The Great Xia Sword Sect!

All the elders and peak masters gathered in a secret hall.

After a long discussion, they finally decided that the entire sect would go into seclusion for three years!

They first selected disciples who had participated in the battle at the Purple Sun Hall, filtering out those loyal to the sect.

These chosen ones had to swear an oath, ensuring they wouldn’t reveal any information about the cultivation technique. Only then could they practice the mysterious technique left by Li Guanqi!

Lu Kangnian and Ling Daoyan spent three whole days studying this technique!

The conclusion they reached made these two Divine Transformation Realm experts gasp in astonishment!

Lu Kangnian immediately realized that this could be the foundation for the Great Xia Sword Sect’s complete rise to power!!

Spirit veins were nothing compared to this eleventh level of Qi Refining technique!

After much discussion, when the elders couldn’t reach an agreement, Lu Kangnian slammed his palm on the high platform, making a decisive decision. Despite the Great Xia Sword Sect’s rising fame in the northern region, they chose not to expand their influence.

Instead, they decided to go into seclusion for three years, to bide their time and gather strength!

Li Guanqi murmured to himself, “As expected of the Sect Master.”

At this moment, the voice of the Sword Spirit echoed in his mind.

“You’re not too foolish. If you had left the twelfth level of the technique, and it got leaked even slightly…”

“Trust me, the entire Great Xia Domain, and even the top sects of other domains, would stop at nothing to destroy the Great Xia Sword Sect!”

Li Guanqi’s pupils contracted instantly. He hadn’t realized the consequences could be so severe!

He had only wanted to repay the sect for nurturing him and knew how precious the thirteenth level of the Qi Refining technique was.

So, he had only left the eleventh level of the technique.

Thinking back now, he felt a chill run down his spine. He had two jade slips in his hands back then!

Soon, the three of them arrived at a place called Yuanping Dock.

Yuanping Dock, like other cloud boat docks, was located atop a high mountain.

Surrounded by picturesque mountains, occasionally, large flying demon beasts carrying heavy loads would pass by in the sky.

Ye Feng asked, “Boss, how do we sell things here? Set up a stall?”

Li Guanqi smiled and nodded, “That’s right, set up a stall.”

“But… this place is a mixed bag, with all sorts of people.”

“Keep an eye on your storage bags and don’t easily get into conflicts with others.”

The two behind him nodded solemnly.

Li Guanqi naturally had a leader’s aura, making him the boss of the two, and they were very convinced by him.

They didn’t speak, standing like guards on either side of him.

Yuanping Dock had just started its business day. After landing, the three of them quickly changed into plain hemp robes.

As they walked into the dock, the shops on the street began to open one by one.

Li Guanqi spotted a prime spot leading to the dock platform and quickly dashed forward.

Setting up a stall at the dock was a first-come, first-served basis, with no stall fees. Whoever got there first got the spot.

After the dock closed each day, no one was allowed to stay. That was the rule!

Just as Li Guanqi was about to reach the spot, an old man suddenly jumped out from the side.

Li Guanqi almost bumped into him, and the white-bearded old man glared and blurted out, “Are you blind?!”

Li Guanqi was momentarily stunned, but that moment allowed the old man to see his eyes clearly.

Pure white eyes, clearly indicating he was blind.

Li Guanqi lowered his voice and said, “I’m sorry, sir. I… am indeed blind…”

The old man looked embarrassed and raised his hand to apologize.

But Li Guanqi’s eyebrows twitched, and his eyes filled with tears as he spoke sorrowfully.

“I was born with a hard life, lost my parents early…”

“Years ago, the snow was so heavy, I almost starved to death on the streets.”

Hearing this, the old man felt a pang of guilt and stepped aside, saying, “Young brother, I’m sorry.”

“I’m a straightforward old man, but I meant no harm. Don’t take it to heart.”

As he spoke, the old man gave up his spot.

Li Guanqi calmly took the prime spot, secretly laughing.

“Let’s see if I don’t make you feel guilty to death today!”

He sat down and continued, “I have two younger brothers.”

“One has a big head and can’t speak, the other is foolish, with weak limbs, drooling while lying down, needing me to feed him.”

“I was hoping to come early today to get a good spot to sell some small items.”

As he spoke, he pointed to where Ye Feng and Cao Yan were standing.

Ye Feng’s face darkened. There was no need to say who the big head was.

But the foolish one…

When he turned around, Cao Yan was already walking towards Li Guanqi, gesturing randomly with his hands.

Li Guanqi pointed to himself, then to the old man, then to the ground.

He didn’t know what it meant, but Cao Yan seemed to understand, bowing to the old man.

“Ah ba, ah ba ah ba ba… ah ba ah ba!”

The old man, despite his age, smiled and returned the bow.

Li Guanqi even heard the old man’s waist crack. He almost burst out laughing when he turned to look at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng’s eyes rolled up, drooling from his mouth.

He had somehow stuffed a rag into his collar, his hands twisted like chicken claws, and his legs wobbly.

He walked towards them, drooling and twitching his head.

The old man looked heartbroken and slapped himself twice.

Seeing the three of them, he felt immense regret.

“I’m really not a human!”

“I deserve to die!!”

“Why is my mouth so foul!!”

Seeing the old man’s regretful eyes, the three of them tried hard to hold back their laughter, pinching their thighs until they turned purple.

The old man got up and helped Ye Feng over. Ye Feng continued his act, saying, “Th-thank you~”

The old man quickly waved his hand, gesturing for the two to sit beside Li Guanqi.

He didn’t go far, sitting down next to Li Guanqi.

Cao Yan didn’t mind, as he was playing a ‘mute’ and didn’t need to speak.

In their perception, the old man was just a middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Given his age, he was unlikely to reach the Golden Elixir stage in this lifetime.

The old man sighed as he spread a black velvet cloth on the ground and emptied his storage bag.

Bottles, jars, porcelain fragments, cosmetics, elixirs…

Li Guanqi understood that the old man was a con artist.

But there was an unspoken rule at the dock: once you buy, no refunds, and you bear the consequences.

The old man casually placed a few items as weights, and Li Guanqi glanced at them, losing interest.

As the old man spread the velvet cloth, the Sword Spirit’s intrigued voice suddenly sounded.

“The half jade pendant by the old man’s foot seems valuable. Try to trade for it if you get the chance.”

Li Guanqi was surprised, not expecting to find gold in a pile of dung.

But he remained calm, showing no outward reaction.

Then, to the old man’s shock, he took out a few items…