Chapter 208: An Existence Like an Immortal or Deity
The Tempering Hall moved swiftly. After Xue Jin obtained all the intelligence regarding the Xuanji Sect from Zhang Yuchun, he dispatched twelve members of the Thirteen Sword Fiends along with thirty-six disciples down the mountain.
The lowest cultivation among these disciples was at the third layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Placed in the secular martial world, such strength was enough to contend for the title of number one martial force of an entire province.
The Tempering Hall disciples descended the mountain in a mighty procession.
Although it drew the attention of disciples along the way, it did not cause any disturbance.
After all, the Clear Sky Sect had far too many matters to attend to—every day, batches of disciples went up and down the mountain.
With the start of the new year, the cultivation fervor among the Clear Sky Mountain disciples rose.
No one knew who started it, but the mention of the next Grand Dao Tournament led the disciples to begin looking forward to it.
The first Grand Dao Tournament had been held with great success, and there were rumors that the rewards for the next one would be even more generous, possibly even involving pills and magic implements.
By February, Li Qingqiu had quietly reached the second layer of the Spirit Perception Realm without anyone knowing.
Each layer of the Spirit Perception Realm brought a far greater improvement than the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
The massive increase in vital energy and the strengthening of spiritual sense put Li Qingqiu in a cheerful mood.
He walked out of his cave dwelling, preparing to go down the mountain.
This time, he brought Jin Lang along.
Jin Lang had cultivated the Primordial Unity Scripture, and with the foundation of a hundred years of absorbing energy, it rapidly reached the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. However, its physique had not changed in the slightest.
The reason Li Qingqiu brought it along was that he wanted it to integrate into the Clear Sky Sect, rather than staying here cultivating all day.
The two other demons under Bai Zhi—Yue Shan and Hei Li—were already thriving in the Demon Subjugation Hall, their reputations resounding far and wide.
……
Within a dim cave passage, the Sword-Holding Elder of Tianxuan Mountain, Hua Daozang, walked forward carrying an oil lamp. The lamplight illuminated the lower half of his face, while his forehead remained submerged in darkness.
He advanced at an unhurried pace.
The sound of dripping water echoed within the cave passage, quiet yet chilling.
After a long while.
Hua Daozang arrived at a cave chamber. He hung the oil lamp on the wall, then turned to look at a figure standing before the cave wall ahead.
It was an emaciated old man, skin stretched tight over bone. His hair was like withered grass, hanging loose, his robe torn into long strips. His fingernails and toenails were black and elongated, making him look like a vicious ghost.
“Are you certain the people of the Clear Sky Sect have left?” Hua Daozang asked.
For several months, he had not come here, because this old ancestor had told him that someone had infiltrated Tianxuan Mountain and warned him not to act rashly.
“They have gone down the mountain for now, but there is no guarantee they will not return. The people of the Clear Sky Sect are very persistent…”
The gaunt old man spoke, his voice hoarse and chilling to the bone.
Hua Daozang frowned and cursed, “The people of the Clear Sky Sect are truly insidious and cunning. My useless senior brother went to the Clear Sky Sect, and they still refuse to let the matter rest.”
“If your senior brother had not joined the Clear Sky Sect, I fear I would already have been exposed. Without this layer of connection, do you think the Clear Sky Sect would only investigate Tianxuan Mountain in secret?”
The gaunt old man’s words left Hua Daozang silent.
He understood the reasoning, yet whenever he thought of the Yan Daozong, his anger flared.
That senior brother of his was far too lazy and unwilling to hold power. Had he passed the position of sect master to him earlier, how could Tianxuan Mountain have ended up like this?
“My time is running short. I cannot wait any longer. We must find a way to draw Zhao Zhen out…” the gaunt old man continued.
Hua Daozang’s brow furrowed even more as he gritted his teeth and said, “My senior brother has already defected to the enemy. How am I supposed to draw him out?”
“I heard your subordinates mention the Xuanji Sect. Has the Xuanji Sect headed south again?”
“Not yet, but the news has already spread. Cangzhou is about to be completely occupied by the Northern Barbarians. What, do you intend to make use of the Xuanji Sect?”
