Chapter 139: Master of Fortune, the Sword God’s Enlightenment
【Name: Clear Sky Daoist】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 72 years old】
【Loyalty (to Sect Master / Sect): 97 / 99 (Full Value 100)】
【Cultivation Aptitude: Good】
【Comprehension: Good】
【Fate Traits: Living Asura, Master of Fortune】
【Living Asura: Once the killing intent awakens, it cannot be restrained, as if becoming a mortal Asura, regaining reason only after slaughtering to exhaustion.】
【Master of Fortune: Always able to bestow grace upon those of extraordinary fortune, earning their deep trust.】
……
Could it be that he didn’t have a true name?
When Li Qingqiu first opened Clear Sky Daoist’s profile, he was struck by this doubt.
He didn’t think too deeply on it and continued reading downward, his mood growing ever more pleasant.
Good aptitude and comprehension meant that Clear Sky Daoist was certainly not some ornament of the sect—most importantly, he truly possessed a special Fate Trait.
【Living Asura】explained why Clear Sky Daoist could dominate the Ancient Great Mountain Range, but what truly piqued Li Qingqiu’s interest was【Master of Fortune】.
That was no small matter.
Just by observing the three brothers of the Xiao Family, it was evident that【Master of Fortune】had long been at work.
Li Qingqiu even wondered—could the very existence of those brothers be the manifestation of that Fate Trait’s effect?
After officially becoming the Deputy Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, Clear Sky Daoist sat down and ordered Zhang Yuchun to pour him tea.
Xiao Wuqing was extremely delighted.
After all, the three brothers had been brought here by Clear Sky Daoist.
Naturally, they hoped he could firmly take root within the Clear Sky Sect.
“You may leave first.”
Li Qingqiu spoke to Xiao Wuqing.
Upon hearing that, Xiao Wuqing immediately saluted and withdrew.
Once he was gone, Li Qingqiu turned toward Clear Sky Daoist and asked, “Those three—do they have any special background? You were clearly very concerned about them earlier.”
Hearing this, Clear Sky Daoist retracted his usual playful smile, his expression turning solemn.
While Zhang Yuchun poured tea for him, he also looked over curiously, and the others all focused their gazes on him.
Clear Sky Daoist took a deep breath and said, “Those three are all descendants of the Martial Legend Xiao Xuanzun. Their grandfather was my dearest friend—he was the direct grandson of Xiao Xuanzun. I heard that Zhao Zhi consumed Xiao Xuanzun’s Inner Core, so I feared something might have befallen his descendants. Thus, on my way back, I had Feng Dai and another accompany me to seek my old friend. In the end, he had already passed away, leaving only those three brothers relying on each other to survive.”
“Their village lies at the border of Guzhou. My old friend hid his identity and appeared as an ordinary hunter in daily life. Back then, I was gravely injured and survived only thanks to his help. I never expected that decades later, he would return to dust before me. To repay his life-saving grace, I could only bring his three grandsons back to the Clear Sky Sect.”
Descendants of the Martial Legend?
Zhang Yuchun, Jiang Zhaoxia, and the others were all taken aback—they hadn’t expected the three Xiao brothers to have such an illustrious lineage.
Li Qingqiu suddenly asked, “Do you know their father?”
Clear Sky Daoist looked at Li Qingqiu and replied, “No. When I left that village, their father had not yet been born. According to Wudi, their father left when they were very young to venture into the world, and has not been heard from since.”
Li Qingqiu thought of Xiao Wuming’s Fate Trait【Poison Jiao’s Evil Heart】—a trait he possessed because his father had once survived being swallowed by a venomous flood dragon before siring him.
If that was the case, then Xiao Wuming’s father likely inherited the true legacy of the Martial Legend.
As for why he vanished—that remained a mystery.
