Chapter 1021: The Primordial Spirit Gathers, Undercurrents Surge

Zhou Yunqing had never imagined Li Guanqi could bring so many top-tier alchemists together.

Guo Feng and the others arrived at the Purple Spirit Paradise Realm one after another. Their expressions turned grim at the sight of Li Guanqi in the medicinal pool. None of them had ever seen a cultivator injure themselves so badly.

Jiang Qizhi’s expression was exceptionally grave. He hurriedly pulled Li Guanqi out of the medicinal pool. The three alchemists examined Li Guanqi in turn, then exchanged glances and frowned.

Qin Xian’s heart trembled at the sight. Mustering his courage, he stepped forward, bowed, and asked, “Seniors, how is Guanqi?”

Guo Feng frowned. “His vital force should recover without too much trouble, and the side effects of the Spirit-Boosting Pill should be gone in half a month at most. However, his sea of consciousness is damaged, and his meridians were completely severed. Those injuries will be harder to treat.”

Qin Xian’s voice trembled. “His life isn’t in danger, is it?”

“No. His life isn’t in danger.”

“That’s good...”

When Qin Xian turned away, his shoulders slumped, and all the grief he had been holding back surged up at once. The old man wiped his face with a rough palm, pressed his lips together, and quietly left.

Gu Changsheng arrived soon after and examined Li Guanqi as well. In the end, the four top-tier alchemists worked together to prepare a new medicinal pool for him. Only then did they feel at ease.

Meng Jiangchu had planned to come as well, but Gu Changsheng and the others told him about Li Guanqi’s condition, putting his mind at ease.

Still, the doubts in his heart only grew stronger. Inside a secret chamber, Meng Jiangchu frowned and murmured, “It seems Guanqi’s assessment of the enemy behind all this was correct. This time, the attacker was actually a Mahayana Realm cultivator! Surviving an attack like that was already no small feat… Sigh.”

Meng Jiangchu’s heart ached for Li Guanqi. He could not understand why his son-in-law had to face so many hardships. Furthermore, he’d never believed that some powerful force was protecting Li Guanqi from behind the scenes. Since he had been to the Seventh Territory, he knew exactly what Su Xuan was doing there.

With a sigh, Meng Jiangchu resumed his cultivation. He had to become stronger. Whether for Li Guanqi or the Seventh Territory, he felt he was still far from being strong enough.

Li Guanqi lay rigid in the medicinal pool, his hands clenched over his chest and his brow furrowed. Blood continued flowing from his eyes while Guo Feng and the others kept watch beside him.

Han Yuan stared at the unconscious Li Guanqi, his expression grim. Over the past two days, he had searched the Daxia Sword Sect’s grounds thoroughly and found several lingering spatial fluctuations. But no matter how carefully he searched, he could not detect even a trace of an aura.

Seeing Han Yuan fly over from the direction of the rear mountain, Jiang Qizhi frowned and asked, “Did you find anything?”

Han Yuan smiled bitterly and shook his head. “They hid their methods well and left almost no trace of their aura. There isn’t a single clue to go on. They must have done this many times before. And I’ve never even heard of a chain that could extract something hidden inside a person’s body.”

Han Yuan was not the only one at a loss. Jiang Qizhi had also asked Meng Jiangchu about the chain in private. According to Meng Jiangchu, an artifact like that had either formed naturally or been crafted in ancient times. It was at least as powerful as a spirit treasure:[1], or perhaps even more so. No artifact blacksmith today could forge a magical artifact of that caliber.

Even Meng Jiangchu wondered whether it might be something from the Immortal World.

White silk banners hung throughout the Daxia Sword Sect, but no burial ceremony was held for Li Nanting. It was as though everyone had silently agreed he was still alive.

Shen Lan sat beside the medicinal pool, blankly staring ahead as she waited for Li Guanqi to awaken. She wanted to know if there was still any chance of bringing Li Nanting back to life. Though that chance was exceedingly slim, she firmly believed Li Guanqi would find a way.

Li Guanqi had even repaired an incomplete divine soul. Now that every fragment of Li Nanting’s divine soul had been gathered and restored with the help of that mysterious pill, perhaps he might recover one day.

Three more days slipped away.

Li Guanqi trembled faintly from the pain, then slowly opened his eyes.

Splash!

Li Guanqi suddenly sat up. He immediately tried to check Li Nanting’s condition, only to find that he had no more strength than an ordinary mortal. All the strength in his body seemed to have vanished. He could neither mobilize his vital force nor use his divine consciousness.

As soon as he raised his head, he saw the haggard Shen Lan walking unsteadily toward the edge of the medicinal pool. She looked at him expectantly. Her pale face was filled with hope.

Suppressing his grief, Li Guanqi said hoarsely, “Mistress…”

Shen Lan’s voice trembled. “Nanting… He’s still alive… isn’t he?”

Countless thoughts raced through Li Guanqi’s mind, but when he answered, his voice was firm. “He’s alive! No matter the price, I’ll help Master reconstruct his physical body!”

Tears streamed down Shen Lan’s face as she nodded again and again. She pressed her lips together, then suddenly went limp.

Li Guanqi hurriedly caught her and helped her sit down nearby. He then leaned against the stone wall, wrapped his arms around his knees, and bowed his head.

A long time passed before he slowly looked up again.

Buzz!

Guo Feng, Jiang Qizhi, and Han Yuan arrived together. The three of them had been staying at the Daxia Sword Sect the entire time.

Seeing that Li Guanqi was awake, Jiang Qizhi sighed and said softly, “Young Friend Li, my condolences.”

Li Guanqi nodded silently. His master’s divine soul was complete, but it had been pieced back together after being shattered. His three hun and seven po had inevitably sustained some damage.

Li Guanqi did not yet know whether he could reconstruct his master’s physical body. Even if he could, merging that body with the divine soul would be far from easy. His only hope might be to ascend to the Immortal World one day and search there for the materials needed to reconstruct a physical body.

Guo Feng said softly, “If nothing else, the three of us can help mend your meridians. Whatever happens, you need to regain your cultivation first. The conflict between the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion and the Guanyun Pavilion is escalating, and the Guanyun Pavilion will have a hard time without you.”

Li Guanqi’s eyes were still clouded with profound grief. He seemed indifferent to whether Guanyun Pavilion survived or fell. After a moment, however, he took a deep breath and said softly, “This junior thanks all three seniors.”

Guo Feng smiled. “It’s nothing. I already asked that young lady from your pavilion to announce that the three of us are cooperating with the Guanyun Pavilion.”

Li Guanqi stared at them in surprise. Three tier-eight alchemists had publicly announced their cooperation with the Guanyun Pavilion…

His expression turned solemn. “I will never forget the kindness you three have shown me.”

Han Yuan said softly, “Focus on recovering your strength. The side effects of the Spirit-Boosting Pill can drive a person mad.”

The three men led Li Guanqi to the summit of the Purple Spirit Paradise Realm, where they set up a Spirit-Gathering Array and a Meditation Array. The three Mahayana Realm cultivators then began helping him mend his meridians.

At the same time, numerous clans and factions coveting the Daxia Sword Sect gathered inside a mysterious great hall.

1. Artifact tiers: mundane artifact > magical artifact > spirit artifact > magical treasure artifact > ancient treasure artifact > spirit treasure artifact > heavenly spirit treasure artifact