Chapter 126: Personally to Zhenyang
“My heavens, did I see that right? The Sect Master descended straight from the sky?”
“What kind of lightness technique is that?”
“That Divine Eagle is real—it's even larger than the stone statue at the mountain foot!”
“Even if he leapt down from the eagle’s back, from that height… what level of mastery would it take to dissipate the impact?”
“As expected of the Sect Master—his lightness technique alone has already surpassed all!”
Amidst the exclamations below, Shen Yue looked at Li Qingqiu standing upon the sword hilt.
His expression was calm, yet his heart was in turmoil.
He, too, was startled and could not comprehend how Li Qingqiu had done it.
Could this be the ability of one who had reached the higher realm of the Primordial Unity Scripture?
Though Shen Yue could not understand it, his heart was filled with longing.
He raised his right hand, extended two fingers, and gathered Sword Energy at his fingertips.
The Sword Energy took form.
Seeing his movement, everyone around the Martial Platform fell silent, holding their breath—even the high officials and nobles conversing with Zhang Yuchun stopped, waiting for this peerless battle to begin.
With Shen Yue and Li Qingqiu’s renown, a duel between them would have drawn all martial artists under heaven to watch.
Shen Yue noticed that the Tianhong Sword beneath Li Qingqiu’s feet did not actually touch the platform—it merely appeared to stand upon it, but there was in fact a two-centimeter gap.
This made Shen Yue even more shocked by Li Qingqiu’s strength.
Before even crossing blades, he already felt he had lost.
Li Qingqiu took a step forward, landing on the ground.
He reversed his grip on the Tianhong Sword, raised it, and pointed at Shen Yue from afar, saying, “One move to decide victory—how about it?”
Shen Yue lifted the sword-shaped energy in his hand, as if holding a sharp, radiant blade.
“Exactly what I had in mind.”
As his voice fell, countless strands of Sword Energy gathered around him and swiftly spread outward.
In less than three breaths, over a hundred sword shadows manifested around him—all pointing at Li Qingqiu.
The sight stirred waves of exclamations from the crowd surrounding the platform; many even rubbed their eyes, thinking they were mistaken.
The fifty disciples of the Sword Sect Hall all brightened with excitement.
Xu Ning stared at Shen Yue’s Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Sect, equally astonished.
She could sense that those sword shadows were not mere illusions but carried genuine Sword Intent, each as though a real sword suspended in midair.
At such mastery, she had to admit she could not match him.
Xue Jin also felt ashamed of his inferiority, his passion for swordsmanship once again ignited.
Zhao Zhen was lost in thought, raising his right hand and moving it slightly, as if deducing sword moves.
Li Sifeng instinctively grasped the Emperor Mystic Sword at his waist.
He could feel the sword spirit’s excitement, which unsettled him—for he knew clearly that had he not acquired it first, the one most suited to wield the Emperor Mystic Sword would have been Shen Yue.
Li Qingqiu, upon seeing Shen Yue’s Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Sect, felt surprised and praised, “As expected of the Sword God—your comprehension of the Sword Dao is truly number one under heaven.”
“To defeat you is to become number one under heaven.”
Shen Yue spoke solemnly.
His Sword Intent burst forth completely, unleashing a fierce gale that made the surrounding disciples instinctively retreat, forming a surging human wave.
“Come.”
Li Qingqiu’s tone turned cold and firm.
His gaze made Shen Yue’s heart tremble, as though his sword technique had been completely seen through.
Without further words, Shen Yue swung his sword.
Hundreds of sword shadows erupted, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, all striking toward Li Qingqiu.
The combined momentum was terrifying, making even the front-row disciples feel suffocated.
Li Qingqiu moved!
All they saw was his sudden disappearance—and the next instant, a streak of sword light shattered Shen Yue’s vast array of sword shadows.
Shen Yue’s white hair was lifted by the wind; his eyes blinked instinctively.
When he opened them again, a figure appeared within his pupils—the tip of the Tianhong Sword was pointed before his eyes, no more than three centimeters from his nose.
Silence!
Everyone widened their eyes, staring fixedly at the two.
