Chapter 127: Bearing Witness to Immortality Today
Night had fallen, yet the Clear Sky Sect remained brilliantly lit.
Inside the Enforcement Hall.
Chai Yunshang was reviewing case records.
At present, there were more than four thousand people on the mountain, and conflicts and frictions occurred daily, causing the Enforcement Hall’s workload to grow heavier by the day.
A young female disciple entered the room, carrying several scrolls in her hands.
She placed them upon Chai Yunshang’s desk and asked, “Master, it feels like the New Year outside. Many believe the Sect Master will truly do as he said. What do you think?”
The young girl was petite, her features gentle and delicate, but her brows were knitted with worry.
Her name was Yu Lan, Chai Yunshang’s disciple.
She was seventeen this year and had entered the sect just over a year ago.
Yet she had already reached the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, which spoke volumes of her talent.
Chai Yunshang lifted her eyes toward her and said, “Naturally, I believe in the Sect Master as well. Why don’t you?”
Yu Lan bit her lip lightly.
After a brief hesitation, she said, “I’ve seen the Sect Master’s might with my own eyes, but him going alone to Zhenyang Imperial City feels far too dangerous. He faces not only the Emperor but also the Demonic Soldiers, the Demonic Cult, the Forbidden Martial Guards, and more…”
“The people of the Demonic Cult are treacherous and cunning. I truly fear for the Sect Master. Though there are many experts within the Clear Sky Sect and the other Hall Masters and Elders are capable, I still feel that only with the Sect Master here can the Clear Sky Sect truly be called the Clear Sky Sect.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, as though recalling something.
Chai Yunshang did not rise; she merely looked at her calmly and said, “Lan’er, you should let go of the past. You’ve been at the Clear Sky Sect for quite some time now. You must learn to trust the Sect, to trust the Sect Master. The Sect Master will slay the Emperor, and the Clear Sky Sect will annihilate the Demonic Cult, avenging your parents and your younger brother.”
Before Yu Lan had come up the mountain, she had already become an orphan.
The Demonic Cult had killed her parents in order to capture her younger brother.
Only she had escaped by sheer luck.
Later, when she heard that the Demonic Emperor had been slain by the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, she crossed provinces to seek the Sect.
Along the way, she had endured many hardships and even taken lives.
Because of this experience, she was far more mature than her peers and considered every action with care.
There were many disciples with experiences similar to Yu Lan’s—some had lost kin to corrupt officials, others were hunted by sects and noble families, and some had been beggars since childhood.
After joining the Clear Sky Sect, these disciples carried their hatred with them, devoting themselves wholly to cultivation.
They had long lost faith in the world; no matter how powerful Li Qingqiu was, they still feared that everything they now possessed might shatter like a dream.
Yu Lan met her master’s gaze but hesitated to speak further.
Chai Yunshang lowered her eyes and resumed reading the scrolls.
Her voice was calm as she said, “If you cannot even wait three days, then you are unworthy to be my disciple and unworthy to call yourself a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect. Best go down the mountain early, find a place to hide, and live out your remaining years in constant fear.”
Yu Lan trembled at those words, deeply stung.
Yet in the end, she said nothing more.
She bowed respectfully to Chai Yunshang, then turned and left.
When the door closed, Chai Yunshang lifted her gaze to the window.
The bright moon reflected in her eyes, yet her heart was far from tranquil; she, too, harbored worry.
She thought back to that night years ago—when her sword had pointed at Li Qingqiu.
“This time, you’ll succeed again… won’t you?”
…
Li Qingqiu’s departure left many disciples of the Clear Sky Sect unable to sleep.
Some anticipated his return, while others feared for him.
At that very moment, he sat upon a tree branch, idly toying with the Flying Fish Knife, sharing the moonlight with his disciples of the Clear Sky Sect.
The moonlight cast half his face in brightness, the other half in shadow.
Nangong E floated over beside him, asking softly, “Master, what are you thinking about?”
It had been some time since she became a ghost servant.