“For the past century, the martial world has often run red with blood over the Martial Legend’s inheritance. Their identities must not be revealed. And you mustn’t use them to seek that legacy either—their grandfather was my closest friend.” Clear Sky Daoist looked at Li Qingqiu and the others with sincerity, even a touch of pleading in his tone.
Jiang Zhaoxia snorted coldly.
“What Martial Legend? If he lived in this era, he might not even claim that title. We have no interest in his so-called inheritance.”
Li Dongyue and Li Sijin followed with words of comfort for Clear Sky Daoist.
Wu Man’er sat silently in the corner as usual, not fond of speaking.
Zhang Yuchun seemed thoughtful.
Clear Sky Daoist immediately glared at him.
“You’re the one I’m most worried about, brat.”
Zhang Yuchun sighed.
“Grandmaster, after you said that, of course I won’t go looking for it. I was just wondering why the father of those three left. I feel there may be some deeper grudge involved.”
Clear Sky Daoist waved his hand.
“Who cares? A man who’d abandon his own sons—dead or alive, he’s irrelevant.”
Li Qingqiu rose to his feet and smiled.
“Alright, everyone knows the Xiao brothers’ background now. Keep it to yourselves—tell no one, not even your disciples. Yuchun, take grandmaster to register his name, then bring him to the Enforcement Hall.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the rear mountain.
Jiang Zhaoxia rose as well, leaping high into the air.
The sword at his waist flew from its sheath with a piercing hum, and with a flash, both he and the sword vanished into the heavens.
Clear Sky Daoist widened his eyes—he hadn’t expected Jiang Zhaoxia to be so powerful.
It seemed the rumors were true: both Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning of the Clear Sky Sect possessed the strength to contend for the title of second under heaven.
That made him all the more puzzled.
Where had Li Qingqiu obtained such a profound inheritance, that his juniors and disciples alike were so formidable, and the Clear Sky Sect had grown to such greatness?
He had to admit—Jiang Zhaoxia was right.
A sect like this truly had no need for the Martial Legend’s legacy.
Urged on by Zhang Yuchun, Clear Sky Daoist returned to himself and quickly stood up.
Having now officially joined the Clear Sky Sect, he was filled with curiosity about it—he wanted to see just how powerful the current Clear Sky Sect truly was.
……
Snowflakes fell thick and fast.
Within the Sword Sect Courtyard, Shen Yue sat beneath the eaves, holding a wooden sword.
Snow gathered on his body, but he remained motionless, lost in thought.
“How long has he been like this?”
Clear Sky Daoist asked Han Lang with furrowed brows.
When he heard that the Sword God himself was in the Clear Sky Sect, Clear Sky Daoist had been overjoyed.
Back in his youth, Shen Yue had already been the number one under heaven—in his heart, Shen Yue was the Martial Legend.
Now that the one he had most admired in his younger years was in the sect, of course he had to pay his respects.
Yet what he saw was Shen Yue dazed, staring into nothingness beneath the falling snow.
Upon learning that Clear Sky Daoist was the grandmaster of his own master, Jiang Zhaoxia, Han Lang dared not be neglectful and personally received him.
Faced with Clear Sky Daoist’s inquiry, Han Lang said helplessly, “Grandmaster, you know the Tianhong Sword awakened its spirituality, right? Ever since Elder Shen learned of it, he’s been holding that wooden sword day and night, speaking to no one. It’s been months now. We’re all worried. Grandmaster, could you ask Master to persuade him? I fear if this goes on, Elder Shen might suffer deviation.”
Shen Yue had always been dedicated in instructing the Sword Sect disciples, earning their deepest respect—they could not bear to see him fall into madness.
“Again that brat’s doing?” Clear Sky Daoist barked, his voice loud.
Han Lang saw his reaction and thought perhaps Clear Sky Daoist could rein in his grand-disciple, so he nodded.
“Yes, Elder Shen lost to Master twice. Throughout the entire sect, only Master could persuade him.”
“Oh.”
“Hmm?”