Disciples and patrons standing opposite Shen Yue saw that deep within the mountain behind him, the forest was violently swaying—the exact direction Li Qingqiu had pointed his sword toward—at least two hundred zhang away.
Xu Ning looked closely and saw remnants of lightning on the platform behind Li Qingqiu—beneath the lightning traces were his footprints.
Heavenly Thunder Step!
She was inwardly shocked.
The Heavenly Thunder Step could be used to such effect? She, too, knew this technique, but after mastering it, she had not continued her research—compared to her master’s, hers was worlds apart.
Li Qingqiu fixed his gaze upon Shen Yue and said, “Of all martial arts under heaven, none can stand before speed.”
Shen Yue’s pupils dilated, his expression subtly changing.
Li Qingqiu’s words reached every spectator’s ears clearly; even disciples in the distant woods heard them.
None thought anything strange—everyone was only awed by Li Qingqiu’s power.
With a single sword, he broke the Sword God’s sword technique!
From that distance, in real combat, the Sword God might have already perished!
“Unbroken by none but speed…”
Shen Yue murmured to himself, as though suddenly enlightened.
Once, his sword had also been fast—but when no one surpassed his speed, he gradually neglected it and began to pursue deeper sword arts.
Now, he had forgotten the essence of the sword itself and leaned toward refining energy instead.
Could such a man still be called the Sword God?
Li Qingqiu sheathed his sword.
The Tianhong Sword slid back into its scabbard at his waist.
He turned toward the countless disciples below; wherever his gaze passed, hearts quickened.
“The martial way of Clear Sky differs from that of other sects. I have long pondered this question and found my answer. I hope each of you will find your own.”
Li Qingqiu spoke slowly, not loudly, yet each word was clear to every disciple’s ear.
“Today the world is in chaos, evil runs rampant. Many of you ask: if evil cannot triumph over righteousness, when will righteousness triumph over evil?”
As he said this, all disciples’ breathing grew rapid—even the patrons realized that Li Qingqiu was about to declare something momentous.
Was the Clear Sky Sect about to descend the mountain again?
Zhang Yuchun, Zhu Yan, and Zhang Yu frowned, but at this critical moment, they dared not and could not stop Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu continued, “The great calamity is upon us. Everyone bears the duty to resist it. The Clear Sky Sect is no exception. Even if the Emperor perfects his demonic arts and commands countless demonic soldiers, we must not harbor fear. Yet you are all too young. I cannot bear to see you fall into danger.”
“The future belongs to you. One day this world will rest upon your shoulders. For now, it will rest upon mine. I will personally go to Zhenyang, slay the Demon Emperor, and annihilate the demonic soldiers. You shall continue cultivating and strengthening the sect, preparing for the calamity to come.”
As his voice fell, the Tianhong Sword unsheathed again.
Sword light illuminated every face.
Under everyone’s gaze, the sword spun swiftly around Li Qingqiu.
Sword Energy rose beneath his feet, lifting him slowly off the ground.
Seeing Li Qingqiu ascend, the elders of the Clear Sky Sect came to their senses.
“Senior Brother! You must not!”
“Master!”
“Sect Master, what are you doing?”
“The Clear Sky Sect should advance and retreat as one. Please reconsider, Sect Master!”
One after another, the elders leapt onto the platform, their voices urgent.
Shen Yue’s face showed complex emotions.
He realized that Li Qingqiu’s true strength lay not only in his martial power—but in his heart.
Now a full zhang above the platform, Li Qingqiu’s face remained expressionless.
“Though my journey may not bring peace to the world, the Son of Heaven shall die.”
“At most three days, and I shall return.”
With that, Li Qingqiu raised his head sharply.
The Tianhong Sword beside him soared upward, its Sword Energy carrying him into the sky.
In an instant, he vanished from everyone’s sight.
Afterward, the disciples and patrons of the Clear Sky Sect saw the great black Divine Eagle circling high above before flapping its wings toward the distant horizon, disappearing at the edge of heaven and earth.
Boom!
Thunderous uproar erupted around the Martial Platform—some were excited, others anxious or worried.
