Chapter 138: Spirit Sword, Sword Soul
“Good, the missions in the Tempering Hall happen to be a little lacking.”
Xue Jin nodded, a smile appearing on his face.
Ever since the Emperor had been executed by Li Qingqiu, the disciples’ enthusiasm for going down the mountain to temper themselves had greatly increased.
Now, there were over three hundred disciples out on training missions.
Li Qingqiu asked Xue Jin to report on the recent situation of the Tempering Hall, and Xue Jin relayed everything in detail.
He could sense that Li Sifeng would not remain in the position of Hall Master for long, so he worked diligently and kept every matter, big or small, of the Tempering Hall firmly in mind.
He had not let it hinder his cultivation—he was currently working hard toward the Sixth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
The Tempering Hall had no major issues for the time being.
Xue Jin’s management was quite capable; he had divided the disciples into various roles so that none bore too heavy a burden.
“In the future, disciples can come to the Tempering Hall to post missions themselves, giving other disciples more opportunities to earn money and contribute to the sect,” Li Qingqiu said.
Xue Jin’s eyes lit up—he had long wanted to do this but feared it would give the disciples from influential clans too much advantage.
“Just conduct strict reviews. If anyone dares to scheme and harm fellow disciples, never tolerate it, even if there’s backing from noble families or higher-ups,” Li Qingqiu instructed.
Xue Jin nodded.
“Sect Master, rest assured, I’ll make sure the review process is properly controlled.”
“I trust you with this. Among the disciples, you’re the one who satisfies me the most at present.”
These words made Xue Jin beam with delight, though he quickly replied with humble modesty.
Li Qingqiu’s praise was not mere courtesy.
Unlike other talented disciples, Xue Jin not only excelled in cultivation but also impressed him in his conduct and capability.
The Clear Sky Sect did not only need disciples with strong cultivation potential—it also needed those who could help build the sect and shoulder responsibilities for the higher-ups.
After staying in the Tempering Hall for half an hour, Li Qingqiu departed.
Xue Jin, greatly encouraged, immediately gathered his disciples to hold a meeting.
Li Qingqiu then went on to the Heavenly Works Hall, setting aside this day to inspect all halls and divisions.
Compared to the calm within the Clear Sky Sect, the outside world was turbulent—more and more warlords were emerging and beginning to battle one another.
Guzhou had also fallen into chaos.
At the start of winter, Li Sifeng came to Li Qingqiu, saying he wanted to go down the mountain to accomplish something big.
Li Qingqiu approved but forbade him from acting in the name of the Clear Sky Sect.
Li Sifeng left with over a dozen disciples, and this did not cause any disturbance within the sect.
As the winter snow began to fall and dawn broke, Li Qingqiu, accompanied by the Xiao Family’s three brothers and Cheng Canghai, rode Little Eight toward Silent Heaven Mountain.
Although the low-grade Demonic Realm of that mountain was managed by Li Dongyue of the Spirit Finance Hall, the Demon Subjugation Hall would also have to share the responsibility of guarding it in the future.
Their task was to tame demonic beasts, and their source for such creatures depended on this low-grade Demonic Realm.
They arrived at Yang Xuan’s residence, where they coincidentally met Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue.
“Senior Brother!”
Li Dongyue stood in the courtyard, waving excitedly to Li Qingqiu.
Hearing her voice, Yang Xuan also ran out from the house.
Not far away, Jiang Zhaoxia, who had been practicing his sword beneath a tree, turned to look over.
A smile appeared on his face—he knew that he could finally return to the Clear Sky Sect.
After landing, Li Qingqiu spoke with Jiang Zhaoxia and the others, asking about recent events.
Li Dongyue explained everything in detail.
Several months earlier, they had encountered a group of martial artists, clearly from some Jianghu sect, but the disciples had driven them away and had not met anyone else since.
Li Dongyue had already ordered people to draw every demonic beast within the low-grade Demonic Realm, even naming them and compiling a register.
