Chapter 221: Yuan Li Entered the Dao
The Three Xiao Brothers landed on the ground. Xiao Wuqing personally treated Zhang Ping’s injuries. He had practiced the Ghostly Immortal Needle of Rejuvenation, because he felt that his combat talent was inferior to that of his eldest brother and third brother, so he wanted to learn something else and play a better role in the future.
Murong Xi’s third uncle was thrown to the ground by Xiao Wudi. All four of his limbs had been broken, and he could not even crawl.
“Who exactly are you people?”
He asked in a trembling voice, his tone filled with terror. Facing the terrifying Xiao Wudi and Xiao Wuming, he did not even dare to report his background. He felt that if Murong Manor offended these three, it would likely invite a catastrophic disaster.
Xiao Wudi looked at Zhang Ping and asked, “Can they be killed?”
So many people had already been killed, yet two were left for me to decide?
Zhang Ping could not quite grasp Xiao Wudi’s thoughts, but he still spoke, “Kill them. Avoid leaving future trouble. If you’re afraid of dirtying your hands, I can do it.”
He was not afraid of offending Murong Manor, and these people were too vile—chasing and killing even their own niece, utterly devoid of humanity.
After hearing this, Xiao Wudi stepped on Murong Xi’s third uncle’s chest. The sound of bones breaking rang out, while Xiao Wuming also stomped the Murong martial artist at his feet to death.
Their movements were extremely casual, like stepping on two insects. Not to mention Murong Xi—even Zhang Ping felt his eyelids twitch at the sight.
While applying the needles, Xiao Wuqing asked, “Is your task completed?”
Zhang Ping came back to his senses and said, “Completed.”
“Mm, then come back with us.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ping hesitated. He glanced at Murong Xi and cautiously asked, “Can you help me send her back first?”
As soon as Xiao Wudi heard this, he became somewhat impatient. They had already delayed a lot of cultivation time just to find Zhang Ping.
Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Wuqing took the initiative and smiled, “Of course we can.”
Zhang Ping immediately raised his hands in salute, thanking the three.
Although Xiao Wudi did not understand, he still chose to trust his second brother.
Murong Xi stood to the side, growing even more curious about the origins of the four of them.
……
Winter snow drifted through the air. Li Qingqiu stood on the hillside, watching Zhao Zhen, Yuan Li, Li Yang, Yun Cai, and Ji Ya practice in the mountains.
This was not Clear Sky Mountain. It was located to the north of Clear Sky Mountain, with terrain that was not particularly steep and an open view.
Seeing that all five of them had already entered meditation, Li Qingqiu thought of Zhang Ping. He did not know how that boy was doing. He immediately summoned the Dao Lineage interface and found Zhang Ping’s portrait.
The portrait was still there, which proved that he was still alive. However, Li Qingqiu was very interested in his Fate Trait of [Defying Heaven to Change Fate]. Ever since seeing him change his fate, Li Qingqiu would look at his panel from time to time.
This time, Li Qingqiu discovered that Zhang Ping’s panel had changed again.
Zhang Ping’s cultivation aptitude had actually changed from Good to Excellent.
Most importantly, his [Defying Heaven to Change Fate] Fate Trait still had two remaining opportunities, which meant that the transformation of his aptitude was related to his previous fate-changing.
What kind of fortuitous opportunity could allow Zhang Ping’s aptitude to leap two levels from Average to Excellent?
Li Qingqiu increasingly wanted to see Zhang Ping.
Now, Li Qingqiu had already delegated the sect’s management authority. On ordinary days, he could devote most of his time to cultivation, so he also had the energy to pay attention to the growth of his disciples.
Not only had Zhang Ping’s cultivation aptitude increased, his personal loyalty toward Li Qingqiu had also risen, reaching 95 in one go. This was what surprised him the most.
This also indicated that the Three Xiao Brothers had already found Zhang Ping. Presumably, Zhang Ping had been in dire straits at the time, and the Three Xiao Brothers had arrived very promptly.
Just as Li Qingqiu was thinking about Zhang Ping, in the distance, Yuan Li—who had been sitting in meditation on a rock—stood up. He did not move his feet but stood on the rock and began to throw punches.
