Even Meng Wanshu nodded in admiration at the grand, imposing architecture of Qin Imperial City.
Every building was laid out with precise regularity, and the streets were spotlessly clean.
All along the way, onlookers halted in their tracks, while the Black Armor Guards followed respectfully behind the three. The imperial scion's absolute authority was on full display. Whatever their cultivation realm, the moment cultivators caught sight of Qin Wushang, they touched down from the sky a hundred zhang away, bowed deeply, and offered their respects.
Qin Wushang did not spare them a second glance, continuing his casual chat with Li Guanqi.
Something suddenly occurred to Li Guanqi, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
"I think I've guessed who it is."
Qin Wushang blinked in surprise. "You guessed? No way... I only just found out myself."
Li Guanqi offered a mysterious smile and did not elaborate.
Qin Wushang curled his lip and looked at him with an appreciative sigh. "Your growth is truly frighteningly fast. Still... spirit enlightenment cannot be put off for too long. Delaying it will have a massive impact on you."
Li Guanqi frowned slightly and nodded. "Yeah. Once I settle these recent matters, I plan to enter secluded cultivation for a while."
Qin Wushang gave an approving nod, took out a jade slip, and transmitted a message: "Wait for me at the clan."
Before long, the party of three arrived at the Castellan Manor of Qin Imperial City.
Spanning tens of li, the immense estate held an entire world within its walls. Hidden behind the stately, solemn facades were winding pavilions, graceful terraces, arched bridges, and babbling brooks, with dense spiritual energy settling ankle-deep. Every single paving stone beneath their feet had been carved from a massive slab of mid-grade spirit stone. Pale as white jade, the spirit stones radiated faint spiritual energy, each paving stone capable of emitting spiritual energy steadily for a whole decade.
The entire manor brimmed with solemn majesty. Everyone they encountered wore garments adorned with embroidered golden thread bearing the Qin clan's crest, and each person bowed with the deepest reverence upon seeing Qin Wushang.
Led by Qin Wushang, the trio arrived at his personal quarters.
The moment they entered the grand hall, they were greeted by the sight of a green-robed swordsman seated in a chair, his expression dark and grim.
A faint smile touched Li Guanqi's lips. It was just as he had expected.
Nangong Xuandu!
Unable to reach Xiang Huaizhi, Nangong Xuandu had naturally inquired about Li Guanqi's whereabouts through the Gu clan. Upon learning he had come to the Ethereal Immortal Domain, tracking down Qin Wushang was hardly a challenge.
Qin Wushang had been watching Li Guanqi's reaction all along. Seeing him remain so unruffled, he couldn't help smacking his lips. "You actually managed to guess this too."
Nangong Xuandu glanced at Li Guanqi and asked in a chilly voice, "Where is that bastard Xiang Huaizhi?"
Seeing his exasperated fury, Li Guanqi could not hold back a chuckle. "He should still be at the Gu clan."
Then Li Guanqi suddenly remembered Pengluo and hastily said, "Right... Brother Qin, an elemental spirit will be arriving in a moment. Please remember to have someone lead him in."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a radish head poked out of empty air, asking in confusion, "Lead what in?"
Qin Wushang's eyes narrowed slightly, observing Pengluo with keen interest as the little creature clambered out from the void.
Bracing his hands against the space around him, Pengluo dragged himself out, then promptly dove back in headfirst. After rummaging around for a good while, he finally dragged Li Zixuan out as well.
Nangong Xuandu looked at Pengluo—now broken through to rank seven—and licked his lips.
Li Zixuan was still in his true form. In Pengluo's words: *If your old man hasn't taken human form yet, you're not allowed to either.*
The purple-skinned ginseng bowed rather timidly to the assembly, while Pengluo waved a hand nonchalantly.
"Aiya, what's with all the manners? We're all old acquaintances here! Right, Senior Nangong?"
Nangong Xuandu pressed his lips together and smiled. "Brewing wine with you back then wouldn't have worked, but it's about right now."
As he spoke, he unhooked the wine gourd from his waist, popped the stopper, and reached out toward Pengluo.
Pengluo's face morphed in horror! (ÒωÓױ)!
He grabbed the hem of Li Guanqi's trousers and cried, "Senior, don't fool around! I'll pay tribute, all right? Just don't steep my whole body! What if I can't hold my bladder one day and spoil your spirit wine?!"
The room erupted into laughter.
Pengluo knew how to behave; he not only offered a small segment of his own arm and plucked two green leaves from his head, but also made Zixuan snap off a piece of himself.
Nangong Xuandu did not refuse. He accepted the offerings, then reached into his robes, pulled out a jade vial, and handed it to Zixuan.
He smiled gently and said, "This is some spiritual liquid I obtained in my earlier years. It will do you two good. Grow well."
Zixuan held the vial in a daze, not knowing what had just happened, when he suddenly felt a heavy weight pressing down on his head.
*Thump!*
Pengluo forced Zixuan's head down and began banging it against the floor in rapid succession. "Aiya, you're too kind! Hurry up and thank Senior Nangong!"
Once they were done, Li Guanqi raised a hand and deposited both Pengluo and Zixuan into the sword coffin space.
Yet before Li Guanqi could even open his mouth to speak with Nangong Xuandu, both Zixuan and Pengluo were kicked straight back out, clutching their backsides in agony...
Pengluo looked at Li Guanqi with utter terror, unable to resist sending a frantic voice transmission: *"Why did you have to provoke her?! Why go and mess with her?! You... Ow, ow, ow..."*
Left with no choice, Pengluo hastily dragged Zixuan back into the void layer.
Qin Wushang chuckled. "What amusing little fellows."
As he spoke, he cast an envious glance at the Jiuxiao true dragon coiled around Li Guanqi's wrist.
Getting straight to the point, Qin Wushang asked, "So, tell me. Did you come this time because of the divine soul matter?"
Nangong Xuandu cut in, asking softly, "Are you certain it was the Lu clan and Zhu clan back then?"
Li Guanqi shook his head and replied gravely, "I only saw that the style of those two cloud boats resembled the Zhu clan's, but they weren't completely identical. That's why I couldn't be entirely sure."
Before his voice could fade, Nangong Xuandu rose to his feet with a cold sneer.
"What evidence do we need? Looking like it is enough."
With that, the man strode toward the hall's exit. Pausing at the doorway, he turned back and said, "Tell Xiang Huaizhi that if he dares spread a word of this, he's a dead man!"
He practically ground his teeth as he spoke, prompting an awkward chuckle from Li Guanqi.
"Understood, understood. Rest assured, Senior Nangong."
Nangong Xuandu turned to Qin Wushang and said softly, "Wushang, put your heart into helping Guanqi."
Qin Wushang rose and bowed. "Please put your mind at ease."
This confirmed one thing beyond doubt: Qin Wushang was indeed one of the candidates for the Eight Generals!
Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are there many people like you?"
Qin Wushang took a sip of tea and smiled faintly. "For each seat qualified to produce a candidate, there is only one counterpart. I am merely one of them. And there happen to be exactly eight of us."
Understanding dawned on Li Guanqi. No wonder Qin Wushang had used the word "we" when they first met.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
A knock sounded at the hall doors. Qin Wushang raised a hand and said mildly, "Come in."
The doors slowly parted, and an alluring woman in a form-fitting black gown glided into the room with graceful steps.
It was Ru Meng, the auctioneer from the Qin Imperial City Auction House!
Li Guanqi frowned slightly, wondering why she had been summoned here.
Chapter 877