Chapter 169: Calamity of Demons and Devils
As night fell, within the Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu, Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, Wu Man’er, Li Sijin, Yang Jueding, Zhu Yan, Zhang Yu, Chai Yunshang, Shen Yue, and Xu Ning gathered together.
After Jiang Zhaoxia finished challenging Xu Ning, he went to the Source Iron Blessed Land to replace Shen Yue.
Compared to instructing Sword Sect disciples in cultivation, he preferred secluded cultivation.
Fighting Xu Ning to a draw did not satisfy him, because he vaguely felt that Xu Ning had been giving him face.
At this moment, aside from Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun, everyone else held a sheet of paper in their hands, on which a legend was recorded.
After everyone finished reading it, their expressions all turned solemn.
Zhu Yan was the first to speak: “The Ji surname is indeed one of the ancient imperial surnames. Back then, the Great Yan Dynasty was incomparably powerful. If not for internal strife, external threats, and years of natural disasters, it would never have been replaced by the Great Wei Dynasty. Even so, there have always been doubts surrounding the collapse of the Great Yan Dynasty. If this legend is real, then everything fits together.”
Nangong E and Chu Jing floated behind Li Qingqiu, quite dissatisfied with this statement, but they did not make a sound.
Even if they spoke, Zhu Yan would not be able to hear them.
Shen Yue spoke up: “I have also heard some rumors before, saying that the Great Yan Dynasty was overthrown mainly because it offended the heavens, incurring heavenly wrath. Disasters occurred without end, popular resentment rose everywhere, and only then were other ambitious figures given an opportunity.”
Zhang Yu clicked his tongue in wonder and said: “According to this legend, when demons invaded, the Great Yan Dynasty paid an extremely heavy price. If that is truly the case, then it is understandable that the dynasty entered a period of weakness and exhaustion and was usurped. It is just that where these demons came from is not clearly explained in the legend.”
Li Dongyue frowned and asked: “Could it be the demons raised by the Qi Clan?”
Everyone began discussing the legend of the Great Yan Dynasty, and they could not avoid the Qi Clan, because the Qi Clan was currently raising a terrifying demon that devoured human flesh and blood.
After letting them discuss for a while, Li Qingqiu finally spoke: “Regardless of whether this legend refers to the Qi Clan’s demon, it indicates that even greater dangers are still hidden within this land. We must be prepared to deal with them. Aside from constructing the sect, the disciples’ cultivation must also be emphasized. We cannot let all disciples devote themselves solely to construction.
In addition to the true transmission disciples, I plan to select a group of disciples and provide them with spirit stone resources and cultivation time in blessed lands, helping them charge toward the true transmission rank.
From now on, the threshold for true transmission disciples will be raised to the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.”
After hearing this, no one raised any objections.
Although the third layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm was already enough to dominate the martial world, the goals in their eyes were far greater.
Chai Yunshang spoke up and asked: “Will this group of disciples be selected by you, or shall we each choose in batches?”
She had asked the key question, and everyone looked at Li Qingqiu with eager expressions.
Li Qingqiu answered: “Each of the Seven Halls and the Sword Sect will select twenty people. As for the twenty slots of the Demon Subjugation Hall, I will personally select them.”
Twenty people per hall did not sound like much, but this was about charging toward the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
In the future, there would be one hundred and eighty cultivators at the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
This was no small force—sweeping through secular lords would be no difficult matter at all.
Everyone was delighted.
They did not feel that the number was small; they even felt it was somewhat large.
After all, last year, cultivation at the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm was enough to compete for the top ten in the Grand Dao Tournament.
Li Qingqiu gave further instructions, mainly regarding vigilance against a possible attack from the Qi Clan.
As the activity range of Clear Sky Sect disciples continued to expand, the scope requiring patrols was also increasing.
Everyone voiced their opinions, continuously settling on strategies.
……
Autumn passed and winter arrived.
