Chapter 131: The Grand Formation to Mend the Heavens
Just as Li Qingqiu was astonished by the powerful ghostly energy contained within the Soul Refining Flag, a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
【Given that this is your first time slaying a cultivator, proving your qualification to compete on the path of cultivation, you have earned an opportunity to receive an inheritance reward.】
Not bad.
An unexpected joy!
Li Qingqiu felt delighted.
He then directed his consciousness into the Soul Refining Flag and saw countless vengeful spirits, swirling within that independent space like a swarm of locusts.
All the spirits revolved around a massive blood-red sphere of light.
That sphere resembled an egg, within which lay an extremely terrifying evil ghost.
All the souls devoured by the Soul Refining Flag were supplying this ghost with power.
Even Li Qingqiu, at the eighth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, felt a chill when facing this ghostly aura.
Fortunately, he had come early.
Had he waited any longer, once Grandmaster Jiang awakened this ghost, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Li Qingqiu shifted his gaze toward the ground and cast the Soul Restraining Curse upon Grandmaster Jiang’s corpse.
Seeing Grandmaster Jiang follow in the Emperor’s footsteps and behead by Li Qingqiu, the Forbidden Martial Guards could no longer endure.
They scattered in panic, while some bold prisoners remained in the square, gazing at Li Qingqiu with fervent reverence.
Clear Sky Daoist watched as Grandmaster Jiang was effortlessly slain by Li Qingqiu, his expression dazed.
The aura of Grandmaster Jiang had chilled him to the bone.
In all his decades traversing the martial world, he had never encountered such a terrifying opponent—yet such a being could not withstand even a single strike from Li Qingqiu.
How did this youth cultivate such power?
Could it be as Grandmaster Jiang had claimed—that he was truly a cultivator?
Clear Sky Daoist was full of confusion.
Not daring to disturb Li Qingqiu, he could only wait silently.
Li Qingqiu did not immediately extract Grandmaster Jiang’s memories; he merely restrained his soul, intending to probe it later.
For him now, soul restraint was effortless.
He placed the Soul Refining Flag upright and had the invisible Nangong E hold it.
At this moment, Nangong E was still digesting Zhao Zhi—who was suffering unimaginable torment within her body.
Nangong E was clearly terrified of the Soul Refining Flag.
Her arm stretched rigidly, trying to keep her body as far away from it as possible.
Li Qingqiu crouched down and searched Grandmaster Jiang’s body.
On the latter’s belt hung a brown cloth pouch.
It contained a restriction barrier.
When Li Qingqiu sent his Vital Energy inside, the restriction blocked him.
He immediately took off the pouch and hung it at his own waist.
Aside from that pouch, Grandmaster Jiang carried only some wealth.
Standing up, Li Qingqiu called out to Lin Chuan, then turned toward Clear Sky Daoist.
Raising his hand, he inserted three silver needles into him, saying, “Do not remove these three needles. They’ll help you recover. Go back first—I have other matters to attend to. We’ll meet again at the Clear Sky Sect.”
After speaking, he tossed Grandmaster Jiang’s money to Clear Sky Daoist.
Clear Sky Daoist caught the coins, wanting to speak but hesitated.
Seeing that Li Qingqiu did not wish to converse further, he quietly turned and left.
The ministers below, sensing danger, attempted to flee in secret—but before they could escape the square, they were surrounded by a group of prisoners.
Their screams reached Li Qingqiu’s ears.
He glanced over once and paid them no mind.
Before long, Lin Chuan emerged from underground.
Li Qingqiu let it leap onto his shoulder, then soared upward, transforming into a streak of sword light that traced a perfect arc through the air before vanishing beyond the imperial city.
The prisoners stared in awe, admiration welling in their hearts.
“Truly an immortal!”
Someone sighed in amazement.
Many began entertaining thoughts of visiting the Clear Sky Sect.
If that sect truly possessed immortal arts, who would still bother with martial training?
……
In the dim underground palace, the flames of the oil lamps on the walls flickered faintly.
Xuan Gong stood before a wall where a scroll painting hung—depicting an emperor and his ministers hunting.
Xuan Gong had removed his mask, revealing his face—it was none other than Chu Jing.
His gaze, filled with nostalgia, lingered upon the emperor in the painting.
“Your Majesty, the world is about to fall into chaos again. It’s a pity your descendant is still too young—unfit to take control of the realm now.”
Chu Jing murmured softly, his tone heavy with regret.
For years, he had manipulated the court of Great Li, all to restore the Great Wei Dynasty.
Looking back on these decades, he had endured endless bitterness—as though the heavens themselves opposed him.
Thirty years ago, he had found a suitable bloodline of the Wei royal family, but at that time, the Great Li Dynasty was still strong and unshakable.
Now, after he had finally brought the Great Li realm to the brink of collapse, there was no suitable heir of Wei blood for him to support.
That was why he had tolerated Zhao Zhi’s rule for so long.
He wanted Zhao Zhi dead—but not too soon.
Thinking of Li Qingqiu, his expression darkened.
He had to admit that if he wished to revive Great Wei, the Clear Sky Sect would be a mountain he could never avoid.
He had visited the Clear Sky Sect once and sensed Li Qingqiu’s ambition.
That sect was definitely not a secluded place of quiet cultivation—Li Qingqiu simply hadn’t yet revealed his ambition to his disciples.
Boom—
A loud explosion resounded behind Xuan Gong, startling him.
He turned sharply, and from the darkness, a figure slowly emerged.