Li Qingqiu’s words, “But the Son of Heaven shall die,” echoed powerfully in everyone’s hearts.
What kind of confidence was this?
Zhang Yu gazed toward the sky, exclaiming with genuine admiration, “Truly, a Sword Immortal.”
It was not only Li Qingqiu’s boldness that shook hearts—his martial prowess was equally unfathomable.
Even the True Transmission Disciples could not comprehend the techniques he had used.
Within three days, the Sect Master would travel to Zhenyang Imperial City to slay the Emperor and return?
Even the noble families were stunned.
None doubted him—rather, they were filled with anticipation and excitement.
For Li Qingqiu’s departure, so ethereal and unrestrained, inspired their faith entirely.
“Sis, am I dreaming? Did you see that? The Sect Master actually flew—flew! Pinch me, quick!”
Cheng San stood beside Cheng Xiu, trembling with excitement, even hopping in place.
Cheng Xiu seemed dazed, not replying, her gaze fixed upon the distant sky.
Many disciples shared her trance-like state.
At this moment, more and more disciples began to believe in one thing passed down through the sect—
That what the Clear Sky Sect inherited was not martial arts… but Immortal Techniques!
……
The light of dusk shone into the Qianwu Hall.
Upon the great hall stood a massive cauldron, within which sat Zhao Zhi in meditation.
Rolling heat surged continuously from the cauldron.
Zhao Zhi’s bare upper body was flushed scarlet from the scalding steam.
His brows were tightly furrowed—he was clearly enduring great pain.
Above his head, a ghostly phantom faintly flickered.
Xuan Gong stood before the cauldron alongside a white-robed Daoist draped in a black cloak—Daoist Jiang, the Celestial Master.
His hair was white, his face that of a man in his fifties or sixties.
He held a horsetail whisk and wore a gourd at his waist.
“How much longer must he be refined?” Xuan Gong asked in a cold tone.
Celestial Master Jiang’s expression was indifferent as he gazed into the cauldron.
“He may leave it at any time, but his primordial spirit is wounded. It is best he recuperate further, lest he fall into deviation.”
“Primordial spirit?” Xuan Gong asked in surprise.
Jiang sighed.
“I have long heard that Fengxia Mountain practiced ancient sorceries—now I see it was true. Had you not intervened in time, His Majesty might have perished at that man’s hand.”
Recalling the earlier encounter, Xuan Gong still felt dread.
Daoist Baishu’s methods were unlike anything he had ever known.
He suddenly realized that this world was far more complex than he had imagined.
The Clear Sky Sect alone was already beyond his grasp—and now, there was Fengxia Mountain as well.
Could he truly restore Great Wei?
As he fell into doubt, a Forbidden Martial Guard hurriedly entered the hall, knelt before him, and offered a letter pierced by a wooden twig.
Xuan Gong took the letter.
“Where did this come from?”
“Shot from outside the city.”
“Outside the city?”
Xuan Gong frowned and unfolded the letter.
Soon, his pupils trembled, and the hand holding the letter quivered—whether from rage or something else, none could tell.
Celestial Master Jiang noticed and asked, “What is it?”
Xuan Gong spoke in a low voice, “The Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, Li Qingqiu, has come. He declares that at dawn tomorrow, he will storm the Zhenyang Imperial City alone to slay… His Majesty. Any who stand in his way shall die.”
Celestial Master Jiang froze, then burst into laughter, as though he had heard the greatest joke in the world.
With a sneer he said, “That man is utterly arrogant! To think he dares to challenge Zhenyang alone and kill His Majesty? I would like to see if he truly dares to come!”
Xuan Gong drew a deep breath.
“Celestial Master, stay here and stand guard. I shall make the arrangements.”
He turned and departed, burning the letter to ash as the Forbidden Martial Guard followed.
Celestial Master Jiang looked into the cauldron and said with a chuckle, “Your Majesty, did you hear that? Someone intends to kill you—the very Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect whom you sought to eliminate.”
He failed to notice the shadow that stepped forth from the top of a massive pillar in the corner of the hall—a young boy’s figure emerged, only his upper body visible, staring coldly at him.