Chapter 252: Year’s End Battle
As Liu Jing pondered, a civil official spoke up: “My lord, should we inform the Clear Sky Sect about this matter?”
As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately gained the approval of many civil and military officials.
To deal with evil entities, one naturally had to rely on immortal cultivation sects. Otherwise, if they depended solely on mortals like themselves, the casualties would be immeasurable.
Liu Jing snorted coldly and said, “Do you think the Clear Sky Sect would learn of this matter more slowly than we would? Under these heavens, what affair can escape the eyes of the Clear Sky Sect?”
The great hall fell silent. Everyone was stunned, because they knew that what Liu Jing said was the truth.
The Clear Sky Sect’s informants were spread throughout the world, making it difficult for people to tell whether it was because their influence was vast or because their divine abilities were unfathomable.
In the past, one of Liu Jing’s officials had rashly discussed the Clear Sky Sect in private and had even prepared to stir up incitement. Yet before the matter could even reach Liu Jing, that official had already been executed by Clear Sky Sect disciples. From the letters he left behind, it was evident that such a matter had indeed existed.
After that incident, wherever the civil and military officials went, they felt as though eyes were watching them, sending chills down their spines.
“No matter what stance the Clear Sky Sect takes, we must have our own course of action. Prepare to rush to support Cangzhou and take control of Cangzhou in one stroke. Even if this causes us to face enemies on both fronts, we still have to do it.”
Liu Jing spoke in a deep voice, directly setting the course.
The civil and military officials looked at one another, and no one dared to refute him.
……
In order to deal with Great Demon Luo, Li Qingqiu began to cultivate diligently.
Through the memories of the Soul-Seizing Black Fiend’s true body, he learned of Great Demon Luo’s strength. Great Demon Luo was far stronger than other evil ghosts, yet he had not reached the level where he could easily exterminate other evil ghosts.
In this battle, Li Qingqiu would certainly be taking risks.
But there was no alternative. If time were on the Clear Sky Sect’s side, he would have delayed.
However, the corpse ghost assimilation speed of Great Demon Luo was far too fast and had already begun to threaten the Clear Sky Sect.
If any Clear Sky Sect disciple were to turn into a corpse ghost, that would truly be troublesome.
The vast majority of true transmission disciples were also cultivating with all their might. They had more or less learned of the upcoming campaign plans, and in order to be selected, they were all seizing every moment to cultivate.
However, the world was simply too vast. Finding Great Demon Luo was by no means an easy task.
By mid-September, Zhao Zhen and Shen Yue had broken through one after the other to the ninth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. Ji Ya and Xue Jin followed closely behind, taking over their places and filling the vacancies at the eighth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
At present, within the Clear Sky Sect, those who had reached the seventh layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm already numbered more than ten, those who had reached the sixth layer exceeded fifty, and there were still some disciples who were outside or in secluded cultivation, unable to make it in time to go to the Free Spirit Hall to update their cultivation levels.
If not for the threat of Great Demon Luo, then at most ten more years, the Clear Sky Sect would have entered another entirely new stage. Unfortunately, the times would not allow people to have their way forever.
Time arrived at early October.
Within Lingxiao Courtyard, Zhang Yuchun, Zhu Yan, and Chu Jing sat opposite Li Qingqiu. On the table lay stacks upon stacks of letters recording intelligence reports.
“Speaking of which, it really is strange. If there were signs of vegetation withering within a radius of dozens of miles, it should be very easy to find. Disciples have been investigating throughout the northern regions, yet they simply cannot find such a place.” Zhang Yuchun frowned deeply and spoke in a low voice.
Zhu Yan said, “Perhaps the place he is in is wasteland to begin with, or perhaps there is no large amount of vegetation there. It could even be within a city?”
Li Qingqiu pondered. What Zhu Yan said made sense, but places like that were everywhere in the Northern Border. Wanting to narrow down the range would not be easy.
The Northern Border was vast, and barren lands there were even larger than the Nine Provinces. Wanting to find Great Demon Luo truly was like searching for a needle in the sea.
