Chapter 453 – Zhongnan Heavens

Through the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion, Li Guanqi had also obtained a map of the Taiqing Territory. All things aside, he could have easily earned a fortune just by selling maps.

He hadn’t expected the Taiqing Territory to neighbor the Soaring Heavens Continent.

He thought for a moment, then continued traveling. He wasn’t going to return to his sect. With Sect Master Lu Kangnian present, he wasn’t worried about them.

The jade slip in his storage ring buzzed. Li Guanqi could not help but grin.

—You brat... Thank goodness you were there, or I’d be dead by now.

Li Guanqi chuckled. “I couldn’t allow that. You’re supposed to live up to ten thousand years, Master. But now, you can finally embark on your journey to immortality.”

—Yes. Now, at least I have my dignity in front of Shen Lan.

—

Hahaha!

I plan to leave the sect soon to train myself. I’m going to travel the world!”

Li Guanqi paused. His master was the peak master of Heavenly Lightning Peak. How could he leave whenever he wanted?

“Is Sect Master Lu Kangnian really gonna let you leave?”

Li Nanting’s laughter traveled through the jade slip.

—He has never been one to stop anyone from leaving. I’ll be leaving with Shen Lan.

Li Guanqi smiled. “I’d like to congratulate you on re-embarking on the Dao, Master! I wish you a smooth journey to immortality!”

He put down the jade slip. Killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Everything ended well... but some debts need to be collected.

Li Guanqi stepped forward and disappeared. His destination: Zhongnan Heavens.

***

Rumble!

A white-robed figure flashed through the pitch-black void, lightning crackling behind him. He radiated powerful sword qi, swinging his lightning sword with his eyes lightly closed, feeling the changes in his sword force.

During the journey, he constantly cultivated. His spirit root was extremely high quality, absorbing spirit qi at an extraordinary speed.

The Heavenly Lightning Orb in his nascent soul had completely transformed into an independent dantian, while the Heavenly Fire Orb had become the resting place for his two heavenly flames. It could contain the fire seeds of the two heavenly flames, nurturing them so they constantly strengthened.

However, his physical body’s cultivation had reached a bottleneck.

Although Nine Heavens’ blood had supplied him with great strength, it still wasn’t the most compatible with the Dragon-Elephant Subduing Sutra. Great demons with dragon-elephant blood were the best, but such demons were usually found in ancient ruins and were rare.

Li Guanqi let out a long breath. Though his cultivation had brought him some clarity, the insight vanished as quickly as it came. He had a feeling that if he could grasp it, he would be able to create his first original sword technique.

Sword Spirit did not comment much, as this depended on him.

Just like that, Li Guanqi simultaneously traveled through the void, cultivating and practicing his swordsmanship all at once.

***

One month later, news of the Hell Rivers’ disappearance was still a favorite after-meal topic among cultivators across the Soaring Heavens Continent. Those who had survived the ancient ruins were traumatized.

At the same time, Li Guanqi was recognized as the number one cultivator of his generation in the Soaring Heavens Continent.

However, he was not aware of any of this.

Above the tall Zhongnan Mountain Range, a zhang-long spatial tear opened suddenly. A handsome youth in white robes stepped slowly out of the void. He had a gigantic sword box on his back and big, pretty eyes, though they were snow white.

Li Guanqi looked at the rolling mountains ahead. He could not see the end of them. Mist and clouds swirled around the peaks, and occasional demonic beast roars echoed through the range.

“A place with dense spirit qi indeed.”

Li Guanqi checked his map. He was now in Zhongnan Heavens, next to the Taiqing Territory. He could sense the auras of many strong demonic beasts in the mountains below.

Nine Heavens, coiled around his wrist, became agitated, but Li Guanqi did not plan to let it appear in broad daylight.

After comforting Nine Heavens, he looked toward the depths of the Zhongnan Mountain Range.

That was the true Zhongnan Heavens.

Suddenly, he heard a guilty voice in his ear. “

Tsk,

master? Are we leaving the Soaring Heavens Continent right now? How did you escape from the Hell King? I thought we were dead for sure!”

Peng Luo sat on Li Guanqi’s shoulder and started talking nonstop. “I was sealed inside by a mysterious energy just now! I was so worried! If I hadn’t been trapped, I definitely would’ve jumped out of the sword box to fight alongside you, Master.”

Clearly, Sword Spirit had sealed the realm inside the sword box. The fewer people who knew about Su Xuan, the better.

“Oh.”

Li Guanqi replied half-heartedly.

Peng Luo stood up, hands on his hips. “Master, how could you not believe me? I was prepared to die in battle too!”

Li Guanqi’s mouth twitched. He could already imagine Peng Luo hiding in the sword box, too afraid to come out.

Ignoring Peng Luo, he stepped forward and disappeared.

The mountains moved backward quickly in his peripheral vision. Far away, he sensed a powerful aura. He squinted and looked ahead.

Ten thousand zhang away, he saw a vast field surrounded by countless mountains. At its center stood a supercity unlike anything he’d ever seen. It was at least five hundred li in radius and had a population of at least ten million people.

Suddenly, he heard the loud crashing of waves against the shore. The air was salty and humid.

At the north side of the field lay a boundless ocean. The wind howled, and the waves crashed furiously against the shore. He could not see anything beyond. The Taiqing Territory was still very far away.

Looking at the city, he thought for a moment, then took out his Face-Changing Bug. He grabbed Peng Luo by the leaves on his head and tossed him into the sword box.

After putting away the sword box, he pulled out his jade pendant and hung it on his waist, then added a multicolored treasure sword. Paired with the amused look on his face, he looked like a prodigal son with no ambition.

Humming a small tune, he swaggered toward the city gates.

Zhongnan Heavens.

The eye-catching characters were displayed on the plaque above.

Vital force surged through him, and he became a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator with an aristocratic air. The soldiers at the gates hurriedly welcomed him into the city, forced smiles on their faces.