Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
The next day.
Li Guanqi rose early when the sun rise, already tidying up.
After practicing his boxing stance dozens of times in the backyard, his body was surging with energy, sweat soaking his back.
Glancing at the sky, he set down the sword box behind him and prepared to boil water for a bath.
As for why his grandfather called it a Sword Coffin, he had no idea.
Meanwhile.
Inside the grand hall of Heavenly Thunder Peak, it was bustling with activity, as nearly all the disciples who remained on the peak had gathered.
For three years, Li Guanqi had been the only new disciple taken in by Heavenly Thunder Peak.
Not to mention, he was a prodigy with a legendary Saint-Grade Spirit Root!
In a separate courtyard behind the mountain of Heavenly Thunder Peak.
A little girl dressed in a flowered jacket had just finished hanging up the laundry with great effort.
Squatting at the doorway, she pulled out a steamed bun from her bosom and began to nibble on it.
With one bite, nearly half of the steamed bun was in her mouth, the thin skin and generous filling releasing a fragrant aroma.
After just one bite, a ring of grease was already around the little girl's mouth.
"Grandpa Li, aren't you going to the new disciple's initiation ceremony today?"
A drunken voice came from the room.
"No."
The little girl nodded, as if this answer was not unexpected.
She mumbled to herself, "Choosing the lightning attribute for a Saint-Grade Spirit Root…"
"And he's blind."
The sound of snoring slowly drifted out, and the little girl got up and ran towards the direction of the grand hall, her arms raised like a running goose spreading its wings.
"Guanqi! Over here."
Gu Ran's voice called out, and Li Guanqi, with his sword box on his back, quickly walked towards the grand hall.
On a square hundreds of meters wide, many people were already standing.
Not only were all the disciples of Heavenly Thunder Peak present, but even Sect Master Lu Kangnian had come in person, along with elders from various peaks.
They all wanted to see which master this talented youngster would choose to follow.
At this moment, only Xu Zhengjie, one of the elders of Heavenly Thunder Peak, was present.
Heavenly Thunder Peak had one Peak Master and two elders.
There were a total of thirty-seven disciples.
Peak Master Lei Yingze, at the peak of the Golden Elixir Realm, was currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Elemental Infant Realm.
The Great Elder had not shown himself, leaving only Second Elder Xu Zhengjie to handle all the affairs of the peak.
Seeing that Li Guanqi had arrived but only Xu Zhengjie was present among the elders, Lu Kangnian's brow furrowed.
"Hmph, Li Nanting isn't coming on such a day?"
When the Sect Master spoke thus, no one dared to respond, but others couldn't help but talk.
Because Li Nanting, the Great Elder of Heavenly Thunder Peak, was a very special figure within the Great Xia Sword Sect.
No elder from any peak dared to be frivolous in front of Li Nanting.
For he was once the Law Enforcement Elder of the Great Xia Sword Sect!
Buzz!
Suddenly, a figure in a white robe appeared beside Lu Kangnian.
The newcomer, tall and straight as a sword, was an old man who did not show a trace of frailty.
His features were sharp, and his eyes were as piercing as an eagle's.
Seeing the figure that appeared, Lu Kangnian said with a light laugh, "I thought you wouldn't come."
The old man chuckled softly, "Heavenly Thunder Peak hasn't been this lively in three years, I had to come and see."
Lu Kangnian nodded, then suddenly asked, "Where's Little Bun?"
"Here."
Li Nanting pointed to the roof of the grand hall, where a little girl in a flowered jacket, munching on a carrot, was peering out.
Lu Kangnian gestured, and the little girl flew up, landing in his arms.
Lu Kangnian, with stubble on his face, rubbed it against the little girl's delicate cheeks, causing her to frown and stuff the carrot into Lu Kangnian's mouth.
Lu Kangnian laughed heartily, letting her ride on his neck.
"Now that everyone is here, the initiation ceremony for disciple Li Guanqi will officially begin!"
"Sound the drums! Offer incense! Present the ancestral statues!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Over a hundred disciples vigorously beat the rhythmic war drums.
A bronze cauldron, about a zhang in size, thunderously landed in the center.
One by one, stone statues, each over ten zhang tall, crashed down!
