Chapter 113: Clear Sky Sword Sect Token
Li Qingqiu had always believed that the Sound Transmission Technique was standard for cultivators, so he had taken the time to study it — and finally succeeded.
Just like now, he infused his words with Vital Energy and transmitted them directly into Jiang Zhaoxia’s ear, so that only Jiang Zhaoxia could hear him.
Seeing the look of increasing astonishment on Jiang Zhaoxia’s face, Li Qingqiu felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
After everyone dispersed, Jiang Zhaoxia followed Li Qingqiu into the room, demanding to know how he had done it.
Li Qingqiu didn’t hide it from him and told him about the Sound Transmission Technique.
Jiang Zhaoxia immediately wanted to learn it.
The Sound Transmission Technique wasn’t hard to perform — the difficult part was in its creation.
Jiang Zhaoxia mastered it within the time of one incense stick and left, thoroughly satisfied.
The next morning, Li Sifeng, Wu Man’er, and Zhang Yu departed with Qin Jue.
They took the mountain path, which caused the disciples they passed to wonder why they were descending the mountain.
As usual, Li Sifeng, who loved to show off, announced that they were heading to Martial God Pass to slay a demonic general.
The news quickly spread, stirring the disciples’ excitement and anticipation that they would bring honor to the Clear Sky Sect.
That afternoon, Li Qingqiu went to the Spirit Mine to meet Qin Ye.
Qin Jue wanted Qin Ye to descend the mountain and bring merit and glory to the Qin Family.
Li Qingqiu was there to deliver the message — the choice was up to Qin Ye.
Since losing to Ji Ya, Qin Ye had secluded himself in the Spirit Mine to cultivate.
He had now reached the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm — a remarkable pace of progress, thanks in large part to the Spiritual Energy-rich environment of the Spirit Mine.
Qin Ye was well aware of this and now possessed a loyalty level of 97 toward Li Qingqiu.
“Master, I wish to go to the battlefield,” Qin Ye said earnestly, “and make the Ten Directions Demon-Subduing Staff left by Senior Wu renowned across the world!”
Li Qingqiu wasn’t surprised.
Smiling, he replied, “Then descend the mountain tomorrow. First, head to the State Capital. Your Qin Family has already relocated there — your father has forged a divine weapon perfectly suited for you.”
Qin Ye nodded, hesitating briefly before asking, “Master, will I still be a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect in the future?”
Li Qingqiu shot him a glance.
“Did I say I was expelling you from the sect?”
Upon hearing this, Qin Ye’s face broke into a smile — his happiest in the past two years.
Li Qingqiu then raised his hand, revealing a black token engraved with a sword to show Qin Ye.
He said solemnly, “This is the Clear Sky Sword Sect Token. If you ever stray onto an evil path and use the sect’s secret techniques to harm innocent townsfolk, the Sword Sect will use this token to find you. You will face punishment — even death.”
Qin Ye froze, staring at the black, sword-engraved token.
In the days that followed, the Clear Sky Sword Sect Token was shown to all disciples at Li Qingqiu’s instruction, so they would remember its appearance.
It also signified that the Sword Sect could be activated at any moment.
——
Inside the main hall of the Free Spirit Hall, rows of antique wooden cabinets stood lined up, each filled with registers of disciples’ names.
Before the wall opposite the door stood a wooden table used for handling sect affairs.
Zhang Ping sat before the table, holding an odd book — a collection of strange rumors from the martial world.
It was his turn on duty today.
Unless something unusual happened, it was usually not too busy.
The sound of footsteps approached, prompting Zhang Ping to look up — and he saw Zhang Yuchun walk in.
“Hall Master Zhang, why hasn’t Senior Brother Chu Jing returned yet?” Zhang Ping asked quickly.
Zhang Yuchun was usually kind to him, so he dared to ask directly about Chu Jing’s whereabouts.
Chu Jing had been gone for months, and Zhang Ping had grown increasingly uneasy, unable to focus even on reading.
Zhang Yuchun stopped and looked at him.
Had it been anyone else asking, he would have said nothing — but since this boy was valued by the Senior Brother, he felt obliged to give a warning.
“He likely won’t be coming back,” Zhang Yuchun said softly as he approached the desk.
Zhang Ping’s eyes widened in alarm.
“Why? Did something happen to him?”
Zhang Yuchun glanced around to ensure no one else was near before whispering, “Actually, his identity is unusual. He came to the Clear Sky Sect with ulterior motives. He’s been gone this long — likely fearing exposure. I can only tell you one thing.”
“Chu Jing was connected to the Demonic Cult.”
The Demonic Cult!
Zhang Ping’s face changed drastically, his pupils trembling in horror.
Zhang Yuchun knew Zhang Ping and Chu Jing had been close.
Fearing that the young man might not believe him, he added, “Chu Jing seemed kind and helpful, never lost his temper — but you can never truly know a man’s heart. Don’t doubt me—”
“I believe you!”
Zhang Ping cut him off, trembling as he spoke.
Recalling Chu Jing’s past kindness only filled him with deeper fear.
He had heard stories about the Demonic Cult — to him, its members were unforgivable villains.
Had Chu Jing already marked him?
Very likely!
He was so ordinary, yet Chu Jing had always looked after him — clearly trying to win him over, to turn him into a spy!
Zhang Yuchun hadn’t expected Zhang Ping to believe him so readily.
He was momentarily stunned, but when he saw the boy’s face grow paler and paler, he suddenly remembered the Senior Brother’s warning:
“This boy is weak-willed. When faced with trouble, he tends to run. Do not let him think of leaving the Clear Sky Sect.”