She had regained her intelligence, able to speak like a human, much like Lin Chuan.
Though she retained her memories, she still felt a deep, instinctive reverence for Li Qingqiu.
“I was thinking,” Li Qingqiu said, “after killing the Emperor, will the chaos that follows bring the common people even greater despair?”
Though the Emperor had committed countless evils, order still remained across the provinces and cities.
Once true chaos broke out, for the common folk, it would be an all-encompassing catastrophe.
Nangong E drifted in the air, her expression calm.
“Before I died, Great Wei was already in turmoil. There were rebellions, and I often wondered—if my father, the Emperor, died, what would become of the people? But looking back now, when he died, there was a new Emperor; when Great Wei perished, a new dynasty arose. No matter what follows, at this moment, the people surely hope you can strike down the Emperor.”
She usually lingered near Li Qingqiu.
Others could not see her, and thus she had come to understand this world’s cruelty all too well.
Even she had been shocked by Zhao Zhi’s deeds—never in history had she heard of an Emperor so deranged.
Li Qingqiu smiled faintly.
“You make a good point. I was only thinking idly. Since I’ve come this far, I won’t turn back. Killing the Emperor isn’t just for the world’s sake—it’s because he threatens the Clear Sky Sect. I must eliminate him.”
“The truth is, the current Emperor threatens everyone under Heaven. As long as you take action, the world will owe you a great debt,” Nangong E said seriously.
Li Qingqiu closed his eyes.
“Tomorrow, you’ll be fighting as well. It’ll be a good chance to test your cultivation over these past days.”
He was deeply intrigued by the ghost path.
He had crafted cultivation methods for Nangong E and Lin Chuan and even devised means for them to fight in daylight.
He was curious to see how the ghost servants would perform in battle.
Nangong E looked equally expectant.
Compared to her dull life in the palace when alive, being a ghost servant now made her find everything fascinating.
The night wind carried the scent of blood.
The forest was devoid of insects, oppressively silent.
After a long time.
Lin Chuan emerged from the forest’s depths, landing beside Li Qingqiu to report his findings in the city.
Li Qingqiu listened, then smiled coldly—a chilling, amused smile.
…
The moon sank, the sun rose.
The first rays of dawn tore across the mountains, shining upon the gates of Zhenyang Imperial City.
Upon the gates stood rows of armored soldiers, with Forbidden Martial Guards wearing Evil Ghost Masks prowling behind them.
Following the sunlight’s path inward, the once-glorious Zhenyang Imperial City now appeared desolate.
Every household had shut its doors and windows tight.
Tall buildings, shops, and inns were all closed.
In the city’s center lay a vast open square, upon which stood a tall platform, several zhang long and wide.
At the platform’s edges stood redwood pillars, each bound with a dried female corpse.
A great black flag stood in a pyre on the platform.
Though the flames roared around it, the flag itself did not burn but fluttered wildly in the wind.
Black-armored soldiers rushed into the square, swiftly surrounding the platform.
Soon after, Forbidden Martial Guards escorted prisoners forward—men and women alike, dressed in ragged prison garb, their bodies stained with blood, gaunt to the bone.
They were forced to kneel before the great black flag.
Their heads hung low, eyes empty; their spirits long since broken.
Before long, hurried footsteps ascended the platform.
Leading the group was none other than Emperor Zhao Zhi, with Grandmaster Jiang, Xuan Gong, and a host of ministers following close behind.
Zhao Zhi paced back and forth across the platform, clearly in a foul mood.
He was dressed in a dragon robe, an imperial crown upon his head—radiating the might of a Son of Heaven.
With his face darkened, his presence was all the more oppressive.
Stopping in his tracks, Zhao Zhi planted his hands on his waist and barked, “Xuan Qing, which one is the Clear Sky Daoist?”
Xuan Gong pointed toward a kneeling man on the platform.
“That one is the Clear Sky Daoist.”
Among the prisoners, the Clear Sky Daoist appeared insignificant—an old man of seventy or eighty, frail and thin.
