Chapter 158: Ancient God, Divine Attendant
Hearing Xue Jin’s words, the young boy gave a bitter smile.
“What value do I have? They nurtured nine Divine Sons, but I was the least gifted among them. I survived merely by chance.”
Xue Jin did not reply, focusing solely on healing his wounds.
Seeing that Xue Jin refused to abandon him, the boy was deeply moved.
“Senior, could you tell me what kind of place the Clear Sky Sect is? I’ve heard them mention it before—they only said the sect is powerful and dangerous. But as for what it’s truly like, I don’t know,” the boy asked again.
He hugged his arms and leaned forward, shivering from the cold.
Xue Jin closed his eyes and said softly, “To me, the Clear Sky Sect is not just a sect—it is home. I have never seen another sect that ensures all its disciples have enough to eat and wear, regardless of strength or background. Everyone enjoys equal rights as human beings. Even those in power cannot humiliate disciples at will. Though treatment differs by merit, dignity does not.”
“When I first joined the Clear Sky Sect, I only sought a meal to fill my belly. Yet, the Sect Master said I possessed a hidden talent unseen by others and personally recommended me to his Third Junior Brother—my Master. I still remember the looks of envy from those disciples of noble birth. That feeling, I will never forget.”
He spoke slowly, his tone calm, yet every word struck the boy’s heart.
Born into the Qi Clan, the boy could hardly believe that such a place existed in this world.
Dignity?
What a strange and distant word.
Listening to Xue Jin’s description, the boy began to form a dreamlike image of the Clear Sky Sect in his heart.
The moon was bright and stars sparse.
A cold breeze swept through the forest, making the campfire flicker restlessly.
He did not know how much time had passed before drowsiness overcame him.
As he lay down, he murmured, “Senior… how far is the Clear Sky Sect…”
Xue Jin opened his eyes.
The firelight shone upon his cold, stern face; his gaze deep and thoughtful as he muttered to himself, “It turns out saving people is harder than killing them.”
…
After Jiang Zhaoxia and Xu Ning descended the mountain, within the Source Iron Blessed Land, Li Qingqiu suddenly felt that the sect still lacked top-tier strength.
Thus, he gathered the seven Hall Masters and instructed each to select a disciple at the Fourth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm to enter the Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits for secluded cultivation.
The seven Hall Masters were thrilled.
After all, not everyone could cultivate long-term within the Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits.
The spiritual energy there was not inexhaustible—it was nurtured by the Thousand Spirit Tree.
If too many disciples cultivated there at once, the spiritual energy would thin, so their number had to be controlled.
After making these arrangements, Li Qingqiu returned to his cultivation of the Soul-Seizing Flying Sword.
Though the Clear Sky Sect had lost many core disciples, the sect remained lively, with new disciples joining every day.
By the second month, the tyranny and declaration of war from the Lingtian Sect reached the Clear Sky Sect.
The rumors of the connection between the Jiang Clan and Jiang Zhaoxia spread throughout the sect, stirring great fury.
Many disciples went to the Tempering Hall to ask whether there were missions to crusade against the Lingtian Sect.
In recent years, the Lingtian Sect’s name had grown immense—they had unified the northern martial world and now advanced southward.
Such strength had not been seen for centuries.
In the past, even the Demonic Cult had only caused chaos in certain provinces and had never unified the martial world.
Before this, Clear Sky Sect disciples had treated such matters as idle gossip.
No matter how strong the Lingtian Sect became, they never believed it could threaten them.
After all, the Clear Sky Sect not only practiced martial arts but also cultivated immortality.
How could worldly martial sects compare?
This belief was shared by many.
So when the Lingtian Sect dared provoke the Clear Sky Sect, they were enraged.
That day.
While Li Qingqiu was cultivating in his cave dwelling, he suddenly heard Yuan Qi’s voice:
“Sect Master, Senior Brother Xue Jin has returned.”
Upon hearing this, Li Qingqiu opened his eyes.
“Bring him to the Lingxiao Courtyard.”
“Yes!”
Once Yuan Qi’s footsteps faded, Li Qingqiu rose and walked toward the stone gate.
For some time, a question had weighed on his mind.
Why did the Qi Clan and the Lingtian Sect dare oppose the Clear Sky Sect?
What conflict of interest lay between them?
The Qi Clan was far from the sect, with no apparent dispute over worldly affairs.
The Lingtian Sect was the same.
The martial world was vast—it would take them a long time to reach the Ancient Great Mountain Range.
After much contemplation, he suspected that other forces might be involved.
Of course, there was another reason—the Clear Sky Sect possessed something worth their risk.
The Qilin was one, but surely not the only thing.
Now that Xue Jin had returned, perhaps he could shed some light.
He entered the Lingxiao Courtyard and sat before the long table, waiting patiently.
After a while, Yuan Qi brought Xue Jin in.
Li Qingqiu turned his head slightly, frowning.
Xue Jin had not yet changed clothes.
He wore a tattered black robe, his hair messy, his appearance weary and travelworn, with even a faint aura of killing intent.
Li Qingqiu immediately saw that he was gravely injured.
Someone from the Qi Clan could harm Xue Jin?
Xue Jin was at the Fifth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm—even Zhao Zhi or Grandmaster Jiang in the past would not have been his match.
Of course, if Grandmaster Jiang had successfully refined the Soul-Refining Flag, even Xue Jin might not have been able to withstand him.
One thing was certain—unless the Qi Clan had an immortal cultivator, injuring Xue Jin should have been impossible.