He closed his eyes, his fists continuously striking out. His sleeves billowed with loud sounds. His boxing had no fixed form, but the fist wind grew stronger and stronger, and the sound also grew louder.
Very soon, Zhao Zhen, Ji Ya, Li Yang, and Yun Cai all opened their eyes and looked toward him.
Since opening up the Body Cultivation Path, no one dared to underestimate Yuan Li anymore. However, Yuan Li’s cultivation level still improved very slowly, causing the sect disciples to soon overlook him again.
Fifteen-year-old Yuan Li was a body cultivator, but his physique was still somewhat thin. Yet as his punching speed grew faster and faster, everyone could feel his momentum.
“This is…” Li Yang widened his eyes, stormy waves rising in his heart.
In the past, he felt that among Li Qingqiu’s disciples, only Zhao Zhen could firmly suppress him. Later, the Three Xiao Brothers and Yun Cai appeared, making him feel a sense of crisis. After that, Ji Ya also reined himself in and began cultivating diligently, his fierce momentum forcing Li Yang to acknowledge the gap between himself and Ji Ya.
Now, was Yuan Li also about to rise?
Yuan Li had already entered a state of self-forgetfulness. His fist wind grew stronger with each strike, actually forming waves of qi that swept forward. He had not even used his Gang Yuan.
Li Qingqiu was also drawn by the sound of Yuan Li’s punches. He focused his gaze, and a subtle change appeared on his face.
“This kid…”
Li Qingqiu clearly felt that the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was gathering toward Yuan Li.
He had just been paying attention to Zhang Ping, and now Yuan Li gave him an even bigger surprise?
Yuan Li’s cultivation aptitude was extremely low, but his comprehension was extraordinary. To this day, no second person’s panel had ever displayed the four words “extraordinary comprehension.”
As time passed, Yuan Li’s fist wind continued to strengthen. The snow filling the sky was blasted into a cloud of snow mist, retreating continuously toward the mountains ahead.
At a glance, it looked as though Yuan Li had blasted out a vast expanse of space with his fists. The scene was extremely spectacular.
Zhao Zhen and the others actually felt that if Yuan Li continued punching like this, he could shatter the opposite mountain from afar. This thought was absurd, yet they truly felt that kind of momentum.
Yun Cai had long heard that Yuan Li was not simple, but ordinarily, Yuan Li’s cultivation growth was far too slow, making it inevitable for her to overlook him.
At this moment, watching Yuan Li enter the Dao through boxing, Yun Cai could not understand it.
This set of boxing techniques was not refined at all—extremely simple, even constantly changing. Yuan Li seemed to be sleepwalking, throwing punches randomly. Yet precisely because of this random punching, his fist might grew stronger and stronger.
A cultivator at the Third Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm was actually unleashing the momentum of the Fifth Layer, or even the Sixth Layer.
In the past, Zhao Zhen had only marveled at Yuan Li’s comprehension. Now he suddenly realized that Yuan Li might harbor extraordinary aptitude, merely lacking a way to unlock it.
No wonder Master had always encouraged Yuan Li.
If Yuan Li were at the same realm as him, could he defeat him?
Zhao Zhen actually had no confidence.
Far away in the Martial Hall, Yan Dao Sect opened his eyes, an inexplicable palpitation in his heart.
“Someone is entering the Dao through martial arts?” Yan Dao Sect was astonished.
Not only him—Shen Yue of the Sword Sect and Su Xiling of the Heavenly Works Hall also sensed this.
……
Night fell, and snow still drifted down.
Within Lingxiao Courtyard, Li Qingqiu and Yuan Li sat at a long table, while Yuan Qi excitedly poured tea for them.
Listening to Yuan Li recount his experience of entering the Dao, Yuan Qi could not understand it, but he understood one thing—his younger brother had become even more formidable.
Yuan Qi knew his own talent well. He had already done everything he could. If he wanted to climb higher in the future, he could only rely on his younger brother’s talent to move the Sect Master.