Even the Soul-Seizing Black Fiend did not know Great Demon Luo’s exact location. Great Demon Luo liked to meet other evil ghosts through corpse ghosts. He was clearly different from other evil ghosts, possessing an extremely strong vigilance toward the secular world.
Chu Jing suddenly spoke: “Perhaps they will soon show themselves.”
Zhang Yuchun and Zhu Yan looked toward Chu Jing, their gazes filled with confusion.
Chu Jing continued, “Liu Jing has already dispatched his army northward. A large number of soldiers who practice martial arts are gathering together. For Great Demon Luo, this is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. The stronger one was in life, the stronger one becomes after turning into a corpse ghost. If he only keeps seeking out ordinary commoners, the combat strength of this ghost army would not necessarily be strong. He must be well aware of this.”
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuchun and Zhu Yan’s expressions changed drastically.
Was Chu Jing using Liu Jing’s elite army as bait?
Wasn’t this far too risky?
Li Qingqiu asked, “How far is Liu Jing’s army from Cangzhou?”
Chu Jing replied, “Judging by their pace, they should be able to reach the Cangzhou state capital before the year’s end.”
“Year’s end.”
Li Qingqiu raised his head and looked toward the heavens, where dark clouds were already gathering.
Zhang Yuchun and Zhu Yan exchanged glances, both understanding that a great battle would take place at year’s end.
……
At Ziyang Peak, within a courtyard, Hu Yan and Duan Xiaojuan sat facing each other as Duan Xiaojuan poured tea for him.
“I heard the sect has a major operation planned. Will you be going along?” Duan Xiaojuan asked curiously.
A large-scale operation personally led by the Sect Master—how could it not draw attention?
However, the specifics of this major operation had not been spread, making it hard to tell whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. Yet Duan Xiaojuan felt that it was most likely bad.
Hu Yan replied, “I also asked Master about it, but he said I am still too young. What I need to shoulder are the sect’s responsibilities ten years from now, not those of the present. He told me to just cultivate properly.”
Duan Xiaojuan praised him, saying, “The Sect Master really thinks far ahead. Cultivating under him must be very smooth, right?”
Hu Yan thought about it. In truth, most of the time it was Ji Ya who taught him. Li Qingqiu prepared to guide him in cultivating spells, but the number of times was not many. Yet upon further thought, all the cultivation resources he received came from Li Qingqiu, and the reason Ji Ya could teach him was also because Ji Ya himself had grown under Li Qingqiu’s guidance.
“It really is very smooth. Master is very good at teaching,” Hu Yan said with a smile.
Duan Xiaojuan said with a bitter expression, “It hasn’t been very smooth for me cultivating under Senior Sister Xu. Although she hasn’t blamed me, I always feel like I’m wasting her time.”
Hu Yan comforted her: “Senior Sister is someone who speaks her mind. If she had any dissatisfaction with you, she definitely wouldn’t hold it in. Since she hasn’t, that means she has no dissatisfaction at all, only that she feels cultivation cannot be rushed.”
After hearing this, Duan Xiaojuan’s expression improved, and a smile bloomed on her face.
The two of them envisioned the future, chatting and laughing.
Looking at her smile, Hu Yan suddenly felt a bit unsettled.
His experiences since childhood made him always feel that he was unfortunate. He feared forming closer relationships with others, because he did not want to lose them.
However, he thought of Master’s words—that one must always carry hope. Sinking into despondency could not change anything and would only make oneself suffer.
Hu Yan forced himself not to dwell on these distracting thoughts. After finishing their discussion of sect matters, they began exchanging cultivation insights.
The two of them were merely a microcosm. Within the Clear Sky Sect, there were quite a few disciples paying attention to the upcoming major operation and, in turn, talking about how it related to themselves.
……
Winter snow drifted down. Mid-December.
Disciples of the Free Spirit Hall began running between the various peaks and courtyards, summoning disciples one by one to gather before the Clear Sky Mountain gate at dawn the next day.
Li Qingqiu stood atop a mountain cliff, gazing down at the vast expanse of white snow. His gaze could see the disciples darting about behind the snow mist.
During this period, he too had been cultivating diligently, consuming quite a number of the sect’s finest spirit energy pills. His cultivation had finally reached the fourth layer of the Spirit Perception Realm.
