression shifted repeatedly, yet he remained silent. The Great Xia Sword Sect—they had been investigating it for a long time. Ever since Li Guanqi first made contact with the Sun clan in Baizhang Prison, their eyes had been fixed upon the Great Xia Sword Sect. Now it seemed the sect's foundation was in no way inferior to those of hidden, formidable sects; in fact, it even slightly surpassed them. This wagered arena battle would soon yield its verdict. With a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips, Lu Wuhen leaped down leisurely from the railing of the cloud boat. With hands clasped behind his back, the young man landed smoothly and cleanly upon the arena stage. Li Guanqi flickered across a distance of a thousand zhang in a single step, appearing on the stage. Nangong Xuandu's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam, and much of the drunkenness in them faded away. These past few battles had all been spectacular, prompting him to drink a few extra mouthfuls of wine. Now that he could witness the clash between Li Guanqi and Lu Wuhen, a hint of anticipation stirred within him. At this stage, even he could not predict which side would claim ultimate victory. After losing the first two rounds, the Great Xia Sword Sect had surprisingly chosen not to send Li Guanqi into the third round! Instead, they had dispatched a disciple of their ally, the Six Ancient Sacred Sects. Though Li Guanqi appeared calm on the surface, a thick murderous intent surged deep within his heart! It was time to settle certain debts! Ambushing, underhanded tricks, borrowing a knife to kill... As the two stood upon the stage, heaven and earth seemed to fall dead silent. Their gazes met, and the surrounding din vanished in that instant. Behind Li Guanqi, the sword coffin slowly surfaced, and a sword bathed entirely in crimson flew into his grasp! Clang! A deep, resonant sword chime abruptly pierced the heavens! The fissure near Red Lotus's hilt had fully mended, and its aura was even more formidable than before. Li Guanqi could clearly sense the sword spirit's will within Red Lotus! As for Moonlock... it had been completely devoured by Red Lotus. Combined with the many spiritual entities from before, Red Lotus was now in seamless communion with his mind and soul, achieving an unprecedented harmony. The moment he gripped Red Lotus, Li Guanqi's entire demeanor underwent a drastic change. If Li Guanqi standing there before resembled a frail scholar, then Li Guanqi holding his sword was a peerless divine blade drawn from its sheath! Sharpness fully unveiled, invincible and unstoppable! The sheer transformation of his aura upon drawing his sword earned him the respect of many powerhouses. Compared to Ye Feng, the world knew far more about Li Guanqi's past deeds. The Ancient Clans in particular watched him with hostility in their eyes. Had it not been for Li Guanqi, many matters concerning the Ancient Clans would never have escalated to this point. Lu Wuhen smiled, his gaze burning intensely as he looked at Li Guanqi. Reaching out, he thrust his hand into the void and drew forth a crimson-bladed longsword of his own. The sword appeared plain and unadorned, yet standing across from him, Li Guanqi felt his heart pound uncontrollably! The violent thumping caused Li Guanqi's whole body to tremble faintly. The sword spirit's agitated voice suddenly rang in Li Guanqi's ears! "I knew it! A shard of my true blade!" "Though it's only the size of a soybean, he forcibly melted and fused it into the sword tip!" Li Guanqi took a deep breath, fixing a grave stare on Lu Wuhen. No wonder the man acted so arrogant. Even now, Li Guanqi himself was not yet qualified to see the sword spirit's true body, yet for some reason, Lu Wuhen possessed a small shard of it. One could hear that even the sword spirit herself was astonished by this revelation. Her voice echoed in Li Guanqi's mind. "Guanqi, whatever it takes, you must find a way to kill him and seize his sword!" "This matter... is probably not as simple as it seems." Li Guanqi's brow knitted, and he asked rapidly through his mind, "Why?" The sword spirit narrowed her beautiful eyes, staring intently at the sword in Lu Wuhen's hand as she said coldly, "Because... a shard of my blade tip should never have appeared in the Human Spirit Realm!" "If my senses aren't mistaken, the origin of this shard is deeply suspect." "This Lu Wuhen is likely a hidden pawn left behind by someone from the upper realm." Li Guanqi frowned and asked, "You mean... Lu Wuhen is like Cang Lu?" The sword spirit shook her head. "I'm afraid he is far more troublesome than the person behind Cang Lu." "Lu Wuhen was most likely brought into existence by an almighty figure in the upper realm through supreme deduction that altered karma." "He is himself. He is not like Cang Lu, who was an avatar, nor like Li Shenzhi, whose soul had a seed of dust planted within it." "Therefore... I suspect this Lu Wuhen is the handiwork of another figure from the Immortal Realm!" Li Guanqi nodded inwardly and said softly, "Understood. No matter what happens in this fight, do not intervene." "Leave it to me!" The sword spirit parted her lips, worry flashing in her eyes, but she did not object. She knew how unyielding Li Guanqi was; if she intervened at the critical moment, he would be furious. There were times when she protected him, but Li Guanqi wanted just as much to protect her within the bounds of his own strength! As his cultivation rose and his power grew, he felt ever more acutely just how terrifying the enemies he faced were. At a time like this, he had to be cautious! "Phew." Li Guanqi's chest rose and fell gently. When he looked up at Lu Wuhen again, his gaze was as calm as still water, without the slightest ripple. Lu Wuhen licked his lips, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. He had no idea what caused Li Guanqi's sudden emotional shift just now—it had come and gone in an instant. Lowering his gaze, he glanced at the sword in his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly. *Wait... His mood shifted at the exact moment I drew Dengxian.* *Could it be that he noticed something unusual about my Sword Ruins?!* *Impossible. That's my secret. How could he know?* Nangong Xuandu tilted his head back, took a large gulp of wine, and gazed brightly at the two of them. Waving his hand to dismiss the barrier formation, he bellowed with laughter: "The final battle: Great Xia Sword Sect's Li Guanqi versus the Lu clan's Lu Wuhen!!"