Chapter 148: The Name of Clear Sky, the First Magic Implement
The heat of summer had finally passed, and the weather began to cool.
At the edge of the Ancient Great Mountain Range, in Blackstone County.
The town bustled with carriages and horses, merchants filled both sides of the streets, smoke from cooking fires curled skyward—it was lively and full of life.
By the roadside stood a noodle stall, its stove set outside, the shop built under a simple tent.
Beneath the rain tarp were three tables, and at one of them sat an old man and a youth.
Both were dressed as martial wanderers.
The old man’s hair was grizzled, but his body was still sturdy; he carried a broad saber on his back, and his eyes were covered by a strip of dark, worn cloth.
The youth beside him looked to be fifteen or sixteen, with dark skin and a gray headscarf wrapped around his head.
A saber was strapped to his back as well.
The youth leaned his face on one hand, listless, waiting for the stall owner to serve their noodles.
“Xiaonan, today I will find you an inn to stay at.I have something I must take care of alone,” said the blind old man, his hoarse voice carrying a trace of age and weariness.
The youth, named Ye Nan, frowned upon hearing this.
“Master, what are you going to do, old blind man? Don’t lose your way and never come back.”
The blind old man was not angered by his words and simply replied, “Have you forgotten what I told you the day I took you as my disciple?”
Ye Nan’s expression shifted slightly.
“You told me that I should only focus on martial arts, and never inquire into your affairs.”
As he recalled the past, his tone softened.
The old man took out a pouch of coins and placed it on the table, pushing it toward Ye Nan.
Ye Nan’s brows furrowed even tighter.
“Master, what exactly are you planning? Is there an enemy of yours here in Blackstone County?”
He had become the old man’s disciple just last year.
Together, they had traveled south for thousands of miles.
In that year, his martial skill had grown immensely—he was no longer that timid boy from before.
If his master had a foe, he was willing to fight alongside him, even if it cost his life.
“There is no enmity, no grievance,” the blind old man replied calmly.
“I am merely fulfilling a commission. Don’t ask more. Bringing you along would only slow me down. You may think your martial skills are good, but before one who has cultivated inner strength, you are nothing. After I leave, spend your time on inner cultivation. Remember—inner strength is what matters most; external skills are but techniques.”
Ye Nan opened his mouth but could not argue.
He had seen his master unleash inner energy before—it was terrifying indeed.
“Your noodles are here!”
The stall owner came over, cheerfully carrying two steaming bowls of noodles.
Ye Nan thanked him and helped his master with the chopsticks.
When the stall owner left, the blind old man continued, “If I do not return within a month, you should leave on your own and find a place to settle.”
Ye Nan, who had just picked up his chopsticks, froze and widened his eyes.
“Master, what nonsense are you saying?”
His voice was loud enough that some of the passing townsfolk turned their heads.
The blind old man said evenly, “Those who live in the martial world cannot act freely, Xiaonan. One day, you will understand.”
The stall owner, overhearing their talk, couldn’t help but turn back and ask, “Honored guests, have you encountered trouble? If someone’s bullying you or driving you to desperation, you can seek help from the Clear Sky Sect—they might lend a hand.”
Ye Nan turned to him and asked, “How much would it cost to ask them to act?”
He had heard of the Clear Sky Sect long ago.
Though he was from the north, he held great respect and yearning for them.
His parents and younger sister had been slain by the Demonic Cult, leaving him destitute.
When he first heard the news that Li Qingqiu had slain the emperor, he had wept with joy.
He would never forget that day’s feeling.
Still, respect was one thing—he doubted the Clear Sky Sect would avenge ordinary people.
The stall owner chuckled.
“If you’re a high official or noble, naturally you’d have to pay. But if you’re ordinary folk, the Clear Sky Sect asks for no money at all.”
Ye Nan’s eyes widened.
“Really? Then what do they gain from this? The gratitude of the people? That would make them countless enemies.”
“Yes, it does,” the stall owner sighed.
“There are many out there condemning Sect Master Li for killing the emperor, blaming him for plunging the world into chaos. They say the deaths of countless people are all his fault—ridiculous! When the emperor still lived, Guzhou suffered famines and uprisings, yet none of those people ever stood up then.”
As he spoke, the stall owner grew indignant.
An old man carrying candied hawthorn passed by and chimed in, “That’s right! Those people are despicable. When they lived in comfort, they ignored our suffering. But when trouble comes, they expect us commoners to fight for them! As for me, Sect Master Li is the greatest hero beneath the heavens—none can compare!”
His voice was loud, drawing attention from nearby onlookers, who soon joined in, praising his words.
Ye Nan was astonished that the Clear Sky Sect’s reputation here was so great.
Just mentioning them in conversation brought so many people to their defense.
He had never seen a martial sect so beloved by the common people—it left him deeply moved.
The blind old man said nothing, quietly eating his noodles.
Seeing this, Ye Nan lowered his head and began eating as well, but more and more townsfolk gathered, each recounting good deeds the Clear Sky Sect had done—healing the sick, relieving famine, driving off bandits and thieves.