Zhang Yuchun didn’t know what exactly the Senior Brother saw in Zhang Ping, but since he had been told so clearly, he had to suppress the boy’s flighty thoughts.
“If he truly has his eyes on you, then whatever you do — don’t leave the Clear Sky Sect. At least here, no one can harm you,” Zhang Yuchun said seriously.
Zhang Ping shuddered.
He had indeed just been thinking about fleeing the sect and finding another sect where no one knew him.
But after hearing Zhang Yuchun’s words, he no longer dared descend the mountain — he even began to fear the world below.
Watching his changing expressions, Zhang Yuchun found it rather amusing.
It was the first time he had seen someone’s face display such vivid shifts — he nearly laughed.
“Do not speak of this to anyone, lest we alert the enemy.”
After giving this final reminder, Zhang Yuchun turned and left.
Zhang Ping sat before the table in a daze, feeling as though the whole world had turned hostile toward him.
——
After finishing his morning cultivation, Li Qingqiu changed into a traveler’s outfit and arrived at the cliff behind the mountain forest.
Gazing at the misty valley, he waited patiently.
After a while, a violent gale swept through, scattering the fog — and the enormous Little Eight appeared before him.
Its head was nearly as large as Li Qingqiu’s entire body.
Its gem-like eagle eyes gleamed as it let out a clear, resonant cry.
Little Eight’s cultivation had now reached the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
After years of training, it had mastered the Primordial Unity Scripture’s method of absorbing energy, truly stepping onto the path of cultivation.
Not only that — Little Eight had also formed a spiritual link with Li Qingqiu.
Even though it couldn’t speak, Li Qingqiu could understand its thoughts.
It was a wondrous feeling, making Li Qingqiu sense Little Eight’s emotions — it no longer felt like a beast, but like a person, perhaps an eight- or nine-year-old boy.
More precisely, Li Qingqiu felt that Little Eight was already a demon.
“They’ve arrived? Then let’s go.”
Murmuring to himself, Li Qingqiu leapt onto Little Eight’s back.
He had already informed Zhang Yuchun that he would be leaving the mountain for a few days, and not to alarm the sect.
Zhang Yuchun hadn’t questioned it — after all, with Li Qingqiu’s strength, he could handle himself anywhere.
Moreover, the Clear Sky Sect was no longer what it once was — with Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning guarding it, no enemy could threaten them.
Little Eight spread its wings, soaring into the sky.
Standing on its back, Li Qingqiu faced the wind, savoring the freedom.
Heading north from Clear Sky Mountain, Li Qingqiu didn’t know the route — but Little Eight remembered.
When Li Sifeng and the others had set off, he’d told Little Eight to follow from a distance.
He was worried about Wu Man’er — their opponent wasn’t ordinary, not a mere rogue from the martial world, but a fierce general suspected of having taken the Martial God Pill.
Li Qingqiu was quite intrigued by that pill.
He had already instructed Chen Huilan to refine one for research, but unfortunately, the rare ingredients were still being gathered.
As the Clear Sky Sect continued to develop, Li Qingqiu had come to realize that wealth wasn’t the most important thing — resources were.
Some things couldn’t be bought, no matter how much money one had.
Before long, Li Qingqiu’s attention shifted to the scenery below.
Although he sometimes flew around the Ancient Great Mountain Range on Little Eight, he had never ventured farther to see the wider world.
From above, the earth stretched vast and boundless, mountain ranges winding endlessly.
Even as a cultivator, he felt small before the immensity of nature.
He suddenly wondered — having ruled over such a vast realm, had the Emperor Zhao Zhi ever truly laid eyes upon all of his lands?
Mortal emperors could hardly grasp the grandeur of their own mountains and rivers.
In that sense, cultivation was indeed the better path.
——
Little Eight flew incredibly fast.
From Clear Sky Mountain to Zhongtian Province took less than two hours — faster than airplanes of Li Qingqiu’s previous life.
Standing upon the eagle’s back, Li Qingqiu looked down and saw the famed Martial God Pass.
Martial God Pass stood between two towering cliffs, stretching for hundreds of meters — grand and awe-inspiring.
Behind it lay the imperial army’s encampments, countless tents dotting the land.
Before the pass stretched a barren wasteland, where faint red stains could be seen — drawing nearer, they were revealed to be pools of blood.
The coalition army of the Seven Provinces had set their base some ten miles ahead in the mountain valleys.
From the sky, the Martial God Pass looked like a colossal dragon coiled upon the earth, sealing the gorge.
Li Qingqiu told Little Eight to ascend higher — he wanted to see all of Zhongtian Province.
Little Eight soared upward, piercing the sea of clouds.
Once the mist cleared below, Li Qingqiu gazed down upon the land.
He saw why Zhongtian had served as the royal capital for dynasties past.
The mountain ranges around its borders formed a natural barrier, protecting the province — and making Martial God Pass the only route of entry.
Martial artists could traverse the mountains, but armies with carriages and horses could not.
Seeing no signs of movement among the Seven Provinces’ troops, Li Qingqiu figured there would be no battle today.
Thus, he directed Little Eight toward the nearest city.
Though “nearest,” it was still over a hundred li away.
As they neared the city, Li Qingqiu descended, intending to enter alone and have a look around.
After all those years in the mountains, he occasionally wished to experience the lively world below.
The city was called Pan City — not especially prosperous, but still a well-known large city, full of inns and shops.
Martial wanderers filled its bustling streets.
As he walked along the street, Li Qingqiu overheard people everywhere discussing the situation at Martial God Pass.
The name Chang Wu was mentioned often — even here in Zhongtian’s vicinity, he was still called a “demonic general,” showing just how little favor the imperial court held in the hearts of the people.