Chapter 209: The Mandate of Heaven Is Hard to Evade
【Master, this disciple truly could not overcome the hurdle in his heart. Mother was in trouble, and I had no choice but to save her. Mother had called out to me many times, and now she had again been abducted by the Xuanji Sect. There must be calculations behind this. In the present world, those who would still dare to scheme against people of the Clear Sky Sect are few and far between. I was already at the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. If I could not resolve this calamity, then it would mean that the Clear Sky Sect had encountered a tribulation no less than that of the Qi Clan Tree Demon. At that time, Master could then make further plans】
【The Clear Sky Sect’s development up to this day could not be separated from your wise guidance. Please forgive this disciple for secretly descending the mountain on his own. This disciple feared that the true target of the one behind the scenes was you. This disciple already owed you too much and did not wish for you to be placed in danger. Therefore, this disciple took matters into his own hands and went alone to face it. Of course, this disciple was also confident in resolving this tribulation, and by the way, driving out the Northern Barbarians and displaying the divine might of our Clear Sky Sect】
Li Qingqiu repeatedly read the letter Zhao Zhen had left behind, a complex feeling he could not describe arising in his heart.
Blame Zhao Zhen for being too foolish?
Yet everyone had their own pride. Zhao Zhen did not wish for his private matters to implicate the sect or implicate him, which was understandable.
Moreover, Zhao Zhen was already at the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm—how could he lack confidence?
It was just that Li Qingqiu knew this matter might be Zhao Zhen’s destined tribulation, and it would not be so easy to pass through.
What Zhao Zhen said made sense. In the present world, those who still dared to scheme against him must not be too wary of the Clear Sky Sect, nor of Li Qingqiu.
This was both Zhao Zhen’s tribulation and a potential crisis for the Clear Sky Sect.
Li Qingqiu felt reverence toward fate for the first time. He had already done his utmost to keep Zhao Zhen, yet he had still given Zhao Zhen an opportunity.
Although his spiritual sense could cover the area below, it was impossible for him to watch Zhao Zhen day and night without rest. If he did that, he would be unable to cultivate with peace of mind and would also exhaust his mental energy.
“Perhaps some things truly cannot be avoided. If, from the beginning, I had not suppressed him but instead thought of discussing countermeasures with him, or if I had brought his mother over early on, would there have been a different outcome?”
Li Qingqiu silently pondered.
Objectively speaking, Zhao Zhen descending the mountain alone would bring him trouble, yet he was not angry. After all, people were not true chess pieces. Everyone had their own temperament and thoughts, and moreover, Zhao Zhen did not know exactly how strong he truly was.
In fact, Li Qingqiu did not dare to claim that he was absolutely invincible at present. As the Clear Sky Sect had developed to this point, whenever it encountered major tribulations, he would not rush to the front immediately. He would always first understand the enemy’s situation before making a move.
Although afterward it was proven that the enemy was not his match, he did not feel that he had been overly cautious.
After all, one only had one life, and the Clear Sky Sect would not have another chance to redevelop.
Setting emotions aside, letting Zhao Zhen, a Seventh Layer Nourishing Vital Energy Realm disciple, go to probe Tianxuan Mountain and the Xuanji Sect was actually more beneficial for Li Qingqiu’s eventual action.
Li Qingqiu put the letter Zhao Zhen had left into his storage pouch. He turned and walked toward the outside of the cave dwelling, Lin Chuan following and jumping onto his shoulder.
Zhao Zhen’s cave dwelling was located near the Enforcement Hall.
This was something Li Qingqiu had deliberately arranged to avoid assassination attempts.
When Li Qingqiu shattered the stone door, it immediately alerted the Enforcement Hall.
Lu Qing of the Enforcement Hall was the first to arrive. When he saw Li Qingqiu’s figure in the tunnel, he immediately stopped.
By the time the two of them walked out of the cave dwelling together, the other Enforcement Hall disciples had also rushed over.
“It’s nothing. You may all disperse,” Li Qingqiu said. Upon hearing this, the disciples could only salute and withdraw.
Lu Qing hesitated for a moment. After the other disciples had left, he lowered his voice and asked, “Sect Master, is there anything you need me to do?”
