Chapter 198: Peerless Genius
“From your description, even someone at the fifth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm might not necessarily be a match for Yan Daozong. Are you certain he is not an immortal cultivator?”
Li Qingqiu asked thoughtfully.
It seemed that the Dao-entry expert Shen Yue had mentioned earlier was precisely this Yan Daozong.
Mo Jiuhong replied, “I did not sense any Vital Energy on him. He should not be an immortal cultivator.”
Precisely because Yan Daozong was not an immortal cultivator, Mo Jiuhong had found it so hard to accept.
For this reason, he had even delayed for several days, going to a city to find a place to adjust his state of mind.
“Go down and recover from your injuries. Set this matter aside for now.”
Li Qingqiu instructed.
Mo Jiuhong immediately cupped his hands in salute and withdrew.
After he left, Li Qingqiu teased the two little ones in his arms while pondering the matter of Yan Daozong.
Clear Sky Sect bore no enmity with Tianxuan Mountain, so Li Qingqiu naturally would not level another’s mountain for no reason at all.
However, Tianxuan Mountain’s tightly shut gates were indeed strange.
With an expert like Yan Daozong present, aside from Clear Sky Sect, there was probably no one in the world capable of threatening them.
Not long after Mo Jiuhong had left, Yuan Qi hurried into the courtyard.
“Sect Master, Hall Master Li Sifeng and Zhao Zhen have started fighting!”
Yuan Qi rushed to Li Qingqiu’s side and spoke rapidly.
Li Qingqiu frowned and asked, “Where are they fighting?”
“The Martial Arena!”
Hearing Yuan Qi’s reply, Li Qingqiu shot him a glare and said irritably, “You make it sound like they’ve fallen out. That’s called sparring.”
Yuan Qi scratched his head.
“It’s mainly because I feel that no matter who wins or loses, it won’t end well. Their temperaments aren’t like Elder Jiang’s or Senior Sister Xu’s, who know how to hold back.”
He knew Zhao Zhen well.
That kid never held back in sparring and took victory and defeat very seriously.
His impression of Li Sifeng was much the same.
He even felt that Li Sifeng could not take losing and was prone to losing his temper.
“It’s fine. Let them fight.”
Li Qingqiu withdrew his gaze and said casually, then returned his attention to the little ones in his arms.
Yuan Qi hesitated for a moment and could only give up.
He saluted and withdrew, quickly heading down the mountain—he did not want to miss this battle either.
The news of Zhao Zhen sparring with Li Sifeng swept through the entire sect like a whirlwind.
The former was a representative figure among Clear Sky Sect’s geniuses, with cultivation at the sixth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
The latter was a hall master who rarely returned, a legendary figure who held the Emperor Mystic Sword and was accompanied by a Qilin.
The clash between these two was full of highlights.
Li Sifeng’s reputation over the years had not been small.
Although his power was not as strong as that of the three great feudal lords, his battlefield achievements were frequently reported back to the sect, making Clear Sky Sect disciples feel proud, and many of them admired him.
This battle attracted many spectators.
The two deliberately waited until there were enough people before starting.
After a bitter fight of five hundred exchanges, Li Sifeng ultimately won the spar.
Yet anyone with discerning eyes could tell that Zhao Zhen was stronger.
He had suppressed Li Sifeng throughout the fight.
If not for the Emperor Mystic Sword in Li Sifeng’s hand suddenly erupting with terrifying power and knocking Zhao Zhen off the arena, Li Sifeng would have completely lost face.
This battle became the talk of the entire sect.
Jiang Zhaoxia went to find Li Sifeng and sternly criticized him.
Li Sifeng refused to accept it, and the two fought another bout atop the mountain.
Even when Li Sifeng wielded the Emperor Mystic Sword, he was still no match for Jiang Zhaoxia.
Looking at the sword pressed against his throat, Li Sifeng said with an indignant expression, “Third Senior Brother, this is abusing public office for personal vendetta. On the surface, you’re seeking justice for Zhao Zhen, but in reality you’re taking the chance to retaliate against me.”
Jiang Zhaoxia sheathed his sword and said solemnly, “I did not. I only wanted to tell you that relying blindly on external objects will only cause more and more people to surpass you. When Zhao Zhen comes of age, you will surely be defeated, and even the Emperor Mystic Sword will not be able to help you.”
