Chapter 195: Yan Daozong
When Zhu Xian heard Li Sifeng’s words, the smile on his face vanished, his brows tightly furrowed.
Not only him—his civil and military officials likewise wore grim expressions.
The three great lords dominated six provinces, and all under heaven had been waiting for a world-shaking war.
Yet now, they were actually not going to fight.
This was something the people of the world found hard to accept.
The Great Li Dynasty had been founded for several decades already, and the concept of grand unification had long since taken root in people’s hearts.
For minor lords like them, this was also not good news.
Once the three great lords ceased hostilities, they would inevitably turn their blades toward them.
Bang!
A fierce general under Zhu Xian slammed the table and shouted angrily, “Cai Shao, Liu Lin, Pei Zhangzhi—every last one of them are cowards! Mediocre rulers!”
Once he spoke, others immediately echoed him.
Curses rang out one after another, plunging the great hall into noisy chaos.
Li Yang’s second uncle, Li Da, was seated beside Li Sifeng.
He stood up, drawing everyone’s gaze.
The Li Family of Linchuan was renowned throughout the world.
Even in these chaotic times, no one could ignore them.
Zhu Xian also looked toward Li Da.
Before the world had fallen into turmoil, they had already known each other.
Back then, Li Da had stood high above, while Zhu Xian was merely a small figure.
“Since everyone believes these three to be mediocre rulers, why don’t the Zhu and Li families join forces, strike them down one by one, and sweep across the world? Those three families must surely harbor a fluke mentality and won’t support each other. This is our best opportunity!”
Li Da’s words rang clear and forceful, striking straight to the point, voicing exactly what everyone present was thinking.
The reason both sides could sit together and converse so amicably was precisely because they needed each other.
It was just that, out of pride, no one had pierced that final layer of window paper.
A strategist under Zhu Xian narrowed his eyes and asked, “If the Zhu and Li families join forces, who will lead? You wouldn’t suggest dividing the forces into two routes, would you?”
Li Da smiled and said, “Lord Zhu’s strength is greater. Naturally, Lord Zhu shall take the lead.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Zhu Xian’s civil and military officials softened, and quiet murmurs began to spread.
Zhu Xian looked at Li Sifeng and asked in surprise, “Is this truly Brother Li’s thinking?”
Li Sifeng smiled and said, “Lord Zhu, you should know that I come from the Clear Sky Sect. I am also a Hall Master of the Clear Sky Sect. Looking across the world, even if one became emperor, their status might not surpass that of a Clear Sky Sect Hall Master. Do you think the throne is an obsession for me? No. I entered the mortal world simply to accomplish a great enterprise. Unifying the world is already quite good. I ask for little—only that when later generations speak of this history, they cannot bypass the name Li Sifeng.”
These words made Zhu Xian’s expression turn strange, as did those of his civil and military officials.
Yet no one dared refute him.
Over the past two years, Clear Sky Sect disciples had spread throughout the world.
They encountered them often.
Some disciples were mild-mannered, displaying the bearing of the Number One Sect Under Heaven; others were arrogantly overbearing, angering them to no end.
But one thing was certain—they did not dare provoke the Clear Sky Sect.
Not long ago, a lord’s army had halted near Silent Heaven Mountain, only to be forcibly driven away by three Clear Sky Sect disciples.
Each of them fought ten thousand alone.
After the news spread, lords across the world found it absurd.
If those three disciples had been the likes of Jiang Zhaoxia, Xu Ning, or Xue Jin, it would have been understandable.
Yet they were merely three newly initiated disciples.
This alone was enough to prove that the Clear Sky Sect was growing at a speed utterly inconceivable to ordinary people.
Even if one seized the world, one might not necessarily become its true master.
Thinking of this, Zhu Xian suddenly understood why Cai Shao and the others had chosen to halt their war.
Who could endure becoming a slave to the Clear Sky Sect after unifying the world?
Better to divide the realm and at least leave some room to maneuver with the Clear Sky Sect, sharing the pressure with others.