A total of more than thirty statues, each carved with lifelike precision.
These were the ancestral statues of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Lu Kangnian's voice echoed throughout the sect.
"The Great Xia Sword Sect has been established for 13,298 years!"
"The Sect Master lineage spans thirty-eight generations."
"One Tribulation Crossing ascendant to the immortal realm, two in the Great Vehicle phase, three in the Body Fusion realm, five in the Void Refinement realm, fifteen in the Divine Transformation realm!"
"Today, as you join the sect, you become a disciple of the Great Xia Sword Sect for life!"
"From now on, as you embark on the path of cultivation, as long as you act uprightly…"
"The sect will protect all its disciples to the best of its ability!"
"The teachings of the Great Xia Sword Sect!"
"The sword in hand does not point at the weak; the sword in heart does not fear the strong!"
"Right the wrongs of the world, slay those who must be slain!"
"If one day, because of these teachings, you face a formidable enemy, the Great Xia Sword Sect will mobilize its full strength to protect you!"
"Li Guanqi, are you willing to join the Great Xia Sword Sect and become part of Heavenly Thunder Peak?"
Li Guanqi stood still, slowly removing the cloth covering his eyes.
His pure white eyes stared straight into Lu Kangnian's, as he raised the landscape incense in his hand and said in a deep voice.
"Disciple Li Guanqi, wishes to join the Great Xia Sword Sect and become part of Heavenly Thunder Peak!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The war drums thundered, resounding throughout Heavenly Thunder Peak.
Lu Kangnian's expression was solemn as he declared, "Offer incense! The initiation is complete!"
The following ceremony was very simple. At this point, Lu Kangnian approached Li Guanqi with great solemnity, handing him a white jade token.
The token was palm-sized, with the emblem of the Great Xia Sword Sect on the front and the words "Great Xia Sword Sect" engraved.
On the back was his name and the likeness of Heavenly Thunder Peak.
"This is your Identity Jade Token, remember not to lose it!"
"As for its uses, you can study it later."
Saying this, Lu Kangnian suddenly turned to look at the old man who didn't seem very approachable, and said softly.
"Now then…"
"Li Nanting, would you like to take him as your disciple?"
Second Elder Xu Zhengjie looked at Lu Kangnian with a resentful gaze; the Sect Master didn't even ask him, nor did he ask the Peak Master of Heavenly Thunder Peak.
Li Guanqi stood still, saying nothing, for such matters were for the Sect Master to arrange a suitable master for him, and he had no objections.
"Why does it have to be me? Old Xu is also capable."
Lu Kangnian shook his head and said softly, "The Great Xia Sword Sect has not had such promising talents in many years. Since he chose the lightning attribute for his Spirit Root…"
"Among all of Heavenly Thunder Peak, you are the most suitable candidate!"
"Whether it's sword techniques, cultivation methods, the use of lightning elemental power, or even mastery of Spirit Spells."
"Among the elders of the eight peaks, only you are proficient in all aspects. I do not feel at ease with Li Guanqi apprenticing under anyone else."
Li Nanting fell silent. For many years, he had grown accustomed to living alone, unconcerned with worldly affairs.
But faced with a disciple with a Saint-Grade Spirit Root, he was truly tempted!
The chance of him returning to the Elemental Infant Realm in this lifetime was as slim as finding a needle in the ocean, and he yearned to pass on his knowledge.
Previously, Wu Bing had a golden Spirit Root, which was not suitable for him.
Li Nanting approached Li Guanqi, crouched down, and asked softly, "Kid, if I were to be your master, would you… be willing?"
The old man's voice trembled slightly, revealing a hint of unease.
Yet Li Guanqi could feel the sincerity and caution emanating from the old man.
There was a look of hope and expectation in the old man's eyes.
This look struck Li Guanqi's heart, and he slowly knelt down, lifting the hem of his robe.
"Disciple Li Guanqi, wishes to take you as my master!"
At this moment, the old man's eyes filled with tears, his eyes reddening.
The old man, looking up, said with a trembling voice, "Good… very good!"
The old man helped the young man to his feet and announced to all around in a deep voice, "I, Li Nanting, today accept Li Guanqi as my direct disciple!"
"From now on, I ask the elders of the eight peaks to look after him!"