Chapter 122: The Grand Plan to Mend the Heavens
Li Qingqiu spent an entire day selecting thirty True Transmission Disciples at the Third Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm to accompany Xu Ning to Zhongtian Province.
The next day, he chose another thirty disciples of high loyalty and at the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm to follow Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue to Silent Heaven Mountain.
For the Clear Sky Sect as it stood now, the departure of sixty-three disciples did not affect the overall atmosphere.
Each day, new disciples joined the sect—some descending the mountain, others climbing up.
Just as in the affairs of the mortal world, there were always newcomers to steer the tides of fate.
In the days that followed, Li Qingqiu no longer busied himself with travel.
Instead, he devoted most of his time to cultivation.
The Eighth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm was far from sufficient for him.
He not only sought to reach the Ninth Layer but also aimed to explore the higher Spirit Perception Realm.
While the outside world was in turmoil, within Clear Sky Mountain, stories unfolded of their own.
New geniuses constantly emerged, and their tales inspired other disciples to train even harder.
As midsummer arrived, the weather turned scorching.
Covered in sweat, Cheng San returned to the small courtyard.
Having just turned fifteen this year, his frame had become sturdier compared to before he ascended the mountain.
In the past, he had appeared frailer than his peers.
“Elder Sister, I’m back,” Cheng San called out loudly.
Clang.
A door creaked open, and a fair, delicate-faced young woman stepped out—it was Cheng Xiu.
Back then, when Li Sifeng descended the mountain to contest for the Emperor Mystic Sword, he had saved this pair of siblings.
During their subsequent escape, Li Sifeng had been grievously injured, yet the siblings had not abandoned him.
Later, when the Pei Clan caught up to them, it was thanks to the timely arrival of the Prison Qilin that the three managed to escape alive.
Afterward, Li Sifeng brought them back to Clear Sky Mountain, where they officially became disciples of the Clear Sky Sect.
After joining the sect, the siblings’ relationship with Li Sifeng grew distant, largely due to the difference in status.
It was difficult for them to meet him frequently.
Still, through their own diligence, both had become Inner Disciples, having mastered the First Layer of the Primordial Unity Scripture’s Heart Method.
Seeing Cheng San drenched in sweat, Cheng Xiu asked, “What were you doing?”
“They’re rebuilding the Martial Debate Platform, and I lent a hand. Elder Sister, the Sword God is going to challenge the Sect Master again! We must go watch it together!” Cheng San said excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiu’s eyes lit up.
“That’s something we definitely must see.”
Ever since she began cultivating, her temperament had changed.
The resilience within her bones had only grown stronger, and she had found her goal—to become a True Transmission Disciple of the Clear Sky Sect.
In the past, she had lacked confidence in everything she did, feeling no sense of accomplishment.
But since she started cultivating the Primordial Unity Scripture, she had often been praised for her natural talent.
Each day, she could sense the growth of Vital Energy within her body, filling her with unprecedented satisfaction and driving her to train diligently.
As Cheng San fetched water from the courtyard well, he spoke of what he had heard.
“The Enforcement Hall produced another genius recently—someone named Lu Qing. He joined only three years ago, and today he reached the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. Elder Sister, you should’ve seen how admired he is—wherever he goes, a crowd of disciples surrounds him. Even some families at the foot of the mountain want to win him over, offering to marry their daughters to him.”
Cheng San spoke enviously.
After entering the Clear Sky Sect, his horizons had greatly expanded, and he had come to understand his own ordinariness.
He used to lament his poor birth, but within the sect, everyone had a chance.
Yet the differences between individuals grew ever clearer through cultivation of the Primordial Unity Scripture—forcing one to acknowledge their mediocrity.
Cheng Xiu sighed.
“The Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm… feels so far out of reach.”
Cheng San turned his head and grinned.
