A pale man stood on top of Heavenly Sword Peak with unprecedented brightness in his eyes. His heart swelled with pride as he looked at Li Guanqi raising his sword high in the air.
The disciple initiation ceremony went smoothly. Li Guanqi, channeling his vital energy, lifted the new disciples into the air and took them on a flight, sweeping across all eight peaks of the sect, soaring to Thousand Peaks Mountain, and showing them the strange peaks and roaring waterfalls along the way.
The new disciples were brimming with excitement. Li Guanqi kept a close watch over them with his divine consciousness, ensuring their safety with his vital force shield.
After handing them off to Senior Sister Gu Ran, he left to escort the remaining disciples, also taking them on a flight around the sect.
Just like that, he recreated what Xu Zhengjie had once done for him—his very first flight.
That first day planted a seed in their hearts: the desire to cultivate with all their might.
Inspired, the elders from the other peaks began to follow suit. Soon, the skies over the sect were filled with flying swords and excited disciples, making for a magnificent sight.
The elders of the seven other peaks each borrowed pig iron swords, had their new disciples stand on them, and began flying across the grounds, introducing the various peaks along the way.
Many of them paused before Jade Teapot Peak and pointed toward it. “That’s where your Senior Brother Li cultivates. It’s called Jade Teapot Peak. He’s only been in the sect a year and a half, and he achieved qi induction during his very first class.”
The newcomers looked up in awe at the simple wooden house on the peak. Some even began eyeing the other unclaimed peaks. The elders watched with proud smiles. It looked like the new disciples would work very hard.
The Daxia Sword Sect had also recorded the battle against the Purple Sun Pavilion using projection stones, preserving the footage as teaching material.
And so, because of Li Guanqi’s idea, taking new disciples flying became a cherished sect tradition.
That day, the sect was full of life. Sect Master Lu Kangnian also came out to meet the recruits. They held him in deep respect, as he was brave and willing to lead his sect into battle.
Li Guanqi stayed busy until nighttime.
At midnight, he quietly approached Li Nanting’s door. The old man had rested all day and now sat at his doorstep, pipe in hand, staring blankly at the empty rocking chair as he smoked and reminisced. He only noticed Li Guanqi when he stepped closer.
Li Nanting scooted aside and tilted his head, motioning for Li Guanqi to sit next to him. Li Guanqi crouched down beside him and looked up at the stars.
The leaves in the pipe glowed red, casting a faint light on the old man’s face.
Li Nanting took a long drag, then exhaled a mouthful of smoke. He tapped the pipe on the stone tile, then said, “You have something on your mind. What is it you want to tell me?”
Li Guanqi lowered his gaze, staring at the stone tiles in silence. After a while, Li Nanting rapped him on the head with the pipe and huffed, “Just spit it out. No need to hesitate.”
Rubbing his head, Li Guanqi looked at Li Nanting’s faint smile. “Master, I’d like to go out and see the world.”
Li Guanqi sensed Li Nanting freeze for a moment before he spoke in a low voice, “Mm. Alright.”
Li Guanqi blinked. He hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly. Li Nanting seemed to read his mind and chuckled. “What? Thought I wouldn’t let you go?”
Li Guanqi turned his head, unable to meet his eyes. “I thought you’d at least ask me why.”
Li Nanting looked down, stuffing more leaves into his pipe. A small flame flickered on his fingertip as he lit the leaves. He looked up and said, “What good would asking do? Since you’ve already made up your mind, I’ll support you.”
Li Guanqi fell silent. He looked down at the stone tiles and said, “It’s not that I have to go... It’s just that everything here reminds me of something painful.”
Smoke billowed out of Li Nanting’s mouth. He spat out some leaves and said, “Mm... It’s good to go outside. When do you plan to leave?”
Li Guanqi thought for a moment. “Not right away. I can’t leave before Sui’an wakes up, or she’ll hold it against me.”
Li Nanting rose slowly, and Li Guanqi quickly helped him to his feet. As Li Guanqi turned to head inside, Li Nanting said, “Since you're leaving... We've got more recruits this time and we're short-staffed. Take on some of the classes.”
Li Guanqi froze. “You’re asking me to teach? No, no... I’m still a—”
Li Nanting cut him off. “What are you talking about? Just teach them how to condition their bodies and perform qi induction. It’s nothing difficult. Go over the key aspects they should focus on during cultivation. As for the rest, once things settle down, someone else will take over.”
Li Guanqi had no choice but to agree. After he left, he received a message from Ye Feng.
—Boss, I’ve talked to my master. Starting today, I’ll enter closed-door cultivation. We can leave together once I’ve reached the Golden Core Realm.
Li Guanqi put the jade slip down, but then it flashed again. It was a message from Lu Kangnian.
–-All disciples who participated in the battle against the Purple Sun Pavilion—report to the main pavilion!
He put down the jade slip and immediately headed there.
The new disciples had just received their sect robes. When they looked up at the night sky filled with sword-riding cultivators, their hearts swelled with hope for the future.
The disciple named Wei Li watched Li Guanqi leave and muttered, “One day, I want to become like Senior Brother Li.”
By the time Li Guanqi arrived, the main hall was already packed. Though spacious, it could barely hold a thousand people.
Lu Kangnian sat on the dais and looked down at the crowd.
“I’m here!” Li Guanqi called out.
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Lu Kangnian watched as Li Guanqi slowly walked up the dais. He patted Li Guanqi’s shoulder in front of all the other disciples, then turned to face the crowd.
To everyone’s shock, Lu Kangnian bowed deeply.