Li Sifeng fell silent.
There was also a trace of guilt in his heart.
In truth, when they exchanged blows on the Martial Arena, he already knew he was no match for Zhao Zhen at all.
It was just that the more they fought, the more irritable he became, and he could not help but draw upon the power of the Emperor Mystic Sword.
Thinking about it now, Zhao Zhen might have deliberately dragged things out to spare his face, yet at the time he had mistaken it for humiliation.
“Once I sweep across the world, I will come back to cultivate and will no longer easily go down the mountain.”
Li Sifeng looked at Jiang Zhaoxia and spoke earnestly.
Jiang Zhaoxia nodded and continued, “Although Xu Ning’s cultivation is higher than mine, I may not necessarily lose to her.”
After speaking, Jiang Zhaoxia leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of sword light that vanished beyond the cliff.
Li Sifeng was stunned for a moment, then ground his teeth.
He had known it—his Third Senior Brother was narrow-minded!
That very day, Li Sifeng went to visit Zhao Zhen to apologize, saying that his victory had been unjust.
Zhao Zhen, however, did not mind.
In his view, since the Emperor Mystic Sword acknowledged Li Sifeng as its master, then the power of the Emperor Mystic Sword belonged to Li Sifeng.
A loss was a loss.
Zhao Zhen did not want to make excuses.
However, Zhao Zhen proposed that when he returned next time, the two of them should fight another round.
Li Sifeng readily agreed.
Early the next morning, Li Sifeng took Pei Miao and went down the mountain.
Many disciples said that the Hall Master of the Tempering Hall had gone down the mountain again for training.
……
“Tianxuan Mountain really has someone that formidable?”
Zhang Yuchun sat opposite Li Qingqiu and asked with a frown.
Li Qingqiu sat together with Li Dongyue.
Each of them held a little one in their arms.
These two little ones were no longer afraid of strangers, their eyes wide open as they stared blankly at Zhang Yuchun.
Today, Zhang Yuchun had come specifically to ask Li Qingqiu about the situation at Tianxuan Mountain.
Earlier, Li Qingqiu had said he would send people to investigate Tianxuan Mountain, but Zhang Yuchun had never received any information.
Feeling uneasy, he had come personally to inquire, only to learn that someone from Tianxuan Mountain could defeat an immortal cultivator at the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, which shocked him greatly.
Not only him—Li Dongyue was also very surprised.
She had not expected there to be such a powerful martial artist in the secular world.
With Shen Yue as precedent, they did not doubt that Li Qingqiu’s words were false.
Zhang Yuchun frowned and said, “Senior Brother, if that’s the case, then we must investigate Tianxuan Mountain even more.”
Li Qingqiu looked at him and asked, “How do we investigate? We have no grievances with them, and when we offended them, Yan Daozong did not kill us, which already shows considerable courtesy.”
“The fact that he did not dare to kill only proves that he wants to delay for time.
Tianxuan Mountain is very likely preparing something,” Zhang Yuchun said seriously.
Li Qingqiu noticed that his conduct was becoming more and more overbearing, gradually shedding his former timid nature.
Before Li Qingqiu could say more, Zhang Yuchun continued, “Senior Brother, let me investigate this matter.
Just treat it as if you don’t know.
I can guarantee you that as long as Tianxuan Mountain harbors no ill intent, I will not harm a single person there, nor will I force them to bow their heads.”
Li Qingqiu nodded.
He too felt that this matter was full of doubts.
Since Zhang Yuchun wanted to investigate, he would let him do so.
“Second Senior Brother, don’t send disciples with low cultivation, in case something goes wrong,” Li Dongyue reminded him.
Zhang Yuchun smiled and said, “Fourth Junior Sister, don’t underestimate our Free Spirit Hall.
Although we don’t have a peerless genius like Yang Xuan, there are still quite a few disciples in Free Spirit Hall who can stand on their own.”
Yang Xuan’s talent made him envious, but unfortunately, he could not poach him.
Li Qingqiu looked at Zhang Yuchun and said with a smile, “Second Junior Brother, you always complain that Free Spirit Hall lacks geniuses comparable to Zhen’er or Li Yang. How about taking in these two little ones into Free Spirit Hall and nurturing them yourself? If they truly turn out to be the peerless geniuses you want, and you raise them personally, they will surely follow your lead.”
Hearing this, Zhang Yuchun looked at Li Shoumin in Li Qingqiu’s arms, then at Li Shouzheng in Li Dongyue’s arms, and could not help but shake his head.
“Sixth Junior Brother can give birth to peerless geniuses? I don’t believe it. It’d already be good enough if they’re not as mischievous as him. I don’t want to help him raise children,” Zhang Yuchun refused.
From childhood to adulthood, Li Sifeng had often made him angry.
Just thinking about raising two more Li Sifengs gave him a headache.
Li Qingqiu looked at Zhang Yuchun with a half-smile and began to look forward to Zhang Yuchun’s attitude ten years later.
Zhang Yuchun was preoccupied with the matter of Tianxuan Mountain and did not notice the deeper meaning in his Senior Brother’s gaze.
He quickly departed to make arrangements to head to Tianxuan Mountain.
Li Dongyue looked at Li Qingqiu and asked curiously, “Senior Brother, do you think Shouzheng and Shoumin have very high aptitude?”
Li Qingqiu put on an air of profundity and said, “As long as they stay by my side, even the most mediocre aptitude will become genius.”
Li Dongyue felt he was bragging, but given that Li Qingqiu had yet to misjudge anyone, she could not refute him and could only quietly watch him continue to boast.
……
By April, in Beiliang Province, at the far northern reaches.
Li Yang, Bai Ning’er, Zhang Ping, and more than a dozen Clear Sky Sect disciples were walking across the wasteland.
In the distance, towering mountains rose in every direction.
The mountains of Beiliang Province were different from those of Guzhou.
They lacked dense forests, and many peaks appeared bare, yet they did not lack beauty.
Everywhere in Beiliang Province carried a sense of desolation and grandeur.
Heaven and earth were vast, the view expansive, making it easy for one’s heart to calm.
The disciple walking at the front turned back and said, “Senior Brother Li, Senior Brother Bai, if we go a bit further, we should see Tianxuan Mountain. Tianxuan Mountain and Fengxia Mountain are collectively known as the Two Sages of the Martial World. Do you think that auspicious sign might have gone to Tianxuan Mountain?”
Tianxuan Mountain!
The other disciples were quite unfamiliar with this name, but Li Yang raised his brows.
Born into the Li Family of Linchuan, he had read all kinds of books from a young age and had seen Tianxuan Mountain mentioned in texts.
It was a sacred place in the secular world.
Li Yang spoke up, “Let’s go take a look first.
If the auspicious sign truly hid itself in Tianxuan Mountain, we’ll act according to the situation and must not force anything.
Tianxuan Mountain has long enjoyed a saintly reputation.
Although it’s not as strong as our Clear Sky Sect, we cannot suppress it forcefully, lest we damage Clear Sky Sect’s chivalrous name.”
The disciples nodded.
All of them hoped the auspicious sign was indeed at Tianxuan Mountain.
They had been away from the mountain for over three months, following the trail of the auspicious sign all the way here.
Both body and mind were exhausted, and more than half of them wanted to give up.
Zhang Ping walked at the back of the group.
His presence was faint, and most of the time he did not speak.
From afar, he looked toward a majestic mountain in the distance, towering as if it could touch the heavens.
For reasons unknown, unease rose in his heart.
He always felt that Tianxuan Mountain was not a place of goodwill for them.
He opened his mouth, unsure how to persuade Li Yang and the others.
Bai Ning’er turned back to look at Zhang Ping and said with a smile, “Junior Brother Zhang, don’t fall behind.
If you’re tired, tell me.
I’ll have everyone wait for you.”
Seeing his smile, Zhang Ping spoke on impulse, “I’m not tired.”
The moment he said it, he regretted it.
Bai Ning’er smiled in satisfaction, then turned back and walked side by side with Li Yang.
The two chatted and laughed, talking about Tianxuan Mountain’s past.
The other disciples were also curious about the Two Sages of the Martial World and listened attentively.
Only Zhang Ping felt increasingly uneasy in his heart.