Li Qingqiu glanced at him and said, “Zhao Zhen is at the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. Do you think you can help with his trouble?”
When Lu Qing heard this, his face revealed shame.
He had already obtained many resources, yet he was only at the Fifth Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. How distant was the Seventh Layer?
Li Qingqiu patted his shoulder and then disappeared from the spot.
Lu Qing took a deep breath, feeling that he still needed to work harder and could not disgrace the Sect Master’s cultivation.
……
At dusk.
Zhang Yuchun, Jiang Zhaoxia, and Li Dongyue arrived at the Lingxiao Courtyard. Li Qingqiu had only summoned the three of them.
“You already understand the situation. What do you think?” Li Qingqiu asked.
He had already sent Little Eight northward to search for Zhao Zhen’s trail. He himself had also circled the Ancient Great Mountain Range once, yet he had not found Zhao Zhen’s whereabouts.
With Seventh Layer Nourishing Vital Energy Realm cultivation, Zhao Zhen’s speed was by no means something ordinary people could match.
Although the Clear Sky Sect had grown large, Li Qingqiu would not completely trust everyone.
No matter how high the loyalty of the other hall masters was, the only ones he could entrust the Clear Sky Sect to were Zhang Yuchun and the other two.
Wu Man’er was not clever enough, and Li Sijin was not steady enough. Therefore, in many situations, Li Qingqiu would not push troubles onto them.
“I’ll go,” Jiang Zhaoxia spoke. “What Zhao Zhen said is right. There may be a huge conspiracy hidden behind this. Unless it is absolutely necessary, you cannot move. The Clear Sky Sect may look powerful, but it cannot do without you. You absolutely cannot suffer any mishap, and you must not become arrogant because of your own strength.”
Jiang Zhaoxia said this while thinking of surpassing Xu Ning as quickly as possible. Yet if the sect encountered trouble and needed him, he would never hesitate.
Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue both nodded.
“If even Third Junior Brother cannot handle it, then only you, Senior Brother, can take action. By then, there will be no other choice,” Zhang Yuchun said seriously.
Li Dongyue suggested, “Let Third Senior Brother go search for Zhao Zhen first, and then dispatch a batch of true transmission disciples to follow closely behind. How about that?”
Li Qingqiu fell into deep thought. He was also considering whether he should descend the mountain personally this time.
It was not that he feared anything, but that he wanted to temper the sect.
This was merely Zhao Zhen’s destined tribulation. It did not mean it could overturn the Clear Sky Sect.
If, whenever Li Qingqiu’s disciple encountered trouble, he, as the master, had to personally step in, would that not allow his disciples to become a weakness that enemies could exploit to scheme against him in the future?
Moreover, letting a Ninth Layer Nourishing Vital Energy Realm cultivator resolve a Seventh Layer Nourishing Vital Energy Realm tribulation was not courting death.
If the enemy behind the scenes had reached the Spirit Perception Realm, the Clear Sky Sect would have long since encountered trouble.
The world would have changed hands long ago; it would have been impossible for them to hold back until now.
Seeing Li Qingqiu remain silent, Zhang Yuchun proposed, “How about calling Xu Ning as well?”
“No!”
Jiang Zhaoxia hurriedly said, his tone somewhat anxious, causing Zhang Yuchun to look at him in surprise.
In Zhang Yuchun’s view, having two Ninth Layer Nourishing Vital Energy Realm cultivators take action would absolutely ensure success.
Jiang Zhaoxia, however, felt that he and Xu Ning were fated to clash and were not suitable to act together.
“Alright, don’t hesitate anymore. I’ll set off now. I’ll head north all the way, and I’ll leave sword energy marks along the route so that the disciples behind can pay extra attention,” Jiang Zhaoxia said as he stood up, about to leave immediately.
Li Qingqiu spoke, “The primary task is to ensure Zhao Zhen’s safety. If he cannot be saved, do not fight with your life. Compared to Zhao Zhen, you are more important to me.”
Jiang Zhaoxia was startled. He did not expect Li Qingqiu to say such words now. He had thought that as the sect grew larger, Senior Brother’s heart would have changed somewhat.
