Chapter 413 - Hidden Conspiracies

News of such a disaster could never stay hidden. The entire Northern Territory was talking about it.

When Cang Lu first entered the sect, his spirit root test had caused a storm of attention. His cultivation rose at a stunning pace as well, making many people see him as the next Li Guanqi.

But then, he betrayed the sect. He struck his own master.

Either piece of news was enough to shake the world, let alone the fact that he’d actually been in the late Divine Transformation Realm all along.

Speculation spread like wildfire.

Some claimed Cang Lu had been coveting a mysterious treasure within the Daxia Sword Sect.

Some insisted he’d joined the sect for the sole purpose of killing Li Nanting, and that they must have had a blood feud.

Somehow, news of Ling Daoyan identifying him as the Six-Fingered Guqin Demon spread as well.

Panic took root everywhere.

Meanwhile, in a courtyard halfway up Heavenly Lightning Peak, a crowd stood in heavy silence.

Li Nanting lay on the bed with his eyes shut tight. His face was pale as paper, and his limbs were cold.

Li Guanqi could only stand there and watch, powerless.

“Little blind boy...” Yu Sui’an sniffled, tugging at his sleeve, tears welling up. “Grandpa’s going to be okay, right?”

He bent down and answered with quiet resolve, “Don’t worry. He’ll be fine!”

Sun Miao, seated beside the bed, solemnly lowered his hand and sighed deeply.

Li Guanqi’s chest tightened. “Elder Sun, how is he?”

Sun Miao rose. “Let’s talk outside.”

Once they stepped into the courtyard, Sun Miao solemnly said, “Your master once fell from the Nascent Soul Realm and had to rebuild his golden core. His core has been fragile ever since. That’s why he never dared attempt another breakthrough. If he tried, the core would likely shatter. It’s also why he didn’t fight at full strength.”

Li Guanqi drew a steady breath. “I know all that. Elder Sun, we’re family. Just tell me the truth.”

Sun Miao studied him for a long moment, unable to imagine what Li Guanqi had endured to remain so composed. At last, he sighed. “There’s nothing I can do. His fate lies with the heavens.”

A chill ran through Li Guanqi. His heart lurched. With a shaky voice, he said, “Is there... really no way?”

Sun Miao glanced toward the room, where quiet sobs leaked through the doorway.

“If your friend hadn’t sent us that essence, he would already be gone. There’s truly no saving him...”

Li Guanqi’s shoulders sagged, though only for a moment. His eyes ignited with determination.

“I refuse to believe that there is no way! The world is vast, with millions of treasures! There has to be a way!”

Sun Miao was a tier-five alchemist, so he was obviously very knowledgeable. If he said there was no way, it was likely true.

Li Guanqi looked toward the room again, then narrowed his eyes.

Suddenly, he shouted, “Where is the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion?! Come to me now!”

Lu Kangnian and the others froze. No one had expected Li Guanqi to say such a thing at the Heavenly Lightning Peak.

Before long, a young administrator hurried to the courtyard. Everyone was surprised to see him. He had joined the sect in the same year as Li Guanqi and had served dutifully since then.

The youth bowed and gave Lu Kangnian an apologetic salute. “If there’s anything you need to communicate, please speak freely.”

Li Guanqi lifted his hand and created a terrifying double-layered barrier around them.

The youth was inwardly shocked. He had heard about Ning Xiu’s death, which caused Li Guanqi to beat up a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator of the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion.

Li Guanqi asked, “How do I save my master? Is there a treasure that can rebuild a golden core? What’s the price?”

He didn’t even question whether the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion had an answer. In his mind, their reach spanned all six territories, and its roots ran deeper than any sect. For them, treating an injured Golden Core Realm cultivator should have been easy.

The youth bowed his head. “I’ll contact the Pavilion at once. Please wait.”

Li Guanqi nodded.

After a moment, the youth handed him a jade pendant. As Li Guanqi accepted it, a strange mix of feelings stirred within him—an odd, inescapable connection to the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion. He felt like he couldn’t break the connection even if he wanted to.

He wondered if the services provided by the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion were too convenient. After acquiring one of their pendants, he found it hard to adapt to life without one.

Hoo...

He took the jade pendant, and a small line of text appeared in front of him.

Yes. There is a solution. A peak tier-five pill known as the ancient creation pill. It can reforge a cultivator’s golden core. Once your master takes it, he will be able to break through his bottleneck at the Nascent Soul Realm and resume his cultivation path.

“The ancient creation pill... Will it be that effective?!”

Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. He didn’t accept the answer immediately, nor did he ask about the cost.

His divine consciousness churned. Many thoughts flickered through his mind. His gaze sharpened, and he asked coldly, “Were you behind all of this?”

To his surprise, an old man’s voice flowed from the jade, calm and gentle. “No.”

Li Guanqi narrowed his eyes. “And why would I trust you? It’s all too coincidental. So coincidental that I suspect Cang Lu was working for you guys.”

The person on the other side of the jade pendant fell silent.

He pressed on, “With his abilities, killing my master would have been effortless. Instead, he shattered his golden core and left him dying, creating a situation where a miracle cure would be needed. And you happen to have that miracle. How is that not suspicious?”

The old man spoke again.

“Believe it or don’t. There is no connection between Cang Lu and the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion. Whether you trust us is your choice. We have the ancient creation pill, but you have to do something for us first.”

Li Guanqi huffed and squeezed the jade pendant until it broke.

The young administrator trembled.

“Bring me another.”