Gu Yong let out a sigh.

“I’ll give them to you. And as for setting up your Guanyun Pavilion, I’ll provide whatever you need. Manpower, funds, channels. Even if you build Guanyun Pavilion into a second Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion, that’s fine.”

Li Guanqi curled his lips. “My ambitions aren’t that grand.”

As he spoke softly, Li Guanqi turned the teacup in his hand. “Fame invites trouble. Far too many eyes are on me right now, which makes a lot of things inconvenient. I need a faction of my own to help me handle things.”

Gu Yong’s expression turned serious. “You’re right to think so. You can’t make the Daxia Sword Sect your trump card forever, so it’s best to cultivate your own people. But... getting Guanyun Pavilion up and running quickly will probably be difficult.”

Li Guanqi smiled and nodded. “I know. I’m not expecting Guanyun Pavilion to help me right away, but I need to plan for the future.”

Gu Yong nodded, then solemnly withdrew two soul lamps from the void. “The purple one is Ji Yuchuan’s. The blue one is Su You’s.”

Li Guanqi looked at the two soul lamps before him and frowned. He sensed a peculiar fluctuation from them. A master-servant contract!

“Why?”

Gu Yong glanced up at him and spoke softly.

“Because this is the price they should pay. And it’s what keeps me certain they won’t dare rebel.”

Li Guanqi could sense a deeper reason behind it, and the two of them had certainly left these soul lamps willingly. Still, controlling subordinates this way didn’t sit right with him.

Gu Yong, as if seeing through his thoughts, smiled. “You think it’s a bit inhumane?”

Li Guanqi nodded.

Gu Yong set down his teacup and tucked his hands into his sleeves, his back slightly hunched. “Jiang Yi, Yuan Hongyi, Tu Yongsi... none of them had one of these.”

Li Guanqi’s frown deepened, countless thoughts churning in his mind. He nodded gently. “I understand.”

With a wave of his hand, he collected the two soul lamps.

Rising to his feet, he clasped his fists in salute. “Elder Gu, since everything in the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion is settled, I should be on my way. Wanshu still hasn’t broken through over in the Divine Treasure Territory, and I’m rather worried. The sect will also be setting a few plans in motion, and I need to head back to oversee things.”

Gu Yong smiled and nodded, speaking softly. “I know some of what’s happening with the Daxia Sword Sect. Lu Kangnian’s decision... is a good one.”

Li Guanqi nodded, then asked playfully, “So when I get back, can I toss out those two chess pieces?”

Gu Yong pointed at him and spoke with a helpless expression. “You don’t have to toss them. Those two kids don’t know anything.”

Li Guanqi nodded. By now, he knew a few things about the Blue Tower. Those two Daxia Sword Sect disciples were both sleeper agents. They didn’t even know they belonged to the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion.

Turning to leave, Li Guanqi toyed with a small lightning tower in his hand, a smirk on his face. “Haven’t had enough lightning lately...”

As he spoke, abnormally powerful lightning erupted from his palm and poured into the tower. He listened to the screams from within, and his lips curved upward.

“Much better...”

Whoosh!

Within the Heavenly Intelligence Realm, a bloody mist pervaded the air, and panicked shouts echoed from all around.

Li Guanqi sat atop a mountain peak. In just thirty minutes, the intermittent battle cries had died away.

Ji Yuchuan, bathed in blood, soared through the air and arrived before Li Guanqi, bending at the waist in a respectful bow. “Ji Yuchuan greets the Sword Sovereign.”

Li Guanqi conjured a jar of fine wine and passed it to him with a smile. “Have a few swigs to wash away the blood. There’s one more person. Wait a bit.”

Ji Yuchuan took the jar with a smile and plopped down beside him, then slapped the mud seal open and drank in great gulps.

Whoosh!

A youth in yellow robes arrived at the peak and bowed respectfully to them both.

“Su You pays respects to Tower Master Ji and Yanluo Sword Sovereign.”

Li Guanqi turned to look at Su You and smiled, gesturing for him to come closer.

Su You hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside Ji Yuchuan.

Li Guanqi also handed him a jar. Then, right before their eyes, he took out their soul lamps.

When Su You saw the soul lamp, he was overcome with emotion. Ji Yuchuan, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm, still tilting his head back to drink.

Li Guanqi held nothing back, spelling out his intentions in full.

Ji Yuchuan nodded and spoke softly. “As you wish.”

Su You paused for a moment, then said the same.

But Li Guanqi turned toward the setting sun outside the crack and quietly made a promise to them. “A hundred years. Serve me for a hundred years. When the hundred years are up, I’ll return the soul lamps and grant you both your freedom.”

Ji Yuchuan’s pupils dilated. He turned to Li Guanqi, eyes flashing with an indescribable light. “Do you know what you’re saying? Or rather... do you know the value of someone like me, about to step into the Combined Body Realm?”

Li Guanqi smiled gently, his pure white eyes meeting Ji Yuchuan’s. “Of course I do. But... this is my promise. As for Guanyun Pavilion’s income, you take twenty percent, and Su You takes ten. Use it for your cultivation. Don’t send me the rest. Focus entirely on developing Guanyun Pavilion, and don’t be stingy when nurturing talent.”

Su You stared at Li Guanqi with burning eyes, his voice trembling slightly from excitement. “Is what you’re saying... true? A hundred years?”

Li Guanqi nodded solemnly, speaking softly. “If you don’t believe me, I can make a heavenly vow.”

Ji Yuchuan shook his head, meeting his eyes and speaking softly. “That’s entirely unnecessary. Yanluo Sword Li Guanqi’s word is more reliable than any heavenly vow.”

Upon hearing these words, a faint smile finally graced Ji Yuchuan’s face, making him appear more like a refined young nobleman. “Ji Yuchuan of Guanyun Pavilion pays respects to Pavilion Master Li Guanqi!”

Su You rose to his feet too. A carefree smile finally broke across his previously expressionless face. As if the shackles that had bound him had finally cracked open, he bowed like a learned scholar, the smile still on his lips. “Su You of Guanyun Pavilion pays respects to Pavilion Master Li Guanqi!”

Both voices were filled with relaxed joy, devoid of the slightest hint of resentment.

Li Guanqi rose and said softly, “Then let’s go. You two head out first. Go to the Yunding Auction House in the Daxia Territory and find Qian Qiusui. Finding one person shouldn’t be hard for you, right?”

Ji Yuchuan laughed heartily. “It won’t be a problem. We’ll go on ahead, then. Rest assured, by the time you arrive, the organization will already be taking shape!”

Li Guanqi nodded and spoke softly. “Also, help me find someone called Chen Xiaotian. Cultivate him in secret, but don’t interfere too much.”