Li Changqing had no intention of leaving. He flashed behind Li Guanqi.

The others’ eyes went wide. Li Changqing was a genuine powerhouse in the Combined Body Realm. Furthermore, the title “Five Yang Ghost Emperor” belonged to the Divine Treasure Territory Lord.

It wasn’t over. While the sect leaders still reeled in shock, the void above erupted in violent spatial ripples.

Li Guanqi’s lips curled slightly as he sensed the overwhelming aura. He looked at Lu Kangnian and said quietly, “Sect Master, this is my force.”

Duantai Yiting and Han Chengxian were already shaken; they had sensed at least two Combined Body Realm auras. Then Li Guanqi brazenly declared they were from his own faction. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Buzz!

Several figures emerged from the void. At the forefront stood the elegant Ji Yuchuan, with Xi Yunhuai at his side. Behind them came the smiling Tang Ru and the stunningly beautiful Qian Qiusui.

To everyone’s surprise, Ji Yuchuan led them to kneel on one knee directly before Li Guanqi, and this time, even Xi Yunhuai was not exempted.

“I, Ji Yuchuan, along with all of Guanyun Pavilion, respectfully congratulate Daxia Sword Sect. We offer this modest gift and wish the Daxia Sword Sect everlasting prosperity!”

“Ji Yuchuan... Ji... from Daochan Territory... You’re the judge, Ji Yuchuan, the peak tier-seven talisman master! My heavens!”

“Guanyun Pavilion? A force no one’s heard of before... Is Li Guanqi the founder?”

One elder who had traveled far stared at Xi Yunhuai, his fingers trembling as he whispered, “The tier-seven peak array master of Daochan Territory... Xi Yunhuai!”

“That fat guy... isn’t he the Pavilion Master of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in Wuzi City?”

The crowd erupted in chatter, some even recognizing Qian Qiusui. Many of the forces that had been quietly humiliated drew a sharp breath. Against such power, mere survival would be a blessing.

Li Guanqi smiled as he raised his hand, lifting them all up. “Rise.”

Li Guanqi hadn’t intended for Ji Yuchuan to appear. But Ji Yuchuan, long hidden in the shadows, couldn’t resist after watching the arrogant display of a few so-called elites. How could a handful of mid-Illusory Refinement Realm cultivators dare mock even the pavilion masters of their own realm?

As a lantern keeper, Su You wasn’t supposed to appear publicly. But with Daxia Sword Sect’s fame drawing every eye, the Guanyun Pavilion needed visibility to grow.

Just as everyone thought the surprises were over, another voice rang out.

“Hahaha, young one, I hope I’m not too late?”

The speaker was none other than Tang Wei, the Pavilion Master of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion on the Azure Cloud Continent.

More figures kept arriving. Spatial ripples and teleportation arrays flared one after another.

“We’re from the Profound Phoenix Pavilion of the Soaring Heavens Continent. I’m Chu Menglan, and with the elders of the sect, I respectfully congratulate Daxia Sword Sect!”

“I, Chu Xingxian of the Phoenix Lightning Sect, congratulate the sect!”

“I, Song Yunshu of the Heavenly Intelligence Pavilion, congratulate the sect!”

“I, Gu Huai of the Six Gates Holy Sect, congratulate the sect!”

“I, Shen Qi of the Zhenyue Mountain Sect, congratulate the sect!”

Li Guanqi’s lips curved, his aura steadily rising. He sheathed his sword and turned to Duantai Yiting and Han Chengxian, both still standing in stunned silence. “Old men, times have changed. When you go out into the world... you need to know your place.”

Duantai Yiting and Han Chengxian both went pale.

Gong Ze, standing beside Qin Xian, chuckled inwardly. Things haven’t merely changed for those two. In their eyes, the heavens themselves have collapsed.

Wave after wave of well-wishers poured in, many of whom Li Guanqi didn’t even remember. The onlookers were initially stunned, but they soon became numb to the continuous stream of visitors. There seemed to be no end to the arrivals, and no one could keep track of how many had come. By the time the onlookers had hurriedly assembled their own congratulatory gifts, they felt anxious, worried that Li Guanqi might single them out.

Duantai Yiting and Han Chengxian stood pale and frozen. The newly arrived Combined Body Realm cultivators, whether by accident or design, let their oppressive auras bear down on the two of them in relentless waves. One wave had barely faded before the next came crashing down.

Even the sycophant Ji Hong didn’t escape. His mangled jaw had mostly healed, but blood kept trickling from the corner of his mouth. Ji Yuchuan and Xi Yunhuai, in particular, relentlessly hammered the trio. By the time Li Guanqi finished exchanging casual greetings, blood had already soaked the chests and collars of all three men.

Tu Zhongqiu and the ever-graceful Nangong Qianyan watched on, their hearts skipping a beat.

Li Guanqi watched them quietly, a hint of surprise crossing his mind.

Gong Ze, who had arrived early, folded his sleeves and watched everything with a grin. In strength, the old man matched anyone present. His peak Illusory Refinement Realm cultivation was no joke. He was the twenty-ninth generation disciplinarian, after all.

Gong Ze turned to Tu Zhongqiu and, with Duantai Yiting well within earshot, asked teasingly, “Old Tu, why aren’t you speaking up for this brat?”

Tu Zhongqiu shrugged. “Gong Ze, your mouth is as sharp as ever. I’m not close to him at all. We just happened to meet on the road.”

Gong Ze nodded and said, “Your stubbornness really doesn’t fit with those two.”

A moment later, Gong Ze, sounding concerned, sent a voice transmission. “How many rounds now?”

Tu Zhongqiu’s lips moved faintly. “Five.”

Li Guanqi wasn’t listening in. Seeing that most of the guests had arrived, he turned to Lu Kangnian and bowed. “Sect Master, you may return now. We still need to entertain the guests.”

Li Guanqi turned to Nangong Qianyan and Tu Zhongqiu with a smile, then gestured respectfully. “Two esteemed seniors, your journey must have been tiring. A welcoming feast has been prepared inside.”

Li Guanqi’s attitude toward these two was a world apart from the way he treated the others.

Lu Kangnian turned and cast a sidelong glance at the three dazed cultivators still standing there. “The Daxia Sword Sect of today is neither your Daxia Sword Sect nor mine. Set aside your petty schemes and come inside. If not... then go.”

If anyone else had suffered such humiliation, they probably would have stormed off long ago. But these three had walked the path of immortality for far too many years. A little humiliation meant nothing to them.

Duantai Yiting sheathed his sword, a smile on his face. “Then we’ll trouble Sect Master Lu to arrange our accommodations. We were merely concerned that you might face difficulties controlling the sect in its current state, nothing more.”

Lu Kangnian offered a smile, though inwardly, he gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.