Chapter 216: Wholehearted Allegiance
At dusk, all the hall masters gathered here, and Yan Dao Sect also arrived.
After Li Qingqiu entered the courtyard, his expression was solemn, causing everyone to stop joking around. All eyes turned toward him.
He sat down on a chair and swept his gaze across the crowd, lingering a moment longer on Yan Dao Sect, which made Yan Dao Sect feel uneasy.
“Everyone, some days ago, a major incident occurred. At the same time, I have also learned of the potential crisis facing our Clear Sky Sect and the world at large. It is something no previous calamity can compare to.”
Li Qingqiu’s opening words immediately weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts.
After that, he began with how Hua Daozang schemed against Zhao Zhen. The moment Yan Dao Sect heard this, his complexion changed drastically, and the others also glanced at him.
So it was Tianxuan Mountain courting death.
Everyone secretly let out a sigh of relief. They had never taken Tianxuan Mountain seriously. But when Li Qingqiu spoke of Ancestor Su Xing, everyone could no longer remain seated.
A mysterious immortal cultivator, and he even wanted to seize Zhao Zhen’s body?
This was a matter of enormous consequence. If Zhao Zhen had encountered the danger of possession, would they also face such trouble in the future?
Most importantly, did this immortal cultivator have a force backing him?
Clear Sky Sect had developed to this point, and everyone knew very well that their smooth progress was because there were no other immortal cultivation sects on this land.
Yan Dao Sect was equally shaken. He had not expected Hua Daozang to have colluded with an immortal cultivator.
No wonder Hua Daozang had been so obsessed with Zhao Zhen. He had previously thought that Hua Daozang merely wanted to rope Zhao Zhen in, letting him prop up Tianxuan Mountain’s future.
He did not doubt Li Qingqiu’s words. After spending so long together, he understood Li Qingqiu’s character, and with Clear Sky Sect’s strength, Li Qingqiu had no need to fabricate such a reason.
Upon learning that Zhao Zhen’s mother, his two attendants, and Hua Daozang had all died, Yan Dao Sect could not help but close his eyes, his heart heavy.
Even though he often quarreled with Hua Daozang, in his heart, Hua Daozang was very important to him.
At this moment, he felt the same emotions as Zhao Zhen.
From this day on, he had no more family in this world.
Li Qingqiu continued his account. When everyone heard that Jiang Zhaoxia had nearly been possessed by Ancestor Su Xing, the others grew even more panicked. Jiang Zhaoxia was at the ninth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm, an existence they could only look up to.
Just how strong was that Ancestor Su Xing?
Li Dongyue and Li Sijin frowned. They were more concerned about Jiang Zhaoxia’s safety.
Fortunately, Li Qingqiu said that the two had already escaped danger, allowing the two women to breathe a sigh of relief.
Li Qingqiu raised his hand and took out the Soul Refining Banner, then released Ancestor Su Xing’s soul. He flew out from the banner, revealing only his upper body. With disheveled hair, he looked like a ferocious ghost, his face now filled with terror.
“Demon… demon…”
Seeing this neither-human-nor-ghost Ancestor Su Xing, everyone was badly startled.
Yan Dao Sect also stared wide-eyed. This was his first time witnessing a ghost, and the shock felt like his understanding of the world had been overturned.
Li Qingqiu then put Ancestor Su Xing back into the Soul Refining Banner and tossed it into his storage pouch.
He did this merely to make Yan Dao Sect believe his words, and to let the hall masters understand the gravity of the matter.
“Through Ancestor Su Xing, I learned that there is a land of demons and monsters in the north. Those demons may head south at any time. Therefore, the sect’s construction tasks must be stepped up next. Especially the tasks of the Heavenly Works Hall. I hope all halls will give their full support and not create obstacles.”
Li Qingqiu swept his gaze over everyone and continued.
Yang Jueding asked, “Does this Ancestor Su Xing have an immortal cultivation sect backing him?”
