Chapter 137: Rising Smoothly to the Clouds
“Grandpa Lin? You know each other?” Li Qingqiu asked curiously.
Xiao Wudi nodded and replied, “It was Grandpa Lin who brought us up the mountain.”
This made Li Qingqiu even more curious.
Clear Sky Daoist had been imprisoned in the dungeon for thirty years.
From the time he left Zhenyang Imperial City until he returned to Clear Sky Mountain, it had only been two months in total.
How could it be such a coincidence that he managed to find the descendants of the Martial Legend?
He felt there must be a secret behind this!
Clear Sky Daoist’s lips twitched when he heard how fast Xiao Wudi’s mouth was.
Seeing that Clear Sky Daoist was unwilling to speak further, Li Qingqiu was in no hurry.
After all, the three brothers had already been taken under his command.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you to train.”
Li Qingqiu stood up and said, then walked toward the forest behind the mountain.
Clear Sky Daoist wanted to follow, but Yuan Qi stopped him.
“The Sect Master didn’t call you,” Yuan Qi said seriously, making Clear Sky Daoist’s chest tighten.
He looked at the excited and eager backs of the three Xiao brothers, sighed, and then turned away.
Xiao Wudi, Xiao Wuqing, and Xiao Wuming truly lived up to their exceptional talent.
Within half a day, all three successfully condensed a trace of Vital Energy and stepped into the First Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Through Chu Jing, Li Qingqiu also came to understand the story of the Martial Legend, Xiao Xuanzun.
Xiao Xuanzun roamed the martial world in his early twenties.
In eight short years, he swept across the Nine Provinces’ martial world.
By the time he reached thirty, his martial path had reached an even higher realm.
Chu Jing, having heard of his name, once went to challenge him but was nearly killed instead.
Since then, Chu Jing withdrew from the martial world and devoted himself to cultivation.
That battle left a deep psychological scar on Chu Jing.
Only after Xiao Xuanzun’s death did he dare to reappear in the martial world.
“Could it be that Xiao Xuanzun wasn’t practicing martial arts, but immortal cultivation?” Nangong E asked curiously.
Chu Jing shook his head and replied, “I’m not sure, but his martial arts were indeed far beyond ordinary techniques—it made me feel as though I were facing my own master.”
“He might really have been a cultivator. After all, the underground palace he built indeed contained spells, later obtained by my sect’s Elder Yang Jueding,” Li Qingqiu thought silently.
Upon hearing that, Chu Jing smiled and said, “If that’s the case, then I can let it go.”
Li Qingqiu didn’t voice one more thought— even if Chu Jing and Xiao Xuanzun had both practiced immortal cultivation, Chu Jing might not have been his match.
Judging from the talent of the three Xiao brothers, Xiao Xuanzun’s talent must have been even more astounding, perhaps even bearing a combat-oriented Fate Trait.
The more he learned about Xiao Xuanzun, the more Li Qingqiu understood why Shen Yue, despite his strength, was still not called a Martial Legend.
Xiao Xuanzun’s strength was something that ordinary martial artists couldn’t comprehend.
He had never been defeated in his life and had even faced thousands of soldiers alone.
Numbers held no meaning before him, and in one-on-one combat, no one could withstand even a single move.
It was worth mentioning that when Li Qingqiu asked Chu Jing whether he was certain Xiao Xuanzun was truly dead, Chu Jing couldn’t confirm it.
If Xiao Xuanzun was indeed an immortal cultivator, could he still be alive?
As Li Qingqiu watched the three Xiao brothers cultivate, he couldn’t help but ponder this possibility.
It wasn’t until dusk that Li Qingqiu called them to stop and brought them along to have dinner at Lingxiao Courtyard.
When the other Hall Masters arrived one after another, the three Xiao brothers grew nervous.
They sat stiffly in a corner of the long table.
Just before the meal began, Li Qingqiu introduced the three to everyone, saying he would personally guide their cultivation and have them serve directly under him.
