Gazing at the thirty-some people beside him, Li Guanqi’s expression turned somber.

Even if he had slain some of the black-clothed people, what of it?

Perhaps sensing Li Guanqi’s mood, Sect Master Lu Kangnian let out a soft sigh.

“Everyone, go back first.”

“Guanqi, come see me later after you’ve stabilized your realm.”

“Nanting, stay with him.”

At this moment, the faces of all the Great Xia Sword Sect’s Elders were terribly grim.

Though the plaza was crowded, all the disciples dared not even breathe too loudly.

Li Guanqi gently laid the corpses he brought back in his storage ring on the ground.

Including the disciples he brought back dead, there were eighteen bodies in total!

Most had fallen victim to those in black robes, the rest perished due to the traps within Dikun City.

The losses were severe!

Ye Feng was immediately taken away by Tu Kui, as his injuries were quite serious.

Had it not been for Li Guanqi, he might have died in there.

All the way back, Li Nanting said nothing, merely leading him swiftly back to their separate residence.

Once back, the old man helped him sort out the chaotic meridians in his body while tending to his wounds.

As he cleaned the wound on his back, Li Guanqi clenched his teeth in silence, though his body couldn’t help trembling slightly.

Finally, Li Nanting spoke, “Next time, don’t push yourself so hard.”

Li Guanqi replied softly, “They’re my fellow sect brothers; I couldn’t just stand by and watch them die.”

“Besides… it was these people who gave me the courage to fight with all my might.”

The old man didn’t respond this time; perhaps in his heart, Li Guanqi was far more important than anyone else.

After all, he was Li Guanqi’s master.

After bandaging Li Guanqi’s wounds, the old man threw down a formation disk beside him and sat behind him.

His withered palms were surprisingly warm as they rested on Li Guanqi’s back, transferring Primordial Energy to help clear the blocked meridians.

Seeing the young man covered in sword wounds, a look of heartache flashed in the old man’s eyes.

Due to the side effects of the Chi Xiao Pills, Li Guanqi was too weak to stabilize his realm and ended up falling into a deep sleep.

The old man sat in the courtyard, placing the young man’s head on his lap.

One hand held his wrist, carefully nurturing his meridians.

He took out a jade slip and whispered, “Sect Master, I’ll come later; the child is too tired…”

Then, Li Nanting took out another jade slip and instructed, “Send someone to bring me some scar-removing spirit ointment.”

When Li Guanqi awoke, he found himself still resting on the old man’s lap.

He quickly got up and said, “Master, why didn’t you wake me?”

Seeing the robe covering him, a warm current flowed through Li Guanqi’s heart.

Although his body was full of Primordial Energy, the side effects of the Chi Xiao Pills made him appear extremely weak, and his entire body was sore and powerless.

The old man smiled and said, “Now that you’re awake, let me finish bandaging your wounds.”

Li Guanqi, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, “Master, let me do it myself.”

Li Nanting glared at him and said irritably, “Do what yourself? Can you even reach the wounds on your back?”

Hearing this, Li Guanqi could only let the old man tend to his wounds.

But then, the old man suddenly frowned and said softly, “The blood-colored patterns on your back, why have some disappeared?”

Li Guanqi was also startled and said in confusion, “I don’t know, they’re gone?”

Seeing his clueless expression, the old man decided not to ask any further.

After all, Li Guanqi’s grandfather’s identity was a mystery.

Still, Li Nanting sternly advised, “Although I don’t know how you managed to break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage so quickly.”

“For the next three months, you are not allowed to reach the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment!”

“Do you hear me?”

The young man grinned and promised earnestly, “Yes, Master.”

“I will use the coming time to fully stabilize my realm and foundation.”

Seeing this, the old man nodded and stood up, saying, “Come, let’s go see the Sect Master together.”

“This matter… is too significant, with so many disciples dead.”

That night, in a secret hall, Li Guanqi detailed everything that happened after entering the ruins.

He also presented the three Puppet Soldier Pills he had acquired.