The moment this thought surfaced in Zhu Xian’s mind, he cast it aside.
No.
He had to unify the world!
He had risen up for the sake of the people.
Even if he truly harbored private ambitions, he could not abandon his ideals—otherwise, how would the people of the world view him?
“Good! Since that is the case, then you and I, brothers, shall join forces and reunite the Nine Provinces under heaven!” Zhu Xian said as he slapped the table.
The aura of a lord burst forth, utterly different from his usual gentle demeanor.
Li Sifeng revealed a smile and raised his wine bowl in response.
The civil and military officials throughout the hall all followed suit, lifting their bowls.
……
Winter snow fell in swirling flurries.
On a cliffside, a man in white robes was practicing swordsmanship.
His swordplay was not fierce, yet his movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water.
His hair was completely white, yet his face was young and handsome, exuding an immortal air, as though an immortal were wielding a sword upon the cliff.
A faint cold wind circled around his body.
An elderly man in dark Daoist robes approached.
Looking at the white-robed man, he spoke, “Senior Brother, Zhao Zhen still hasn’t come. What should we do?”
This white-robed man was the Sect Master of Tianxuan Mountain, Yan Daozong.
Upon hearing the Daoist elder’s words, Yan Daozong’s expression did not change in the slightest.
He said calmly, “Then we wait for him to come.”
“And if he never comes?”
“He will come.”
“The Clear Sky Sect is expanding far too quickly. Sooner or later, they will reach our Tianxuan Mountain. I fear we won’t be able to wait until he arrives.”
“Rather than worrying, you might as well cultivate properly. There is no better solution at present.”
Yan Daozong’s sword moves never paused, as though worldly affairs had nothing to do with him.
The Daoist elder grew anxious.
“What use is cultivation? The Clear Sky Sect is cultivating immortality, while you practice martial arts. How can you contend with them? No matter how hard you try, this path is wrong!”
Yan Daozong did not answer again.
He closed his eyes and focused entirely on his sword techniques.
“Forget Li Qingqiu—just Sword God Shen Yue alone is already beyond what Tianxuan Mountain can oppose. Zhao Zhen is our only hope. As long as we obtain him, we can contend with the Clear Sky Sect. Zhao Zhen is the most talented disciple within the Clear Sky Sect!”
As he spoke of Zhao Zhen, the Daoist elder’s face filled with madness, his eyes brimming with greed.
Yan Daozong still did not utter a word.
Seeing Yan Daozong’s attitude, the Daoist elder flew into a rage.
Yet he also knew his senior brother’s temperament—once his senior brother had made a decision, no amount of talking would change it.
“Recently, more and more people have come to Tianxuan Mountain to pay visits. There may very well be people from the Clear Sky Sect among them. Senior Brother, you’d best be prepared. One day, you may have to face threats from Clear Sky Sect disciples.”
Leaving these words behind, the Daoist elder turned and departed.
After he disappeared into the vast flying snow, Yan Daozong finally opened his eyes.
A wisp of sword energy burst forth from the blade in his hand.
An unusual cold light flickered within his eyes.
“Cultivating immortality…”
Yan Daozong murmured to himself.
He closed his eyes once more and continued practicing his sword.
Only now, his sword moves grew faster and faster.
The surrounding accumulated snow was swept up, circling around him as his momentum grew increasingly powerful.
……
The Clear Sky Sect was likewise blanketed in heavy snow.
On this day, Lu Qing arrived at the Lingxiao Courtyard.
Though he was still only at the fifth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, relying on spirit elixirs and the spiritual energy of the blessed land, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.
He felt that he had hope of reaching the sixth layer, and his whole demeanor was brimming with vitality.
He came before Li Qingqiu and bent down to salute.
Li Qingqiu sat on a chair, holding a book in his hand.
He spoke softly, “I’ve heard that Cai Shao is refining pills within the state capital.
Go investigate and see whether this pill refinement harms the people.
If he has gone too far, then bring his head back to see me.”
Lu Qing felt that the name Cai Shao sounded somewhat familiar, as though he had heard it somewhere before.