The sect charged little or nothing when helping the poor.
A basket of steamed buns could buy treatment for a decade-long illness.
Nor did they favor the poor deliberately—if injustice befell the nobles or scholarly families, they too would lend aid, though they would accept any money those families offered voluntarily.
Listening to these stories, Ye Nan felt as though he were hearing a legend.
His imagination soared—he even began dreaming of joining the Clear Sky Sect himself.
……
That night, under a sparse moon, inside the Lingxiao Courtyard.
Li Qingqiu, Zhang Yuchun, Zhu Yan, Li Dongyue, and Zhang Yu sat around a table.
Zhu Yan was reporting intelligence gathered by the Zhu Family.
“The new lord of Yuzhou, Jiang Yu, has allied with the Lingtian Sect, allowing them to march south. Those refugees earlier—they were orchestrated by his men,” Zhu Yan said gravely.
Zhang Yu clicked his tongue.
“Yuzhou? That’s far. The man just secured a province, and already he stretches his hand so far. What is he planning?”
Zhu Yan hesitated briefly.
“For the Qilin. He heard that the Clear Sky Sect harbors a Qilin and wants its blood. But he fears the sect’s might, so he resorted to this indirect scheme.”
Zhang Yuchun narrowed his eyes.
“I’m afraid he’s not the only one.”
The Clear Sky Sect possessed immortal techniques and auspicious omens—in the eyes of worldly nobles, it was a fat piece of meat they all coveted.
“Are you certain it’s him?” Li Qingqiu asked suddenly.
Zhu Yan thought for a moment and nodded.
Li Qingqiu said, “Then decide who shall take Jiang Yu’s head.”
“If he’s been wrongly accused, the Zhu Family must pay with a life.”
Everyone froze, not expecting him to say that.
Zhu Yan’s face changed slightly.
After a pause, she said, “Sect Master, perhaps I should confirm again. I only communicate with my family through letters.”
Li Qingqiu did not truly doubt the Zhu Family; he merely wished to give a warning.
The families gathered under the Clear Sky Sect all had their own ambitions.
When it came to intelligence, he had to maintain authority, lest anyone use the sect for their own ends.
He nodded lightly.
“Tell those officials and families who send you intelligence this—if they aid the Clear Sky Sect sincerely, the sect will remember. But if they wield the Clear Sky Sect as a knife, that knife will cut their own flesh and take their lives.”
Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, and Zhu Yan all assented immediately.
Zhang Yu secretly marveled.
Li Qingqiu was ruthless—he spared no sentiment.
Yet thinking again, with his power, such dominance was fitting; it would save the Clear Sky Sect much trouble.
Li Qingqiu then motioned for Zhu Yan to continue.
At that moment, a line of text suddenly appeared before Li Qingqiu’s eyes:
【As a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect has forged the first magic implement, advancing the Dao Lineage, you have received a heritage reward.】
Hmm?
A magic implement?
Who could have done that?
Although he had assigned a group of disciples to study the forging of magic implements, there had been no results.
He had not given it much thought—yet tonight, a pleasant surprise had arrived.
That was the advantage of having many disciples—surprises could emerge anytime.
A faint smile curved his lips; his thoughts were already drifting toward that implement.
Zhu Yan noticed his smile and stiffened inwardly.
Did the Sect Master plan another purge?
Half an hour later, as night deepened, Li Qingqiu dismissed them to rest.
Just as Zhu Yan and Zhang Yu left the Lingxiao Courtyard, Yuan Qi hurried in.
“Sect Master, someone has infiltrated the sect. His intentions are unknown. When discovered, he tried to flee, but our disciples captured him. How shall we deal with him?” Yuan Qi reported quickly.
Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue, who had not yet returned to their quarters, stopped upon hearing this.
Li Qingqiu asked, “What does he look like?”
“He appears to be in his sixties or seventies, blind in both eyes, and carries a saber on his back.”
“That hardly sounds like a good person. Bring him here—I’ll interrogate him personally.”
Li Qingqiu smiled.
He was in good spirits tonight.
It was a fine time to demonstrate the Soul Restraining Curse to Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue so that they might learn it as well for future use.
“Yes!”
Yuan Qi turned and left.
Zhang Yuchun laughed.
“For such a small matter, Senior Brother, you’ll personally interrogate him? Why not leave it to the Enforcement Hall?”
Li Qingqiu stretched lazily.
“Until we know his purpose, we can’t judge it a small matter.”
Zhang Yuchun nodded, finding the logic sound, and sat down again to chat with Li Dongyue about their disciples.
A stick of incense’s time later—
Yuan Qi and Xiao Wuming entered the courtyard, escorting an old man.
It was none other than Ye Nan’s master—the blind old man.
His saber was gone, and the cloth covering his eyes had vanished, revealing his sunken eyelids—a ghastly sight.
Blood still dripped from the corner of his mouth; clearly, he had suffered.
Li Qingqiu studied him.
From his bones and inner energy, he could tell the man was a martial expert who had entered the inner realm.
Such masters were indeed rare.