Chapter 153: The Most Powerful Disciple
Night fell, and heavy snow fluttered down.
In a newly built courtyard, eight young girls who had been brought to the Clear Sky Sect by Bo Zhao and the others lay on a long heated bed.
All eight shared the same brick platform but each had their own warm quilt.
Yun Cai lay in the corner, feeling uneasy.
She was unaware that she possessed two special fate traits and had no idea what her life at the Clear Sky Sect would be like.
“Have you all fallen asleep? Want to chat for a bit?”
One girl turned around, wrapping herself tightly in her blanket, leaving only her head exposed.
As soon as she spoke, the others began to stir.
“The Clear Sky Sect is so huge.
It feels even grander than Pan City.”
“Yes, when we went up the mountain today, I saw those disciples—all so bright and dignified.
I didn’t even dare to look them in the eyes.”
“I heard the Clear Sky Sect is the Number One Sect Under Heaven.
Now that we’re outer disciples, our futures are limitless.
We must seize this opportunity.”
“If only Xing’er and the others were still alive, that would be wonderful.”
“Everyone has their own fate.
Before we set out, we already decided to face whatever came without regret.
Instead of grieving for them, we should think about how to establish ourselves here.”
Yun Cai didn’t speak.
Listening to the voices around her, her mind drifted back to the first time she met Li Qingqiu.
Back then, she had been tied up in a dark room.
Only thin rays of light filtered through the cracks in the window.
The fear she felt then was something she would never forget.
Until the door creaked open, and a figure appeared before her.
“Don’t be afraid.
I will kill every evil person here and take you away.”
At the time, she had been terrified and couldn’t believe his words.
Yet he had lifted her up and carried her out—she couldn’t resist at all.
The sunlight outside dazzled her eyes, and when she finally saw his face clearly, she was stunned.
That face—she would never forget it for the rest of her life.
When she saw that face again today, her heart was filled with joy.
For a moment, she even wondered if she were dreaming.
“There are so many disciples in the Clear Sky Sect, and the mountains are so vast.
Will it be hard to see him again in the future?”
Thinking of this, Yun Cai felt a faint sense of loss.
The soft chatter of her companions faded into the background as she thought of the future and slowly drifted into sleep.
She did not wake until someone shook her shoulder.
“Hurry up! The main courtyard’s already rung the gong.
If we’re late, we might not get any breakfast,” a tall girl urged while putting on her clothes.
Hearing this, Yun Cai scrambled up.
They hurriedly put on their outer disciple robes of the Clear Sky Sect, not even washing their faces, and rushed out the door.
When they arrived at the main courtyard, they saw rows of outer disciples lining up for breakfast.
Three long tables were set up at the front, each with steaming wooden buckets on top.
They were stunned to see that the Clear Sky Sect disciples carried wooden trays past the tables, and each tray was piled with dishes—both meat and vegetables.
“Meat for breakfast?” one girl gasped.
A male disciple at the front noticed them and smiled.
“Junior sisters, you must be new.
Don’t worry—there’s enough food for everyone.
As long as you’re not late, you’ll eat.”
The girls quickly joined the line behind him, asking about the sect while they waited.
With so many junior sisters talking to him, the male disciple felt lightheaded with excitement as he began explaining the structure of the Clear Sky Sect.
When he finished describing the basics, he naturally began to boast about its renowned figures.
“You should’ve seen Senior Brother Gu Changping when he carried the Inspector-General of Yuzhou’s severed head up the mountain—so calm, like he was holding a chicken…”
Holding his tray of food, the male disciple spoke excitedly.
When the eight girls, including Yun Cai, had gotten their meals, he led them to an empty table in the main courtyard.
Dozens of tables were set there, filled with outer disciples eating breakfast.
Yun Cai looked around, filled with curiosity.
In such troubled times, food was scarce, let alone meat.
How did the Clear Sky Sect manage to feed all its outer disciples so well?
This courtyard was only one of many for outer disciples across Clear Sky Mountain.
She couldn’t imagine how much food and meat the sect must consume daily.
“Is that Senior Brother Gu Changping the most powerful disciple in the sect?” one girl asked curiously.
The male disciple grinned proudly.
“Of course not.
In this year’s Grand Dao Tournament, he only placed sixth.”
“There are five disciples stronger than him?”
“More than that! There’s also the eldest senior sister, Xu Ning—she’s the Sect Master’s first disciple.
She’s only nineteen, yet her cultivation is unimaginably high.
A few years ago, she even fought the Sword God to a draw! The Sword God—have you heard of him? Once the Number One Under Heaven…”
Listening to him go on about the legendary disciples, the seven girls were full of awe.
Yun Cai, hearing Xu Ning’s strength, felt her gaze dim.
Just then, the surrounding outer disciples all stood up.
The male disciple looked toward the gate, his expression changing as he motioned quickly for the girls to rise.
The eight girls instinctively stood and turned around.
They saw Yuan Qi, who had brought them to Li Qingqiu yesterday, approaching with several other disciples, all of them composed and imposing.