Zhang Yuchun curiously sized them up.
It was the first time he’d seen Li Qingqiu treat disciples so formally—it seemed these three were truly rare geniuses.
Although still young, all three were rather handsome.
Xiao Wudi was tall and burly, second only to Wu Man’er; Xiao Wuqing appeared reserved, with the refined air of a scholar; but Xiao Wuming’s presence made Zhang Yuchun uneasy.
Sitting to Xiao Wudi’s right, Xiao Wuming’s expression was dark, his eyes carrying a serpent-like chill.
Not only Zhang Yuchun, but Li Sifeng, Li Sijin, Yang Jueding, and Zhang Yu all found him unsettling.
“Senior Brother, which one of them are you planning to assign to me?” Li Sijin asked expectantly.
Li Qingqiu replied, “In a couple of days, I’ll write you the names. These three won’t be given to you—they will serve me personally. I also need disciples to assist me.”
Giving such geniuses to Li Sijin would be too wasteful.
Li Sijin had no choice but to drop the matter.
She understood that the disciples her Senior Brother recommended to her could never compare to the three Xiao brothers.
For the three brothers, that dinner was both anxious and exhilarating—they knew their fate would change completely from this day forth.
In the days that followed, Li Qingqiu took the Xiao brothers wherever he went—whether to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake, the Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits, or the Spirit Mines—broadening their horizons and greatly increasing their loyalty.
Li Qingqiu dared to cultivate them so openly because Xiao Wudi admired him deeply, and Xiao Wuqing and Xiao Wuming’s Fate Traits made them trustworthy.
As he wished, within half a month, all three brothers’ loyalty rose to 95.
The Xiao brothers soon became famous within the sect.
Many disciples knew that the Sect Master had taken three young disciples under his wing and that they had been favored from the moment they joined.
This stirred envy among many, as well as anticipation for their future accomplishments.
To be valued by the Sect Master meant their talent was extraordinary.
Xu Ning, Zhao Zhen, Yuan Li, Ji Ya, and Li Yang all met the Xiao brothers in turn—Li Qingqiu personally introduced them, showing just how much he valued the three.
The Xiao brothers were awed when they met the rumored Zhao Zhen—a child not yet ten who possessed such strength.
Their pride was shattered as they realized they were not the most talented under the Sect Master’s command, which only deepened their gratitude toward him.
They clearly understood how much the Sect Master cherished them—something they had never experienced before.
——
Late autumn approached.
Inside the Free Spirit Hall.
Zhang Ping, while helping two disciples with some matters, listened as they discussed a duel on today’s Martial Platform.
A disciple from the Enforcement Hall, Lu Qing, was set to challenge Zheng Yunqiao, ranked second among the Thirteen Sword Fiends.
Both were at the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm—Lu Qing, a rising genius; Zheng Yunqiao, a senior who had rendered great service to the sect.
The clash between the new and the old made many disciples eager to watch.
Zhang Ping’s face remained calm, but his heart brimmed with yearning.
When would he shine like Lu Qing and Zheng Yunqiao?
The Fourth Layer still seemed distant for him, who was only at the Second Layer.
After finishing the tasks for the two disciples and seeing them off, he picked up a secret manual and began to read.
It was the first volume of the Earth Talisman Codex, which he had exchanged for in the Scripture Repository, spending all his accumulated contribution points.
He didn’t regret it in the least—the content fascinated him deeply.
Just then, footsteps approached.
The three Xiao brothers entered together, with Clear Sky Daoist following behind.
Xiao Wudi glanced around, then came up to Zhang Ping’s table and asked, “Are you Zhang Ping?”
Having stepped onto the path of immortal cultivation, the three brothers had all reached the Second Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm within a month, their auras powerful enough to immediately intimidate Zhang Ping.
“I am. And you are?” Zhang Ping asked cautiously.
Clear Sky Daoist circled around behind them with a smug smile.