“Send Zhao Zhen’s mother to Cangzhou.”
“You… she is my own younger sister!”
“A gamble for a slim chance of survival. Otherwise, both you and I will die. Send her there, and she may not necessarily die. As long as Zhao Zhen comes down the mountain, I will personally make a move.”
Hua Daozang’s expression shifted between light and dark as he fell into indecision.
The gaunt old man continued, “The Clear Sky Sect cultivates immortality. Only if I recover my cultivation can their rule be overturned. When the time comes, Tianxuan Mountain will replace the Clear Sky Sect, and you will become the sect master. Everything the Clear Sky Sect possesses will belong to you, and after I finish transmitting the Dao, I must return to the west…”
Hua Daozang took a deep breath and said, “Fine. I will do it. But if Zhao Zhen informs Li Qingqiu of this matter, and Li Qingqiu follows him down the mountain, what then?”
“I have my own methods. At that time, you will not need to interfere. I am not afraid of the Clear Sky Sect; it is merely that this body is far too weak and cannot support prolonged combat.”
The gaunt old man’s reply caused a ruthless gleam to appear in Hua Daozang’s eyes. He decided to gamble everything.
“Old Ancestor, do not disappoint me…”
“I am Ancestor Su Xing. On another land, I was an existence like an immortal or a deity. How could I deceive you? Over these years, without my assistance, how could you have sat in the position of Sword-Holding Elder?”
Toward the end, the gaunt old man began coughing violently, as if tugging at the injuries within his body.
Hua Daozang’s gaze flickered as his hands clenched tightly within his sleeves.
……
The Northern Barbarians moved south, invading Cangzhou. Several cities in Cangzhou were massacred, blood flowing like rivers. The news spread wildly across the land, making the chaotic times even more severe.
Early April.
Li Sifeng, clad in armor, returned to the military tent.
Several strategists and generals were already waiting inside, and Li Qingqiu’s second disciple, Qin Ye, was also present.
“How are things?” Li Yang’s second uncle, Li Da, asked first.
With a vexed expression, Li Sifeng said, “The lord has decided to call a truce with the Liu clan and reorganize the army to march north, joining the other lords to campaign against the Northern Barbarians.”
“Foolish! We are the farthest from Cangzhou. A march there will cost us the most. Whether we succeed or not, we will suffer severe losses. How can he be so reckless?”
Li Da shouted angrily, and the others in the tent likewise changed expression.
They had worked so hard to break into Eastern Tomb Province and were just about to reach the provincial capital. Before they could enjoy the fruits of victory, they were to head north?
Qin Ye, on the other hand, felt admiration for Zhu Xian. He believed Zhu Xian had done the right thing—only such a person was worthy of becoming the co-lord of the Nine Provinces.
“General, then what should we do?” a general asked.
Li Sifeng sat down in his chair and said in a deep voice, “What else can we do? Obey orders. Besides, the world is in trouble—we truly cannot stand by. This is righteousness!”
If Zhu Xian had ignored the matter, Li Sifeng could still have comforted himself with the excuse of being too far away to help. But Zhu Xian had already issued the order, and coupled with Li Qingqiu’s teachings, he could only brace himself and head north.
The fury in his chest was now mostly directed at the Northern Barbarians.
Since ancient times, the Northern Barbarians had invaded south countless times, plundering the people of the Nine Provinces. He hated them to the core.
Li Da looked at Li Sifeng, opened his mouth, then finally could only sigh.
“Perhaps Zhu Xian is not truly the Heaven-Mandated Emperor…”
Li Da looked at Li Sifeng, his eyes flickering.
……
In the northern reaches of the Ancient Great Mountain Range, Ku Yi and Ku Er stood within a forest. Ku Yi leaned against a large tree, while Ku Er paced back and forth restlessly.
“Enough, stop pacing around. You’re making me dizzy!” Ku Yi said in a deep voice.
Ku Er turned to look at him and asked through clenched teeth, “Aren’t you being overly cautious? Sect Master Li may not always keep his eyes on Zhao Zhen. We only left a letter—what if Zhao Zhen does not see it, or if he sees it and hands it to Sect Master Li? How will Sect Master Li view us then? Will we ever return to the Clear Sky Sect in the future?”
Having stayed in the Clear Sky Sect for so many years, he had deep feelings for it. He felt that staying there for a lifetime would not be bad at all. He also greatly respected Li Qingqiu. If the matter were not related to Zhao Zhen, he truly would not want to go down the mountain.
“Sect Master Li’s divine abilities are vast, and he even has ghost servants by his side. If he were to send ghost servants to keep an eye on us, once discovered, he would definitely not allow Zhao Zhen to go down the mountain,” Ku Yi said with a gloomy face.
Ku Er asked, “What if this is a scheme by Tianxuan Mountain?”
Ku Yi took a deep breath and said, “Even if it costs us our lives, we must protect Zhao Zhen. To restore the Great Li Dynasty, this is our only chance. You know the Clear Sky Sect’s stance—Li Sifeng wants to become emperor, and the Demon Subjugation Hall is supporting Zhu Xian. Whoever becomes emperor has hope, except the Zhao clan. We can only forcibly lead Zhao Zhen onto the imperial path and gamble on whether Sect Master Li will be soft-hearted.”
“But this goes against what His Highness left behind back then…”
“When we reach the Nine Springs, I will apologize to His Highness. If this matter is exposed and discovered by Sect Master Li, the two of us will commit suicide together. We will say it was the two of us who deceived Zhao Zhen, and that he was not involved.”
“……”
Seeing Ku Yi close his eyes and say such words, Ku Er fell silent.
He and Ku Yi had relied on each other for survival and were not afraid of death at all. Thus, he held no resentment toward Ku Yi’s plan, only a sense of heaviness.
He always felt that things were not that simple.
Just as the two fell into silence, a sound of air being torn apart rang out, startling them into turning around.
They saw Zhao Zhen, dressed in blue, riding on his sword as he arrived, leaves being swept into the air along his path.
At the sight of Zhao Zhen, Ku Yi and Ku Er were immediately overjoyed.
Zhao Zhen stopped before them and said, “This trip to the Northern Border has two purposes. First, to save my mother. Second, to wipe out the Northern Barbarians and the Xuanji Sect. Prepare yourselves mentally.”
Hearing this, both Ku Yi and Ku Er were invigorated. From Zhao Zhen, they sensed a domineering aura—an imperial presence that Zhao Lan had never possessed. It made their eyes grow hot with tears, as if they were witnessing the imminent revival of the Great Li Dynasty.
……
Inside the cave dwelling, Li Qingqiu was seated in meditation.
He opened his eyes and said, “Lin Chuan, go and check on Zhen’er’s situation.”
Every few days, he would have Lin Chuan check on Zhao Zhen.
This had continued for over half a year, to guard against any unforeseen changes—especially since Lin Chuan had previously overheard the conversation between Ku Yi, Ku Er, and Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen’s mother had been constantly calling out to him. Li Qingqiu feared that Zhao Zhen might not withstand the pull of familial affection and secretly go down the mountain.
Upon hearing this, Lin Chuan, who had been practicing in a corner, immediately drilled into the cave wall and vanished.
Li Qingqiu stood up and walked toward the spiritual pool nearby. Several spiritual plants had been planted within it, which he had asked Li Sijin to grow during his idle time.
After only a few months, these spiritual plants were already exuding faint spiritual energy.
Not long after, Li Qingqiu heard Lin Chuan’s thoughts. His expression changed, and he immediately executed the Extreme Movement Technique, flashing out of his cave dwelling.
He swiftly arrived at Zhao Zhen’s cave dwelling, forcibly broke through the restriction, and the stone door shattered with a loud crash as he rushed inside.
He went to the stone table within the cave. Lin Chuan was squatting on the table, pointing at a sheet of paper before him. Li Qingqiu immediately picked it up.
On the paper was Zhao Zhen’s handwriting. He explained to Li Qingqiu why he had gone down the mountain and told him not to worry.
He also intended to conveniently resolve the chaos in the Northern Border and spread the prestige of the Clear Sky Sect.
The third update was a few minutes late QAQ