Heavy snow covered the Ancient Great Mountain Range, and heaven and earth fell into a vast expanse of white.
In a courtyard on Ziyang Peak, a man wearing a straw raincoat walked in.
He took off the raincoat and placed it on the railing of the corridor.
Three children ran out of the house, surrounding him and hopping about.
“Father, Father, did you bring back anything tasty?”
“Father, where is my wooden sword?”
“Father, play with us.”
Jia Yi looked at his two sons and one daughter, a smile appearing on his face.
He squatted down, looked at them, and said with a smile: “Your father has been very busy lately. Once I am done, I will fulfill your wishes and take time every day to play with you, alright?”
Having brought his wife and children to the Clear Sky Sect for several years now, this former member of the Imperial Guardian Army had already grown accustomed to his current life.
Although it was very plain, he felt fulfilled.
Compared to his days in the Zhenyang Imperial City in the past, his heart felt far more at ease.
Especially watching his children gradually grow up, his heart was filled with anticipation.
He could cultivate immortality, and he had his wife and children by his side—what more could he be dissatisfied with?
At this moment, his wife, Madam Zhen, walked out of the house and called the three children away.
She then brought him inside and poured him a bowl of warm wine.
Jia Yi took out a land deed from his bosom and placed it on the table.
Madam Zhen picked it up, took a look, and asked curiously: “Where is Lone Crane Peak?”
“It is to the north, somewhat far away, about two hundred li from Ziyang Peak.”
“So far? Could it be that we will have to move there in the future? These are chaotic times. Even though the Ancient Great Mountain Range is Clear Sky Sect territory, it does not mean that no thieves will sneak in.”
Madam Zhen frowned and said worriedly.
Jia Yi waved his hand and said: “How could we move? The farther we are from Clear Sky Mountain, the dimmer the children’s future prospects will be. I plan to hand this land over to others to manage. There are some disciples in the sect willing to manage medicine fields and medicine gardens for others, as long as they are given appropriate compensation. I plan to go to the Cultivation Hall again to buy some Spirit-Accumulating Herbs, striving to give the children a good foundation when they begin cultivating, so they will not fall behind others.”
After hearing this, Madam Zhen’s brows relaxed.
She looked at Jia Yi and said softly: “Husband, you have truly worked hard.”
“What hardship is there? Taking care of you all is what I, as a man, ought to do.”
“Has husband encountered any trouble recently?”
“There has been some trouble. I offended a young master from a noble family, but it does not matter. That brat even dared to argue with me—just watch how I deal with him. I am someone who has done things for the Sect Master before. In terms of merit, can he compare with me? I will definitely have him expelled from the Clear Sky Sect.”
When Jia Yi said this, his tone turned fierce.
Madam Zhen said worriedly: “Husband, within the Clear Sky Sect, it is best not to stir up trouble.”
Jia Yi glared and said: “It was not me who caused trouble. Someone keeps bullying me. Besides, my cultivation aptitude is not bad. I am already at the third layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. Once I become a true transmission disciple, dealing with them will be effortless.”
Madam Zhen knew her husband’s temperament.
The fact that he now valued their children was already a great change.
“In any case, you must act with careful consideration. You still have children—do not let them fall into danger,” Madam Zhen reminded him.
Jia Yi said impatiently: “You woman, with long hair and short insight. Constant retreat will not keep you safe for a lifetime. Just focus on raising the children. I will shield you all from wind and rain.”
He raised his wine bowl and drank it in one gulp, then stood up.
“That is enough. You have ruined my mood. I am going to Lone Crane Peak to take a look. I will return tomorrow.”
With that, Jia Yi turned and left.
Madam Zhen hurriedly tried to stop him, but unfortunately, he did not listen at all.
Arriving in the courtyard, Jia Yi had just put on his straw raincoat when the three children crowded around him again.
Toward his children, he was clearly more patient.
He squatted down and chatted with his daughters for a while before finally leaving.
