Lu Kangnian nodded upon witnessing the scene and whispered, "This youngster's Foundation Establishment is so formidable that it has consecutively triggered heavenly phenomena."
"It seems that this year's Spirit Ruin matter might indeed depend on Guanqi."
Then, Lu Kangnian turned to Qin Xian and asked softly, "How many disciples have established their foundation this year without surpassing one year?"
Qin Xian replied gravely, "Sect Master, there are a total of seventy-six who have broken through this year."
"But… nearly ninety percent of these disciples have already passed the age of the precipice."
Li Guanqi asked from below, "Master, what is the age of the precipice?"
Li Nanting explained via voice transmission, "Before the age of sixteen, one can maintain the fullness of their spirit and vitality."
"Once one exceeds sixteen, even if they have established their foundation, they can no longer open the Spirit Ruin in their heart."
Lu Kangnian fell silent for a moment, then let out a sigh, "Our sect's resources are still too scarce; otherwise, these disciples could have accelerated their cultivation speed."
Afterward, Lu Kangnian said, "The opening of the Spirit Ruin this year will still take place at the Purple Sun Hall."
"This year, Nanting will lead the team, especially since Li Guanqi is also going."
"Tomorrow we'll tally up the disciples in the sect, and we'll set out the day after."
Li Nanting nodded in agreement and then led Li Guanqi away.
On their way, Li Guanqi and Li Nanting flew side by side on their swords. The elder said softly, "I didn't expect you to establish your foundation so quickly."
"Some might stay in the Qi Refining Realm for two or three years, yet you managed it in just five months."
Li Guanqi smiled without saying a word, finding the monotony of cultivation surprisingly calming.
Perhaps it was because he couldn't see, having spent too much time alone in the dark.
For him, cultivation was a better form of rest and relaxation.
After pondering for a moment, Li Guanqi asked, "Master, why does the Sect Master place such great importance on this Spirit Ruin matter?"
Li Nanting thought for a while before responding, "Although the matter of the Spirit Ruin is even more elusive than that of the Spirit Root…"
"It's undeniable that everyone who possesses a Spirit Ruin soul will become a powerful cultivator in the future."
"For instance, among the disciples of the Great Xia Sword Sect, several who have broken through to the Elemental Infant stage were those with a soul."
"This shows how greatly a soul can enhance a cultivator's lethality!"
Li Guanqi nodded but still didn't understand why it was given such importance.
Seeing his confusion, the elder continued.
"Purple Sun Hall is one of the top forces in the entire Qingyun Continent, and its master is a Divine Transformation stage cultivator."
"Purple Sun Hall controls many minor secret realms, which are also extremely precious to sects like ours."
"These resources are allocated based on whether the disciples of each force possess a soul and the quality of it."
"If a sect controls any secret realm, it can greatly enhance the strength of its disciples!"
"Even by selling the entry spots to other sects, they can exchange and accumulate resources."
After hearing the elder's explanation, Li Guanqi finally understood the situation.
No wonder the Sect Master had been looking so worried lately.
However, Li Guanqi himself wasn't sure about this matter, as not even the Sword Spirit could tell if he possessed a Spirit Ruin.
In the end, Li Nanting reassured him with a smile, "Don't think too much; after all, the matter of the Spirit Ruin is determined by fate, and no one can change it."
"Stabilize your cultivation realm well, and prepare to set out the day after tomorrow."
***
Early the next morning, a figure flew haphazardly towards Heavenly Thunder Peak on a sword.
"Li Guanqi!! Hahaha, I've also broken through to Foundation Establishment!!"
"Check out the magical flying sword my master gave me!"
Li Guanqi had just finished sword practice and was carefully bandaging his cracked palms with a cloth.
He looked up at the approaching Ye Feng and couldn't help but laugh, "You're showing off when you haven't even stabilized your realm?"
It was Ye Feng's first visit to his courtyard.
Seeing the mountain of broken wood in the backyard, Ye Feng couldn't help but say, "It's one thing to be talented, but you're even more hardworking than others!"
"Ah… I can't even feel jealous."
Ye Feng, who had leaped down from the air, sat beside him and said, "I'll be leaving with you tomorrow."
"Among the new disciples this year, only the two of us have broken through to Foundation Establishment."
"Lin Dong and Zhong Lin are only at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and they plan to break through after reaching the tenth level."
"I heard that ten of us were selected for this trip in the end."
Li Guanqi nodded and said softly, "The six sects around our Northern Region don't each control their own blessed secret realms. If someone awakens a soul this time, we hope to be allocated a secret realm."
"That would be beneficial for our cultivation."
Ye Feng shrugged and said, "Alright, I won't bother you anymore. See you tomorrow."
After bandaging his wound, Li Guanqi decided not to go to the Ascension Platform.
After all, the rate at which points were consumed there was painful even for him.
He went to the Meditation Room in the backyard, embedded Spirit Stones into the formation, and sat down cross-legged, pulling out a bottle of pills.
Looking at the Nourishing Primordial Pills worth fifty Spirit Stones in his hand, Li Guanqi couldn't help but envy those pill alchemists.
But he had no hope of becoming an alchemist himself.
The next morning, Li Guanqi woke up from his cultivation.
Still immersed in last night's cultivation, he murmured, "Indeed, taking pills is the fastest way to improve one's cultivation."
At the Heavenly Thunder Peak plaza, Li Nanting and a group of disciples had been waiting for a while.
Li Guanqi flew in on his sword, his emotions still surging.
Upon arriving at the plaza, he found that including himself, there were only nine people.
Then he saw a figure flying haphazardly in the sky, putting on clothes while flying.
"Uh… sorry, sorry, Elder Li… I overslept."
Li Nanting scolded with a stern face, "Don't you have any sense of time? How can you oversleep on such an important occasion!"
"Let's go. We're heading to Purple Sun Hall, and it'll take us at least ten days of flight."
The elder waved his hand, and a flash of Spirit Light revealed a beautifully exquisite and luxurious crimson cloud boat.
The cloud boat, about thirty meters long, could easily accommodate thirty to forty people.
Once everyone was aboard, the cloud boat slowly left the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Whoosh!
The cloud boat was incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, it passed through the clouds and erected an invisible barrier to keep the fierce winds out.
Suddenly, Li Guanqi's Divine Sense caught an unexpected figure!
Turning around, he came to the back of the second-floor sails and saw a little head poking out.
Li Guanqi transmitted his voice somewhat helplessly, "Master… Yu Sui'an is on board."
Swoosh!
Li Nanting looked at the innocent-faced little girl with some helplessness and could only pretend to be angry as he held her in his arms, "You little rascal, you're too careless. What if you were thrown off?"
But seeing Yu Sui'an's tearful eyes, the elder couldn't bear to scold her further.
After putting her down, Li Nanting said, "You'll be in charge of looking after the little girl. I need to steer the boat to get to Purple Sun Hall sooner."
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas