Chapter 182: The Power of a Directly Subordinate Sect Master
Yuan Li pioneered the path of body cultivation, making many disciples curious—so curious that even hall masters were intrigued.
Thus, people continuously came to him, wondering what body cultivation actually was.
As Yuan Li took action time and again, the two words “Gang Essence” spread, and more and more disciples began to believe in him, even to worship him.
Yuan Li was only twelve years old, yet he could create the path of body cultivation.
This alone was enough to prove his talent.
Some disciples even believed that his cultivation speed was slow due to his age.
Some people grew quickly in height during childhood but stopped growing after sixteen.
Others grew slowly when young yet experienced rapid growth after sixteen.
This was enough to show that everyone’s development differed, with no fixed rule.
Yuan Li’s success once again proved that the Sect Master’s judgment was extraordinary.
Of course, there were still those who harbored conspiracy theories, believing that the Sect Master was deliberately promoting Yuan Li, and that the so-called Gang Essence was actually something the Sect Master had taught him.
Regardless of whether the sect’s disciples believed it or not, Yuan Li’s achievements were already etched upon the path of forging the Dao and would be remembered by future generations of disciples.
After several months of spread, the existence of the Qi Clan Demon completely circulated throughout the world, and Li Qingqiu’s act of slaying demons was also discussed by all under heaven.
Over these years, Li Qingqiu had slain the Demonic Emperor and exterminated demons.
Now that he had destroyed the demon once more, his reputation had reached its peak.
More and more people believed that he was an earthly immortal, and that the Clear Sky Sect was a land of immortal cultivation.
Those who came to the Clear Sky Sect to seek discipleship increased by the day.
The Clear Sky Sect moved the location for disciple assessments to Ziyang Peak, and construction of the third mountain peak also began.
At present, the busiest within the Clear Sky Sect were the menial disciples and registered disciples.
The sect had also hired over ten thousand craftsmen.
The daily consumption of grain was enormous, but fortunately many great families were providing support.
At the end of April, an unending stream of carriages and horses arrived, escorted by large numbers of guards, drawing the attention of many disciples on the mountain.
“Another great family delivering money and grain?”
“The world is in such chaos, yet these great families can still produce so much grain.
Tsk tsk, this world really is unfair.”
“Throughout history, has there ever been a martial sect as prosperous as our Clear Sky Sect?”
“I heard the Sect Master sent people down the mountain again to distribute grain, openly and aboveboard. Those great families watched and didn’t even dare say a word.”
“What could they say? They only need to deliver their goodwill to our Clear Sky Sect. As for how we use it, they can neither control it nor care.”
On a cliff of Clear Sky Mountain, Zhang Yuchun and Zhu Yan stood side by side, gazing at the convoy below that resembled a long dragon.
Zhu Yan sighed, “The Li Family of Linchuan truly is immensely wealthy.”
Zhang Yuchun said calmly, “The Clear Sky Sect of today is no longer the Clear Sky Sect of the past. No matter how many gifts they send, we don’t need to give them too much face.”
Zhu Yan glanced at him and asked, “Do you know which direction the Sect Master intends to cultivate Li Yang toward in the future?”
“That I do not know. But Li Yang will surely shoulder important responsibilities in the future. The Li Family won’t be able to block it,” Zhang Yuchun replied.
After hearing this, Zhu Yan narrowed her eyes.
She felt pressure.
Zhu Xunyang was strong, but compared to Li Yang, there was still a gap.
At this moment, it was not only them who were observing the generous gifts sent by the Li Family.
Other hall masters, deputy hall masters, elders, and disciples were also watching from afar.
Relying on its overwhelming wealth, the Li Family forcefully entered the vision of the Clear Sky Sect from top to bottom.
Li Qingqiu, however, was not watching.
Elsewhere, in an underground palace north of Clear Sky Mountain, the chambers were not large and had little furnishing.
Oil lamps stood along the walls.