Han Lang was confused when Clear Sky Daoist merely responded and fell silent.
On the way here, Clear Sky Daoist had spoken at length about Elder Shen’s exploits, his words filled with admiration.
Why, then, did he suddenly lose interest now?
Pretending not to understand Han Lang’s look, Clear Sky Daoist cleared his throat and said, “Seems today isn’t the right time. I’ll come again later.”
With that, he turned and left, giving Han Lang no chance to stop him.
Han Lang stood there, baffled by the sudden change in attitude.
Meanwhile—
Sitting beneath the eaves, Shen Yue lifted his head toward the fog-covered sky, murmuring softly, “Just a little more… what is it…?”
Somewhere deep in his soul, he felt as though he was grasping something—but couldn’t quite recall what.
His intuition told him that once he understood, his Sword Dao would transform—and then, he would truly have the right to challenge Li Qingqiu as an equal.
In their third duel, he must not lose to Li Qingqiu in a single strike!
……
That winter passed quickly.
Li Qingqiu devoted most of his time to cultivation, drawing ever closer to the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
As the year drew to an end, the Clear Sky Sect once again began preparations for the New Year Festival.
At dusk, Li Qingqiu returned from the Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits.
Just as he entered Lingxiao Courtyard, Zhu Yan came up to greet him.
“Sect Master, I’ve received some news I believe you should hear,” Zhu Yan said earnestly.
Li Qingqiu nodded and led her inside to speak privately.
“Go ahead.”
He sat down and poured himself tea.
Yuan Qi always made sure there was hot tea waiting in his quarters, rain or shine.
Zhu Yan took a seat as well and began, “Our Zhu Family received word that in the north, in Cangzhou, a new sect has emerged—the Lingtian Sect. Its master is said to possess unmatched martial prowess. Under him are five Protectors, each with profound strength. They claim to have inherited the Martial Legend’s teachings, are aggressively recruiting disciples, and are expanding southward, subduing many martial sects.”
“The Martial Legend’s inheritance? What’s their master’s name?” Li Qingqiu asked with interest.
“Ji Wuye,” Zhu Yan replied.
“The Ji surname is an ancient one, rare in the present age. In its prime, it was the royal surname of the Great Yan Dynasty. After Great Yan was overthrown by the Great Wei, the Ji name vanished.”
“Among the five Protectors of Lingtian Sect, is there anyone surnamed Xiao?” Li Qingqiu pressed further.
“Yes,” Zhu Yan answered.
“One of them is named Xiao Wuhui. It’s said he’s mastered the Martial Legend’s famed technique—the Great Mystic Immortal-Palming Hand. Some even claim he’s the descendant of that very Martial Legend, since the Martial Legend’s surname was also Xiao.”
As she spoke, Zhu Yan couldn’t help but think of the three Xiao brothers beside Li Qingqiu.
Could his sudden question about the surname Xiao be related to them?
Could the three Xiao brothers also share the bloodline of the Martial Legend?
That thought didn’t shock her much.
After all, even the Sword God and the Crown Prince’s son had joined the Clear Sky Sect—accepting the descendants of a Martial Legend hardly seemed remarkable anymore.
In Zhu Yan’s heart, Li Qingqiu was the new Martial Legend.
“Xiao Wuhui, huh…”
Li Qingqiu murmured to himself.
It seemed the Lingtian Sect truly had obtained the Martial Legend’s legacy—for indeed, the father of the three Xiao brothers was named Xiao Wuhui.
Zhu Yan asked, “Shall we investigate Lingtian Sect’s strength?”
Li Qingqiu replied, “Do it—but discreetly.”
“Mhm. I sense they’re wary of us. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have risen in Cangzhou,” Zhu Yan said with a faint smile.
By now, the Clear Sky Sect was already the greatest sect under Heaven in the Great Li Dynasty.
Even if some still refused to acknowledge it, none dared to provoke them openly.