When Li Guanqi said those words, many dismissed them as the stubborn pride of a man trying to save face. But he couldn’t have cared less what others thought.
Even Zhao Beichen, standing tall on the stage, offered a faint, inscrutable smile. Glancing at the stone stele, he muttered under his breath, “Sixth place... heh. Tomorrow’s opponents won’t be easy. Li Guanqi, what gives you the confidence that you’ll stand before me?”
With a calm expression, Zhao Beichen sheathed his sword and stepped off the martial stage, completely ignoring the murderous glares cast his way by the Soaring Heavens Sect elders.
His strikes had been ruthless. When the white-browed elder examined Ji Linglan, he discovered that her spirit void had been shattered.
In other words, Zhao Beichen had crippled her potential for cultivation. Even if she managed to achieve something later, a broken spirit void could never be restored.
The white-browed elder’s eyes locked onto Zhao Beichen’s back, his voice ice-cold. “You despicable bastard!”
Zhao Beichen responded with nothing more than a soft chuckle, fading into the distance.
On the way back, Li Guanqi looked at the little girl in his arms and asked gently, “What’s wrong? Did that guy’s overwhelming aura scare you?”
Yu Sui’an buried her head against his shoulder, wrapped her arms around his neck, and shook her head. Her trembling gradually eased.
Li Guanqi smiled faintly. He figured she was just too proud to admit it. After all, Zhao Beichen’s overwhelming aura hadn’t yet dissipated after crushing Ji Linglan. It made sense that a little girl would be frightened.
Back at their residence, Qin Xian summoned Li Guanqi into a private room.
Qin Xian’s expression was grave. In a low voice, he said, “No matter who your opponent is tomorrow, don’t take them lightly. If things spiral out of control, you know what must be done.”
Li Guanqi scratched his ear and replied lazily, “Old Qin, you’ve said that so many times that I think my ears are growing calluses.”
Qin Xian snapped, “I only nag because I worry about you!”
Li Guanqi shrugged, but his expression soon turned serious. He looked at Qin Xian and said softly, “I’ve decided. Starting tomorrow, I won’t hide my strength anymore.”
Qin Xian frowned. “Didn’t you want to keep a low profile and conserve your strength for Zhao Beichen? Why the change of heart?”
Li Guanqi smiled. “Who said I’m going all out tomorrow? I’m just tired of pretending to be weak. No matter which sect I’m up against, it’s all the same to me.
“If I succeed in tomorrow’s Hell Challenge, our sect’s points will surpass Purple Sun Pavilion’s. And by the rules, I’ll have to face the first-ranked sect—the Purple Sun Pavilion.”
Qin Xian understood. There was no more point in pretending. If Li Guanqi won the next Hell Challenge, facing the Purple Sun Pavilion was inevitable.
After a long silence, Qin Xian sighed and looked at Li Guanqi. “Do as you will. As long as you’re sure.”
Li Guanqi gave a faint smile and left the room.
By the next morning, the summit of Heavenly Tiger Mountain was already teeming with people. The air buzzed with anticipation. The organizers had even brought out nearly five hundred cowhide war drums.
The Tournament of a Hundred Sects was nearing its climax. Though every sect’s disciples were outstanding and the battles were spectacular, all eyes were focused on two people.
One was the blind youth who had boldly taken on the Hell Challenge—Li Guanqi. The other was a once-in-a-millennium prodigy—Zhao Beichen of the Purple Sun Pavilion.
There was no question: these two were the stars of the tournament.
One was fighting for his sect, risking everything for its sake. The other was a hidden genius of the Purple Sun Pavilion, emerging now to shock the world.
The crowd yearned for their inevitable clash—it felt like fate.
The fluctuating scores were there for everyone to see.
If Li Guanqi won today’s challenge, a duel between him and Zhao Beichen would be guaranteed. That final match would decide the ultimate victor of the Tournament of a Hundred Sects.
If Li Guanqi could lead the Daxia Sword Sect to victory, the massive rewards would revitalize the sect, perhaps elevating it to the pinnacle of the Northern Territory within a century.
Resources were the foundation for cultivating future disciples. That was why so many people had gathered at the Heavenly Tiger Mountain since early morning and why many hadn’t left the night before.
When the white-robed youth appeared in the sky, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd.
The disciples of the Daxia Sword Sect stood tall, shoulders square, proud and resolute. They all knew that the young man carrying the sword box ahead of them had earned every ounce of their sect’s glory.
Gao Qiwen had disappeared from the public eye recently, quietly preparing to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm. With his grudges laid to rest, his focus had returned to cultivation.
Meanwhile, Li Guanqi ignored the cheers and walked straight toward the arena.
Sharp-eyed spectators noticed something different: the sickly weakness he’d shown in recent days was gone. He looked healthy.
Ge Qing’s eyes flashed with understanding. He smiled faintly as he murmured, “This little guy is quite shrewd.
“But why now? Why reveal his hand at this moment? Is he really that confident?”
Suppressing his thoughts, he turned to the crowd and called out in a deep voice, “Begin the drawing of lots!”
When the recording stone stele revealed the matchup, the crowd gasped collectively.
They were one of the few sects capable of challenging the Purple Sun Pavilion. They were even stronger than the Soaring Heavens Sect. Every disciple of theirs was an exceptional genius.
And yet, the Four Symbols Sect disciples didn’t look as pleased as one might expect. Every one of them had witnessed Li Guanqi’s terrifying strength.
Li Guanqi stood alone on the platform, sword in hand, calmly awaiting his opponent.
Finally, the elder leading the Four Symbols Sect said in a deep voice, “Go. We’ll have to face him sooner or later.”
A sturdy young disciple nodded solemnly and leaped onto the platform.
Broad and imposing, the young man nodded respectfully to Li Guanqi before drawing an enormous, thick greatsword.
Li Guanqi’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected to face someone using a heavy sword.
A breathtaking display of dominance followed. Li Guanqi crushed his opponent with overwhelming strength.
His sword techniques flowed like water, and his unpredictable strikes dazzled the crowd. Even after defeating seven opponents in a row, Li Guanqi showed no sign of fatigue.
He easily defeated ten late Foundation Building disciples from the Four Symbols Sect, sending the Daxia Sword Sect rocketing to the top of the leaderboard.