Chapter 147: The Path of Domination
The Grand Dao Tournament had come to a successful end, yet the liveliness within the Clear Sky Sect continued unabated.
The Free Spirit Hall posted an announcement, revealing the rewards for the top sixty-four, top ten, and top three contestants—wealth, spirit stones, and Dao fate among them.
The astonishing part was that the top three each received a cave dwelling.
What was a cave dwelling?
This became the topic of much discussion among disciples.
That very day, news spread throughout the sect: a cave dwelling was a personal cultivation abode—one could reside and train there, with its concentration of spiritual energy rivaling that of the Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits.
Once this news broke, the entire sect was shaken.
Many of the top ten disciples were filled with regret, wondering if they might have broken into the top three had they trained harder.
It was foreseeable that Xu Ning, Xue Jin, and Zhao Zhen, relying on their cave dwellings, would only widen the gap between themselves and the others.
Would the next Grand Dao Tournament not become nearly impossible to surpass them?
The following morning, another piece of news spread: the Grand Dao Tournament would henceforth be held once every ten years.
Starting from the next session, the top ten would all receive cave dwellings.
Moreover, those who ranked in the top three would no longer be allowed to participate in the following tournament.
This news greatly excited the disciples.
Though ten years was a long time, for the vast majority, it was just the opportunity they needed to grow in strength—after all, it was nearly impossible to catch up to the geniuses in just a year or two.
Especially the rule that barred the top three from joining the next tournament—it gave everyone more hope.
While the disciples were still immersed in anticipation for the next tournament, the upper echelons of the Clear Sky Sect convened another council meeting.
This time, it was not held within the Lingxiao Courtyard but in the Profound Heart Hall.
Not only did the Hall Masters arrive, but all Deputy Hall Masters and Elders gathered as well.
Dozens stood before the steps, still chatting about the Grand Dao Tournament and congratulating one another.
When Li Qingqiu entered with Yuan Qi and the three Xiao brothers, everyone fell silent and stepped aside.
It was the first time the three Xiao brothers had attended such a meeting.
Their hearts were full of excitement.
Though they had been eliminated early in the tournament, they now stood ahead of most disciples, which made them even more grateful toward Li Qingqiu.
And it was not only them—many high-ranking members were also surprised to see Li Qingqiu bring the Xiao brothers along.
It seemed the Sect Master truly intended to nurture them—perhaps even to groom them for leadership.
After all, even Zhao Zhen and Ji Ya had never been permitted into such meetings.
Li Qingqiu walked to the front, stepping up the stairs to look down at everyone from above.
The Xiao brothers, following Yuan Qi’s signal, stood opposite the Hall Masters.
The Profound Heart Hall, the foremost main hall of the Clear Sky Sect, had been undergoing renovations.
Its grandeur had grown ever more impressive, the floor gleaming brightly.
Standing atop the steps, Li Qingqiu couldn’t help but feel pleased.
The Heavenly Works Hall had not been idle!
Li Qingqiu spoke, “Everyone, trouble has come for the Clear Sky Sect again!”
At once, the entire hall erupted in commotion.
The higher-ups were furious—they knew the Sect Master would not speak idly.
“Who dares to provoke our Clear Sky Sect?”
“Our sect focuses solely on its own development, not on worldly contention—yet someone dares stir trouble with us? Outrageous!”
“Such is the martial world—so long as the Clear Sky Sect exists, troubles will never cease.”
“Who is so bold, Sect Master? This time, please, don’t act personally—give us a chance to earn merit!”
“Yes! The Clear Sky Sect today is already powerful enough. Even without the Sect Master’s intervention, we can sweep away any threat.”
After four months of the Grand Dao Tournament, the upper echelons had gained a full understanding of the sect’s strength.
Confidence surged among them.
Not only among the higher-ups—the mindset of all disciples had shifted as well.
Without comparison, they wouldn’t have realized the Clear Sky Sect had so many geniuses.
Any True Transmission Disciple, taken alone, was enough to shake the martial world!
Upon hearing Li Qingqiu’s words, the high-ranking members’ first reaction was anger, followed by excitement—they believed this was their chance.
With the establishment of the Dao Fate system, the value of the Scripture Repository’s secret manuals had become well-defined.
Ordinary martial techniques were easily redeemable, but the manuals on the fourth floor were not—some even cost over ten thousand Dao fate points.
Naturally, this made the elders curious just how powerful those manuals were.
With Shen Yue, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Zhao Zhen contributing, new manuals had been appearing in the Scripture Repository every few days, prompting Li Qingqiu to plan the construction of a fifth floor.
Raising his hand, Li Qingqiu signaled for silence, then gave Zhang Yuchun a glance.
Zhang Yuchun stepped forward, explaining the situation regarding the refugees and the rumors spreading across the martial world and mundane realm.
A few elders had known about it, but most were hearing it for the first time—and when they did, they found the rumors utterly absurd.
“If not for the Sect Master’s intervention, this world would’ve long become a living hell. Who would dare slander him over such a matter? Madness!”
An elder couldn’t help exclaiming, his face full of disbelief.
His words won the agreement of the others.
In their eyes, Li Qingqiu’s act of slaying the Emperor was one of the most heroic and righteous deeds in the sect’s history.