“Master, I feel…” Yuan Li frowned as he spoke, but halfway through, he hesitated again.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and smiled as he asked, “Feel what?”
Yuan Li took a deep breath and said, “I might need to die once.”
Die once?
Li Qingqiu’s smile disappeared. He was secretly astonished. Could it be that Yuan Li had already sensed the existence of the [Undying Overlord Body]?
“How would you die?” Li Qingqiu continued to ask.
Yuan Li said, “Perhaps a true death situation, not a false illusion like a technique.”
There were already disciples in the sect who had learned illusion techniques, which had once stirred up waves on the Martial Arena.
The meaning of his words was that this matter could only rely on himself.
Li Qingqiu looked at him deeply and said, “You are still young. There is no need to think so far ahead. As your master, I can indeed sense that you are still hiding even stronger talent, but compared to your achievements, I hope even more that you can live healthily.”
This was truly Li Qingqiu’s heartfelt words.
He both looked forward to Yuan Li’s [Undying Overlord Body] and did not wish for Yuan Li to take risks.
After all, Yuan Li had grown up under his watch. Without exaggeration, in his heart, Yuan Li ranked second among his disciples. Zhao Zhen and Ji Ya could not compare, and Yun Cai and the Three Xiao Brothers were even further behind.
Yuan Li nodded and said, “Master, rest assured. I know what I’m doing.”
He not only possessed the [Undying Overlord Body], but also [Tenacity] and [Heart of a Grandmaster]. Li Qingqiu was indeed very reassured, believing that he would not act behind his back like Zhao Zhen.
In the days that followed, news of Yuan Li entering the Dao spread without wings.
As the news spread, it became more and more exaggerated. By the time the year’s end approached, it was already being said that Yuan Li had nearly blasted apart a mountain.
On this day.
Zhang Ping finally returned. He was carried back on Xiao Wudi’s back.
“Sect Master, his leg has been broken for too long. My medical skills can’t cure him,” Xiao Wuqing said with shame.
Zhang Ping, lying prone on Xiao Wudi’s back, glanced at Li Qingqiu, then quickly withdrew his gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.
Li Qingqiu spoke, “Put him on the table. You may go back and rest first.”
“Yes!”
After placing Zhang Ping down, the three brothers saluted Li Qingqiu together and then withdrew.
Li Qingqiu raised his hand to touch Zhang Ping’s broken leg. Zhang Ping felt very uncomfortable. Facing the Sect Master alone, he did not know what to say.
“Tell me, how did you end up in such a state?” Li Qingqiu asked.
Zhang Ping let out a breath. Having something to talk about was good. He recounted his experiences in detail.
After completing the task, on his way back he encountered Murong Xi. Upholding the ideals of the Clear Sky Sect, seeing injustice on the road, he drew his blade to help. He drove off Murong Xi’s enemies, but those people pursued him relentlessly and even poisoned him. Because of his carelessness, he was poisoned. After that, he could not withstand them and ultimately ended up in this state.
After finishing, he said excitedly, “Thank you, Sect Master, for sending people to save me. I truly feel unworthy of the sect’s cultivation.”
Li Qingqiu smiled and said, “In my view, even without the Three Xiao Brothers, you could have returned alive.”
“Hard to say. I don’t have that much confidence in myself,” Zhang Ping said with a bitter smile.
He suddenly thought of something and quickly said, “Right, Sect Master. During this escort of Murong Xi back to Murong Manor, I learned something. Murong Manor captured a white tiger. That white tiger was as large as an elephant. I suspect Murong Manor has some kind of plot.”
Li Qingqiu became interested and said, “You consumed Vermilion Bird Blood. That means Murong Manor also has someone who consumed Vermilion Bird Blood. Now they’ve captured a white tiger. They wouldn’t also want to capture the Azure Dragon and the Black Tortoise, would they?”
There were also legends of the Four Sacred Beasts across the Nine Provinces. Before the rise of the Clear Sky Sect, many martial sects and powerful nobles had captured auspicious signs and sacred beasts.
These so-called auspicious signs and sacred beasts were not as powerful as Li Qingqiu had imagined. Of course, it was also possible that he had encountered too few of them.