Yuan Qi stood to the side and smiled.
“For intelligence on him, you can go to the Free Spirit Hall and receive it from Hall Master Zhang.”
After hearing this, Lu Qing immediately saluted Li Qingqiu, then turned and left.
From beginning to end, he did not say a single word.
His temperament was cold, and he did not reveal the burning passion in his heart.
After Lu Qing departed, Yuan Qi stepped forward and said, “Sect Master, I’ve heard that Cai, Liu, and Pei have reached an agreement to halt the war.
Next year, they will establish their states together and proclaim themselves emperors.
Are we really not going to intervene?”
Li Qingqiu looked at the book in his hand and said, “Of course we will.
The Clear Sky Sect does not interfere in the struggle for worldly supremacy, but we also won’t allow anyone to obstruct the trend of unifying the world.
If they won’t do it, naturally someone else will.
Have Yuchun keep an eye on this matter.
You and I need not worry.”
After hearing this, Yuan Qi hesitated somewhat, unsure whether he should speak.
“Do you have something to say?” Li Qingqiu asked, without glancing at him.
Yuan Qi took a deep breath and said, “I heard that some lords have shown goodwill toward Hall Master Zhang.”
“Oh? Who? Tell me.”
“A lord named Zhu Xian. His background isn’t noble. He was originally a wandering knight, well-known for his chivalry in the martial world. After the chaos began, he gathered a group of brothers and grew larger and larger. It’s said he concealed his identity and personally went up the mountain to visit Hall Master Zhang. What they discussed is unknown. He had barely descended the mountain when a group of Free Spirit Hall disciples went down as well.”
Yuan Qi spoke carefully, his gaze fixed on Li Qingqiu, observing the changes in his expression.
Yet Li Qingqiu remained expressionless, seemingly unconcerned.
“I understand. You did well. Keep this up. Don’t mention this matter to anyone else.”
“Yes!”
Yuan Qi let out a sigh of relief.
He was also afraid of getting involved in matters between Li Qingqiu and his fellow disciples, which was why he had hesitated earlier.
In the end, he chose to tell Li Qingqiu everything he knew.
Li Qingqiu waved his hand, signaling him to withdraw.
After Yuan Qi left, Chu Jing appeared and said, “Master, I think this is a good thing. Let Hall Master Zhang handle it. The sooner the world is brought under control, the better the Clear Sky Sect can develop, and the people of the world can finally live in peace.”
Li Qingqiu glanced at Chu Jing and asked with feigned surprise, “Oh? You care about the people of the world? That’s truly rare.”
Chu Jing was embarrassed and said, “Ahem… after all, I really do owe the people of the world.”
Li Qingqiu said leisurely, “Someone does need to do these things. It’s just that if one does such things too often, will the heart change?”
“Are you referring to Hall Master Zhang?”
“Him, but not only him.”
Chu Jing was puzzled.
Could it be that Li Qingqiu, like the emperors Chu Jing had once served, had begun to suspect those around him?
Yet he felt that Li Qingqiu didn’t seem like such a person.
At this moment—
Shen Yue walked into the courtyard.
When he saw Chu Jing, his expression changed slightly.
He had long heard that there was a ghost servant beside the Sect Master, but this was the first time he had seen one in person—and this ghost servant was an old acquaintance.
Li Qingqiu looked at Shen Yue and raised his brows slightly.
This old fellow was not simple.
It hadn’t been long since he broke through to the sixth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
How did his cultivation feel as though it had advanced by leaps and bounds again? At most, another year and he would reach the seventh layer?
No matter how one looked at it, Shen Yue’s excellent aptitude far surpassed that of other disciples with excellent aptitude.
His cultivation speed was clearly a cut above the rest.
Shen Yue came before Li Qingqiu and said, “Someone in the north has entered the Dao.”
“Entered the Dao? What does that mean?”
“That is a legendary realm. It’s said that when martial arts reach their ultimate peak, one can enter the Dao. After entering the Dao, one can shed the mortal state.”