The wind and snow grew ever heavier.
Soon, he disappeared into the boundless white expanse.
……
From Ziyang Peak to Lone Crane Peak, Jia Yi took nearly two hours.
Lone Crane Peak stood atop the great mountains.
Because its shape resembled a solitary crane, it was given its name.
The forest in this area was not particularly dense, and the wilderness was covered in white snow.
Looking out, Lone Crane Peak seemed like an ancient deity, hidden within the boundless snow mist, exuding a sense of oppression.
Jia Yi looked up at the towering Lone Crane Peak, anticipation appearing on his face.
“As long as I develop the medicine fields well and cling tightly to the Cultivation Hall, in the future the children will be able to establish themselves firmly within the sect.”
Although he was in the depths of winter, Jia Yi’s heart burned hot, and he felt his entire body filled with strength.
He stepped forward, quickening his pace, eager to see what his purchased land looked like.
Suddenly, he turned his head and saw a figure approaching him from the western direction.
He hesitated for a moment, then chose to stop and wait for the other party to come closer.
This was Clear Sky Sect territory.
There should be no one causing trouble here.
Even if the other party harbored ill intent, he was not afraid.
He, Jia Yi, was also a ruthless man!
As the other party drew nearer, Jia Yi saw his appearance and completely relaxed his guard.
The newcomer was a boy of fifteen or sixteen.
His physique was frail, and he wore tattered white clothes, as if he had just escaped from prison.
The only eerie thing was that he had a full head of white hair.
White hair at such a young age?
Could it be that he was afflicted with a serious illness and had come up the mountain seeking medical treatment?
Jia Yi made his guess as he watched the boy approach.
“Are you heading to Clear Sky Mountain? You have gone the wrong way. Go behind me,” Jia Yi said.
The white-haired boy revealed a smile, but it was a cold one.
He suddenly raised his hand and grabbed Jia Yi by the neck.
The movement was so fast that Jia Yi had no time to react.
“You…”
Jia Yi was lifted into the air by the white-haired boy.
He tried to pry the boy’s hand away with both hands, but he could not do so at all.
It felt as though his throat was locked by iron pincers.
His face rapidly turned red, and bloodshot veins appeared in his eyes.
The white-haired boy stared at Jia Yi and asked coldly: “Is Li Qingqiu on Clear Sky Mountain?”
Fear arose in Jia Yi’s heart.
The white-haired boy’s strength was far too terrifying.
As a cultivator at the third layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, he was completely unable to resist.
He subconsciously wanted to answer, but when he thought that going to Clear Sky Mountain would inevitably pass by Ziyang Peak, he immediately did not dare to answer truthfully.
“He… he is not there…” Jia Yi replied in a trembling voice.
“Not there? Then that is perfect. I will slaughter my way through and sit atop piles of white bones, waiting for Li Qingqiu to return.”
The white-haired boy sneered and said: “You will be responsible for leading the way for me. Any mountain peak where Clear Sky Sect disciples reside, you will point them out for me.”
After hearing this, Jia Yi’s pupils trembled.
He released his hands and no longer struggled.
The white-haired boy carried him forward just like that.
Suddenly.
Jia Yi abruptly raised his right hand.
His two fingers were wrapped in vital energy as he thrust them straight toward the white-haired boy’s eyes.
With a bang!
Jia Yi’s head was flung high into the air, falling into the snow behind the white-haired boy.
His eyes were wide open, his expression frozen in ferocity, his gaze filled with resolute determination.
The white-haired boy did not turn his head.
He casually tossed Jia Yi’s corpse onto the snow.
As he walked toward Clear Sky Mountain, he used his sleeve to wipe the blood from his face.
The flying snow fell mercilessly, refusing to lessen in the slightest.
When the white-haired boy’s figure disappeared into the snow mist, half of Jia Yi’s face had already been covered by ice and snow, and his eyes had completely lost their light.