Chapter 151: Divine Art Legacy
“Assist? Why should we assist?”
Li Qingqiu countered, his gaze resting upon Xiao Wudi with evident satisfaction.
Among the three brothers, the one with the best aptitude and comprehension was Xiao Wuqing.
All of them were excellent—comparable to Li Yang and Ji Ya—but Xiao Wudi possessed the Fate Trait of Innate Body Cultivator.
With this, he had far surpassed others in practicing the body cultivation method created by Zhao Zhen, making his strength clearly superior to Xiao Wuqing and Xiao Wuming.
Zhang Yuchun asked in surprise, “Senior Brother, since we are not helping either side, what did you mean earlier when you spoke of the ‘Sovereign’s Authority and Immortal Granting’?”
Could it be that he had misunderstood?
Li Qingqiu replied, “It means exactly as you imagine. The authority of rulership shall be decided by us. But how will we decide it? Naturally, by seeing who can bring peace to this world and whose heart aligns with the Clear Sky Sect.”
Zhang Yuchun pondered aloud, “So, what you mean is to let them fight for a while, and only then will we see who is a wise ruler?”
“In times of chaos, many will die, but if one chooses a tyrant or an incompetent ruler, even more will perish—and those left alive would find life worse than death.”
Li Qingqiu spoke calmly, without the slightest fluctuation in tone—his voice even carried a touch of coldness.
Zhang Yuchun found it reasonable.
When Zhao Zhi had been on the throne, the people were anxious and fearful.
For many, those days had indeed been worse than death.
“Any matter involving the struggles of the mortal world—no matter who comes seeking the Clear Sky Sect—we refuse them. And no tasks related to battlefields are to appear in the Tempering Hall,” Li Qingqiu instructed.
Although Li Sifeng harbored imperial ambition, Li Qingqiu would not aid him by force.
If he lacked the necessary ability, it would be better for him to give up early and return to the Clear Sky Sect to cultivate immortality.
In truth, Li Qingqiu preferred this outcome.
As for Pei Miao’s Dual Dragon Empress Fate Trait, it held little importance in Li Qingqiu’s eyes.
He did not intend to act according to her destined fate.
Li Qingqiu disliked being led by another’s destiny.
If it did not interfere with him, he would let things flow naturally.
But if it did, he would not hesitate to alter another’s fate.
Zhang Yuchun silently mulled over Li Qingqiu’s words while also thinking of his own plans.
The two conversed for a while longer before Zhang Yuchun took his leave.
When the Xiao brothers exhausted their Vital Energy, Li Qingqiu allowed them to rest.
He then pointed out their shortcomings and mapped out future paths for their cultivation.
Afterward, he told Xiao Wuqing to spend more time wandering the mountain and interacting with the disciples.
“Among you three brothers, Wudi has a firm temperament, while Wuming tends to bottle up his thoughts. Therefore, I hope Wuqing can shoulder greater responsibility—not only leading among you three but also maintaining good relations between you and the rest of the sect.”
“Remember, no matter how strong you become, you will forever be disciples of the Clear Sky Sect. Do not act arrogantly toward others. When you meet your juniors, guide them, just as I guide you. Understood?”
Li Qingqiu spoke earnestly, and the three brothers nodded solemnly.
Beyond teaching them cultivation, Li Qingqiu never forgot to shape their sense of right and wrong, ensuring they would not stray from the righteous path.
Of course, there was another reason for this arrangement—to allow Xiao Wuqing to make full use of his Insightful Eye for Talent Fate Trait.
He hoped Wuqing would discover more capable talents within the sect.
……
Wars raged endlessly across the provinces.
The Clear Sky Sect’s annihilation of the Gold Snake Sect had shaken the entire martial world, leading many martial figures to criticize the sect’s dominance as excessive.
However, the Clear Sky Sect did not restrain itself—instead, it continued issuing missions to eliminate various martial sects.
By late autumn, a piece of news shook the entire realm.
This time, not only the martial world but even the feudal lords were alarmed.
Jiang Yu, the new governor of Yuzhou, was slain in his own mansion by disciples of the Clear Sky Sect—and it had not been an ambush, but an open assault.
The one who killed Jiang Yu was Gu Changping, a Top Ten disciple of the Grand Dao Tournament of the Clear Sky Sect—his fame was established in one battle.
Carrying Jiang Yu’s head, Gu Changping stormed out of the governor’s mansion unopposed, bearing the same imposing spirit once shown by Li Qingqiu himself.
Travel-worn and bloodstained, Gu Changping returned to Clear Sky Mountain, his sect robe soaked with blood and a crimson-stained bundle in hand, drawing the gaze of all disciples along the path.
When asked by a close fellow disciple what he was carrying, he smiled faintly and said, “The head of Jiang Yu, Inspector-General of Yuzhou.”
Those nearby were stunned silent.
Gu Changping strode proudly up the mountain, entered the Tempering Hall, and placed Jiang Yu’s head on the counter, leaving the on-duty disciples wide-eyed in shock.
The matter quickly stirred widespread discussion within the sect.
Before rumors from the outside world could even reach them, Gu Changping’s name had already resounded throughout the Clear Sky Sect.
During the Grand Dao Tournament, Gu Changping’s combat style had not been particularly outstanding—solid in all aspects but lacking the overwhelming mastery of Zhao Zhen or the killing aura of Xue Jin.
Because of this, he had been among the lesser-noticed of the Top Ten disciples.
But this single accomplishment instantly elevated his prestige to rival that of Xue Jin.
That very afternoon, Li Qingqiu summoned Chai Yunshang and Gu Changping to Lingxiao Courtyard.
Before others, Gu Changping was always calm—but this time, he was visibly nervous.