“They’re the three I once recommended to you. You refused to accept them—regretting it now, aren’t you? They now serve the Sect Master himself. You must’ve heard their names: Xiao Wudi, Xiao Wuqing, and Xiao Wuming.”
Zhang Ping froze.
He had indeed heard of the Xiao brothers but hadn’t expected that he once blocked their path.
He felt bitter inside—comparisons truly killed.
He’d been in the sect for so long and had never even spoken directly with the Sect Master, while these three had been under his command in less than a month—rising smoothly to the clouds.
Xiao Wuqing smiled helplessly, stepped forward, and said, “Senior Brother Zhang, don’t mind Grandpa Lin’s nonsense. You did right. The Sect Master praised your conduct. We’re here today to deliver a gift on his behalf.”
“The Sect Master? A gift?”
Zhang Ping stood hurriedly, feeling nervous.
Xiao Wuqing then took out a secret manual from his robe and handed it to him, saying, “The Sect Master said that the Clear Sky Sect needs disciples like you—dutiful and steadfast. This manual is for your eyes only. You must not pass it on.”
Zhang Ping took the manual and read aloud, “Ghostly Immortal Needle of Rejuvenation...”
Clear Sky Daoist, standing nearby, felt awkward.
He hadn’t realized the three brothers had come for this.
He’d just happened to meet them on the way and decided to tag along.
“These three brats haven’t been in the sect long, yet their hearts are already fully toward that kid Li Qingqiu,” Clear Sky Daoist grumbled inwardly.
Still, upon reflection, he was pleased—under Li Qingqiu’s care, the Xiao brothers would surely find their footing in the Clear Sky Sect, which put his mind at ease.
“Many thanks... Sect Master!”
Zhang Ping came back to his senses and bowed gratefully.
Xiao Wudi and Xiao Wuming studied him, finding nothing remarkable about this disciple—it seemed the Sect Master truly just wanted to reward his diligence.
Xiao Wuqing, however, thought otherwise.
He sensed something unusual about Zhang Ping but couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.
“Let’s go,” Xiao Wudi said, turning to leave first, followed by Xiao Wuming.
Xiao Wuqing smiled politely at Zhang Ping and saluted before following his brothers.
Clear Sky Daoist also trailed after them.
Zhang Ping watched them depart, then lowered his gaze to the manual in his hands, a radiant smile spreading across his face.
Far away in the courtyard of the Free Spirit Hall, Li Qingqiu noticed through his Dao Lineage interface that Zhang Ping’s loyalty had risen—and he, too, smiled.
The former Thief King, Cheng Canghai, standing beside him, saw the smile and eagerly asked, “Sect Master, have you agreed?”
The construction of the Free Spirit Hall was no longer a secret—many eyed the positions of Hall Master, Deputy Hall Master, and Elders.
Cheng Canghai also sought advancement.
Now that Cheng Canghai had reached the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, he felt capable of serving as Hall Master.
Li Qingqiu nodded.
“You may have the Hall Master’s seat, but I will appoint the Deputy Hall Master myself. As for disciples of the Free Spirit Hall, you may choose twenty. The rest of the slots are reserved for others.”
“Many thanks, Sect Master!” Cheng Canghai exclaimed excitedly, bowing deeply in gratitude.
From this day onward, he, too, would be a Hall Master—how could he not be thrilled?
After chatting with Cheng Canghai for a while, Li Qingqiu left the Free Spirit Hall and went to the Tempering Hall.
Li Sifeng was absent, so Li Qingqiu went straight to find Xue Jin.
Facing Li Qingqiu, Xue Jin—who had already gained a commanding air—still appeared nervous.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Qingqiu said, “Add a new long-term task for the Tempering Hall: seek out places with unusual Spiritual Energy and any heavenly or earthly treasures. Even mere discoveries will earn rewards once verified. If they are offered to the sect directly, greater rewards will be given according to their value.”