Chapter 1041: Auctioning the Profound Origin Sacred Soul Pill

The elder’s eyes widened in shock. This was no small burden.

“I know we don’t have the strength for that,” Li Guanqi said softly. “So…”

Buzz!

Nangong Qianyan and Tu Zhongqiu appeared, and Li Guanqi said, “I’ll need your help, seniors!”

Tu Zhongqiu smiled. “It’s no trouble. We’re only killing people, after all. We two old fellows haven’t seen any action in a while. Gong Ze wanted to come too when he heard about it.”

Li Guanqi gave a small smile. “Senior Gong Ze has other things to attend to.”

Everyone smiled, clasped their fists, and left without another word.

Soon, ripples spread through the empty room as Guo Feng and his companions emerged from the void.

“You brat, your cultivation is advancing so quickly!” Jiang Qizhi said with a laugh.

Li Guanqi smiled and stood to greet the three elders with a bow. “Please forgive me for asking you to stand guard in case anything unexpected happens. This is a conflict between the two pavilions, so I won’t ask you to take part in the fighting.”

Han Yuan sat down and waved a hand with a smile. “No trouble at all. We three old fellows may not be much good in a fight, but we know how to start a fire!”

“Which is exactly what I need you to do,” Li Guanqi said with a slight smile.

With a flick of his wrist, his pavilion master jade pendant appeared in his palm. “I’ve finished inscribing the arrays inside the pendant. Now, I need you to spread them with your heavenly fire so we can listen in on everyone.”

As he spoke, Li Guanqi’s gaze dimmed slightly. There should have been an even more suitable candidate for this task. The Yin Hellfire flame could replace the flames of all three elders, and its properties would even let him kill anyone instantly if he detected anything amiss.

Li Guanqi sighed as he watched the three elders channel their flames into his jade pendant. The change went unnoticed. With everything done, he finally felt a little more at ease.

He squeezed quite a few pills out of the three elders before leaving the Guanyun Domain alone. Hidden from sight, he surveyed the area below, his gaze sharp. “More bloodshed and carnage…”

He headed straight for the Purple Spirit Paradise Realm. It was as rich in spirit qi as ever, with plenty of low-tier demonic beasts roaming about, but now it had a little more life. Wisps of cooking smoke rose above the rustic wooden houses of a small village.

Yun Shan, the leader of the Fire-Eyed Demon Fox Clan, was treating his clansmen’s injuries when he looked up and spotted Li Guanqi, who had appeared silently outside the village entrance. He hurried over and bowed. “Greetings, Senior Li.”

Li Guanqi quickly helped him up with both hands. “Clan Leader Yun, there’s no need for such formality. Please, be at ease.”

Yun Shan managed a faint smile. He was covered in wounds he hadn’t had time to treat. As Li Guanqi looked over the clan’s members, he realized that nearly half had been killed or wounded in the battle. The sight moved him deeply. Unlike the Spiritfish Clan, they hadn’t had more than a decade to recover. They were already far too vulnerable.

With a grave expression, Li Guanqi took a large supply of high-grade healing pills from his storage ring and handed them to Yun Shan. “Give these to your clansmen. If you need more, go straight to Pill Peak. I’ve seen the Fire-Eyed Demon Fox Clan’s sincerity. From now on… focus on resting and recovering!”

Before Li Guanqi could finish speaking, Yu Shan’s eyes welled up with tears. The Fire-Eyed Demon Fox clansmen rose one by one and bowed deeply to Li Guanqi. Li Guanqi returned their gesture with equal solemnity.

Li Guanqi then visited the Spiritfish Clan, which resided in the great rivers. Yu Bo welcomed him personally, and Li Guanqi left them some pills and resources as well.

After leaving the Purple Spirit Paradise Realm, he went to see Wu Bing. In the study, Wu Bing smiled at him. “This is the first time we’ve actually sat down to chat, isn’t it?”

Li Guanqi smiled and teased him. “Still holding a grudge, Senior Brother Wu?”

“I told Master I didn’t want to be the acting sect master, but he couldn’t find you!” Wu Bing said irritably. “So I got stuck with it. Want the position? I’ll hand it over.”

“No, thanks. I’m not up to it,” Li Guanqi said quickly.

He spoke with complete sincerity. “It’s been hard on you, Senior Brother. I couldn’t take that position, and I don’t want it. It comes with so much pressure, yet I have to leave you to bear it alone.”

With his back to Li Guanqi, Wu Bing pressed his lips together. Only someone in his position could understand the pressure it brought. Still, he knew he couldn’t tie someone like Li Guanqi down. Wu Bing bore the sect’s burdens, but Li Guanqi’s burdens were greater and heavier still. If Li Guanqi could stand tall and face them all, Wu Bing had no reason to shrink back.

Wu Bing handed him a cup of wine and clinked his own against it, his expression resolute. “Go do what you need to do. I’ll keep things running at the sect.”

Li Guanqi was deeply moved. He was the reason the sect had faced so much hostility, and Wu Bing had shouldered much of that burden too.

Li Guanqi tipped his head back and drained his wine, then clasped his fists and bowed. “I’m counting on you, Senior Brother.”

Wu Bing punched him on the shoulder and laughed. “Yeah, yeah. Now shoo.”

Meanwhile, the Guanyun Pavilion set to work like a vast, intricate machine. Astounding news swept across the Six Territories. The Guanyun Pavilion was holding an auction, and its final lot would be the ancient Profound Origin Sacred Soul Pill, which could mend a damaged divine soul.

The news caused an uproar throughout the Six Territories and among the ancient clans. Even in the Ethereal Immortal Territory, many clans and other factions began to mobilize.

Li Guanqi sat atop the shattered summit of Heavenly Lightning Peak, drinking wine and gazing into the distance with half-closed eyes. Dark storm clouds were moving toward the Daxia Sword Sect.

“What will their first move be?” he murmured. “Old man… who’s behind you? What do they want?”

As he sank into thought, the jade pendant in his hand flashed fiercely. His eyes narrowed, and his heart lurched.

“They’re here already?”