“Elder Sister, you’re already at the Second Layer. You’ll surely reach the Fourth one day—it’s only a matter of time. But speaking of which, Elder Sister, aren’t you ever going to confess to Brother Li? Even though they say he’s betrothed to the Pei Family’s young lady, nothing’s been finalized. You still have a chance.”
Cheng Xiu glared at him and said irritably, “What kind of person do you think your sister is? I’m not that shameless! I know I’m not worthy of him—why would I cling to him? Besides, I’m older than he is. It’d just be a laughingstock if word got out. Don’t bring this up again. We owe everything we have now to him—we can’t ask for more, understand?”
“Alright, I won’t mention it again.”
Cheng San replied helplessly, muttering under his breath afterward.
He had only been joking.
At present, they had no real contact with Li Sifeng, and even his marriage was something far beyond his own control.
He’d heard that the only person Li Sifeng feared was the Sect Master himself—who, though usually gentle with his disciples, was especially strict with his Sixth Junior Brother, punishing him without hesitation.
“Sanwa, stop running around all day. Focus more on your cultivation—that’s what truly matters,” Cheng Xiu reminded.
“I know,” Cheng San replied casually, his tone flat.
Cheng Xiu opened her mouth to say more but couldn’t bring herself to continue.
The siblings had entered the Clear Sky Sect together.
She had already reached the Second Layer, while Cheng San remained stuck at the First.
She understood well—it wasn’t that Cheng San didn’t work hard, but that there was a difference in their natural aptitude.
Though born of the same parents, before their family’s tragedy, Cheng Xiu had always been told to look after her younger brothers.
She had lived as their shadow.
Yet after coming to the sect, their roles had reversed.
Just then, Yuan Qi stepped into the courtyard.
Upon seeing him, Cheng Xiu immediately saluted and softly reminded, “Sanwa, someone’s here.”
Cheng San turned his head.
When he saw Yuan Qi’s face clearly, his expression changed drastically.
He quickly set down the wooden bucket and turned to bow deeply.
Though Yuan Qi was only seventeen, everyone in the sect knew he served directly under the Sect Master.
His prestige nearly rivaled that of a Hall Master—no one dared offend him.
Yuan Qi looked over the siblings and said, “The Sect Master wishes for you two to take part in constructing the Demon Subjugation Hall. Once it is established, you will become its official disciples. Are you willing?”
The two were stunned.
The Sect Master?
The Demon Subjugation Hall?
The immense surprise struck them dizzy.
Cheng Xiu couldn’t help asking, “Why us?”
Yuan Qi rested one hand behind his waist, maintaining a poised demeanor.
With a calm smile, he said, “The Sect Master said you once saved Hall Master Li Sifeng. He has never forgotten this debt of gratitude. However, since your time in the sect has been short, promoting you too quickly might have caused dissatisfaction among others. Hence, he waited until now.”
Cheng Xiu and Cheng San exchanged a glance, both seeing the same excitement in each other’s eyes.
They hurriedly agreed.
Yuan Qi instructed them to go to the Free Spirit Hall to update their names in the register, then turned and left.
Once he was gone, Cheng San couldn’t help but cheer, his face full of joy.
Cheng Xiu was equally delighted.
Though she had reached the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, becoming a Hall disciple was no easy feat—especially being allowed to bring her younger brother along.
After that, Yuan Qi visited several other courtyards, with similar scenes of excitement unfolding one after another.
News of the soon-to-be-established Demon Subjugation Hall spread rapidly.
The words “Demon Subjugation” stirred heated discussion among disciples, even reaching the ears of the pilgrims on the mountain.
What on earth was the Clear Sky Sect planning?
Where in this world were there demons?
——
In the Zhenyang Imperial City, within the palace’s Qianwu Hall.
The Son of Heaven, Zhao Zhi, sat cross-legged upon the dragon throne.
His hair was disheveled, and he wore only nightclothes, devoid of any imperial dignity.
A figure entered the hall—it was Xuan Gong.
