Chapter 115: The Name of Clear Sky
“An unexpected fortune, not bad, not bad. It seems that acting on behalf of Heaven brings Heaven’s own reward.”
Li Qingqiu’s lips curved upward, his mood light and pleasant.
He did not carry away the medicinal herbs immediately but turned to deal with the remaining members of the Cui Family.
Apart from rescuing the imprisoned girls, Li Qingqiu also witnessed scenes that made his blood boil with fury.
The Cui Family was truly as vile as the Demonic Sect—deserving of death a thousand times over.
Li Qingqiu chose to eradicate every last member of the Cui Family, lest they seek vengeance upon the girls who had been imprisoned.
After the time of one incense stick, Li Qingqiu returned to the courtyard filled with medicinal herbs, carrying a bundle of cloth.
He laid the cloth on the ground and began moving the wooden boxes of herbs one by one onto it.
Once finished, he whistled softly and waited quietly.
After a dozen breaths or so, a violent gust of wind swept through the courtyard, darkening the sky.
Little Eight descended from above, its vast wings covering the entire yard.
Li Qingqiu glared at it, motioning for it to wait outside the courtyard.
He then began loading the boxes onto its back, securing them tightly with the cloth.
After ensuring they would not fall, he instructed Little Eight to deliver the herbs back to the Clear Sky Sect.
Little Eight spread its wings and soared swiftly into the clouds.
Li Qingqiu couldn’t help but feel nervous, worried that the boxes might be shaken loose.
If one fell and accidentally crushed someone to death, would that not be a grave sin?
Lost in such thoughts, Li Qingqiu walked toward the main gate of the Cui Residence.
There must still be much wealth left within the estate, yet he no longer bothered to take it.
Let it be left to the commoners of the city—if enough people rushed to seize it, no one would report another.
He suddenly thought that if only he had a storage-type magic implement, that would be ideal.
Though the Clear Sky Sect was growing stronger, the variety of immortal cultivation techniques remained limited; it required all kinds of talents to push forward its development.
Alas, true geniuses—especially those with creativity—were always few.
He would have to cast a wider net.
The greater the number of disciples, the more problems might arise, but it would also hasten the advancement of the sect’s path to immortal cultivation.
That was precisely what Li Qingqiu needed now.
After all, he had already established a power structure; many people could now share his burdens.
To speed up the recruitment of disciples, he had to raise the sect’s reputation.
That was also why he had sent Li Sifeng and Wu Man’er down the mountain.
The more renowned experts the Clear Sky Sect had, the deeper its foundations would appear.
Having only one or two powerful members was far from enough.
While thinking, Li Qingqiu walked toward the front gate.
He had entered with dignity, so he would leave with dignity as well.
As he stepped through the gate, the townsfolk gathered outside instantly fell silent, all watching him nervously.
Bo Zhao, seeing Li Qingqiu unharmed, finally exhaled in relief, though his curiosity grew stronger.
Earlier, someone had peered through the gate and seen Cui Yong’s corpse inside.
After being kicked once by Cui Yong, Bo Zhao knew full well the gulf between their strengths.
Comparing that to Li Qingqiu, he could scarcely imagine how powerful this man’s martial skill must be.
Li Qingqiu’s eyes swept across the crowd, seeking the rescued girls.
Some were weeping in their parents’ arms, some searched frantically for family, and others looked lost—clearly orphans.
Li Qingqiu’s gaze fell on Bo Zhao, and he walked straight toward him.
The townsfolk stepped back in fear.
Though Li Qingqiu had come to punish the Cui Family, the echoes of screams from within still haunted them—they feared he might start killing again.
Li Qingqiu stopped before Bo Zhao.
The constables around him trembled, though this time they did not drop their weapons.
“I warn you,” one portly constable stammered, his hand shaking so hard that the blade seemed to blur, “we—we are officials of the government! Don’t… don’t act recklessly!”
Li Qingqiu ignored the man and looked directly at Bo Zhao.
“My name is Li Qingqiu, from the Clear Sky Sect. If the Cui Family seeks revenge, you may tell them my name and origin. Also, those girls who have nowhere to go—could you take them to Clear Sky Mountain? If you’re willing, think it through carefully. The journey will be long and perilous. Prepare well before you set out.”
After speaking, Li Qingqiu turned to leave.
The townsfolk quickly parted, none daring to block his path.
Only when he had gone did murmurs rise among them.
“So he’s from the Clear Sky Sect! I’ve long heard of their righteousness—never thought it true until now!”
“We can’t let the Clear Sky Sect bear this burden alone. Everyone should spread word of the Cui Family’s wicked deeds!”
“Wouldn’t that bring the Cui Family’s revenge upon us?”
“You coward! The Cui Family of Panshi City has already been wiped out—what’s there to fear? Besides, the Coalition Army of the Seven Provinces is at Martial God Pass. That hero Li appeared here—perhaps he’s on his way to aid Martial God Pass! Maybe he’ll slay Chang Wu and make his name resound across the land!”
“Did any of you see a shadow flying out of the Cui Residence earlier? Looked like… an eagle…”
While the townsfolk chattered excitedly, Bo Zhao turned, but there were too many people—Li Qingqiu’s figure was already lost among them.
Suddenly, he realized the pain in his chest had lessened.