Li Qingqiu stood side by side with Mo Jiuhong.
Mo Jiuhong looked rather excited as he gazed at the twenty disciples standing before them, his eyes filled with anticipation.
“From today onward, the Dark Hall is established. Mo Jiuhong will serve as its Hall Master. You will be the first batch of Dark Hall disciples. This identity will be known only to me. You are forbidden from revealing your existence to anyone, including hall masters and your own relatives and friends.”
Li Qingqiu swept his gaze across the twenty disciples and spoke solemnly.
These disciples all had extremely high loyalty toward Li Qingqiu, all above ninety-five, worthy of his trust.
Upon hearing Li Qingqiu’s words, the disciples were equally excited.
The Dark Hall!
Directly controlled by the Sect Master—no matter how one looked at it, this was the definition of confidants!
Li Qingqiu continued, “Hall Master Mo will train you. Your future duty will be to infiltrate different factions. Your remuneration will be twice that of the Eight Halls’ disciples. Based on the intelligence you provide, there will also be additional rewards. However, anyone who reports false information will be severely punished. In the future, I may send you into martial sects, or place you beside the emperor. I may even require you to monitor the sect’s own hall masters.”
“From today onward, each of you will choose a codename for yourselves. Hall Master Mo will record them into a register, which I will personally keep.”
The twenty disciples listened intently to Li Qingqiu’s speech.
They could all feel how heavy the responsibility of being Dark Hall disciples was.
Mo Jiuhong’s expression also gradually became serious.
He had indeed been entrusted with an important role, but this task would not be easy and would certainly involve danger.
However, he did not retreat.
After serving tea and running errands beside Clear Sky Daoist for months, doing all the dirty and exhausting work, yet never being promoted, he had seen through things clearly.
Within the Clear Sky Sect, loyalty to only one person was the most secure path—that was serving the Sect Master.
Li Qingqiu held great expectations for the Dark Hall.
He planned to build two intelligence systems: one being the sect’s intelligence network, to be handled by Zhang Yuchun, and the second being his personal intelligence system—the Dark Hall—which would serve him alone.
It was not that he distrusted the hall masters, but rather that he wished to prepare against future contingencies.
As more and more peaks were developed in the sect’s construction, the division of the Eight Halls was inevitable.
As all levels of authority became more refined, future struggles over interests would only grow fiercer.
As Sect Master, he could not possibly reconcile everyone’s conflicts.
What he needed to do was to restrain all factions while allowing his own eyes to see farther.
He did not feel annoyed or tired by this; instead, he even felt as if he were playing a game from his previous life.
After staying in the Dark Hall for an hour, Li Qingqiu finally departed, leaving the remaining matters to Mo Jiuhong.
……
At the training ground of the Spirit Finance Hall, Yang Xuan sat in meditation beneath a tree, holding a spiritual herb in his hand, lost in thought.
After coming to the Clear Sky Sect, Li Dongyue had tilted cultivation resources toward him, causing his cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds.
With dual outstanding aptitude, he had already reached the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Although the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm was no longer top-tier within today’s Clear Sky Sect, Yang Xuan’s potential filled the entire Spirit Finance Hall with expectation toward him.
A young man walked into the courtyard and strode quickly toward Yang Xuan.
It was Ye Nan, who possessed the fate traits “Innately a Great Hero” and “Sudden Enlightenment in One Moment.”
The Qi Clan had dispatched Ye Nan’s master, the Dominating Blade Mo Li, to Clear Sky Mountain to capture the Qilin.
After being discovered, Mo Li committed suicide before Li Qingqiu.
Later, Ye Nan was invited up the mountain and ultimately decided to join the Clear Sky Sect.
At first, Ye Nan had his doubts, fearing that Li Qingqiu was merely deceiving him.
However, after staying in the Clear Sky Sect for a long time, he realized that no one was monitoring him, nor was he being neglected.
This caused his sense of belonging to the Clear Sky Sect to grow stronger and stronger.