When he saw the newcomer clearly, his face changed drastically as he exclaimed, “Impossible! How did you find this place?”
The newcomer was Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu’s expression remained calm as he said, “Someone has been following you all along—you just couldn’t see them.”
Hearing this, Xuan Gong felt a chill crawl up his spine.
His face turned grim.
He gritted his teeth and said, “Li Qingqiu, do you still intend to kill me? You and I share no grudge!”
“You bewitched the Emperor and committed countless evils—do you think that’s no grievance?” Li Qingqiu replied coldly as he stepped forward.
Though Xuan Gong’s loyalty toward him and the Clear Sky Sect was not low, that could not cleanse the blood on his hands.
To forgive him would be to betray himself—his Master—and his fellow disciples.
Xuan Gong’s expression grew uglier.
“Was it you who founded the Demonic Cult?” Li Qingqiu asked.
Xuan Gong took a deep breath and replied, “Yes, I founded it myself. At first, it was to help Zhao Zhi ascend the throne. But once he did, the cult was corrupted. He heeded Grandmaster Jiang’s words, seeking the Elixir of Immortality, forcing the Demonic Cult to abduct children. I disagreed—but he was the Emperor.”
“With your martial prowess, killing Grandmaster Jiang wouldn’t have been difficult. Yet you allowed him to mislead Zhao Zhi—that means you tacitly approved his deeds. At best, you only felt reluctant.”
“That’s right. For the revival of Great Wei, sacrificing a few was worth it. Once Great Wei is restored, peace will bless the world. Li Qingqiu, tell me honestly—does the Great Li Dynasty truly deserve your protection? Even without me, has this world ever been fair? The Zhao family, even the Imperial Ancestor Emperor himself, were all men who stopped at nothing to achieve their goals! This world rightfully belongs to the Nangong family!”
As he spoke, his tone became hysterical.
Rage and hatred twisted his features.
Li Qingqiu halted before him, less than ten paces away.
“Say your last words. After all, you were once a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect.”
Hearing this, Xuan Gong was shocked.
He hadn’t expected Li Qingqiu to see through his identity.
Thinking back, he found no flaw in his disguise.
He had barely interacted with Li Qingqiu.
But recalling Li Qingqiu’s unfathomable methods, he soon accepted it.
Xuan Gong let out a bitter laugh.
“It seems I truly lost. Tell me—your martial arts, are they actually immortal cultivation techniques?”
Li Qingqiu replied, “Yes. Even the Clear Sky Sect’s techniques are. Our sect does not pursue martial arts—we cultivate the path of immortality.”
Upon hearing that, realization dawned on Xuan Gong’s face, followed by a flicker of regret.
At that moment, a thought arose in him.
If, upon joining the Clear Sky Sect, he had forsaken power and devoted himself to labor and cultivation—would his life have taken an entirely different path?
“No wonder you could find me here. Grandmaster Jiang must already be dead?” Xuan Gong asked, his tone complicated.
“He and Zhao Zhi both perished beneath my sword.”
“Grandmaster Jiang could command spirits—and yet you feared him not?”
Xuan Gong asked in disbelief.
The night before, when he had witnessed Grandmaster Jiang summon ghosts, he had nearly died of fright.
It had shattered his understanding of the mortal world.
If ghosts truly existed, would not the vengeful spirits of those he wronged come for him?
Li Qingqiu replied, “Indeed, I do not fear spirits. In truth, neither do you—you simply don’t realize it yet.”
Xuan Gong did not comprehend his meaning, but it no longer mattered.
He gave a wry smile.
“So immortal cultivation truly exists in this world… The pill I took really was an Immortal Elixir. It seems the so-called Grand Formation to Mend the Heavens is real after all.”
“What Grand Formation to Mend the Heavens?” Li Qingqiu asked.
Xuan Gong replied, “It was a secret manual I obtained a century ago. It records a formation that uses the land itself as a diagram, able to draw out the Spiritual Energy buried deep beneath the earth. It would make the martial path across this land flourish. I had intended to use the imperial city as the formation’s core, letting Spiritual Energy fill the city and elevate our martial power—but Grandmaster Jiang scoffed at me and obstructed my efforts, while Zhao Zhi showed only perfunctory interest, obsessed solely with his Elixir of Immortality.”
Li Qingqiu grew intrigued.
“Is this manual on you?”
Xuan Gong immediately retrieved it from his robe and tossed it to him.
“Last night, I had a bad premonition, so I brought it with me. Since you are a cultivator, you will surely comprehend it fully. Before I die, I have one request.”
Li Qingqiu hadn’t expected him to be so straightforward.
But for the sake of this formation, he was willing to listen.
“Speak.”
“The only surviving bloodline of the Wei royal family has already joined your Clear Sky Mountain. I hope you will treat him kindly. The Zhao family has long pursued the Nangong descendants in secret. Years ago, Zhao Yan killed one of the Nangong heirs I nurtured—that was why I struck against him. The boy is still young, ignorant of right and wrong, unaware of worldly affairs.”
Xuan Gong’s eyes were earnest as he said this, filled with pleading.
Li Qingqiu replied, “Since he is a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, I will naturally protect him. But his future—whether righteous or wicked—will depend on his own heart.”
Xuan Gong smiled faintly, then closed his eyes.
A flash of sword light!
Li Qingqiu severed Xuan Gong’s head.
Blood splattered across the wall.
His head rolled to the ground—with a smile still frozen upon his face.