Yang Jueding, furious, immediately volunteered to lead people into the martial world to silence those rumor-mongers.
After letting everyone vent their emotions, Li Qingqiu finally spoke slowly, “From this day onward, the Tempering Hall will issue more and more sect missions. The Clear Sky Sect has no desire to meddle in the martial world’s power struggles—but neither will we sit and wait to die. Everyone, prepare yourselves. We are about to begin a slaughter.”
Upon hearing this, a chill ran down everyone’s spine.
They had nearly forgotten—the Sect Master was the one with the strongest killing intent of them all.
After discussing the matter, Li Qingqiu began consulting the others about constructing new peaks—each hall was to establish a branch on a different mountain.
This meant the Seven Halls would continue recruiting disciples, and their authority would only grow.
For everyone present, it was good news.
Of course, the most important thing was the Clear Sky Sect’s bright future.
The Sect Master’s ambition was clearly vast—this filled them all with eager anticipation.
The council lasted nearly an hour.
Afterward, the rumors spreading through the martial world and mundane realm about the Clear Sky Sect circulated among the disciples, filling them with fury.
In no time, the sect’s focus shifted from the tournament to the outside world.
Faced with external threats, the disciples were raring for action—many had already gone to the Tempering Hall, waiting for new missions to be posted.
Night descended.
Inside the Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu sat at a long table, writing down names as Yuan Qi and the Xiao brothers stood behind, watching.
Not only did Li Qingqiu write names—he also drew portraits of the disciples.
With his current control over his physical body, he could perfectly reproduce the faces shown on the Dao Lineage panel without error.
The Xiao brothers were curious why he was doing this.
They recognized a few faces—disciples they’d met and thought well of.
After painting twenty-three portraits in one go, Li Qingqiu said, “Yuan Qi, tomorrow, take these to the Enforcement Hall and have them interrogate these disciples.”
These twenty-three had loyalty values toward Li Qingqiu and the sect that had fallen to zero—nineteen out of twenty were likely spies.
Li Qingqiu conducted such loyalty purges periodically.
At first, the Enforcement Hall had been puzzled, but after repeated investigations, their reverence for him grew—they believed the Sect Master was nothing short of an immortal.
Yuan Qi immediately gathered the portraits without asking further questions.
The Xiao brothers, though curious, did not speak—they trusted Li Qingqiu completely, believing he always had his reasons.
Li Qingqiu gestured for Yuan Qi to withdraw, then motioned for the Xiao brothers to sit opposite him.
They had spent more than half a year together, and the brothers no longer felt uneasy before him.
They wondered what he was about to say.
“For the next Grand Dao Tournament, you must break into the top ten. To that end, I will give you my full support,” Li Qingqiu began.
His first words filled them with excitement.
Having tasted defeat in this tournament, they were filled with fighting spirit—they would strive for a better ranking next time.
Even without his encouragement, they would’ve worked hard—but with the Sect Master’s promise of full support, they were overjoyed.
“However, since I show you such favor, in time, other disciples will have opinions. So, from now on, I will assign you missions every year. Each one will be perilous—prepare yourselves mentally,” Li Qingqiu said solemnly.
Xiao Wudi was first to answer, “Sect Master, just give your orders! We fear nothing and will complete every task without fail!”
Xiao Wuqing nodded.
“We’ve received so many resources—it’s only fair that we take on dangerous missions.”
Xiao Wuming remained silent, his expression dark and inscrutable, making him seem deeply scheming.
In truth, he wasn’t thinking much at all—he didn’t care what missions awaited.
He only longed for them to begin soon.
Li Qingqiu was pleased with their attitude.
After a few more words of encouragement, he dismissed them.
Once they left, Li Dongyue emerged from inside, approaching Li Qingqiu.
“Senior Brother, are you free tomorrow to guide me in the Ghostly Immortal Needle of Rejuvenation?” she asked.
The tournament had been a great motivator for her as well.
She had reached the fifth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, yet she felt uncertain of victory against any of the top ten disciples—a feeling that filled her with crisis.
Li Qingqiu nodded.
“Very well. Tomorrow morning, come to my cave dwelling.”
Li Dongyue smiled, said a few brief words, then took her leave without disturbing him further.
…
After the end of August, under the eager anticipation of the disciples, the Tempering Hall finally issued a sect mission targeting the mortal world.
Eradicate the Golden Snake Sect of Jiangzhou.
Required: twenty-five disciples.
Minimum cultivation: third layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Reward: fifty to two hundred Dao fate points, and five hundred to three thousand strings of coins—depending on individual performance.
The mission was taken down in less than one incense stick’s time—the roster already full.
Many disciples beat their chests in regret.
The name “Golden Snake Sect” spread quickly—most had never heard of it and were curious what had caused them to offend the Clear Sky Sect.
In a forest, Li Qingqiu was instructing Zhao Zhen, Yuan Li, Ji Ya, Li Yang, and the three Xiao brothers in their cultivation when Zhang Yuchun approached him.
“Senior Brother, posting the mission like this—won’t it draw too much attention?” Zhang Yuchun asked worriedly.
Li Qingqiu replied calmly, “I want attention. The Clear Sky Sect shall walk the path of domination. If they can get word of it beforehand—let them. It will serve as a test of how swiftly our disciples execute their tasks.”