Jiang Zhaoxia had discovered a cave within Silent Heaven Mountain containing an inheritance.
He had forbidden anyone from entering, waiting for Li Qingqiu to come and verify it.
Upon hearing this, Li Qingqiu immediately asked him to lead the way.
Along the path, Li Qingqiu introduced the Xiao brothers to them, which surprised Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue—were these three supreme geniuses? Otherwise, why would Senior Brother bring them personally and even introduce them?
Though curious, they did not ask further.
Compared to the Xiao brothers, Jiang Zhaoxia was more intrigued by something else.
“Senior Brother, why does your Tianhong Sword keep floating like that? I can’t feel any Sword Intent or Vital Energy from it,” Jiang Zhaoxia couldn’t help but ask.
Not only him—Yang Xuan had long wanted to ask.
He even thought it absurd, suspecting his own eyes, since everyone else seemed to take it as normal.
Cheng Canghai, who had been holding back for a long time, finally seized the opportunity to recount how Li Qingqiu had executed the Emperor.
Jiang Zhaoxia and the others were utterly stunned, while the Xiao brothers lifted their chins proudly.
Though they hadn’t done it themselves, they felt honored by association—with their loyalty as it was, Li Qingqiu’s glory was their pride.
Li Dongyue nervously asked, “Senior Brother, were you hurt?”
Li Qingqiu smiled.
“No injuries. During that encounter, my connection with the Tianhong Sword deepened—it has transformed, no longer an ordinary sword, but a Spirit Sword that possesses its own will.”
Jiang Zhaoxia then asked, “Senior Brother, how strong were Zhao Zhi and Xuan Gong? If it were me, could I have done the same as you?”
Li Qingqiu replied, “They were formidable, but not your match. If it were you, you’d have also returned unharmed. Only that Grandmaster Jiang—he’s skilled at pretending to be a ghostly mystic. You might’ve been startled by him.”
At that, Jiang Zhaoxia fell into thought.
Just then, Chu Jing flew out from within the Tianhong Sword, exclaiming in surprise, “Master, is your Third Junior Brother really that powerful?”
Jiang Zhaoxia turned to look at Chu Jing—their gazes met.
Chu Jing immediately understood—Jiang Zhaoxia truly was as formidable as Li Qingqiu had said.
He was inwardly astonished.
The Clear Sky Sect was actually this powerful—it seemed he had not lost unjustly.
Jiang Zhaoxia didn’t ask who Chu Jing was, afraid of startling Li Dongyue, Yang Xuan, and the others.
Li Qingqiu didn’t answer Chu Jing either, as Li Dongyue began asking how Grandmaster Jiang had acted like a ghostly mystic.
He then described the situation to them.
Upon hearing about the existence of the Soul Refining Flag, everyone was shocked again—it completely overturned their understanding.
“When your mastery of the Primordial Unity Scripture deepens, you’ll eventually come into contact with spirits,” Li Qingqiu said meaningfully.
Jiang Zhaoxia finally understood what a Spirit Sword truly was.
He began to ponder whether he should cultivate a Sword Soul of his own.
With Cheng Canghai among them, their journey was far from dull—they conversed as they advanced.
After half an hour, they entered the cave Jiang Zhaoxia had discovered.
The cave was simple; the chamber within contained only a worn meditation cushion, three ancient books, and a cloth pouch.
Li Qingqiu picked up the pouch—it was indeed a storage bag filled with many Spirit Stones.
No wonder Yang Xuan in the future could become the Human Dao Patriarch.
“I’ll keep this bag. As for these three secret manuals, copy them once we’re back and store them on the fourth floor of the Scripture Repository. Each of you may transcribe a copy.”
Li Qingqiu looked at Jiang Zhaoxia and the others as he spoke.
They all agreed without objection.
Yang Xuan couldn’t help asking, “Grandmaster Uncle, will you take us back to the Clear Sky Sect next?”
Li Qingqiu looked at him and nodded with a smile.