Later, when the Sect Master slew the Qi Clan Demon and the corpse of the Tree Demon was delivered to the Clear Sky Sect by Little Eight, Ye Nan completely believed Li Qingqiu’s words.
His final trace of resentment toward the Clear Sky Sect also dissipated.
Now, Ye Nan had let go of past grudges and only wished to cultivate diligently.
“Senior Brother Yang, the sect is preparing to open a body cultivation academy for Senior Brother Yuan Li. Do you want to go listen?” Ye Nan asked curiously as he arrived before Yang Xuan.
On ordinary days, he was closest with Yang Xuan—first because they were the same age, and second because their temperaments aligned.
Yang Xuan raised his eyes to look at him and said, “I won’t go. I’m not interested in body cultivation. You go ahead.”
Ye Nan squatted down and asked curiously, “Senior Brother Yang, what are you thinking about?”
Yang Xuan replied, “As you know, I can sense the emotions of flowers and plants. Recently, I’ve been pondering whether, based on this trait, I could create a cultivation path similar to body cultivation or sword cultivation.”
“Really? Senior Brother Yang, if you succeed, our Spirit Finance Hall will benefit immensely,” Ye Nan said excitedly, even happier than Yang Xuan himself.
Yang Xuan shook his head and laughed.
“It’s only a hypothesis. It’s not that easy.”
Ye Nan chuckled and said, “It’s fine if you don’t listen to the body cultivation path, but tomorrow I’m going to have a duel. You have to come watch at the Martial Arena and give me some momentum.”
“Who’s your opponent?”
“Ning Shu.”
“What cultivation?”
“Second layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. Don’t worry. Anyone I challenge will definitely be at a similar level to me. It’s just that this Ning Shu comes from the Ning Family of Southern Chu Province, a great family. He has many lackeys around him.”
“Alright. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
“Senior Brother really takes care of me.”
Ye Nan was very happy.
He sat down beside Yang Xuan and began talking about some sect news he had heard that day.
The Clear Sky Sect was undergoing bold and sweeping construction, changing with each passing day.
New things appeared every day, and new people joined.
Here, stories were never lacking.
……
With the Qi Clan threat gone, Li Qingqiu’s days became much more leisurely.
Busy with cultivation, he felt time pass quickly.
Before he realized it, time arrived at early July.
On this day, after noon, Zhu Yan arrived at Li Qingqiu’s cave dwelling.
“Sect Master, Hall Master Li Sifeng has broken with the Pei Clan,” Zhu Yan said as she stepped before Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu opened his eyes and asked, “For what reason?”
“It seems to be due to a struggle for power. The Pei Clan appointed a direct heir as the Grand Marshal of the Three Armies, which displeased Hall Master Li Sifeng. In a fit of anger, he took Pei Miao and left the Pei Clan, heading north.”
“Heading north?”
“Yes. It is said that Hall Master Li Sifeng declared he would rely on himself to raise an army and contend with the Pei Clan for dominion over the realm.”
Hearing this, Li Qingqiu understood Zhu Yan’s intent and asked, “Could it be that the Zhu Clan has ideas?”
Zhu Yan replied, “Now that the world has been carved up by various lords, if Hall Master Li Sifeng wishes to rise, he will certainly need support. If the Zhu Clan does not act, others will. After all, he stands behind the Clear Sky Sect. Rather than letting unknown great families influence Hall Master Li Sifeng, why not have our Zhu Clan assist him?”
Li Qingqiu looked at her without replying.
Zhu Yan was frightened by his gaze.
She lowered her head, her heart racing, filled with unease.
Had she overstepped?
“You may handle it as you see fit. Remember—do not mobilize Clear Sky Sect disciples to assist him, including disciples surnamed Zhu,” Li Qingqiu’s voice sounded.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yan lifted her head in delight and hurriedly promised that only secular forces would be used to assist Li Sifeng.