“That’s Senior Brother Yuan Qi,” the male disciple whispered.
“He serves directly under the Sect Master.
His position is nearly equal to a Hall Master’s.
You must show respect when you see him.”
As he finished, Yuan Qi walked straight toward them.
The male disciple stiffened and stood upright at once.
Yuan Qi stopped in front of the eight girls and smiled.
“Ladies, after breakfast, please come with me.
The Sect Master wishes to see you.”
The girls pointed to themselves in surprise, and Yuan Qi nodded with a smile.
The male disciple opposite them was dumbfounded.
He hadn’t expected these new disciples to be so important.
To be summoned by the Sect Master could only be a good thing.
If it were bad, it would be disciples from the Enforcement Hall coming instead.
“Please, take your time.
There’s no rush,” Yuan Qi said, sweeping his gaze over them.
When his eyes fell on the male disciple, the latter quickly gave up his seat and left with his tray.
And so, Yuan Qi sat across from the eight girls as they ate, his calm demeanor making them even more nervous.
Though only eighteen, his long service under Li Qingqiu had given him a natural air of authority.
After they left the main courtyard, the other outer disciples began whispering curiously about the girls’ identities.
The male disciple who had spoken to them earlier felt awkward, though not afraid—he had meant well, after all—just embarrassed.
……
Yuan Qi led the eight girls into a grove.
Seeing that there were no other disciples around, they instinctively grew tense.
After all they had suffered from Pan City to Clear Sky Mountain, they had learned to expect the worst.
Yuan Qi didn’t know they now regarded him with suspicion.
At that moment, he was thinking about another girl.
“If I have time today, I should visit her.”
A smile crossed his face at the thought.
At eighteen, it was easy to be swayed by feelings—especially for someone of his standing, constantly surrounded by admiring female disciples.
When the figures of Li Qingqiu and Yuan Li appeared before them, the eight girls breathed out in relief, smiles spreading across their faces.
Each of them had been rescued from the Cui Residence by Li Qingqiu.
With their families either dead or having abandoned them, he was the person they trusted most—even more than Bo Zhao.
Bo Zhao was kind, but he wasn’t as powerful as Li Qingqiu and couldn’t give them the same sense of safety.
Li Qingqiu turned toward the eight girls, a gentle smile on his face.
From their portraits on the Dao Lineage panel, Yun Cai’s appearance was delicate and sweet, but even after bathing, she still didn’t look completely clean and wasn’t the most striking among the eight.
Yuan Qi came before Li Qingqiu, bowed with a raised hand, and then turned to leave.
The girls watched him go, admiring his decisiveness.
No wonder the Sect Master valued him so highly.
Li Qingqiu looked at the eight girls without letting his gaze linger on Yun Cai.
“According to sect rules, you must work for a period before learning martial arts.
But considering the hardships you’ve endured, I know you must still hold some doubts toward the Clear Sky Sect.
To help you integrate better, I will teach you the first layer of the Primordial Unity Scripture in advance—this is the sect’s core secret art.”
His words made all eight girls tremble with excitement, bowing to thank him.
He gestured for them to sit opposite Yuan Li, and they followed, imitating Yuan Li’s meditative posture on the snow.
Seeing the ten-year-old boy, they couldn’t help but wonder who he was.
“He’s Yuan Li, Yuan Qi’s younger brother—the disciple who brought you here just now,” Li Qingqiu explained.
Yuan Li nodded slightly toward them.
Then Li Qingqiu sat down as well and began teaching the first layer of the Primordial Unity Scripture.
He hadn’t included the other seven girls merely to hide his intent to nurture Yun Cai.
Their loyalty was all high enough that he believed they could be trained together.
Just as he hadn’t treated Yuan Qi differently despite the boy’s poor talent, he had accepted both brothers equally when they entered the Clear Sky Sect.
He thought the same for Yun Cai and the others.
Even Ji Ya’s five companions had been placed in the Sword Sect by Li Qingqiu through Ji Ya’s recommendation—so that their bonds wouldn’t be broken.
Of course, all of this was built upon loyalty.
Only when his own safety was ensured would Li Qingqiu extend kindness to others.
The Primordial Unity Scripture was extremely complex for those who had never cultivated before—especially the eight girls who hadn’t even practiced martial arts.
Fortunately, Li Qingqiu was patient, teaching them over and over again.
By noon, Yuan Qi returned with several disciples carrying food boxes.
“Rest for half an hour and eat first,” Li Qingqiu said with a smile as he stood and stretched.
Seeing him do so, the other seven girls immediately relaxed their stiff postures.
They had been forcing themselves to sit still and were aching all over.
Yun Cai bit her lip, stood up, and said, “Sect Master, I’ve already produced Vital Energy!”
Her words shocked the other seven girls.
Yuan Qi, who had just arrived, widened his eyes in disbelief.
How could it be possible in such a short time?
Had the Sect Master discovered another peerless genius?
Even Yuan Li, still sitting in meditation, froze in astonishment.