Yang Xuan possessed dual superior aptitudes, and naturally had to be nurtured carefully.
Keeping him here was a waste.
Today, Li Qingqiu had brought Cheng Canghai mostly as a formality—afterward, Cheng Canghai would stay and oversee the low-grade Demonic Realm, training demonic beasts and mounts there.
They then went into the Demonic Realm once more.
The small independent world astonished Cheng Canghai and the Xiao brothers.
By evening, Li Qingqiu brought Jiang Zhaoxia, Li Dongyue, Yang Xuan, and the Xiao brothers back.
Apart from Cheng Canghai, there were still thirty disciples stationed at Silent Heaven Mountain—no accidents would occur.
The moon sank and the sun rose.
The next morning, Li Qingqiu gathered his junior brothers and sisters in the Lingxiao Courtyard.
Xiao Wuqing arrived with the Clear Sky Daoist, and Li Qingqiu introduced the Daoist to Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Dongyue.
Upon learning that this man was their Master’s Master, Li Dongyue showed great respect, while Jiang Zhaoxia merely offered a salute without saying much.
Looking upon Lin Xunfeng’s six disciples, each with their own bearing, the Clear Sky Daoist was deeply gratified.
He began reminiscing about the past, recounting how he had taken Lin Xunfeng in.
Everyone listened attentively; Li Qingqiu did not interrupt his nostalgic talk.
Although Li Qingqiu seldom sought him out, he usually had Yuan Qi keep an eye on the Clear Sky Daoist.
This old ancestor was far from serious—he went around proclaiming himself as the Sect Master’s Grandmaster, and though often met with ridicule, he never tired of it.
Li Qingqiu didn’t mind, for it was the truth, and the Clear Sky Daoist enjoyed guiding menial and outer disciples in cultivation—something beneficial to the sect.
After the Clear Sky Daoist finished his long recollection, Li Qingqiu smiled and said, “Grandmaster, you’ve been back at the Clear Sky Sect for a while, yet I haven’t assigned you a position. Would you like to officially join the sect again?”
The Clear Sky Daoist understood the implication—Li Qingqiu wanted him to formally re-enter the sect ranks.
He wasn’t angry; in fact, he appreciated Li Qingqiu’s clarity of mind.
The current Clear Sky Sect couldn’t afford someone of higher seniority and standing than Li Qingqiu, and the Clear Sky Daoist had also noticed that the sect’s martial heritage was now completely separate from his.
“If you’re inviting me, I might just consider it,” the Clear Sky Daoist said, stroking his beard proudly.
Li Qingqiu smiled.
“Then I shall invite you—will that do?”
“In that case, I’ll reluctantly agree. What position do you plan to give me?” The Clear Sky Daoist secretly sighed in relief—he had feared Li Qingqiu might not give him any face.
Though he was Li Qingqiu’s Grandmaster, he could never forget Li Qingqiu’s domineering presence when facing Grandmaster Jiang that day.
“Go serve as Deputy Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall. You’re not getting the main post—it’s already taken. You’ll be there to support her,” Li Qingqiu said.
The Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall was now Chai Yunshang.
She had reached the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm and was extremely diligent in her cultivation—thanks in no small part to Li Qingqiu’s generosity in giving her many Spirit Stones.
As the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, she needed the strength to uphold authority.
“Deputy Hall Master, hmm? A bit beneath me, but since you’ve said so, I must go lend her some support,” the Clear Sky Daoist huffed.
Jiang Zhaoxia frowned, thinking he was too boastful.
Li Dongyue and Li Sijin found him amusing instead.
Zhang Yuchun, meanwhile, pondered what impact the Clear Sky Daoist’s joining might have on the sect.
Li Qingqiu habitually opened his Dao Lineage panel and located the Clear Sky Daoist’s portrait.
He had a feeling the Clear Sky Daoist possessed a unique Fate Trait—otherwise, how could he alone have occupied such a vast territory within the Ancient Great Mountain Range, leaving the Jianghu sects afraid to contest it?