Zhao Zhi glared at him with rage.
“Boil him alive!”
“No, Your Majesty! At such a juncture, we must not act on momentary anger!” Xuan Gong urged hastily.
Grandmaster Jiang, dressed in wide Daoist robes, stroked his beard and smiled.
“Indeed, we mustn’t. Your Majesty, the tendons and bones of these thirty-six people are the finest of ingredients. We cannot afford to lose even one. Though they are old and powerless, the strength honed through decades of martial cultivation still remains in their bodies.”
Zhao Zhi took a deep breath and turned toward the city gates, his voice filled with fury.
“Daylight is upon us! I want to see whether Li Qingqiu dares to come!”
As he spoke, he rubbed his forehead—his damaged soul often caused him headaches.
Each time the pain struck, he remembered Daoist Baishu.
Even though he had chopped Daoist Baishu into pieces and fed him to dogs, his anger remained.
“No matter if he comes or not, the Grand Plan to Mend the Heavens begins today. If he does appear, then all the better—he will make a fine main ingredient. If the rumors are true, then he stands just beneath the Martial Legend among the world’s heroes. Such a man is a rare treasure,” Grandmaster Jiang said cheerfully, utterly unbothered by Li Qingqiu’s threat.
Xuan Gong followed with, “A hundred thousand Imperial Guards are stationed throughout the city. Three thousand Forbidden Martial Guards and ten thousand Divine Soldiers have already taken position. If Li Qingqiu dares step into the city, he will never return.”
An old minister asked in surprise, “Is there need for such an army to face a mere martial wanderer?”
The other ministers joined in, mocking Li Qingqiu and flattering Zhao Zhi, proclaiming that His Majesty would surely attain immortality today.
Buoyed by their praise, Zhao Zhi’s anger eased, replaced with delight.
He turned to watch the Forbidden Martial Guards carry a great cauldron onto the platform.
His eyes burned with feverish desire—just the thought that he would attain immortality today made his heart tremble with excitement.
At the platform’s edge, Xuan Gong silently stepped back, his eyes beneath the mask fixed coldly on Grandmaster Jiang.
Meanwhile—
At the southern gate, a general with a sword at his waist shouted, “The Clear Sky Sect lies in Guzhou. If Li Qingqiu truly dares come, this gate is the only path he can take! Keep your eyes open! If he breaks through, we’ll all die—and our families will suffer too! Understood?”
The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
Hundreds of meters away, a group of martial artists hid among the trees, glaring toward the heavily guarded gate.
“That Li Qingqiu ruined our plan—damnable!” a female martial artist hissed, her tone full of resentment.
A middle-aged man replied, “Though Li Qingqiu slew the Demonic Emperor and is famed across the land, this move of his is indeed reckless. Even if he must strike, he should not have alerted the enemy. Truly foolish.”
Others spoke up, voices mixed with fear and frustration.
“If we don’t enter soon, our Sect Master is doomed!”
“Should we force our way in? Once inside, we can find a place to hide.”
“Are you mad? With so many soldiers, how could we break through?”
“If we must act, wait until nightfall—perhaps they’ll relax after a day’s vigilance.”
They had lain in wait for days, seeking a chance to infiltrate the city.
But yesterday, one of them overheard soldiers saying that Li Qingqiu intended to enter alone and kill the Emperor.
They all thought he had gone mad.
Just as frustration peaked, the sound of footsteps came from behind.
They turned to see a young man in a blue robe approaching, sword in hand.
He was handsome and composed, more like a scholar than a warrior.
The blue-robed man walked straight past them toward the southern gate.
“Hey! You’re courting death! You dare approach the Imperial City now?” a stocky martial artist warned in a low voice.
“I’m here for an appointment.”
“What appointment?”
“To kill the Emperor.”
The blue-robed man’s words left the stocky fighter speechless.
As he walked out of the forest, a female martial artist widened her eyes and whispered in shock, “Could that be Li Qingqiu? He’s… so young?”