Reaching the foot of the steps, Xuan Gong knelt halfway and said solemnly, “Please punish your servant, Your Majesty!”
Zhao Zhi opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Xuan Gong.
In a hoarse voice, he asked, “What is it? You failed? You’re the only one who returned?”
Xuan Gong replied, “We fell into an ambush by the Clear Sky Sect. It seems someone informed them beforehand. Only I managed to escape. The Sect Master’s martial prowess is unfathomable—I could not withstand him. Moreover, with Shen Yue, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Xu Ning aiding him, even with the Martial God Elixir and Ghost Yin Elixir empowering us, we stood no chance at all…”
Zhao Zhi frowned, his eyes gleaming with a cold and terrifying light.
The grand hall fell silent.
After a long pause, Zhao Zhi asked, “Why did you take so long to return?”
Xuan Gong took a deep breath.
“I was gravely wounded and had to recuperate for a time, or I would not have survived.”
Zhao Zhi closed his eyes again.
Xuan Gong did not rise.
He knew the Emperor’s heart was anything but calm.
“Clear Sky Sect… what a fine Clear Sky Sect…”
Zhao Zhi muttered faintly.
Then suddenly, he opened his eyes and asked, “If I recall correctly, isn’t there a man in the Heavenly Prison also called Clear Sky?”
Xuan Gong replied, “Indeed. The Clear Sky Sect’s founding ancestor, Perfected Clear Sky, is imprisoned in the deepest level of the Heavenly Prison. However, when he was captured, the current Sect Master, Li Qingqiu, had not yet been born, and the second Sect Master, Lin Xunfeng, had already retired from the martial world. We can hardly use Perfected Clear Sky to threaten the sect—it might even bring us more trouble.”
Zhao Zhi sneered.
“What? You think if he finds out, Li Qingqiu would dare come here to kill me himself?”
“Your Majesty,” Xuan Gong said solemnly, “this Li Qingqiu, though still young, already possesses strength surpassing the Martial Legends of old. I urge Your Majesty to reevaluate him.”
Zhao Zhi frowned deeply.
“Are you jesting? Do you believe that I—now—cannot handle him?” His tone turned frigid as he fixed his gaze on Xuan Gong.
Xuan Gong responded, “Your Majesty has consumed numerous elixirs and absorbed the Martial Legend’s Inner Core. Your martial power is indeed unparalleled in this age. But our troubles extend beyond the Clear Sky Sect. I advise Your Majesty to first suppress the Coalition Army of the Seven Provinces and pacify the realm. Once that is done, we can then eradicate the Clear Sky Sect in one stroke. It won’t take long—the King of Weizhou will soon march upon Zhenyang City. He, not Li Qingqiu, is our most immediate enemy.”
Just then, a Forbidden Martial Guard rushed into the hall, knelt beside Xuan Gong, and shouted urgently, “Reporting to Your Majesty! The Taiwu Sect and Li Yin Sect were attacked by the Clear Sky Sect! Their disciples have been slaughtered—all except for a few guests who escaped!”
At that, Zhao Zhi rose to his feet.
A terrifying aura erupted from his body, his long hair and robe fluttering wildly, making him seem like a vengeful ghost shrouded in darkness.
“The Clear Sky Sect dares retaliate against me? Was it Li Qingqiu himself?” Zhao Zhi demanded sharply.
“No, it was his senior disciple, Xu Ning.”
“Good! Very good! The so-called Three Founding Sects of the Great Dynasty—none of them can even withstand a single woman!”
Zhao Zhi laughed, his laughter growing darker and colder.
Xuan Gong spoke again.
“Your Majesty, though the Three Founding Sects are within Zhongtian Province, they lie hundreds of miles from Zhenyang City—difficult to eliminate immediately. We must focus our strength on destroying the Coalition Army outside the city first. This time, both Your Majesty and I must act. The Grand Plan to Mend the Heavens must begin—it can no longer be delayed!”