At the peak of Yuhu Peak, everyone woke up and went their separate ways.
Cao Yan returned to the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven to continue nursing his injuries.
Xiao Chen paid a visit to the Ye family, staying for a long while before emerging, after which he also headed to the Purple Spirit Grotto-Heaven.
Gu Li went into seclusion to cultivate alongside Cao Yan, while Tang Ru took the time to make a trip to the Cloud Watching Pavilion.
When Tang Ru saw Xi Yunhuai this time, an inexplicable sense of familiarity suddenly washed over him. After discussing and settling many matters with Qianqiusui, he went off to cultivate as well.
Among the sworn brothers now, nearly all of them were experts of the Body Integration Realm except for him. It was far too heavy a blow to his pride.
Li Guanqi went to find Meng Jiangchu again, only to discover that Meng Jiangchu and Lu Kangnian were currently in deep conversation with Gu Lie.
As they spoke, the old man turned his head to glance at the approaching Li Guanqi. His eyes were complicated, his lips pressed tightly together, as if he were reaching some sort of decision.
"Fine! I'm all on my own anyway, with no family or ties. If I stay, I stay!"
Li Guanqi swallowed hard. Good heavens—a top-tier martial artist of the late Mahayana realm!
Not only was he a seventh-rank alchemist, but before long, he would also become a weapon refiner.
To the side, the corners of Lu Kangnian's mouth were practically stretched all the way back to his ears. This deal... was bloody worth it!
Li Guanqi stepped forward quickly and bowed to the old man in greeting.
"Junior Li Guanqi pays his respects to Senior Gu."
Gu Lie waved his hand with a chuckle. "You brat..."
Li Guanqi offered a faint smile, then turned to Meng Jiangchu and murmured, "Father-in-law, there's something I need to speak with you about."
Meng Jiangchu excused himself, and followed Li Guanqi to Yuhu Peak.
Seeing how spartan Li Guanqi's cultivation environment was, Meng Jiangchu was momentarily stunned. He curled his lip and sat down on a stone stool.
Lifting the hem of his robe, he asked in a low voice, "Speak up, brat. What is it this time?"
With a solemn look, Li Guanqi asked, "Father-in-law, have you ever heard of a Xuan clan in the Shenbao Domain?"
Meng Jiangchu's brow furrowed at once upon hearing the question. He pondered in silence for a good while, searching through his mind for the Xuan clan Li Guanqi had mentioned.
Yet no matter how far he cast his thoughts, he could not recall any great clan or sacred sect in the Shenbao Domain bearing the surname Xuan.
Shaking his head, he frowned. "Nothing comes to mind. It doesn't seem like there are any particularly powerful clans by the name of Xuan.
"Though among the minor clans and sects, quite a few do use the word Xuan in their names."
Li Guanqi's brow knitted into a tight frown upon hearing that.
"What is it? Why ask about this?"
Sorting through his thoughts, Li Guanqi said in a heavy voice, "Back when I fought for the Tianji Chart, I ran into a fellow.
"His name was Xuan Lin. He possessed the bloodline of a Qilin, and the fire-attributed primal energy he wielded was extraordinarily vast and surging.
"We dealt with each other, and he claimed to hail from the Xuan clan of the Shenbao Domain.
"I was wondering if there was any chance this Xuan clan might know the whereabouts of the Qilin Soul."
Meng Jiangchu looked at the fire mark flickering faintly between Li Guanqi's brows and let out a silent sigh.
Li Guanqi had already broken through to the middle Body Integration Realm. Such speed of advancement was simply unheard of.
The trouble with Sha could not be resolved overnight.
For now, the greatest obstacle standing before Li Guanqi was still his defective divine soul.
If this issue remained unresolved, his current realm might very well be his limit.
As for the subsequent late Body Integration Realm, Li Guanqi likely would not dare attempt a breakthrough lightly.
Once he reached the late Body Integration Realm, the resonance and pull of his internal qi could easily trigger disaster.
