Chapter 14: The Feeling of Cultivating Immortality
In an instant, the white-haired elder stomped his right foot, his inner energy bursting forth as he forcibly broke free from Li Sifeng’s grip. His body stumbled backward, yet even so, Li Sifeng’s dagger still pierced his chest, blood splattering outward.
The white-haired elder retreated more than ten steps before he managed to stabilize himself.
Lowering his head, he glanced at his chest and brushed his hand over the wound—it wasn’t deep. He immediately let out a breath of relief.
When he looked again at his right hand, his sleeve was torn to shreds, and three bloody scratches had appeared on his wrist. His heart trembled with lingering fear, and his gaze toward Li Sifeng was filled with shock and dread.
This boy has such great strength!
And he moves so fast!
Jiang Nian was dumbfounded.
Even with dust covering his face, he could no longer care about that.
What had he just witnessed?
The man he thought to be the most powerful martial artist—Grandpa Du—had actually been injured by a boy his own age?
He had seen it clearly—Li Sifeng hadn’t ambushed him. It was Grandpa Du who attacked first, but Li Sifeng’s speed was faster.
The white-haired elder named Du Xuanfeng took a deep breath. He looked at Li Sifeng and asked in a low voice, “Impressive skill. What is your name?”
Li Sifeng gritted his teeth and said, “Leave the mountain now. Don’t force me to kill you!”
Though he deeply admired how Jiang Zhaoxia killed enemies with ease, when it was his turn to face such a situation, he was extremely nervous.
Normally, he wasn’t so bloodthirsty, but when it concerned the Clear Sky Sect, he could not suppress his killing intent.
Jiang Zhaoxia was the strongest person within the Clear Sky Sect. If he were to leave, and the Seven Peaks Alliance or the Azure Sect invaded in force, it would spell disaster.
Hearing Li Sifeng’s words, Du Xuanfeng laughed coldly.
A killing intent flashed in his eyes as he began to circulate his inner energy. His robes and hair fluttered, his aura growing more and more terrifying.
“Old as I am, I’ve roamed the martial world for many years. I’ve heard those same words countless times—but none have ever managed to make them come true!”
Du Xuanfeng’s tone shifted, and his entire demeanor changed—he now referred to himself as “this old man,” his presence pressing down like a mountain.
Li Sifeng was startled, but as soon as he stirred the vital energy in his body, his courage surged, his expression twisting into something ferocious.
If Du Xuanfeng was an old, violent tiger, then Li Sifeng was a fierce, vicious lone wolf. Their confrontation terrified Jiang Nian, who hurriedly backed away.
“Sifeng, what are you doing?”
A voice suddenly came, making Li Sifeng’s face turn pale with fright. He looked over quickly.
Not far away, atop a tall tree, stood Jiang Zhaoxia.
The branch beneath his feet was thin, yet with his ragged robes and calm bearing, he looked almost otherworldly.
Jiang Zhaoxia’s face was expressionless. His eyes were not on Li Sifeng but fixed upon Du Xuanfeng.
For some reason, being stared at by Jiang Zhaoxia made Du Xuanfeng feel inexplicably uneasy.
He had roamed the martial world for decades, and only those world-renowned top experts could make his heart tremble at a glance. Yet this young man looked so young—it shocked him deeply.
Since when did the Clear Sky Sect have two peerless geniuses?
Unbelievable!
Li Sifeng had already made him feel danger, but this newly arrived youth gave him a sense of complete helplessness.
His instincts screamed—if he made a move, he would die miserably.
“Third Senior Brother, I…” Li Sifeng, realizing he could no longer hide anything, spoke in a trembling voice.
Third Senior Brother?
Du Xuanfeng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You are… Jiang Zhaoxia?”
“Big Brother!”
Jiang Nian cried out in surprise and joy. His elder brother’s bearing filled him with admiration—he was even more powerful than Jiang Nian had imagined.
However, Jiang Zhaoxia paid no attention to the title. His eyes remained locked on Du Xuanfeng as he said coldly, “Sifeng, I asked you a question. Has your Third Senior Brother’s words lost their weight?”
Li Sifeng trembled all over, terrified.
He quickly recounted the entire incident.
It’s over!
Third Senior Brother is definitely going to beat me!
Li Sifeng wailed inwardly.
Attacking his senior brother’s kin—this was no small matter.
After hearing him out, Jiang Zhaoxia’s expression didn’t change. He snorted coldly and said, “You did well, but not well enough. You should have killed them outright.”
At those words, not only Du Xuanfeng and Jiang Nian but even Li Sifeng was stunned.
“But… they came for you, and that kid is your younger brother…” Li Sifeng swallowed and spoke cautiously.
Jiang Zhaoxia said flatly, “I have only two younger brothers—you and Man’er.”
Li Sifeng fell silent, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He was moved, yet there was also an indescribable sadness—one he couldn’t quite understand at his age.
Du Xuanfeng said immediately, “Jiang Zhaoxia, the matter back then wasn’t what you think. Your father sent Xunfeng to bring you up the mountain because he had no other choice.”
Jiang Zhaoxia’s tone was cold. “I don’t care what he thought. I only believe what I saw—what I remember.”
He drew his sword from his waist, pointed it at Du Xuanfeng, and continued, “This is your last chance.”
Du Xuanfeng’s face turned ugly. He could only grit his teeth and say, “Young Master, let’s go!”
Jiang Nian quickly followed him.
The two left in haste without looking back.
Jiang Zhaoxia sheathed his sword and leapt lightly from the tree, landing gracefully in front of Li Sifeng.
As he descended, a faint wind swirled around him.