Hearing the Sect Master’s praise, his ears flushed red as he humbly replied again and again.
Gu Changping was not particularly handsome, but he stood tall with a strong spirit and clear gaze—qualities that pleased Li Qingqiu greatly.
After a long while of praise, Li Qingqiu finally dismissed him.
When Gu Changping left, Li Qingqiu turned to Chai Yunshang with a smile.
“So? That disciple did not disappoint you, did he?”
Gu Changping’s cultivation aptitude was excellent, though his comprehension was merely average.
Li Qingqiu had intentionally distributed geniuses across the Seven Halls to maintain balance.
Now the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, Chai Yunshang’s presence had grown colder and sharper than before.
Upon hearing Li Qingqiu’s question, she revealed a faint smile and said, “Indeed, he exceeded my expectations.
Thank you, Sect Master, for assigning him to the Enforcement Hall.”
“From now on, the Enforcement Hall’s disciples shall be increased to two hundred. Gu Changping may nominate two, and you may decide the rest,” Li Qingqiu said with a smile.
However, Chai Yunshang frowned.
“Sect Master, we cannot reward him like this—it will cause problems. The matter of disciple quotas must remain fair. I cannot control the other halls, but the Enforcement Hall must uphold this principle.”
Her tone was firm, but Li Qingqiu was not angry.
Instead, he felt a touch of gratification.
“Very well. We’ll do as you say,” Li Qingqiu replied cheerfully.
Seeing his smile, Chai Yunshang suddenly felt regret.
She thought she had offended the Sect Master, but even if she wanted to apologize, she couldn’t bring herself to—because she believed she was right, only her attitude had been lacking.
Li Qingqiu, of course, did not hold it against her.
He agreed she had done no wrong.
He waved for her to leave.
After bowing and turning away, she hesitated at the courtyard gate.
Looking back, intending to apologize, she found that Li Qingqiu had already vanished.
……
Snow fell thickly, gradually covering the mountains and rivers.
That morning, Li Qingqiu took time to instruct Yuan Li and Ji Ya.
Zhao Zhen no longer required his guidance and was meditating alone under a distant tree, deep in contemplation.
“Sect Master!”
A cheerful voice rang out as Li Yang, riding upon his silver spear, flew up through the snow mist from beneath the cliff and landed beside Li Qingqiu.
Raising his right hand, Li Qingqiu firmly caught the silver spear.
“Sect Master, I’ve reached the Fifth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm!” Li Yang announced excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Li and Ji Ya turned toward him, their eyes filled with envy—especially Yuan Li, whose fists clenched unconsciously inside his sleeves.
Li Qingqiu looked at Li Yang with satisfaction and smiled.
“Excellent.
You have not disappointed my efforts in nurturing you.”
He treated Li Yang almost like a disciple, personally guiding him and granting many cultivation resources.
Li Yang, in turn, was diligent, dedicating all his time to cultivation and rising to the ranks of the top disciples of the sect.
“All of this is thanks to the Sect Master’s favor and guidance!” Li Yang said gratefully.
Although he was a year older than Li Qingqiu and shared the same surname, even knowing Li Qingqiu’s biological father, he respected him deeply from the heart—regarding him as his own master.
“Since your cultivation has advanced, I’ll assign you a task,” Li Qingqiu said seriously.
“Please instruct me—I’ll carry it out with all my effort!”
Li Yang straightened, his expression solemn, eyes fixed on Li Qingqiu.
“A disciple has discovered a forest in the Southern Chu Province where the Spiritual Energy is abnormally dense. However, his cultivation is insufficient, and he dared not investigate further. You shall go. Obtain the intelligence report from Zheng Yunqiao at the Tempering Hall—tell him I sent you to the Immortal Traces Forest.”
“Yes, I’ll depart at once!”
Li Yang saluted and leapt off the cliff, disappearing into the swirling snow mist.
Li Qingqiu’s lips curved upward.
He relished this feeling of command—directing disciples, orchestrating the sect’s movements without needing to act personally.
Now, some disciples returning from their tempering missions had begun discovering rare treasures of heaven and earth, bringing them back to the Clear Sky Sect.
These treasures, known as innate spiritual plants, inspired Li Sijin to further develop her plans for cultivating such spirit flora.
In addition, disciples often brought back other items—secret manuals, rare materials, ores, and the like.
The sect evaluated their worth and, according to the disciples’ wishes, converted them into money or Dao Fate rewards.
The Clear Sky Sect was finally operating exactly as Li Qingqiu had envisioned.
Now, even if he were to seclude himself for months, the sect would not fall into disorder—it would continue developing steadily.
Such was the mark of a true great sect—it would continue to thrive, no matter who departed.
Li Qingqiu turned to Yuan Li and Ji Ya.
“Continue your training. Don’t be distracted. Soon, I’ll assign you tasks as well, so that you may prove yourselves.”
Ji Ya smiled brightly, eyes full of anticipation.
Yuan Li’s gaze, however, dimmed slightly.
Seeing him so, Li Qingqiu did not attempt to comfort him.
He had spoken words of reassurance too many times—so often that even he found them meaningless now.
As for when Yuan Li’s Undying Overlord Body would awaken, Li Qingqiu could not predict.
The boy was still young, and Li Qingqiu dared not use soul-related spells to stimulate him.
Just then, a series of prompts suddenly appeared before Li Qingqiu’s eyes:
【You have been the Dao Lineage Master for ten years. Beginning evaluation of the Clear Sky Sect.】
【Evaluation complete. Grade: First-Class in the Mortal World.】
【Due to the significant progress your Dao Lineage has achieved within the first decade, you have obtained one Fate Trait selection opportunity and have unlocked the Divine Art Legacy.】