A cold voice slowly rose among the crowd.

Li Guanqi’s voice was devoid of any fluctuation.

Yet such a calm voice uttered words that sent chills down people’s spines.

Pang Li, who had also recently made his Foundation Establishment breakthrough, had yet to fully stabilize his initial strength.

After picking himself up from the ground, Pang Li saw the strange looks from his fellow disciples and his face turned extremely unsightly.

“You? A life-and-death duel?”

Li Guanqi’s brows furrowed slightly, showing a hint of impatience as he spoke, “Yes, me! A life-and-death duel, will you accept or not?”

At this moment, a disciple from the Purple Sun Hall couldn’t help but speak up to persuade, “Brother, is there really a need to go this far?”

“Pang Li didn’t hit her, and I see you’re here to open the Spirit Ruin at the Purple Sun Hall too, why bother?”

Li Guanqi turned his head, his pure white eyes staring at the other, and scoffed, “You can talk now?”

“What were you doing earlier?”

“Either shut up or take up the challenge for him, will you?”

The young man opened his mouth, glanced at the silent Pang Li, and very wisely shut it.

Li Guanqi spoke softly, “That’s right, don’t be a hypocrite.”

“Wanted to play the good guy? Where were you before?”

Then Li Guanqi turned his head to look at Pang Li, his voice suddenly much louder.

“Are all disciples of the Purple Sun Hall so cowardly?!”

Unable to bear the odd looks from his fellow disciples any longer, Pang Li shouted, “I accept!!”

“Training ground of the Azure Sky Hall, I’ll wait for you in an hour! If you don’t show up, you’re a coward!”

Li Guanqi grinned, tossed his sword, and stood on it with Yu Sui’an.

Soaring into the sky, Li Guanqi looked down at Pang Li, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he whispered, “Don’t you dare back out.”

Whoosh!

Li Guanqi, carrying Yu Sui’an, shot into the sky, spinning several circles in the air.

Only when the little girl showed a smile did he bring her back to their residence.

As soon as they landed, Li Nanting was already waiting outside the door.

Naturally, Li Guanqi saw his master and softly said after descending, “Alright, you go back first.”

Yu Sui’an, seeing Li Nanting’s gloomy face, looked back at Li Guanqi with some concern.

She walked straight to Li Nanting’s side, took the old man’s hand, and whispered.

“Grandpa Li… don’t blame Blind, it was my fault.”

Li Nanting crouched down to roll up the little girl’s sleeve, saw her already bruised wrist, and smiled, “It’s okay, go back to sleep, grandpa doesn’t blame him.”

Only then did Yu Sui’an reluctantly head back to her room, looking back every three steps.

At this time, everyone from the Great Xia Sword Sect was standing outside the door, clearly having heard the news of Li Guanqi’s life-and-death challenge to a disciple of the Purple Sun Hall.

Li Guanqi took a deep breath, bowed deeply to the old man without rising, and said, “I’m sorry, Master, I’ve caused trouble.”

Li Guanqi knew that their trip was to humbly seek the Purple Sun Hall’s testing services.

But he had caused such a big mess on his first day, and even if Li Nanting asked him to apologize, he would do so for the greater good.

But who knew Li Nanting’s brows would furrow, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he rebuked.

“Hmph! To think a disciple of the Purple Sun Hall would dare to bully Yu Sui’an!”

“Li Guanqi!”

Li Guanqi was slightly startled and responded solemnly, “Your disciple is here!”

Li Nanting’s entire body surged with Primordial Energy, his formidable Pressure enveloping the Void.

“This challenge is well issued!”

“The Purple Sun Hall is nothing; issuing a challenge and stepping onto the arena, no one can say a word against it.”

“Fight! Even if you kill him, I will cover for you!”

“So what if it’s about opening the Spirit Ruin, if the Purple Sun Hall won’t test us, I will take you to the Spirit Enlightenment Hall!”

“You must win!!”

Li Guanqi grinned upon hearing this and said firmly, “Rest assured, Master.”

As soon as the words fell, an Elder from the Purple Sun Hall who was a patron also arrived at the courtyard.

Whoosh!

Song Ru, with an anxious expression, arrived at the courtyard and glanced at Li Guanqi, who had a sword box on his back, and said.

“Daoist Li, how can your disciple engage in a life-and-death duel with Pang Li?”

Li Nanting’s expression darkened, devoid of his previous courtesy.

With a wave of his large sleeve, he coldly said, “Oh? What’s the matter? A disciple of the Purple Sun Hall hit my granddaughter first, what’s wrong with my disciple issuing a challenge?”

Song Ru’s expression froze; he hadn’t expected Li Nanting to be so adamant and unconcerned about the matter.

He had come on the behest of Pang Li’s master to mediate.

But now…

Li Nanting said sternly, “It’s just a sparring between juniors, does the Purple Sun Hall forbid its disciples from accepting challenges?”

“If they’re afraid of death, they shouldn’t have accepted in the first place.”

Seeing Li Nanting’s fierce gaze, Song Ru sighed and finally said.

“Since they’re both disciples of our respective sects, why not change this life-and-death duel to a normal competition?”

“It’s just a minor conflict, not a deep-seated grudge.”

Li Guanqi’s eyes flickered with cold light, but eventually, he concealed it slightly.

Li Nanting looked at Li Guanqi, who simply nodded slightly and said softly, “I leave it to Master to decide.”

Seeing this, the old man nodded slightly but narrowed his eyes and said, “I don’t care who that disciple’s master is, go back and tell him.”

“No change!”

“The life-and-death arena remains!”

“If his master disagrees, he is welcome to find me, Li Nanting, after the disciple’s battle!”

Song Ru’s pupils constricted; he had thought Li Nanting would consider the big picture and change his mind.

But he hadn’t expected Li Nanting to be so resolute, insisting on the life-and-death duel even for his disciple!

A smile crept onto Li Guanqi’s lips, and he thought to himself, “It seems Master is truly angry.”

After all, the relationship between Yu Sui’an and Li Nanting was like that of a grandfather and granddaughter, and she usually called him Grandpa Li.

Based on Li Guanqi’s understanding of his master, Li Nanting’s fury might even surpass his own by threefold.

Song Ru managed a bitter smile and said, “Alright, then I’ll go back and report.”

“Ah… why must you do this…”

After Song Ru left, Li Nanting suddenly turned to look at the disciples behind him, his voice steady and powerful.

“I want all of you to remember, since you’ve chosen to be sword cultivators.”

“Then you should wield your swords without fear!”

“What does it mean to be fearless? Even if the Purple Sun Hall is a top force in the Northern Region, so what!”

“Li Guanqi’s courage to issue a challenge on the life-and-death arena today proves he has the courage to draw his sword!”

“Not to cower before the disciples of a powerful force, not to submit to injustice.”

At this moment, all the disciples’ eyes shone brightly, their hands clenched tightly.

Such actions were more powerful than teaching them a thousand words.

Especially when the old man said, ‘If his master disagrees, he can come find me, Li Nanting!’

Because at this moment, Li Nanting was not just Li Guanqi’s master, he also represented the stance of the Great Xia Sword Sect!

If Li Nanting appeared insulted and weak, it would reflect the lowliness shown by the Great Xia Sword Sect!

Disciple Li Guanqi of the Great Xia Sword Sect issued a life-and-death challenge to Pang Li, disciple of Elder Zheng Hao from the Azure Sky Hall!

In an instant, the entire Purple Sun Hall was in an uproar!