Chapter 267: Fate Traits in Conflict
“Did she discover us?”
Bai Yutian lowered his gaze in fright, his mind in turmoil.
Yun Cai’s eyes were far too sharp, as though she could see right through him, making him instinctively fear her.
“How could that be? What cultivation does she even have? It is impossible for her to see through my existence at a glance. Do not overthink it. If you act like this, you will only make her suspicious.”
Black Hand’s voice sounded again, carrying the tone of hating iron for not becoming steel.
How could this kid be so cowardly?
It had once placed enormous hopes on him, expecting him to become the strongest disciple of the Clear Sky Sect.
After hearing that, Bai Yutian felt it made sense and raised his eyes again. At this moment, Yun Cai was no longer staring at him. Instead, she was looking toward the crowd below the stage, waiting for her opponent to come up.
Seeing this, Bai Yutian finally let out a breath. He secretly felt annoyed with himself—his temperament truly was not good enough, getting frightened so easily.
Little did he know, it was not a misconception at all.
While Yun Cai swept her gaze across the crowd below and waited for her opponent, she was also thinking about Bai Yutian.
“That evil entity’s power looks even stronger than the evil ghosts back in the Cangzhou State Capital, second only to that Great Demon Luo. Should I tell the Sect Master?”
Yun Cai felt conflicted.
Her All-Law Spiritual Eyes could see through the hidden power inside other people. Precisely because of that, many disciples’ fortuitous encounters could not escape her notice.
Quite a few disciples carried souls hidden within them, or Magic Implements that contained tremendous power. At first, she had reported each one to the Sect Master, but later even she felt she was making a fuss over nothing.
A person’s goodness or badness was not determined by what he possessed.
Only, that Black Hand was far too strange, completely different from any fortuitous encounter she had seen in other disciples.
No—this time she could not pretend she had not seen it!
Yun Cai made her decision. Her gaze sharpened, startling a True Transmission Disciple who had just stepped onto the stage; his expression froze, thinking he had somehow offended her.
…
“A ghost hand stronger than the evil ghosts of Ghost King Ridge?”
Inside the cave dwelling, Li Qingqiu was surprised after hearing Yun Cai’s report.
There were too many disciples in the Clear Sky Sect; he would inevitably miss things. He trusted Yun Cai’s All-Law Spiritual Eyes, yet he was puzzled.
Where could such a powerful evil entity have come from?
If it also came from Ghost King Ridge, why had it not started killing?
“What is that disciple’s name?” Li Qingqiu asked.
“His name is Bai Yutian,” Yun Cai answered.
“You asked him directly?”
“How could I? I asked around through disciples who have spoken with him.”
Yun Cai widened her eyes, feeling underestimated. How could she be that rash?
Li Qingqiu nodded. “I understand. I will investigate this matter. You did very well.”
Yun Cai rose as well, saluted, and took her leave.
Although she liked Li Qingqiu very much, right now, compared to being alone with him, she would rather spend her time cultivating.
After Yun Cai left, Li Qingqiu pulled up Bai Yutian’s portrait.
Bai Yutian’s loyalty had been steadily rising and had now reached 91. If that ghost hand harbored ill intent, it would certainly bewitch Bai Yutian, and his loyalty would only fall.
If this was merely Bai Yutian’s personal fortuitous encounter, that would be best.
But that ghost hand was far too powerful. If he did not investigate clearly and disciples ended up harmed, it would be a dereliction of duty on his part as Sect Master.
Li Qingqiu decided that tomorrow he would patrol the sect and “happen” to encounter Bai Yutian as if by coincidence.
With that decided, he returned to the stone bed and continued meditating and cultivating.
The moon set, and the sun rose.
Early the next morning, Li Qingqiu left his cave dwelling alone. He went to Lingxiao Courtyard and stayed for half an hour before slowly heading down the mountain.
The winter scenery of Clear Sky Mountain was breathtakingly beautiful. After passing Profound Heart Hall, disciples cultivating could be seen everywhere.
At present, more than three hundred cave dwellings had been allocated, but cave dwellings were always a scarce resource. Thus, the vast majority of disciples still chose to cultivate in the mountain forests.
Watching those figures in cultivation, a smile appeared on Li Qingqiu’s face.
These were all symbols of the Clear Sky Sect’s vigorous vitality.
Soon, disciples spotted Li Qingqiu. They saluted from afar and did not come over to disturb him.
Those who could cultivate on the upper half of Clear Sky Mountain generally had seniority and were not simple in status.
After entering the sect, it was not easy to move directly into Clear Sky Mountain.
Bai Yutian lived on another mountain.
“Sect Master Li, what a coincidence!”
A delighted laugh came from ahead. Li Qingqiu looked up and saw a plump, wealthy-looking elder hurrying over.
It was none other than Liu Fanzhou.
Liu Fanzhou had been the first merchant to invest during the Clear Sky Sect’s early days of immortal cultivation. His daughter, Liu Yan, had taken Li Dongyue as her Master and was now one of the representative disciples of the Spirit Finance Hall, already at the Seventh Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
“Brother Liu, it truly is a coincidence. Who are you looking for so early up the mountain?” Li Qingqiu asked with a genial smile.
So many years had passed, yet his relationship with Liu Fanzhou remained good. Liu Fanzhou was warm and fearless. No matter how large the Clear Sky Sect became, he always maintained that enthusiasm and never lost his nerve.
“I came up to find Hall Master Zhang to discuss the matter of the Cangzhou branch city. I want the Liu Family to settle in that branch city,” Liu Fanzhou said with a smile. Before Li Qingqiu, he hid nothing, because he understood Li Qingqiu. Competing for benefits was fine, as long as it was done openly—Li Qingqiu would not mind.
But if someone schemed in the shadows, Li Qingqiu would not show mercy.