“Sit and talk,” Li Qingqiu said.
Xue Jin came before him, bowed, and sat.
No sooner had he sat down than three silver needles pierced below his throat.
He did not resist but was shocked within.
As expected of the Sect Master—before the Sect Master’s Ghostly Immortal Needle of Rejuvenation, he had no time to react.
Yuan Qi quickly departed.
Once Xue Jin’s breathing steadied, Li Qingqiu motioned for him to recount what had happened.
“I spent three months locating the Qi Clan’s ancestral domain. Their clan is full of experts—I even saw northern barbarian warriors among them. The Qi Clan has long colluded with the Northern Barbarians. Still, I must admit, they are formidable. Within their city lies an elite army, every man trained in martial arts. That army surpasses any I have seen—perhaps only the divine Shenwu Troops of old could defeat them.”
“The Qi Clan truly worships a god—an Ancient God. They have offered worship to this being for nearly a hundred years. It was this Ancient God that injured me. That god takes the form of a monstrous tree, even larger than our Thousand Spirit Tree. I saw its vines wrapped around the corpses of countless commoners—the Qi Clan feeds it with human flesh and blood.”
“I also learned that the Demonic Cult once conspired with the Qi Clan. When helping the Emperor capture boys and girls, they took others as well—sending them all to Cangzhou.”
Xue Jin’s face grew grim, his eyes filled with dread as he spoke of the Ancient God.
Li Qingqiu raised an eyebrow.
Floating beside him, Chu Jing quickly said, “Master, I knew nothing of this. The Qi Clan must have bought off the Demonic Cult. They’ve long colluded with Zhao Zhi. Zhao Zhi was wary of me, and there were many things he kept hidden.”
He sighed.
“No wonder Zhao Zhi believed so deeply in the Elixir of Immortality. He must have known of that Ancient God’s existence. Every time I urged him to suppress the Qi Clan, he brushed it aside.”
Xue Jin glanced toward Li Qingqiu’s side.
He could feel someone watching him, though his eyes saw no one.
Li Qingqiu did not explain Chu Jing’s presence.
The fact that Xue Jin could sense spirits was, in itself, a good sign.
“Continue,” Li Qingqiu said softly, lifting the teapot from the table.
Xue Jin took a deep breath.
“It’s said that Ancient God can grant extraordinary power. The previous Patriarch of the Qi Clan received such strength, helping the Imperial Ancestor Emperor conquer the world and achieve unmatched merit. Not only him—ten Divine Attendants also gained the Ancient God’s power. The ones who pursued me were those Ten Divine Attendants. Together, they overwhelmed me, though I made them suffer greatly as well.”
“I rescued a child from the Qi Clan’s ancestral manor. He was called a Divine Son. The Qi Clan raised nine such Divine Sons as vessels for the Ancient God. In time, the god would possess them and walk the world, aiding the Qi Clan in completing their Great Enterprise.”
“Before I arrived, someone had attacked the Qi Clan’s manor, slaying seven of the Divine Sons. I don’t yet know who it was, nor did that Divine Son.”
Divine Attendants, Divine Sons?
Li Qingqiu’s interest in the Ancient God deepened.
Possession—it must mean soul-seizing.
He asked curiously, “Is the Qi Clan not afraid of being devoured by the Ancient God?”
Xue Jin shook his head.
“They claim the Qi Clan discovered the Ancient God in their darkest hour and were saved from extinction through its power. They believe in it completely—and are willing to serve it.”
He drew a long breath.
“Sect Master, that Ancient God is utterly strange. The entire tree radiates a demonic aura, its power unfathomable. Had I been any closer, I would have perished beneath it. Even at a distance of two miles, one of its leaves gravely wounded me.”
Li Qingqiu narrowed his eyes.
It seemed this Ancient God was anything but ordinary.
But Li Qingqiu never underestimated an opponent.
Even if he were to confront the Qi Clan himself, he would first uncover all their secrets.
Now, his focus turned toward that Ancient God.
“What connection does the Qi Clan have with the Lingtian Sect?” Li Qingqiu continued to ask.
Xue Jin shook his head.
“I’m not certain, but they seem very close. The Qi Clan treats the Lingtian Sect’s people with great courtesy.”
Courtesy?
Li Qingqiu pondered.
Things were indeed not so simple.
“You should rest first. Have Yuan Qi take that Divine Son to the Free Spirit Hall to be registered as a Registered Disciple. Then bring him to see me,” Li Qingqiu instructed.
Xue Jin paused.
“Sect Master, aren’t you going to investigate him first?”
Li Qingqiu smiled.
“You didn’t bind him when you brought him back, which means you trust him. I trust you. Since he has come, he is now a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect.”
Hearing this, Xue Jin was deeply moved.
He rose and bowed respectfully.
“You’ve worked hard these past months,” Li Qingqiu continued.
“Stay on the mountain and recover. I grant you permission to cultivate within the Spirit Mine until you reach the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.”
Xue Jin said passionately, “Sect Master, the sect raised me—how can this be called hardship? It’s what I should do!”
“Enough. No need for such formality between us. You know I’ve always valued you. I want you to grow stronger—I don’t wish to see you wounded again.”
Hearing these words, Xue Jin’s heart surged with emotion; he nearly knelt on the spot.
“Must I send you off myself?” Li Qingqiu said, feigning irritation.
Xue Jin smiled, bowed once more, and turned to leave.
Floating nearby, Chu Jing sighed softly.
“Master, you were born to lead a sect—what a pity.”