Although Li Nanting had taught Li Guanqi much over time, he knew full well that his guidance alone could never have brought the boy to that level. Li Guanqi’s strength was now so overwhelming that it gave Li Nanting a faint feeling that something wasn’t natural.
If he joins the upcoming Tournament of a Hundred Sects, he might very well lead the Daxia Sword Sect to heights it has never reached before.
Li Nanting didn’t press Li Guanqi too much. Once someone stepped onto the path of cultivation, even a Qi Refinement Realm novice could stumble upon a heaven-defying opportunity. Besides, when it came to Li Guanqi’s mysterious grandfather, Li Nanting carried a sense of inexplicable reverence. He was sure that the old man hadn’t left Li Guanqi with nothing.
Back at Jade Teapot Peak, Li Guanqi descended from the sky, landing directly within the Spirit Gathering Array. He activated it, then sat cross-legged with his longsword resting on his knees, quickly entering a meditative state. Almost at once, his mind cleared to an astonishing degree.
Scenes from his earlier battle with the two elders replayed vividly in his mind. Frowning slightly, he scrutinized every movement, picking apart both his gains and his flaws.
Sword Spirit slowly emerged from the sword box, watching him as spirit qi swirled around him. A glimmer of admiration flickered in her eyes.
As expected of the Empty Spirit Physique... that level of perception is monstrous. And this is only after breaking nine spirit patterns. Once he fully unlocks the first layer, the quality of his Golden Core could be incredibly high.
Despite her praise, a trace of uncertainty crossed Sword Spirit’s gaze. After watching a moment longer, she let out a quiet sigh and dissolved into motes of light, returning to the sword box.
When Li Guanqi opened his eyes again, night had already fallen. He noticed a note tucked into his cabin door, written in Ye Feng’s unmistakable handwriting: Waiting for you at the Millennium Waterfall.
So that was where he’d gone.
Li Guanqi threw his Emerald Wolf Sword, leaped onto it, and shot into the sky. As the wind howled past him, he conjured a faint purple spirit barrier to shield himself from the noise, allowing him to fly faster.
As he soared over successive mountain ranges, the air grew increasingly humid, and the distant roar of falling water reached his ears, muffled yet thunderous.
Li Guanqi adjusted his course and soon spotted a massive cliff hundreds of zhang tall. A humongous waterfall cascaded down from its summit like a silver ribbon from the heavens, with the falling water shimmering faintly under the moonlight.
Many disciples were training in the area. Some climbed up the slippery cliffside, while others practiced their sword techniques beneath the roaring waterfall.
Two ledges jutted out beneath the falls, each around ten zhang wide. They were platforms crafted by the sect for training.
Ye Feng and a few others were on the uppermost ledge, standing in horse stances[1] beneath the torrent, swords in hand, trying to endure the crushing force.
When they saw that Li Guanqi had arrived, they tumbled out from beneath the waterfall and collapsed onto a nearby boulder, thoroughly drenched and gasping for breath.
Li Guanqi glanced at their red backs and exhausted faces. “What are you all doing?”
Flat on his back, Ye Feng groaned and said, “Saw some folks training here... thought we’d give it a try. But the waterfall’s force is insane. We can’t even keep our swords upright.”
Although Li Guanqi had never been to the Millennium Waterfall before, many senior disciples recognized him immediately and enthusiastically greeted him.
Someone called out from a lower ledge beneath the waterfall, “Haha! Junior Brother Li is here? Wanna give it a shot?”
Their voices sparked a chorus of cheers. “Haha! Come on, let’s see if you can withstand it!”
Not everyone joined in. A few senior sisters from Heavenly Water Peak gently scolded the hecklers, saying, “Don’t tease him. Junior Brother Li, train however you like.”
Sweeping his divine consciousness across the area, Li Guanqi sensed over a dozen senior sisters from the Heavenly Water Peak scattered around the surrounding peaks. Due to the heavy moisture in the air, none of them used vital force to isolate themselves from the environment. As a result, their soaked robes clung tightly to their bodies, highlighting their exquisite figures under the moonlight.
Li Guanqi kept a straight face, nodding politely. “Thank you for your concern, Senior Sisters.”
He grumbled in his mind. Sometimes, being blind wouldn’t be so bad. I’ve been in the sect for nearly a year and haven’t even come here once. What a waste!
He was unaware that a disheveled man was watching him intently from high atop the cliff, hidden behind a thick patch of brush.
The man looked at Li Guanqi’s dull expression, then took a swig from his wine gourd. He scratched his back and muttered, “This brat’s heart’s eye isn’t blind at all. He sees through everything more clearly than I do! Damn little bastard...”
Down below, Lin Dong noticed Li Guanqi’s interest and said, “Guanqi, if you want to give it a try, start from the top platform. It'll help you get used to the pressure.”
The crowd stirred, eager to see how Li Guanqi would fare.
Li Guanqi glanced around with a faint smile and said, “If you all want to watch me make a fool of myself, at least place some bets. I’ll be the banker. Who’s in?”
Laughter erupted from all sides. Ye Feng jumped up and grabbed Li Guanqi’s arm. “Brother Li, I believe in you!”
He shoved a storage bag into his hand and said seriously, “Second platform. Ten breaths. Two hundred spirit stones!”
Li Guanqi’s expression darkened. Ye Feng quickly added, “That’s all I’ve got! I’d bet more if I could!”
The laughter grew even louder. Li Guanqi lightly stomped on Ye Feng’s face and grumbled, “You’ve never had any luck gambling.”
A disciple from the Heavenly Metal Peak chuckled, “Tsk tsk, Junior Brother Li is as cunning as ever. He got all those contribution points from the Sect Master, and he’s still trying to fleece us!”
“That little scheme of yours... I could even hear it from under my blanket. Fine, I’ll bet ten stones. Third platform, fifteen breaths!”
More and more bets followed. Even a senior sister from the Heavenly Water Peak placed a wager. She was graceful and elegant, with features as delicate as a spring blossom. She smiled faintly as she handed over some spirit stones. “I’ll join in too. Bottom platform, three breaths, fifty stones.
“Oh, right. My name’s Lin Qingyu. Remember it so you know who to find when you lose.”
Li Guanqi raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected Lin Qingyu to place the biggest bet.
Beside him, Zhong Lin leaned in and whispered, “That’s Lin Qingyu, the top disciple of the last generation from the Heavenly Water Peak. She’ll also compete in the Tournament of a Hundred Sects.”
1. A common posture in Asian martial arts. ☜