“You are already at your age, and you still have to run around personally for this sort of thing? Is your Liu Family not flourishing with people?” Li Qingqiu teased.
Liu Fanzhou was very fertile. In less than twenty years, he had fathered dozens of children. This had become a joke among the sect’s upper ranks, and Liu Yan often complained about him.
Together with his earlier descendants and blood relatives, the Liu Family had become a great clan within the sect that could not be underestimated. At present, dozens of them were cultivating immortality within the sect.
Liu Fanzhou himself had also entered the Clear Sky Sect and become a disciple, but his aptitude was poor and he lacked patience. He was only at the First Layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Longevity had nothing to do with him.
“They are not up to it. Otherwise, I would not have come myself. Oh right, Sect Master—my merchant caravans have expanded all the way to the Western Desert. If the sect ever needs to develop westward, just tell our Liu Family,” Liu Fanzhou said with a proud grin.
Now he was called the Number One merchant tycoon beneath the heavens. Some even said his wealth could rival a nation. Naturally, he felt triumphant.
“We will talk about it later.”
Li Qingqiu shook his head with a chuckle. There were still many places in the Nine Provinces that had not been explored. For now, he did not want to expand.
Expansion meant new conflicts would arise, and for the Clear Sky Sect at present, it was unnecessary.
Especially because going west led toward the Azure Dragon Domain. Li Qingqiu remained highly wary of that place where immortal cultivation sects stood everywhere.
“Sect Master, when will you arrange a suitable husband for my daughter? I cannot control her anymore, but if it is your words, she will definitely listen.”
When he spoke of this, Liu Fanzhou sounded somewhat despondent.
He was already nearing seventy and felt he did not have many years left. Liu Yan was his most beloved daughter. Naturally, he hoped to witness her marry and have children.
Li Qingqiu shook his head. “Brother Liu, it is not that I am criticizing you, but your thinking cannot keep up with the Clear Sky Sect’s development. Liu Yan is someone who pursues longevity. Secular romance between sons and daughters is not that important to her. Let everything follow fate. Besides, your Liu Family’s matter of continuing the family line does not rely on her.”
Liu Fanzhou sighed helplessly. “Even so, as her father, I still hope she can find a backer.”
“Is marriage a backer? Her backer is the Clear Sky Sect,” Li Qingqiu snorted softly.
That line made Liu Fanzhou happy, and the two began reminiscing about the past.
Whenever Liu Fanzhou thought back, he was astonished by the Clear Sky Sect’s rapid growth. Even though he had experienced it personally and participated in it, he still found it unbelievable. This made him admire Li Qingqiu from the bottom of his heart.
Only an immortal could accomplish such a thing, could they not?
They chatted for quite a while before Li Qingqiu finally took his leave. He still had serious business to do and could not keep idling with Liu Fanzhou.
Watching Li Qingqiu’s departing back, Liu Fanzhou felt regret again.
If his daughter could walk the same path as Li Qingqiu, that would be wonderful.
In his eyes, the two were not that far apart in age and were quite suitable.
But considering that Liu Yan was Li Dongyue’s disciple, he could only think about it.
Senior and junior generations were not something one could overstep.
…
On the way down the mountain, Li Qingqiu encountered many old acquaintances—some were drawn by Liu Jing’s sacrifice to Heaven, others were preparing to watch next year’s Grand Dao Tournament.
By the time Li Qingqiu left Clear Sky Mountain, nearly two hours had passed.
At the foot of the mountain, there were even more disciples coming and going, as well as many carriages of pilgrims parked on the grassland.
Suddenly—
Li Qingqiu saw two people pushing and pulling at each other. It was Zhang Ping and Bai Ning’er. Judging by their posture, both were very agitated.
Were these two not close?
Why were they arguing?
Li Qingqiu felt that as Sect Master, upon seeing disciples in conflict, he could not pretend he had not seen it.
So he walked over.
“I already said it—I am not going. I am not going anywhere.”
“You—are you thinking of making a name for yourself at the Grand Dao Tournament? Come down the mountain with me. If everything goes smoothly, you can still make it back in time.”
“I do not believe in your fortuitous encounter.”
“You have gone down the mountain with me so many times. When have we ever failed?”
“Even if we did not fail, it was never easy. Go find someone else first.”
After Zhang Ping spoke, he was about to leave. Then he saw Li Qingqiu approaching and hurriedly raised his hand in a formal salute.
Bai Ning’er also turned his head. Seeing Li Qingqiu, he quickly saluted as well.
“What are you arguing about? In front of everyone like this—if junior brothers and junior sisters see it, what will it look like?”
Li Qingqiu stopped before the two of them and asked.
Bai Ning’er immediately began to complain. In his view, he was sharing something good with Zhang Ping—why would Zhang Ping not appreciate it?
After Li Qingqiu heard the reason, he did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Over this?
The Lucky One Fate Trait running into the Fate Trait of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity—this counted as Fate Traits in conflict.
Li Qingqiu said, “Even if your intentions are good, you cannot force others. Do you understand?”
Hearing this, Bai Ning’er’s face turned bitter. “It is just that I cannot find anyone else.”
When Zhang Ping heard that, he became even angrier.
“Tell me—what fortuitous encounter is it? I can send people to help you.”
Li Qingqiu looked at Bai Ning’er and spoke seriously.
He still trusted Bai Ning’er’s Lucky One Fate Trait. Perhaps it could bring enormous benefits to the sect.
Bai Ning’er was instantly delighted and quickly said, “I reviewed our past gains and discovered some words left by an ancient sect inside a jade bottle. That ancient sect is in Yuzhou. I want to go and take a look. Perhaps there will be something to gain.”
“What ancient sect? What is it called?”
“Supreme Sword Sect.”