People had been investigating leads on the Qilin Soul and the Seven-Colored Glazed Flower, yet not a single trace had turned up.
The man said in a deep voice, "All right, I'll have someone look into this Xuan Lin immediately.
"Don't be in too much of a hurry either. As long as your fire mark doesn't shatter, you won't be in any real danger."
Li Guanqi shook his head with a bitter smile. If not for this fire mark, the previous battle would not have been fought with such agonizing difficulty.
Fortunately, he had prepared a contingency well in advance, having Gu Li bring not only Cao Yan and the others back from his home,
but also the Gu clan's thunder pool realm.
Leaving a clone in the thunder pool to comprehend the spirit, combined with the qi-resonance provided by Pengluo's clone, allowed him to break through at the critical juncture.
His strength surged after comprehending the spirit, which prevented any casualties among the cultivators on his side.
*Hum!*
Clad in a water-blue dress, Meng Wanshu walked out slowly. Her calm gaze fell upon Li Guanqi as she spoke in a soft voice.
"I'm coming with you."
Li Guanqi smiled and nodded. Meng Jiangchu rolled his eyes and said, "If you two head back, remember to visit your mother. You've been running around outside all this time, and she's worried sick about you."
Meng Wanshu's eyes shifted, the corners of her mouth curling into a gentle smile as she nodded softly.
Li Guanqi smiled and nodded as well, saying gently, "Yes. When we return this time, we will definitely stay home for a longer while."
Meng Jiangchu slowly rose to his feet, his gaze toward Li Guanqi filled with complex emotion.
He walked over, patted Li Guanqi on the shoulder, and said quietly, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You're already an existence beyond the reach of any young person across the Six Domains.
"Your father-in-law can still help you. We're family, so don't be shy about asking.
"By the way, when are the two of you getting married?"
Li Guanqi had still been feeling touched a moment ago, but the sudden question made him choke and cough repeatedly.
"As soon as possible. I'll make it as soon as possible."
Meng Wanshu's cheeks flushed crimson, the heat spreading all the way to the tips of her ears. Casting a reproachful glare at Meng Jiangchu, she turned and took to the air, flying off.
Meng Jiangchu clicked his tongue. "Look at you! What are you glaring at me for?!
"Is it wrong for your old man to be eager to hold his grandchildren?!"
After a moment of thought, Li Guanqi said softly, "Father-in-law, Wanshu and I will head back first."
Meng Jiangchu waved him off, clasping his hands behind his back and marching away in a huff.
He did not even give Li Guanqi a pleasant look as he left...
Scratching his head in slight embarrassment, Li Guanqi turned and hurried after Meng Wanshu.
With her hands held behind her back, Meng Wanshu lifted her delicate face toward the sunlight and closed her eyes slightly, a smile playing upon her lips as though she thoroughly relished this moment of being alone together.
She said softly, "Is that person very important to you?"
Li Guanqi was taken aback for a moment, then spoke with a gentle gaze.
"Important."
Meng Wanshu showed no sign of jealousy, merely asking in a soft voice, "Could you tell me about her?"
Li Guanqi shook his head, declining the request. Meng Wanshu looked at him with curiosity.
"Why not?"
Li Guanqi gazed into the distance and said softly, "I don't wish to put another's devotion and deep feelings on display as a story.
"Whether the listener sighs in sorrow or finds it puzzling...
"In the end, it is just a story to anyone else. Ning Xiu... I only feel that I owe her a debt. There is no other sentiment between us."
That last sentence was spoken specifically for Meng Wanshu to hear.
Meng Wanshu did not press further, merely saying in a gentle voice, "I don't mind how she was, nor do I mind what you think of her.
"I was simply curious to know what kind of person she was."
Looking into Meng Wanshu's eyes, Li Guanqi said softly, "Just a foolish girl, that's all."
Meng Wanshu did not dwell any longer on the matter of Ning Xiu. She truly had only been curious about what had transpired in the life of that woman named Ning Xiu.
Hearing Li Guanqi put it this way, she could understand.
Chapter 938