Reaching to touch it, he found a silver needle embedded there.
He immediately thought of Li Qingqiu and left the needle untouched.
He had long heard the name of the Clear Sky Sect.
They not only fought against the Demonic Sect but were also skilled in healing—something few martial sects could boast.
Seeing it today, their reputation was indeed well deserved.
The first cloth-garbed girl whom Li Qingqiu had rescued was now held in a woman’s embrace, her eyes still fixed on the direction he had gone.
……
The moon sank and the sun rose.
By noon, the Coalition Army of the Seven Provinces advanced along the Martial God Pass Road, drawing near their destination.
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers moved like a massive black dragon winding through the mountains—a grand and awe-inspiring sight.
Clad in armor, Wu Man’er rode a black horse, adjusting his cuirass now and then, still unused to its weight.
His armor was not ornate—much like any other commander’s—but his towering build stretched it taut, lending him a fearsome presence.
Many soldiers cast admiring glances his way.
Wu Man’er and Li Sifeng had arrived only the day before, yet the army had already set forth again today—making the soldiers all the more curious about them.
Hearing that they were experts from the Clear Sky Sect gave rise to mixed feelings of hope and worry.
They had already invited many martial experts before, only for all to be cut down by Chang Wu.
They had been camped before Martial God Pass for over a month now, and doubts had begun to fester—could they truly break through?
Behind Wu Man’er’s horse was a carriage upon which stood King of Weizhou, Zhao Qi, alongside Li Sifeng and a middle-aged man—Patriarch of the Pei Clan, Pei Miao’s father, Pei Zhangzhi.
Though Pei Zhangzhi wore armor, his scholarly demeanor made him seem more like a learned man than a warrior.
King Zhao Qi appeared to be in his late thirties or early forties, his face weathered, his beard reaching his chest.
He gripped the railing of the carriage tightly, his eyes fixed upon Wu Man’er.
“Li Sifeng, your senior brother is truly remarkable. That physique—he’s a born general,” Zhao Qi said in admiration, clearly growing fonder of Wu Man’er by the moment.
Li Sifeng, resting one hand on the hilt of the Emperor Mystic Sword and the other on the railing, smiled.
“Of course. My Fifth Senior Brother has always possessed great strength. The external techniques he cultivates are of the fiercest kind. Once he faces Chang Wu, you’ll see his power for yourself.”
They had arrived only yesterday, and now the battle would begin—but Li Sifeng felt no unease.
If anything, he felt trusted.
He had resolved that today, Chang Wu would fall.
If his Fifth Senior Brother failed, he himself would step in.
Pei Zhangzhi chuckled.
“I’ve heard that the Clear Sky Sect possesses a secret technique called the Primordial Unity Scripture. The disciples’ martial strength is judged by its layers. Tell me, to which layer has Wu Man’er cultivated?”
Li Sifeng replied, “The Fifth Layer—enough to be invincible beneath Heaven.”
Zhao Qi shot Li Sifeng a sidelong glance, thinking the youth rather arrogant.
If not for Pei Zhangzhi’s support of him, he would have been tempted to teach him a lesson.
Zhao Qi laughed heartily.
“Then this king shall await the outcome. If he truly slays Chang Wu, I shall make him a general!”
Their confident banter lifted the spirits of surrounding commanders and soldiers alike.
After a month of failure, they needed a leader who believed victory possible.
When the vast army of the Seven Provinces reached Martial God Pass, the imperial forces were already assembled.
On the towering walls, countless archers stood ready with drawn bows.
Then, with a thunderous rumble, the five-zhang-high gates of Martial God Pass swung open.
A massive general clad in black armor rode out on a tall red horse.
His burly frame resembled a bear, his great saber nearly a zhang long, its edge making up a quarter of its length, scraping the earth with an ear-splitting shriek.
This was none other than Chang Wu!
His complexion was dark, his eyes sharp as a leopard’s, his brows like blades, and his beard thick and wild.
His voice boomed like thunder as he bellowed, “King of Wei! Will you duel, or will you launch your army?”
“How about I offer some advice? Attack with your full force—let me kill to my heart’s content! The sooner you lose faith, the sooner you’ll go home to die!”
Chang Wu’s laughter echoed between the mountains, scattering flocks of startled birds.
Across the battlefield, every soldier of the Coalition heard his taunts and clenched their weapons in fury.
King Zhao Qi snorted and gave a meaningful look to one of his generals.
“Beat the drums—clear the path!”
The general raised his flag and shouted the order.
At once, the drums thundered.
The soldiers at the front parted, opening a two-li-long passage for Wu Man’er.
Standing atop the carriage, Li Sifeng called out, “Fifth Senior Brother, go—kill him without mercy! The faster you slay him, the higher our morale!”
Wu Man’er turned, grinning broadly, then cracked his whip and rode forward.
The sound of hooves reverberated through the ranks as thousands of eyes turned to him.
All knew he was to duel Chang Wu.
Though Chang Wu’s ferocity was infamous, they prayed for Wu Man’er’s victory.
Not only for honor—but for their families.
To capture the Demon Emperor and end this chaos meant their loved ones could finally live in peace.
Unaware of the immense hopes resting upon him, Wu Man’er ignored the stares.
His eyes locked on Chang Wu in the distance, his expression twisting into a snarl.