Together with the Cang Lang Sword, there were two Puppet Soldier armors on the twelfth floor.

And the last one was the black Puppet Soldier Pill from the Thousand Mechanism Disk.

In the end, Li Guanqi even explained in detail how he had killed the enemies on the Thousand Mechanism Disk.

Three hours later.

Lu Kangnian closed his eyes in pain, took a deep breath, and asked Li Guanqi with a heavy tone.

“Guanqi, who do you think could have done this?”

As his words fell, several figures hidden in the darkness also turned their gaze to Li Guanqi.

After a long contemplation, Li Guanqi voiced his suspicion.

“Purple Sun Hall, Zheng Hao!”

Lu Kangnian and Qin Xian exchanged glances, a cold light flashing in their eyes.

Qin Xian’s face was naturally gloomy.

“Li Guanqi, why do you suspect this? Explain.”

Li Guanqi closed his eyes briefly, then laid out his reasoning.

“The first time Lin Dong was injured at Heavenly Earth Peak, those people’s faces didn’t seem like disciples of a righteous sect.”

“Their actions were ruthless and purposeful.”

“At that time, I suspected they wanted to extract some special information from Lin Dong.”

“Because when I fought them, they had the chance to kill Lin Dong, but they didn’t.”

Lu Kangnian’s eyes flickered as he said softly, “Continue.”

With narrowed eyes, Li Guanqi continued, “Before I first set out to open the Spirit Ruin, I had a conflict with Pang Li, a disciple of Elder Zheng Hao from Purple Sun Hall.”

“That led to the life-and-death arena battle.”

“Perhaps from that moment, they had been eyeing how to kill me.”

Before he could finish, Qin Xian on the high platform interrupted, “This matter has nothing to do with you; the life-and-death arena is a challenge issued in broad daylight.”

“If there’s any issue, the Sect will handle it! You don’t need to take the blame for this.”

Li Guanqi pursed his lips and went on.

“This secret realm was obtained from Purple Sun Hall, so I suspect the first group was there to find out who would enter the secret realm.”

“Moreover! This group entered the secret realm before us, of that I am certain!”

Saying this, Li Guanqi held up a snow-white umbrella, stating solemnly.

“This was the weapon used by one of those black-clothed people, but such a mechanically related weapon is likely obtained from Dikun City.”

“Furthermore… if they had entered after us, the fluctuations of the secret realm would have changed.”

“Once there’s a change, the Sect’s Elders would have noticed!”

Lu Kangnian nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Li Guanqi’s reasoning.

“As for why I think it could be someone from Purple Sun Hall, that’s because someone among the black-clothed people mentioned wanting to decapitate me for a bounty!”

Standing in the center of the grand hall, the young man’s posture was as upright as a sword.

He looked directly at the high platform and said softly, “I am but a humble disciple, and I believe it’s not someone from within our Sect who wants me dead.”

“The only one with a motive I can think of is Zheng Hao, but I have no evidence…”

“There’s not a single clue on those black-clothed people.”

“But… I suspect they have a way to control those black-clothed people.”

With that, Li Guanqi looked up at Lu Kangnian and handed over a piece of paper with a written sentence on it.

It only mentioned what he had last obtained.

Lu Kangnian’s eyes narrowed, and with a fierce slap, he shattered the throne beneath him, exclaiming coldly, “Well played, Purple Sun Hall! Well played, Zheng Hao!”

“Evidence? Hah… would I, Lu Kangnian, need evidence to seek justice from Purple Sun Hall?”

“Where is the Law Enforcement Elder of the Great Xia Sword Sect?”

The old man beside him stood with a stern face, bowing and saying softly, “Qin Xian is here!”

Lu Kangnian turned slowly, glanced at Li Guanqi, and then transmitted his voice, “Investigate.”

“See if any of Zheng Hao’s disciples, or if he himself, needs to improve the quality of their Thunder Spirit Root.”

“If there’s any suspicion, kill him!”

Qin Xian, bowing in salute with a flash of cold light in his eyes, responded firmly.

“Yes, Sect Master!”