Chapter 297 - Shock the Phoenix Lightning Sect

Back in Chu Xingxian’s study, the two didn’t linger on what had just happened. Even so, Li Guanqi couldn’t shake the feeling that Yun Mengxi had opened his eyes. He hadn’t expected a woman to be so calculating—or rather, that hardship had forced her to live for no one but herself, making her thoroughly selfish.

Cang Lu left an even stronger impression. Li Guanqi could tell his strength was formidable.

More than once, he had caught flashes of killing intent and disdain in Cang Lu’s eyes. Still, Li Guanqi believed that between Cang Lu and Ye Feng, Ye Feng still held the edge. After all, Ye Feng had trained by his side and gained much from him. Not everyone had had the chance to train inside the Hundred Prides Illusory Realm.

Chu Xingxian’s hand shimmered as he produced a teapot and poured him a cup of spirit tea. He asked curiously, “Why step in and interfere?”

Li Guanqi took a sip, praised the taste, then said softly, “It’s not that I like meddling, but Yun Mengxi’s attitude really rubbed me the wrong way.

“And besides, I rather like that Cang Lu fellow. I just thought I’d lend a hand. I knew too much to just sit back.”

The old man chuckled without replying, then smirked. “Kid, you owe me a good disciple now. And at the sect gates, you grasped the intent domain hidden in our Phoenix Lightning plaque. How do you plan to make that up to me?”

Cough cough...

Li Guanqi’s face turned awkward. He hadn’t expected that just a glance at the plaque would plunge him into an epiphany.

What’s more, after grasping that intent domain, he had even made the Phoenix Lightning Sect’s great bell ring, which was something he’d never expected.

After a brief pause, Li Guanqi shamelessly suggested, “Since you’re so magnanimous, how about I serve as your guest elder for one month?

“Ahem... of course, if there’s some payment involved, that’d be even better.”

Chu Xingxian was inwardly overjoyed. A Nascent Soul Realm guest elder for free, and one who cultivated lightning arts! Better yet, he was young enough to make the sect’s arrogant prodigies green with envy.

But outwardly, he feigned anger. “You greedy brat! Instead of compensating me, you even want me to pay you?”

Li Guanqi grinned. “You’re not losing out! I can teach sword arts, and I’ve even grasped sword intent.”

Chu Xingxian’s jaw dropped, forgetting his act entirely. “Wait! What did you just say? You’ve comprehended sword intent?”

Li Guanqi shrugged. “See? Still think you’re losing out?”

Li Guanqi left the study, a blue-and-violet jade pendant now hanging at his waist. One side bore the character “Li,” while the other read “Phoenix Lightning Sect.”

Li Guanqi’s heart swelled with satisfaction as he gazed at the pendant and the spirit stones stored within.

Tang Jing, who had been brash earlier, now stood stiff at the door, eyes locked on the dazzling jade token at his belt. “Uh... Elder Li, I’ll take you to your residence.”

Chu Xingxian, knowing their prior rapport, had simply ordered Tang Jing to escort him.

Li Guanqi noticed her unease and smiled. “What’s this? We were gossiping just a moment ago. Why so scared now?”

Tang Jing pulled a comical grimace and muttered, “Who could’ve known you’d walk in there and come out a sect elder?”

Li Guanqi chuckled softly. “Relax. Just treat me like before. I’ll only be staying a month.”

Tang Jing nodded stiffly and led him to a secluded courtyard. It was quiet, but meticulously arranged. Even the incense had been specially chosen to calm the mind. There was a jade meditation cushion inside to help cultivators focus.

Li Guanqi muttered under his breath, “Old fox...”

It didn’t take long for the news to spread. Li Guanqi had become a guest elder of the Phoenix Lightning Sect, and word of Yun Mengxi’s disgrace circulated as well. The entire sect buzzed with excitement.

Disciples gathered everywhere to gossip. Aside from Yun Mengxi’s withdrawal, everyone was talking about the sect’s new young elder.

Naturally, the one who knew him best was Tang Jing. The moment she returned to her peak, she was surrounded by curious disciples.

They pressed her for answers. What kind of person was this man who had suddenly become an elder of their Phoenix Lightning Sect?

Tang Jing blushed and murmured, “He’s... very handsome.”

A baby-faced girl threw an arm around her and exclaimed, “Wow! Sister Jing, your face is burning hot!”

“Ooooh, don’t tell us you’re crushing on him~”

“I heard that the new elder is super young!”

Another disciple across the room adjusted her robes and scoffed coldly. “Or maybe he’s just some old monster who took youth preservation pills.

“I heard Wu Kun took one of those. He’s seventy already, right? Gross,” said a tall, cold-faced girl, clearly not caring about the new elder.

The baby-faced girl gasped. “Oh! Maybe he took some pill to change his looks. He was probably hideous before!”

Tang Jing quickly objected. “No way! He’s only seventeen. Why would he need youth preservation pills?”

The baby-faced girl shrieked, saying, “Seventeen?! He reached the Nascent Soul Realm at seventeen?! He must be the eldest son of some supreme clan!”

Tang Jing shook her head gently. “I don’t think so. From what I know, he’s an orphan.”

Even the cold-faced girl perked up, her white gauze dress accentuating her graceful figure. She leaned back lazily and asked, “No parents? Then how did he even get to his level? Where’d he get the resources?”

Tang Jing smiled, remembering what she knew. “Because... he’s Li Guanqi of the Daxia Sword Sect!”

“What?”

“Li Guanqi?! Is it really him?”