He had voiced the concern everyone present was worried about.
“No. He was a rogue cultivator. He came to the Nine Provinces with a friend to seek treasure, but was betrayed by that friend. He then hid in Tianxuan Mountain to recover from his injuries. However, the fact that he could come to the Nine Provinces means that other immortal cultivators will also be able to come.”
Li Qingqiu’s answer allowed everyone to relax.
No one present had ever fought to the death with an immortal cultivator. Moreover, Clear Sky Sect had grown from nothing, so when facing other immortal cultivation sects, they instinctively felt wary and anxious.
Li Qingqiu looked toward Zhu Yan and asked, “Have the Clear Sky Swords been forged?”
Zhu Yan hurriedly replied, “Three thousand have already been forged.”
Li Qingqiu nodded and said, “Starting from the end of this month, distribute them first to true transmission disciples. After autumn begins, distribute them to inner sect disciples.”
Beyond that were ordinary disciples who had not yet cultivated Vital Energy. Giving Clear Sky Swords to them would be a waste.
No one objected. They no longer dared to ask for magic implements to be distributed according to merit, because they all felt a sense of crisis.
Afterward, Li Qingqiu began assigning tasks hall by hall. Everyone listened attentively, not daring to be negligent.
Half an hour later.
Li Qingqiu looked at everyone and said, “Everyone, the matter of the demon lands must not be disclosed. You only need to focus on the tasks at hand. As long as Clear Sky Sect is strong enough, we will be able to deal with any trouble.”
Everyone responded in unison. Li Qingqiu waved his sleeve, signaling them to leave, and had Yan Dao Sect stay behind alone.
Yan Dao Sect sat in his seat with an ugly expression. He did not dare meet Li Qingqiu’s gaze. For the first time, he felt a sense of guilt.
Li Qingqiu had treated him so well, yet his junior brother had schemed against Li Qingqiu’s disciple, even causing both his disciple and junior brother to be severely injured. He truly had no face to face Li Qingqiu.
“Do you need to go back and give an explanation?” Li Qingqiu asked.
Yan Dao Sect raised his eyes to look at him and asked in surprise, “An explanation? Are you planning to drive me down the mountain?”
Li Qingqiu glared at him and said irritably, “Your junior brother is your junior brother. You are you. What kind of person you are, I have my own judgment. I just feel that Tianxuan Mountain is leaderless and needs you to return and preside over the situation. Once you’ve arranged things properly, you must come back and continue serving as the Martial Hall elder for me.”
Yan Dao Sect was deeply moved, even feeling an impulse to die for one who truly understood him.
At Tianxuan Mountain, he had never been trusted like this, not even by his own master.
Yan Dao Sect took a deep breath and said, “I won’t go back. My martial uncles are still there; they can naturally preside over things. From now on, I decide to give my wholehearted allegiance to Clear Sky Sect. I only ask that the Sect Master spare Tianxuan Mountain and do not destroy its Dao lineage.”
As he spoke, he stood up, walked aside, lifted his robe, and was about to kneel. However, an invisible force lifted his knees, preventing him from kneeling.
He looked up in astonishment and saw Li Qingqiu raising his right hand, without even using Vital Energy.
This was…
Yan Dao Sect was completely subdued by this display.
Li Qingqiu looked at him with a reproachful gaze and said, “When did I ever say I would destroy Tianxuan Mountain? Yan Dao Sect, in your eyes, am I really that heinous, someone who kills without blinking?”
Yan Dao Sect hurriedly stood upright and said, “No, I was just worried…”
“You have truly chilled my heart.”
Li Qingqiu sighed, his expression dim. This only made Yan Dao Sect panic even more.
“Sect Master, I truly didn’t think that way. I was just afraid that others within the sect might have ideas, putting you in a difficult position in the middle. I…” The more Yan Dao Sect spoke, the more frantic he became. He felt he truly was not a good person.
“That’s enough. Time reveals people’s hearts. Just watch and see.”