“Wind Sprint Technique?”
Li Sifeng asked curiously.
Jiang Zhaoxia raised his hand and knocked him on the head. “Your cultivation is shallow, your body still undeveloped. When you meet a strong enemy again, strike to kill—don’t drag things out.”
Li Sifeng rubbed his head and asked doubtfully, “Third Senior Brother, you really wanted me to kill them?”
How ruthless, this Third Senior Brother!
For the first time, Li Sifeng felt admiration toward Jiang Zhaoxia. He wanted to become like him.
“Of course.”
Jiang Zhaoxia turned and walked away. Li Sifeng quickly followed.
In the distance, Jiang Nian, being led away by Du Xuanfeng, glanced back.
Strangely, Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng looked more like true brothers.
The sunlight pierced through the trees, and their figures soon disappeared from sight.
——
In the courtyard, Li Qingqiu was writing at his desk, while Li Dongyue stood beside him, fanning him to ease the heat.
Though sweat drenched her forehead, she showed no sign of fatigue—her gaze never left him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Li Qingqiu noticed Jiang Zhaoxia and Li Sifeng returning but paid them little mind, busy as he was writing the Primordial Unity Scripture.
Jiang Zhaoxia walked straight over and told him everything that had happened.
After listening, Li Qingqiu glared at Li Sifeng and scolded, “Well, well, you’ve grown bold, haven’t you? Acting first and reporting later!”
Li Dongyue also looked at Li Sifeng with newfound respect.
She hadn’t expected their youngest junior brother to be so ruthless—he never showed it before.
Li Sifeng said aggrievedly, “I was afraid Third Senior Brother would leave with them.”
Jiang Zhaoxia snorted. “There was no misunderstanding in what happened back then. My father forced my mother to death just to marry a noble’s daughter. He even tried to abandon me. If Master hadn’t appeared in time, I would’ve been killed by his disciples. I’ll never return. Senior Brother, don’t worry—I will always stand by you.”
The Jiang family was also a martial clan, but like many others in the martial world, they sought to wash away their past.
When Lin Xunfeng first brought Jiang Zhaoxia up the mountain, Li Qingqiu had overheard him discussing this matter with a friend. It was indeed as Jiang Zhaoxia said.
Li Qingqiu nodded, then glared at Li Sifeng again. “Remember this—no matter what happens, you must ask me first. Whether I approve or not, I have to know. I am not only your Senior Brother—I am the Sect Master of Clear Sky Sect.”
This kid had already begun to show the signs of his Fate Traits. He had to be watched carefully.
Li Qingqiu wasn’t worried that Li Sifeng would betray him—his loyalty was unquestionable—but he feared that good intentions might lead to trouble, dragging him into danger.
He wasn’t cultivating immortality for himself alone. He had to bring along his junior brothers and sisters—none could be left behind.
These disciples were all raised by him. He had changed their diapers, coaxed them to sleep. To him, they were already family.
“I understand,” Li Sifeng muttered, looking like a meek kitten before his senior brother and sister—utterly harmless.
“Go play,” Li Qingqiu waved him off.
Just looking at him made him angry—he might not be able to hold back otherwise.
Feeling that his senior brother was truly upset, Li Sifeng quickly turned and ran off.
Jiang Zhaoxia frowned. “Senior Brother, since the Jiang family came to us, I doubt it’s only for me—they’re likely targeting Clear Sky Sect as well.”
Though the Clear Sky Sect was small, its territory was vast—easy to attract unwanted attention.
Li Qingqiu nodded. “I know. We’ll meet whatever comes—soldiers at the gates, water with earth.”
Then, changing the subject, he said, “Tomorrow, take Huang Shan and Yu Lin down the mountain. Buy some cloth and invite a tailor up here. I plan to make sect robes for everyone. Don’t be stingy.”
All the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect wore old, tattered clothes—they didn’t look like members of a sect at all, more like villagers.
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded. “I’ll also see if we can find some ways to earn money.”
“Take care of those two boys. Let them train a bit, but don’t let them lose any limbs,” Li Qingqiu reminded.
Huang Shan and Yu Lin were the oldest among the second-generation disciples, and Li Qingqiu had high hopes for their future.
He wanted to start training them early.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jiang Zhaoxia said, then turned and left.
Li Qingqiu turned to Li Dongyue. “You should rest a bit. Your Senior Brother isn’t that hot.”
Li Dongyue smiled. “I’m not tired, Senior Brother. About the sect robes—will they be the same? Will there be a difference between the men’s and the women’s?”
As she spoke, beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks, and her hair stuck to the side of her face.
Li Qingqiu sighed helplessly but let her be. “There will be differences, but they should still look like they belong to the same sect.”
“That’s wonderful, Senior Brother! Tomorrow, Second Senior Brother plans to take me to the village to trade for grain seeds. I’d like to bring Sijin and Ning’er along—is that okay?”
“Of course. If there’s work to do, let Yuchun handle it. You girls just carry a few things at most.”
“Mm-hmm, I understand.”
They chatted casually as sunlight stretched their shadows long across the courtyard.
The sun set, the moon rose, day turned to night, and a new day arrived.
With Zhang Yuchun and Jiang Zhaoxia each leading a group down the mountain, the Clear Sky Sect became noticeably quieter.
Li Qingqiu did not go to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake. He had to stay behind to guard the sect in case of any changes.
At noon, after finishing his meal, Li Qingqiu went alone to the mountain gate to meditate and cultivate while waiting for Zhang Yuchun and the others to return.
A gentle breeze blew, brushing through his hair. His heart settled into tranquility.
He had finally found it— the feeling of cultivating immortality.