He looked deeply at Senior Brother, then nodded, leapt into the air, and transformed into a streak of sword light that shot toward the north.
Li Qingqiu looked at Zhang Yuchun and said, “Send more manpower to Tianxuan Mountain. Keep a close watch on Tianxuan Mountain for me. If this matter truly involves scheming from Tianxuan Mountain, they absolutely must not be allowed to escape like the Jianji Sect did before.”
Zhang Yuchun nodded, immediately stood up, and went to assign tasks.
Li Dongyue looked at Li Qingqiu and said, “Senior Brother, don’t worry too much either. Zhao Zhen is at the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, and with his constant sparring at the Martial Arena, perhaps he can rescue his mother by relying on himself.”
In her view, this crisis was not that serious. There was no force under heaven that could threaten the Clear Sky Sect. It was not that she underestimated the world, but rather that she knew exactly how strong the Clear Sky Sect was.
Li Qingqiu nodded and said, “That’s what I think as well.”
Everyone had their own destiny. He had already done his best to protect Zhao Zhen. If Zhao Zhen could not survive this tribulation, then it could only mean that his fate was so.
As for whether someone might use Zhao Zhen to deal with him, he had also considered all kinds of scenarios.
He had even thought that an immortal cultivator might want to possess Zhao Zhen’s body.
Yet Zhao Zhen was only at the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Even if someone possessed him, they would still not be able to threaten the Clear Sky Sect.
Li Qingqiu was first the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, and only afterward Zhao Zhen’s master.
……
Ku Yi and Ku Er were now also immortal cultivators. Following Zhao Zhen, their travel speed was even faster than horses.
After several days, they had already arrived in Zhongtian Province.
The once central province of the world had now become desolate.
At dusk, Zhao Zhen arrived atop a mountain cliff. He looked down upon Martial God Pass, his mood complicated.
This was the second time he had seen Martial God Pass. The first time was when he had been sent to the Clear Sky Sect and had passed by Martial God Pass.
Ku Yi and Ku Er came to his side and looked down upon Martial God Pass together.
“This is the ancient impregnable pass built by the Imperial Ancestor Emperor. Now the city gates are wide open with no one guarding them. What a pity,” Ku Yi said with emotion.
Although people like them were loyal to Zhao Lan, deep in their bones, they were loyal to the Great Li Dynasty.
Zhao Zhi’s death had made them feel delighted, yet with the rivers and mountains being usurped, they could not feel happy.
At their age, they had experienced the establishment, prosperity, and decline of the Great Li Dynasty. Their hearts were filled with confusion, unable to understand how someone like the Imperial Ancestor Emperor could have given birth to a treacherous person like Zhao Zhi.
“When will that person arrive?” Zhao Zhen asked.
At fifteen years old, he was no longer the child he once was. His posture was upright, and his Seventh Layer Nourishing Vital Energy Realm cultivation gave him a powerful presence.
Ku Er replied, “It should be soon. He told us to wait here for him. He must have placed informants nearby.”
Ku Yi followed up, “We have already checked. There are no traps nearby.”
Zhao Zhen snorted and said, “If he truly wanted to ambush me, how could it be something you could see through?”
Ku Yi and Ku Er fell silent. They could sense Zhao Zhen’s resentment toward them, yet they had no regrets.
The sun gradually set in the west.
As night approached, someone finally emerged from the forest behind them. It was none other than the Sword-Holding Elder of Tianxuan Mountain, Hua Daozang.
Hua Daozang looked at Zhao Zhen’s back, his eyes burning with intensity. He forced himself to calm down and walked toward Zhao Zhen.
He did not notice that, more than ten zhang away behind him, there was a paper effigy on a tree branch, watching him.
At the same time.
Far away, in the forest of a neighboring mountain, three Clear Sky Sect disciples were hiding in the bushes. One of them was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, performing a technique.
This disciple who was casting the technique suddenly frowned and asked in a low voice with surprise, “Why did Senior Brother Zhao Zhen come here? And Tianxuan Mountain’s Hua Daozang actually came to meet him.”