This northern journey would definitely not be easy, yet Li Qingqiu felt that there was no way to avoid it.
After developing for so many years, the Clear Sky Sect was due for a test.
That evening, Li Qingqiu convened a discussion at the Profound Heart Hall. All sect members at the rank of elder and above rushed over. He announced that after his departure, Xu Ning and Zhang Yuchun would jointly manage the sect’s major affairs, and he also explained the objective of this operation.
Upon hearing that the northern evil entities intended to establish the Ghost Dynasty, everyone in the hall was in an uproar.
They finally understood why the Sect Master was making such a large move, and at the same time, they felt deep concern.
The reason Li Qingqiu revealed this matter was to push sect disciples to cultivate the Ghost-Identifying Technique.
Although the disciples of his sect had already embarked upon the path of immortal cultivation, compared to the immortal cultivators he envisioned, there were still deficiencies. This was not the disciples’ fault; rather, the Clear Sky Sect itself was also developing and exploring.
Li Qingqiu was not afraid of spies from Great Demon Luo being present. Chu Jing wandered among the various peaks every day and had not detected the presence of any unfamiliar ghosts.
That night, it was destined that many people would find it hard to fall asleep.
Early the next morning.
Li Qingqiu carried the Tianhong Sword as he went down the mountain, with Jin Lang perched on his shoulder.
As he entered Lingxiao Courtyard, Jiang Zhaoxia, Zhao Zhen, Shen Yue, Yan Daozong, Ji Ya, the three Xiao brothers, Yun Cai, and others rose one after another and followed him out of the courtyard.
Walking all the way down the mountain, true transmission disciples from each courtyard followed in succession, and the number of people behind Li Qingqiu grew larger and larger.
Li Yang, Xue Jin, Han Lang, Lu Qing, Gu Changping, Zhu Xunyang, Yang Chengyu, and others from the first Grand Dao Tournament’s top ten were also present.
Nineteen-year-old Sword Solitary also came. At present, he had already reached the sixth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Li Qingqiu even selected Bai Ning’er, hoping that Bai Ning’er’s “Lucky One” fate trait could bring them good fortune. Twenty-nine-year-old Bai Ning’er likewise possessed cultivation at the sixth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
This time, everyone Li Qingqiu brought along were the sect’s elites.
Zhang Ping stood atop a mountain cliff, looking at the sect’s elites below, his expression complicated.
Ever since successfully changing his fate, his cultivation had continued to rise, and he had now reached the seventh layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm. His reputation had also begun to gradually rise.
Upon hearing that the sect had a major operation, he had originally been somewhat worried that he would be selected, yet he was not.
Now, looking at the Sect Master’s figure, he instead felt a sense of guilt.
What he felt guilty about was not his own cowardice, but his lack of strength. If he were already at the Spirit Perception Realm, he would certainly have actively participated in this operation.
He looked at Jiang Zhaoxia, Zhao Zhen, Ji Ya, Li Yang, and the others behind Li Qingqiu. Those people were so full of vigor and high spirits, like protagonists from a story, while he was merely a supporting role who could only look up to them.
Li Qingqiu led people down the mountain, and the lineup behind him also caused disciples along the way to cry out in amazement.
The Sect Master’s determination to exterminate ghosts was truly immense!
By the time Li Qingqiu and his group reached the foot of the mountain, several hundred true transmission disciples had already gathered before the mountain gate. Upon seeing Li Qingqiu, they all raised their hands in salute, creating a magnificent scene.
Among those present, the lowest cultivation was at least the fourth layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Yesterday, the Cultivation Hall had also distributed various pills to them, so every single person felt confident.
When they saw the sect’s famous figures behind Li Qingqiu, none of them failed to feel their blood boiling. This battle was destined to be recorded in the sect’s history, and in the future, they would even be able to boast about it themselves.
Li Qingqiu stopped his steps. The disciples behind him all moved past him and went forward to line up.
Looking at the disciples ahead, Li Qingqiu’s heart was filled with pride. This was a force he had cultivated over eighteen years.
Apart from these people, there were still many geniuses remaining within the sect, continuing to grow and flourish.