Li Qingqiu cut him off, then stood up and walked toward his own cave dwelling.
Yan Dao Sect watched Li Qingqiu’s retreating figure, wanting to speak but stopping himself. He actually sensed a kind of exhaustion from Li Qingqiu’s back, which filled his heart with guilt.
All he could do was raise his hand in salute, then turn and leave.
On the way back to the Martial Hall, Yan Dao Sect secretly swore that he would properly teach the Martial Hall disciples, using this to repay Li Qingqiu.
Putting himself in Li Qingqiu’s shoes, if someone’s junior brother schemed against his own disciple like that, it would truly be difficult to be so magnanimous.
For the first time, he felt that Li Qingqiu possessed something worthy of his learning.
Perhaps this was the reason he had been unable to lead Tianxuan Mountain to prosperity.
On the other side, after leaving Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu’s mood became pleasant, because Yan Dao Sect’s loyalty had risen again.
The reason he could say those words earlier was also because Yan Dao Sect’s loyalty had not dropped, so he seized the opportunity to further draw him in.
He admitted that what he did was despicable.
But for the sake of Clear Sky Sect, he was willing to be despicable.
……
Half a month quickly passed, and Jiang Zhaoxia, Xu Ning, and the others finally returned.
The moment Zhao Zhen saw Li Qingqiu, he directly knelt down to admit his guilt.
Li Qingqiu, however, did not blame him. With a serious tone, he said, “No one does not make mistakes. A master’s role is to guide you toward something better after you make mistakes. As your master, I do not require you to be extremely strong, nor to make great contributions to the sect. I only hope you can trust me a bit more. If you had revealed your feelings to me back then, I might not necessarily have stopped you.”
“Of course, I was also at fault. I should not have used destiny to pressure you. You will become a master yourself in the future. I hope you can do better.”
These words made Zhao Zhen unable to hold back his emotions any longer. He threw himself directly into Li Qingqiu’s arms and began to wail loudly.
Jiang Zhaoxia, Xu Ning, and Shen Yue did not laugh at him. Shen Yue bowed to Li Qingqiu and then turned to leave. Xu Ning did the same.
Li Qingqiu did not stop Zhao Zhen, letting him vent freely.
After Zhao Zhen finished crying, Li Qingqiu patted his back and said, “Go back and recover from your injuries first.”
Zhao Zhen looked up at him and said, “Master, I won’t make you worry again in the future. I won’t cry again either.”
Li Qingqiu smiled and rubbed his head.
Zhao Zhen stood up, saluted, and then turned to leave.
Jiang Zhaoxia came to the table, took off a storage pouch from his waist, and said, “Inside are that person’s magic implements.”
Li Qingqiu looked at his bandaged right arm and asked, “That arm of yours…”
“It’s crippled, but it’s fine. Maybe it can be nursed back in the future,” Jiang Zhaoxia said breezily.
“Senior Brother, I’m sorry. This time’s mission, I didn’t do well. I disappointed you.”
When he said this, his expression became unnatural.
He truly felt that he had not handled things properly.
Li Qingqiu glared at him and said, “Where did you not do well? I only required you to bring Zhao Zhen back alive. You’ve already done outstandingly.”
Chu Jing had told Li Qingqiu that even if he had not intervened, Jiang Zhaoxia could have relied on his own will to resist Ancestor Su Xing’s possession.
There was a kind of momentum on Jiang Zhaoxia that Chu Jing could not understand. That momentum even condensed into a flood dragon, strange beyond belief.
Jiang Zhaoxia did not feel comforted. He still thought he had not done well. He continued, “I inherited a divine art. Once my injuries recover, I will teach it to you. After all, Senior Brother, your comprehension of the sword path is even stronger than mine. You will definitely be able to master it.”
After saying that, he turned and left.
Li Qingqiu looked at his back, a gratified smile appearing on his face. The boy who had given him so many headaches back then had finally grown up—someone worthy of trust, someone reliable.